Community Newsletter
Denny International Middle School | September 9, 2023
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Dolphin Families,
I wanted to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude and excitement for the incredible start we've had to the school year. It has been a truly remarkable beginning. Our students, both returning and new, have brought an abundance of enthusiasm and curiosity to the classroom. The energy and excitement filling our hallways are contagious and heartwarming. This week has been marked by numerous engaging activities, team-building exercises, and opportunities for our students to connect with one another. From our dedicated and passionate teaching staff to our exceptional support teams, everyone has played a crucial role in ensuring that each person has a deep sense of belonging within our school community.
We firmly believe that fostering a sense of belonging is at the heart of a successful education. When every student, parent, and staff member is valued, respected, and heard, our school truly thrives. It's this sense of unity and inclusivity that makes our school a special place for learning and personal growth.
As we move forward into the school year, we will continue to build upon this foundation of belonging. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you, our incredible families, for your unwavering support, trust, and involvement in your child's education. Your partnership is vital to our shared success, and we are excited about the positive journey ahead.
Warmly,
Mary Ingraham
IMPORTANT DATES
- 9-13 First Early Release Wednesday of the School Year, School Hours: 7:55 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
- 10-20 Picture Day
First Days Packets
Laptop Distribution
Your scholar should have received a laptop agreement packet on the first day of school. The information needs to be read over at home and the back page needs to be signed by a parent/ guardian before Monday for scholars to receive their laptops. Completed forms should be given to their Reading/ Writing teacher during class. Laptop distribution will take place Monday, September 11th and Tuesday, September 12th.
Students Request to See Their Counselor
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
School Counselors:
Ms. Blechert (dnblechert@seattleschools.org): 7th grade students and 6th grade (last names A-L)
Ms. Wright ( smwright@seattleschools.org): 8th grade students and 6th grade (last names M-Z)
Support for Our Loss
REPEATED INFORMATION
Family Income Survey: Action Item for All Families
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
New School-based Health Center Service Provider: Neighborcare Health
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.
Join DIMS PTSA
Homework Help at The Seattle Public Library
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.
Apply to be a Member of the Information Technology Advisory Committee
Seattle Public Schools is seeking members for the Information Technology Advisory Committee (ITAC). The membership application is open until Sept. 22. Selected members will be notified by Oct. 1.
ITAC serves as an advisory committee for IT recommendations and future funding planning. Providing expertise and input, the committee includes students, parents/guardians, community members, teachers, and staff. ITAC members are asked to commit to attending monthly meetings for one year. The committee is currently holding virtual meetings, which are open to the public, using MS Teams.
If you have questions about ITAC’s membership, don’t hesitate to get in touch with DoTS Admin at: spsdepartmentoftechnologyservices@seattleschools.org
Fall Athletics
After School Opportunities - Starting in October!
Fall 2023 Tennis Aces Middle School Program for Denny Middle School Students
FREE 6 week program running 2x a week from 9/11-10/18 in after school hours at SWAC Tennis Courts with a season finale Jamboree date TBD (all sites come together for fun mini-games and competition). Classes will be taught by Coach Bradon Baccam and will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3:20-4:35pm. If rain is an issue on a particular date Coach Baccam or point person Christina Broadwin will contact participants to either reschedule to another date, shift to zoom or potentially may need to cancel that session. If you have any questions please contact Christina Broadwin with Sports in Schools: email: Christina@Sportsinschools.org or by text at 510-710-1731 Website: Sportsinschools.org for more general info about the non-profit, Sports in Schools.
Please Check Out the Delridge Farmers Market
Here is more information from those that run the market-Our market runs every Saturday from 10a-2p at 9421 18th Ave SW, Seattle WA 98106 until the end of October. We are Seattle’s only BIPOC-priority farmers market, and the only farmers market where no fees are taken from vendors, so folks keep 100% of their revenues.
All our vendors are BIPOC-owned businesses focusing on a wide range of culturally appropriate fruits and vegetables, prepared and packaged foods, artisan products, jewelry, and more. Our market is rooted in community care and solidarity, focused on increasing fresh healthy food access and offering a wide range of community programs for communities across Southwest Seattle.
We host the market in a lovely courtyard at Hope Academy, a Somali language school, which shares its site with the Masjid Al-Furqan – we maintain a halal standard, meaning no pork, alcohol, or other products that would be considered haram are sold, and many of our prepared food vendors use certified halal ingredients.
At the end of each market day, we even buy back the leftover produce from our farmers at full price for free community distribution, ensuring our farmers are meeting their financial needs and nothing goes to waste.
Folks can follow along on IG @delridgefarmersmarket or check out our website for more info – https://www.achdo.org/delridgefarmersmarket
At each market we offer:
$5 youth bucks so all kids who join us get a chance to practice healthy shopping habits
50+ bags of local, organic produce available free of charge with no questions asked
Free basic needs and resource distribution i.e. hygiene, personal care, and cleaning products
Unlimited SNAP-EBT matching (for every $1 on SNAP, we match with $1 Market Match), and our vendors accept Fresh Bucks, WIC and Senior FMNP programs
Youth activities each week offered by our partners at Hope Academy
Fitness classes for families to learn low-impact exercises together
Cooking demonstrations from a wide range of African Diaspora chefs (starting 8/5!)
A wide range of culturally appropriate products for sale representing cultures from across the globe
Save the Date: Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias Parade
Sea Mar Community Health Centers is happy to announce that after several years of absence due to the pandemic, Sea Mar Fiestas Patrias parade is back this year in South Park. We want to gather the community once again on Saturday, September 16, 2023 to celebrate our culture and we are excited to invite you to be part of this wonderful event.
The event will be full of music, folkloric dance, floats and different representations of our culture.
This year’s theme for the parade is “Celebrating the Colors of Our Culture/Celebrando los Colores de Nuestra Cultura” to honor the beauty in our different skin tones and celebrate the vibrant colors of our clothes, spices and food. We will also be appreciating the amazing colors found in our rivers, oceans, forests and the countless colors of the animals in our natural environment, all mixed as one big Latino/a culture.