Community Newsletter

Dear Dolphin Families,

In times where fear and uncertainty seem to surround us, I am continually impressed by the strength and unity of our community. Today, as we navigated the statewide social media threat together, I witnessed firsthand the care, support, and resilience we show one another. Our school is truly special because of our incredible scholars, families, and staff, who work together to bring out the best in each other, even in difficult moments. Thank you for being part of this amazing community.

Warmly,

Principal Ingraham

• 10-9 Walk to School Day
• 10-10 Curriculum Night 4:30 to 6:00 (more information to come)
• 10-18 Picture Day

Please find in the below attached document with a quick introduction to some of our Denny staff who work most closely with families.

Students can request to see their counselor by filling out a slip in the office or outside their counselor's office door and placing the completed slip in the collection box. Counselors will regularly collect these requests and send a pass to connect with the student.

Reasons to Request to See a Counselor

• Academic Planning
• Social-Emotional Wellbeing
• Report a concern
• Community Health and Wellbeing Referrals
• Guidance or help solving Conflicts
• Schedule Change Request (only the first full two weeks of a semester)
• Need to talk to someone who will listen

Who is my counselor?

If you are in 6th Grade your counselor is Ms. Tyau. Her email is notyau@seattleschools.org. Her office is 112C. She can also be reached by phone at 206-252-9027.

If you are in 7th Grade, your counselor is Ms. Wright. Her email is smwright@seattleschools.org. Her office is 212-C. She can also be reached by phone at 206-252-9010.

If you are in 8th Grade your counselor is Ms. Danielle. Her email is dnblechert@seattleschools.org. Her office is 312C. They can also be reached by phone at 206-252-9011.

Does our family complete the school meal application?

Yes. Families at these schools should still complete the free student meals application to help our schools maintain federal and state funded programs.

Why is this survey important?

The School Meals Application provides your student’s school with a way to collect household income information. This information is important because it helps your school receive federal and state funding.

In addition to healthy and nutritious meals, the School Meals Application also helps to fund school programs such as:

• Before- and after-school enrichment programs
• School counselors
• Health and wellness services
• Resources for classrooms and teachers

Please complete this Online School Meal Application form.

Families with multiple students will only complete this form once. The form is simple to fill out and confidential. The information will only be used to help your school receive funding from state and federal programs.

Dear Denny Students and Families,

At Denny International Middle School, our primary focus is that students are in a positive and safe learning environment so that they may develop the skills needed to be college and career ready.

Like you, we share your concerns that cell phones, and other personal electronic devices, can be both distracting and a safety concern. To support a safe environment and high academic standards, we are updating our successful personal electronics policy so that students can focus on their attendance, behavior, and coursework.

Our new personal electronics policy is: All students must have cell phones, air buds, air pods, headphones, smart watches, tablets, etc. powered off and out of sight as soon as a student enters the classroom.

There will be a reminder to the whole class that personal electronics devices should be powered off and put away.

If out, seen, or heard after this warning, during the same period, then the consequence will be as follows:

1st incident:

· The phone or device will be safely secured by the classroom teacher.

· The teacher contacts the student’s home via email, Talking Points, or phone call to inform of incident.

· The student can pick up their phone from their teacher at the end of the period.

2nd incident:

· If a teacher has taken a student’s phone twice in one week, the phone will be given to the student’s Grade Level Administrator. It will then be delivered to a lockbox in the main office. The administrator will contact the student’s family.

3rd incident:

· Administrator holds the phone for the day. Student will deliver the phone to the main office the next day to be placed in secure lockbox. Student can pick up phone at the end of the day.

4th incident:

· The family will need to make a cell phone contract with administration.

Please note, Denny International Middle School is not responsible for damaged, lost or stolen devices. Thus, the best way to keep technology safe is to keep it in their pocket, backpack, or at home. In addition, we are not staffed to conduct investigations into lost or missing devices.

Our goal is to create a safe environment that is conducive to learning and free of distractions to support the learning process. Please let us know if you have any questions and/or concerns. We have included answers to commonly asked questions below.

Thank you,

Denny International Middle School Administration Team

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

What if my scholar needs to leave early for an appointment?

If your scholar is leaving early, call the main office (206) 252-9000 to receive the student. Texting or calling the student to leave is a safety issue as we need to know where the scholar is.

What if I need to leave a message for my scholar?

If you need to get ahold of your student, call the main office (206) 252-9000 to deliver a message or request the office to call the student down to the main office to call you back.

What if I have a family emergency?

We strongly suggest contacting the office first for emergencies. Texting or calling your scholar with a sensitive message may cause a safety concern as it can leave a student dysregulated and/or without the support of an appropriate staff member. We can have the student report to the office where they can be assisted and connected with their family.

Avoid text messaging your scholar for non-emergencies during school hours as it encourages cellphone use in the classroom. They will be able to contact you from their cell phone at lunch.

What if my scholar needs to speak with me?

Remind your scholar that if they need to reach family during school hours, they may ask their classroom teacher or go to the office to use the school phone.

What if my scholar records a video or takes pictures during school hours?

There are students who do not want to be photographed or filmed. Please respect their wishes. We do not encourage photos or videos during school hours, including outside play or lunch time.

What about phones in the restrooms?

Cell Phones are NOT permitted in the restrooms at any time. Discuss with your student that phones being used to film or take pictures in bathroom is a privacy concern and can lead to serious consequences if they take an image of student using the facilities.

What about if my student uses a device for medical or academic reasons?

We recognize that some students may need certain devices due to a 504 or IEP accommodation. Staff will work with the student and family to ensure technology is used for appropriate purposes. Students also have district devices for academic supports.

The Seattle Parks & Recreation Community Learning Center at Denny provides educational enrichment opportunities while also delivering cultural and social emotional development supports to its scholars by partnering with families, CBOs, volunteers, and other community organizations. OST will provide after school academic and enrichment programs, culturally responsive mentoring programs and recreational sports programs to its participants. Transportation is provided for those students who are furthest away from educational justice and want to participate in after school programs. OST fall programs will start in October with registration opening on September 27th. If you have any questions, please reach out to Program Coordinator Stephen Boney at smboney@seattleschools.org

1. Media Club – Monday: The class will focus on student creatives who enjoy content creation from short films, podcasting, photography, commercials, screenplays, social impact projects, live broadcasting, etc. Students learn the basic foundations of filmmaking production procedures through weekly hands-on assignments. Students also learn how to produce a short movie, including equipment use, set protocols, set dressing, costumes, hair/makeup, and postproduction. 15 Students Max.
2. Art – Monday: Get an introduction to visual art and design. Learn to build models and emphasize your drawings to look realistic. Gain comprehensive skills in the field and better understand of different mediums of art. 12 Students Max
3. Dance – Monday: Community building through student interest in dance. Make friends and learn various dance styles through structured lessons that focus on technique, choreography, and musicality. Instructors guide students through warm-ups, skill-building exercises, and routines, fostering both individual expression and teamwork. 20 Students Max.
4. CoRe Gaming Club – Tuesday: Enjoy playing video games? Want to learn different techniques around emotional well-being, communication and interpersonal skills? This can all be taught through participating in playing games. CoRe Gaming has a great program if you’re interested. 15 Students Max
5. Dungeons & Dragons – Tuesday: An extension of CoRe Gaming. A small Dungeons & Dragons game facilitated by the gaming group. (Pilot program that will expand year by year). 6 Spots Max available. First come first serve.
6. TOP (Teen Outreach Program) – Tuesday & Thursday: Wyman’s Teen Outreach Program (TOP) is one of many initiatives of the city of Seattle and Parks & Recreation to serve all young people ages 12- 24. Within Seattle Middle Schools with a Parks Community Learning Center, all mentors are recruited from the community and trained in this TOPs curriculum to deliver high quality facilitation of social emotional youth development. Class sessions include work around identity, culture, peer pressure, leadership, education and career readiness, self-love, race and social justice perspectives as well as community engagement and the completion of a special community service-learning project. 20 Students Max.
7. Swimming Classes – Tuesday & Thursday: These classes are 45 minutes. More than half the time spent on swim lesson and the rest of the time with free swim or practicing what you learned for the day. 16 Spot Max available. First come first serve.
8. Gender Sexuality Alliance - Thursdays: A student led organization with caring adults that unite LGBTQ+ and allied youth to build community and organize around issues impacting them in their schools and communities. Please join if interested! All are Welcome!!
9. Theater/Drama Club – Tuesday & Thursday: Two of our wonderful teachers and one parent will partner up again to bring Denny into its second year of drama club. Learn improv, stage settings, study playwrights and maybe write your own script to contribute to a live play in the future. 30 Students Max.
10. Anime Club – Friday: Our purpose is to promote and educate the American public about Japanese animation (Anime) and comics (Manga), as well as provide a meeting place, presentations, information, and events for all the club's members to build community with each other and learn from one another. Members will meet for the purpose of general social gathering and viewing of anime. The club will help maintain an appreciation and understanding of anime by showing anime that best represents the wide variety of anime that is available apart from hentai (perverse) anime since that type of anime spreads all the wrong impressions of the art form. 15 Students Max.
11. Basketball Skills & Drills – Friday: If you plan to try out for the school team or just love the game of basketball, this is the program for you! Gain skills in basic basketball functions of passing, dribbling, shooting, rebounding, and defending. Unlimited.
12. Coding Club – Friday: Learn Python coding and build AI arcade games in this fun and innovative club. 16 Students Max.
13. Unified Outreach Vibrant Magazine Club – Tuesday & Thursday: Art Heals Magazine club provide students with soft skills in communication, writing, interviewing, storytelling, and photo editing. Students work together to create articles to produce the next issue of the digital and hard copy art magazine. 20 Students Max.

6th, 7th, & 8th Grade ELA & Math Supports – Mon- Fri: Your wonderful Denny teachers are here to give scholars the extra support they need afterschool!

Practices are every Monday and Thursday from 3pm-430pm at Cantu Field.

First Game will be Saturday, Sept. 28.

Talk to Mr. Gutierrez if you have any questions.

Practices are every Tuesday and Thursday from 3pm-4:20pm at EC Hughes.

Our first game will be Saturday, Sept. 28.

Talk to Ms. Holm if you have any questions.

Picture day is October 18th and the make-up and retake day is December 3rd.

Families when you drop-off or pick up your scholar please keep your speed slow to keep our scholars and neighbors safe. When you are waiting in the pickup line please be considerate of not blocking driveways. We really appreciate your help with this.

Dear families,

We’re going to Spain in Summer 2025, and you’re invited!

We’re excited to tell you more about the trip we’re planning with EF Tours, our educational travel partner. Please be sure to register for this info session to be considered for this opportunity: https://rsvp.eftours.com/k8828jt

When students travel, they expand their knowledge of the world around them, discover more about themselves, and grow more confident. These skills are critical for creating the global citizens of tomorrow, and we would love to have your student join us on this adventure.

In this info session, we’ll talk about:

• How this opportunity will benefit your student
• What we’ll see and do on our trip
• Everything that’s included in this experience
• How your child can earn academic credit
• How we’re keeping this safe and affordable
• How to enroll on this trip (before it fills up!) during EF’s risk-free enrollment period

There are limited spots on this trip, so we would love to have you attend this meeting to learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Thanks,

Viridiana Maciel

Please note this is a non-school sponsored trip.

Here is also a link that people can use to sign in if the kids are interested in attending the spain presentation.

https://bit.ly/3WeKx2N

To learn more about Neighborcare Health and school-based health center services for the 2023-2024 school year, or to pre-register your student for services, view the Denny International Middle School page on the Neighborcare Health website.