Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA

PHOENIX POST

Monday, October 2nd, 2023

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • Tuesday, October 3rd - Grade 6 Virtual Meeting, 6:30-7:30pm
  • Wednesday, October 4th - Walk, Bike & Roll to School Day
  • Wednesday, October 4th - Grade 7 Virtual Meeting, 6:30-7:30pm
  • Thursday, October 5th - Grade 8 Virtual Meeting, 6:30-7:30pm
  • Monday, October 9th - NO SCHOOL (County PL for Staff)
  • Tuesday, October 10th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7pm
  • Thursday, October 12th - Gifted Information Session (Virtual; details below)
  • 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, 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 Grade Level Community Meetings


We hope you will attend a virtual grade level Administrator and Parent/Guardian Community Meeting this week. We'll discuss academics, sports/clubs, social-emotional learning, grade level expectations, RISE guidelines, and even have time for questions and answers. We hope you can join us, here are the dates:



  • Tuesday, October 3rd, 6:30-7:30pm: Grade 6 Virtual Meeting with Asst. Principal Lisa Moore 
  • Wednesday, October 4th, 6:30-7:30pm: Grade 7 Virtual Meeting with Asst. Principal Lauren Johnson
  • Thursday, October 5th, 6:30-7:30pm: Grade 8 Virtual Meeting with Asst. Principal Crystal Moore


The links to these virtual meetings will be sent on Monday, October 2nd!  

Join Us This Wednesday, October 4th!

Congratulations, Phoenix Fund Campaign Donut Party Winners!


Thank you to everyone who donated to the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Fund campaign to raise more than $22,000 for the DHMS PTSA to continue all its great work! 

We are thrilled to report the AMAZING results from the Phoenix Fund Campaign and our donut party winners, for the TA in each grade with the most participating students:


  • 6th grade winner: Ms. Banks’s TA
  • 7th grade winner: Ms. Welde’s TA
  • 8th grade winners (TIE!): Ms. Jeffers’ & Ms. Metzger’s TAs


Donuts will be delivered to TAs on the morning of Thursday, October 5th. 


If you haven't had a chance to donate yet, you can do so anytime. The fund is still open if you'd like to contribute to support our PTSA: Donate to the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Fund


Please contact Beth Ferrill with any questions, and thanks again for your support!

Gifted Parent Information Session

Thursday, October 12th (Virtual)


Are you wondering what gifted services look like for your Phoenix at DHMS? Advanced Academics Coach, Regina Boyd, will answer that question and provide lots of additional information on Thursday, October 12. This meeting will be virtual – the link will be sent on Monday, October 9.

DHMS Dine-out Event at The Simple Greek

Tuesday, October 17th


Save the date for the Simple Greek dine-out event on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, 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 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


DHMS Picture Day was held on Monday, September 18th. If you missed it or would like a retake, Picture Make-up Day is scheduled for 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. 


If you haven't had a chance to order a photo package yet and would like to do so, click here:

https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001028552#login



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

DHMS PTSA Updates

Dorothy Hamm PTSA Meeting

Tuesday, October 10th 7pm


Mark your calendar for our next DHMS PTSA Meeting, coming up on Tuesday, October 10th at 7pm. Stay tuend for details, and contact PTSA President, Danusha Chandy, with any questions.

Donate Your Used Sneakers!


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 13. 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.

Reminder to Opt-in: Online DHMS PTSA Directory 2023-24


The online DHMS PTSA Directory for 2023-24 will launch this month! The 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.


If you'd like to be included, make sure to select 'Yes, please provide my student/family information' under the "PTA Directory Information - Opt In" section when you complete the APS Online Back-to-School Packet.


For additional details, visit: dorothyhamm.apsva.us/ptsa/ptsa-directory. 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!

Calling All Phoenix Artists: 2023 PTA Reflections Contest


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.

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

EIP STEM Fusion Program - Application is Open!

 

EIP's STEM Fusion Program is an enrichment program designed to strengthen students' understanding of scientific and mathematical concepts. STEM Fusion comprises of five-sessions throughout the academic year. Sessions provide an overview of overarching SOL objectives and benchmarks in math and science courses. Sessions are supplemental academic support to students’ math and science courses at their base school. STEM Fusion not only introduces students to extended branches and concepts around science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), but also introduces students to concepts of Health Science, Coding and Programming, Cybersecurity, Game Design, and other STEM careers. Buses are provided. 

 

Application Link: https://tinyurl.com/SFApp2024

Application deadline: Sunday, October 8th, 2023 before 11:59pm

APS Seeks YOUR Input to help develop the 2024-30 Strategic Plan


Here is how you can engage: 

First - take the QUESTIONNAIRE (Complete by October 6th) - APS Staff & APS Parents/Guardians received an individual, one-time use link to the questionnaire via email. If you did not receive this email, please contact engage@apsva.us


Next - participate in one of the COMMUNITY FORUMS - Open to all students, staff, families, and community members. 

  • September 26: Washington-Liberty High School | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 
  • September 27: Wakefield High School | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. (Note: This session will be held in Spanish with interpretation available in English)
  • October 3: Yorktown High School | 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. 
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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