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...
A school with as beautiful an auditorium as Alice Deal should find as many ways as possible to put students on stage, behind stage, and viewing the stage. Traditionally, Deal has put on a fabulous spring musical, exciting and well-attended music concerts, and a variety of performances for students peppered throughout the year. The stage remains dark, however, for far too much time.
At the end of last year, Mr. Kirschenbaum approached me with an idea to stage a play in the fall. This week, A Midsummer Night's Dream will kick-off our winter performance series. Under the direction of Mr. Kirschenbaum and new Deal teacher Rafe Gandola, a talented cast of Deal students will act out the roles of Oberon, Puck, Theseus, and Hippolyta (among others) in the first staging of a Shakespearean classic in as many years as I can remember. In a break with tradition (albeit only as much as I remember which is five years!) we will have a Saturday evening show as well. So mark your calendars for Thursday, Friday, or Saturday night at 6:30 for what I hope will be the first of many more productions at the Deal stage.
Productions of Shakespeare can be tricky but very rewarding. The typical high school canon of exposure to the Bard runs through Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, and Macbeth (or King Lear). I applaud the director and our students for taking on this project. Shakespearean plays take multiple viewings for many in order for the nuance, the language, and the plot twists to become apparent. And yet his appeal continues to this day. There is clearly much that is universal in the stories; and while A Midsummer Night's Dream appears fanciful, there are many truths concealed in its complicated plotting. This should be fun!
During these gloomy evenings of winter, there can't be enough opportunities to get out of the house and see a show. So, after watching Shakespeare this week keep your cars warmed up and come see our Winter Concert on the following Thursday, also at 6:30. Our second-year music teachers, Messrs. Pavy, Washington, and Lewis, will put their different ensembles on the stage for "A Time of Harmony." There will be just this one performance, so be sure to get to Deal early.
Parents are reminded that, as with every evening event at Deal, students must come accompanied by parents. This allows everyone to enjoy the show - particularly the students. I will make this announcement to the students the day of the shows, but I wanted to remind you that the students know this rule - so join them in a family event at Deal rather than drop them off.
Principal Albright
Special Message: Over the last few weeks, we have mailed home invoices for families with negative balances, according to the cafeteria accounting system. We have received back only 2 percent of the total owed. The current system (in place for many years and with few safeguards) has allowed students with no money in a lunch account to take lunches without challenge. As I have noted in previous bulletins, we have implemented a system to remind families that they need to 1) put money in a lunch account, or 2) sign-up and qualify for free and reduced lunch costs, or 3) bring a bag lunch. To correct the account balance, we decided to invoice families with a negative balance. This does not yet appear to be working.
What I will not let happen is that a student goes through the lunch line without eating something. While we won't be able to provide a hot lunch for students who are in arrears, we will provide something to sustain them until their next meal. This policy will affect those families that are NOT putting money into their children's accounts or who are not giving them a lunch to take to school. I am still in discussions about what to provide students and how to do this (and will notify the community soon with a decision). Please take this time (if you need) to arrange for your child's lunch.
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Stay Informed!
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Week of
December 3, 2012
Bell Schedule
Monday - Bell I
Tuesday - Bell T
Wednesday - Bell T
Thursday Bell - Pause
Friday - Bell II
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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.
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Upcoming Dates
December 4
Attendance Committee Mtg
PIA 2 Day 1
December 5
Math Dept. Meeting
PIA 2 Day 2
December 6
8th Grade Bully Movie
New to Deal, 3:30 pm
A Midsummer Night's Dream 6:30
December 7
LSAT, 7:30 am
Youth Risk Behavior Survey
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
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 Guapo's
Winter Holiday Assembly
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
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PTA Sponsors
The following are the Deal PTA 2012-2013 business sponsors.
The Broad Branch Market
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Taylor Agostino Group
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Radifera Design Group
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W.C. & A.N. Miller Realtor
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Pete's New Haven Style Apizza
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Second Wind CrossFit
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edCount, LLC
Math Medics
(More information at AliceDeal.org)
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Community Information
(Items in this section are not sponsored by Deal)
Writing Contest for Students in Grades 4-10
It's time for the 21st Annual Letters About Literature Writing Contest for students in grades 4-10. The contest challenges young readers to write a personal letter to an author explaining how that author's work somehow changed the reader's view of the world.
Letters About Literature is sponsored by the Library of Congress' Center for the Book. Prizes are awarded on both the state and national level in three categories:
-Grades 4-6
-Grades 7-8
Visit lettersaboutliterature.org
for details. Submissions must be mailed and be postmarked by January 11, 2013. State winners will be notified in April, 2013; national winners will be notified in May, 2013.
I Trained U Basketball Clinics
Basketball 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 are $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.
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 school is scheduled to visit from 8:50 to noon:
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: 6th grade Fraction Power Hour and Math Grade Recovery
The Fraction Power Hour is for any 6th grader wishing to improve their skills with fractions. Math Grade Recovery is for students who currently have Ds and Fs. Your teacher will invite you to attend to improve your overall 2nd Advisory Grade.
Please attend on Monday, December 10, 2012 from 3:30pm - 4:30pm in room C128.
New: Candygram Sale Supports Deal Languages Program!
Buy a candy cane for a friend and we'll deliver it to them with a personal message for the holidays. Candy canes will be on sale for $1 each during every lunch period, starting on Wednesday, December 5, and continuing through Wednesday, December 12. CandyGrams will be delivered on Monday, December 17. All proceeds benefit the Deal World Languages Program. Happy Holidays! Contact parent Dana Cooper 202-288-1073 for more information.
New: Spanish Book Club
Join our Spanish Language Book Club! The featured book, plus most of the discussion, will be in Spanish. The book for this season is El Principle de las Tinieblas by Carlos Ruiz Safón. Mrs. Cadavid's Classroom, C314, Thursdays after school.
New: Spanish Tutoring
Spanish tutoring for all levels! Every Monday and Thursday at 8:10 AM at Mrs. Cadavid's classroom C314.
New: Winter Concert "A Time of Harmony"
The winter concert for the performance ensembles at Deal is right around the corner. Our concert, entitled "A Time of Harmony," will be held on Thursday, December 13, 2012 at 6:30pm in the Alice Deal auditorium. Come and join us for a wonderful musical experience!
New: Ensemble Music Reminder
Any student who is participating in an instrumental or vocal ensemble must be registered. There is a form on the Alice Deal Music Department webpage that needs to be completed. If you have not registered, please make sure you complete this as soon as possible. Additionally, there is a music ensemble fee of $35. To date we have received only 60% of payments. If you have not paid, please see Mr. Washington, Mr. Lewis or Mr. Pavy. Checks should be made payable to Alice Deal Middle School, and include the student's name in the memo line.
New: Opportunity to Earn Community Service Hours for National Junior Honor Society
The Deal PTA is a 501(3)(c) and they need volunteers to assist with the World Languages Program CandyGram fundraiser to be held December 5-12. There are three opportunities to help while earning community service hours. (1) The volunteers have to cut over 1,600 cards out of construction paper using pinking shears and hole-punch them, affix labels to the cards, cut 1,600 lengths of ribbon, and then use the ribbons to tie the cards to the candy canes. (2) The CandyGrams will be sold over the course of a week during each lunch period, where your student can help with the sales. (3) Then all 1,600 CandyGrams have to be sorted into individual classes by teacher and delivered.
Why not help a good cause for the holiday season and earn community service hours?
If interested, please contact parent Dana Cooper at 202-288-1073 or AlexMaxandLily@aol.com as soon as possible. Forms to document community service are available from Ms. Darcy Hampton in W301.
New: Mathcounts
The MathCounts Team is preparing to compete on January 25, 2013, at the 4th Annual MathCounts Competition at Carderock Naval Surface Warfare Center. We need all mathletes to attend practice on Thursday, December 6, to get all of the information and permissions that are needed. Listen to the announcements for the location!
New: International Cooking Club Group C
The International Cooking Club Group C will meet December 10, 2012, at 3:30 in Room C216 (the Teacher's Lounge) to make up their pizza day that was lost due to the hurricane. Students should be picked up at 5 pm so there is enough time to prepare and cook food. The following students are in Group C.
Zarina Carpenter
Elena Bagnoli
Surina Goel
Naejia Piper
Fiona Martone
Youssef
Shakaliah Smalls
Shrabonti Turna
Ella Buring
Sofia Geislinger
Calia Christie
Nastia Webber
Claire Contreras
Matilda Jensen
Lindsay Harper
Clara Edmonds
Jisca Adigo
Sophia Pouros
Perri Hollar
Lalita Kohls
Anna Joos
Alexis Anderson
New: 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.
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This Week at Deal...
Paced Interim Assessments (PIA) This Week
All Deal students will take the PIA on Tuesday (Reading) and Wednesday (Math) this week. The make-up day will be Wednesday during lunch for each grade level. Students must bring two #2 pencils. Students should get plenty of rest, eat a good breakfast, and come to school on time prepared to do their best. We will be on a Bell T schedule. Please contact Ms. McFarland if you have any questions.
Monday: Student Council Representative
Please remember to come to the meetings Mondays from 3:30 to 4:30!
Monday: Deal Relief Council
We will meet in Mr. Gueltig's room, E104, at 3:30 on Monday to pack up our Hurricane Sandy supplies.
Monday: Photography Club
We will meet in Mr. Gueltig's room, E104, Monday at 3:30 to see your prints and display them around the building.
Monday and Friday: GeoPlunge!
Sixth grade students participating in GeoPlunge will meet in room C105 during recess this Monday and Friday.
Tuesday: 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.
Wednesday: Team Santiago Study Hall
Santiago study hall meets every Wednesday after school in Mr. Martini's room (C130). This is a great opportunity to ask questions, catch up on homework, and get help from your core subject teachers!
Wednesday:
Salva las Focas/Save the Seals
Save the Seals/ Salva a las Focas is a club organized by some students from the 7th grade humanities class to help save seals from being clubbed to death in Northern North America- specifically Canada. Because seals have beautiful, soft, warm fur, they are captured, beaten to death with hooked clubs, and then skinned. But that's not the worst part- they are clubbing baby seals (called pups), and it's legal. If you want to help us, or at least see what we're all about, come to Ms. Cadavid's room, C314 on Wednesdays after school. Seal Saving Snacks will be provided!
Wednesday: Attention Deal Scientists
Discovery Club will meet this Wednesday, from 3:30 - 4:30 in E101 with Ms. Law and Ms. Purcell.
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday:
A Midsummer Night's Dream
Come see our Fall theater production of A Midsummer Night's Dream at 6:30 pm on Thursday, Friday and, new to Deal this year, on Saturday night as well. Tickets are $1 for students, $2 for parents, and $500 for Broadway producers scouting Deal talent.
Thursday: Team London Study Hall
Team London Study hall will be this Thursday, from 3:30-4:30 in E104. We will see you there!
Thursday: GEMS
Girls Excelling in Mathematics and Science will meet Thursday, December 6, 2012 in Room W103 from 3:30pm - 4pm. GEMS is for 6th grade girls interested in learning more about real world connections to mathematics and science. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Pough at natalie.pough@dc.gov or Ms. Burnham at lisa.burnham@dc.gov
Thursday and Friday: Spelling Club
The Spelling Club will meet during 6th and 7th grade ZAPs in Mr. Gueltig's room, E104, on Thursday and Friday this week. The Spelling Bee is right after Winter Break, so be sure to come and see if you're ready for the challenge!
Friday: Youth Risk Behavior Survey
On Friday, we will give a citywide survey that will provide city agencies, as well as Deal, information about keeping adolescents healthy. We will be on a Bell II schedule; students will take the survey in their homerooms. Opt-out forms were sent home by DCPS central office several weeks ago.
Friday: Peer Mediator Meeting
All of the peer mediators will meet on Friday, December 7, at 6th period in the Media Center. New Deal mediators will receive their certificates for participating in training. All mediators will have a chance to meet each other and talk about the framework and plans for the peer mediation program.
Friday: Football Team Awards Presentation
The Football team awards presentation will be held on Friday from 3:30 to 4:30 pm.
Friday: Indoor Track
On Friday, the Indoor Track team will travel to the Prince George's Sports & Learning Complex for their first meet of the season. Go Vikings!
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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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Attendance at Deal
Students this is a reminder that on-time arrival and regular attendance help us to achieve more in school and life. As the school year moves forward, we must all strive for on-time everyday. Good habits today foster good futures tomorrow. 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
Garza Assael Hovancsek
Jackson Diaz Mostoller
Law Parish Mungai
McDowell Rhoads Simpson
Pough Wang
Purcell
Ruiz
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Staff information ...
New: Team Leaders cancelled
Due to a conflict in schedule, the Team Leaders meeting scheduled for this Tuesday will be cancelled.
New: Educator Portal+ Available
Have you been to dcps.dc.gov/educators recently? With new features such as announcements and calendar events in real time, links to unit planning materials and other DCPS Common Core curriculum resources, and professional development resources such as Reality PD, the Educator Portal+ website has many resources that you can use to improve your teaching. Please email educator.portal@dc.gov with questions.
New: 8th Grade Buddy Movie Plan
On Thursday, December 6th, all 8th graders will be ready to board buses by 10:00 AM to attend "Bully," a movie at the Mazza Galleria Movie Theatre. Students will remain in their first period class until it is time to board the buses. First and second floor hallway doors will be closed while 8th graders quietly exit the center, side doors. They will be provided a snack prior to or on route to the theatre.
They should arrive back to school around 12:30 and proceed to lunch. Those students who purchase lunch, will proceed straight to the cafeteria. Those who bring their lunches, will return to their lockers before they come to the cafeteria. After lunch and recess, students will attend 6th and 7th period classes. For their activity period, students will do the post-activity in their homerooms (previously received). Team teachers will lead activities, supported by co-teachers. If teachers did not retain all of their copies, additional copies are available in Ms. Abrams' office.
Teachers, please provide Ms. Abrams the names of students from your team not attending by Tuesday at 3:00 PM. They will remain in the building with one staff member during 3rd and 4th periods who will supervise them doing classwork. Teachers need to provide sufficient work for students to complete during that period of time.
A chaperone list will be provided soon.
New: Friday YRBS
Deal will give the Youth Risk Behavior Survey this Friday. All teachers will meet in the auditorium on Friday morning at 8:10am to review the survey procedure. We will be on a Bell II schedule.
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Before and After School Activities
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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
Deal Relief Council - E104
Boys' Basketball practice
Girls' Basketball practice
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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
Boys' Basketball practice
Girls' Basketball practice
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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 Salva Las Focas/Save the Seals club - C314
Boys' Basketball practice
Girls' Basketball practice
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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
Boys' Basketball practice
Girls' Basketball practice
Indoor track practice to 5 pm
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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
Boys Basketball practice
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