|
|
|
Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA
PHOENIX POST
Monday, October 9th, 2023
| | |
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates | |
-
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.
| |
|
Congratulations, Ms. E. Smith!!!
APS All-Star for September 2023
Congrats to our very own, DHMS Principal Ellen Smith, on being named an APS All Star for September 2023! A well deserved honor.
Click here for details and to watch the video!
| |
|
Tomorrow Night: DHMS PTSA Meeting
Tuesday, October 10th 7pm
Join us for our next virtual DHMS PTSA Meeting tomorrow, Tuesday, October 10th at 7:00pm to learn about parent teacher conferences (October 19-20), as well as the latest DHMS news from Ms. E. Smith and PTSA updates. Zoom link for the meeting will be sent separately. Contact DHMS PTSA President, Danusha Chandy, with any questions.
| |
|
DHMS PTSA Membership Update 2023-24
We are thrilled to share that we already have 363 total members of the DHMS PTSA this year!
- 217 parent/guardians
- 124 students
- 22 staff members
You can join the PTSA anytime! Dues are $10 per adult, $5 per student, and $5 per teacher/staff. Sponsorships are available so that our entire community can join the DHMS PTSA. Click here to join online, or if you prefer to pay by cash/check, you may download the DHMS PTSA Membership Form and send or drop off your payment in a marked envelope to the DHMS front office.
| |
|
DHMS PTSA Phoenix Fund Thank You!
Thanks to the generosity of our DHMS families for raising more than $22,000 for the DHMS PTSA through this year's Phoenix Fund Campaign. We're grateful to everyone who donated to support our school. A total of 20% of DHMS students contributed, with 24% of 6th graders, 17% of 7th graders, and 14% of 8th graders. Your contributions are greatly appreciated to fund teacher classroom grants, the 6th grade family welcome party, and much more to come this year!
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 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 form. Orders are due on Friday, October 27, and the books will be delivered to DHMS.
| |
|
Two Weeks Left! Calling All Phoenix Artists: 2023 PTA Reflections Contest
The PTA Reflections deadline is coming up in two weeks! 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!
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.
| |
|
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.
| |
|
Free Narcan Training - Wednesday, October 4th
See the flyer for details:
- Virtual - 12pm & 7pm (One hour training)
- In Person - Drop in anytime between 3pm and 6pm
Contact aari@arlingtonva.us for more information.
| |
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. | | | | |
