Community Newsletter

Dear Dolphin Families,

Our scholars continually inspire me. I was so impressed at the thinking and questioning I was able to be a part of in classrooms this week. The curiosity and learning from each others is beautiful and insightful; thank you for sharing your scholar with us.

This week we learned about the staffing adjustments for this 2023-2024 school year and I wanted to share with you the impact this will have on our Denny International Middle School community.

Regrettably, we have received notification of a 1.0 Full-Time Equivalent (FTE) reduction in general education staffing. This decision was made based on the variance between our Spring student projections for the 2023-2024 school year and our current student count, resulting in the loss of 1.0 FTE. Unfortunately, this has led to an overstaffing situation within our 6th-grade class.

In light of this, we will be implementing adjustments within our 6th-grade English Language Arts/Literacy classes. While this means that several 6th-grade students' schedules will be impacted, please be assured that these changes are being made with careful consideration and a long-term perspective.

Our goal is to provide greater consistency and leverage the expertise of our veteran teachers. The overstaffing within the 6th-grade class necessitates a consolidation, and through this process, affected students will be moved into classes where they can benefit from the valuable experience of our seasoned educators.

To ensure a smooth transition for the families and students directly impacted, our ELA/Literacy team has developed a comprehensive transition plan. We are committed to effective communication, relationship building, and providing the necessary academic support for impacted students to ensure their continued growth. Additional information will be provided to the impacted families during the Curriculum Night classroom presentation on October 12th.

We understand that changes like these are challenging and difficult, and we are here to support both students and families throughout this transition. If you have specific concerns or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to our school administrative team. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we work together to maintain the high standards of education at Denny International Middle School.

Thank you for your continued partnership in your child's education.

Warmly,

Mary Ingraham

• 10-12 Open House/Curriculum Night 4:30-6:30 Dinner Included
• 10-16 Afterschool Activities Start
• 10-19 High Point Community Listening Session with the Admin Team
• 10-20 Picture Day
• 10-24 PTSA Meeting at 7:00 on Teams

4:30 - Meet in the Galleria to get your student's schedule and for brief introductory remarks

4:45 - Attend your student's classes meeting their teachers and learning about their classes

6:00 - Return to the Galleria to enjoy dinner together

6:30 - If you have a student at Chief Sealth High School join them for their Curriculum Night

**Please talk with your scholar or use The Source to have your scholar's class schedule

It’s time for the Fall Reading Challenge! All students are encouraged to participate by getting a FRC bookmark from the library and reading at least one book in each of the 4 genres listed. Once they’ve finished each book, they should come to the library to earn a stamp from Ms. Risi. Students with at least 4 stamps on their bookmark will be invited to our Fall Reading Celebration!

Our school is participating in the Washington State Healthy Youth Survey during fall 2023. The survey will be given to students in Grades 6, 8, 10 and 12 in large districts and students in Grades 6 through 12 in small school districts. The Healthy Youth Survey includes questions related to physical activity and diet, unintentional and intentional injury, substance use, sexual behaviors, abuse, risk and protective factors, and access to school-based services. Survey results are used by schools, communities, and state agencies to plan programs to support our youth and reduce their risks. Participation in the survey is voluntary and the students’ answers are anonymous. There are no codes or information used to match a survey to a student.

For more details, please read the below information in your preferred language

We need volunteers to help facilitate the 7th Grade Hearing and Vision Screening on October 12th. Please use the SignupGenius to signup for a shift: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/70A0E4CAEA62FAAF94-44998982-volunteer

Talleres Familias / Family Workshops 2023-2024

Sistema Escolar, Villa Comunitaria and Seattle Public Schools are excited to once again host monthly workshops for families in Spanish. The list of dates and topics are below. Reminders and informational flyers will be shared in advance of each meeting also. Meetings will be on Zoom and are no cost to families.

High School Basics Session #2

Tuesday, October 12th 6pm – 7:30pm

• Explanation of AP, Honors, CTE, IB and CIHS classes
• Running Start
• Skill Center
• Career Center
• Counselors

Special Topic – Bullying

Tuesday, November 15th 6pm – 7:30pm

• What is bullying and what is not
• Correct reporting
• HIB Form
• What comes after filling out an HIB form.

Financial Aid Night

Tuesday, December 7th 6pm – 7:30pm

• College costs and how to pay for it
• Explanation of financial aid resources
• FAFSA
• WASFA
• Private Scholarships
• Financial aid letter from colleges.
• Documents to gather to fill out financial aid forms.

Financial Aid (Filling out Information & Support)

Thursday, January 25th 6 – 7:30pm

• WASFA and FAFSA fill out night.

Special Education

Thursday, February 8th 6 – 7:30pm

• Process for Special Ed qualification
• Guidance Team
• Evaluation
• IEP
• 504
• Prior Written Notification

Elementary – 5th to 6th Grade Transition

Thursday, March 21st 6pm – 7:30pm

• Brain development of pre-teens and how to navigate the emotional, physical, and academic changes.
• Main Changes from Elementary to Middle.
• How Middle School Works

Middle School – 8th to 9th Grade Transition

Thursday, April 4th 6pm – 7:30pm

• Main Changes
• How High School Works.
• How to prepare academically to succeed in HS and to work toward post HS education.

**We had to postpone our start from October 10th to October 16th due to ensuring afterschool transportation**

To Register complete the form at the following link

https://forms.office.com/r/9ZQBQyJXWR

** If you have any questions, please reach out to Program Coordinator Stephen Boney at smboney@seattleschools.org

Brought to you by Denny International Middle School PTSA,

We are pleased to announce that our first PTSA meeting of 2023 will be Tuesday, October 24th at 7:00PM online:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3917212894?pwd=OXI2YXRGSkR5WDlOK0tSZlVTUFdHdz09

Thanks for those of you who have volunteered for hearing tests so far this fall. We still have a need for SIX more volunteers Oct. 12:

• Nurse needs help with hearing tests on THURSDAY, OCT. 12 (two more people in the AM, two more people in the pm).​
• 
  

You may call Crystal Uka in the main office or text Des Prewitt at 206-604-6255 to volunteer. Please also register with SPS if you haven't already at www.seattleschools.org/departments/volunteer/

Thanks!

This Saturday, October 7th from 12 - 4 pm, there is the National College Fair at the Seattle Convention Center. Registration is free and students must be 13 years of age or older to register for themselves. Information can be found here: https://www.nacacattend.org/23Seattle?i=osPcytyQ6xCjTmQPbbcgvCtI8f24Gi7f

There is also a virtual fair here: https://www.nacacattend.org/fairs/virtual-fairs

On November 4th from 10 am - 4 pm there is the 6th Annual Seattle Black College Expo at Rainier Beach High School. This is also a free event and an amazing opportunity for students to learn about HBCUs and connect with college representatives! Registration is free and can be found here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/6th-annual-seattle-black-college-expo-free-tickets-663466986617#:~:text=About%20this%20event&text=6%20hours-,Join%20us%20for%20our%206th%20Annual%20Seattle%20Black%20College%20Expo,answers%20right%20on%20the%20spot.

I'm reaching out because our matinees have begun, and our first one is Bailadores de Bronce. This show celebrates a local Mexican Folklorico dance group that have been leaders in our community for the last 5 decades and it's an amazing opportunity for your students to learn more about Mexican culture and traditions and see a live Mariachi group perform! Mexican Folklorico dance tells the stories of the people inhabiting each region of the country from harvest, to courtship, and celebration,

The Moore Theatre

11 am Matinee

Buy tickets here!

About the show:

STG is celebrating Latinx/Hispanic Heritage month with local ballet folklorico dance troupe celebrating the 50th anniversary as a group in the Seattle community area. Enjoy dances from various Mexican region.

The 50th anniversary performance will showcase traditional dances from all over Mexico featuring dancers from our own communities in the Seattle area and Washington state. It will showcase the diversity of Mexican culture influenced by Indigenous, European and African roots.

Why is this Survey Important?

The Family Income Survey 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 (Learning Assistance Program, teacher incentives, etc.).

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.

In addition to healthy and nutritious meals, the Family Income Survey helps to fund programs such as:

- Before and after school enrichment programs

- School counselors

- Health and wellness services

- Resources for classrooms and teachers

Please complete and submit this form. Families with multiple students will only complete this form once. Regardless of income level, families with students at Denny International should complete the Family Income Survey.

**The Family Income Survey will be available in multiple languages shortly

We are excited to announce that beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, services at our Wellness Center will be provided by Neighborcare Health, the largest provider of school-based health care in Seattle Public Schools (SPS).

The Neighborcare SBHC Wellness Center at Denny International Middle School will be a full-service clinic providing:

· Medical care

· Oral health care

· Mental health services

· Health education

· Youth-friendly setting

· Before, during, and after school appointments

Denny International Middle School, SPS, and Neighborcare Health have a long, successful history working together. For 23 years, Neighborcare was the SBHC for Denny. Neighborcare CEO Rashad A. Collins said, “We are very excited to once again partner with and serve the school community. Our goal is to build strong and supportive partnerships with Denny staff and help students and families to have a smooth transition of care.”

Neighborcare Health is a community health center that has been serving the Seattle community for over 50 years. They have been a provider of school-based health center services for more than 30 years and operate 14 SBHCs across Seattle and on Vashon Island. Many in our community may also know Neighborcare as the school-based health center provider for Chief Sealth High School as well as several elementary schools in our community.

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.

We can help students succeed in school. Our trained Homework Help tutors can assist with school assignments, provide reading support and skill-building activities at select Library locations.

Students in Seattle can also get free virtual tutoring from Tutor.com with a Library card or a Library Link number - www.spl.org/VirtualTutoring

Broadview Branch (12755 Greenwood Ave. N.): Tuesdays & 4 - 7:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 3 - 5 p.m.

Columbia Branch (4721 Rainier Ave. S.): Mondays 4 - 5:45 p.m. & Tuesdays 4 - 7 p.m.

Douglass-Truth Branch (2300 E. Yesler Way): Tuesdays & Wednesdays 4 - 7 p.m.

High Point Branch (3411 S.W. Raymond St.): Tuesdays 4 - 7:30 p.m. & Wednesdays 4 - 6 p.m.

Lake City Branch (12501 28th Ave. N.E ): Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

New Holly Branch (7058 32nd. Ave. S.): Thursdays 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Northgate Branch (10548 Fifth Ave. N.E.): Mondays 3:30 - 5:30 p.m., Tuesdays 4 - 7:30 p.m., & Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Rainier Beach Branch (9125 Rainier Ave. S.): Mondays 4 - 5:45 p.m. & Wednesday 4:30 - 6:30 p.m.

South Park Branch (8604 Eighth Ave. S.): Mondays & Wednesdays 3:30 - 5:30 p.m.

Holiday Assistance

The Salvation Army Seattle White Center Corps Community Center is providing toys for children
ages 0–17 during the Christmas season.

Registration will be held on the following days:

• September 27–October 1, 2021
• October 4–8

Ways to Register:

1. Call Us: (206) 442-8361
2. Register Online:
   Request an appointment: www.tsamm.org/at_request_intake.dpi
   Register via online portal: www.saangeltree.org
3. In-Person: At The Salvation Army Seattle White Center Community Center

Please Note: Registration will only be open on the dates listed above.

**If you need any assistance with this please reach out to our School Social Worker, Debora Nascimento de Araujo Dold (denascimento@seattleschools.org)

Youth Drop-in Chess @ High Point Branch, Thursday, September 21, 2023, 4 - 5:30pm - Event Calendar | The Seattle Public Library (spl.org)
Youth Drop-in Chess for Children and Teens under 18 years of age. Come learn, practice and improve your chess playing skills.

Thursdays 4:00-5:30 p.m. (weekly, ongoing)

Solar Eclipse "Double Header" @ High Point Branch, Tuesday, October 3, 2023, 4 - 6pm - Event Calendar | The Seattle Public Library (spl.org)
Tuesday, October 3rd from 4:00-6:00 p.m. Join award-winning astronomy educator, Dennis Schatz, and learn more about how, when and where to view the upcoming October 14th solar eclipse. Free eclipse viewing glasses available (2 per family as supplies last) starting September 15th.

Homework Help | The Seattle Public Library (spl.org)
Get help with your homework in-person at the High Point Branch from trained volunteers. Free for K-12 students. Snacks provided!

Tuesdays 4:00-7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays 4:00-6:00 p.m.

Family Story Time @ High Point Branch, Saturday, September 23, 2023, 10:30 - 11am - Event Calendar | The Seattle Public Library (spl.org)
At story time, kids ages 0-5 and their families can enjoy stories, songs, and fun learning activities. Saturdays @ 10:30 a.m. September 23rd – December 9th.