Dear DCI School Community,

Fall is a wonderful time to pause, reflect, and feel thankful for the energy and dedication that makes DCI so special. We’re still glowing from the success of last weekend’s Fun Run and Book Fair — what an incredible day of connection, joy, and school pride!

October continues to bring engagement opportunities. We’re looking forward to a virtual Family Information Session on the IB CP and DP programs on October 14th at 5:30 p.m. and the second Grab & Go Community Market – DCI’s food pantry – next Thursday, October 16th from 4-5:30 p.m.

We will also round out our celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month with our Spirit Week (October 14-17) and La Gran Fiesta on Friday, October 17th from 3:00 - 5:30 p.m. DCI’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month celebration will be a student-centered celebration this year. Given the ongoing presence of federal law enforcement in DC and its impact on our community and neighbors, we felt it was best to limit the event to students and staff, since not all families are able to participate. We hope you’ll encourage your students to attend, participate, and volunteer!

Looking ahead into November, please mark your calendars for the International Potluck on Thursday, November 13th and Student-Led Conferences on November 24th and 25th, a meaningful chance for our students to reflect on their learning and share their progress with you.

As the leaves fall, we’re reminded how grateful we are for our DCI family — thank you for all you do to make this community thrive. Go Dragons!

Shout Outs!

Thank You for Making the 5th Annual DCI Fun Run + Community Bash a Success!

We couldn’t have asked for a better day — sunny fall weather, our biggest turnout yet, and an incredible display of community spirit! Thank you to our coaches, staff, and family members who came to be a part of the event and make it a success! We surpassed our fundraising goal, raising over $10,000 for DCI Athletics and the DCI Library!

Our Middle School Cross Country team came out strong for the race, the High School Baseball Team hosted a batting cage with non-stop participation, and families enjoyed free manicures, giveaways, martial arts demonstrations, local vendors, and the book fair with People’s Book.

A huge thank you to our Athletic Booster Club parents, volunteers, participants, and sponsors who made this event possible through their generosity and partnership:

Gold Dragon Sponsor (Raised $1,000): Dragon Baseball Dad

Blue Dragon Sponsors (Raised $500): Beekeeper Group, Donalies Financial Planning, LLC, Law Office of Lauren Baum, and the Gibson Family

Red Dragon Sponsors (Raised $250): De Colores Spanish Immersion Montessori, Ecoverde Cleaning, Juneberry Garage, and Dolcezza

Your support helps cover essentials like equipment, transportation, facility rentals, and coaching stipends, as well as funding two college scholarships for graduating student-athletes. Together, you’ve helped create opportunities for students to experience teamwork, joy, and belonging beyond the classroom.

👉 Share your thoughts! Help us make next year’s event even better by completing our short event feedback form.

Thank you once more, and we look forward to doing it again with you next year!

Teacher / Staff Shout Out!

Check out this week’s student to staff shout out:

I am shouting out to Coach Reyes because even though I am a sixth grader, he to me is a great and strong coach!

Please consider submitting a “shout out” to recognize your students’ teachers, staff or one another. These will be included in each bi-weekly edition of the Dispatch. Thanks!

What is Happening at DCI?

Celebrating HHM – Student and Staff Profiles!

Each year, DCI observes National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th. During this year’s celebration, we asked our Hispanic/Latino/a/x/e staff and student community to share their pride and excitement for this month, specifically, what makes them feel proud to be Hispanic/Latino/a/x/e. Please click here to read our student and staff profiles. 

Apply Now to Become a Voyager Host Family!

We are still looking for a few host families to house students coming from our partner school in Taiwan from October 26-November 9. If you are available to host a student please fill out this sign up form as soon as you are able. While most visiting students will be hosted by a DCI high schooler who will travel abroad later in the school year, we welcome any DCI family to sign up to host. Feel free to consult our host family guidelines for more details about day-to-day expectations. 

FARM Applications Due October 14th

We strongly encourage eligible families who qualify for free or reduced price school meals based on household income for the 2025-2026 school year complete the Free and Reduced school meal application (FARM) by Tuesday, October 14th. We understand that families may be experiencing changes in work or income right now, and we want to make sure every student has what they need to learn and thrive. Completing the FARM application helps connect families to healthy meals and important resources that support students throughout the school year. Click here for application instructions and more information shared in an email to families earlier this week. Email reception@dcinternationalschool.org or call (202) 808-9033 for support with completing the application.

Robotics Fundraiser!

Support DCI's robotics teams by purchasing tickets to their annual fundraising raffle! Win a free week-long stay at a house in Ireland or Spain, and help our team pay for the cost of attending district and world championships! Enter Raffle Here and click here for more information. 

Upcoming Events

RSVP Today: October Family Information Sessions: Helping Your Student Thrive in CP & DP 

Come join us October 14th and / or October 23rd for informative family sessions about the IB Career (CP) and Diploma (DP) Programs! We’ll dive into the ins and outs and provide resources and ways to help students outside of the school day. We will host two sessions—one virtual and one in-person—as part of our Café y Charla. All families are welcome to join the Café y Charla—it’s for everyone, not just Spanish-speaking families! Both sessions run from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Please complete this form to RSVP by today, October 9th (virtual session) and October 20th (in-person Café y Charla).

Join Us for Upcoming DCI Grab & Go Community Markets!

Come by on Thursday, October 16, Thursday, November 20, and Thursday, December 18 from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Main Café (enter through 14th and Aspen). We’ll have fresh fruit, canned goods, rice, beans, and more — all free! It’s a wonderful way to stock up on groceries and connect with our DCI community. For more information, please reach out to Brian Garcia, DCI’s Family Engagement Liaison, at brian.garcia@dcinternationalschool.org.

Save the Date: International Potluck on November 13th 

Let’s give thanks and celebrate our diverse DCI community by sharing our favorite dishes! Join us on Thursday, November 13th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 p.m. in the Main Cafe for an evening of food, fun, and togetherness. This is a wonderful opportunity to connect and enjoy a variety of flavors from different cultures. If you’d like to participate, please fill out this form by Monday, November 10th to let us know what dish you would like to share. We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions, please email our Family Engagement Liaison, Brian Garcia, at brian.garcia@dcinternationalschool.org.

Mark Your Calendars: Student-led Virtual Conferences Take Place Nov. 24th and 25th

Please note that this fall’s Student-led Conferences (SLCs) will take place on Monday, November 24th and Tuesday, November 25th. Please be on the lookout for future messaging that will include a link to sign up to attend your child’s virtual conferences. 

October is National Bullying Awareness Month 

On October 22nd, DCI will be celebrating Unity Day, which is a day when we can come together to send a visible message of building commUNITY through kindness, acceptance, and inclusion. The call to action is simple: wear and share the color orange. This vibrant statement becomes a conversation starter, showing support for students who have been bullied and for bullying prevention. Click here for more information about “How to Help Your Child Recognize the Signs of Bullying.”