Dear DCI School Community,

Thank you to our community for attending our 3rd Annual Lunar New Year Celebration Event this past Saturday! The celebration included beautiful student-led performances, homemade 奶茶 (nǎi chá) (boba/milk tea), delicious dumplings, Chinese calligraphy, art, and games! Check out this short video showcasing the DCI Cello Ensemble’s featured Chinese piece, Jasmine Flower (茉莉花), led by Dr. Yu – it’s our first ever cello club here at DCI!

Lunar New Year celebrations traditionally allow for moments of reflection on the past and good wishes and hope into the new year. It is also a time for family reunion and happiness. As we enter the second half of the school year, now more than ever, it is time to come together as a community.

On Friday, January 31st, DCI shared a community message reaffirming our commitments to you, our family – our school will continue to be intentional in affirming our students and staff, creating and preserving safe and inclusive spaces, and ensuring our policies and practices reflect our values. As an extension of our values, our member school – Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom PCS – is holding an Empowering Immigrant Families informational session (in-person and virtual) on Monday, February 10th at 6:15 p.m. Click here for more information and to register to attend. (Note: The registration does not ask for any personally identifiable information; it is purely for a headcount.)

DCI will continue to stand by you and ensure our school remains a place where all can learn, grow, and thrive without fear. Thank you for continuing to support us as a community. 

Important Updates

Learn More About How to Support Your College-Bound Student

Navigating the college journey can be both exciting and overwhelming for students and their families. Join us for a Café y Charla on Wednesday, February 19th, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in the Inner Library. Note: This session will be conducted exclusively in Spanish.

This Café y Charla is designed to help parents and guardians better understand how to support their college-bound student at every step of the way. Our Director of College and Career Readiness, Andrew Sanchez, College and Career Readiness Counselor, Cindy Soto, and Dayana Alvarado, a parent of a DCI alumna, will be present. Dayana's daughter graduated from DCI last year, and she will share her perspective as a parent navigating the college and career readiness process. Please complete the RSVP to confirm your attendance by Thursday, February 13th.

DCI is seeking volunteers for this year's EssenceFest on February 22nd!

EssenceFest: Celebrating Black Excellence is a vibrant school event designed to bring families together in a celebration of Black culture, history, and achievements taking place on Saturday, February 22nd from 1-4 p.m. The festival will showcase the rich traditions of the Black community through music, dance, food, and art, creating an immersive experience for all attendees. Families can engage in interactive activities, enjoy performances by local artists, and explore cultural exhibits that highlight the contributions of Black leaders and innovators. 

The event will foster unity and pride, providing a platform for education and conversation about the importance of Black excellence in shaping our world. Essence Fest aims to create lasting memories and inspire future generations to continue celebrating diversity and cultural heritage.

To volunteer, please complete this sign-up form. Thank you!

Join us for FAFSA Night on Monday, February 24th

Check out this great opportunity on Monday, February 24th from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. in the Theater to get support from experts with filling out your FAFSA and learn more about financial aid options for college. Whether you're a first-time filer or need assistance with specific questions, our team is here to guide you through the process. Aaron Lemon-Strauss, a DCI parent, will be joining us with a few of his colleagues from the US Department of Education to answer any questions you may have and assist with the application process. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to secure funding for your future! Please RSVP here by Wednesday, February 19th.

Introducing Principal Connections with Dr. Galpin

We are excited to invite all middle school families to connect with our middle school principal, Dr. Jolene Galpin and discuss this year’s school happenings. Whether you have questions, ideas, or just want to learn more about our school community, this is the perfect chance to share your thoughts and get to know our school leadership better. The meeting will take place on Thursday, February 27th from 5:30-6:30 p.m. via Zoom. Please RSVP here to ensure you receive the Zoom invitation.

Learn More about High School During the Feb. 28th Café y Charla!

Join us for a Café y Charla on Friday, February 28th from 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM in the Inner Library for a presentation about all that DCI High School has to offer. Note: This session will be conducted exclusively in Spanish. Both our Middle School Principal, Dr. Jolene Galpin, and our High School Principal, Mr. Christopher Nace, will discuss the school’s curriculum, culture, extracurricular activities, and how to set your students up for success as they prepare for life after high school. RSVP here by Tuesday, February 25th.

Spring Sports Tryouts Begin February 6th

It's time to gear up for our Spring Sports Tryouts. Please see below for tryout dates and key registration information for both middle and high school athletes. 

High School Sports Tryouts

• Feb. 6, 2025: Pitchers & Catchers for Varsity Baseball/Softball 
• Feb. 13, 2025: All Varsity Sports
• Varsity & JV Ultimate Frisbee
• Varsity Baseball
• Varsity Softball
• Varsity Men’s Tennis
• Rowing
• Men’s Volleyball
• Varsity Lacrosse
• Varsity & JV Track & Field
• eSports 

Middle School Sports Tryouts: Week of March 3, 2025*

• Coed Baseball
• Ultimate Frisbee
• Soccer
• Tennis
• Track & Field
• eSports 

*PLEASE NOTE: There is a fee for middle school sports: MS Sports cost $270 and there are discounted fees for students that qualify for FARMS and extra assistance (EA). 

Important Registration Information:

• Complete the Interest Form here to register for the sport(s) you’ll try out for.
• All athletes must have an updated physical on file in DragonFlyMax to participate. No exceptions.
• Please ensure all required documents are uploaded and completed in DragonFlyMax before tryouts.

For more information on how to register, check out this registration document that includes screenshots to walk you through the registration process online.

Shout Outs!

Let’s take a minute to recognize a few recent DCI honors:

• Pierce Lilly, (Class of 2025), will join US Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton as one of two students representing the District of Columbia during the 63rd annual United States Senate Youth Program’s (USSYP) Washington Week, to be held March 1-8, 2025. This extremely competitive merit-based program provides outstanding high school students with an intensive week-long study of the federal government and the people who lead it. Each student will also receive a $10,000 undergraduate college scholarship with encouragement to continue coursework in government, history and public affairs. Congratulations, Pierce!

• DCI was recently named a semi-finalist for Building Hope's Impact Award in the category of Education Innovation. We submitted an application in the fall to highlight our IB-for-all approach, and we are thrilled to be recognized by this competitive national award. Please keep your collective fingers crossed for us to advance as a finalist! 

• One of DCI's FIRST Tech Challenge robotics team is competing in the tri-state championships at Wheaton HS this weekend! The best 54 teams in the tri-state, whittled down from an initial field of more than 200, will compete with a chance to make it to the world championships! Come by anytime on Saturday, February 8th from 10:30 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. to see our robot in action!