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Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA
PHOENIX POST
Monday, October 10th, 2022
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Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates | |
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Monday, October 10th - NO SCHOOL for students (Countywide PL for Staff)
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Tuesday, October 11th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
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Wednesday, October 12th - School Picture Day *Re-scheduled*
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Friday, October 21st - NO SCHOOL for students (P/T Conferences)
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Monday, October 24th - NO SCHOOL (Diwali)
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Monday-Friday, October 24th-28th - One DHMS One Week Fundraiser
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Tuesday, October 25th - DHMS Lebanese Taverna Night, 5:30-6pm Pick-up @ DHMS
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Monday, October 31st - Halloween Costume Competition & Candy Drive Awards
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Wednesday, November 2nd - School Picture Re-take Day
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Monday, November 7th - End of 1st Quarter
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Tuesday, November 8th - NO SCHOOL for students (Grade Prep for Staff)
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Tuesday, November 8th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
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Friday, November 11th - NO SCHOOL (Veterans Day)
Please visit the online master DHMS Calendar for all 2022-23 school year dates.
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DHMS News & Announcements | |
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Reminder: No School for Students Today - Monday, October 11th
(Professional Learning Day for Staff)
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Tomorrow Night: October DHMS PTSA Meeting - Tuesday, October 11th 7pm
Join us for the October PTSA General Membership Meeting, which will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, October 11, 2022, starting at 7:00 p.m. This will be a hybrid meeting: onsite in the DHMS Library and virtual via Zoom. Visit dorothyhamm.apsva.us/ptsa/ptsa-meetings for the meeting agenda and draft September PTSA Meeting Minutes for approval.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87365099993?pwd=MUV0N1BYbUZaZlZVWkJORmVlTjNEQT09
Mobile +1 301 715 8592 US (Washington DC)
Meeting ID: 873 6509 9993
Passcode: 958264
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Order Your DHMS Spirit Wear!
Deadline Extended Through Wednesday!
The online DHMS Spirit Wear Store will be open through this Wednesday, October 12th with a wide selection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, jammie pants, and more, available in youth and adult sizes! Make sure to place your order today to show your DHMS school spirit! Orders will be delivered to your DHMS students. Contact DHMS Spirit Wear lead, Amanda Sutton, with any questions.
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THIS WEEK: DHMS School Picture Day
**Wednesday, October 12th**
DHMS School Picture Day has been rescheduled for Wednesday, October 12th! After picture day, parents will be able to order photos once Josten's loads the images and they are available for viewing. (Note: It may take 3-5 business days before images are available online.) School Picture Re-take Day will now be held on Wednesday, November 2nd.
Reminder: Please remind your students to avoid wearing green, which can have a negative impact on the photo due to the green screen used. Contact DHMS PTSA Picture Day Chair, Jennifer Meder, with questions.
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Support Our DHMS Halloween Candy Drive!
It’s time for our first PTSA fundraiser. We know you’re going to buy Halloween candy, so might as well support our students and earn points towards a pizza party.
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Shop Halloween Candy from the DHMS PTSA Store.
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Order candy for yourself, friends and family for delivery to your student’s TA. ***Remember to include your student's name and grade on your order form.
- Check out and submit your payment online.
- Every $1 spent earns points for your student’s TA.
- TA with the highest gross sales gets a pizza party on October 31.
Order early to avoid delays and sold out stock.
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Coming Soon: One DHMS, One Week!
Week of October 24th-28th
We are super excited to bring back One DHMS, One Week, October 24th - 28th, a week where we come together as one DHMS community to celebrate school spirit and support. It’s our biggest week of the year to give back to the school. What we have planned for the week:
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A grade level competition to drive as much class participation as possible to donate to the Phoenix Fund. We hope everyone joins to help us reach this year’s goal to raise $28,000 that will be used towards teacher grants, a brand new history/mural and various other student and teacher activities throughout the school year. Prizes will be rewarded to the top TA and grade level for highest class % participation of donations.
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Spirit Week with themes selected by the student body, activities, and updates to celebrate DHMS pride and track our progress against the fundraiser goal.
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Dine Out Night at a location restaurant where proceeds will be given back to the school - details coming soon!
You don’t have to wait until October 24th to submit your donations to the Phoenix Fund. Any donations from July 1st of this year will be counted towards the contest. Get a head start and donate now! Stay tuned for more details on spirit themes and how to participate!
One DHMS, One Week Volunteers Needed!
We are looking for volunteers to help make One DHMS, One Week a success. It’s a great way to get involved and support our school. See below for the roles we are still looking to fill, and email Phoenix Fund Lead, Melissa Hardt, if you are interested or have questions.
- Coordinate a parent happy hour the week of October 24th
- Coordinate the after school snack “party” for the winning class
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Last Week! Calling All Phoenix Artists:
2022 PTA Reflections Contest
The theme for this year's PTA Reflections Contest is “Show Your Voice!” Interested students can submit their original work of art in one or more of the following categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts.
Submit your hard-copy entry to the main office by Friday, October 14th or e-copy to reflections@dhmsptsa.org! TA Class with Most Entries Get FREE DONUTS!
(Note: Entries advancing to the county level must be in a hard copy (either physical artwork or USB for dance, film and music) and include the entry form. Please read the category-specific guidelines available on State PTA's website to make sure your submission complies with each category's requirements. Students can pick up the entry form (admin portion pre-filled by PTSA) and the submission guidelines from the main office.
The National PTA is also searching for future reflections themes - the winning entry gets a $100 prize! The theme search entry form (admin portion pre-filled by PTSA) will also be available in the school main office. Please reach out to Reflections Chairs, Jean Choi or Rashmi Sadana, with any questions, or parents, if you can help with this exciting committee! Find out more about this year's reflections contest by visiting pta.org/home/programs/reflections or https://vapta.org/programs/student-programs/reflections.
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Support the PTSA! DHMS Lebanese Taverna Night - Tuesday, October 25th
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, October 25th for DHMS Lebanese Taverna Night! We are excited to partner with Lebanese Taverna to support Dorothy Hamm MS, where you will have a chance to order and pick up your dinner right at DHMS! Click below for details, and to place your order early to confirm your pick-up between 5:30-6:00pm at DHMS, and contact Olga Kasyan with questions.
***Place Your Lebanese Taverna Online Order***
Tuesday, 10/25 Pick-up @ DHMS between 5:30-6:00pm
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Save the Date: Halloween Costume Competition on October 31
Let’s close out October with a day of Halloween festivities on October 31. DHMS students are welcome to dress up (or down) for Halloween. Students are welcome to wear their easy-on/easy-off costumes to school, subject to accessibility requirements. Students will be expected to remove costumes during PE. No weapons (fake/toy guns, knives, swords), no blood, no face masks, and PG-13-only costumes allowed. Students will compete across multiple categories:
- TA Class with the most costumes worn (% population, including both students and TAs)
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Best costume per grade (6th, 7th and 8th)
- Best overall costume
- Best faculty/staff costume
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Announcing the 2022-23 DHMS PTSA Directory
The online DHMS PTSA Directory for 2022-23 is now available: DHMS PTSA Directory 2022-23
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To be included, opt in via ParentVUE as part of the APS Online Verification Process (AOVP). You can opt into the directory under "PTA Directory Information").
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Additional information and resources are available on the Annual Online Verification Process webpage, including instructions for activating your ParentVUE account.
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The online DHMS PTSA Directory allows parents to communicate with other DHMS parents. You can search by Name, Grade, or TA for students who choose to opt into the PTSA Directory. For additional details, visit: dorothyhamm.apsva.us/ptsa/ptsa-directory, and contact directory@dhmsptsa.org with any questions.
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Follow DHMS Student Services on Twitter!
DHMS Student Services has launched its official twitter account. Throughout the school year, the Student Services department will be sharing important news, announcements, and updates about what our school is doing to support students and families. This will be a great way for the DHMS counselors, social worker, psychologist, and registrar to get the word out about happenings on Vacation Lane, along with resources and opportunities for students and families. Click here to view the account a give them a follow!
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Stay Up to Date on DHMS News!
1) Morning Announcements: We post the morning announcements on the DHMS website and Student Information Canvas course every day.
2) DHMS Broadcast Show Production: Parents can watch the latest DHMS Broadcast show production on Tuesday mornings (Wednesday if there's a 3-day weekend) on our YouTube channel.
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Dorothy Hamm MS 2022-23 Science Fair
Save the Date! The DHMS 2022-2023 Science Fair will be held on Thursday, January 19th from 6:00 to 8:30pm in the cafeteria.
Judges Needed: Guardians and community members interested in being a judge for this year’s fair can sign up using this Google form: https://forms.gle/VcDHBXSgbY1uq9K78
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DHMS Library Volunteers Needed
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
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DHMS No Place for Hate Updates | |
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No Place for Hate at DHMS
The No Place for Hate® program is an organizing framework for K-12 schools committed to creating sustainable change that leads to improved school climate developed by the Education Department of the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Participating schools are able to incorporate ADL’s anti-bias and anti-bullying resources with their existing programming to form one powerful message that all students have a place to belong. The goal of No Place for Hate® is to inspire a national movement led by students and educators who are committed to using the power of positive peer influence to build inclusive and safe schools in which all students can thrive.
To learn more or to get involved with No Place for Hate® at Dorothy Hamm Middle School, please read the letter to parents and/or contact the No Place for Hate Coordinator and DHMS Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Coordinator, Dr. Glenn, in room 118B or email her at kamyka.glenn@apsva.us. With your help, we will make our school community a safe and welcoming space for all.
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Join the DHMS PTSA for 2022-23
Thank you to everyone who has joined the DHMS PTSA this year! If you haven't already, click here to join online, or to pay by cash/check, you can download the paper form: DHMS PTSA Membership Form. Memberships are $10/adult and $5/student, and sponsorships are available. Please email Laura Floros, DHMS PTSA Membership Chair, with any questions.
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Support the DHMS PTSA When You Shop!
Support the DHMS PTSA every time you shop on Amazon! Bookmark smile.amazon.com and search for "Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA" as your charity of choice. Make sure you always shop Amazon using the smile.amazon.com link, and the DHMS PTSA will earn a percentage of sales with every purchase you make. Click here to learn more, and thank you for your support!
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Upcoming APS Events
Mark your calendar for these upcoming events, and click the links for additional details:
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Equity Profile Dashboard Community Conversations
The Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion will host Community Conversations on the Equity Profile Dashboard. The dashboard provides data and transparency related to student opportunity, access, and achievement. The community conversations will include key takeaways about student demographics, student success, and college & career readiness. The community conversations will also allow the community to provide feedback on the dashboard.
The community conversations will be held virtually on the following dates:
- Wed., Oct. 19 at 7 p.m.
- Wed., Nov. 16 at 7 p.m.
For additional information or to register to attend one of the community conversations, visit the Equity Profile Dashboard Community Conversations webpage.
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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. | | | | | |
