Dear DCI School Community,

Fall is here, and our campus is full of energy as we settle into the rhythm of the school year. From the excitement of fall sports to the launch of student clubs and activities, there are many ways to connect and reconnect at DCI. Tonight is Back to School Night for our High School families, and Middle School Back to School Night will be next Tuesday—important opportunities to meet teachers and learn more about the year ahead. 

We’re preparing to open our Grab & Go Community Market on September 18th to further support our families, and we are working closely with our student community to launch our month-long Hispanic Heritage Month celebration on Monday—an important time to honor and uplift our Latino/a/x/e community. We also invite everyone to join us for the 5th Annual Fun Run + Community Bash on Saturday, October 4th! It’s a great way to spend a fall morning—running, walking, cheering, and celebrating—while supporting DCI Athletics, the winningest program in the Public Charter School Athletic Association.

We thank our students for a smooth start to the year as we prioritized a new cell phone policy in High School and student safety. During the second week of school, we distributed temporary photo IDs and blue cards to help keep everyone safe and informed as we navigate the increased presence of law enforcement in our city. Families can also pick up red cards at our main entrances. Picture Day is coming up on October 3rd, when new IDs will be issued. These steps, along with access to ACLU “Know Your Rights” student resources and mental health support, are part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that every student feels safe, supported, and celebrated. 

Lastly, as we move through September and approach upcoming assessments, we encourage families to stay connected:

• Download our 2025-26 school year calendar and add our school’s Google Calendar to yours so that you can stay up-to-date on current events. 
• Text “yes” to 67587 to opt into DCI text messaging alerts. We communicate urgent notifications like school operation status via text messaging. 
• Bookmark our Family Portal and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram!
• Join the DCI Parent Listserv by following this link.

Shout Outs!

I would like to extend a thank you to Mr. McKenney, a senior history/english/global politics teacher who comes at teaching with so much love and enthusiasm. He is such a sweet person and makes sure all of his students feel acknowledged and cared for. I know senior year won't be as bad because he is there.  –  Meren Hoffpauir

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?

REMINDER: Upcoming STAMP and MAP Testing

Please take note of the following September testing dates:

• Friday, Sept. 12th - High School STAMP (12:30 p.m. early dismissal for HS) 
• Athletic-related activities will go on as planned. 
• Friday, Sept. 19th - Middle School STAMP (12:30 p.m. early dismissal for MS) 
• ACE and Athletic activities will go on as planned. Participating 6th graders should report to the 6th grade cafe and 7th and 8th graders should report to the main cafe at dismissal.
• Thursday, Sept. 25th - Middle School MAP (Grades 6-8; release at regular dismissal time)
• Friday, Sept. 26th - Middle and High School MAP (Grades 6-10) (12:30 p.m. early dismissal for all grade levels. 
• ACE and Athletic activity will go on as planned. ACE and Athletic activities will go on as planned. Participating 6th graders should report to the 6th grade cafe and 7th and 8th graders should report to the main cafe at dismissal.

The STAMP Assessment measures progress in our three language tracks. The MAP Assessment measures English, Reading, and Science growth within the academic year and over time and compares achievement nationally. For more information about both STAMP and MAP testing, please read the full message shared this week. 

Fall ACE Updates

Thank you to those that have already enrolled in Fall ACE! If you are not enrolled yet, but are still interested, there are still spots open! Check out the list of opportunities, starting on page 7, here. Please note that some entries are listed “FULL” in red if space is no longer available.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER

CLICK HERE TO ACCESS OUR GENERAL REGISTRATION INFORMATION

Fall ACE Clubs start Monday, September 15th, and run until Friday, December 5th. Please note that there will be no ACE on federal holidays, days when DCI is closed, during Student-Led Conferences (November 24-25), and the entire Thanksgiving week. 

Upcoming Events

Check Out Middle School Back to School Night on Tuesday, September 16th 

We look forward to welcoming our middle school families starting at 4:45 p.m. for the optional resource fair in the inner and outer libraries and to run through your child’s schedule starting in their ATL class at 5:15 p.m.! Click here for more information about next week’s Middle School Back to School Night. 

Attention Class of 2026: Senior Parent Night Scheduled for September 17th

DCI is hosting an in-person, informational parent night to give an overview of the year for your future graduates. If you would like to request interpretation services, please submit this form by 12:00 p.m. on September 14th. Click here for more information. 

Grab and Go Monthly Community Market Begins on September 18th 

The first Grab and Go Community Market will be hosted on Thursday, September 18th from 4:00 to 5:30 p.m. in the Main Cafe which can be entered through 14th and Aspen. We will have canned goods, fresh fruit, rice, beans, and more for free! For more information, please contact DCI’s FamilyParent Engagement Liaison, Brian Garcia at brian.garcia@dcinternationalschool.org.

RSVP Now to Join the Virtual Toddle Information Session on September 18th and Café y Charla on September 23rd

Join us for a virtual family information session on Thursday, September 18th to learn about the Toddle platform! We will also be hosting an in-person Café y Charla session on Tuesday, September 23rd. 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. Complete this form and RSVP by Tuesday, September 16th and Tuesday, September 23rd respectively for the session you’d like to attend. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to our Family Engagement Liaison, Brian Garcia at brian.garcia@dcinternationalschool.org.

Join us at our 5th Annual Fun Run + Community Bash on October 4th!

We invite everyone to come out and join the 5th Annual Fun Run + Community Bash on Saturday, October 4th. Kick off the school year with a morning of active fun and support DCI Athletics–the winningest program in the Public Charter School Athletic Association. 

The Fun Run kicks off at 10:00 a.m. at Rock Creek followed by the Community Bash (free and open to all!) from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Families, students, and local partners will come together to celebrate school spirit while supporting DCI’s athletics program and student life opportunities. There will be a book fair in partnership with People's Book, a batting cage hosted by the baseball team, DCI-parent run businesses and local vendors.

🎉 Early Bird Discounts end Friday, September 12th!

• Use code EARLY20 for 20% off individual & family entries
• Use code FRIEND10 for 10% off friend & family sponsorships
• Community Bash tickets are FREE, but please register so you can get updates

Don’t miss out—sign up today and let’s make this fall unforgettable!