DCIS Connect Newsletter (April 11-17, 2019)

Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Staff and Students April 11-17, 2019 (Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.) VOLUNTEER JUDGES NEEDED FOR MODEL UNITED NATIONS CONFERENCE Hello DCIS Families, the DCIS Model United Nations Club is preparing to host the last Model United Nations Conference of the 2018-2019 school year with East High School, at East High School on Saturday, April 20, 9 a.m.–4 p.m. We are looking for judges to assess the participants and give them feedback. If you are interested in volunteering as a judge, please email Kevin Adams to learn about details on training and conference logistics. HAPPENING THIS WEEK ... DCIS Drama Club Rehearsal: Saturday, April 13, 12-4 pm MARK YOUR CALENDAR ... CSC Meeting: Thursday, April 18, 4:30–6 pm, DCIS Community Room (103) Parent-Principal Coffee (English): Wednesday, April 24, 8-8:45 am, Community Room DCIS Drama Fundraiser: Wednesday, April 24, 4-10 pm, Pizzeria Locale, 6th and Broadway DCIS Foundation Passport Dinner: Wednesday, April 24, 6 pm, Denver Museum of Nature and Science Reception for Prospective Families: Wednesday, April 24, 6:30-8 pm, Community Room Parent-Principal Coffee (Spanish): Thursday, April 25, 8:30-9:15 am, Community Room DPS Shakespeare Festival: Friday, April 26, 10 am-3 pm, DCPA Performing Arts Complex #trashtag Tuesday: Tuesday, April 30, 3:15-4 pm, meet at tennis courts to pick up trash on school grounds NO SCHOOL: Non-student contact day, Monday, April 29 Welcome New Families: Wednesday, May 1, 6:30-8 pm, DCIS Auditorium College Signing Day: Friday, May 3, 8:30 am, DCIS Auditorium (parents welcome) Staff Appreciation Week: May 5-11 DCIS Drama Spring Musical: The Drowsy Chaperone, Thursday-Saturday, May 9-11, 6 pm (+ 2 pm matinee on Saturday) Community Powwow: Friday, May 10, 2-6 pm, south side of school General PTSA Meeting and Parent Volunteer Appreciation: Friday, May 10, 3:30-4:30 pm Drama Club Banquet: Friday, May 17, 5 pm, Congress Park Graduation: Wednesday, May 22, 6 pm, University of Denver Appreciation Lunch for Teachers and Staff: Wednesday, May 29, 12:30 pm, Cafeteria Day of Service/Students' Last Day: Thursday, May 30 Taco Night and Chili Cook-off: Friday, Aug. 23, 5-9 pm (sign up for the Chili Cook-off here) FROM THE ACTING PRINCIPAL ... Dear DCIS Families, This week's update is short and includes some requests for action. We continue to relish the partnership we have with families that work so hard to support students and our school. Thank you. We are moving forward with next year's scheduling. So far we are planning on Advisement for 1st period on White Days, which will be on Fridays, and we are expecting to have two lunch sessions on block days. In the coming days, high school students will tell us their preferences for electives (see the DCIS website for the options available). We are actively working to fill the few remaining seats for 9th grade in 2019-2020. We are proud of our award-winning high school program and what our students do every year, and we want to welcome more students into our school next year. REQUEST: Please talk at work, in your neighborhood and in your community with families who can still select DCIS on the DPS School Choice website. In Lunch Bunch, students shared with me their interest in making the most of their time in school — they are eager to eliminate distractions and believe that older students can be strong role models for the younger students. The school building is buzzing with testing already, and we still have a few weeks to go. We know that talking with students positively and helping them be ready is critical — thank you for your work from home. REQUEST: If you want to donate to our testing snack pool (goldfish and other healthy snacks in individual bags are necessary), please bring donations to the main office anytime before April 24. Our instructional focus on authentic engagement in every class continues. We hope you'll keep asking your child about what they are learning, where they are trying hard and what they are looking forward to in the last weeks of school. With gratitude and optimism, Jenn Zinn TESTING SCHEDULES The benefits of spring testing include the following:  Students and teachers work hard all year, and these tests allow students to demonstrate their incredible growth.  The data testing provides on students' mastery of course content is used to inform instruction.  Taking standardized tests in any grade is great practice for SAT, ACT and AP exams, whose scores largely dictate where a student will be able to attend college. Please direct any questions or concerns to your student's adviser or Assistant Principal Mario Giardiello at Mario_Giardiello@dpsk12.org and (720) 423-9102. The schedule for upcoming tests is below: 6th Grade: MATH and ELA tests — April 22-24,  8 am 8th Grade: SCIENCE and ELA tests — April 16–18, 8 am (MATH testing in class started April 2) Grades 9, 10, 12: No CMAS/PARCC testing For information on the Advanced Placement (AP) testing schedule, click here. RAISE YOUR HAND ...  PTSA Getting ready for 2019-2020! The DCIS PTSA is preparing for the new school year by trying out some new ideas for collaboration, including exciting opportunities for earning school service hours for your kiddo! Student volunteers automatically qualify for PTSA grants to help fund their Passages.   Please see this week's SignUp Genius for asks regarding our upcoming PTSA events: Wednesday, April 24, 6:30-8 pm: Reception for Prospective Families — Volunteers needed to bring drinks and dessert; help with setup and cleanup. Tuesday, April 30, 3:15-4 pm: #trashtag Tuesday — Join us for a brisk walk around the school to pick up trash and to discuss ideas to improve our landscaping (text 303-913-4845 on Tuesday to find us). Ideal for students still looking for school service hours. Wednesday, May 1, 6:30-8 pm: Welcome New Families — Volunteers needed for multiple tasks (TBA) Friday, May 10, 2-6 pm: Community Powwow — Tasks TBA Wednesday, May 29, 12:30 pm: Teacher/Staff Appreciation Lunch — Need help with setup, cleanup and food/drink donations Friday, Aug. 23, 5-9 pm: Taco Night and Chili Cook-off — Tasks TBA Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 pm: Travel and Language Fair — Tasks TBA Get a jump start on your 2020 taxes ... donate now! Please see our Google Form for sponsorship opportunities to donate to our school.    Please email Marie Meyer or call her at 303-913-4845 if you have any questions, or there is something else you can offer. Your help will be much appreciated! You're Invited to the DCIS Foundation Passport Dinner! The Magic of Morocco.  Join us Wednesday, April 24, at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science for our annual Passport Dinner. We are proud to honor these outstanding members of our community with the following awards: Melanie Grant Global Ambassador Award | Gabriela Cornejo Figueroa, Native of Chile Community Ambassador Award | Amy Schwartz, BuildStrong Education Student/Alumni Ambassador Award | Joanne Schwartz, Civitas Individual Tickets: $125 | Table for 10: $1,250. To purchase tickets, sponsor a teacher/student or donate, please visit dcisfoundation.org or send a check with instructions to DCIS Foundation, P.O. Box 9044, Denver, CO 80209. DCIS TRAVELS AND HOSTING...  DCIS families! Would you like to host an Italian student for 10 days at the end of September? Doing so is a great way to travel while never leaving the comfort of your own home. You and your family will learn about Italian culture firsthand while establishing a new connection, and hopefully, friendship. This is truly a fun and personal way to internationalize!   Please contact Sally Bishop if you are interested. FUTURES VOLLEYBALL DPS Futures Volleyball was designed to promote the sport of volleyball in Denver Public Schools. The program began in Spring 2010. Since the program's inception, the number of participants in high school volleyball has increased dramatically. Where DPS once had HS programs that struggled to host one level of volleyball, schools now have complete freshman, JV and varsity programs. The level of competition has also increased significantly. Teams regularly participate in the state tournament, and Denver East even reached the semifinals of the state championship in 2015. Well over a dozen student/athletes from the Futures Program have received athletic scholarships to attend college. If your 6th, 7th or 8th grade student is interested in participating, click here to learn more. 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   REMIND SIGN-UP FOR JUNIOR/SENIOR FAMILIES Parents and guardians: please sign up! Get text and/or email reminders about what is going on with the DCIS Counseling Department. Seniors  Juniors Sophomores IMPORTANT DATES Early April — Concurrent Enrollment Registration for off-campus college courses will begin. If your student has already taken the ACCUPLACER and received a college-ready designation, please have them see Mrs. Springsteen. May 3 — 12th grade college signing day during All-School Meeting and districtwide at University of Denver Parents and families are invited to our college signing day during our All-School Meeting (starts at 8:30 am) More info on the DU event soon May 22 — Graduation 6 pm at the University of Denver Students must arrive by 5 pm Doors open for families 5:30 pm; ceremony starts 6 pm Families will receive 10 tickets each (more available first-come, first-served basis). Students get tickets May 17 (once they check out) SENIOR ANNOUNCEMENTS Scholarship Newsletter and Other Documents FROM THE OFFICE OF WHOLE CHILD SUPPORTS The April DenverRAP Activity Calendar is here! This calendar provides information about free activities happening in the Denver area. You can find the calendar (as well as a printer-friendly version) online. Please share this with anyone who might benefit from this resource. You can also have information about free activities happening 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