Community Newsletter
Denny International Middle School | August 18, 2023
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Dolphin Families,
We hope this newsletter finds you well and enjoying the last days of summer. As we eagerly anticipate the start of the 2023-2024 school year, we have some important updates and information to share with you.
District Information for the 23-24 School Year:
The District has provided us with valuable guidance and information to ensure a smooth and successful school year. Please find links and information below regarding the 23-24 school year.
Update on Sixth Grade Home Visits:
I'd like to personally inform our sixth-grade families about a slight change in plans regarding our upcoming home visits. Due to the ongoing transition of leadership and staff within the school, there has been a delay in our originally planned schedule for these visits.
Please be assured that these home visits are still an integral part of our school's approach to fostering strong connections with our students and their families. While they may take place a few days to a week later than initially anticipated, I want to assure you that our dedicated sixth-grade homeroom and advisory teachers are committed to reaching out to each of you as soon as possible to arrange these visits.
Our aim is to have all home visits completed before the start of the school year so that our students and families can feel fully prepared and connected. Your understanding and patience during this transitional period are greatly appreciated.
Welcome Event - August 31st:
Mark your calendars for our upcoming Welcome Event on August 31st from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. This is a fantastic opportunity for both new and returning families to engage with the school community and prepare for the upcoming school year. More details are provided below.
We encourage all families to attend this event and take advantage of the chance to meet fellow parents, students, and staff members.
Thank you for your ongoing support and understanding. We are excited to welcome our students back to Denny International Middle School and look forward to a successful and enriching school year ahead.
Warmly,
Mary Ingraham
IMPORTANT DATES
- 8-31 4:00 to 6:00 pm Welcome to Denny Event for all New Scholars and their Families
- 8-31 5:00 to 5:30pm PTSA Ice Cream Social and Learn about Opportunities at Denny in the Galleria
- 8-31 5:30 to 6:00 pm Family Forum--Connect and Meet the Admin Team
- 8-31 Student Class Schedules become live on the Source
- 9-6 First Day of School
6th Grade Home Visits (UPDATE)
We want to inform our sixth-grade families that the scheduled home visits have been delayed due to the ongoing transition of leadership and staff within the school. While we understand the importance of these visits, we appreciate your understanding as we ensure a smooth transition for our students and staff. Please note that the home visits are still very much a part of our plans. However, they will now take place a few days to a week later than initially anticipated. Our dedicated sixth-grade homeroom and advisory teachers will be reaching out to you to schedule these visits as soon as possible
This event is sponsored through Title Funds
Welcome to Denny Event: August 31st 4:00-6:00 (REPEAT)
Our "Welcome to Denny" event for all 6th graders and any 7th or 8th graders who are new to Denny will be on August 31st (4:00-6:00). Students can tour the building and meet their homeroom teacher and new classmates. Family members will be meeting with our administrative team. Through our partnership with City Year, all students will receive backpacks with school supplies, so they are prepared and ready to go on the first day of school. Thank you to City Year for their generosity!
This event is sponsored through Title Funds
Family Forum: Connect with Admin Team - Aug. 31st 5:30-6:00 (REPEAT)
From 5:00 to 5:30 come join other families and enjoy ice cream and popsicles from our PTSA to connect and learn about the different opportunities and resources in Denny's Galleria.
This event is sponsored through Title Funds
Join DIMS PTSA (REPEAT)
Please Check Out the Delridge Farmers Market (REPEAT)
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
Apply to be a Member of the Information Technology Advisory Committee (REPEAT)
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
Student Class Schedules Open August 31st (REPEAT)
September 6th, The First Day of School (UPDATED DISTRICT INFORMATIONAL LINKS BELOW)
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.
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.
After School Opportunities - Starting in October! (REPEAT)
Fall Athletics (REPEAT)
Family Income Survey: Action Item for All Families (REPEAT)
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