• Monday, May 6th-Friday, May 10th - Teacher Appreciation Week
• Tuesday, May 7th - *NEW DATE* DHMS PTSA Meeting, 7:00pm
• Tuesday, May 21st - DHMS Dines Out: Nicecream (Clarendon)
• Wednesday, May 22nd - Peaceful Parenting Presentation, 7:00-8:30pm
• Monday, May 27th - NO SCHOOL (Memorial Day)
• Friday, June 7th - 8th Grade Promotion Party, 6:30-9:00pm
• Monday, June 10th - 8th Grade Kings Dominion Trip
• Wednesday, June 12th - 8th Grade Promotion Ceremony, 9:00-10:15am (Reception to follow, 10:30-11:30am)
• Friday, June 14th - Last Day of School, Early Release (12:05pm Dismissal)

Please visit the online master DHMS Calendar for all 2023-24 school year dates.

DHMS News & Events

It's DHMS Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6th-10th)! 

We will be showing our support and appreciation for all our wonderful DHMS teachers and staff through various events planned throughout the week. However, we need you, the families of Dorothy Hamm, to make this special and HELP OUT! There are a number of opportunities in the sign up genius to donate food items, gift cards or services! Click below to sign up to make food donations, and pease let Teresa Mason (646-648-3460) know if you have any questions about the activities below:

TODAY! Monday, May 6th: Teacher Appreciation Breakfast (6:45 - 9:30am) 

Tuesday, May 7th: Sweets & Treats (11:00am - 1:15pm)

• Please donate cookies, brownies, and other sweets to the sweets & treats snack. We will have treats available in the teacher's lounge between 11 and 1:15 during their lunch breaks to come in and grab a delicious treat. 

Wednesday, May 8th: PTA Sponsored Lunch (10:30am - 1:30pm)

• Please assist with either services or drinks!

Thursday, May 9th: Snack Attack (8:00am - 12:00pm)

• Please drop off snack items by 8am Thursday morning to the office!! The staff will be rolling around school all day providing snacks in the cart to teachers. Any and all pre-packaged snacks welcome!

Friday, May 10th: PTA Sponsored Ice Cream Truck! (2:30 - 3:30pm)

Teacher Gift Card Donations

In addition to the above activities, we are also collecting gift card donations from families for the teachers and staff. Please consider donating a gift card (or two or three) for our teachers. These will be due by Wednesday, May 9th, so we can distribute them by Friday, May 10th. Please either drop off at Stephanie's house at 1141 N Johnson St, Arlington or in the office to Bunty by 5pm Wednesday. Feel free to reach out to Stephanie Tibbs (202-657-8560). Click to sign up to make gift card donations:

Updated Date! May DHMS PTSA Membership Meeting - Tuesday, May 7th 7pm

The May DHMS PTSA Membership Meeting is now re-scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday, May 7th at 7:00pm via Zoom. Join us for the DHMS PTSA Nominating Committee's presentation of the proposed slate of officers for 2024-25, proposed budget updates, and to learn about the latest DHMS news and PTSA updates.

Zoom Meeting Link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88427099412?pwd=mvjhqM4jZM5ETTJFTPCjI33eeugCJq.1

Meeting ID: 884 2709 9412

Passcode: 600687

Proposed 2023-24 DHMS PTSA Budget

Please click here to review the proposed updates to this year's DHMS PTSA Budget 2023-24 that will be presented for membership approval at tomorrow evening's PTSA meeting.

Please contact DHMS PTSA President, Danusha Chandy, with any questions.

2024-25 DHMS PTSA Committee Chairs & Leads



In addition to the DHMS PTSA Officer positions, please consider volunteering for one (or more!) other PTSA leadership positions we will be recruiting for the 2024-25 school year. Visit dorothyhamm.apsva.us/ptsa/committee-chairs for a list of all the committee chair positions. New to DHMS families are also welcome, so if you know elementary school families who will be joining us next year, please share our call for volunteers with them, and contact the Nominating Committee with questions or if you are interested in any of the available roles.

8th Grade Parents! DHMS Promotion Party Update

The 8th Grade Promotion Party will take place on Friday, June 7th from 6:30-9:00pm. The DHMS PTSA is asking for a contribution of $25 to cover the expenses of the party. If you have already sent in cash or check, thank you! You also have the option to pay online HERE.

We also welcome donations that will go to help other students with financial need. Any questions about financial support, please contact Crystal Richardson or Gabrielle Bomberg.

7th Grade Parents: Seeking Promotion Reception Leads

The DHMS PTSA is seeking 1-2 7th Grade parents to lead this year's reception following 8th Grade Promotion on Wednesday, June 12th. If you have a current 7th grader and might be interested or have any questions, please reach out to Alex Voigt, DHMS PTSA VP Programs. Thank you!

The Peaceful Parenting Presentation Is Back!

Parenting: one of life's greatest gifts and greatest challenges.

Please join us:

Date: Wednesday, May 22nd

Time: 7:00-8:30pm

Where: The Dorothy Hamm Middle School Library

Gain tools to grow more confident in your roles as a parent, build a stronger connection to your child(ren), and learn about the brain science that shapes your relationship with them.

Speakers: Christine Katcher and Phyllis Thompson

Christine Katcher, LCSW, has been a social worker with Arlington Public Schools for almost 4 decades. She currently works at DHMS as the Intervention Counselor. Her experience of students and their parents is broad, ranging from preschool through high school. Some of her professional experience includes direct counseling, parent training, special education, social emotional education, and professional mentoring. She is the parent of four adult children…and one sweet cat.

Phyllis Thompson, LCSW, has recently retired from APS where she served as a school social worker, focusing on students with significant disabilities and supporting their families. Previous areas of her career include child abuse prevention, marriage and family therapy, and parenting skill building. Phyllis is the parent of two adult children.

Mark Your Calendars: DHMS SOL Dates

SOL Testing is upcoming – let's keep students in school during this time: 

• 5/13 - 7th Civics and 8th Science
• 5/15 - All Reading
• 5/22 - All Math

DHMS Dines Out: Nicecream - Tuesday, May 21st

Support the DHMS PTSA when you visit Nicecream in Clarendon!

DHMS School Resource Room

The school’s resource room includes food, hygiene items, school supplies, and warm clothes. Offerings vary per month. Here are some of the items you can expect:

• Food: pasta, rice, canned goods, peanut butter, cereals, snacks
• Hygiene items: laundry detergent, soaps feminine hygiene products, toothpaste/brushes
• School supplies: binders, notebooks, pencils, backpacks, lunch boxes
• Warm clothes: jackets, sweatshirts, gloves, socks

The school social worker is also able to locate and order items by request. To make an appointment to visit the resource room, have items sent home with your student, or request items, contact Gabby Bomberg or (703)-946-9032.

Online DHMS School Spirit Wear Store

The online DHMS Spirit Wear store is 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.

2023-24 DHMS Yearbooks Available for Sale

As we begin to wrap up this year, consider purchasing a Yearbook created by the DHMS 8th Grade Yearbook Class and Computer Teacher Mrs. Amna Ali. There are a limited number left to order. Last year we had to reorder at the end of the year – and books increased in cost by $20! Check out the Josten’s Website here to order. 

Can’t remember if you ordered? Look in your email for a confirmation email from Jostens – or call the DHMS Main Office, and they can check for you. 

APS & Community News

Cherrydale Farmers Market Returns!

Saturdays at DHMS, 8:00am-Noon

Open Saturday mornings, from 8:00am to 12:00pm Noon. The market location is, adjacent to the soccer field, in the courtyard on the southeast face of the Dorothy Hamm Middle School. Stop by on Saturdays to see what's new and check ing with your favorite vendors!

Yorktown HR Freshman Football Information Meeting - Thursday, May 9th 6:30pm

There will be an optional freshmen football information meeting on Thursday, May 9 at 6:30 pm in Patriot Hall at Yorktown High School. The head freshmen football coach, school staff and booster leadership will be available to answer questions and go over expectations and opportunities for participating on the freshmen football team. All rising 8th and 9th grade players and parents are welcome. 

DHMS Basics: Office: 703.228.2910 / Clinic: 703.228.2940 / Attendance: 703.228.2911

​​​Get Involved: Join the PTSA / PTSA Meetings / Volunteer / Phoenix Fund / Order Spirit Wear

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

Engage With APS: APS Engage / Contact the School Board / 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.