Alice Deal Middle School Think globally - Listen compassionately - Act inclusively |
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The Weekly Bulletin

Our school mission:
Alice Deal Middle School inspires excellence, curiosity, and compassion through intellectual and social engagement.
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Principal's Message...
Little generates as much interest among visitors to Deal as our lunch recesses and, upon reflection, this seems warranted. When giving a tour, I love to time the visits so that the observers gets to see what the fuss is about. The results are always good.
Recess is that magical time that follows eating: food is hurriedly consumed, what is left over disposed, and the doors flung open. What is magical is not that students love recess; the magic is what happens during recess. Undoubtedly, my pleasure at recess comes from the fond memories it recalls from my own childhood - I can remember many incidents and fun times during recess, but few from actual classrooms!
The nature of the recess at Deal both astounds and gladdens me. There are, as many of you know, a lot of children at Deal - and most of them like being outside during recess. The field is expansive and wonderfully comfortable - you can run on it, roll on it, or sleep on it depending on your mood. When I came to Deal five years ago, recess consisted of crossing Fort Drive and running around in circles near the parking lot. Today's field accommodates far more students in many more activities than back in the pre-renovation days.
But there is a significant difference in what recess looks like today and what my hazy memory recalls, and I think this difference is important. Normally, I am not out on the field or in the plaza during recess: grade-level Assistant Principals, the Dean of Students, other administrators, security, counselors - there are usually about 7 or 8 adults watching. Once the doors are opened, the supervisors strolls to a region of the outdoor area and begin to be the eyes and ears of the spectacle that unfolds. The students rush to particular areas or to groups of their friends, and play begins.
I remark on recess because the other day I was out helping supervise and became keenly aware of what was taking place. There were dozens of activities all happening, all at once. Soccer, kickball, frisbee, football, tag, tumbling, talking, walking, chasing - all of these were occurring. My own recess experiences involved forming up in teams, splitting the field in two, and then being overly conscious about who was on what field at what time. We played football right here, and that group played soccer right there, and we hardly interacted. Stray balls were only reluctantly tossed back. It was a delicate balance. But no more, especially not at Deal.
Play at recess at Deal is different. Kickball might involve 30 children, carefully keeping score but all getting to play. Frisbee, which takes up a huge area, ebbs and flows across many other games. Football games (of which there always a few) have dozens of children playing wide receiver at one time. There is a tremendous mix of children, playing almost entirely with dispute-free glee, with no apparent concerns or qualms about others who might get in their way. And they are all in the way! Frisbee takes place mostly overhead; tag needs the rest of the world to serve as obstacles. That kickball game might actually be in the same spot that a small group is playing soccer - with both using the same backstop. They maintain their rules and their fun all while streaming in and out of each other's way with few, if any, complaints.
This is important because this is how this generation has learned to get along. The actually make a big field smaller by choosing to play near each other. The field has large areas where students don't play - it is too far from the building or their friends. So they choose to pursue their own activities in the same areas, and seem to love it. The adults wander through, keeping an eye, but we aren't even noticed as obstacles. On occasion, a group of students will run up to me and ask a question about Deal or someone else or a rule or just a thought, and then run away. They are almost effortless in their desire to just be together in a positive, happy way. This ability to get along is a remarkable skill - and a much needed one.
Not all American schools have recess, especially at the middle school level. While I didn't see the need for it before I came to Deal, I wouldn't give it up now - what it says about the future of your children is a great daily reminder.
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Stay Informed!
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Week of
November 26, 2012
Bell Schedule
Monday - Bell I
Tuesday -Bell I
Wednesday - Bell I
Thursday- Thursday Bell - IB
Friday - Bell I
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Find out about Deal with...
Deal Tours
Please join us for a tour. All tours start at 9:30 and meet outside the Welcome Center.
November 30 December 11
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Upcoming Dates
November 27-30
7th Gr Trips to Natural History Museum 8th Gr Trolley Tours
November 27
Team Leaders Buddy Day - Lafayette ES
November 28
Literature to Film Festival
November 30 Deficiencies to HR Teachers Deal Tour, 9:30 am
December 1 Saturday Detention 9 am - 12 noon December 4 Team Leaders
Attendance Committee Mtg PIA 2 Day 1
December 5 Math Dept. Meeting PIA 2 Day 2
December 6 New to Deal, 3:30 pm Deficiencies to Admin Midsummer Night's Dream Play
December 7 LSAT, 7:30 am Second Advisory Midpoint A Midsummer Night's Dream 6:30
December 8 PTA Holiday Green Sale A Midsummer Night's Dream 6:30
December 9 PTA Holiday Green Sale A Midsummer Night's Dream 6:30
December 11 Deal Tour, 9:30 am Buddy Day - Shepherd
December 12 Open House 9 - 12 am
December 13 Department Chairs, 3:30 pm Winter Concert, 6:30 pm
December 14 PD for Teachers and Staff (No School for Students) Detention 9 am - 12 noon
December 15 PTA Holiday Green Sale
December 16 PTA Holiday Green Sale
December 20 Faculty Meeting, 3:30 pm
December 21 Spanish Field Trip to Guapos Winter Holiday Assembly World Language Trip Meeting
December 24 - January 4 Winter Break
January 7 School Resumes
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Library News
Library Media Center Hours
Before School 8 - 8:40 am
After School 3:30 - 4:30 pm
Students must have parental permission to stay after school
The Alice Deal Library welcomes students for reading and homework after school! Students must have a permission form on file in the library to use the space after school. Students may pick up a form in the library, or may download it from the library website (Library Pass).
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A Midsummer Night's Dream Rehearsal Schedule
(3:30-5:00 Auditorium)
Week of November 19
Monday - Act IV, 2; Act V
Full Cast
Tuesday - Act IV, 2; Act V
Full Cast
Wednesday - Act I, 2
Quince, Bottom, Snug, Flute, Snout, Starveling
Week of November 26
Monday - Act 1, 2; Act III, 1; Act IV, 2; Act V
Quince, Bottom, Snug, Flute, Snout, Starveling, Puck
Tuesday - Assorted Scenes
Lysander, Hermia, Helena, Demetrius
Wednesday - Assorted Scenes
Oberon, Puck, Titania
Thursday - Full Cast
Friday - Full Cast
Week of December 3
Monday - Wednesday - Full Cast
Thursday - Preview Performance
Friday - Performance
Saturday - Performance
Stage Crew:
Monday and Tuesday Afterschool this week. Be prepared to paint.
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PTA Sponsors
The following are the Deal PTA 2012-2013 business sponsors.
The Broad Branch Market
* Taylor Agostino Group
* Radifera Design Group
* W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtor
* Pete's New Haven Style Apizza
* Second Wind CrossFit
* edCount, LLC
Math Medics
(More information at AliceDeal.org)
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Community Information
(Items in this section are not sponsored by Deal)
Boys Camp Information Session and Dessert
Can you imagine your son canoeing and hiking through the Maine wilderness, learning to chop wood and make a fire, cook over a campfire, or sail a boat and build a canoe? If the answer is yes, you need to know about a boy's camp called Flying Moose Lodge. Situated in mid-coast Maine, Flying Moose Lodge has been in operation since 1929 and has been run by the Price family for last 70 years. Boys between the ages of 9 and 15 spend 3-7 weeks living in the Maine woods and swimming and boating on Craig Pond. In our overly structured age of parenting, it's a challenge to find a place where boys can test themselves and learn self-reliance. A local camper from the 1930s said, "Flying Moose is a place where a boy comes into his own."
On Friday November 30, 7:00-9:00 p.m., Chris and Beverly Darnell are hosting an information session and dessert at 3213 Morrison Street NW, Washington DC. The Camp Directors, Chris and Shelly Price, will be here to talk about the camp and show a brief video. Current and former campers will be on hand to share their experiences. Please join us for desert and learn more about this amazing place. Please also visit www.flyingmooselodge.com to learn more about the camp. Questions? Please call 202-237-0458.
I Trained U Basketball Clinics
Basetball Clinics will be held in November and December on
Saturdays and Sundays from 12:30 pm-1:30 pm
Sundays from 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm
Bethesda Sports and Health Club
4400 Montgomery Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814
Kids will learn from guaranteed improvement in the Roots of basketball - ball handling, shooting and passing, and defense. Learn from former college and professional basketball players.
1 session is $35. Four sessions is $100. For girls and boys ages 8-15 years.
Register today at www.itrainedu.com or call 202-497-9574 or you can email bballskills@itrainedu.
Wilson Crew Holiday Wreath Sale
Support Wilson Crew and get ready for the holidays buy purchasing wreaths. Wilson Crew is selling fresh, fragrant 24-inch Frazier fir wreaths decorated with red velvet bows hand-tied in the USA. You can purchase wreaths for $25 each from your favorite rower or by logging on to www.wilsoncrew.org. Be sure to enter the name of your favorite rower when you purchase online so that he or she gets credit for the sale. Wreaths will be delivered the first week in December. Wilson Crew is the only rowing program in DCPS and is open to all DCPS high school students and relies on the generosity of supporters like you to keep this sport alive for public school students in our city. Pull for Wilson Crew!
Community Service Opportunity at Janney Elementary
Janney Elementary School is looking for 7th and 8th grade students who would be interested in partnering with Janney students as academic buddies, helping with basic math and English language skills as part of a supervised after school activity. This would require a regular commitment between 3:30-4:30 one or two days a week and would count towards community service hours. We are looking for students who are reliable and conscientious, enjoy working with younger kids and who love learning. If you are interested please contact Pippa Trench at janneyenrichment@gmail.com. 202-724-8950.
Information of interest to the Deal community may be emailed for consideration to roslyn.baxter@dc.gov.
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Lunch Applications
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Complete Lunch Form online at
Mealsapp.dcps.dc.gov
All families regardless of eligibility must complete a lunch form. This is important and helps determine some funding for the school.
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Buddy Days at Deal are coming!
Every year the Alice Deal 6th grade students and teachers host a day for each of our feeder school 5th grade students and their teachers to visit for part of our school day. This is our chance to proudly present our school to future middle school students. We want to make every effort to have our visiting Buddies have a super positive experience.
The following schools are scheduled to visit from 8:50 to noon:
Lafayette
Tuesday, November 27
Shepherd
Tuesday, December 11
Non-feeder school students and their families should feel free to attend one of the upcoming Deal Tours or visit the school at any time.
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Student and parent information...
New: Thank you from the Student Council
The Student Council would like to thank everyone who helped make our Fall Dance/Party a great success! Thanks to the students who came, the teachers who chaperoned, the custodians who helped with the set-up and clean up, the PE Department for helping in the gym, the cheerleaders for the snacks, Ms. Redekopp and Mrs. Allen for overseeing board games in the library, Mr. Ngwa for letting us use his room, and anyone else we may have forgotten!
Thanks also to Mr. Otterstatter for helping us organize the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and for delivering all the generously donated food!
New: Deal Relief Council (DRC)
The DRC would like to thank all those who gave paper, pencils, erasers, binders, books, and games (and various other items) to middle school victims of Hurricane Sandy. This was our first effort to provide relief to victims and we're off to a great start. We collected over 250 books for classroom libraries, 25 folders and binders, 54 packets of paper, over 300 pencils, 46 board games, and 1 backpack. If you still would like to give, please do! We will be shipping these items sometime in December. Stay tuned for more ways to help out others in need.
New: Paced Interim Assessments (PIA) 2
Please be reminded that all Deal students will take the PIA Reading (ELA) on Tuesday, December 4nd and Math on Wednesday, December 5th. We will need the cooperation of everyone in the school to ensure that this test is administered in the same manner as the DC CAS. Some teachers will be assigned as test administrators and some as proctors in order to support our students.
New: Painting for the Soul Club
Painting for the Soul will next meet again on Wednesday, January 9, promptly at 7:45 am. Be creative between now and then!
Cafeteria Payments
Some families have begun to receive notices from Deal that money is owed for student lunches. These notices are invoices for meals already purchased by students; rather than turn students away, we have decided to invoice families for what is owed. What needs to be done? If you receive an invoice, please follow the directions and make payment as noted. If you feel that your family should be exempt, please fill out the FARMS application that accompanies the invoice. If you would like to make advance payments on your child's lunches, there are directions below in this bulletin as well as on the invoice. Please remember: any debts NOT paid are paid by the general Deal school fund. If we are not able to recoup most of the outstanding invoices, we will have to change our policy regarding turning students away. Let's work together on this.
New: 8th grade Assembly
On December 4, all 8th grade students will participate in an assembly on the "Lives and Work of Nepalese Children" at 2:30 in the auditorium. Ms. Askgaard, a Deal parent, will be the keynote speaker. The topic of the book is related to our recent study on Jon Krakauer's Into Thin Air.
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This Week at Deal...
7th Grade Field Trips This Week
7th graders will attend an interdisciplinary field trip to the Natural History Museum on the Mall. Tuesday - Team Rome; Wednesday - Team Alexandria; Thursday - Team Mumbai; Friday - Team Sparta. Trips will take the full day. Students should bring their own lunch unless they have notified their teachers otherwise.
8th Grade Field Trips this Week
8th graders will attend the We the People Trolley Tour next week! All permission slips should be turned in to Humanities teachers no later than Monday, November 26. Team Mecca will attend on Tuesday, November 27, Team Firenze on Wednesday, November 28 and Team LaPaz on Friday, November 30. On Thursday, November 29, the 6th period classes from each team will attend.
On the Trolley Tour students will learn about the Constitution within the boundaries of our own federal city. Students will make stops at the Capitol, Lafayette Park and the White House, the Lincoln Memorial, the Supreme Court and the National Archives. Students will travel on an Old Town Trolley and tours are led by Cousin Sam, a distant relative of Uncle Sam.
Need another permission slip? Please check Edline! Interested in chaperoning? Please contact your child's Humanities teacher!
Monday: Craft Club
Come one, come all to Deal MS Craft club every Monday until 4:30! For the month of December, Ms. Reynolds will be demonstrating different ways to make beads using colorful polymer clay. Materials will also be provided to turn these wonderful beads into necklaces and bracelets. Please join this new club on Monday for some fun, hands-on crafts in E300 after school.
Monday: The Afterschool Outdoor Basketball Club
We will meet on Monday, November 26 at 3:30 pm behind the school on the court next to the "Cottage." Dress for cold weather. In the event of rain, we will meet in Mr. Namian's room (W205) at 3:30.
Monday: Photography Club
We will meet in E104, Mr. Gueltig's room on Monday from 3:30-4:30. Be prepared to upload and edit your photos for our upcoming photo show.
Tuesday: Girls on Track
This coming Tuesday, November 27th the Girls on Track will be completing a service project and having a celebration of our fabulous season. Then on Sunday, December 2, what we have all been training for: the 5K! Please see Ms. Purcell or Ms. Wisniewski for all the details.
Wednesday: Literature-to-Film Series
The 2nd film in our series will screen Wednesday, November 28, at 3:30 in the library. Bridge to Terabithia is the adaptation of the classic novel by Katherine Paterson about friendship, imagination, and the pain of loss.
Thursday and Friday: Spelling Club
We will meet in Mr. Gueltig's room during 6th and 7th grade ZAPs on Thursday and Friday.
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8th grade news and announcements
Requesting Recommendations for Private Schools
1. Who to ask?- Start by thinking of which teachers can attest to your strengths and positive attributes. Some schools require specific subject teachers to write the recommendation so be aware of this before you ask.
2. Prepare- Gather the recommendation forms and fill out all pertinent information. Prepare an addressed and stamped envelope for each school which you are requesting a recommendation for. All recommendations will be placed in the mail by the individual teacher or by your counselor.
3. Ask- Take the recommendation form with the envelope to the person who you need the request from. Ask the person if they would be willing to write your recommendation. Tell them when it needs to be completed and mailed in. Ms. White has recommendation request slips available to help with this process.
4. Grow- Use the experience of asking for a letter of recommendation to help you grow your communication skills which will come in handy when advocating for yourself in high school.
For all transcript requests for private schools, please also provide an addressed and stamped envelope for the mailing of these items as well.
Specialized High School Open House Updates
Columbia Heights EC- December 5
Duke Ellington School of the Arts- December 4 @ 3pm
Phelps ACE - December 21, January 18, and February 22
Additional High School information may also be obtained through the DCPS website under the tab "Plan for College and Careers"
High School Common Application
The Common Application for specialized DCPS High Schools became accessible on Friday, November 16. Parents, please make sure that all of your contact information is correct in STARS so that the pre-loaded information on the application will be accurate. If you have changed addresses, phone numbers or email addresses please provide Ms. Baxter with updated information as soon as possible. For all students who are in need of assistance in working on the application, Ms. White will be available in the Media Center Computer Lab on the following dates after school from 3:30-4:30 p.m.- November 26 27, and 28.
Planning for Your Future: Individual Graduation Portfolio (IGP)
The IGP provides students with a road map to the future and a record of the past. Staying on course empowers students to reach the destination-graduation- with all the courses, skills, and experiences needed to make informed decisions about education and career. Grade level milestones and guideways lead students through the program. Learning opportunities available through the IGP include Career/College Major Exploration, High School Course Planning, Goal Setting/Journaling, Interest/Skill Inventories.
Please encourage your student to explore options for their future at home using the following steps:
1. Go to www.dcps.bridges.com
2. Login with DCPS+studentID and the password the student has created (If it's the students first time logging in, the password is simply DCPS)
3. Click on Choices Explorer
4. Click on the Your Portfolio Tab
5. Click Your Plans and get started on the path
Should there be any questions regarding the Choices explorer, please contact your grade level counselor.
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Mental Health Matters!
An Attitude of Gratitude:
Tips for Fostering Gratitude in Children
How often do we remind our children to appreciate what they have or be thankful for the good things in their lives? Parents and teachers should make it a point to encourage the experience and expression of gratitude in our children. Research has shown that people who experience gratitude have more positive emotions, fewer negative emotions, higher levels of connectedness, improved relationships, improved achievement, and greater progress toward goals. Factors that promote gratitude include positive thinking, empathy, humility, and problem-solving skills, whereas factors that inhibit include a sense of entitlement, preoccupation with materialism, lack of self-reflection, and lack of resiliency. Fostering gratitude can help students become more mindful of the positive aspects of their lives, engage in more pro-social behaviors, and become more aware of strengths in themselves and others. Gratitude is a learned behavior, thereby one which parents and teachers can foster through a variety of simple acts:
- Model gratitude. Allow your child to see you behaving gratefully to family, friends, neighbors, and others. Explain why you are saying thank you, not just because "it's the right thing to do."
- Encourage your child to write thank-you notes after receiving gifts or special assistance from a friend, family member, or teacher. Have them reflect on why they are grateful and include it in the note.
- Reinforce grateful behavior. Identify when you see your child behaving gratefully and reinforce it.
- Make time daily to share gratitude. Whether at breakfast, the dinner table or before bed, make time for the family to share at least one thing for which each person is thankful. Starting or ending the day with gratitude can reinforce positive connections.
- Have your child keep a gratitude journal. Regularly have your child write down 3 or 4 positives that they are grateful for and why. Encourage your child to think of experiences, people, and events, not just material possessions.
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Attendance at Deal
Enjoy the Thanksgiving Break, Come Ready and On-Time Monday!
Congratulations to the following 6th, 7th and 8th grade homerooms for on-time arrival of 95% or above! All other homerooms start fresh on Monday with a new attitude and commitment to improve.
On-time arrival and regular attendance are critical to student success. Please reiterate our shared expectation with your child today! Let us strive to learn the "Viking Way": at school, on time, everyday!
6th Grade 7th Grade 8th Grade
Burnham Assael Eckel
Campozano Diaz Hampton
Clements Helsabeck Mostoller
Garza Kirschenbaum Otterstatter
Jackson Klauber Simpson
Martini Lotts Smith
McDowell Milikin Wang
Purcell Parish
Ruiz Woods
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Staff information...
New: Faculty Professional Development Sessions
The professional development session for Friday, November 30th will be "Teaching Boys" in room W204.
Deal PTA Newsletter
Teachers and Staff: The deadline to submit an article for the first issue of the Deal PTA Newsletter is November 27th. Please send your newsletter submissions to
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Before and After School Activities
Monday AM
Young Men's Choir - 7:45 am - Rm CG04
Chinese tutoring 8 - 8:30am - Rm N111
Spanish tutoring with Ms. Cadavid 8:10 am - RM C314
Spanish tutoring with Ms. Jackson - Rm C212
Monday PM
Girl Up Rm E305
Newspaper club Rm N116
Deal Garden club - Garden
Student Council meeting Rm E205
Viking Quarterly Rm W103
African Drumming club- Canceled this week
Girls on Track - Rm E103
After school Outdoor Hoop club - Rm W205
Ultimate Frisbee club - Rm C130
International Cooking club Group C to 5 pm - Rm C216
6th grade Concert Band, 7th & 8th Symphonic Band and Jazz band meeting - Auditorium
Tennis club - Rm E300
Photography Club - Rm E104 French club to 4:30 - CG07
Afterschool Basketball club - W205
Vikings Soccer to 5 pm
GeoPlunge - C130
Board Games to 4:30 - W106
Midsummer Night's Dream Rehearsal - see above for schedule
Indoor Track practice to 5 pm
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Tuesday Am
8th String Ensemble - Auditorium
Jazz Band 7:45 am - Rm CG20
Concert Choir 7:45 am - Rm CG04
Spanish tutoring with Ms. Jackson - RM C212
Tuesday PM
Fantasy Football club - Rm C212
Reader's Theater - Rm E205
Cheerleading practice to 5pm
Ultimate Frisbee club - Rm C130
Conflict Resolution and Peer Mediation Ms. McFarland's office
Bocce club - Front lawn
Music workshop
Girls' Running - RM E304
Girls on Track - Rm E103
Mural/Public Art club
Swimming club to 5:15 pm
Midsummer Night's Dream Rehearsal - see above for schedule
Indoor Track practice to 5 pm
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Wednesday AM
6th Grade Concert Band - 7:45 am
Advanced Concert Band - 7:45 am
Young Men's Choir - 7:45 am
Spanish tutoring with Ms. Jackson - RM C212
Wednesday PM
Spartan Barracks
Deal Student Librarian
- Library
Team Mumbai Rm N113
Fencing
club to 5:00 pm - Rm W207
Alexandria Library Rm E200
Roman Holiday - Rm E204
After School Sports Rap - Rm W104
Team Santiago study hall - Rm C130
Debate Team - Rm W100
Type Faster Now to 4:15 - Rm 204
New Student Transitions workshop 7th & 8th
Ms. White's Office
Roman Holiday - E204
Deal Scientists club - Rm E101
C-Span - Rm W304
Team Alexandria - Rm E200
Santiago study Hall - C130
Parlons Français Club, to 4:30 - C308
Literature-to-Film Festival to 5 pm - Library Discovery Club - E101 Midsummer Night's Dream Rehearsal - see above for schedule
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Thursday AM
Chinese tutoring 8 - 8:30 am - Rm N111
Spanish tutoring 8:10 am - RM C314
String Chamber Ensemble - 7:45 am
Jazz Band - 7:45 am
Concert Choir - 7:45 am
Spanish tutoring with Ms. Jackson - RM C212
French Tutoring Mr Ngwa 8:10 am
Thursday PM
Cheerleading practice to 5 pm
MWIT club - Rm E206
Team London Rm E104
Mathletes Rm E106
M.I.T. to 4:30 - RM E206
Swimming club to 5:15 pm
TAGS 6th and 7th graders - C130
GEMS meeting
Spanish Club
Midsummer Night's Dream Rehearsal - see above for schedule
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Friday AM
7th & 8th Grade Peer Mediators meeting at 8 am - Rm C116
6th Grade Concert Band - 7:45 am
Advanced Concert Band - 7:45 am
Friday PM
Midsummer Night's Dream Rehearsal - see above for schedule
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