Community Newsletter
Denny International Middle School | Jan. 26, 2024
LETTER FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Dear Dolphin Families,
Thank you for your partnership and support as our school continue to respond to our community’s needs in the wake of this week’s tragedy.
The outpouring of community support has been encouraging and welcomed. Our school-based support teams and staff have done an amazing job wrapping around our community during this time. We are thankful for the continued outpouring and additional support offered by our community partners and central office staff.
Our student attendance has been strong this week! Our attendance has been up everyday this week with it being at 90% in attendance on Wednesday, January 24th.
As we look to next week, our students and staff will have continued support through our school-based support teams, school-based health center, and our community-based partners. We are connecting as a community to continue our conversation in working towards advocating for a focus on decreasing community violence and supporting our youth.
If your child has been thinking about, or is currently working with, a therapist or counselor, this is a good time to connect them with those supports. Our school-based support team can help your family connect to community agencies that provide mental health and substance use services. Please reach out to our School Care Coordinator, Anastasia Tschida, at atsound@seattleschools.org.
Community Resources
In addition to our school resources, here are community-wide resources.
- 988 – Crisis lifeline. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.
- Teen Link offers young people peers to listen and discuss concerns. Calls and chats are confidential. 1-866-teenlink (833-6546)
- Crisis Connections offers 24-hour support. 1-866-427-4747
- Additional community resources are available on the Seattle Public Schools Mental Health Services department webpage.
Thank you for your patience, resilience and continued support as our school responds to our students and community’s needs. I am forever grateful for your resolve and strength during this challenging time. Please feel free to reach out to me with questions.
Warmly,
Mary Ingraham
IMPORTANT DATES
- 1-27-24 Girl's Varsity Basketball Game at 11:00 at Cleveland High School
- 1-27-24 Boy's Varsity Basketball Game at 11:00 at Franklin High School
- 1-27-24 Girl's JV Basketball Game at 11:00 at Meany Middle School
- 1-27-24 Boy's JV Basketball Game at 12:30 at Meany Middle School
- 1-27-24 Admissions Fair 10:00-2:00 John Stanford Center
- 1-30-24 Incoming student tour
- 1-31-24 Denny Theater Production: Denny Review at 6:00 in the Chief Sealth Little Theater
- 2-1-24 Volleyball Interest Meeting 2:55 to 3:30 Rm 144
- 2-1-24 PTSA Virtual Meeting on Zoom at 7:00 pm
- 2-6-24 Incoming student tour
- 2-5, 2-6, 2-7 Dine-Out-Or-Order-In PTSA Fundraiser at The Westy on 35th
- 2-8-24 Incoming Student Open House 5:00-6:30 in the Galleria
Denny International Middle School 2019 Tours and Evening Open House Dates
Evening Open House for Prospective New Families: Thursday February 8 starting at 5:00 p.m. Guests will have the opportunity to meet teachers and staff as well as learn about all of the different opportunities and experiences available to students and families.
Daytime Tours: Tuesday, January 30 and Tuesday, February 6 from 8:30-9:30 a.m. All are welcome - no appointment needed. Description of school offerings followed by a guided school tour.
Volleyball Interest Meeting: 2-1-24 at 2:55 to 3:30
Volleyball will be having a short meeting on January 23rd from 2:55pm to 3:30pm in Room 144. We will go over our requirements and expectations for the upcoming season. Our season will begin in March
Sexual Health Education in Science Classes
Our science classes will be teaching Sexual Health Education (SHE) during the month of January and February. 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 specific dates that each grade level will be teaching SHE below as well as the link to Seattle Public School's Sexual Health Education website for your reference.
Join DIMS PTSA
The PTSA is doing a ton of amazing things, use the link below to get involved and become a part of it.
The next meeting will be on February 1, 2024 at 7:00 virtually on Zoom https://zoom.us/j/95559484589?pwd=MlZCdTNSYzd4c0Y4d005SWpidmk0Zz09
Dine-in or Order-out PTSA Fundraiser 2/5-7/24
The Westy on 35th is hosting our next PTSA Dine-In or Order-Out fundraiser for Denny. When you order please mention Denny International Middle School! This opportunity will be on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, February 5th, 6th, and 7th.
School Athletics: Basketball
VARSITY BASKETBALL
- Girl's Varsity will play against JAMS at 11:00 at Cleveland High School
- Boy's Varsity will play against Washington at 11:00 at Franklin High School
JV BASKETBALL
- Girl's JV will play Hazel Wolf at 11:00 at Meany.
- Boy's JV will play Whitman at 12:30 at Meany.
- There will be a bus provided from Denny, athletes need to be here at 9:30 AM.
Our weekly practice schedule looks like this:
Monday – ALL BOYS
Tuesday – ALL JV + JVC (Boys and Girls)
Wednesday – JVC Scrimmages (Starting soon, times to be determined. Currently only boys due to JVC being cut. If girls numbers grow we will add this too)
Thursday – All GIRLS
Friday – ALL VARSITY (Boys and Girls)
All practices except Wednesday will be 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM in either the Denny gym or we will walk our scholars over to a Chief Sealth Gym.
Go Dolphins!
Michael Anderson
Athletic Coordinator, Girls Soccer & Volleyball Coach
Denny International Middle School
Refresh, Restart, Re-teach, Revitalize Schoolwide Expectations and Processes
For the start of 2nd Semester we are launching some new systems to further recognize our amazing scholars' contributions to our community and maximizing instructional time for all scholars by being out of the hallways and in class on time with little interruption to instruction. Below describes the systems that we are currently teaching and re-teaching to launch on February 1st for 2nd Semester.
DENNY DINERO
- Arriving on time to class and ready to go
- Exemplifying the Denny way by being ready, responsible, and respectful
- Students can use Denny Dinero to purchase items from the Student Store or put them in their grade level mailbox for a weekly drawing and prize selection
SNACK DROP
At the bell teachers will take attendance and will report to the office on designated Snack Drop days that their students were all there on time. The Admin Team will bring a Snack Cart to the class for students to celebrate their good work.
TARDY SWEEP
- During the morning announcements it will be announced that there will be a tardy sweep at some point during the day.
- At the bell, admin will collect students who did not make it to class on time and will give them a slip to join a lunch time circle where they will be able to eat and plan action steps to ensure that they get to class on time.
LUNCH COMPETITIONS
- We will hold a series of consistent competitions between grade level lunches. Like least trash left on tables.
- At the end of the week the grade level that wins the competition will get a reward from Lunch Lady Doree (like fresh baked cookies)
3 HALL PASSES PER QUARTER & CLASS
- In every class for 3rd quarter teachers will handout 3 hall passes to each student.
- This is in response to feedback we heard from families at our Family Forum regarding concerns that their scholars had about bathrooms not being used for there purpose.
- The hall pass is turned in to leave the classroom to get water, use the bathroom, etc. to keep students accountable, track the overall school patterns of out-of-class time, and to encourage student to take care of their needs during non-instructional time.
- Please rest assured, if a student needs to use the bathroom but does not have a pass the teacher will still let them go. Are focus is to collect information to ensure that we are maximizing instructional times for students while concurrently ensuring that their personal needs are being met.
- If your scholar has a specific need or situation, please reach out to their advisory teacher so that they can work with you and your scholar to develop an alternative plan. The advisory teacher will communicate this plan to all the scholar’s teachers.
RESOURCES & INFORMATION
New School-based Health Center Service Provider: Neighborcare Health
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.
Sistema Escolar, Villa Comunitaria, & Seattle Public Schools: Workshop this Week on Bullying!
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.
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.
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.
Programs at Seattle Library: High Point Branch
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, 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.