DCIS Connect Newsletter (Nov. 14-20, 2019)

Weekly Newsletter for Parents, Staff and Students November 14–20, 2019 (Leer en Español usar el traductor de Google aquí.) DCIS Drama Club Presents   November 14, 15, 16 at 6 pm in the DCIS Auditorium   Tickets for the show can be purchased online with a credit card or at the door (cash only). $5 for students, $8 for adults, $10 for first three rows. Refreshments will be available for cash, check or credit card purchase. Also, the PTSA is selling DCIS hoodies ($25) and T-shirts ($10). You can also reserve a hoodie or T-shirt by emailing Marie Meyer.  HAPPENING THIS WEEK ... Fall Play — Almost, Maine: Thursday–Saturday, Nov. 14–16, 6 pm Lifetouch Picture Retakes: Thursday, Nov. 14 MARK YOUR CALENDAR ... Dine Out for DCIS: Thursday, Nov. 21, 4–8 pm, Panera Bread, 640 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale PTSA Board Meeting @ Dine Out (everyone welcome): Thursday, Nov. 21, 7–8 pm, Panera Bread, 640 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale CSC Meeting: Thursday, Nov. 21, 4:30-6:30 pm, DCIS Community Room NO SCHOOL: Nov. 25–29 Dining Fundraiser for DCIS Italian Exchange Program: Tuesday, Dec. 3, 4–10 pm, at Pizzeria Locale, 6th & Broadway Travel and Language Fair: Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 pm, DCIS Cafeteria and Gym CSC Meeting: Tuesday, Dec. 19, 4-6 pm, DCIS Community Room NO SCHOOL: Dec. 23–Jan. 6 FROM THE PRINCIPAL ... Greetings DCIS Community: I'm very excited that the task of finding a permanent principal is kicking off, and as mentioned below, I'm excited to throw my hat into the ring. I'm happy about the opportunity for families to provide input, as I know last year the community was unable to participate in the selection. Thanks in advance for your participation in this hiring process, and thanks for continuing to help make DCIS an amazing school for our kids!   Cheers, Dr. Gamba From Northwest Regional Superintendents Nicole Veltzé & Jesús Rodríguez We would like to thank Dr. Kyle Gamba for serving as the Interim Principal of DCIS for the 2019-20 school year. We also need to begin the search process to determine the permanent principal moving forward, and Dr. Gamba intends to apply as a candidate. To kick off the process, we will be meeting with the CSC to review the search process and identify the important characteristics that are desired for the permanent leader. We would like to invite all families to join the CSC meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, 4:30-6:30 pm, to learn more and join the discussion. More information about the process will be sent out by Nov. 25 via the school website, Facebook page and email.  DCIS TRAVEL AND LANGUAGE FAIR — ARTISANS NEEDED Thursday, Dec. 12   We've recently added 10 more exhibitors for the Travel and Language Fair and are so grateful to each of these companies willing to support our students and community. But we are looking for more local artisans to participate in our Holiday Bazaar at the 2019 DCIS Travel and Language Fair — please help us spread the word to any artisans you know who might be interested. Here's the invitation: Please join us at the Holiday Bazaar where you, along with other select artisans, will share your work with members of the entire DPS community and beyond. The event is free and open to the public and will be held on Thursday, Dec. 12, from 5 to 8 pm at the Denver Center for International Studies (574 W. 6th Ave., Denver, CO), a public middle and high school with a global focus and a unique curriculum. Our students have the opportunity to learn multiple languages, travel abroad with their classmates and participate in foreign exchange programs. All proceeds from this event benefit our community through the DCIS PTSA, a 501(c)(3) organization (EIN: 68-0664898). If you would like to participate and use this opportunity to interact with members of the entire DPS community and beyond, especially students from elementary to high school and their families, please register here or contact Marie with any questions. Artisans pay a $50 participation fee. We will provide one 6' table and chairs; no electricity is available. Setup starts at 3:30 pm the day of the event. We have plenty of parking in our lot off Delaware Street adjacent to the school for quick and easy load-in. Please comply with the relevant tax regulations. Attendees include teachers, students and parents from DCIS; Denver Public Schools faculty, staff and students; Baker and surrounding neighborhood residents; and our global community. SENIOR PASSAGES ...   My name is MC, and I am a senior at DCIS. The issue I plan to focus on with my Senior Service Project is biodiversity and all the factors that are leading to its decline, as well as the lack of awareness about this issue.   One of the most applicable ways that biodiversity is being affected in our community, and internationally, is urbanization. We obviously can't reverse urbanization, but there are a number of ways to help provide spaces for wildlife (especially bugs, small animals, etc.) in the city as well as raise awareness about the larger issue of the diminishing biodiversity in the world. I would like to address this in our community by making our school garden a wildlife habitat by partnering with the National Wildlife Federation, and updating it to have elements of a perfect wildlife habitat that will help animals and bugs — such as birds and butterflies — thrive. I would then certify it with the National Wildlife Federation in order to raise awareness about this issue in the world and more specifically in our community while also effecting change.    I need funds in order to buy a couple of things to update the garden, as well as create a donation to the National Wildlife Federation. I created a checklist of everything I will need and the prices for those items. In total it would cost about $103. The final piece of the project is to create a 5- to 10-minute video, to show evidence of the completed project, so you will be able to see how it turns out and how I used the money!  If you'd like to help fund this project, you can contribute online via the PTSA's PayPal account here. Please be sure to note "Passages" in the comments.   Thank you so much for your consideration! TEACHER WISH LISTS As we approach the Thanksgiving break (less than two weeks away!), let's continue to be thankful for our DCIS teachers and all they do for our students! If you've been thinking about making a donation by purchasing something from the wish list of a favorite teacher, now's the time! Check out the wish list here. RAISE YOUR HAND...  COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEE Our next CSC meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 21, 4:30-6:30 pm, in the Community Room at DCIS. All members of the community are welcome to sit in on these meetings and we welcome public comment. Want to know more about the role of the CSC? Minutes from past meetings and other information can be found on our page on the DCIS website.   Agenda for Thursday, Nov. 21 meeting: Welcome, Introductions, Public Comment Approval of Bylaws for 2019-20 School Year Review of Confidentiality Best Practices Follow-up on concerns brought up at the October meeting (office phones, new discipline policies) Discussion of Improvement Plan as presented to School Board on Nov. 4 Public Comment NEWSLETTER EDITOR NEEDED! Our two longtime newsletter editors will be vacating their positions at the end of this school year as the last of their kids will graduate. We already have one parent volunteer helping out and are looking for another. Having two is hugely helpful for lightening the load and providing coverage during absences, time off, etc. No experience needed — we will train. Proofreading/editing skills and an eye for detail are desirable. Once you're trained, you can expect to spend about an hour a week (sometimes more, sometimes less) to get the newsletter out on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. You'll also learn how to send out push notifications through the school app (super easy). Please send an email to dcisconnect@gmail.com. We hope you'll join us! It's a great way to keep on top of what's going on at the school and to get to know DCIS staff, other parents and students. VOLUNTEER FOR BLOSSOMS OF LIGHT Volunteers are needed nightly Friday, Nov. 29 through Friday, Jan. 3. Shifts are 4:15 to 9:15 pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens while the annual holiday lights extravaganza transforms the York Street location into a twinkling winter wonderland. A variety of volunteer opportunities are available for individuals and groups including ticket scanners, event greeters, line directors and more. Click here for position descriptions and shift times. ARTS AND PHYSICAL EDUCATION ...  VISUAL ARTS The MAG (Mobile Art Gallery) is here (until Tuesday, Nov. 19)! Please visit us in the Library, the front hallway and the center stairwell (upstairs). If you'd like a student art docent to take you or your class through, just email Dr. Susan Marion. These professional artworks from the Cherry Creek Arts Festival have been selected by students for their fascinating qualities. Teachers who want ideas for how to connect their curriculum to the art should contact Susan.   Our college seminar discussion about the nature of art is Wednesday, Nov. 12, during HS lunch (12:30-1:20 pm) in the Library.  Senior art students Sophia T. and Hanae L. will facilitate the discussion, and participants will include DCIS students, teachers and working artists. HS students who would like to watch the seminar and listen to the discussion are welcome to observe as a special event. Copies of the short, shared reading that will launch the discussion are available by request.   Artist Elizabeth Crocker shared her acrylic technique with HS students last Thursday, and the students' work inspired by her will be on display next week. Meanwhile, middle schoolers are making paper mosaics and collages and self-portrait series. Artist Viktor El-Saieh will demonstrate with students next week how he creates his cultural paintings.  Calendar of Visual Art Events DINE OUT FOR DCIS Thursday, Nov. 21, at Panera Bread Join the DCIS community and give back to the school on Thursday, Nov. 21, 4–8 pm at Panera Bread (640 S. Colorado Blvd., Glendale). The DCIS PTSA Board will meet during the dine out at Panera starting at 7 pm. RSVP here if there is something specific you want to place on the agenda. Otherwise just drop in and take part in the discussion. Everyone is welcome, even non-PTSA members.  TRAVEL CENTER NEWS ...  DCIS PLANNED TRIPS FOR 2019–20 Trips with enrollment still open: China with Ms. Liu for middle and high school students. Trip includes Beijing, the Great Wall, Suzhou, Hangzhou and Shanghai—$3,777 (Explorica) June 8 to 16 — Join Ms. Liu for a parent/student meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 13, 7:30–8:30 pm in room 120 regarding the trip.   Guatemala with Ms. Miller for middle and high school students. Students will work on a service project, hike a volcano, learn about Mayan traditions, swim, kayak, zip-line through the jungle, and improve or learning Spanish—$2,963 June 1–10 Model United Nations club trip to Denmark: DEADLINES FOR SUMMER PROGRAMS ARE RAPIDLY APPROACHING! Please contact the teachers for more information about these life-changing opportunities.  PROGRAMS OFFERING UP TO FULL SCHOLARSHIPS CIEE: Application deadline is Friday, Dec. 6 — This week, Mandi Meyer came to DCIS to talk to students about the amazing opportunities open to students through CIEE programs. For parents who are hesitant to let their student travel to a far-off country to live for three or four weeks, please review this flyer on the safety net that will be in place for your student on her/his journey.  CIEE Parent Meeting: Join us next Thursday, Nov. 21, at 7:15 p.m. in the DCIS Community Room to learn more about the quality and safety of these programs. There are also parent webinars each Thursday at 6 pm through Dec. 5 for those applying.  LOW-COST PROGRAMS Luby-Jenkins Mongolian-US Student Exchange Program: Program cost is just $400. Application deadline is Saturday, Nov. 30 — drop by the Travel Center or email Sally Bishop for information and applications. This highly impactful program is sponsored by the Denver Sister Cities.  NO-COST PROGRAMS THROUGH THE U.S. STATE DEPARTMENT  Looking for fully paid, quality educational travel opportunities? The U.S. State Department offers a number of merit-based programs for highly motivated, academically strong high school students. See their website for more details about all their programs. Deadlines for most programs are approaching fast, so don't delay! CALLING ALL COFFEE LOVERS The Italian Cultural Exchange will be selling coffee from Copper Door Coffee Roasters that has a location right here in the Baker neighborhood. This woman-owned and -run business imports coffee by women-owned coffee farms around the world. Samples will be available at the DCIS play nights, in bags at the DCIS Travel Fair, and by order from any student participating in the Italian Exchange. Support women, and support student travel! Buy your delicious coffee from our travelers.  IMPORTANT DATES Tuesday, Dec. 3, 4-10 pm: Pizzeria Locale is donating 33% of all purchases made by people mentioning the DCIS ITALIAN EXCHANGE. Please join us!  Thursday, Dec. 12, 5-8 pm: DCIS Travel and Language Fair Friday, Dec. 13 - 4-7 pm: Festa Italiana silent auction, wine tasting and food extravaganza at the Alliance Francaise, just one block from DCIS.  TRAVEL FAIR SPOTLIGHT ... ARCC PROGRAMS For almost 40 years, ARCC has offered extraordinary summer programs for teens.  ARCC offers 17 summer program options on six continents. Our summer travel programs for teens take place between June and August and last from two to four weeks.     ARCC offers three distinct styles of programming for our summer offerings: Cultural Immersion Programs — ARCC Cultural Immersion Programs expose our students to the many facets of a culture, from language, customs and food to religion and history. Focus Programs — ARCC Focus Programs drill down into a single topic important to the country or region of travel. We bring in experts to educate our students on these topics and then get hands-on experience working with these experts.  Service Learning Programs — ARCC Service Learning Programs provide authentic and meaningful service learning opportunities for our students. Using travel as a backdrop, these programs are designed to be rich, fulfilling experiences that make a positive impact both on the communities we work with and on our own students.  Learn more here. FROM THE DCIS FOUNDATION ...   On November 12, the Board of Directors voted to approve $25,000 in scholarships for the four DCIS schools. Students (and teachers) who applied for a scholarship/grants will be notified in writing by the end of the month as to whether they received a scholarship and for how much. It was an impressive fall scholarship season compared with last year — there was a 25 percent increase in overall applications and a 38 percent increase in individual applications. In total, 247 students will get the benefit of these scholarships/grants. The DCIS Foundation wishes to thank Principal Kyle Gamba and Travel Coordinator Sally Bishop for their guidance and support. Well done! Questions: dcisfoundation@gmail.com COUNSELORS' CORNER ...  COUNSELORS Tami Handley - 720-423-9006 Ted Brugman - 720-423-9094 Concurrent enrollment registration for Spring 2019: ALL students who plan on taking a concurrent enrollment class ON and OFF CAMPUS need to pick up a concurrent enrollment program agreement and concurrent enrollment student course registration form (it is two-sided and needs to be signed and completed on both sides) from the main office. This form is due Friday, Nov. 22. ALL students who want to take an OFF-CAMPUS concurrent enrollment course need to complete this form by Friday, Nov. 22.   Scott Gallegos, a Community College of Denver representative, will come to DCIS in early December (date TBD) to register students who complete steps 1 and 2. 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