Community Newsletter

Dear Dolphin Families,

My heart is warm despite this cold weather from the energy, passion, and joy of our DIMS scholars. It was so great to have them back this week! It is wonderful to be surrounded by our bright and caring scholars.

We are close to the end of the first semester on January 28th. With the remaining few weeks of the semester, I encourage scholars to check The Source and complete any outstanding assignments, projects, or assessments. This is also a good time for you to check in with your scholar about their classes and grades. Please feel free to contact your scholar's teachers if you have any questions about their progress in any of their courses. You can find teacher emails on the Denny International Middle School website.

The second semester begins on January 29th. Some students will have classes change at the semester because of semester long classes or balancing class sizes. If you have any questions or concerns regarding your student's second semester classes please contact their counselor.

As always, I wish to express sincere gratitude towards our entire school community. We would not be the amazing school that we are without the support and partnership of all of you. Thank you for making the DIMS community strong and vibrant. It is an honor to work with your scholars and you.

Warmly,

Principal Ingraham

• 1-11 Varsity Boys Basketball game against Meany at 11:30 at Franklin 1
• 1-11 JV Boys Basketball game against Whitman at 10:00 at Denny
• 1-11 JVC Boys Basketball game against Hamilton at 11:30 Denny
• 1-11 Varsity Girls Basketball game against Aki at 8:30 Lincoln 2
• 1-11 JV Girls Basketball game against Meany at 10:00 Chief Sealth
• 1-20 No School, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day
• 1-21 and 1-22 PTSA Dine Out Fundraiser at the Westy
• 1-29 First day of Second Semester
• 1-30 Open House for Rising 6th Grade Student and their Families 5:00-6:30 pm in the Galleria

The Child Nutrition Eligibility and Education Survey is the data that is used to see if a school qualifies for Title 1 funding. This school year we re-qualified and the funds have made so much possible! Our staff has been reaching out to families who we do not have record of completing the survey. If you have not completed this important survey we kindly ask if you would please take a few moments to complete it. Thank you so much!!

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.

If you have any of the books listed on the table below that you would like to donate to Denny for our Global Reading Challenge we would greatly appreciate it. All books can be dropped off in the main office or the library. If you choose, you can also purchase books on the Amazon List here: Global Reading Challenge 2025 and the books will be directly sent to Denny. Thank you so much for your help and getting more books in our scholars' hands.

Basketball Practice Schedule:

• Mondays: All Girls
• Tuesday: All Boys
• Thursday: All JV
• Friday: All Varsity

This Saturday's Games:

• Varsity Boys 11:30 am at Franklin 1 against Meany
• Varsity Girls 8:30 am at Lincoln 2 against Aki

To find your scholar's second semester class schedule, you can look it up on the Source. Also, on Wednesday January 29th, scholars will receive their class schedules in their advisory class where they start the day. Advisory classes should not change, but just in case we will have rosters of student names and advisory classes posted around campus as well as in staff member's hands to help get scholars to advisory.

Please see below for general class schedule questions from our counseling team, and do not hesitate to reach out to your scholar's counselor with additional questions. On Wednesday, January 29th if there is a significant error in a scholar's schedule we will get it fixed right away by the counseling team as they will be in the Library all day to address any immediate needs with schedules.

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. Their email is dnblechert@seattleschools.org. Her office is 312C. They can also be reached by phone at 206-252-9011.

What is my schedule supposed to look like?

All Denny students take 7 classes each day. You should have 5 core classes; math, Language Arts, Reading, History, and Science. You should also have 2 elective classes.

What if I look at my schedule and don’t like my classes?
There will be no schedule changes for the first three days of the new semester unless there is an error (you are missing a class, have the wrong lunch, etc.). We want you to try your new classes and see how they feel first.

What if, after those 3 days, I still don’t like my classes?
You can request a schedule change. Email your counselor or fill out an appointment request form to speak with them. There will be schedule change request forms in the main office and outside each of the counseling offices

Can I change my class to be with my friend(s)?
Unfortunately, no classes will be changed to be with friends. We understand this can be scary, especially if you don’t know anyone in your classes. The good news is that we will be focusing a lot on get-to-know-you activities the first few weeks of the semester, so you’ll get to know the people in your classes.

We have gotten our link so that all can officially join the PTSA. Please use the following link to become a Denny PTSA member: https://wspta-00030863.givebacks.com/store

The PTSA will hold their next general meeting on Wednesday, February 12th from 7:00 to 8:00 by Zoom. Please find the link to join below. The general meetings will be held on the 2nd Wednesday of each months.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://zoom.us/j/95559484589?pwd=MlZCdTNSYzd4c0Y4d005SWpidmk0Zz09
Meeting ID: 955 5948 4589
Passcode: 363034

On Tuesday January 21st AND Wednesday the 22nd, The Westy on 35th near Kenyon is hosting our first dine out of the year!! Dine in is 21+ but they do a very easy take out with a great menu!

It is for 2 days so if you miss the first one, you can catch the second one and Please mention DENNY so that we can help fund our wonderful PTSA!

Prime viewing, without the usual sports bar feel. The Westy

Our science classes will be teaching Sexual Health Education (SHE) during the month of January and February. The 7th grade science classes will be beginning these lessons on January 7th and concluding them on January 17th. Our 8th grade science classes will begin the lessons on February 3rd and complete them by February 14th. The 6th grade science classes will begin the lessons on January 7th and complete them on January 17th. The teachers will be sending a family letter home with your student with information for you to reach out with questions, preview the materials, and opt out of part or all of the lessons. I have included the link to Seattle Public School's Sexual Health Education website for your reference.

Seattle Public School’s Sexual Health Education website: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/health-education/sexual-health-education/

The December SBIRT newsletter is focused on how you as parents and caregivers can support a child with symptoms of anxiety. Last year, 18% of SPS 6-9th graders experienced symptoms of anxiety. You can view the newsletter on our website at https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/prevention-and-intervention/sbirt-check-yourself/sbirt-newsletters/. You can also find more resources about anxiety on our website: https://www.seattleschools.org/departments/prevention-and-intervention/sbirt-check-yourself/parent-resources/mental-health-resources/. If you have any further questions, feel free to reach out to Drea Jones, Prevention Intervention Specialist.

Food:

• Byrd Barr Place | https://byrdbarrplace.org/ 722 18th Ave (206) 812-4940
• Open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Market (Food Bank) Open Tuesday 11:00am - 4:00pm ; Wednesday 12:00pm - 4:00pm ; Thursday 10:00 am - 2:00 p.m.
• Call (206) 812-4940 for weekly home delivery service - Serves the 98102, 98112 or 98122 ZIP codes.
• Food Pantry (King County) | https://www.foodpantries.org
• Non-profit, charitable organization that distributes food to those who have difficulty purchasing
• Seattle Community Kitchen Collective | 2822 Martin Luther King Way S. Seattle, WA 98144
• http://www.thatbrowngirl.com/everybodygottaeat
• Chef Kristi & The That Brown Girl Cooks team will be operating as a Community Kitchen. Serving free meals to the community every Thursday & Saturday 2pm - 6pm.
• Sound Generations
• Community Dining Locations - https://soundgenerations.org/our-programs/food-security/community-dining/locations/

Rent/Housing Supports:

• Byrd Barr Place | 206-812-4940, housingassistance@byrdbarr.place
• Offers financial support for apartment and home renters in the Seattle area who have an active eviction notice or who have had a loss of income and owe past-due rent. We currently have a waiting list for rental assistance.
• Online form at https://westseattlefoodbank.org/apply/assistance/
• Catholic Community Services | (206) 328-5724 South: (253) 850-2523 East: (245) 213-1963
• https://ccsww.org/get-help/shelter-homeless-services/emergency-assistance/
• This program offers King County residents emergency assistance and move-in cost assistance.
• Housing and essential needs (HEN) (206) 328-5755
• Emergency Assistance Program – (253) 850-2523: Call First and Third Thursdays of each month from 2:00 - 3:00 pm
• El Centro De La Raza | (206) 329-0786 | 2524 16th Ave S, Seattle | www.elcentrodelaraza.org
• Provides assistance for various types of housing emergencies, affordable housing, transitional housing, and rental assistance
• Neighborhood House Helpline | (206) 767-7124
• Low-income residents of South King County, including White Center/Burien residents, can get assistance with eviction prevention funds and grants
• Washington 2-1-1
• Help line number to connect with services that can help with rental assistance, shelter, legal referrals, housing assistance, transportation, food, and other needs. Larger organizations may not accept clients unless they’ve gone through 211
• Search for available resource at https://search.wa211.org/
• YWCA Project Self-Sufficiency | (206) 209-5677| 211 referral needed
• The agency provides several services to women, their children, and their families. This service is for families or individuals who are on the edge of homelessness and need help maintaining their current rental or find alternative home
• https://www.ywcaworks.org/programs/housing-stability-project-king-county211
• Salvation Army | (206) 442-8365 | (206) 447-9944 |811 Maynard Ave S, Seattle |
• Resources can help with housing needs, with a focus on preventing homelessness in the King County area.
• Eviction prevention, move-in and security deposit assistance, limited rent help, and utility bill assistance.
• Salvation Army's Social Services Department in White Center | (206) 767-3150
• http://seattlewhitecenter.salvationarmy.org/
• 9050 16th Ave SW Seattle WA, 98106 Hours: Monday, starting 8:30am until all appointments are filled.
• Jewish Family Services | (206) 861-8796 | 1601 16th Ave, Seattle
• https://www.jfsseattle.org/get-help/community-stabilization-services/financial-assistance-request/
• JFS provides services to people of all backgrounds as well as Jewish individuals and families. They accept financial aid requests on Mondays, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Visit during those times to fill out the online request form. All financial assistance requests must be submitted using the online form.
• Saint Vincent de Paul Financial Assistance | (206) 767-6449 | 5950 4th Ave S
• https://fs20.formsite.com/svdpseattle/form20/index.html?1500502963998
• The Society of St. Vincent de Paul parish is a non-profit that serves people of all backgrounds and religions. They offer personal assistance with food, clothing, gasoline, medicine, rent, utilities, and transportation to people facing economic or emotional crises.
• Families can call the helpline center or complete a request form at https://svdpseattle.org/get-help/online-help-request-form/
• UNEA Community Outreach/Rent Assistance | markseattl3@aol.com
• Provides limited assistance with rent to qualifying King County families. If you are interested, please email. Due to funding limitations, this program is only able to serve Seattle families, with youth and/or Elders in the household.

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.