Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA

PHOENIX POST

Monday, December 5th, 2022

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • Tuesday, December 6th - DHMS Orchestra Concert, 7pm (Auditorium)
  • Wednesday, December 7th - Early Release (12:05pm Dismissal)
  • Thursday, December 8th-Wednesday, December 14th - DHMS Book Fair
  • Friday, December 9th - Re-scheduled DHMS School Picture Re-take Day
  • Tuesday, December 13th - DHMS Parent Chat/PTSA Meeting, 8:30am (Virtual)
  • Tuesday, December 13th - Grade 8 We Are Writers Event, 6:30-8pm (Third Floor)
  • Wednesday, December 14th - DHMS Chorus Concert, 7pm (Auditorium)
  • Monday, December 19th-Friday, December 30th - NO SCHOOL (Winter Break)
  • Monday, January 2nd - NO SCHOOL (New Year's Day Observed)


Please visit the online master DHMS Calendar for all 2022-23 school year dates.

DHMS News & Announcements

The DHMS Book Fair Opens This Thursday!

Thursday, December 8th-Wednesday, December 14th


The DHMS Library will be hosting a book fair beginning this Thursday, December 8th through Wednesday, December 14th. Your student will visit the book fair during their Reading (6th grade) or English (7th/8th grade) classes. They will also be able to visit the book fair before school from 7:40-8:10am, during lunch, during Phoenix Time, and briefly after school (until 2:45pm). Proceeds from the book fair support the purchase of books, author visits, and other library needs.


Volunteers Needed: We need a few more volunteers if you can help out for an hour or two. Thank you! Click to sign up: DHMS Book Fair Volunteer Sign-Up


DHMS Book Fair Evening Event: Tuesday, December 13th 6:00-8:00pm

All are welcome to come visit the book fair! 8th grade families, make sure to stop by the book fair during the 'We Are Writers' event, to be held on the same evening.

DHMS 8th Grade 'We Are Writers' - Tuesday, December 13th 6:30-8:00pm

One More Week to Donate Food/Drinks!


DHMS 8th Grade Parents, we need your help to make our "We Are Writers" event on Tuesday, December 13th a success! Thank you to everyone who has already signed up, and if you haven't already pease consider donating food, drinks, and/or supplies for our 8th Grade families and DHMS staff to enjoy. We also need volunteers for set-up and clean-up if you can lend a hand. Below is the link to the sign-up:



DHMS 8th Grade We Are Writers Event Sign-Up


All DHMS 8th Grade families are invited! Click here for the event flyer for more details, and feel free to contact Ms. Donnelly with any questions.

Re-scheduled DHMS Picture Re-Take Day

Friday, December 9th


Due to last Friday’s school closure, DHMS School Picture Re-Take Day has been re-scheduled for this Friday, December 9th. If you missed the first Picture Day or you’d like your picture retaken, teachers will let students know when to get their picture taken.


Parent Volunteer Needed: If you are available between 7:15am-12:30pm on Friday, December 9th to staff the check-in table, please contact DHMS PTSA Picture Day Chair, Jennifer Meder. Thank you!


If you don’t need your picture retaken, you can view and order photos at https://shop.jostenspix.com.

  • Find your student using event code FE5622.
  • You can personalize your photos with a variety of backgrounds and text.
  • Photos are shipped directly to your home.
  • High-res digital downloads are available.

Support DHMS When You Order Your Holiday Cards at Minted!


We’re excited to announce that we’re partnering with Minted this holiday season! Please support the DHMS PTSA by ordering your holiday cards & gifts from Minted using our promo code FUNDRAISEDHMS. You’ll get 20% OFF your order, and 15% of every purchase made using our code will be donated back to us at the end of the year. 


FUNDRAISEDHMS is valid toward all Minted orders, excluding fine art prints, commissioned art, customizable fine art, all products purchased from the “direct from artist” section of our website, fabric goods, Minted More membership fees, Photo Op or styling or customization services. Discounts may be applied towards any Disney-branded merchandise, however Minted does not pay donations on these orders. Discounts and donations do not apply to shipping charges or tax, and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions, including discounted credit.

DHMS Corporate Donation Drive


DHMS families are invited to share our corporate donation drive with their employers, local business, and friends and family. More information is available in our MemberHub store: "Support a culture of teamwork, cooperation, and appreciation of sacrifice with your tax deductible corporate donation to the Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA!" 


https://dhmsptsa.memberhub.com/store/items/812320

Donate to the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Fund


If you didn’t have a chance during One DHMS One Week, you can still donate to the Phoenix Fund.  This year’s contributions will be used to support a variety of student and teacher activities throughout the school year.   Every contribution helps, no matter how small. Thank you for your contribution to help make DHMS the very best experience for our middle schoolers.

Donate to the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Fund

Dorothy Hamm MS Winter Holiday Gift Giveaway: 

Regalos Para las Fiestas de Invierno


Dear DHMS Parent, if you feel you need support with gift giving this holiday season, we invite you to sign up to receive gifts for your children. Simply click the SignUpGenius link below where you can select up to 4 gifts. In the week before our holiday break (the week of the 12-16th), you will be able to pick up your gifts from DHMS any time during the regular school hours (7:30 – 4:30). If you have any questions, please feel free to email Christine Katcher, our DHMS school social worker, or Henry Cardenas, our DHMS bilingual parent liaison.


The deadline for gift requests is Thursday, December 8th. This offer is being given on a first come first serve basis: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0a4eaba822a7f85-winter1

Regalos Para las Fiestas de Invierno

Estimado padre de DHMS, si usted siente que necesita apoyo con obsequios en esta temporada de fiestas, lo invitamos a inscribirse para recibir regalos para sus estudiantes. Simplemente use el código QR para ir a Sign Up Genius donde usted puede seleccionar hasta 4 regalos.


En la semana antes de las vacaciones (la semana del 12 al 16), usted podrá recoger sus regalos en DHMS en cualquier momento durante el horario escolar regular (7:30 - 4:30).

Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en enviar un correo electrónico a Christine Katcher, nuestra trabajadora social de la escuela de DHMS, o a Henry Cardenas, nuestro intermediario de familias bilingüe de DHMS. La fecha límite para las solicitudes de regalos es el jueves 8 de diciembre.

7th Grade Outdoor Lab Field Trip 


DHMS 7th grade science classes are going to the Outdoor Lab the week of December 12th! Reminder: Student permission slips are due TODAY, Monday, December 5th, in order to attend.


Parent chaperones are still needed: If you are interested in volunteering, please contact your child’s science teacher for more information.

DHMS Yearbook Photos Needed!

 

Please help the DHMS Yearbook team by uploading fun photos from fall activities at DHMS. Sports games, club meetings, Driveway party, hanging with friends. Upload photos directly to Josten’s DHMS photo site by following the instructions below, or clicking here for more details.

 

LOG ON TO: images.jostens.com

Enter Login ID: 0s7ogMI5ev2uUTscS5kdSvA

  • Click on “Select My Images.”
  • Browse to select the photo(s) you wish to upload.
  • Click “Upload Chosen Images.”
  • Contact DHMS Yearbook Lead, Ms. Richardson, with any questions.

Keep Recycling Your Plastic Film With DHMS!


Thanks to our partnership with Trex, a Virginia-based company that uses plastic film to produce composite decking products, we are competing for a chance to win a Trex composite bench, and to educate our community about recycling plastic. Follow the steps below:



  1. Collect plastic film listed on the acceptable list.
  2. Weigh your plastic film. (Kids on a bathroom scale with and without the plastic film is a great way to weigh!)
  3. Email the weight of your plastic film to green@dhmsptsa.org. 
  4. Bring your plastic film to the Cherrydale Safeway, 3713 Langston Blvd, and place it in one of the two white plastic film collection boxes located just outside the store.


List of Acceptable Materials: https://nextrex.com/view/educate#materials1

Video: Plastic bag and Film recycling with NexTrex!

Volunteer in the DHMS Library


Volunteer to help out in the DHMS Library! See details in the link below and volunteer for as many days as you'd like. Feel free to come between 9am and 12pm for an hour or two (you can let Ms. Tsai know in the comments), and contact Ms. Tsai with any questions. Reminder: Make sure to submit your APS Volunteer Application BEFORE you volunteer.


DHMS Library Volunteer Sign-up - Fall 2022

Community Updates

2023-24 School Year Calendar 


At the December 1 School Board meeting, the School Board received recommendations on the 2023-24 School Year Calendar proposals. Based on the discussion and feedback from families and staff, APS is revisiting options 1 and 2, and is modifying option 2 to provide a full 180 instructional days. At the School Board Meeting on December 15, they will vote on the final school year calendar.


The proposed option 2 was favored over options 1 and 3 with the stakeholder survey receiving 38.11% of the votes followed by option 3 with 33.59% and option 1 with 28.31%. The revised option 2 starts school on August 28, aligning with the current start date for the 2022-23 school year. Ten-month staff will report on August 17. On the initial proposed option 2 calendar, April 1 was included in the spring break. In revising option 2, April 1 will become a school day. Making this revision to option 2 increases the number of instructional days by 1 to include a calendar with 180 instructional days and 193 teacher workdays. View the Revised Option Two Calendar

Support AFAC With Hardt of Christmas

Saturday, December 17th


Join DHMS classmate Cole Hardt (7th grader) and his family charity Hardt of Christmas on Saturday, December 17th at 9:00 a.m. in the DHMS parking lot (near the soccer field) for a volunteer event.


Help Cole reach his goal of donating 75 food kits to families in need by filling bags with each of the below items.  Drop off your donations at the volunteer event and stick around to decorate ornaments and organize bags.  

  • 1 bottle vegetable cooking oil
  • 1 bag of granulated white sugar
  • 1 bag of flour (all purpose or masa)
  • Low sodium canned soups (any flavor)
  • Ground coffee (can or bag is fine)
  • Holiday item(s) such as gift cards, holiday treats, ingredients to make cookies, cookie cutters, and cookbooks to name a few ideas. 


Show up or reach out with questions or to confirm your participation to Melissa Hardt or 571-535-6063.

Mom's Holiday Lights Recycling


Drop off your broken holiday lights for recycling November 25th-January 31st at MOM's Organic Market (located at 1901 N. Veitch St. Arlington, VA 22201). We get an extra boost of cheer knowing. MOM's customers diverted 17 tons of holiday lights from the landfill! Recycled lights are broken down through melting and shredding to recover raw materials that are repurposed into roofing and construction materials, piping, car batteries, other electronics, lead wheel weights, flatware, jewelry, and more! Click here to learn more.

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

Donate: Phoenix FundAmazon Smile (Search for "Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA)

Stay Connected: DHMS Calendar / DHMS Website / DHMS PTSA Directory / Morning Announcements

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 EOD Thursday for inclusion in the following Monday's Phoenix Post.

DHMS PTSA Website
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