(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.
SAVE THE DATE!
HAPPENING THIS WEEK ...
Shadowing Day for Prospective Students: Monday, Jan. 29, all day
Middle School Boys Basketball: Monday, Jan. 29, 4-5 pm, at DCIS vs. Henry
Middle School Girls Basketball: Monday, Jan. 29, 5-6 pm, at DCIS vs. Henry
Middle School Boys Basketball: Wednesday, Jan. 31, 4-5 pm, at DCIS vs. Grant
Middle School Girls Basketball: Wednesday, Jan. 31, 5-6 pm, at DCIS vs. Grant
Coffee with the Principal: Wednesday, Feb. 7, 8:15–9:15 am, DCIS Community Room (103)
DCIS Fairmont 5th Grade Students Tour: Wednesday, Feb. 7
DPS Superintendent Parent Forum: "Strengthening Partnerships with the City, Business Leaders, Nonprofit Organizations and Community Groups," Thursday, Feb. 8, 9:30–11:30 am, Temple Emanuel, 51 Grape Street, Denver
DCIS Drama Callbacks for Spring Musical and Tech Applications Due: Thursday, Feb. 8, 3-4:30 pm
Café con la Directora(en español):Wednesday, Feb. 21, 8:45–9:45 am, DCIS Community Room (103)
Screenagers: Movie Screening, Friday, Feb. 23, 6:30–8:30 pm, DCIS Auditorium (details to come)
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL ... Dear DCIS Parents,
It's always a joy to be the principal of DCIS, but it is especially joyful during Passages Day, which was held this past Monday. Wow! Our juniors knocked it out of the park with their research, their presentation skills, their passion and their professionalism. Truly impressive. And the rest of our students also deserve kudos for being attentive while they watched presentations, for asking great questions, and for participating in the interactive parts of the presentations. Meanwhile, 6th graders had a very insightful and fun field trip to International Town on this day. Ask your 6th graders what role they played! Our 8th graders also took a field trip, one that clearly made an impression on them as they listened to the joint stories of a Holocaust survivor and a German national living in Germany during World War II. Students came away from this experience with a deeper understanding of complicated issues and renewed skill in our core value of Recognizing Perspectives. What a day!
In academic news, we are providing all students in grades 6-11 with the opportunity to practice skill building via Khan Academy in order to support them in mastering the academic standards for their grade. It is our goal that all students will show growth in mastering the standards compared to where they were last year. Khan Academy is an excellent resource students can use to practice for challenging college readiness tests like the PSAT and SAT. So we are providing students in grades 9-11 with specific, targeted PSAT/SAT practice time during advisement. Ask your high school students about the practice they are doing through Khan Academy and how it is helping them to be college ready by the time they graduate. For our seniors, the focus is graduation! Seniors are busy making sure they have all the credits they need to graduate, finishing up senior service projects, and preparing for their final portfolio and senior presentations.
Looking ahead to next month, on the afternoons of Feb. 15 and 22, DCIS students will be presenting their academic progress (with the help of their adviser) to their parents during student-led parent-teacher conferences. Look for an email/phone call/note home inviting you to your student's presentation. Each student's conference lasts approximately 10 minutes. These are always a great opportunity to highlight student growth and put our students in the driver's seat.
Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 19–20, are student and staff holidays, so NO SCHOOL on these days. Hope all of our DCIS families can enjoy a little break time and come back refreshed and ready to dive right back into their academics!
Thank you for sending your students to DCIS. They make our school a wonderful and inspiring place to be.
Theresa McCorquodale
RAISE YOUR HAND ... 8TH GRADE CAREER EVENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED We are looking for parents or community members who would be interested in helping to engage our 8th graders by speaking, teaching or leading workshops on various careers and pathways. We tentatively plan to have a career event at the beginning of March. Please email Tami Schmidt at tamara_schmidt@dpsk12.org or call 720-423-9006 if you are interested or know someone who would like to participate. Thank you!!
ART ROOM WELCOMES DONATIONS Have extra "stuff" cluttering up your home? Chances are, the DCIS Art Room can use it! See our wish list here. Thank you to those who donated their extra "clutter" when school began! If you have donations for the new semester, they can be dropped off in the art room (117) at your convenience. Thanks for your support of the DCIS art program! For questions, email Susan Marion: Susan_Marion@dpsk12.org.
SCHOOL SERVICE CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES Looking for school service credit? Email dcis.connect@gmail.com to learn about opportunities.
Many of you have inquired about a tribute to honor your student. Our senior families receive special discounts, with tributes starting at $10. The deadline for full-page tributes ($80) is Friday, Feb. 2. All other tributes must be purchased by Thursday, March 1!
BUSINESS OWNERS: If you would like to get exposure for your business or company and support DCIS yearbook at the same time, consider purchasing a full-color ad in our yearbook! Prices start at $25. Deadline is Thursday, March 1.
Yearbooks are available for pre-order for $50 in room 216A or online.
TRAVEL FAIR REDUX Did you miss out on the Travel Fair in December? Keep an eye out in this space for photos and highlights of the organizations that were represented and what they have to offer DCIS students and families.
This week we're featuring Meet the Middle East. Their Youth Ambassador Program is a five-month program during which students learn about identity, conflict resolution and negotiation, listening and dialogue, the regional religions of the Middle East and, finally, the Palestinian-Israeli Conflict as a case study.
At the end of the five-month program, MTME staff guide students on a 10-day immersion trip to Palestine and Israel. Over the course of the trip, students have the chance to apply the knowledge they've gained in the previous five months through service projects for local communities in the two countries. Students stay in a centuries-old monastery in the Old City of Jerusalem, sip tea in the shade of a Bedouin tent in the desert, dine on fish from the Sea of Galilee and float in the Dead Sea just outside Jericho, one of the oldest cities in the world. They meet with Palestinians and Israelis who represent a range of perspectives, and visit museums as well as religious and archaeological sites. They also visit settlements and refugee camps.
The application deadline is Friday, Feb. 9. In addition to this program, Meet the Middle East offers local classes and other events, including cooking, calligraphy, Islam 101 and panel discussions.
ADOLESCO YOUTH EXCHANGE Learn French in France, German in Germany or Spanish in Spain! We will match you with a student about your own age for a unique two-way exchange to France, Germany or Spain as part of our flexible and affordable nonprofit language immersion and cultural exchange program for qualifying U.S. students ages 9–18. YOU DECIDE when to exchange and for how long (up to three months). Find other upcoming informational events and sign up for more info. Applications are due by Thursday, March 15.
YOUTH SUMMIT TRIP IN EAST AFRICA The Global Leadership Institute will be hosting the 5th annual Entusi Youth Summit Trip to Uganda and Rwanda. Click here or check out GLI's website for more information.
Help support the 10th grade trip to Canyonlands, Utah, in April 2018!
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
7TH GRADE Students can apply for the Jack Kent Cooke FoundationYoung Scholars Program, a selective five-year pre-college scholarship for high-performing 7th grade students with financial need. It provides comprehensive academic and college advising, as well as financial support for school, Cooke-sponsored summer programs, internships and other learning-enrichment opportunities. The application window opened Wednesday, Jan. 17, and closes Wednesday, March 21.
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
Support your teachers ... and get a great tutor!
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