Alice Deal Middle School Think globally - Listen compassionately - Act inclusively |
|
|
The Weekly Bulletin
Our school mission:
Alice Deal Middle School inspires excellence, curiosity, and compassion through intellectual and social engagement.
|
Principal's Message...
While the list of things to get done in April, May, and June is daunting, this is truly a wonderful time of the year to be at school. The weather is finally spectacular, students have matured as expected, and planning for all the amazing things for the coming year is well underway. Last week was a smooth transition back to our primary focus - and your students responded well. This coming week is short but packed.
As I read through your team newsletters I am encouraged by the continuing emphasis on high-quality instruction, with bits of DC CAS warm-ups thrown in. We talk about testing, we prepare for it through solid instruction, but we recognize that no one performs at their best when they feel stressed and worn down. Knowing where students are in their learning is the central function of assessment; this allows us to help move them forward from their starting point. In education, we talk of "formative" and "summative" assessments, where summative assessments are at the end of a unit or a course. But if all of us should be learning throughout our lives then every assessment is, in essence, formative.
We are at that time of year in which both the PTA and the LSAT prepare for next year's leadership challenges but soliciting new members and leaders. Serving in these capacities is a great way to be part of your child's education but not directly in the middle of it. We have a number of committed, caring parents and community members who have served ably - but need others to step in and help carry the weight. This coming year will have its own challenges - our budget is in good shape but should always be cared for, we will be looking at how better to serve the multiple members of the Deal community, we are undergoing IB evaluation, and we have a significant construction project just getting ready. Working with the PTA this year has been delightful - the Ms. House and Ms. Rojas have been very supportive and, at the same time, raised community and parent issues that must be addressed. The LSAT has been a valuable partner tackling whole school concerns and helping keep the system on its toes. Let's continue this - add your voice.
Finally, registration for the next school year is already upon us. As noted below, this year parents register their children at the school they children will be attending - so rising 6th, 7th, and 8th graders are all registered at Deal. In order to manage the flow of registrants, I have sent my staff out to our feeder elementary schools and we have had a good response from these visits (which are continuing). Now is the time to swing by Deal and get ready for next year - and for those who have yet to bring in their child's immunization materials, you can take care of those as well!
Enjoy Monday and Tuesday with your families; we will see your children back here on Wednesday.
Principal Albright
|
|
Stay Informed!
 |
Week of
April 15, 2013
Bell Schedule
Monday - No school
Tuesday - No school
(Emancipation Day)
Wednesday - Bell I
Thursday Bell - Bell III
Friday - Bell I
|
|
Upcoming Dates
April 15
Professional Development
(No school for students)
April 16
Emancipation Day
(No school for staff or students)
April 18
CAS Rally
Faculty Meeting
April 19
Reports Cards Issued
Spring Dance
April 22 - 30
DC CAS testing window
April 27
Saturday Detention, 9 to noon
Musical Rehearsal, 10 - 5
April 28
Musical Rehearsal, 10 - 5
April 30
Team Leaders
Mayor's Budget Town Hall 6:30
May 1
Math Dept Meeting, 3:30
May 2
6th Grade Awards Assembly
May 4
Musical Rehearsal, 10 am
May 5
Musical Rehearsal, 10 am
May 6
Musical Rehearsal until 8 pm
May 7
Team Leaders
Musical Rehearsal - until 8 pm
May 8
Musical Rehearsal 8:45 - 4 pm
May 9
Deal Musical
May 10
LSAT, 7:30
Deal Musical
May 11
Deal Musical Matinee
Saturday Detention
9 am - 12 noon
May 14
Team Leaders
PTA Meeting
May 16
NJHS Assembly
Department Chairs
Spring Concert, 6:30 pm
May 17
8th grade Gettysburg Trip
May 21
GeoPlunge Spring Tournament
PTA Speaker
May 23
Faculty Meeting: 3:30 pm
May 25
Saturday Detention
9 am to 12 noon
May 27
Memorial Day
(No school for students or staff)
May 28
Team Leaders
May 30
Bingo Night, 6:30 pm
|
HONK! Jr
HONK! Jr
*ALL ACTORS MUST BE OFF BOOK*
Monday 4/15
STAGING 9-10 Play with Your Food
Ugly and the Cat
10-11 Look at Him
Ida, Drake, Ugly, Family Ducklings, Turkey, Henrietta, Grace, Cat, School Ducklings, Teachers
RUN ALL SCENES IN SHOW
11-3
*if you have a speaking role in the show you must attend*
Tuesday 4/16 TBA
Wednesday 4/17 MUSIC
3:15-4:15
Greylag, Dot, Ugly, Ida and Goose Ensemble
DANCE
4:15-6:15 Wild Goose Chase Greylag, Dot, Ugly, Ida and Goose Ensemble
REVIEW WITH MUSIC 6:15 - 7:30
Play with your Food: Ugly and Cat
Hold Your Head Up High: Ugly and Ida
Every Tear a Mother Cries: Ida
Different and Now I've Seen You: Ugly
Thursday 4/18 MUSIC
3:15-4:30 Full Company
4:30-5:15 Blizzard Ensemble 5:15-5:45 Bullfrog and Ugly
REVIEW WITH MUSIC
5:45-6:30 Look at Him
Ugly, All Ducklings, Turkey, Henrietta, Grace, Teachers, Ida, Drake
6:30-7:30 Joy of Motherhood & Joy of Motherhood Reprise Ida, Maureen, Family Ducklings, Drake
3:15-4:30 Poultry Tale Full Company
4:30-5:30 Warts and All Bullfrog, Ugly, Dance Troupe, and Frog Ensemble
5:30-6:30 Blizzard
Ugly, Cat, Ida
DANCERS (TBA)
Any questions or concerns??
|
| | |
Message from the Nurse - Immunization Compliance
|
Parents- We need your help! We have several students who are overdue required immunizations. Letters and/ or phone calls have been sent/done and Deal Schools compliance rate is still low. Please make appointments with your Doctor to have these immunizations done ASAP. Remember -those students overdue for HPV- need 3 doses or an opt out form may be completed in lieu of the vaccine. All immunization forms must be stamped, signed and dated to be accepted by the Immunization Registry. Let's make Deal 100% compliant!!!!! |
Library News
The library will be closed after school on Thursday, April 18th for the faculty meeting.
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).
|
|
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
*
Elements Fitness and Wellness Center
*
Discount Vacation Rentals for Deal Families
*
Capitol Language Services
|
|
|
|
Register Now!
for the 2013-2014
School Year
All students must be registered for the 2013-2014 school year by June 20. Current 6th and 7th graders should bring their completed enrollment papers and proof of residency to Deal. We have scheduled evening hours every Thursday until 7 pm for families who are not able to come to the school during day. 8th graders should take their enrollment papers and proof of residency to the high school that they will be attending.
|
|
PTA News - Fundraising Campaign successfully completed
It is with pleasure and gratitude that the Deal PTA can announce that we have successfully completed our fundraising campaign for the 2012-13 school year!
Over the course of eight months, the Deal community has pulled together and donated more than $160,000 to supplement the school program, add activities outside the school budget and to support the ideas of our fine teachers and administrators who dedicate themselves to our children every day. Most recently, the iPad cart that was funded through the generosity of parents at this year's auction has been ordered and will be in the school shortly.
If you are among the families who donated money to the various fundraising campaigns, THANK YOU very much for your generosity and support. If you did not take the opportunity to donate this year, please consider becoming part of next year's Deal success story. Join the PTA next year and make your contribution, large or small. Every little bit helps, and all of our support means a great Deal!
Our next PTA meeting will be on Tuesday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m. Board elections and a vote on next year's budget are scheduled for that date. The proposed budget will be posted on the website shortly for review. When it is, please take a moment to look it over and feel free to ask any questions at the meeting.
We are now receiving candidates for the 2013-2014 Deal PTA Executive Board, including the following offices:
Co -President (2)
Vice Presidents (4)
Treasurer
Secretary
Corresponding Secretary
Teacher Representative
Local School Advisory Team (LSAT) (2)
If you are interested in becoming a member of the Deal PTA board, please submit a brief biography to Andrea Levine, Elections Chairperson, at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, April 30. She can also provide information regarding the positions.
Thank you for another successful Deal PTA School Year!
Diana Rojas and Cathy House
Co-presidents, Deal PTA
|
|
Student and parent information...
New: Stage Crew
Students who are interested in serving on the stage crew for Honk! should see Ms. Roos after school on Friday. She will be in the auditorium.
New:Congratulations Bard!
Congratulations to Zachary Crouch for winning the 6th grade level of the Junior League of Washington's Annual Poetry Contest for his poem "Only God Can Know."
New: Eighth Grade Health Test Questions
Your eighth grader received a letter from the Office of the State Superintendent of Education on Tuesday of last week. This letter described the content of the upcoming health assessment of the DC CAS. This health assessment will cover topics such as nutrition, mental and emotional health, alcohol, tobacco and other drugs, disease prevention, and sexual health. If you do not wish for your student to participate in the sexual health portion of the assessment, please fill out the bottom portion of that letter and return it to Ms. White no later than April 22, 2013. If you have any questions or concerns regarding this please contact Ms. White via email ([email protected]) or by phone 202-939-2012.
New: The DC CAS is Right Around the Corner!
The District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessment System (DC CAS) is scheduled to begin on April 22 and last until May 2. We are striving for 100% of our students to successfully participate in this process. Successful participation includes being on time to school each day and being prepared to do their
absolute best. Parents, we are asking for your help in making sure that this happens. Please avoid scheduling appointments, trips, or other activities during the testing dates. Thanks in advance for your help in this process.
New: Literature-to-Film Series
The FINAL movie in the Literature-to-Film series will screen at 3:30 pm in the library on Wednesday, April 24. In honor of our departing 8th graders, we will watch the classic film based on the novel many read in their literature circles: The Outsiders. Come see a young Tom Cruise and Patrick Swayze before they were famous! Popcorn will be served for this final hurrah.
Parent Volunteers Needed for the DC CAS
If you are the parent of a Deal student and are available to help out as a test monitor on any of our upcoming test dates, please contact Ms. McFarland at 202 939-2014 or via email at [email protected]. The DC CAS will be held Tuesday, April 23 to Friday, April 26 and Monday, April 29 to Thursday, May 2.
|
This Week at Deal... Wednesday: Girls Soccer There will be girls' soccer practice on Wednesday from 3:30 - 5:30pm. Thursday: GirlUp Is Going to the Movies! The GirlUp Club will visit the World Bank on Thursday evening to view the United Nations film "Girl Rising." All members who are traveling with us will need to see Ms. Scott or Ms. Mostoller before the close of business on Wednesday. Thursday: Bocce Ball Spring is here and Bocce is BACK! Please join Ms. Zanelli and Ms. Wellersdick on Thursday after school in room E106 for our first Bocce game of the season. See you then! Friday: 8th Grade Model UN Remember, Position Papers must be submitted by April 19. See Ms. Trenkle at recess or after school for clarifications, help, proofing, etc! We will have MUN on Friday.
|
|
Staff information ...
Thursday: Faculty Meeting
Friday: School-wide Math BCR
During homeroom on Friday, 6th, 7th, and 8th graders will complete a math BCR. Teachers will receive an electronic version of the BCR and answer sheets. Please remind students that their responses should include numbers, words, and pictures/graphic representations. All student work should be submitted to Ms. Neal.
|
|
International Baccalaureate Middle Years Program: The Next Chapter
In 2014, the IB MYP will undergo several changes. The Approaches to Learning (ATL) will be included in the change. The ATL currently focuses on seven skills including organization, collaborative, communication, information literacy, reflection, thinking, and transfer. Starting in 2014, the ATL will shift to focus on five skills including communication, research, self-management, social, and thinking. The goal for developing students' skills through ATL will continue to be to provide them with the tools to enable them to take responsibility for their own learning. Teachers will work to ensure that students will leave Deal with a deeper understanding of the answers to the following questions: How do I learn best? How do I know that I have learned? What resources can I use to assist me in my learning? How do I work with others? and How do I communicate my understanding of what I have learned to others?
"The worlds as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking."
|
Bus Information
 If your child travels on the 4 bus routes that WMATA makes available for Deal students, here are some important phone numbers for you.
If the D31 or D32 bus is late, misses a pick-up, or never shows up, please call the Western District Superintendent, Ms. Peggy Neils, at 202-962-5860 as soon as possible. Students who are passed should try to get the bus identification number. If your child rides the D33 or D34, the Northern Division contact is Sophia Coleman Hill, and she can be reached directly at 202-568-1446. As always, please send an email about a bus problem or concern to [email protected]Here is a link to the bus route schedule. |
8th grade announcements
Wilson High School Academy Selection and Upcoming Parent Meeting
Eighth grade students had the opportunity to receive a greeting from Principal Cahall and the counseling staff of Wilson HS recently and should have shared with you an Academy Course Selection Sheet. Students who are interested in being a part of a Wilson Academy should fill out the sheet and turn it in to Ms. White by May 10.
There is a parent meeting scheduled to take place on May 8, 2013 at 7 p.m. at Wilson. Parents of rising 9th grade students are encouraged to attend in order to find out more about what Wilson has to offer your student.
STEM HS Option for 8th Grade DCPS Students
The TransTech Academy is an exciting place to be for the 2013 - 2014 school year! It will be housed in the newly renovated Cardozo Senior High School with state of the art classrooms and enriching and exciting career pathways in engineering, aviation and robotics/electro-mechanical technology training. Our 8th grade students will have an opportunity to apply. Anyone who is interested should contact Ms. Shirley McCall by email at [email protected] or by phone at 202-673-7753.
Key Information about 8th Gr Transition
At this time of year, many DCPS families are already thinking about their enrollment plans and options for next school year. We would like to provide families with children in transition grades, with important information regarding their DCPS school options for next year. Please read: Next Year's Enrollment Letter for 8th Grade Students
Free Test Prep for Standardized Tests
Eighth grade students are encouraged to log onto their IGP to utilize TestGear which can help in preparing them for standardized tests like the PSAT. TestGear is offered to students beginning in 8th grade.
|
|
|
|
|
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
Student Council
meeting Rm E205
Viking Quarterly
Rm W103
African Drumming
club
Girls on Track
- Rm E103
After
school Outdoor Hoop
club - Rm W205
Ultimate Frisbee
club - Rm C130
6th grade Concert Band, 7th & 8th Symphonic Band and Jazz band
meeting - Auditorium
Tennis
club - Rm E300
French club to 4:30 - CG07
Afterschool Basketball club -
W205Vikings Soccer to 5 pm
GeoPlunge - C130
Board Games to 4:30 - W106
Deal Relief Council - E104
Comic Book Creators Club-RM C203.
International Cooking club, RM C216
Comic Book Creators
to 4:30 - C203.
Outdoor Track Practice to 5 pm
|
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' Runnin
g - RM E304
Girls on Track
- Rm E103
Mural/Public Art
clubSwimming
club to 5:15 pm - canceled
Football Conditioning to 4:45 pm - Weight
Area
Outdoor Track Practice
- 3:30 pm 5 pm Outdoor Track Practice to 5 pm
Social Justice Printmaking
to 4:30 - W304
|
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
Alexandria Library Rm E200
Roman Holiday - Rm E204
After School Sports Rap - Rm W104
Team Santiago study hall - Rm C130
Debate Team - Rm W100
New Student Transitions workshop 7th & 8th
Ms. White's Office
Roman Holiday - E204
Deal Scientists club - Rm E101
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
Salva Las Focas/Save the Seals club - C314
Creative Writing - W305
|
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
No Afternoon Activities
(Faculty meeting)
Cheerleading practice
to 5 pm
MWIT club
- Rm E206
Team London
Rm E104
Mathletes Rm
E106
M.I.T
. to 4:30 - RM E206
TAGS 6th and 7th
graders - C130
Spanish Club
|
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
Type Faster Now to
4:15 -W204
8th Grade Model UN to 4:30 pm W304
Outdoor Track practice to 5 pm
|
|
Community Information
(Items in this section are not sponsored by Deal)
Mayor Gray's Youth Budget Town Hall Meeting
Mayor Gray's Youth Budget Town Hall Meeting is scheduled to occur on Saturday, April 20, 2013, 11:00pm - 1:00pm. This Town Hall will take place at the Historic Charles Sumner School Museum & Archives located at 1201 17th Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20036.
Summer Jazz Camp with the Blues Alley Jazz Society
Your kids can swing into summer with our internationally renowned jazz educators at the Blues Alley Summer Jazz Camp, to be held July 8-19, 9:30 am-3:00 pm, at Carton Barron -- with an end-of-camp student concert on July 21st at Glen Echo. Campers bring their own lunch (refrigeration available). We provide drum sets, amplifiers, keyboards, and music stands. The cost of the two-week session is $350. Please contact director Michael Bowie at [email protected] to register. NO AUDITION REQUIRED!
Wilson Crew Plant SaleSpring is Just Around the Corner Support Wilson Crew by buying plants from the Wilson Crew Plant Sale! We have a wide variety of plants for sale that may be purchased online at www.wilsoncrew.org and you can give credit for the sale to your favorite rower. Plants will be delivered to your home on April 28, 2013.
Duke Ellington School of the Arts Summer Arts Intensives
Looking for something fantastic to do this summer in the arts? Duke Ellington School of the Arts may be the place for you. Ellington will be offering summer arts intensives in Literary Media & Communications, Instrumental Music, Dance, Vocal Music, and Theatre. Each will have a component specifically for incoming students, with the exception of Literary Media and Communications which are open to current 6th through 8th graders. These are great programs for any child who is motivated in the arts, especially current 7th graders that are eyeing Ellington as a high school choice. Any interested students/parents should contact the program coordinators listed below for more details: For Dance- Charles Augins- [email protected] or 202-337-7958; for Literary Media & Communications- Mark Williams- [email protected]; for Instrumental Music- Isaac Daniel- [email protected]; for Vocal Music- Mary Jane Ayers- [email protected]; for Theatre- Dawn Naser- [email protected] A flyer for these programs is also posted outside of Ms. White's office on the first floor.
Tiger Elite Summer Basketball Camp
Please take a look at our Tiger Elite Summer Basketball Camp that will be held at Wilson SHS! It's for rising 1st - 8th graders of all levels and abilities.There is a focus on the development of basketball skills; however, each camper will also experience fun camp activities, such as arts and crafts, games, speed and agility drills, etc... We hope to see your kids there! www.tigerelitebasketballcamp.com
Spring Tennis for Alice Deal Students at Lafayette
Tennis is a great sport you can play all your life with friends and family. If you want to learn how to play tennis or develop you tennis game with your friends at Deal, we have classes for teens at 5:30 on Monday through Thursday starting April 8th right after Spring Break. Check it out at
www.lafayettetennis.org. Classes are for beginners and advanced players. If you have questions you can call or text Paul Rosenbaum at 202 441-0925 or email to [email protected].
Summer Tennis Camp for Alice Deal Students at Lafayette July 15-19
You can spend a week starting or improving your tennis game during the summer at our tennis camp. We are setting July 15-19 as the week for Alice Deal students. So come with your friends or meet other Deal students during this week of fun in the sun. Check it out at www.lafayettetennis.org. Camp is open to beginners and advanced players. If you can't make it that week, you are welcome to join any of the other camp sessions. If you have questions you can call or text Paul Rosenbaum at 202 441-0925.
|
|
|
|
|
|
