Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA
PHOENIX POST
Monday, August 30th, 2021
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • TODAY! Monday, August 30th - First Day of School
  • Friday, September 3rd - No School (Labor Day Holiday)
  • Monday, September 6th - No School (Labor Day)
  • Tuesday, September 7th - No School (Rosh Hashanah)
  • Friday, September 10th - Back to School Driveway Party, 5:00-7:00pm
  • Tuesday, September 14th - Bring your Parent to Back to School Night, 6:30-8:30pm
  • Thursday, September 16th - No School (Yom Kippur)
  • Tuesday, September 21st - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
  • Friday, September 24th & Monday, September 27th - DHMS School Picture Days
  • Wednesday, September 29th - Early Release Day (11:54am)

Please visit the DHMS Master Calendar for all 2021-22 school year dates.
Welcome to the 2021-22 School Year!
It was great to see so many families at the DHMS Open House last Thursday! Have a great first day of school today, and hope your DHMS student(s) enjoy Phoenix Con this week!
DHMS "Phoenix Con" Volunteers Needed
We'd love your help to kick off the school year! Students will participate in "Phoenix Con" during the first few days of school for team building, getting to know the school, their teachers, and one another. Pending APS health and safety guidelines, we could use parent volunteers to help support this event:
  • Tuesday, August 31st and Wednesday, September 1st (8:15-11:30am and 11:30am-2:15pm) - to co-lead activities and help to provide directions around the school. (Lunch will be provided for full-day volunteers.)
  • Thursday, September 2nd (2:00-3:30pm) - to serve at the after-school ice cream party
  • There are many ways to contribute! Click below to sign up:
Seeking DHMS PTSA Leads for 2021-22
The DHMS PTSA would love your help to make the 2021-22 school year a success! We are seeking leads for the following open roles. A great way to get involved, meet fellow DHMS parents, and support our school!

  • Phoenix Fund: Do you work in development or events planning? DHMS could use your help! We are eager for leadership on our Phoenix Fund committee to help us raise funds to provide additional opportunities for our students, teachers, and school community.
  • Reflections Contest Lead: Coordinate the National PTA Reflections Contest for our school (see more details below), including collecting submissions, organizing judging, submitting district entries, and recognizing participants.
  • Social Media Lead: If you enjoy posting on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, we'd love your help with DHMS PTSA social media to help our families stay connected!

More ways to help! Here are other open DHMS PTSA roles to consider:
  • PTSA Hospitality (all year; 1-2 volunteers)
  • Science Fair/STEM Lead (one event in January 2022; 1-2 volunteers)
  • Teacher & Staff Appreciation (all year; 1-2 more volunteers)

Please contact Kristen Shattuck, DHMS PTSA President, if you are interested or have any questions. Thank you for your support!
DHMS Back to School Town Hall Follow-Up
If you missed the virtual DHMS Back to School Town Hall with DHMS Principal Ellen Smith on Monday, August 16th, click below to watch the Zoom recording, and stay tuned for answers to the additional chat window questions.

Access Passcode: Phoenix1!
DHMS PTSA Back to School Family Survey
We are excited to kick off the 2021-22 school year. The DHMS PTSA is eager for your feedback on communications and programming. Please complete this brief survey to help us make this the best school year yet!
Dorothy Hamm MS Driveway Party - Friday, September 10th
Mark your calendar for the Back to School Driveway Party, September 10 from 5pm-7pm! We will welcome our new 6th graders and new students, and get everyone BACK TO SCHOOL! Teachers, administrators, parents, caregivers, siblings and students all welcome. We will have food, selfie station, music and fun. We'll need some volunteers. Please sign up below to lend a hand with setup, cleanup, and/or activities during the event, or email Caroline Holt to help out.
Bring Your Parent to Back to School Night
DHMS Back to School Night will be virtual this year. Your student will bring you “virtually” to all of their classes through Teams Meeting Links. Please hold the date – Tuesday, September 14th at 6:30pm – and reserve a space on the couch next to you for your kiddo!
Introducing the DHMS PTSA Buddy Program
Entering middle school is exciting and can also be nerve-racking at the same time! We are looking for a few (ok, hopefully, more than a few!) current students to buddy up with some new-to-DHMS students. Student buddies will get an opportunity to hang out together during Back-to-School week as well as throughout the school year. Current students can show their new DHMS student buddies their favorite parts of the school, provide tips on managing multiple classes and teachers, and what's good for lunch for a start. Everyone involved is also encouraged to come up with fun ideas of their own both buddies might enjoy! 

Please click below to sign up your DHMS student to serve as a current DHMS student buddy or if you would like a buddy for your new-to-DHMS student:


Contact DHMS VP Community, Danusha Chandy, with any questions.
Mark Your Calendar: DHMS School Picture Days
DHMS School Picture Days are Friday, September 24th and Monday, September 27th! Stay tuned for more details, including the student schedule. In the meantime, click below for more information, including Jostens photo package options:
Phoenix Rise Again to Collect Plastic Film! 
The DHMS PTSA is looking forward to participating in the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge again this year! We need one or two more families who are willing to host a plastic film collection box. We would list your address as a drop off location. Boxes, supplies and support will be provided. For more info, please email [email protected].

DHMS Families: Click here for the items to start collecting, and stay tuned for drop off locations and dates!
Back to School @ DHMS
Here are some helpful resources and reminders as we begin the 2021-22 school year:
APS Annual Online Verification Process

Families can now complete the Annual Online Verification Process (AOVP) in ParentVUE. You will be required to complete your AOVP before you are able to access any available features in ParentVUE, including class schedules and transportation routes. 

Connect with DHMS Families! Opt into the DHMS PTSA Directory: As part of the AOVP process: For each of your APS students, under PTA Student Directory - Opt In, select ‘Yes, Please provide my student/family information’ to be included in the online DHMS PTSA Directory.
Return to School Technology Information

DHMS Families, click below for a 2021-22 Return to School Message from Ms. Leon, DHMS Instructional Technology Coordinator, with key tips to make sure your student's APS iPad is ready for the return to school and other important items to note.


Visit the DHMS Technology page for additional resources and how to request technology assistance if you run into any issues.
Join the Dorothy Hamm MS PTSA

You and your family are invited to join the DHMS PTSA for 2021-22! DHMS PTSA members must renew each year (beginning July 1st) in order to vote on PTSA matters and join our community. DHMS PSTA annual dues are $10 per adult member, and $5 per student. Sponsorships are also available so that all DHMS community members may join the PTA.

Please consider a donation to the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Fund! All donations go to support the students, teachers and staff at Dorothy Hamm Middle School.
New DHMS Family & Rising 6th Grade Reminders
Sign Up for the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Post
If you haven't already, sign up for the weekly DHMS PTSA newsletter by texting PHOENIXPOST to 22828. Remind your friends to sign up as well!

Follow Us on Social Media
DHMS Student Reminders & Opportunities
2021-22 Dorothy Hamm MS Sports

Middle School Sports will return for the 2021-2022 school year! There are a variety of sports, including: Ultimate Frisbee, Girls/Boys Soccer, Tennis, Cheerleading, Girls/Boys Basketball, Wrestling, Swim, Dive and Track and Field.

If your DHMS student intends to try out they will need a completed physical form on file with Unika Dabney, our Activities Coordinator. Take a look at the Sports Page on the DHMS Website for more information.
2021-22 National PTA Reflections Contest
This year's theme is "I Will Change the World By..."

We are looking for a parent lead to coordinate this year's DHMS competition. Visit the National PTA Reflections website to learn more, and email Kristen Shattuck if you are interested. Students may submit entries in any (or all) of the categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, or Visual Arts.
APS News & Announcements
Arlington School Board Meeting

Watch the Arlington School Board Meeting (8/26/21) for the latest updates from APS Superintendent, Dr. Duran, and the School Board, including the Superintendent's Announcements and Updates (8/26/21).
APS Health and Safety Information

For the latest health and safety guidelines on the return to school, visit: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/health-safety-information/

For Frequently Asked Questions about the 2021-22 School Year, including questions on health and safety, please visit: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/faq/

For more information about the 2021-22 school year, go to: https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/
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 [email protected] by Thursday at 10am for inclusion in the following Monday's Phoenix Post.