Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA

PHOENIX POST

Monday, October 16th, 2023

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • Tuesday, October 17th - DHMS Dine-out Event at The Simple Greek, 4-8pm
  • Thursday, October 19th - Parent/Teacher Conferences (After school)
  • Friday, October 20th - NO SCHOOL (Parent-Teacher Conferences; Before Noon)
  • Tuesday, October 24th - School Picture Make-up Day
  • Monday, October 30th - Million Bazillion Live! 7pm
  • Monday, November 6th - End of 1st Quarter
  • Tuesday, November 7th - NO SCHOOL (Grade Preparation Day)
  • Friday, November 10th - NO SCHOOL (Veterans Day)
  • Tuesday, November 14th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7pm
  • Wednesday-Friday, November 22nd-24th - NO SCHOOL (Thanksgiving Break)


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

DHMS News & Events

DHMS PTSA Communications Reminder: Hi Phoenix Families, we've updated the DHMS PTSA communications list with those who've opted in via ParentVUE (and haven't already subscribed). Please share this link if you have friends and neighbors who would like to receive the Phoenix Post and other PTSA news.

Tomorrow Night! DHMS Dine-out Event at The Simple Greek -Tuesday, October 17th


Mark your calendar! DHMS Dine-out Night at The Simple Greek is tomorrow, Tuesday, October 17, 2023, from 4:00-8:00pm (1731 Wilson Blvd Tel: 703-875-1800)


  • To attribute your order to this fundraiser, please enter “DHMS.” as part of your last name in your online order, eg. "Smith DHMS" or give your receipt to the cashier.
  • To minimize wait times, please place your order at least two hours before pick-up: order.thesimplegreek.com  

DHMS PTSA Meeting Follow-up


Thank you to everyone who attended the October DHMS PTSA Meeting. If you missed the meeting, feel free to click here for the meeting materials, and contact DHMS PTSA President, Danusha Chandy, with any questions.

DHMS Family Life Education Presentation

Wednesday, October 18th 6:30pm


Save the Date! Family Life Education Virtual Presentation coming up on Wednesday, October 18th at 6:30pm. Meet our Health and PE Department to discuss the objectives, resources, and teaching methodologies for the Family Life Education in middle school.  

DHMS Parent/Teacher Conferences


This Fall our parent/teacher conferences will be Arena-style - held in a centralized space by grade level with teachers seated at tables around the room. Parents are welcome to drop in at any time on Thursday, October 19th, after school, or Friday morning, October 20, before noon, to spend a few minutes touching base with individual teachers. This is a great opportunity to hear from teachers about how your child is doing on assessments, assignment completion and quality, and with executive functioning skills like using the agenda and organizing their binder.  

DHMS Picture Make-up Day

Tuesday, October 24th


School Photos are now online! Families should have received an E-proof via email. Please remember to check your spam. For any questions about your student's school pictures please contact: underclass@vosphoto.com. If you are not happy with your student’s photo, Picture Re-take Day will be Tuesday, October 24th.


If you already ordered pictures and your student will be getting a retake, you MUST send back the original pictures on retake day. Your new order will be reprinted with the same package you ordered and the new image. Also, please note that student ID cards will NOT be updated with the new image if a retake occurs. 



Contact DHMS PTSA Picture Day Chair, Krista Ratwani, with questions.

Million Bazillion Live! Who Wants to be a Millionaire Show - Monday, October 30th 7pm


DHMS is proud to announce that we have been selected to host the Million Bazillion Live! Who Wants to be a Millionaire Show on October 30th at 7:00 PM. Join us for an unforgettable evening of family fun, financial literacy, games, and prizes. This game show-themed event is a great way for you and your kids to learn about money and have fun doing it. Doors open for snacks at 6:30 – the show begins at 7:00 PM in the Main Gym.

DHMS Author Visit: Order Books Online

Thursday, November 2nd


Dr. Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Long, authors of More Than a Dream: The Radical March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, will visit DHMS on Thursday, November 2 at 8:30 am. Families may order books online by following the directions listed on the order formOrders are due on Friday, October 27, and the books will be delivered to DHMS.

DHMS PTSA Updates

One Week Left! Calling All Phoenix Artists: 2023 PTA Reflections Contest


The PTA Reflections deadline is coming up next Monday! The TA class with the most entries for each grade will get a snack award! 


This year's theme is “I'm Hopeful Because ...” Interested students -- please submit your original work of art in one or more of the following categories: dance choreography, film production, literature, music composition, photography, and visual arts. Fill out this form and submit it with your artwork to reflections@dhmsptsa.org or the main office by Monday, October 23rd. Check here to make sure your submission complies with your art category-specific guideline requirements. Students can also pick up the entry form and the guidelines from the main office. Reach out to reflections@dhmsptsa.org with any questions.

Donate Your Used Sneakers

Deadline Extended to Monday, Oct. 23rd



Vote with your sneakers, are you on Team Seas or Team Trees? Donate sneakers and cleats that no longer fit and we will reuse/recycle them. To add more fun, each pair you donate will be counted towards the You Tuber Mark Rober and Mr.Beast competition of Team Seas vs Team Trees. Each dollar raised thru recycling will remove one pound of plastic from the water or plant one tree. Results to be shared with the school. Donate from Oct 3-Oct 23. Boxes near the front office. 


If you want to help with this recycling event and others this year come to the informational meeting October 3rd for the Green Team club, led by Ms. Thomas. Please contact PTSA Green Team lead, Heather Shinn, with any questions.

Online DHMS PTSA Directory 2023-24


The online DHMS PTSA Directory for 2023-24 is now available! The PTSA directory allows parents to communicate with other DHMS parents. You can search by Name, Grade, or TA, and you are able to customize the information you would like to have displayed.


Parents who choose to opt-in via ParentVUE under the "PTA Directory Information - Opt In" section are included. For additional details, including how to access the directory and set your password, please visit: dorothyhamm.apsva.us/ptsa/ptsa-directory. Please feel free to contact directory@dhmsptsa.org with any questions.

Order Your DHMS School Spirit Wear!


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.

Order Your DHMS Spirit Wear Today!

2023-24 DHMS Yearbooks Available for Sale


Check “ORDER A YEARBOOK” off your list! Click below for more details and to place your DHMS Yearbook order for the 2023-24 school year now:


Order Your DHMS Yearbook 2023-24

Community News

Resources and Supports for Students on Recent World Events



Click here for additional information.

DHMS PTSA Reminders

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

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

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.

DHMS PTSA Website
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