(Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.)
Every Thursday while school is in session, you'll receive this DCIS Connect newsletter in your email inbox to keep you up to date on all the events and happenings at our school. It's also available on the DCIS Connect app, which you can download at the Apple Store or Google Play.
If you don't wish to receive the newsletter, click the Unsubscribe link at the end. If you're receiving multiple copies of the newsletter, please email dcis.connect@gmail.com to report the problem; be sure to indicate your first and last name and preferred email address so we can update our records.
Newsletter submissions are due by 10 am on the Tuesday preceding the issue date. Email submissions to dcis.connect@gmail.com.
HAPPENING THIS WEEK ...
PARENT-PRINCIPAL COFFEE: Tuesday, March 7, 8:15–9:15 am (English), and Wednesday, March 8, 8:45–9:45 am (Spanish), DCIS Community Room (103)
MARK YOUR CALENDARS ...
DPS FAMILY LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE, Thursday, March 9, 9 am–12:30 pm, PPA Event Center, 2105 Decatur St., Denver (map)
ADOLESCO YOUTH EXCHANGE MEETING: Saturday, March 11, 2–4 pm, Sam Gary Library (Stapleton), 2961 Roslyn St., Denver. RSVP here. Click here for more info about these family-to-family immersive exchanges for students 9–18 in France, Germany and Spain.
DAYLIGHT SAVING TIME BEGINS: Sunday, March 12
CSC MEETING: Thursday, March 16, 4:30–6:30 pm, DCIS Community Room (103)
THIRD QUARTER ENDS: Friday, March 17
9th GRADE TRIP: DPS Higher Schools Expo, Friday, March 24
DEBATE CITY CHAMPIONSHIPS: Saturday–Sunday, March 25–26, University of Denver
SPRING BREAK: March 27-April 3 (school resumes for students on Tuesday, April 4)
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ...
Dear DCIS Parents,
Good news is in store for DCIS! Our budget for 2017-18 has been approved, and we have considerable additional support headed our way, thanks in part to bond and mill levy monies as well as a new policy that gives schools that are close to qualifying as a Title 1 school (but don't actually qualify) some additional support. As a result of this additional support, we will have:
A dean of students to supervise behavior plans, implement consistent school systems, and oversee both discipline and restorative approaches
A full-time site assessment leader to oversee and plan for testing including ACCESS, CMAS, PSAT, SAT, etc.
A full-time nurse
A full-time social worker
A full-time passroom paraprofessional to supervise in-school suspension and assist with discipline, lunch detention, restorative approaches, hall duty, etc.
A full-time English Language Learner support paraprofessional to assist in the ELD classroom
An additional math intervention teacher
We are very excited about the additional support we will have next year.
As for this year, our Solutions Committee has been hard at work implementing systems to improve our school climate, such as a hall pass system and, starting next week, a new and improved cell phone policy. In addition, our student mentoring program has been highly successful, and we are beginning to see a decrease in discipline incidents at our school. We know there have been some challenges this year, especially in our middle school, and we really appreciate the thoughts, suggestions and support we are receiving from parents like you! Thank you. We are making a difference.
On a completely different note, DCIS is still in desperate need of tissues! If you can pick up an extra box the next time you are at the store, please do. Our students and teachers would really appreciate it.
I look forward to seeing you at the Parent-Principal Coffees next week. The meeting in English will be Tuesday, March 7, at 8:15 am, and the meeting in Spanish will be Wednesday, March 8, at 8:45 am. See you there!
Theresa McCorquodale DCIS Principal
LAST CHANCE TO CHIME IN!
If you didn't attend the Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8, but would like to add your ideas to the list OR if you attended but have additional thoughts to share, you can anonymously respond here. The deadline to respond is Friday, March 3 ... that's TOMORROW!
If you'd like to review the presentation from the meeting or see what others had to say, you can view a PDF of the PowerPoint presentation from the meeting here and read the notes from all groups here for each of the three questions posed. They were transcribed exactly as written, which means they may contain incomplete thoughts or fragments. But they'll give you an idea of the rich exchange of ideas. The three questions were:
How can we (students, parents and staff) support the DCIS school culture?
How can consistent and shared expectations improve school culture?
How can we maintain passion for our school mission in a "post-application" world?
RAISE YOUR HAND ...
CANYONLANDS TRIP FOR SOPHOMORES On May 15-19, many of our 10th graders will be heading to Canyonlands Field Institute in Utah to experience the natural world through the lens of historian, nature writer, scientist and mathematician. Please consider donating to help fund this wonderful trip.
Breakfast and lunch will be provided. Colorado State Representative Joseph Salazar is the keynote speaker. Students can sign up for a variety of workshops being offered by LYRIC (Learn Your Rights in Colorado), Cafe Cultura, Theater for Social Change (Ms. Kerswill) and other organizations. All students (DCIS or otherwise) can attend, and DCIS students can earn special event credit. Email here with questions or to register.
TO YOUR HEALTH...
PRESENTATION ON BULLYING Lauren Goettsch, the school nurse, along with two students presented at the all-school meeting on bullying and how it correlates with depression and suicidal ideation in teenagers. They also showed a video and spoke about Safe2Tell as a resource for our students. You can view the slides here.
PENNY WARS TO SUPPORT LEUKEMIA AND LYMPHOMA SOCIETY This week begins a three-week fundraiser, Penny Wars, to raise money for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. The class that collects the most pennies will win a pizza party.
MUMPS ALERT
Several cases of the mumps virus have been reported in Colorado in the past few weeks. To minimize the spread of mumps among students, the Colorado Department of Health & Environment has asked schools to provide the following information to families: a cover letter [EnglishSpanish] and a mumps alert letter [EnglishSpanish].
If you have any questions about any of the above, please email the school nurse, Lauren Goettsch, RN, BSN, CNRN, AE-C.
Here's to your health!
APRIL 19: SAVE THE DATE! DCIS FOUNDATION SPRING DINNER
Join the DCIS Foundation for an evening of inspiring speakers and delicious food with a global flair. Ken Salazar, former U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Colorado senator and Colorado attorney general, is the keynote speaker. The event takes place Wednesday, April 19, at the Denver Athletic Club. Cocktails at 6 pm, dinner at 7 pm. Tickets are $125 — buy yours today, or sponsor a teacher if you can't make it! More info here.
COUNSELORS' CORNER ...
SENIORS The Denver Scholarship Foundation (DSF) offers need-based scholarships to qualifying graduates of Denver Public Schools. The scholarship can be used at DSF's Partner Colleges in Colorado, including technical, community and four-year colleges and universities. Students must enroll full-time. The scholarship is renewable for up to four years depending on the type of college you attend. Click here for more info.
JUNIORS Click here for information on the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs Summer Program.
SOPHOMORES The Medical Career Collaborative (MC²) is a program that provides internship opportunities for students interested in pursuing medical careers. Because it requires a two-year commitment (junior and senior years), the MC² selection committee will accept applications only from current sophomores. Click here to download the application.
CHOICE OF STUDY FOR NEXT YEAR Registration for next year's courses is beginning. Students in grades 8-11 have received their registration forms with course offerings. This weekend would be a great time to talk with your students about the classes they'll be taking next year. Contact your student's counselor with any questions:
COLLEGE WORD OF THE WEEK Tuition. Tuition is the cost of a course or program of study, not including books, lab fees and student fees. Tuition typically is paid at the time of registration or during a designated payment period.
EXTRACURRICULARS ...
CENTER FOR VISUAL ARTS 2017 SUMMER INTERNSHIP This summer 20 extraordinary teens will be commissioned to design temporary, site-specific artwork in Denver in response to an issue of global concern. Interns explore contemporary artists, discover careers in the arts through panel discussions with creative professionals and visit innovative work spaces. They also practice industry skills including graphic design, drafting, public speaking, code switching, photo documentation, networking, resume writing, blogging, etc. The cohort is drawn from throughout the city, and interns are selected based on their demonstrated passion for the arts, civic engagement and curiosity about creative careers. Application deadline is MARCH 31. Learn more here.
TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...
NOTE:THE TRAVEL CENTER WILL BE CLOSED FRIDAY, MARCH 3, AND MONDAY, MARCH 6.
OPPORTUNITIES TO TRAVEL FOR FREE OR VIRTUALLY FREE OR WITH A STIPEND:
FULL-RIDE SCHOLARSHIP: The BP Global Citizens of Tomorrow scholarship program provides full scholarships to financially challenged students ages 15–18 with strong academic records, an interest in the STEM fields and a desire to study abroad for a year in Brazil or India. Application deadline is MARCH 9! For more information and to apply, click here.
DIGITAL EXCHANGE WITH IRAQ: A virtual exchange. No passport needed. No cost. Just an opportunity to connect with peers in Iraq! Applications due before the newly extended deadline of MARCH 15. The Digital Young Leaders Exchange Program (DYLEP) is an online exchange program for high school students in Iraq and the United States. Through DYLEP students develop their leadership skills, learn how to work together with people of diverse backgrounds, and design concrete projects to address issues in their communities. The themes covered during the exchange include leadership, digital citizenship, civic engagement, global issues, exchange, diversity, and empathy. Find out more here.
ATTENTION ALL JUNIORS AND SENIORS! If you plan to visit colleges during spring break, out-of-state college travel stipends are still available!The Counseling Center and DCIS Travel Center are teaming up to offer stipends to offset the cost of an airline ticket for juniors and seniors! Stipends are for $150* and can only be used by an approved DCIS student visiting an out-of-state college or university. Stipends are offered on a first-come, first-served basis. *Double stipends will be considered. See your counselor to get an application.
SCHOOL-SPONSORED TRIP TO PERU (SPRING 2018) Inca Trail and Peruvian Hearts. Open to high school students (and rising 9th graders). See sponsor Ms. Finnegan-Doyon for more information and/or to sign up!
For up-to-date information on trips, scholarships and travel opportunities, as well as summer programs, be sure to check the Travel Center page on the DCIS website and the DCIS Travel Center Facebook page. Information is also posted on the Travel Center bulletin board in the hall near the main office (across from the old Travel Center) and outside the new Travel Center (room 204).
Geri Zabitz Badler Travel Center and Community Partnerships geri_badler@dpsk12.org Office Phone: 720-423-9043
RAISE YOUR HAND ...
