DCIS Connect Newsletter (Jan. 31-Feb. 6, 2019)

Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Staff and Students January 31- February 6, 2019 (Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.) HAPPENING THIS WEEK ... CSC Meeting: Thursday, Jan. 31, 4:30-6 pm, DCIS Community Room Open House for Prospective Families: Thursday, Jan. 31, 6–7:30 pm NO SCHOOL — Non-Student Contact Day: Friday, Feb. 1 DCIS Drama Presents One-Act Plays: Friday-Saturday, Feb. 1-2, 6 pm Restorative Justice Presentation: Monday, Feb. 4, 6-8 pm, Cafeteria MARK YOUR CALENDAR ... DCIS Drama Spring Musical Auditions (new dates): Monday-Tuesday, Feb. 11-12, 3-4:30 pm; Callbacks, Wednesday, Feb. 13, 3-4:30 pm NO SCHOOL — Presidents' Day: Monday, Feb. 18 DPS Choice Applications Due for 8th Graders Continuing at DCIS: Friday, Feb. 15 FROM THE ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL ... Hello DCIS Families:   It's budget season. And budgets determine focus. And our focus here at DCIS is on global education. Please come to hear about our budget and ideas from our community regarding how to best support our international focus. We are meeting Thursday from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and then doing an Open House for prospective families at 6 p.m. Recruiting students will be so important this year given that DPS is expecting a continued declined in enrollment. Please help spread the good news about DCIS and Thursday's Open House!    We are proud of our students whenever they take action, and we value social justice and the importance of communicating ideas and recognizing perspectives — which are three of the four domains of global leadership we promote at our school. In that connection, our students conducted a "Teach-In, Sit-In" yesterday (Wednesday) morning during Advisement, which our administration approved. I respect our student leaders and the teacher advisers who supported them. The event was organized, informative and calm. Students gathered in the auditorium and heard from a few students regarding their opinions on the strike. Students who chose not to attend stayed with advisers in the library or in overflow classrooms. I respect that our students let their voices be heard while abiding by our school's core values of Reflection, Integrity, Diversity and High Expectations.  Regarding the strike, the district and teachers' union are scheduled to resume negotiations today. I will keep you posted on what happens.   As always, thank you for the support of our students, our teachers and our school.    With love,   Mario Giardiello Assistant Principal RESTORATIVE JUSTICE AT DCIS As you may have previously read in our newsletter, DCIS has hired two Restorative Practices Coordinators. What is restorative justice, and what does it mean at DCIS? Please join us Monday, Feb. 4, 6-8 pm in the cafeteria at DCIS to find out!  Please bring a snack or drinks to share if you can. RAISE YOUR HAND ...   PTSA WE ARE DCIS! PLEASE HELP US FIND COMMUNITY SPONSORS The DCIS PTSA is starting an ongoing fundraising effort that seeks to engage local small businesses and big corporations as community partners in supporting DCIS through one-time or ongoing financial or in-kind donations, travel support, internships, mentoring opportunities and more. We will also be looking to our community for ongoing smaller asks to support special events, projects, activities and so on. And we need your help! Is this you? We are asking all DCIS community members who are business owners to consider becoming a DCIS community partner. See our donation form or please get in touch today. Or is THIS you? Please let us know who in your circle we can ask to become a sponsor. Please contact Marie at 303-913-4845 or by email to share your leads. Your help will be much appreciated. Get trained!  If you'd like to help us in seeking out community partners, please join Marie on Sunday, Feb. 3, at 1 pm for a workshop that offers guidance on how to connect with and "make the ask" of prospective community partners. Please RSVP to Marie or call 303-913-4845. BUILD OUR COMMUNITY Please see this week's SignUp Genius for specific asks related to PTSA communications, teacher appreciation, advocacy and fundraising. Let us know if there is something else you can offer ... we would love to hear from you. MARK YOUR CALENDAR for Thursday, March 14, for a PTSA meeting from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Cafeteria to start our planning for the 2019-2020 school year. COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEE (CSC) The next CSC meeting has been moved to TODAY, Thursday, Jan. 31, 4:30–6 p.m. in the DCIS Community Room. It's budget season, and the CSC is tasked with recommending a budget that reflects our mission and supports the goals outlined in our Unified Improvement Plan. Please come to hear about our budget and share ideas regarding how to best align the budget to support our goals. There is a period for public comment at the beginning of each meeting, and all members of the community are welcome to stay and listen to the rest of the meeting. 8th GRADE FAMILIES A reminder for all families with 8th graders: The DPS SchoolChoice window opened on Tuesday, Jan. 15, and closes on Friday, Feb. 15. All current DCIS 8th graders who wish to stay are automatically granted admission to DCIS High School, but in order to secure your spot, you must fill out the DPS SchoolChoice application, selecting DCIS High School as your choice. You can apply online here. DCIS TRAVELS AND HOSTING ...  MEET THE MIDDLE EAST DCIS Families, our students have a unique opportunity to learn more about one of the world's most important and intriguing regions. Meet the Middle East has extended a special invitation to all DCIS high school students — automatic acceptance to the Youth Ambassador Program taking place June 10-19.   Application deadline: Monday, Feb. 25   Please see their website for more information, or contact DCIS Travel Coordinator Sally Bishop. HOSTING OPPORTUNITY WorldDenver has upcoming spring 2019 home-stay opportunities, including one 10-day youth program in March and two 3-week professionals programs in May and June. Check out the flyer for more information. For potential host families interested in learning more and connecting with existing host families, plan to attend an information session on Thursday, Jan. 31, or Saturday, Feb. 9. Find more information on WorldDenver's website. ADOLESCO EXCHANGE Are you ready to spread your wings to France, Germany, Italy or Spain?  We offer a unique, two-way exchange program that gives you the opportunity to immerse yourself in a new language and new culture AND to host your carefully matched exchange partner in turn.   At ADOLESCO YOUTH EXCHANGE we will match you with a student about your own age in France, Germany, Italy or Spain (your choice); you will decide exactly WHEN (whatever's best for your schedule) and for HOW LONG (between 6 and 12 weeks) you want to go on exchange and host as part of our flexible and affordable nonprofit language immersion and cultural exchange program for qualifying students between the ages of 9 and 18. Please join us for an INFO MEETING on Saturday, March 2, 2–4 pm, at the Sam Gary Library in Stapleton. RSVP here, and see the website for more info.  The application deadline is March 15, and matches will be announced by late April.  FUNDRAISING SPOTLIGHT ...  DCIS TRAVEL CENTER  Thank you! We are happy and proud to report that we have received several in-kind and cash donations to the Travel Center. You can still make a donation by clicking the button below.   TEENS AND ANXIETY **FREE EVENT** Parents and teens, join Dr. Aimee Sullivan, PhD, for a free event to learn more about anxiety and teens. Learn to recognize when "teen angst" becomes something more concerning, understand the important differences between typical and atypical teenage behavior, and learn how to seek appropriate professional support when necessary. Dr. Sullivan will speak on Thursday, Feb. 7, 6:30 to 8:30 pm at the East High School Auditorium. See the flyer here for more information.  COUNSELORS' CORNER ...  COUNSELORS Tami Schmidt Middle school 720-423-9006 Melisa Springsteen High school last names A-J 720-423-9105 Ted Brugman  High school last names K-Z 720-423-9094   CONCURRENT ENROLLMENT If your student is enrolled in a concurrent enrollment class, click to see the drop/withdrawal deadlines. Upcoming important dates to add to the calendar. Friday, March 22: 9th grade College Expo Tuesday, April 9: PSAT and SAT testing for grades 9-11 Friday, May 3: 12th grade college signing day during all-school meeting Wednesday, May 22: Graduation Senior Stuff Folder (scholarship newsletter and other information) Students Bring Awareness to Issues of Teen Mental Health and Suicide Jan. 21-Feb. 10   Hundreds of students from more than 20 Denver Metro area middle and high schools will participate in the upcoming "HOPEfull Drive" Jan. 21-Feb. 10. Students are teaming up to raise awareness about the epidemic of teen depression, anxiety and suicide and to bolster the need for mental health resources in our communities. During the HOPEfull Drive, students will share information with the community and have buckets for donations. Proceeds will benefit Robbie's Hope Foundation.   FROM THE DPS OFFICE OF WHOLE CHILD SUPPORTS ... Check out the February calendar of free activities happening in the Denver area. You can also get information about free activities in Denver sent directly to your phone by texting DenverRAP to 67076. 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 noon on the Tuesday preceding the issue date. Email submissions to dcis.connect@gmail.com.  Copyright © 2019 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