DON JUAN AVILA MIDDLE SCHOOL
DJAMS NEWS
Principal: Chris Carter
April 23, 2009
_______________________________________________________________________
SPRING “JUNGLE DANCE” THIS FRIDAY!
ASB is busy decorating our MPR for tomorrow’s Jungle Dance! 6th Graders will have their dance during school from 2:20 p.m. to 3:25 p.m. 7th and 8th graders will enjoy their dance after school from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
MINIMUM DAYS IN MAY
There are going to be 4 minimum days in May. Food Service will offer a modified lunch menu at break on all minimum days.
Please mark your calendars for:
STAR Testing – May 11, 12, 13 – Dismissal at 1:00 p.m.
Open House – May 20 – Dismissal at 12:47 p.m. Classroom visitation from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
ACADEMIC PENTATHLON
Guess who walked away with top honors at Tuesday night’s Academic Pentathlon Awards ceremony? Why, DJAMS, of course! Together our 7th and 8th grade teams won a record 77 medals including 17 first place honors! The 7th grade team placed 5th overall and the 8th grade team held onto 1st place for the third year in a row.
SRLA CONGRATULATIONS
Congratulations to the DJAMS SRLA Team! The whole team did a fantastic job running 18 miles in the heat last Sunday. The following DJAMS students have now qualified to run in the LA Marathon on Memorial Day: Elizabeth Ackerman, Forrest Bagacina, Robert Bolanos, Alec Cwener, Eric Fukuda, Sierra Hargrave, Jake Mooney, Nathan Ong, Brittany Seidl, and Emily Suihkonen. The following DJAMS Alumni students will also participate with the team: Jason Bolanos, Lauren Fukuda, Chris Leffler, Jessicka Maldonado, and Audrey Wallingford. We are very proud of all of you!
CHORAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
DJAMS Vocal Ensemble and Madrigals both received ratings of “EXCELLENT” at their festival on April 17! Kudos for a job well done!
HISTORY DAY
History Day Honors go to these 8th grade students:
Judges’ Choice Award:
Firas Abdeen and Eric Perez for their documentary, “Henry Ford and the Tin Lizzie”
County Finalist Award:
Zac Taylor and Matthew Reiser for their website, “Glenn Miller and His Army Air Force Band: A Piece of Home During WWII”
DJAMS INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC DEPARTMENT
DJAMS Instrumental Music Department will be presenting the Annual Spring Concerts in May. Spring Band Concert – May 27, at 6:30 p.m. in the DJAMS MPR. Spring Orchestra Concert – May 28, at 6:30 p.m. in the DJAMS MPR. These concerts will feature all of the students in the DJAMS instrumental music program. Family and friends, please come join us for an evening of some great music!
OFF CAMPUS REQUESTS
If your child needs to leave campus for any reason, please send a note in with him/her in the morning to the Attendance Office. We will then issue a Special Excuse to leave early. By taking care of these off-campuses ahead of time, we can assure your child will be in the office to meet you at the proper time. Thank you for your assistance.
SUMMER SCHOOL
If you have received a summer school application in the mail and plan to enroll your child, please turn in your paperwork as soon as possible. Middle School applications are due no later than May 1st and Freshman Focus applications are due no later than May 15th.
MATH PLACEMENT FOR STUDENTS NEW TO DISTRICT
All new students to our District will need to be tested for accurate math placement next year. The Math Challenge Test will be given at the district office on Wednesday, August 26, 10:00 a.m. to noon and 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. The test could take up to 2 hours. Please contact DJAMS academic advisor to schedule your test time.
ELECTIVE FORMS PRESENTED TO 6TH/7TH GRADERS
Academic Advisors will be presenting the elective forms during social science classes for 2009/2010 school year:
6th grade – Thursday, May 7th
7th grade – Friday, May 8th
The elective forms are due to Social Science teachers by Monday, May 18. Please submit forms earlier than assigned date.
P.E. NEWS
DJAMS vs. AVMS in 8th grade basketball during halftime of OC Gladiators/Newport Beach Breakers game on Sunday, May 3, at Aliso Niguel High School. Come on out and support the Middle Schools and OC Gladiators.
AAA/GATE
Information on these and other topics can be found on the District AAA/GATE website, http://gate.schoolloop.com/:
CUSD GATE and the budget:
Due to the current fiscal crisis, on April 13, 2009, the Capistrano Unified School District (CUSD) Board voted to modify the Gifted and Talented Education Program. Although funding for the GATE program will be limited, a differentiated curriculum for GATE students will still be offered at each school site.
CUSD Differentiated Curriculum for GATE Students:
Elementary School: GATE students will be cluster grouped with other GATE identified students in the regular classroom setting.
Middle School: GATE students will be placed in accelerated language arts and social science classes. GATE students may also placed in accelerated mathematics and science classes if they meet the District’s math and science placement criteria. For the specific criteria for accelerated math and science classes, please contact your child’s academic advisor at his/her middle school.
High School: GATE students will be placed in accelerated, Advanced Placement (AP), and/or International Baccalaureate (IB) classes if they meet the District’s placement criteria for those classes. For the specific criteria for accelerated, AP and/or IB classes, please contact your child’s Guidance Advisor at his/her high school.
CUSD GATE Testing
In light of the fiscal crisis, GATE testing at Capistrano Unified School District will be limited and the criterion for testing has yet to be determined. Please keep checking the above website for testing updates.
NEXT PTSA MEETING THURSDAY, MAY 14
Please join our next PTSA meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2:30 p.m., in the Library.
AAA/GATE PARENT MEETING
AAA/GATE parent meeting immediately to follow the PTSA meeting on Thursday, May 14, in Room 702 at 3:30 pm.
BRONCO PRIDE AWARDS
Bronco Pride Award applications are due Monday, April 27. If you have any questions or need some more hours, see Mrs. Olson or Mrs. Burdette.
PREVIOUS NEWS
Aliso Viejo Middle School, its PTSA and
Aliso Viejo Police Services
in conjunction with the
O.C. Sheriff’s Department High Tech Services Reserve Unit
Invite you to a special interactive presentation on
Adolescent Internet Safety –
Vital Tools for Parents
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
7:00 pm-8:30 pm
Aliso Viejo Middle School – Multipurpose Room
111 Park Avenue, Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
This forum is designed parents and/or caregivers and grandparents.
Students will not be admitted to this presentation. Parents from all CUSD schools are invited to attend!
SOUTH COAST YMCA
Do you have a child entering the 6th grade next year? Would you like your child to be in a fun filled and rewarding program? Would you like your child to participate in art activities, sports games and meet new friends? All this could happen at one of our Middle school programs! We offer fun and exciting activities at Aliso Viejo Middle School, Don Juan Avila Middle School and Niguel Hills Middle School. Our buildings are right on campus! For information, please call the YMCA Main Office at 949-495-9622 or e-mail Lori Rodriguez at lrodriguez@ymcaoc.net
ALISO NIGUEL HIGH SCHOOL WALK-IN SESSIONS
8th grade parents will have the opportunity to meet one on one with an ANHS academic advisor to ask all questions and discuss necessary steps to create an easy transition into high school. No appointments necessary.
Where: ANHS Library
Time: 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Dates: Mondays – May 4, May 18, June 1, and June 15
ONGOING WEIGHT TRAINING CLASS
It’s never too late for students to join Mr. Binley’s weight training session. Classes are held from 3:40 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, in our DJAMS Weight Room. This class is designed for all 7th and 8th graders interested in beginning weight training. On-line class registration is available now through Capistrano Community Education, at: www.capousd.org/adult or call 489-7202. Feel free to contact Mr. Binley if you have any questions regarding the class.
DATES TO REMEMBER
April 27 Applications for Bronco Pride Awards Due
April 28 Adolescent Internet Safety, AVMS, MPR, 7:00 p.m.
May 1 Summer School Applications Due
May 3 DJAMS vs. AVMS, 8th Grade Basketball, ANHS
May 7 Academic Advisors Present Elective Forms to 6th Graders
May 8 Academic Advisors Present Elective Forms to 7th Graders
May 14 PTSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., Library
May 14 AAA GATE Meeting at 3:30 p.m., Room 702
May 20 Open House, 6:30 p.m.
May 25 Memorial Day, Legal Holiday
May 25 SRLA Team Runs the L.A. Marathon
May 27 Spring Band Concert, MPR, 6:30 p.m.
May 28 Spring Orchestra Concert, MPR, 6:30 p.m.
June 18 Last Day of School
August 10 DJAMS Registration Packet Pick Up, 9 a.m. to noon
August 11 DJAMS Registration Packet Pick Up, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
August 12 DJAMS Registration Packet Pick Up, 9 a.m. to noon
August 25 8th Grade Orientation, 9 a.m. to noon, Packet Return
August 26 7th Grade Orientation, 9 a.m. to noon, Packet Return
August 27 6th Grade Orientation, 9 a.m. to noon, Packet Return
September 8 First Day of School
