DJAMS NEWS

DON JUAN AVILA MIDDLE SCHOOL
Principal: Chris Carter
November 2009
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TURKEY TROT A BIG SUCCESS!

Thank you to our PE department, Heidi Reiser and all of our parent volunteers for making our Turkey Trot fundraiser today a huge success! Many participants ran the race and contributed to keeping our Physical Education Department in tip-top shape! Thank you to all participants.

THANKSGIVING RECESS NEXT WEEK

Our entire staff wishes you and your family a wonderful and relaxing Thanksgiving Recess next week. There will be no school Monday, November 23, through Friday, November 27. We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday, November 30.

THANKSGIVING FOOD DRIVE

PAL students collected 10 large barrels of food items for families in need! Thanks to all of you who donated food in support of our local South Coast Outreach. These valuable food donations will be used to help feed the needy among us in South Orange County. Thank you to Ms. Berndt and her PAL students for organizing this event at school. The top three homerooms are: Mrs. Haack, Mr. Schniepp, and Mrs. Riddle.

SPELLING BEE CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to the following runner-ups to our school-wide spelling bee: Joshua Garcia, Alex Ownejazayeri, Suzi Lee, and Alyssa Lilley.

The four contestants heading off to the County Round in February are: Ben Rashall, McKenzie Kamei, Daniel Chui, and Eileen Wong. Joining them will be our

DJAMS Spelling Champion, Aubrie Bryant. Wonderful job everyone!

STANDOUT TEACHER OF THE MONTH

DJAMS recognizes our Standout Teacher of the Month, Katie Nicol. Mrs. Nicol is not only an incredible English teacher, she also volunteered to be our Spelling Bee Coordinator. Each year, Mrs. Nicol starts with a classroom written round which is given in all of our English classes. In preparation for these classroom rounds, Mrs. Nicol spends countless hours preparing forms, making contacts and composing lists of spelling words. Once each teacher has been given his or her folder of materials, the classroom round can commence. Each class sends their top two spellers to our School-wide Spelling Bee. This year’s school-wide competition was held on Monday, November 16, in our MPR. The school-wide contest consisted of a written round and several oral rounds to determine our school representatives who will be competing at the county level as well as our school champion. Next, Ms. Nicol will get the appropriate paper work together to send five students to the county level to compete. Thank you to Mrs. Nicol for going above and beyond to support our students.

TOYS FOR TOTS FOUNDATION

During the month of December, PAL will be collecting toys for the annual Toys for Tots Foundation. Toys for any age and gender are welcome, but they should be new or in new condition. Students may turn toys into Homeroom teachers from December 1 through 17 with top donating homerooms receiving special recognition. Let’s work together to bring new toys to children in Orange County and beyond over this holiday season.

BAND/ORCHESTRA WINTER CONCERT

Mrs. Price’s band and orchestra students will be performing a Winter Concert on Wednesday, December 9, in the MPR. Band students will perform at 6:00 pm., and orchestra students will perform at 7:15 p.m. We hope to see you there!

WINTER CHOIR CONCERT

The Vocal Ensemble, Madrigals, and 6th grade Choir will be presenting their Winter Concert in the MPR on Thursday, December 10 at 6:30 p.m. Also, our choirs will be performing in the Aliso Choral Area Concert in the gym at ANHS on Dec. 1 at 7:00 p.m.

BARNES & NOBLE BOOKFAIR

DJAMS is having a bookfair at Barnes & Noble at the Aliso Viejo Town Center to support our school library. The bookfair begins Monday, November 30

and ends of Saturday, December 5. The hours are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. each day. Get your holiday shopping done at Barnes & Noble and support our school library all in one shot!!

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.

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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

November 19 Turkey Trot Fundraiser

November 23-27 Thanksgiving Recess – No School

December 1 Aliso Choral Concert, 7:00 p.m., ANHS Gym

December 9 Band/Orchestra Winter Concert, MPR

December 10 Winter Choir Concert, 6:30 p.m., MPR

December 21-Jan. 1 Winter Recess – No School