Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA
PHOENIX POST
Monday, October 11th, 2021
Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • Monday, October 11th - No School for Students
  • Tuesday, October 19th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
  • Thursday, October 21st - Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences, 4:00-7:00pm
  • Friday, October 22nd - No School for Students (Conferences, 8:00am-12:00pm)
  • Wednesday, October 27th - Early Release Day (11:54am)
  • Friday, October 29th - DHMS School Picture Make-Up Day
  • Monday, November 1st - Last Day of First Quarter
  • Tuesday, November 2nd - No School for Students
  • Thursday, November 4th - No School (Diwali)
  • Thursday, November 11th - No School (Veterans Day)

Download the DHMS PTSA Important Events 2021-22 calendar for all 2021-22 dates, and visit the online DHMS Master Calendar for the latest updates.
DHMS PTSA News & Announcements
Support the DHMS Phoenix Fund
One DHMS, One Week Coming Soon

We are two weeks away from One DHMS, One Week, October 25th-29th, a week dedicated to showing your school spirit and contributing to the Phoenix Fund, our annual PTSA fundraiser! Click here for details, including this year’s giving challenge across grade levels!

Get a head start and donate now to the Phoenix Fund. All donations as of August 1st count towards the grade level contests and our goal of raising $35,000 to fund a new scoreboard, art installations for the newly renovated building, and various teacher and student activities throughout the school year. 

Reminder that the top TA in each grade level with the highest percent participation will receive breakfast sponsored by the PTSA and top overall grade level will be treated to a snack bar on Wednesday, November 17th outside on the driveway.

Stay tuned for spirit week themes coming next week, and contact DHMS PTSA Phoenix Fund Lead, Melissa Hardt, with any questions.
DHMS Spirit Wear On Sale Now!
Hurry - order now! Sale ends October 15th!


Most items are custom and will be available two weeks after the sale ends (late October). During checkout, you can choose to have items delivered directly to your home (for a fee) or to DHMS (student's TA rooms). Virtual students can pick up their orders. Show your Dorothy Hamm spirit and order today!
DHMS PTSA Meeting - Tuesday, October 19th

Mark your calendar for our next DHMS PTSA Meeting, coming up on Tuesday, October 19thst at 7:00pm! Join us via Zoom to learn about student led conferences (October 21st-22nd), upcoming construction at Military Road/Nelly Custis Drive, as well as the latest DHMS news from Ms. E. Smith and updates from the PTSA. Stay tuned for the Zoom meeting link and agenda next week, and please contact DHMS PTSA President,Kristen Shattuck, with any questions.
DHMS School Photos Available to View and Order
If you haven't already, you can view and order your student(s)' photos from JostensPix anytime! Click to get started: View and Order Photos

Did You Know?
  • If your student(s)' photos do not appear in your gallery, you can find your student using Event Code: FE183321.
  • You can personalize your photos with a variety of backgrounds and text.
  • Photos are shipped directly to your home.
  • High-res digital downloads are available.
  • If you have more than one child, you can order together and pay once.

Contact Patrice Brown, DHMS Picture Day Lead, with any questions.
DHMS Lost and Found

Looking for something? Maybe a sweatshirt, water bottle, lunch bag, etc.? If so, we have a bookcase in the stairwell under the stairs on the first floor diagonal from Ms. Dabney’s office where students can check if they have lost something (door 14).
DHMS After School Activities

After School Activities at DHMS have begun! Check out the DHMS Clubs/Activities page on the DHMS website for more information, including the weekly schedule. Please contact DHMS Activities Coordinator, Unika Dabney, with any questions, and see Ellen Smith's Phoenix Flyer 10.1.21 for additional information.
Recycle Your Plastic Bags to Support Our School!

Remember to collect and drop-off your CLEAN AND DRY plastic film bags* to one of the below locations as part of the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge to help DHMS earn the chance to win a Trex composite bench for our school! DHMS volunteers will collect and deliver the bags, and keep track of the weight of film that is donated between now and April 15th. The plastic bags are used by Trex to make composite decking products.
DHMS Drop-off Locations:
  • 2115 N. Quinn Street
  • 3500 21st Ave North
  • 4324 17th Street North

*What are plastic film bags? Click here for the list of acceptable items:
  • Do Recycle: Plastic grocery bags, pallet wrap & stretch film, bread bags, bubble wrap, dry cleaning bags, newspaper sleeves, ice bags, plastic shipping envelopes, cereal bags, case overwrap
  • Do Not Recycle: Snack bags, frozen food bags, foil/silver bags, cheese bags, prepackaged deli meat bags, laundry pod bags, wrappers, dog food bags, prepackaged salad bags. These go in the trash.

Here is a list of things you should not recycle, and tips for living a plastic-free life. Please contact green@dhmsptsa.org with questions. Thank you for your help to reduce waste!
2021-22 DHMS PTSA Directory Coming Soon

Opt into the online DHMS PTSA Directory to connect with DHMS Families! The 2021-22 DHMS PTSA Directory is coming soon. To be included as part of the initial launch, make sure to opt in as part of the AOVP process in ParentVUE. For each of your APS students, under PTA Student Directory - Opt In, select ‘Yes, Please provide my student/family information’ to be included in the online DHMS PTSA Directory.

You will be required to complete your AOVP before you are able to access any available features in ParentVUE, including class schedules and transportation routes. 
DHMS Library Volunteers

Want to volunteer in the DHMS Library? Please complete your APS Volunteer Application and then sign up for hours here. We welcome volunteers for a couple hours each day. Currently, we have morning hours, but if these do not work for you, please email Ms. Tsai to see if another time can be accommodated.
2021-22 National PTA Reflections Contest
This year's theme is "I Will Change the World By..."

Calling all student artists! Submissions for this year's Reflections contest are now open! Visit the National PTA Reflections website to learn more, and email Kristen Shattuck if you are interested. Students may submit entries in any (or all) of the categories: Dance Choreography, Film Production, Literature, Music Composition, Photography, or Visual Arts. Parents: we are still looking for a Reflections chairperson! Please contact Kristen Shattuck to help us promote our wonderful DHMS student artists!
APS & Community News
APS Health and Safety Information

Parent Quick Guide for COVID-19: A daily health screener is sent to all families and employees every morning to encourage students and employees to remain at home when sick. This daily health screener provides direct guidance to students and employees on how to respond when they may have symptoms, an exposure, or tested positive. See the Parent Quick Guide, and visit https://www.apsva.us/school-year-2021-22/health-safety-information/health-screening/ for details.

COVID-19 Testing at APS Schools: APS provides FREE COVID-19 testing (symptomatic and asymptomatic) in-school for students, with parent/guardian consent, and staff. Walk-up testing is also available after school hours. 

DHMS is scheduled for testing on Wednesdays from 7:30-9:30am. Click here for the complete schedule now posted online, along with more details on how the testing is conducted. Opt in today for weekly testing or sign up for a test following symptoms or exposure. Visit apsva.us/covid-testing for additional information.
Virtual APS Middle and High School Information Nights

Virtual Middle School Information Night is on Monday, Oct. 25, 2021 at 7 p.m. Virtual High School Information Night is on Monday, Nov. 1, 2021 at 7 p.m. Families will be able to participate live the night of the event. Families unable to watch the event live will be able to view the recording after the event.

Families of students entering middle or high school in the fall of 2022 will hear an overview about APS schools, school options, application deadlines and procedures, school-based information sessions, available student resources, and more. The link to the updated School Guidebook for Families will also be shared the night of the event. 

For more information, visit: 
APS Engagement Opportunities

October is National Bullying Prevention Month. In addition, National Hispanic Heritage Month is celebrated across the county each year from Sep. 15 to Oct. 15. 

APS is currently reviewing our school division’s relationship and operations with School Resource Officers (SROs), including the review and monitoring of the APS Memorandum of Understanding with Arlington County Police Department (ACPD). Complete the community questionnaire to provide feedback on APS & ACPD School Resource Officers by Oct. 20: English | Spanish

Fall 2021 Boundary Process Engagement: APS is currently preparing for the fall 2021 boundary process that will be limited in scope and focused on refinements to provide enrollment relief to three schools for the 2022-23 school year: Abingdon Elementary School, Gunston Middle School, and Wakefield High School. Community engagement will take place from Oct. 15 to 31. Information on the proposals and the community engagement schedule are available on the Fall 2021 Boundary Process webpage.
Mark Your Calendar: Parent Support Groups
Arlington Department of Human Services

Hey there DHMS parents! It is so good to have your children back with us….in person…for this school year. I want to tell you about a great set of workshops that the Arlington Department of Human Services is offering this fall. They are guaranteed to be good! They provide all kinds of support and information that assist parents in doing the work of caring for their children…making the role of Parent a little more fun and much more effective. If you are interested in participating in one of their offerings, simply connect by clicking on one of the links found below.
Happy start to a wonderful new school year!
Christine Katcher, DHMS School Social Worker

Parent Support Group Schedule (Click title to register)
APS Volunteer Application Process

Thank you to everyone who volunteers in our schools. As part of our vaccination requirement for staff, COVID-19 vaccinations are now also required for those who want to volunteer in our schools. For those who were already approved to volunteer, you should have received a notice via email to renew your application and provide verification of your vaccination status. You can fill out the application online and find additional information regarding volunteering on the APS website.
Yorktown Dance Team Jr Dancer Workshop

Come join the award-winning Yorktown Dance Team on Tuesday, November 2nd from 10am-3pm for a day of dancing and fun! Participants will learn dance team techniques, as well as a routine choreographed by the dance team officers that they will get to perform for family and friends at the end of the day! Register at yorktowndanceteam.org, and see details in the workshop flyer.
Donations for Randolph School Community

We are collecting items for distribution to more than 100 families in the Randolph School community, which has been hard hit by COVID. Currently, we are collecting the following items: packs of toilet paper, full-sized tubes of toothpaste, hand soap, bar soap, bottles of spray cleaner, and canisters of disinfecting wipes. Please drop off your donations at 2115 N. Quinn Street by Tuesday, October 12th in time for delivery to Randolph. Thank you!
DHMS PTSA Reminders
DHMS Basics: Office: 703.228.2910 / Clinic: 703.228.2940 / Attendance: 703.228.2911
​​​Get Involved: Join the PTSA / PTSA Directory / PTSA Meetings / Volunteer
Engage With APS: APS Engage / Online Form / 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 Thursday at 10am for inclusion in the following Monday's Phoenix Post.