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Dorothy Hamm Middle School PTSA
PHOENIX POST
Monday, August 14th, 2023
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Mark Your Calendar: Upcoming DHMS Dates | |
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Thursday, August 24th - DHMS Open House (details below)
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Monday, August 28th - First Day of School! (7:40am doors open)
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Friday, September 1st - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
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Monday, September 4th - NO SCHOOL (Labor Day)
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Friday, September 8th - 6th Grade Family Welcome Party, 4:30-6:00pm
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Tuesday, September 12th - DHMS PTSA Meeting, 6:00pm (before BTSN)
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Tuesday, September 12th - DHMS Back to School Night, 6:30-8:30pm
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Monday, September 18th - DHMS School Picture Day
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Monday, September 25th - NO SCHOOL (Yom Kippur)
Please visit the online master DHMS Calendar for all 2023-24 school year dates.
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DHMS News & Announcements | |
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Welcome to the first issue of the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Post for the 2023-24 school year! We hope you enjoyed a wonderful summer, and we are thrilled to welcome all rising 6th grade and new DHMS families to our community and welcome back all returning students!
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DHMS PTSA Communication Reminders
If your student(s) have graduated or departed DHMS, you are welcome to continue to receive emails from the PTSA as long as you'd like, but if you would like to unsubscribe from future messages, please click the UNSUBSCRIBE link at the bottom of this newsletter.
Rising 6th Grade and New DHMS families: Please help us remind those who are new to DHMS to sign up to receive the DHMS PTSA Phoenix Post newsletter and other messages from the PTSA. Contact communications@dhmsptsa.org with any questions.
Stay Engaged! If you haven't already, make sure to follow us on Twitter and Instagram and join our Facebook group to stay up to date on the latest PTSA news.
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Welcome from our PTSA President | |
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Dear DHMS Families,
On behalf of the Dorothy Hamm MS PTSA, welcome to the 2023-2024 school year! The goals of the PTSA are to build community, make connections, support our students and
teachers, and inform our DHMS families. The PTSA has already been working hard to plan
fun and engaging community building activities, teacher appreciation events, and more
educational opportunities for all students.
But none of this is possible without your support. We need you to join and engage!
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Join the DHMS PTSA (see details below) and subscribe to PTSA communications.
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Engage with us. Visit our website to stay up-to-date on the latest PTSA events and sponsored activities. Follow us on social media (see above).
- Attend PTSA meetings and add them to your calendar. General membership meetings are hybrid, held every second Tuesday of the month at 7pm in-person at DHMS and virtually via Zoom.
- Volunteer for any of our open Committee positions (see below) and support our monthly activities. You can also keep an eye out for notices in the newsletter.
With your help, we can make the 2023-2024 school year the best yet!
Sincerely,
Danusha Chandy
DHMS PTSA President 2023-2024
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Join the DHMS PTSA for 2023-24!
All are welcome and encouraged to join the DHMS PTSA for the new school year! Your membership dues play an important role in funding our PTSA budget, allow you to vote on all DHMS PTSA matters, and show your support for our DHMS community.
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 below to join online, or if you prefer to pay by cash/check, you may download the DHMS PTSA Membership Form (2023-24) and send or drop off your payment in a marked envelope to the DHMS front office.
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Mark Your Calendar: DHMS Open House
The DHMS Open House is coming up on Thursday, August 24th. This is a chance for students to drop in and meet their Team of Teachers and find their TA (homeroom) classroom. Visit anytime during your child's grade level window. See the schedule below, and look forward to seeing you there!
- 6th Grade - 8:30-10:00am
- 7th Grade - 10:30am-12:00pm
- 8th Grade - 1:00-2:30pm
Volunteers Needed: We are looking for parents to help out with hosting the PTSA Table in the cafeteria at Open House. Click below to sign up for a shift if you are able to help out:
DHMS Open House PTSA Table Volunteer Sign-up
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Show Your DHMS School Spirit!
We have a new online DHMS PTSA Spirit Wear store this year! 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.
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DHMS School Supply List for 2023-24
Still need to get your school supplies for the new year? Here is the DHMS School Supply List. DHMS uses the ONE Binder approach to support student organization. This requires regular maintenance by students (refilling the pencil pouch, hole punching, filing, recycling unimportant papers) and will be supported through TA! Students will carry with them during the day: the One Binder, an iPad, and a reading book. All other items will be stored in lockers for access at different times.
Every student will be given a student planner (agenda) on the first day of school for noting homework and due dates.
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Submit Your Feedback! APS Middle School Boundary Planning Unit Data Review
APS recently announced a proposal that would adjust the middle school boundaries in order to balance middle school enrollment, while also moving the M.S. Dual-Language Immersion Program from Gunston M.S. to Kenmore M.S. The proposed boundary changes and program move would go into effect for the 2025-2026 school year. Under the new proposal, the walking zone for DHMS would be significantly decreased.
APS invites community members to review the data by planning unit for use in the upcoming Fall 2023 boundary process for middle schools. You can share your input by responding to the data review information available online in English and Spanish until Sept. 1.
If you would like to share your views with the DHMS PTSA Board and would like us to consider taking a consolidated stance, please fill out this form.
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Donations & Volunteers Needed!
DHMS Staff Welcome Back Breakfast
Friday, August 25th
Please join us in welcoming back our amazing teachers and staff for another great year. Any and all help will be greatly appreciated. Please consider signing up to help and show our appreciation. Click below for details, and contact Teresa Mason with any questions.
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6th Grade Family Welcome Party
Friday, September 8th, 4:30-6:00pm
Welcome 6th grade families to Dorothy Hamm Middle School! Get to know your new friends (and see your old ones too!) and DHMS family at the 6th Grade Family Welcome Party on Friday, September, 8th from 4:30-6:00pm for all 6th graders and their families. This event is for parents and their 6th grade student(s), and just a reminder that this is not a drop-off event. Join us at Dorothy Hamm for a great time of games, music, prizes and The Kona Ice Truck! Please email Nicki Ferramosca with any questions, and be on the lookout for volunteer and donation opportunities. Hope to see you there!
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Save the Date: DHMS PTSA Meeting
Tuesday, September 12th 6:00pm
Mark your calendar for the first DHMS PTSA Meeting of the 2023-24 school year! Join us at Dorothy Hamm before Back to School Night at 6:00pm on Tuesday, September 12th to connect with fellow DHMS families and hear from our PTSA President and other PTSA leads about what's ahead this school year and how you can get involved. The meeting will wrap up before Back to School Night begins. Please contact PTSA President, Danusha Chandy, with any questions.
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Coming Soon! DHMS School Picture Day
Monday, September 18th
Mark your calendars! DHMS Picture Day is coming up on Monday, September 18th with retakes scheduled for Tuesday, October 12th.
We are in need of volunteers to help the day go smoothly. Please consider signing up to help: DHMS Picture Day Volunteer Sign-up
Contact DHMS PTSA Picture Day Chair, Krista Ratwani, with questions.
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Open 2023-24 DHMS PTSA Roles
Thank you to everyone who has volunteered to serve as DHMS PTSA Committee Chairs and PTSA leads this year! We have a few open roles we are still looking to fill:
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65th Anniversary of DHMS Integration Lead: Work with the DHMS team to plan and coordinate this year's special events as part of the 65th anniversary of DHMS' integration
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ACTL Representative: Serve as the DHMS liaison for the APS Advisory Council on Teaching & Learning (ACTL) by attending monthly meetings and reporting back to the PTSA with updates and follow-up items
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Nominating Committee Chair (Spring 2024): Help with the DHMS PTSA officer nomination and election process to select next year's PTSA leaders
Click here for a list of all the DHMS PTSA officers and committee chairs, and reach out to Danusha Chandy, PTSA President, with any questions or if you'd like to get involved.
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Calling All DHMS Artists! National PTA Reflections Contest 2023-24
Is your student bored? Need a reason to create? Have them complete one (or more) entries for the National PTA Reflections Contest. The theme this year is “I’m Hopeful Because…” Find more information about the National PTA Refections Contest here! Entries will be collected in September.
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Online DHMS PTSA Directory 2023-24
Coming in August, 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 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.
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Yorktown HS Dance Team 2023-24 Activities
The Yorktown High School Dance Team (YDT) along with the spirit program is excited to announce our 2023-24 activities. This year we are trying a new approach of presenting opportunities for the whole year at once and offering bundling discounts, including a Middle School Back-To-School Night activity! There will still be chances to book each event separately at a later date. All activities tack place at Yorktown High School either in the gym or in the cafeteria.
The team of 12 dancers is self-funded and relies on revenue generated by these activities to pay for scholarships, uniforms, competitions, training, music and choreography. Girls and boys K-8 grades (unless otherwise noted) are invited to participate. For Middle School only there is a May Cheer and Dance HS Prep Clinic to prepare interested dancers for tryouts!
Follow the link below to our SquadUP page for dates, bundles, and pricing discounts: https://www.squadup.com/events/bundle-save-early-registration-event
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Saturday Morning Cherrydale Farmers Market
Open Saturday mornings, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. (noon). Market location is, adjacent to the soccer field, in the courtyard on the southeast face of the Dorothy Hamm Middle School. This year’s market will conclude in November, the Saturday before Thanksgiving.
Parking: If driving, please park curbside along Lorcom Lane or Military Road and walk down Vacation Lane to the school & market. Parking is also available in the school parking lot across Vacation Lane on the north side of the middle school. Market Parking is not allowed on Vacation Ln. Biking and walking to the market are strongly encouraged!
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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 EOD Thursday for inclusion in the following Monday's Phoenix Post. | | | | |
