(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.
TRAVEL FAIR: A SHOWCASE OF STUDENT OPPORTUNITIES
Thursday, Dec. 7 6–8 pm, DCIS Cafeteria
You and yours are cordially invited to learn about language immersion and student travel opportunities from all over the world. The event is free and open to the public, with more than 20 vendors representing language immersion, travel, gap year and service opportunities (both national and international) for students from elementary to high school. In addition, expect FOOD! DCIS teachers and students with upcoming trips will be selling food to raise funds.
DCIS teachers, parents and students from DCIS and all other Denver Public Schools, as well as from our neighboring communities, are invited. Please help us make this event a big success. Share. Tell others. Attend. Eat until you have to sit down.
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS: Thursday, Dec. 21 (staff professional development)
WINTER BREAK: Friday, Dec. 22-Thursday, Jan. 4
NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS: Friday, Jan. 5 (staff professional development)
SCHOOL RESUMES: Monday, Jan. 8
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ...
Dear DCIS Parents,
Students and staff are jumping right back into the swing of things after having last week off. We have just over three weeks left until the end of the semester, so we are encouraging students to make sure they have completed all their assignments, submitted any missing work and made up any missed work due to absences ASAP. We want to make sure there are no zeroes for assignments out there that could end up really damaging a student's semester final grade. Please take a moment to check on IC (or Schoology) with your student to make sure there is no missing work.
Looking ahead, final exams will be on Monday, Dec. 18, for all Blue Day classes and on Tuesday, Dec. 19, for all Green Day classes. Wednesday, Dec. 20, is a makeup day for any student who missed the scheduled final or who still owes a major assignment. Students who are missing significant work may be asked to come to school on that day. For all other students, there is no school on Dec. 20. Teachers will submit all final grades for the fall semester by Friday, Dec. 22, so that you should receive a report card for your child over the holiday break.
In other news, please make plans to attend our DCIS Travel Fair on Thursday, Dec. 7 in the cafeteria starting at 6 pm. We will have lots of information about travel opportunities, scholarship options, service trips and more. See you there!
Theresa McCorquodale DCIS Principal
YEARBOOK DEADLINES
ATTENTION: FAMILIES OF DCIS SENIORS!
Yearbook deadlines are fast approaching! Send your senior pictures, baby pictures and senior quotes to dcisphoenixyearbook@gmail.com by Friday, Dec. 8, to be included in the yearbook!
Don't forget—seniors and their families can purchase yearbook tributes for just $10! See Mrs. Hoffman for details in room 216A or email abby_hoffman@dpsk12.org.
WAKE UP AND SELL THE COFFEE!!
It's that time of year again ... for our 2ND ANNUAL COFFEE FUNDRAISER! Pablo's Coffee, one of Denver's first craft coffee roasters — which happens to be owned by one of our wonderful DCIS families — is again creating a Special DCIS Holiday Blend to help us raise funds to support opportunities for our DCIS students and our school community.
For about the cost of three lattes, you and your friends and family can buy an ENTIRE BAG of this crowd-pleasing medium roast … or two … or ten! A great gift for grandparents, other family members, friends, neighbors, Secret Santa recipients, DCIS staff … anyone who loves a good cuppa joe.
This year, orders will be online only. You can find the order form here, via the icon on the DCIS Connect app home page and on the school website. All orders must be placed by Monday, Dec. 11. Coffee will be delivered to your student on Monday, Dec. 18.
The family with the most sales will win a $100 Amazon gift card! Hurry ... you have only 10 more days!
Thank you for your support!
RAISE YOUR HAND ... HOLIDAY RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES IN NEED This holiday season, Denver Public Schools is compiling a list of free holiday meals, gift giveaways, food assistance organizations and child care resources for our families and kids. Need assistance this holiday season? Click here for a list of resources. Do you know an organization that provides one or more of these services, and isn't on the list? If so, email us at office_communications@dpsk12.org and provide us with an attachment or a link to more information, so we can add it to the list. Happy holidays!
STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH Help us show our fantastic DCIS staff how much we appreciate them by donating food or beverage to our staff appreciation lunch on Wednesday, Dec. 20, 11:30 am–1 pm. Sign up here.
HELP US SPREAD THE WORD Please spread the word about our upcoming TRAVEL FAIR by sharing this information with your friends and family and on your social media accounts.
HAVE FUN AND EARN MONEY FOR DCIS Mom UP! Project @ Stanley Marketplace Save the date for Thursday, Jan. 25, 2018 (4–9:30 pm) and purchase your tickets for the Mom UP! Project. This first-of-its-kind event will have something for everybody: pop-up shops, prolific guest speakers and demos, pop-up restaurants and swag bags loaded with offers/samples for every attendee. It gets better! $8 from every ticket will be donated back to the school of each attendee's choice. Tickets are limited. Buy your tickets here and type in "DCIS" as your school.
AP Students Grateful for Unique Experience at Denver Art Museum
Thank you to the PTSA Cultural Enrichment and Inclusion team for providing funds to support Ms. Houk's AP Language class field trip to the Denver Art Museum! Some notes of thanks from students follow:
Dear PTSA, The field trip that I attended at the Denver Art Museum (DAM) was an entirely new experience. I've lived in Denver my whole life and have been going to the DAM since I was but a wee lad. This was an entirely different way to experience the museum. It allowed me not only to see the art, but to feel it and hear it. The booklet was just the beginning of the exhibit, as we were accompanied by a group of chaperones who were just as intrigued as we the students. I truly appreciated the opportunity, and I would like to reach out to thank you, the PTSA, for helping make this trip possible. ~Louis Miller
As a student who attended that field trip, I'd like to express my thanks to the PTSA for allowing the AP Language classes an opportunity for this excursion. The museum offered views of artifacts that come from all over the world, ancient to contemporary. As it was my first time going to this museum, I was able to see artifacts and paintings in person that I'd only seen in pictures up to that point. The highlight of the excursion for me was seeing the medieval European paintings arranged in a timeline along a wall. That structure allowed me to see the evolution of art over time. Those paintings tended to paint children as old men, so seeing that up close in person was weird, yet fascinating because the later paintings drew children more realistically. The experience I gained from this visit was valuable for me as I'm sure it was for my peers. My hope is for future classes to be able to visit this museum and to see what I have seen, and to feel the same as I do about this experience. ~Dat Tran
Hi friends, Last Friday, a group of students from Ms. Houk's AP Language and Composition class went on an excursion to the Denver Art Museum to deepen our understanding of writing and human expression through sensory engagement with artwork. Thanks to your donations, we were able to use a workbook intended to help us consider artwork in a new way. When visiting art museums in the past, it has largely been a visual engagement, formulating deeper thoughts only when trying to understand message and emotional expression, who the author is as a breathing human being. I had never quite considered the space that the artwork occupies, how the interpretations of the images before you can interact with the imagination, or how colors can be heard and passion can be tasted. This workbook truly helped me to create an experience using all the senses. I believe that I now have an entirely new perspective on the approach to artwork, one that is more whole and significant. Thank you for supporting this excursion and giving the gift of something new. ~Elaina Norton
COUNSELORS' CORNER ...
COUNSELOR ASSIGNMENTS Tami Schmidt: Middle School Ted Brugman: 9th and 10th Grades Melisa Springsteen: 11th and 12th Grades Aly Bortle: 12th Grade Post-Secondary Coach, Wednesdays and Fridays in room 1010
CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT Reminder that concurrent enrollment forms and advisor meetings are due ASAP! Funding is limited and space is first come first serve.
SENIORS COLLEGE APPLICATION UPDATE
66% of our seniors have applied to a university, community college and/or technical school
7% of students who have applied have been admitted thus far
35% of the senior class has completed their FAFSA
REMINDER APP FOR FAMILIES WITH JUNIORS AND SENIORS The Counseling Office is using the Remind app to notify the parents of juniors and seniors about important dates and deadlines. To sign up for reminders: Parents of juniors: text @co19pg to the number 81010 Parents of seniors: text @co18pg to the number 81010
COLLEGE WORD OF THE WEEK Elective: A class you can take that is not specifically required by your major or minor.
TRAVEL AND EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES...
MEET THE MIDDLE EAST-YOUTH AMBASSADOR PROGRAM Since 2008, Meet the Middle East has been leading teens to the Middle East through its Youth Ambassador Program — a fun and exciting seven-month program designed to educate high school students in four disciplines. To learn more, click here.
