• Tuesday, May 21st - DHMS Dines Out: Nicecream (Clarendon)
• Wednesday, May 22nd - Peaceful Parenting Presentation, 7:00-8:30pm
• Monday, May 27th - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
• Friday, June 7th - 8th Grade Promotion Party, 6:30-9:00pm
• Monday, June 10th - 8th Grade Kings Dominion Trip
• Monday, June 10th - 7th Grade Field Day, 8:00am
• Monday, June 10th - 6th Grade Field Day, 10:00am
• Wednesday, June 12th - 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:00-10:15am (Reception to follow, 10:30-11:30am)
• Friday, June 14th - Last Day of School, Early Release (12:05pm Dismissal)

Please visit the online master DHMS Calendar for all 2023-24 school year dates.

DHMS News & Events

May DHMS PTSA Meeting Follow-up

Thank you to everyone who attended last Tuesday evening's May DHMS PTSA Meeting. If you missed the meeting, click here for the meeting details, and please contact DHMS PTSA President, Danusha Chandy, with any questions.

Approved 2023-24 DHMS PTSA Budget: Click here to review the updated DHMS PTSA Budget 2023-24 the PTSA Membership voted to approve.

Proposed DHMS PTSA Organizational Structure Form: Click here to review the proposed form that the PTSA Membership will vote to approve at the June 11th PTSA Meeting. If you have any questions or feedback, please contact DHMS PTSA President, Danusha Chandy

Mark Your Calendars: DHMS SOL Dates

SOL Testing begins this week – let's keep students in school during this time: 

• 5/13 - 7th Civics and 8th Science
• 5/15 - All Reading
• 5/22 - All Math

8th Grade Parents: Order Your DHMS 2023-24 8th Grade Panoramic



The DHMS 8th Grade Panorama is coming up this Thursday, May 16th at 11:00am. There will be no make-up.

Preorder the 8th Grade Panoramic here: 

https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001086230#login

All orders placed before photo day will be shipped home with no shipping charge.

DHMS 8th Grade Promotion Party

Friday, June 7th 6:30-9:00pm

We look forward to hosting your student at the DHMS 8th Grade Promotion Party on Friday, June 7 @ 6:30 - 9:00 pm! Join your friends at a Hawaiian Luau for an evening of food, fun, games, prizes and more! 

Parents: ACT NOW!

We need your help to make this a special night for our kids. We are looking for volunteers to help decorate the cafeteria, chaperone the party, and help with clean up. Please sign up to help: 8th Grade Promotion Party Volunteer Sign-up

To help defray the costs of this great event, here is the link to the Amazon Wishlist to donate food and beverages: 8th Grade Promotion Amazon Wishlist

The DHMS PTSA is asking for a contribution of $25 to cover the expenses of the party. If you have already sent in cash or check, thank you! You also have the option to pay online HERE.

We also welcome donations that will go to help other students with financial need. Any questions about financial support, please contact Crystal Richardson or Gabrielle Bomberg.

6th and 7th Grade Parents: Field Day Volunteers Needed - Monday, June 10th



• 7th Grade Field Day is coming up on Monday, June 10th starting at 8:00am!
• 6th Grade Field Day will also be held on Monday, June 10th beginning at 10:00am!

We'd love parent volunteers to help out during both Field Day events as well as with set-up and clean-up. Food and drink donations will also be appreciated.

Look for a link to sign-up in next week's newsletter, and in the meantime, please let us know if you are interested in volunteering or contributing donations.

• 6th Grade Parents: Contact DHMS 6th Grade Counselor, Nick Kean
• 7th Grade Parents: Contact DHMS Teacher, Kathy Ascenzi

DHMS Dines Out: Nicecream - Tuesday, May 21st

Support the DHMS PTSA when you visit Nicecream in Clarendon!

The Peaceful Parenting Presentation Is Back!

Parenting: one of life's greatest gifts and greatest challenges.

Please join us:

Date: Wednesday, May 22nd

Time: 7:00-8:30pm

Where: The Dorothy Hamm Middle School Library

Gain tools to grow more confident in your roles as a parent, build a stronger connection to your child(ren), and learn about the brain science that shapes your relationship with them.

Speakers: Christine Katcher and Phyllis Thompson

Christine Katcher, LCSW, has been a social worker with Arlington Public Schools for almost 4 decades. She currently works at DHMS as the Intervention Counselor. Her experience of students and their parents is broad, ranging from preschool through high school. Some of her professional experience includes direct counseling, parent training, special education, social emotional education, and professional mentoring. She is the parent of four adult children…and one sweet cat.

Phyllis Thompson, LCSW, has recently retired from APS where she served as a school social worker, focusing on students with significant disabilities and supporting their families. Previous areas of her career include child abuse prevention, marriage and family therapy, and parenting skill building. Phyllis is the parent of two adult children.

DHMS PTSA Proposed 2024-25 Officers

As a follow up to the DHMS PTSA Nominating Committee's Report presented at last week's PTSA meeting, below is the list of proposed DHMS PTSA Officers for 2024-25:

• President: Lindsey Englerth
• VP Communications: Jane Wishneff
• VP Community: Danusha Chandy
• VP Programs: Alex Voigt
• Secretary: Kristina Boehk (volunteer)
• Treasurer: Amy Erwin

Any DHMS PTSA member may self-nominate themselves to be added to the slate of proposed 2024-25 DHMS PTSA Officers for elections to be held during the DHMS PTSA Membership Meeting on Tuesday, June 11th at 7:00pm. To submit your intent to run from the floor, send an email to president@dhmsptsa.com by Noon on Tuesday, June 11th and include your name, email address, and position you are running for. Additional details may be found in the DHMS PTSA Nominating Committee Report. 

2024-25 DHMS PTSA Committee Chairs & Leads



The DHMS PTSA is seeking parent volunteers to fill PTSA leadership positions for the 2024-25 school year. Visit dorothyhamm.apsva.us/ptsa/committee-chairs for a list of all the committee chair positions. New to DHMS families are also welcome, so if you know elementary school families who will be joining us next year, please share our call for volunteers with them, and contact the Nominating Committee or any of the current DHMS PTSA Officers with questions or if you are interested in any of the roles.

DHMS School Resource Room

The school’s resource room includes food, hygiene items, school supplies, and warm clothes. Offerings vary per month. Here are some of the items you can expect:

• Food: pasta, rice, canned goods, peanut butter, cereals, snacks
• Hygiene items: laundry detergent, soaps feminine hygiene products, toothpaste/brushes
• School supplies: binders, notebooks, pencils, backpacks, lunch boxes
• Warm clothes: jackets, sweatshirts, gloves, socks

The school social worker is also able to locate and order items by request. To make an appointment to visit the resource room, have items sent home with your student, or request items, contact Gabby Bomberg or (703)-946-9032.

Online DHMS School Spirit Wear Store

The online DHMS Spirit Wear store is open all year round! You may order anytime and items will be shipped to your home address. Select from a wide variety of tees, hoodies, hate, shorts, jammie pants, bags, and accessories in adult, women, and youth sizes. A great way to show your school spirit, and the DHMS PTSA receives 5% of sales. Click below to place your order, and contact spiritwear@dhmsptsa.org with any questions.

2023-24 DHMS Yearbooks Available for Sale

As we begin to wrap up this year, consider purchasing a Yearbook created by the DHMS 8th Grade Yearbook Class and Computer Teacher Mrs. Amna Ali. There are a limited number left to order. Last year we had to reorder at the end of the year – and books increased in cost by $20! Check out the Josten’s Website here to order. 

Can’t remember if you ordered? Look in your email for a confirmation email from Jostens – or call the DHMS Main Office, and they can check for you. 

APS & Community News



Celebrate Calm Parenting Workshop

Kenmore MS Monday, May 20th 6:30pm

All parents are encouraged and invited to attend a very important Parent Workshop and Presentation on "Stop Defiance, Yelling & Power Struggles" led by guest speaker, Mr. Kirk Martin, the founder of Celebrate Calm. Mr. Martin will demonstrate 10 ways to:

• Get your kids to listen the first time, stop defiance and disrespect, and motivate unmotivated kids; and 
• Stop daily fights over homework, screens, and morning routine.

Additional information on Mr. Martin and Celebrate Calm is available at the following website: https://celebratecalm.com/

Cherrydale Farmers Market Returns!

Saturdays at DHMS, 8:00am-Noon

Open Saturday mornings, from 8:00am to 12:00pm Noon. The market location is, adjacent to the soccer field, in the courtyard on the southeast face of the Dorothy Hamm Middle School. Stop by on Saturdays to see what's new and check ing with your favorite vendors!

DHMS Basics: Office: 703.228.2910 / Clinic: 703.228.2940 / Attendance: 703.228.2911

​​​Get Involved: Join the PTSA / PTSA Meetings / Volunteer / Phoenix Fund / Order Spirit Wear

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

Engage With APS: APS Engage / Contact the School Board / 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.