Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA
PHOENIX POST
Monday, April 18th, 2022
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • TODAY: Monday, April 18th - NO SCHOOL (Grade Preparation Day)
  • Monday, April 25th - DHMS Parent Chat, 6:00pm (Spanish)
  • Friday, April 29th - DHMS Phoenix Games, 5:00-7:00pm
  • Monday, May 2nd *Updated date* - NO SCHOOL (Eid al-Fitr)
  • Monday, May 9th-Friday, May 13th - DHMS Teacher Appreciation Week
  • Tuesday, May 10th *Updated Date* - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
  • Monday, May 30th - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
  • Friday, June 10th - DHMS 8th Grade Promotion Party, 7:00-10:00pm
  • Tuesday, June 14th - DHMS 8th Grade Trip to Kings Dominion, 8:00am-6:00pm
  • Tuesday, June 14th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, June 15th - DHMS 8th Grade Promotion, 8:30am
  • Thursday, June 16th - Last Day of School (Early Release)

Visit the online DHMS Master Calendar for the complete 2021-22 calendar of dates.
DHMS PTSA News & Announcements
DHMS Families, hope you enjoyed a wonderful spring break! We are looking forward to a great rest of the school year when students return to school tomorrow, Tuesday, April 19th!
DHMS Phoenix Games: Spring Social
Friday, April 29th 5-7pm

DHMS Families- join us on Friday, April 29th from 5pm-7pm in the school driveway and field. Featuring music, popcorn, food trucks, a cake decorating contest, and a variety of outdoor games. Students who compete and "win" a game/event will earn a point for their class. The class with the most points will be treated to an outdoor party during last period later this spring.  PLEASE NOTE: This is NOT a drop-off event! 

We need lots of help to make this event a success. Please sign up to help!
Order Your 2021-22 DHMS Yearbook
Order Deadline: Friday, April 29th

Just two weeks left to order your 2021-22 DHMS Yearbook! Make sure to place your order by Friday, April 29th, and contact DHMS Yearbook Advisor, Abbey Gwydir, with any questions.
APS & Community News
2022 Your Voice Matters Survey 
Deadline Extended to April 24, 2022

Families received an email from Panorama Education with a personalized survey link on Mon, March 14. This is the biannual survey APS conducts to gather input on family engagement, student well-being, school climate and other vital areas. Responses are confidential. Details online. 
APS Bell Times Study Project

Visit apsva.us/engage/bell-study-project for details on the APS project to review school bell schedules, and start and end times, across schools, and to compare instructional minutes across school divisions. Highlights of the upcoming timeline include:

  • APS staff and vendor will present possible solutions along with recommended option for start and end times for elementary, middle, and high schools at the April 28 Board meeting as an information item.
  • The Board will take action on recommendation at the May 12 Board meeting.
Arlington Teen Summer Job Fair Is Back!

Attention young adults looking for summer positions! Arlington Teen Summer Job Fair is a free in-person event for young adults ages 14 - 18 to explore jobs, volunteer opportunities, internships and more. The Job Fair will take place on Saturday, April 23, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Thomas Jefferson Community Center. Register to attend here! Registration is not required, but registered attendees will receive updates about pre-event workshops and attending companies. Want to know more about the Teen Summer Job Fair? Attend a Q&A Webinar on April 7 at 5 p.m.
Family Programs from SCAN of Northern Virginia

Thanks to DHMS Social Worker, Christine Katcher, click here to take a look at the flyer for information about upcoming programs this spring. Registration closes TODAY, Monday, April 18th. Visit scanfamilies.org/register for more information and to register for classes.
Volunteer Opportunity for DHMS 8th Graders
Innovation ES Huskyfest - Saturday, April 30th

Innovation Elementary School's Huskyfest is Saturday, April 30th from 12-4pm! DHMS 8th Graders are invited to run stations and volunteer for many other tasks. Click here for event details, and sign up here if your student is able to help out. Please list the student name in the Comments field, and arrive 10-15 minutes before your slotted time to receive instructions. Contact Rabia Oubenadi with any questions.
Helping Students through Transitions (Like Starting High School, College, Work, or Just the Next Big Year) Wednesday, April 27, 7:30 p.m.

Upcoming Zoom Event for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers/Staff (Students also Welcome)
With Nationally-recognized, Award-winning Speaker, Teacher, and Author Keeth Matheny
Presented by Yorktown PTA

Keeth's March event on social emotional learning/social, emotional, and academic development (SEL/SEAD) received rave reviews, and YHS PTA is bringing him back on April 27 for a specialized presentation on how we all can help our kids employ SEL/SEAD concepts and skills to make transitions more easily in their lives! Please plan to join us -- this promises to be fantastic, whether you have kids heading to middle school, high school, college/work, or just another year of school. Watch for flyer and registration link, coming soon!
YHS Freshman Football - Rising 8th & 9th Graders

If your child is interested in playing Freshman Football this fall at Yorktown, please consider attending our May Parents Meeting on Wednesday, May 18th at 7:00 pm in the small auditorium, Patriots Hall, near the gym. Our head coach, Bruce Hanson along with Coach Larcamp, head Freshman coach and Coach Ruffner, head JV coach will be there to talk to you about the YHS football program and answer any questions you may have. Even if your child has not decided, this meeting is a great way to understand exactly what to expect from the program in the event they do choose to play from practice requirements to type of equipment used to coaching style. We have a great set of coaches and most of them actually teach at YHS, including the 3 mentioned above.

Freshman practices/tryouts begin on Monday, August 8th in the afternoon. Practices are mandatory and you should expect practices to run Monday - Friday and Saturday mornings.  All players must have a physical on file with the Athletic Department in order to play. A copy of the physical can be found here -https://www.yorktownsports.org/main/filesLinks/. The latest information is posted on Team App so if you have not already done so, please download Team App and request access to YHS Football. www.teamapp.com. 

If you have any questions please send an email to yhsfootballbooster@gmail.com and I’m happy to respond to your question or point you in the right direction!
COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Scheduling

Arlington County’s Public Health Division is offering FREE COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 5 years and older. Visit the Arlington County COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Scheduling website for complete details, including clinic locations and hours.

  • Schedule an Appointment through VAMS
  • If you need ADA accommodations or require assistance scheduling an appointment, call 703-228-7999. 
  • Please note: Children ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive their free COVID-19 vaccine.
DHMS PTSA Reminders
DHMS Basics: Office: 703.228.2910 / Clinic: 703.228.2940 / Attendance: 703.228.2911
​​​Get Involved: Join the PTSA / PTSA Directory / PTSA Meetings / Volunteer
Engage With APS: APS Engage / Online Form / Open Office Hours / Meetings / Agendas​​
The DHMS PTSA Phoenix Post is a weekly newsletter that informs the DHMS community about DHMS, PTSA, and relevant APS and community news. Please send any newsletter submissions to newsletter@dhmsptsa.org by Thursday at 10am for inclusion in the following Monday's Phoenix Post.