DON JUAN AVILA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal Chris Carter
January 28, 2010
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ASTRONOMY NIGHT TONIGHT AT DJAMS!
Come and see objects in space that are REALLY far away! See the craters on the moon, the colors of planet Jupiter, the Orion Nebula, and even the rings of Saturn with the nice telescopes we’ll have set up for you! DJAMS Science teachers will be on hand to answer your questions and help you learn even more about astronomy.
• Thursday, 01/28/10
• 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM
• DJAMS – Room 908
Bring your whole family and invite some friends! Got a telescope? Bring it, set it up, and share in the fun! Astronomy Night may be postponed at any minute due to cloudy weather.
7TH/8TH GRADE PIRATE DANCE ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 29
ASB will be hosting their 2nd dance of the year with a “Pirate” theme. Students attending are asked to wear black, gold and red or pirate attire this Friday, January 29, from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m., in the MPR.
CUSD OPEN ENROLLMENT 2010/2011
Open Enrollment English and Spanish applications for the 2010/2011 school year will be available Friday, January 29, 2010, on the CUSD website. For those families not having access to computers, copies will be available at school sites. Applications for the 2010/2011 school year are to be submitted to the school requested on Monday, February 1 through Friday, February 26, 2010, 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Parent notification will begin Friday, April 9, 2010. For further questions, please call the Open Enrollment Customer Service Line at 234-9335.
SPECIAL BLOCK SCHEDULE ON FEBRUARY 2 AND 3
On Tuesday and Wednesday, February 2 and 3, DJAMS will be on Block Schedule due to Math Finals. Start and dismissal times will remain the same: 8:45 a.m. to 3:25 p.m. Please be aware that during these two days our periods will vary. On Tuesday, February 2, we will have periods 1, 3, and 5. On Wednesday, February 3, we will have periods 2, 4, and 6. We appreciate your planning appointments outside of school hours especially on these days. The end of the 2nd quarter is February 4, 2010.
NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5
Friday, February 5, is a secondary student holiday. There will be no school. Teachers will be busy wrapping up the end of the first semester.
PI (3.14) DAY IS COMING!
In celebration of our annual Pi-Day event, the DJAMS Math Department is selling “Pi-World” t-shirts until February 1st for $15. If interested, please write checks out to DJAMS and contact your child’s math teacher for any further details.
PTSA DOMINO’S PIZZA FUNDRAISER NIGHT – TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23
Save the date for Domino’s Pizza Night on February 23. Flyers will be available in the office or you can write “Don Juan Avila Middle School” on a piece of paper and give it to the cashier or delivery person.
WEIGHT TRAINING CLASS
Mr. Binley is still looking for interested weight training students to join his class. Classes are held from 3:40 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays in the Fitness Center. 7th and 8th graders interested in beginning weight training may join the class at any time and the fee will be prorated. For further questions or to sign up please contact Mr. Binley.
THE STATE OF THE SCHOOL DISTRICT
Presented by Dr. Bobbi Mahler, Interim Superintendent
6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 3rd
Aliso Niguel High School Theater
28000 Wolverine Way, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
Dr. Mahler will be sharing the manner in which CUSD is moving forward with:
Educational Programs
Communication Systems
Services to Students
A New Strategic Plan
The California Budget
Parents with students at the following schools are encouraged to attend this presentation:
Aliso Niguel High School
Aliso Viejo Middle School
Bergeson Elementary School
Canyon Vista Elementary School
Crown Valley Elementary School
Don Juan Avila Elementary School
Don Juan Avila Middle School
Laguna Niguel Elementary School
Moulton Elementary School
Oak Grove Elementary School
Wood Canyon Elementary School
IS YOUR TEEN AT RISK? WHAT EVERY PARENT NEEDS TO KNOW
Capistrano Unified School District and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department invite you to attend an important presentation:
Parents of middle and high school students, learn about issues our teens face today from a panel of experts from the OC Sheriff’s Department and other agencies working to keep our teens safe.
Topics include:
• Drug Trends in the Community
• Internet Safety/Cyber Bullying/Technology Today
• Driving Concerns (driver & passenger safety)
• Violence Prevention/Bullying & Social Conflict
Thursday, February 4th
6:30pm
Resource/Exhibit Area opens at 6pm
Get info, talk to the experts firsthand, interactive exhibits
*CHILDCARE PROVIDED (preschool age and up)
Where:
Mission Lutheran Church
24360 Yosemite Rd
Laguna Niguel, 92677
Reserve your seat: hpremac@cox.net
www.isyourteenatrisk.org
This program is free to the community!
PREVIOUS NEWS
DJAMS HISTORY DAY IS COMING!
Students in AAA/GATE 7th and 8th grade history/social science classes will turn in their projects on February 9. Students in Dr. Wallace’s class who are creating websites or documentaries will have a different due date, but will also participate in the DJAMS site competition. Projects will be on display in the MPR until February 10. Judging will take place that week, and those projects of highest merit will be sent to the Orange County competition on March 13.
County Competition Judges: The Orange County Department of Education seeks parent volunteers to judge projects. This year’s training session takes place on March 3 from 4:30 to 7 pm. Interested? Contact Cindy Salisbury at csalisbury@ocde.us.
UPCOMING GATE TESTING DATES
GATE Fee Based OLSAT Test on February 20, 2010:
Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) is offering parents of 3rd to 7th grade students an opportunity to take the Fee Based Otis-Lennon School Abilities Test (OLSAT). The OLSAT measures both verbal and nonverbal reasoning and is used by CUSD to identify students for the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) Program.
On November 16, 2009, students who met the CUSD GATE testing criteria were mailed an invitation to take the Criteria Based OLSAT in January 2010. (The criteria for GATE testing is listed on the CUSD GATE website at http://gate.schoolloop.com .) Parents who did not receive an invitation for their child to take the January Criteria Based OLSAT may nominate their child take the February Fee Based OLSAT.
The Fee Based OLSAT will be offered to 3rd to 7th grade public and private school students on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Niguel Hills Middle School in Laguna Niguel. Fee Based OLSAT registration forms are available in all CUSD elementary and middle school administration buildings, and the registration fee is $100. Parents may also download the Fee Based OLSAT registration form from the CUSD GATE website at http://gate.schoolloop.com . Testing times and directions are on the registration form.
Registration fees and forms must be postmarked by January 27, 2010 or delivered to the GATE Office before 4:30 pm on January 28, 2010 so that the appropriate number of tests can be ordered. No late registrations will be accepted.
Please Note:
• Only 3rd to 7th grade public and private school students residing in the CUSD District boundaries are eligible to take the Fee Based OLSAT.
• Students who have taken the Criteria Based OLSAT or NNAT in January 2010 are not eligible to take the Fee Based OLSAT in February 2010.
• Due to the cost of test administration and supplies, the $100 registration fee is NON-REFUNDABLE.
GATE testing dates:
Saturday, January 23, 2010, Criteria Based GATE Test (for last names beginning with the letter M-Z), Niguel Hills Middle School
Wednesday, January 27, 2010, Fee Based GATE Test application deadline.
HOMEWORK CLUB
Does your child need a quiet place to study and receive homework assistance? If so, please have your child attend DJAMS’ Homework Club. Students may attend on a drop-in basis 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. with the following teachers:
Mondays, Mr. Backal, Room 706
Tuesdays, Mr. Waterman, Room 806
Wednesdays, Ms. Nicol, Room 602
Fridays, Mrs. Arsala, Room 902
There is no Homework Club on late-start Thursdays.
DATES TO REMEMBER
January 28 Astronomy Night, 7:30 p.m., Room 908
January 28 ASB Restaurant Night at Fatburger
January 29 7th/8th Grade ASB Pirate Dance, MPR, 3:30-5:30 p.m.
February 2, 3 Semester Finals – Block Schedule Days (Tuesday 1, 3, 5 periods; Wednesday 2, 4, 6 periods)
February 3 State of the School District Presentation, 6:30 p.m., ANHS Theater
February 4 End of First Semester
February 4 Is Your Teen At Risk Presentation, 6:30 p.m., Mission Lutheran Church
February 5 Student Holiday – Semester Wrap Up Day
February 6 ASB Restaurant Night at Cosmo’s, 4-9 p.m.
February 12 Lincoln Day Holiday
February 15 Washington Day Holiday
February 18 “Decades” Talent Show
February 23 PTSA Domino’s Pizza Fundraiser Night
March 2 STAR Writing Test – Block Schedule
April 5-9 Spring Recess
