Due to rising COVID cases and staffing shortages, we have made the difficult decision to close our remote learning center. Friday, November 20th will be the last day of operation. We will work this week with the students attending our RLC to ensure they are set up for as smooth as possible a transition to fully remote learning.
Thank you to the families in our community who have generously donated to the PTSA community support fund. In the PTSA section below, please find a link to donate or share with others who can donate. These funds have provided critical resources for families in dire circumstances, and for our students with severe needs who are in-person to have iPads to better connect them with our larger community. We are so grateful to work with such an action-oriented community.
A note about the term "Hustle Hope" and our website identifying our staff as "Hope Hustlers" from Dr. Lutz:
This is who we are: We are a powerful, collaborative team with a wide range of talents and passion for our students learning. They are the hope we have for a better world, and we take that seriously. We place ourselves as their hope for the learning they need to become our future leaders, so our “hustle” refers to the urgency, collaboration, and commitment of our work in serving them.
The term also originated from within our staff in this song, the Hustle Hope Anthem, created by the amazing Kevin Adams.
Be well,
Dan and Marisa
We need 10 hotspots or cell phones from our community to help students connect with our classes. As we are closing our learning center after this week, the need is urgent. Do you have a hotspot you are not using? Or a cell phone we could repurpose? If so, please contact Zach our school technology partner at zachariah_blechman @dpsk12.org or call Principal Vasquez at 720-423-9077. Thank you!
Free community COVID-19 testing is available at multiple locations around Denver. You do not need to be showing symptoms to access this service. Please take advantage of testing offered. Details in the link here.
Thanksgiving Lunch, Nov. 18th-
Attention Phoenix Families- the Lunch Ladies are making the delicious Turkey meal! You know that Turkey is always BOMB! Feel free to come and pick up a meal and have a chance to see some friendly faces! Wednesday, Nov. 18th 11-4PM in the East lot. Masks and social distancing required. We’ll see you there!
Clothing Closet-
We have been working with the DCIS Community and PTSA, and have begun a Clothing Closet for students and families who are in need. We have donated clothing from our wonderful families- and will soon have the opportunity to provide more services to our Phoenixes and Families here at DCIS.
If you have the means to donate, we’d appreciate your help- feel free to contact Miguel_Urdiales@DPSK12.org
Food Pantry-
Another exciting new development is our Food Pantry, through donations from our loving community, we will soon be able to provide food for families in need. Beyond the lunch provided by the cafeteria during weekdays- we’d love to be there for our Phoenixes, and are finding new ways to provide more assistance to our community! We really need a commercial-grade refrigerator, if you happen to have a used one or know someone who does.
if you have the means to donate, we’d appreciate your help- feel free to contact Miguel_Urdiales@DPSK12.org
Attention DCIS Families! Senior photos, baby photos, and senior quotes are due Wednesday, December 16! Please email these materials to dcisyearbook1@gmail.com! Our yearbook team is working to create a pandemic yearbook at a better price for this year, and details will be available soon on how to order, so please stay tuned! Please reach out to Abby Hoffman at abby_hoffman@dpsk12.org with yearbook questions.
Wednesdays in Advisement - Academic Support Day
Beginning on November 18th, Wednesdays will be an academic support day for students. They will have the option to attend their World Language Teacher's meet for extra World Language support, or to stay in Advisement and work in small groups with their Advisors to complete missing work, focus on classes with Incompletes, or other support. It is important for students to log-in to their Advisement as scheduled for attendance purposes and check with their Advisor prior to leaving the Meet.
Book Drop and Swap for 8th and 10th Graders to Continue This Week
Thank you so much to those families who were able to come last week or this Saturday for the 8th Grade Book Swap for Language Arts texts and for the 10th Grade AP Human Geography Book Drop. We ask for any 8th grader/parent-guardian who has yet to come to school to drop off finished book and pick up new book to do so by this Tuesday 11.18. Staff will be able to facilitate the book swap between the hours of 7:00 am and 5:00 pm. Likewise for those current 10th graders who still have last year's AP Human Geography text we greatly appreciate you or a parent/guardian returning the text to school by 5:00 Tuesday.
DCIS Open House Dates
Our next open house is Thursday 11/19.
Details on the website are here. Zoom link is: https://ucdenver.zoom.us/j/97597148995
Meeting ID: 975 9714 8995 Morning
Thursday 12/3/2020 8- 8:45am
Evening
Thursday 11/19 - 6-6:45 pm
Thursday 12/17 - 6-6:45 pm
We will start with a welcome, have student ambassadors share highlights and information about DCIS, parents/guardians of DCIS students share and answer questions from their perspective, and then have Principal Vasquez or Dr. Lutz welcome.
Information about Quarter 1 Incompletes
If your child has received an 'I'/Incomplete on their Quarter 1 report card and transcript then this means they have until November 27 to improve key assignments in the course in order to receive a passing letter grade. After November 27 the 'I'/Incomplete will be changed to 'No Credit.' Please click HERE for a one-pager that outlines per grade level how a student can most efficiently change their Incomplete to a passing grade.The one-pager also provides support for students currently with a low grade in Math or English. If you have further questions about your child's 'I' please reach out to the teacher of the class.
Student Services News
Raise your grade in 6th grade Science from quarter 1
Dr. Martin sent emails to students, parents, and guardians to those students who may want to raise their grade from first quarter. Here is the microbiome project students can complete by 11/27 to increase their grade.
Grading Updates for quarter 2 6th grade and 7th grade Science
Dr. Martin sent email updates to all students, parents, and guardians regarding the fresh start they have this quarter with their new science teachers Mr. Rounds and Mr. Saller!
Remote Instructional Teaching & Learning Video
First take at highlights from the school year so far! Thank you to all our amazing staff who contributed videos.
November College Deadlines:
Senior families: We just passed the first early action deadline of the college application process on November 1. The next big deadline for many early action applications is November 15. Please check in with your student on how they are coming along with this process. Encourage them to reach out to their counselor for assistance.
Families of Juniors and Seniors: did you miss the parent presentation on college planning and financial aid information? You can access the slide presentation here. College Planning/Financial Aid Info
Do you need to talk to your counselor?
Fill out the form below and your counselor will get in touch with you either via email, phone or a Google Meet.
TRIVIA ANSWER FROM LAST WEEK: Who was famous for 5 minutes? Ms. DeGuire! When she was in her 20’s, a band invited her unexpectedly to join them onto the stage and play the guitar. She doesn’t even know how to play, but she faked it well!
WEEKLY TRIVIA: Which counselor hates pigeons?
Grief Resources
DCIS Special Service Providers:
Annette Lindsay, DCIS School Psychologist annette_lindsay@dpsk12.org - meet.google.com/lookup/dcislindsay
Safe2Tell Colorado, 877-542-7233. http://safe2tell.org - note that DCIS staff and DPS Safety&Security and DPD monitor Safe2Tell 24 hours/day, 7 days/week. This is the quickest way to reach out if you have safety concerns that are imminent.
Second Wind Fund of Metro Denver, Counseling Services, www.secondwindfund.org (English/Spanish)
Trevor Project, 866-488-7386 (LGBTQ Youth)
Colorado Crisis and Support Line, 844-493-8255, or text TALK to 38255
Community News
COLLABORATIVE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND COURSE SELECTION PROCESS
Please complete the survey here to give us more voice and choice into the course selection process by end-of-day today, Monday November 16th. Our next meeting is Tuesday November 17th and will be open to the public.
See our running agenda here for updates from our 10/20 meeting. We discussed course offerings for 2021-2022 - documents linked in the agenda. One of the course offerings documentsis linked here for more information.
IN THE NEWS
DCIS and the DCIS Foundation is in the news again– see the article in the Denver Post, Your Hub:
Learn more about our impact at all four DCIS schools.
https://www.dcisfoundation.org/missionimpact
COMMUNITY SUPPORT FUND > Wonderful members of our community have been donating to the fund under the leadership of Allison Freeman, the DCIS PTSA President.
These donations are earmarked for our families experiencing great need, and open to anyone in our community.
We appreciate families letting us know right away if a student is confirmed COVID positive. This allows us to connect them with Nurse Larue, and with state health department resources. Thank you for the great communication so far.
DId you know that Amparo Larue, DCIS school nurse, is full-time this year? She is available for consultation, can refer students with symptoms for free COVID testing, and answer other health questions for your family. She can be reached by email at amparo_larue@dpsk12.org or by calling our main office extension at 720-423-9000.
