Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA

PHOENIX POST

Monday, September 19th, 2022

Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates
  • Friday, September 23rd - School Picture Day
  • 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 31stHalloween 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

Thank You, DHMS Teachers & Staff!


Thanks to all of our DHMS teachers and staff for a great DHMS Back to School Night, and to all of the parents who attended! We are looking forward to a great year together!

DHMS PTSA Meeting Follow-up


Thank you to everyone who attended the first DHMS PTSA Meeting of the year last Tuesday evening, September 13th. If you missed the meeting, click here for a copy of the presentation, and feel free to contact DHMS PTSA President, Khal Monaro, with any questions.


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.

The DHMS Spirit Wear Store Is Now Open!


The online DHMS Spirit Wear Store is now open with a wide selection of t-shirts, sweatshirts, jammie pants, and more, available in youth and adult sizes! The spirit wear store will close on Friday, October 7th, so 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

This Friday: DHMS School Picture Day

Friday, September 23rd


DHMS School Picture Day is coming up this Friday, September 23rd! 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 be held Wednesday, October 12th.


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.

Announcing the 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


DHMS Student Informational Meeting: There will be a Science Fair informational meeting held after school on Thursday, September 22nd from 2:45 to 3:15 pm in Room 349. All students (6th, 7th, and 8th) who are interested in participating in this year’s fair are encouraged to attend. If your student is interested but cannot make it, please have them contact their science teacher for more information.

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: please make sure to submit your APS Volunteer Application in order to volunteer.


DHMS Library Volunteer Sign-up - Fall 2022

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


Make sure to complete the APS Online Verification Process (AOVP) in ParentVUE to opt into the Online DHMS PTSA Directory (under "PTA Directory Information"). The 2022-23 DHMS PTSA Directory will launch at the end of September, so opt in now to make sure you are included!


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


Additional information and resources are available on the Annual Online Verification Process webpage, including instructions for activating your ParentVUE account.

APS & Community News

DHMS 8th Grade Volunteers Needed:

Innovation ES Back to School Picnic


Innovation Elementary is hosting their back to school picnic on Saturday, September 24th from 12:00-4:00pm. (Rain date is 9/25 from 12-4pm).


We will need lots of help, and would like to invite DHMS 8th graders to volunteer!

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. ***The next session is tomorrow, Tuesday, September 20th, at 6:00pm at Gunston MS.***


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
Facebook  Twitter  Instagram