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Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA
PHOENIX POST
Monday, January 17th, 2022
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Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates |
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Monday, January 17th - NO SCHOOL (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day)
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Thursday, January 20th - Rising 6th Grade DHMS Information Night, 6:30pm (MS Teams)
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Thursday, January 27th - DHMS Course Information Night for Rising 6th, 7th, and 8th Grade Students & Families, 6:30pm (MS Teams)
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Friday, January 28th - End of 2nd Quarter
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Monday, January 31st - NO SCHOOL (Grade Preparation Day)
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Wednesday, February 9th - Early Release (11:54am Dismissal)
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Tuesday, February 15th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
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Monday, February 21st - NO SCHOOL (Presidents Day)
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DHMS PTSA News & Announcements |
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Thank you to our amazing DHMS Principal Ellen Smith, and Assistant Principals, Laurel Cerrud and Lisa Moore! We cannot thank you enough for all you do for our students and entire DHMS community. Hope you enjoyed a wonderful Principal Appreciation Week!
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Dorothy Hamm MS Information Nights
DHMS Virtual Information Session - Rising 6th Grade Parent Night: Thursday, January 20th at 6:30pm
Join the DHMS administration and staff to get to know about the middle school experience, learn about Dorothy Hamm, and get your middle school questions answered.
DHMS Virtual Academic & Course Information Night
Thursday, January 27th at 6:30pm
Rising 6th, 7th & 8th grade students and families are invited to attend our virtual academic planning night. DHMS counselors will review course information, electives options, and graduation requirements. This is an opportunity to get questions answered with regards to next year’s course selections. The program will begin with an introduction, and we will then move to specific breakout rooms for each grade level. Click the links below to join:
We hope you can join us! (The programs will be recorded if you are unable to attend.)
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APS High School Academic Planning Nights and Key Dates
Families with high school students and rising 9th graders, mark your calendar for these upcoming high school events:
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1/20/22 - Yorktown’s Academic Planning Night (virtual)
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1/21/22 - Applications for Option High Schools close at 4:00pm. (This includes the AP Network at Wakefield, W-L Pre-IB, HB Woodlawn, and Arlington Tech. See below or click here for details.)
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1/25/22 - Wakefield’s Academic Planning Night at 7:30pm (virtual)
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2/2/22 - Washington-Liberty’s Academic Planning Night (in the library as of now)
- 2/3/22 - Yorktown and Washington-Liberty visit DHMS to present to 8th Graders
Please contact Erin Pennington, DHMS 8th Grade School Counselor, if you have questions.
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Virtual Dorothy Hamm MS Science Fair
The judging window for the Virtual DHMS Science Fair will be Tuesday, January 25th-Thursday, January 27th. Mrs. Kennedy will send out a training video to judges the weekend before the judging window opens and will assign each judge several projects to evaluate. Projects will be accessed through a Google Slideshow.
A reminder to parents with students who have registered for the DHMS Science Fair: All artifacts (video and abstract) need to be submitted in Canvas by Wednesday, January 19th. Please email Mrs. Kennedy if you have any questions. Thank you!
If you are interested in helping with appreciation gifts for the DHMS Science Fair participants, please contact PTSA Science Fair Lead, Carole Russo.
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No Place for Hate Program 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 Equity & Excellence Coordinator, Dr. Glenn in room 118 or email her at kamyka.glenn@apsva.us. With your help, we will make our school community a safe and welcoming space for all.
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DHMS Morning Announcements
Morning announcements are now posted on the DHMS website. You can access the link under Quicklinks and also under About Us.
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Order Your 2021-22 DHMS Yearbook
Click below to order your 2021-22 DHMS Yearbook! Contact DHMS Yearbook Advisor, Abbey Gwydir, with any questions.
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Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the Trex Plastic Film Recycling Challenge! Remember to keep collecting your plastic bags and other acceptable items* to drop off at one of the locations below.
DHMS has the chance to win a cash prize for our school in addition to a Trex composite bench! Charter Next Generation (CNG) has committed to awarding $5,000 to the top school at each level plus $2,500 to the second highest school at each level. In addition, $2,500 will be presented to the school that most creatively and widely promotes its involvement and recycling efforts through social media and community outreach.
To that end, when you are collecting or dropping off your plastic bags, we encourage you to snap a picture and post it on Twitter with the hashtag #TrexRecyclingChallenge and #Recycle2Win to help us earn a chance to win!
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DHMS Drop-off Locations:
- 2115 N. Quinn Street
- 3500 21st Ave North
- 4324 17th Street North
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*Click here for the list of acceptable items. Please contact green@dhmsptsa.org with questions. Thank you for your help to reduce waste!
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DHMS Library Volunteers
The 2022 DHMS Library Volunteer Sign-up is now available!
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. Volunteer hours are from 8am to 2pm. Please enter the hours you will be volunteering when you sign up, and email Ms. Tsai with any questions.
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A Note from Dr. Glenn (Equity and Excellence Coordinator) and Ms. Schaefer (7th Grade School Counselor)
There is an opportunity that is available to 7th grade students. George Mason University runs a program called the Early Identification Program (EIP) Prep which begins in 8th grade.
The EIP Prep is designed to support students academically and personally through numerous activities and events. EIP Prep students are provided with weekly tutoring, mentoring, financial aid, goal setting, study skills, and a wide range of seminars that focus on college prep and admissions. In addition, EIP Prep students and parents attend a family seminar that focuses on family communication, advocacy, and planning for college. Students who successfully complete EIP Prep will transition into EIP for grades 9-12.
To qualify for the EIP Prep program you must meet the following criteria:
- Be a current 7th grade student in a participating public middle school (you are!)
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The student’s parents MAY NOT have completed a 4-year college degree in the United States
- Academic potential to enroll in a pre-college curriculum in high school
7th graders who are selected by GMU to participate in this program must attend a Strengthening the Family Workshop, attend weekly AMP sessions, maintain good grades, and attend EIP events while in 8th grade in order to successfully complete EIP Prep and be admitted into EIP for grades 9-12.
If you would like to be considered for the GMU EIP Prep program, please fill out the google form NO LATER THAN January 21, 2022. The link for the form is: https://forms.gle/DH1AvuZCgHBS4GZW7
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COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Scheduling
Arlington County’s Public Health Division is offering FREE COVID-19 vaccines to anyone 5 years and older. Visit the Arlington County COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic Scheduling website for complete details, including clinic locations and hours.
- Schedule an Appointment through VAMS
- If you need ADA accommodations or require assistance scheduling an appointment, call 703-228-7999.
- Please note: Children ages 17 and younger must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian to receive their free COVID-19 vaccine.
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COVID Response – NEW Guidance Regarding Quarantine and Isolation
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APS will reduce the quarantine period for students and staff to five days. Students who are exempt from quarantine (e.g., those with up-to-date vaccinations, are asymptomatic and are able to wear a mask) will be excluded and verified by Contact Tracers before being able to return to school. (Note: Quarantine keeps someone who was in close contact with COVID-19 away from others. View full definition.)
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APS will reduce the isolation period for staff to five days. (Note: Isolation keeps those who test positive for COVID-19 away from others, even in their own home. View full definition.)
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APS will maintain current 10-day isolation period for students with COVID-19; this is per CDC guidance that the reduced timeframe be implemented for students only with consistent physical distancing and mask protocols in place at all times, including during meals. Since we cannot maintain distancing consistently, per CDC, APS will maintain 10 days isolation for students with COVID-19.
Requirements to Return After Isolation: Please note the requirements for students to return:
- Complete 10 days of isolation from symptom onset or since testing positive (day test administered), whichever is first; AND
- Be fever free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication; AND
- Submit the End-of-Isolation Letter issued by Arlington County Public Health Division to the student’s school of record.
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Weekly Screening COVID Testing
Families must Opt In to allow students to be tested free in school. Even families who already opted in last fall must re-submit because we changed to a new testing provider in January. OPT IN
Arlington Public Schools has two testing partners (CIAN Diagnostics and ResourcePath). CIAN Diagnostics (as of January 1, 2022) provides weekly optional asymptomatic testing for students and employees, in addition to mandatory testing for employees who have an approved vaccine policy exemption. ResourcePath (as of January 1, 2022) provides daily athletics and activities testing at the comprehensive high schools, special event drive through testing, and symptomatic/exposed testing.
Arlington Public Schools strongly encourages all students and staff to sign up for free weekly COVID testing as part of our overall pandemic strategy to keep each other safe. APS is providing the free asymptomatic testing in partnership with CIAN Diagnostics and ResourcePath. View Optional Testing Schedule
Free symptomatic/exposure testing is available, by appointment, at Kenmore Middle School, from 3:30-7:30 p.m. Mon-Fri and Sat 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. A PCR-RT test is administered by medical staff and results are available through email typically within 24 hours. More information and appointments on the ResourcePath website
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High School Options & Transfers Information for SY 2022-23
For the 2022-23 secondary options and neighborhood transfers application process, there will be two separate application timelines for high school option programs and neighborhood transfers, as follows:
- Option High Schools & Programs: Families interested in attending an option school or program will be able to apply between Nov. 1, 2021 - Jan. 21, 2022.
- Neighborhood Transfers: After the Superintendent’s Annual Update on enrollment is published in January, the availability of neighborhood transfers will be shared with families. If there is availability for neighborhood transfers, families will be able to apply between Feb. 21, 2022 - March 11, 2022.
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APS Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Family Survey
The APS Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion is conducting a family survey to help shape the APS Equity Profile in development. The Equity Profile is an online platform that will highlight trends in division and school performance to more openly and effectively identify and address equity gaps among various student groups. The profile will be published online and monitored to ensure that gaps in opportunity, access, and achievement are being addressed. Your feedback is important to us. We ask students, staff and families complete the survey to help inform us of data that is important to you by Fri, Jan. 28.
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Yorktown PTA Webinar for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers of MS and HS Students
First of Three Events in our Executive Function Skills Series
HOW EXECUTIVE FUNCTION SKILLS IMPROVE STUDENT SUCCESS
Wednesday, January 27th, 2022 @ 7:30 PM
- Event Summary: How do Executive Functions skills impact planning, starting, and completing work? Learn how to build them to help your student thrive.
- For more information: Download Flyer
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REGISTER: https://bit.ly/3qoqtLd
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DHMS Basics: Office: 703.228.2910 / Clinic: 703.228.2940 / Attendance: 703.228.2911
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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.
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