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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.
10TH GRADE TRAVEL WEEK, May 15-19. 10th graders will either be on the Stay Local trip or in Canyonlands.
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ...
Dear DCIS Parents,
This week DCIS 8th and 9th graders completed their math and English CMAS testing. Congratulations to those students! After spring break, the 6th and 7th graders will take their CMAS tests on April 13, 14 and 17, for a couple of hours each morning. Best of luck to those students. Finally, sophomores and juniors will take the PSAT and SAT, respectively, on Tuesday, April 11. Students in grades 6-9 and grade 12 will not come to school that day!
Thank you, parents, for supporting your children during these testing windows, ensuring they get a good night's sleep and providing them with a hearty breakfast. I have been telling students they should hide their phones in a separate room and be in bed by 10 pm so they'll get good sleep and be at their best for testing (they weren't very happy about the hiding-the-phones part!).
In other news, students and staff will enjoy our spring break next week, March 27-March 31. Staff returns on Monday, April 3, but students have this additional day of break and will return to school on Tuesday, April 4.
Happy travels to all our students and staff on DCIS-based trips to London, France and Italy, as well as all students and families traveling anywhere. Bon voyage!
Wishing everyone a happy and healthy spring break.
Theresa McCorquodale DCIS Principal
RAISE YOUR HAND …
PTSA GRANT MONIES Have an idea for a cultural enrichment opportunity to benefit DCIS students but you're unsure how to fund it? Consider submitting an application to the PTSA for a small grant (up to $300). Knowing that many DCIS students will never have the opportunity to travel internationally, the goal of these grants is to promote equity in cross-cultural experiences and to allow more students to benefit from global enrichment. You can apply online here.
DCIS BEAUTIFICATION TEAM As part of the PTSA DCIS beautification effort, there will be a 4'x6' display inside the east entrance called the "Story of DCIS." In its initial version, it will include a historical timeline of the school and artifacts and information. The long-term intention is that this display is not static but changes periodically and includes different aspects of the DCIS story over time. If anyone in the DCIS community has a desire to help tell the story of DCIS, please contact Karen at gkmortimer@gmail.com or 303-910-6698.
PTSA FAMILY NIGHT: PIZZA AND PLANNING Join the PTSA for food and conversation as we gear up for the final push to the end of the school year and look ahead to 2017-2018. We'll talk about ideas in the works for our five teams — Communications, Cultural Enrichment, Fundraising and Events, School Beautification, Equity and Inclusion — and ask for your ideas too. The tendency this time of year is to begin winding down, but if the PTSA is to continue to grow and make a difference, we need to start now looking ahead to next year. Whether you'd like to be involved just a little or a lot, or even if you want to just meet other parents and be kept in the loop of what we're doing to help DCIS be the best it can be, please join us on Tuesday, April 11, 5:30–7:30 pm, in the DCIS cafeteria. Because there's so set agenda, you can stop by anytime to say hello, grab a slice of pizza and join the conversation. Hope to see you there!
CANYONLANDS TRIP INFORMATIONAL MEETING
There will be an informational meeting for the 10th grade Canyonlands trip on Wednesday, April 26, 6-7 pm, in the MUN room. During the meeting we will review the trip itinerary and required supplies and help parents register online with Canyonlands.
COUNSELORS' CORNER ...
PARENTS The third-quarter grades are out. Although these are only progress report grades and will not go on the transcript, please have conversations with your students about their progress. We have about 10 weeks left until the end of the semester and even less for seniors, so now is the time to address any concerns.
SENIORS The April 1 deadline for Denver Scholarship applications is approaching fast! 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. Applications are due April 14.
SAT testing will be at DCIS on Tuesday, April 11. Testing starts at 8 am, and students are expected to be at DCIS by 7:30 am.
SOPHOMORES PSAT 10 testing will be at DCIS on Tuesday, April 11. Testing starts at 8 am, and students are expected to be at DCIS by 7:30 am.
FRESHMEN Minds Matter is a college mentoring program for high-achieving students (3.5 GPA and above) on free/reduced lunch. Interested freshmen should speak to their advisement teacher ASAP. A representative from the program will be here tomorrow, Friday, March 24, during Advisement. More information is available here.
9th Grade Expo: This annual Higher Education Expo is a one-day event on the Auraria campus, which takes place tomorrow, Friday, March 24. The day is intentionally planned for Denver Public Schools 9th graders and offers an exciting exploration of college, highlighting Auraria's signature programs. Ninth graders will have the opportunity to meet college faculty, staff and students.
COLLEGE WORD OF THE WEEK Articulation Agreement An articulation agreement is a document signed by representatives of two or more institutions guaranteeing that courses taken at one of the participating institutions will be accepted by the other(s).
TO YOUR HEALTH ...
The school's Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraiser ended this week, and the students raised $1,022.75 to support the fight against cancer! As part of the weekly incentives, last week a student from Mr. Garvey's and Ms. Boyle's classes (the classes that raised the most for the week) got to throw pies at the faces of Ms. Hoffman and Mr. Giardiello, and this week's winner will get to shave Mr. Hinders' head. The overall winner, Mr. Garvey's advisement, will enjoy a catered Olive Garden party.
TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...
Some things to think about over spring break ...
VISITING OUT-OF-STATE COLLEGES OVER BREAK? Seniors who have been accepted to an out-of-state school who haven't been able to visit the campus and juniors who are just starting the college search process, there is still money left from our Western Union Out-of-State Travel Grant! It is a $150 reimbursement stipend (a double stipend will be considered if approved). Apply with your counselor NOW!
HOST A ROTARY EXCHANGE STUDENT NEXT YEAR.Rotary is looking for three host families to host a girl from South America for a three-month period for the 2017-2018 school year. This is a great way to have a deep cultural experience with no passport needed. If interested, email scott.white@denvermachine.com for more information.
HAPPY TRAVELS OVER BREAK!
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
Together we can make prom wishes come true. If you know of a teenage girl who deserves a FREE prom dress, Bella Boutique wants you to send her to our shop.
Bella Boutique is the Denver region's largest provider of free prom dresses, shoes and accessories to low-income teens.
Qualifying students (students who qualify for free or reduced lunch or who are referred by faculty or staff at DCIS) can make appointments on our website.
FRENCH TUTOR
Need help with French homework? Want to practice your French speaking skills, or get a multicultural perspective on the French language? My son, Arnold, is a native French speaker from Cameroon who is offering private French tutoring for French 1-4 students and French conversation practice at all levels. Arnold is an honor student at George Washington High School. $20/hour. Call or text me, Amy, at 720-338-0430.
Colorado Edition
Did you know...
Denver lays claim to the invention of the cheeseburger. The trademark for the name Cheesburger was awarded in 1935 to Louis Ballast.
Colorado contains 75% of the land area in the U.S. with an altitude over 10,000 feet.
The first license plate on a car in the USA was issued in Denver in 1908.
The largest ice building in North America was built in 1895 in Leadville, named Leadville's Ice Palace. It was shaped like a medieval castle, covered more than 3 acres and had towers 90 feet high. It was forced to close after two months, though, due to warm weather.
