Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA

PHOENIX POST

Monday, September 26th, 2022

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • Monday, September 26th - NO SCHOOL (Rosh Hashanah)
  • Wednesday, October 5th - NO SCHOOL (Yom Kippur)
  • Monday, October 10th - NO SCHOOL for students (Countywide PL for Staff)
  • Tuesday, October 11th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
  • Wednesday, October 12th - School Picture Re-takes
  • Friday, October 14th - DHMS PTSA Candy Drive (Fundraiser) 
  • Friday, October 21st - NO SCHOOL for students (P/T Conferences)
  • Monday, October 24th - NO SCHOOL (Diwali)
  • Monday, October 31st - Halloween Costume Competition & Candy Drive Awards 
  • Monday, November 7th - End of 1st Quarter
  • Tuesday, November 8th - NO SCHOOL for students (Grade Prep for Staff)
  • Friday, November 11th - NO SCHOOL (Veterans Day)


Please visit the online master DHMS Calendar for all 2022-23 school year dates.

DHMS News & Announcements

Happy Rosh Hashanah!

Look forward to seeing all of our DHMS students when we return to school tomorrow, Tuesday, September 27th!

Order Your DHMS Spirit Wear!

Online Store Open Through Friday, October 7th


The online DHMS Spirit Wear Store is open through Friday, October 7th 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.

Shop the DHMS Spirit Wear Store

UPDATED DATE: DHMS School Picture Day

*New* 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.

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.

DHMS Author Visit - Thursday, October 6th


Author Alan Gratz will be (virtually) visiting some classrooms on Thursday, October 6th. To purchase a copy of his new book, Two Degrees, from Politics & Prose, please use this order form. The deadline is October 5th. Books will be delivered to DHMS.

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

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. Please fill out the entry form and submit it with your artwork via email to reflections@dhmsptsa.org and/or a hard copy to the main office by Friday, October 14th. (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 formPlease 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.

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

DHMS No Place for Hate Updates

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. 

Join the DHMS Equity Team for 2022-23


Greetings! I’m Dr. Glenn, your Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Coordinator at DHMS. Parent or community member … YOUR VOICE MATTERS; and I would love to work with you as we build equity in excellence at Dorothy Hamm Middle School. 


If you are interested in being a part of the DHMS equity team please complete the interest form by September 30, 2022. Click HERE to access the interest form.

DHMS PTSA Reminders

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.

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!

Opt Into the Online DHMS PTSA Directory


The online DHMS PTSA Directory will launch in early October! To be included in the initial launch, make sure to opt in via ParentVUE by Friday, September 30th as part of the APS Online Verification Process (AOVP). You can opt into the Online DHMS PTSA Directory (under "PTA Directory Information"). Additional information and resources are available on the Annual Online Verification Process webpage, including instructions for activating your ParentVUE account.


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

APS & Community News

Arlington School Board Updates


Watch the latest Arlington School Board meeting (Thursday, September 22nd), and click here for the meeting agenda, including an update on Human Resources and information on the School Board Budget Direction.


To contact the School Board, you can:

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., Sept. 28 at 7 p.m.
  • 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. 

Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology Freshman Application Process 


Attention 8th graders and their families! Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJHSST) Freshman Application Process has been updated and posted on the TJHSST website. On the site you can find out the following information:

  • Eligibility Requirements
  • Residency requirements
  • Course prerequisites
  • Applicants must have completed a full-year course of Algebra 1, or be currently enrolled in a full-year course of honors-level Algebra 1 (it’s called Algebra Intensified here at DHMS)
  • Please note that DHMS does not offer honors level Social Studies, Science or English/Language Arts nor Young Scholars so that will not have an impact on the application process
  • Applicants must have a 3.5 or higher GPA in all core academic courses (math, science, social studies, English/language arts, and if taken for high school credit, world language) at the time of application 
  • Information about how a GPA is calculated is on the site as well (under eligibility requirements)
  • The calendar of important application dates
  • The application components
  • How to complete the application
  • Application Portal (which will be available starting October 24, 2022, at 4pm)
  • Admission Decision Information
  • A YouTube video on the application process (should be available by the end of the week/early next week)

 

To access all the information stated above, please click on the link below:

https://www.fcps.edu/registration/thomas-jefferson-high-school-science-and-technology-admissions/tjhsst-freshman


General information about TJHHST admissions can be found at the link below:

https://www.fcps.edu/tjadmissions


If you would like to attend a live presentation about TJHSST from their admissions office, please click here to see when and where they’ll be held. NOTE: Here is a link to watch the YouTube video presentation from the TJHSST admissions. Be sure to watch this presentation BEFORE attending a LIVE presentation: https://youtu.be/3JyLgzAoaqg

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

Stay Connected: DHMS Calendar / DHMS Website / DHMS PTSA Directory / Morning Announcements

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 EOD Thursday for inclusion in the following Monday's Phoenix Post.

DHMS PTSA Website
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