DCIS Connect Newsletter (Feb 8-14, 2018)

Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Staff and Students March 8-14, 2018 (Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.) CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD LUCK TO DCIS! DCIS is a finalist for the Succeeds Prize, which recognizes and rewards the transformational impact of Colorado's public schools and educators. The next step will be a school visit, which includes interviews of school administrators, teachers, parents and students, as well as observations of classroom teaching. Last year, DCIS was an Honorable Mention School for the Succeeds Prize. Go DCIS! HAPPENING THIS WEEK ... Daylight Saving Time: Sunday, March 11. SPRING FORWARD! Café con la Directora (en español): MOVED TO Wednesday, March 21 MARK YOUR CALENDAR ... CSC Meeting: Tuesday, March 20, 4–6 pm, DCIS Community Room (103) Café con la Directora (en español): Wednesday, March 21, 8:45–9:45 am, DCIS Community Room (103) DCIS Poetry Slam: Thursday & Friday, March 22 and 23, 3-4:30 pm, Under the Umbrella Cafe NO SCHOOL: Spring Break, Monday–Friday, March 26–30 NO SCHOOL: Monday, April 2 (staff professional development); school resumes Tuesday, April 3 Coffee with the Principal (English): Wednesday, April 4, 8:15–9:15 am, DCIS Community Room (103) College Readiness Testing for 9-11 Grades: NO SCHOOL for middle school students or Seniors, Tuesday, April 10, all day DCIS Foundation Passport Dinner: Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 6–8 pm, Museum of Nature & Science DCIS Reunion & Celebration: Saturday, April 28, 3–7 pm, DCIS Dear DCIS Parents, Don't forget to set your clocks back on Saturday night for Daylight Saving Time. Although it'll be a bit darker when we wake up, it'll stay lighter for longer in the afternoon — great news for all our kids who play spring sports. Phoenix girls soccer is about to kick into high gear, so if you see a soccer player, give her a high five! Students already are talking about spring break, which is just a little over two weeks away. They are very excited, and the staff is too. Please note that the week of March 19 is a full week of school, Monday-Friday. Every day counts, so please try to avoid taking your students out of school early that week. Students' spring break lasts through Monday, April 2. Classes resume on Tuesday, April 3. Testing season begins the week after we return from spring break. This year we will have a college-readiness testing day dedicated exclusively to our 9th–11th graders taking the PSAT/SAT exams. On this day, Tuesday, April 10, there will be no classes for middle school students or for seniors. (Note: Sophomores who will be on the Canyonlands trip on April 10 will take their PSAT the following week.) We will send out a full testing schedule before spring break, but I wanted to highlight April 10 in particular so that parents of middle school students and seniors can plan accordingly. Testing for middle school students will begin on Wednesday, April 11. As we approach the end of the quarter tomorrow, students are doing great work ... just ask them! Ask your 6th grader about their field trip last week to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. Ask your 7th grader about the "Epic of Gilgamesh." Ask your 8th grader about the global issue they are studying for the upcoming Global Issues Summit. Ask your 9th grader about the pros and cons of urbanization with respect to people and the environment. Ask your 10th grader about the pros and cons of a college student using a credit card, from an economic standpoint. Ask your 11th grader to tell you about the New Deal. Ask your 12th grader to show you their online portfolio. I remain impressed by and proud of your kids every day! Theresa McCorquodale DCIS Principal THANK YOU! A big shout-out to Adolesco Youth Exchange for gifting the French, Spanish, Japanese, Italian and Chinese flags now flying in front of DCIS! RAISE YOUR HAND ... VOLUNTEER SOCCER COACH  In order to provide a great soccer experience for all the kids who tried out this week, we are in search of a volunteer coach for the Middle School Girls' Soccer B team. If you're interested, please email Mr. Muñoz. Does your student strive for perfect attendance? If so, it could pay off! Students with perfect attendance between March 1 and May 10 will have their names placed in a drawing — one for middle school and one for high school. One name will be chosen from each drawing, and each of those two students will receive a $100 gift card. Questions? Email Mr. Washington at linwood_washington@dpsk12.org. SPECIAL EVENT CREDIT ... A few students have already signed up for this free flamenco class this Saturday, March 10, at Flamenco Denver Studio (1934 South Broadway), but they have room for seven more students if anyone else is interested. Click here for more info. GIFTED AND TALENTED ... Greetings! We had quite a February. Several middle and high school students attended the CAGT Legislative Day on Thursday, Feb. 22, which was perhaps the best of the Legislative Days we have attended. While sitting in the Senate Chambers, we heard some of the budget discussion regarding school financing for the state — a most interesting topic and one that, ideally, will eventually generate more money for our schools. Click here to read the rest of the March G/T newsletter. TRAVEL AND EXCHANGE OPPORTUNITIES ... TRAVEL FAIR REDUX This week, we're highlighting Global Leadership Adventures, which offers teen service-learning trips in inspiring communities across Africa, Asia, Europe and Latin America. Designed around each unique destination, every GLA program showcases the region's culture and global issues, inviting students to be immersed in local life through community service, hands-on learning and adventure off the beaten path. Although GLA doesn't have a specific gap-year program, it does accept high school seniors to participate the summer after their graduation. FUNDRAISER FOR PERU SERVICE TRIP Taste of Peru Wine and Brew Fundraiser and silent auction to support DCIS students' service trip to Peru. Sunday, March 11, 3-6 pm, 9182 E. 53rd Ave., Denver. Sample wines, brews and small bites. Suggested donation of $10/person. RSVP here. 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 FRESHMEN If you were unable to make the March 1 presentation for 9th graders and their parents, the PowerPoint presentation regarding graduation requirements is available here, and information regarding the Spring 2019 10th grade Canyonlands trip is available here. SOPHOMORES AND JUNIORS If you were unable to make the March 1 meeting, "Graduation and Beyond," the PowerPoint slides are available here. SENIORS  As of this week ... 85% of our senior class has applied to a university, community college and/or technical school 11% of students who have applied have been admitted thus far 75% of the senior class has completed their FAFSA 87% of the senior class is remediation-free in math and English Senior Parent Night — View the presentation from the Feb. 15 meeting here.          Check out the latest scholarship opportunities here.  6th Graders, Families and Friends are invited to the   DCIS POETRY SLAM Under the Umbrella Cafe 3504 E 12th Ave, Denver, CO 80206   Thursday & Friday, March 22 and 23 3–4:30 pm All students will have the chance to present the poetry they've been working hard on in class! Come on out and see our young poets. All are welcome to share their poetry, lyrics or spoken-word pieces. DCIS FOUNDATION PASSPORT DINNER   This year the DCIS Foundation's annual fundraising event will take place at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science! Please join us for "DCIS Foundation Passport Dinner: Igniting Global Understanding, Shaping Tomorrow's Leaders," Thursday, April 26, 6 pm. Order tickets here. **Own a business or have connections with one?** We are seeking sponsorships! Please view our sponsorship packet for our Globetrotter, World Traveler, Domestic Destination Explorer and Travel Bug sponsorship levels. Thank you for helping us get more kids out of the classroom and into the world! CONNECT ... DCIS Website DCIS Facebook Page DCIS Parents Group (closed, non-school-sanctioned) on Facebook DCIS Drama Club Facebook  DCIS Travel Center Facebook DCIS Foundation Facebook DO NOT REPLY TO THIS EMAIL. Please send questions or comments to dcis.connect@gmail.com.  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 below. 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.  Copyright © 2018 DCIS Connect Newsletter, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email newsletter because you are a member of the DCIS community. If you do not wish to receive the newsletter, please click the Unsubscribe link at the bottom of the email. Our mailing address is: DCIS Connect Newsletter 574 W. 6th Ave. Denver, CO 80204 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list