DJAMS NEWS

DON JUAN AVILA MIDDLE SCHOOL
DJAMS NEWS
Principal: Chris Carter
May 2009
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Dear Parents,

Thank you all for emphasizing the importance of doing well on the STAR test this week. We look forward to our results which will arrive in August.

OPEN HOUSE, WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 6:30 to 8:00 P.M.

Now that testing is behind us, we can look forward to our upcoming Open House on Wednesday, May 20, at 6:30 p.m. Come see the wonderful things our students have accomplished this year. This will be an excellent opportunity to meet with your child’s teachers and share in the DJAMS experience.

Classroom visitations will be held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. We will have entertainment for you at the Center Stage area of the Quad beginning at 6:15 p.m. PAL students will be hosting a bake sale to raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

Your child will be bringing home an informational handout regarding Open House. A blank schedule will be included in this handout for your child to fill out for you. Classrooms may be visited in any order. Students will be on minimum day schedule with a 12:47 p.m. early dismissal. We look forward to seeing you at Open House.

TEACHER APPRECIATION DAY – WEDNESDAY, MAY 27 – TWO WEEKS AND COUNTING!

First, a big thank you to all of you who have donated gift cards, cash, or items for the gift raffle. We are still in need of more items, so if you’re planning on donating, please stop by the office with your gift. There is a box on the file cabinets in the office waiting to receive your donations. Any type of $5 gift card would be most welcomed! We will also gratefully acknowledge donations provided by businesses.

Second, a big thank you to all of you who have contacted Trish and committed to bring food items for the luncheon. Our teachers and staff are in for an amazing feast. To those of you who are planning on donating, but haven’t contacted Trish, don’t delay! We still need entrée items like sandwich trays, lasagna, mini burgers, macaroni and cheese, etc., and desserts. If you don’t know what to bring, contact Trish and she’ll help you choose.

Two weeks isn’t much time, so please contact Yvette and Trish today, they are losing sleep waiting to hear from you!

Gift raffle – Yvette Ross, ybross@cox.net

Luncheon – Trish Fitterer, tfitterer1@cox.net

PAL NEWS

Recycling – Donate Your Plastic and Win! Students have been doing a great job collecting plastic for more DJAMS funds. Through Friday, June 5, PAL is offering an incentive plan where various plastic items count as points. Homerooms with the highest points win! PAL will collect on Thursdays. The points are below. Thank you for you support!

PLASTIC POINTS…

One 8 oz. plastic bottle/container =

1 point

One 16 oz. plastic bottle/container =

1 point

One 24 oz. plastic bottle/container =

2 points

One 34 oz. plastic bottle/container =

2 points

One 2 liter plastic bottle/container =

4 points

One gallon milk/water plastic jug/container =

4 points

Any plastic containers larger than one gallon =

5-10 points (depending on the size)

Unfortunately glass items cannot be accepted.

Pennies for Patients – Pennies for Patients will start on Monday, May 18. All proceeds will go to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society. Donations can be given to students’ homeroom teachers.

Annual Open House Bake Sale – PAL will be having its annual Bake Sale for Open House. Proceeds for this will go to Leukemia Lymphoma Society.

MATH FIELD DAY COMPETITION

On Saturday, May 16, four sixth graders will be competing against 40 other schools at the Math Field Day Competition. These sixth graders, Alexandra Brown, Sarah Bardin, Forrest Li, and Cameron McCartin, have been working together for the past two months in order to prepare for this day. DJAMS is very proud of them. Good luck!

SPRING CHORAL CONCERT

Please join us on Thursday, May 21, at 6:00 p.m. in the DJAMS MPR for our Spring Choral Concert. Everyone is welcome — don’t miss this concert! Hope to see you there! Mrs. Haack

PANDA EXPRESS FUNDRAISER

Panda Express is excited to offer a special promotion to help in the fundraising of Don Juan Avila Middle School! By purchasing a 2-entrée plate, you will receive a FREE 12 Oz drink and 20% of the proceeds will be donated to DJAMS. Flyer must be presented when ordering (available at the Attendance Office Window). The fundraising will occur May 16 – May 23, 2009, from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. We hope you can join us to support Don Juan Avila Middle School!

FITNESS & NUTRITION NIGHT AT AVMS

DJAMS parents are invited to a very special evening put together to highlight the opening of the new Aliso Viejo Middle School Fitness Center. You are not going to want to miss this event. The following great speakers have been lined up:

Raymond Hunter, AVMS PTSA President, educator, fitness enthusiast: Introduction

Danny Werner, AVMS PE Department Chair: History and purpose of, and growing trend in, school fitness centers; the importance of parent mentorship.

Diane M. Basurto, MS, RD, Nutritionist: Poor eating habits, the obesity/diabetes epidemic in our schools, and how they affect our children and families; results of observing lunchtime eating patterns at our local schools; helpful tips on how to eat healthier and save money by preparing meals at home.

Dr. Ann Corwin, Ph.D., Parenting Consultant: General benefits of diet and fitness for our children.

Anne Weber, Regional Ambassador for Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports: Details and rewards regarding Governor’s Fitness Challenge program, and details regarding Spotlight Awards.

A brief question and answer session with our guest speakers will immediately follow the meeting. You will also be able to visit our new AVMS Fitness Center.

FITNESS & NUTRITION Night at Aliso Viejo Middle School

May 21, 6:30-8:00 PM

AVMS Multipurpose Room (Adults Only)

Refreshments will be served

UPCOMING 8TH GRADE ACTIVITIES

8th Grade Dance – DJAMS will be presenting its annual 8th Grade Dance on Friday, June 5, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the MPR. Permission slips will be distributed in the next couple weeks. Tickets will be handed out at lunch the week before the dance. Students wishing to attend the dance must remember to return the signed parent permission slip. A handwritten note, telephone call and/or electronically transmitted form will not be accepted.

8th Grade Awards Night – We will be acknowledging DJAMS’ Most Outstanding Students on Wednesday, June 10, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in the Quad. This is an invite only event.

8th Grade Trip to Wild Rivers – 8th grade students will enjoy a full day at Wild Rivers Water Park the last day of school, Thursday, June 18. Admission and bussing is paid for by ASB. Students will report to school at 8:45 a.m. and take roll before boarding the bus. Students not wishing to attend this event will be on a regular schedule at school. Permission slips with more details will be coming next month.

MEDICATIONS IN THE HEALTH OFFICE

If your child has been assisted with taking medication in the Health Office during the past year, please remember to come in and pick up any medication by the last day of school. Legally we are not able to hand remaining medication over to a minor, so we appreciate your taking the time to come in yourself. Per district policy, any remaining medications that are not picked up by June 18 will be discarded.

P.E. SWEATSHIRTS

Students may still order the new navy blue sweat shirts from their PE teacher. For $30 students will receive a crew style sweat with the BRONCOS embroidered or a hooded style in all silkscreen. We also have the hooded style with the BRONCOS embroidered for $40. These are a heavy weight sweat that will keep you warm and styling on the coolest days. Display your Bronco pride and spirit by ordering yours today!

ENGLISH CLASS CONGRATULATIONS

Congratulations to all the students who performed so admirably on the Pinata practice activities in their English classes. The following students consistently earned high scores, and will get to take a whack at the pinata during lunch on Friday!

GRADE 6

Mrs. Cox: Nahal Dastmalchi, Lauren Snegg, Madeline James, Christopher Park, Kaden Harrell, Lindsey Narkchareon

Mr. Backal: Meg Murray, Nicolette Slivkoff, Taylor Mikkelson, Deborah Vilchez, Nicole Gurbach, Samantha Steele

Mrs. Balogh: Nicholas Greger, Joey Tobin

Dr. Meyers: Zack Hawkins, Camille Del Pizzo, Rachel Le, Ivana Cuk

Mrs. Mizzell: Sarah Bardin, Forrest Li, Anna Reiser, Jake Wilson, Kristiana Gingras, Daniel Ines

Ms. Walley: Nicolina Deschamps, Eugene Lee, Cameron Peterson, Isaac Lee

GRADE 7

Ms. Moen: Brian Denney, Chloe Sharabba, Brooke Ritchie, Kassidy Tincup, Stephanie Katz, Joey Hopf, Yan Verdeja, Gianna Dawson

Ms. Alexander: Jayden Tatman, Alexa Hubbell, Tiffany Ferguson, Tyler Shaw, Joel Baldo, Susanna Kim

Ms. Muntean: Kelly Dodge, Clara Girardet, Jasmin Gonzales, Alyssa Lilley, Carli McCulloch, Shelby McMichael, Sydney Smith, Erika Stablow, Brittany Suchy, Allison White

GRADE 8

Mrs. Nicol: Eric Evans, Jazmin Frenn, Rachel Cornelison, Nathan Smith, Anna Lind, Darion Brault, Hayden Delgado, Curren Miller, Lindsey Pauleon

Mrs. Vollebregt: Abhinav Yerraguntala, Shaina Rosenblum, Daniel Hood, Micaela Rinaldi, Anthony Azzi, Danica Ebel, Randy Guerrero, Gigja Hollyday, Ms. Berndt: Hannah Jones, Mona Kalantar, Matthew Hunter, Ellie Dierking, Macy Contino, Stephanie Wong, Angelo Medel, Riley Sims

DATES TO REMEMBER

May 14 PTSA Meeting/Volunteer Appreciation, 2:30 p.m., Library

May 14 AAA GATE Meeting at 3:30 p.m., Room 702

May 16-23 Panda Express Fundraiser

May 16 Math Field Day Competition
May 20 Open House, 6:30 p.m./Minimum Day Early Dismissal at 12:37 p.m.

May 21 Spring Choral Concert, 6:00 p.m., MPR

May 21 Fitness & Nutrition Night At AVMS, 6:30 p.m., AVMS MPR
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 27 Teacher/Staff Appreciation Day

May 28 Spring Orchestra Concert, MPR, 6:30 p.m.

May 29 Last Day of Math Villages/Homework Clubs