DON JUAN AVILA MIDDLE SCHOOL
DJAMS NEWS
Principal: Chris Carter
December 2008
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Dear Parents,
I hope this message finds our DJAMS’ families in good spirits. Our students, led by our PAL class, have done a tremendous job this holiday season supporting our community and those families who are less fortunate. It is wonderful to see how giving our students are when it comes to supporting their fellow citizens. Starting in November, our school collected over 2,500 food items for the South County Outreach. In December, we teamed up with the United States Marine Corps for our Annual Toys for Tots Drive. Thank you to everyone who participated in both of these efforts. Great job PAL and Mrs. Berndt! I would like to wish everyone a restful and safe winter break and a Happy New Year. Please remember that students return to school on Monday, January 5, 2009.
TRAFFIC SITUATION
Beginning Monday, January 5, when we return from Winter Break, our south end exit side will be coned off in the mornings only. This is being done to prevent cars from making an illegal turn into the lot by going around cars waiting in line to drop off their students. Please be aware of this situation as we return to school after the holidays. Thank you.
STUDENT PHOTOS WANTED FOR YEARBOOK
Yearbook is looking for some fun photos of our DJAMS students to use in this year’s yearbook. If you have any special pictures of your child that have been taken over weekends and summertime, please submit them to our Yearbook Advisor, Mrs. Stacy Olson, by Wednesday, January 14. Thank you.
Orchestra and Band students who are trying out for the CUSD Honor groups should practice your audition sheets over the break! Auditions are held in mid-January.
BRONCO PRIDE AWARDS
Don Juan Avila is pleased to announce it will be distributing “Bronco Pride” awards to outstanding students at DJAMS. The awards will recognize both academic accomplishments as well as school and community service efforts. This is an excellent opportunity for your sons and daughters’ achievements to be recognized. We would hope that all parents encourage their sons/daughters to get involved in the “Bronco Pride” awards. Please read through the packet explaining the process and deadline. Details and forms are available in the School Information folder. The awards will be distributed during the 4th quarter. If you have any questions or comments about the awards, please contact Mrs. Burdette, the Assistant Principal at Don Juan Avila Middle School or Mrs.Balogh. Winter Break would be a great time to build points towards Bronco Pride.
AMERICAN MATH COMPETION RESULTS
Don Juan Avila Middle School participates in an annual math worldwide competition every fall. We invite our top students to practice and take a test of 25 challenging word and critical thinking problems. After hard work, time and making the commitment to practice for the contest, our preliminary results gave Don Juan Avila the great honor of being in the top 5% in the world of schools participating in the American Math Competition this past November. Congratulations to all the students who helped our school score so high. Individual results of students will be released early next year.
NEXT WEIGHT TRAINING SESSION STARTS JANUARY 5
Mr. Binley’s next weight training session starts Monday, January 5. Classes will be 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. To register for this class or other classes offered through Capistrano Community Education, please log on to www.capousd.org/adult or call 489-7202. Feel free to contact Mr. Binley if you have any questions regarding the class.
SUPERINTENDENT’S MONTHLY UPDATE LINK
To view the Superintendent’s Monthly Update, please use the following link:
http://www.capousd.org/swu.htm
CUSD COMMUNITY EDUCATION
CUSD Community Education Spring 2009 schedule of classes is now on line at capousd.org/adult. Sign up today for classes for children and adults. Many new classes for Parent and Me and children: Boogie Woogie Baby Music, Parent and Me Yoga, Abrakadoodle Art. New classes for adults include Growing Roses, Writing your Memoirs and a series of Digital Photography classes. Past favorites like Fiona’s Cooking Series, Spanish, German, and French plus a wide variety of art and craft classes will be returning. Sign up for 5 or more classes and receive a 10% discount on the total. Call for the discount. Find comfort in 2009 by learning something new. Register today as classes will fill quickly.
Brooke Beahm
CUSD Community Education
949-489-7202
capousd.org/adult
PREVIOUS NEWS
SHOP ONLINE AND SUPPORT THE DJAMS PTSA
Do you still have a few gifts left on your holiday shopping list? Enter www.escrip.com then click on At the Online Mall in the upper left corner of the site and shop! Your favorite online vendors will make a donation to the DJAMS PTSA with each and every purchase! It’s easy and it’s free to you, the store makes the donation. Hundreds of your favorite stores are accessible from the site — Barnes and Noble, Amazon, Nordstrom, Toys R Us, and many, many more! Remember: www.escrip.com, then At the Online Mall.
Thank you for your support,
DJAMS PTSA
YMCA TEEN CLUB NEWS
Did you know we are located right on campus for before and after school care for your middle school student? Did you also know that we are now currently open for enrollment?
The YMCA is dedicated to building strong kids, strong families, and strong communities and we are doing it every day at your child’s school! We encourage you to come join in the fun! We have affordable rates that are structured to remain consistent throughout the year. We offer full and part time rates, which include: 5 day, 3 day, 2 day, and before school only options. We also have a diverse membership program that includes: Y Guides, Y Arts, Sports, Aquatics, and YMCA Fitness Facility. If you have any questions, please contact Michelle Parker at (949) 360-9517, mparker@ymcaoc.net; or Chris Spitler at (949) 360-9517, cspitler@ymcaoc.net .
* As we approach Winter break, the YMCA will be offering Daily Drop In Rates.
*The YMCA will be open Mon-Fri, December 22nd – Jan 2nd from 7:00 am – 6pm
*The YMCA will be open 1/2 day on Wednesday, December 24 and 31 from 7:00am- 1pm.
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The fee-based OLSAT will be offered on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at George White Elementary School, in Laguna Niguel (Grades 2-8) and on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at Capistrano Valley High School, in Mission Viejo (Grades 9-10). The cost for taking the OLSAT is $65.00. OLSAT registration forms will be available in all CUSD school administration buildings in December. Parents may also download the “Fee-Based AAA/GATE Test Application” from the CUSD AAA/GATE Website at www.capousd.org/aaa. Checks and registration forms must be postmarked by January 21, 2009 or delivered to the AAA/GATE Office before 4:30 pm on January 22, 2009, so that the appropriate number of tests can be ordered. No late registrations will be accepted.
Please Note: Kindergarten, first grade students, and students who have taken the OLSAT/NNAT in January 2009 at their school site are not eligible to take the Fee-Based OLSAT in February.
DJAMS SCIENCE
DJAMS Science Department is continuing its Ecophones fundraiser. Please help support the science department by donating old, working or not, cell phones, ink jet printer cartridges, digital cameras, laptop computers and ipods. Have your student bring these items to their science teacher for recycling. DJAMS science is compensated for each item donated. Thanks for your support in DJAMS and our environment.
DATES TO REMEMBER
December 22-Jan. 2 Winter Recess – No School
January 8 PTSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., Library
January 19 Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Legal Holiday
January 30 Student Holiday/No School – First Semester Wrap-up Activities
February 11 College Prep Night @ AVMS, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. (Focus on High School Requirements A-G)
February 13 Lincoln Day, Legal Holiday
February 16 Washington Day, Legal Holiday
February 16 SRLA Team Runs the L.A. Marathon
March 12 PTSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., Library
April 6-10 Spring Recess – No School
May 14 PTSA Meeting, 2:30 p.m., Library
May 20 Open House, 6:30 p.m.
May 25 Memorial Day, Legal Holiday
June 18 Last Day of School
