Dear DCI School Community,

Welcome Back to DCI!

We’re off to a fantastic start! The first week of school has been full of energy, excitement, and the buzz of students and staff reconnecting and diving into a new year of learning. It’s wonderful to see our DCI community back in action!

ICYMI: Here are a few items to reference at the start of the year:

• Student and Family Handbook
• Middle School SY25-26 Bell Schedule
• Middle School cell phone policy
• High School SY25-26 Bell Schedule
• High School cell phone policy
• Kids Ride Free (KRF) Cards: The new SY25-26 KRF SmarTrip cards have started to be issued on a first-come, first-served basis, and students may request them at reception (1400 Main Drive or Aspen Street) after dismissal. The demand is currently more than the amount we are receiving from the District Department of Transportation (DDOT). Reminder that if your student has a KRF card from last school year, it will remain valid through September 30th. Thank you for your patience.

We’re also thrilled to share a few announcements: 

• Our SY24-25 DC CAPE data results were released and our students’ hard work continues to shine! Click here for the full message. Individual student scores will be sent through the CAPE Parent Portal later in the Fall. 
• DCI ranked again in the top 10 high schools in DC according to US News & World Report!

Looking ahead, there’s plenty on the horizon for fall at DCI. In the coming weeks, families and students can look forward to Back to School Nights with our High School (Sept. 11th) and Middle School (Sept. 16th), as well as important assessments like STAMP and MAP. Be sure to mark your calendars and keep an eye out for more details coming soon.

Here’s to a great year ahead filled with learning, growth, and community!

Shout Outs!

We know this new school year comes amidst the reality of a heightened law enforcement presence in our city. A warm shout out to our parent community who has organized to provide safe passage to / from DCI during the first week of school by identifying safe passage zones and staffing them with a parent volunteer to support a safe commute for students. Many thanks to DCI parents Anna Lefer Kuhn, Bethany Robertson, and Marta Urquilla for organizing!

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?

Get Ready for ACE! 

ACE Club Registration for Fall 2025 opens Monday, Sept. 8 at 12 p.m. New to DCI / ACE families should have received a welcome email from CommunityPass (check spam). If you didn’t receive one or can’t log in, email acedci@dcinternationalschool.org with your student’s name and grade. Official registration info, including club charts (subject to change), will be shared by week’s end.

Save the Date: Back to School Nights!

Get ready to share an evening with DCI at our High School (Thursday, September 11th) and Middle School (Tuesday, September 16th) Back to School Nights! We believe that your active involvement in your child's education is crucial to their success, and Back to School Night is the perfect occasion for you to be a part of their educational journey. We look forward to welcoming you in September!

Coming Soon: STAMP and MAP Testing

Please put the following testing dates in your calendars for September:

• Friday, Sept. 12th - High School STAMP 
• Friday, Sept. 19th - Middle School STAMP 
• Thursday, Sept. 25th - Middle School MAP (Grades 6-8)
• Friday, Sept. 26th - Middle and High School MAP (Grades 6-10) 

The STAMP Assessment measures progress in our three language tracks and helps with course placement and qualifying students for the Seal of Biliteracy. The MAP Assessment measures English, Reading, and Science growth within the academic year and over time and compares achievement nationally. More details on assessments will be shared in the coming weeks.

Sign Up to Audition for DCI’s First Strings Ensemble! 🐉🎻

DCI is excited to announce that ACE will be introducing a Strings Ensemble for the 2025-26 school year! This is an audition-only club for students ready to share their musical talent and teamwork. Auditions will be held September 9th–11th and please complete this audition application form in advance of September 9th.

Save the Date: DCI Fun Run!

Mark your calendar to join the DCI Fun Run on Saturday, October 4th! We want the whole community to come out! Click here for more information about the Run and the Community Bash!

Apply Now to Become a Voyager Host Family!

This fall, as part of our Voyager Exchange Program, DCI will be hosting four different groups of students from our partner schools around the world. If you are interested and able to host a student from France or Taiwan next fall, please fill out this sign up form by September 26th (France) and October 10th and November 14th respectively for each Taiwan trip. While most visiting students will be hosted by a DCI high schooler who will travel abroad later in the school year, we typically have a need for a few supplemental host families. Click here for more information about how to become a host. 

Calling All Academy of Health Science Grades 10-12 Students!

Global Public Service Academies (GPSA) is partnering with DCI to offer students an opportunity to receive hands-on healthcare, serving rural and historically Maya communities in Guatemala February 14th through 22nd, 2026. This program is designed for future leaders ready to learn, serve, and grow as a global health advocate. Applications are due Monday, September 15th. Click here to apply and to learn more! 

Upcoming Events

TONIGHT: Know Your Rights Virtual Meeting 

AILA-DC’s Pro Bono & Citizenship Committee is hosting a Know Your Rights (KYR) virtual meeting TONIGHT, August 28th at 6:00 p.m. This free community event will be led by attorneys and is designed to support immigrants, allies, and all community members in understanding their rights and available protections. Click here to register (this information will not be shared with anyone other than the event owners. The presentation will be held in both English and Spanish and will not be recorded. 

Join a Public Charter School Safety Town Hall on September 4th

The DC Public Charter School Board (DC PCSB) is hosting a virtual Zoom safety town hall on September 4th at 6:30 p.m. Please join charter school leaders and public officials to learn about current efforts, share concerns, and explore how we can work together to keep schools safe and welcoming for every student. Click here to RSVP.