The NYC-based award-winning Writopia Lab (www.WritopiaLab.org) is now running an after-school creative writing program for kids (ages 8-18) in NW Washington.The program will be hosted by the Wisconsin Avenue Baptist Church, just two blocks from the Tenleytown /AU metro stop.

Visit their website to see the fall schedule, history, mission, and reviews or call or email Kathy at 202-629-9510/Kathy@WritopiaLab.org for more information.

Alice Deal Middle School

The Weekly Bulletin

"Think Globally. Listen Compassionately. Act Inclusively."

Our mission:

Alice Deal Middle School inspires excellence, curiosity, and compassion through intellectual and social engagement.

Thought for the Week

Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you do it, it is not all mixed up.

A. A. Milne

Message from Principal Kim

Last week, I sent you a letter from Chancellor Rhee alerting you to the RIF (Reduction In Force), which is being implemented district-wide to close a budget shortfall. Deal will lose four positions. For non-teaching staff, there will be no human impact because we had two vacancies. Unfortunately, two teaching positions must be cut.

This will be carried out with two goals in mind: to minimize the impact on students and to ensure that we retain the very best teachers. I appreciate your support during this time.

All decisions will be finalized by the end of this month.

Finally, it is already the middle of the advisory. By now you should have logged on to Edline and should be well aware of your child's academic standing. On Friday, we will be sending home deficiency notices for students who are receiving a D or F in their classes. Please look for this in the mail. This is a good time to set a new plan if the current plan for school success is not working.

Principal Kim

This week at Deal. . .

This is Spirit Week
Monday - Crazy Hair/Hat Day
Tuesday - Twin Day
Wednesday - Shadow Day (dress in all black)
Thursday - Sports Day
Friday - Viking/Team Colors Day

The Team Colors are:
Addis Ababa - Green, Yellow, Red, and Blue
Beijing - Red and Black
San Francisco - Rainbow Colors
Athens - Blue, Green, and White
Nairobi - Green and Black
Rome - Red and Yellow
Cairo - Green and Yellow
La Paz - Red, Green, and Gold
Singapore - Red and White

DC One ID Cards
Pictures will be taken for grades 6 & 7 during the first period class on Tuesday for the DC One ID cards. 8th Grade students should have their DC One Cards from last year. If you need a replacement, see Mr. Dacoba.

School-wide Organization Day
This Friday during Bell 2, students will have time in their homeroom to clean out their backpacks and lockers, organize their notebooks, and make sure all of their books are covered. Additionally, students will select their Viking Time activity. Elective teachers will work with the homeroom teachers that they support.

Dance Competition
Students interested in participating in a dance competition sponsored by HOPSSPORTS, THE United Way, and, the Washington Redskins should sign up with Ms. Ortiz, and Coach Downing by this Tuesday. The competition will take place October 6.

Debate Team
Debate team will practice on Monday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm in room E304. Please be on time and come prepared with your research. We will form teams and discuss logistics for our first meet September 26.

Run for Fun Club
Interested in running for fun but don't want the every day track or cross country commitment? Join Ms. Mason and Ms. Hovancsek for recreational running and walking club. Our first meeting will be today at 3:15 pm in room W101.

National History Day Help
Need help selecting a topic for your NHD project? Are you unsure about how to begin your research? Take advantage of after school NHD assistance on Mondays from 3:30-4:15 pm in room C308 with Ms. Mostoller. Come once, come often, but make sure your parents know you intend to remain after school.

Team Nairobi Weekly Tutoring
Beginning today, Team Nairobi will have weekly tutoring sessions. Monday afternoons until 4:30 pm, Mr. Lotts and Mr. Mungai will be available in room W207 and Tuesday afternoons until 4:30 pm, Ms. Chang and Mr. Hughes will be available in E201. Come to receive extra assistance in your core subjects, get caught up and organized, or get ahead in your work! Individually, Team Nairobi teachers will meet with students on other days of the week by appointment.

Ms. Hampton's Science Help
Enjoy listening to music while you get help with science? Want to try to improve your grades? Science Fair project got you stumped? Join Ms. Hampton's 8th grade science tutoring today from 3:30-4:30 pm in room W301. Students need to have parent permission to stay after school. Parents can email dealscience@yahoo.com or provide written permission.

Team Addis Ababa

Team Addis Ababa study hall will meet today in Room N103. If you have any questions, please email teamaddisababa@gmail.com.

Volleyball Practice
Volleyball practice will be on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 3:30-5:00 pm. All eligibility paper work must be submitted to Ms. Ortiz today. If you do not have all the necessary paperwork you will not be able to play.

Deal Dance Team
Interested in joining the Deal Dance Team? Come to an interest meeting with Ms. Epstein this Tuesday after school in room W201. All grades welcome!

Gardening Club
Come to room C309 after school on Tuesday to learn about our indoor/outdoor gardening club. We will be growing everything from flowers to edibles to herbs for tea! The club will meet every Tuesday from 3:30-4:30 pm. See Ms. Ratliff for additional information.

Video-Audio/visual Crew now Forming
If you are interested in learning about video and audio-visual equipment and operation come to our informational meeting on Tuesday at 3:30 pm in the gallery (between the cafeteria and the gymnasium).

You will be involved in videotaping and editing assemblies as well as helping to set-up and operate the audio-visual equipment for the event.

This is open to all students. Students who were on the crew last year are especially encouraged to join again.

This session will only last 10 to 20 minutes. See Mr. Simmons for additional information.

Team Athens Hosts After-School
Tutoring/Homework Help
All Team Athens students are invited to drop in Tuesdays and/or Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 pm. Assistance will be available from at least one team teacher and you can bring homework from any class you need help with - or all of them! The room location will rotate between team teachers, so just head to the Team Athens hallway (2nd floor, west wing). We hope to see you this week!

Join the Cafe con Leche Club!
The Cafe con Leche Club is a Spanish conversation club open to any student who wishes to practice speaking Spanish outside the traditional classroom environment. We will be doing fun activities, watching movies, and even going to a local cafe to practice Spanish. We will meet on Tuesdays from 3:30 - 4:30 pm in room C315. Please sign up with any Deal Spanish teacher: Ms. Kelley, Ms. Cadavid, Ms. Henderson, Ms. Hawkins, and Ms. Ratliff.

Afternoon Studio Club (formally known as the Art Club)
The Afternoon Studio Club will meet on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:30 pm in room C224. Come to explore different materials and possibilities in art making! All levels of artistic skills and grade levels are welcomed! Email Mrs. Bustos for further information at dealartists@gmail.com.

Student Council
Student Council will meet this Wednesday at 3:30 in room E205. Come prepared with ideas about how you want to improve our school.

International Cooking Club-Group A
The A Group of the International Cooking Club will meet on Wednesday from 3:30-4:30 in the faculty lounge (2nd floor). B group will meet on Wednesday, October 1.

This year we will be making recipes from the following countries: Italy, Japan, India, Lebanon, Belgium, Germany, China, United States, Tunisia, Thailand, France, Mexico, Vietnam, Canada, Cuba, and the Dominican Republic. If you have any connections to restaurants that serve food from these countries and are willing to help arrange a field-trip at the end of the year please contact Ms. Kinzer at Harlan.Kinzer@dc.gov.

In addition, the International Cooking Club is always looking for donations to help enhance our program. The following supplies would help us greatly: antibacterial kitchen wipes, mixing bowls, cutting boards, measuring cups, wooden spoons, box grater, pans, pots, baking sheets, large skillet, utensils, parchment paper, ladle, zester, and pot holders.

GETTING READY FOR HIGH SCHOOL
Mr. Santiago will be meeting with 8th grade students in their English classes to conduct a Getting Ready for High School orientation. He will meet with Team La Paz on Wednesday September 23 and with Team Singapore on Thursday September 24. Team Timbuktu and Team Cairo will be scheduled at a later date.

Mrs. Washington's Homework Help
Great job Alice Deal Students on taking the initiative to join Mrs. Washington during "Homework Help" after school! Remember "Homework Help" is available to ALL Deal students on Wednesdays from 3:30-4:30 pm in room C212. See Ms. Washington for additional information.

Improv Club

Are you especially creative? Do you love to make people laugh? Think Improv is right for you? Deal students are invited to try Improv (short for improvisation) which is the act of making something up as you go along. The Improv Club will meet on Wednesdays from 3:30 - 5 pm in room E307. Students will perform for audiences later in the year. Please see Ms. Hutter in room E307 for a permission slip if you wish to join. Act now - we are taking the first 10 students from each grade.

Alice Deal Science Olympiad Team
The second informational meeting for all students who are interested in playing on the Science Olympiad team will be on Wednesday at 3:30 pm in room E101. Science Olympiad is a nationwide tournament that is played in teams.
There are building events, testing events, and the hands-on activities explore many areas of science. We will be playing in the regional tournament for DC later this year! Join for fun, science, friendship, and competition. Membership is open to students in all grades. Please see Mr. Hyun, Ms Chang, or Mr. Roose for more information.

Ahlan Wa Sahlan!
Mr. Barr will be holding an interest meeting for the Arabic Club on Thursday at 3:30 pm in room E307. In this club, students will begin to learn the letters and sounds of the Arabic alphabet as well as Arabic words, phrases and grammar. Students will also explore some of the arts, music, traditions, and food of the Arab world. To the Muslim members of the Deal community: Ramadan kareem wa 'Eid Mubarak.

Deal Dispatch
Extra! Extra! Come get involved with the Deal Dispatch.

The school newspaper, Deal Dispatch, is making a strong comeback this school year. All students interested in learning more about journalism, newspaper publication, or even the artistic aspect of public print are encouraged to attend our first official meeting on Thursday in room E204.

There is something exciting for everyone. The Deal Dispatch will cover a large variety of topics. News, sports, art, and creative writing sections will be published with each edition. There is also a need for photographers, computer experts, and editing leaders. This is a great chance for students with varying talents and interests to work together for the enhancement of all Deal students.

Deal Dispatch is open to every grade. Ms. Atwell, Mr. McDowell, and Ms. Szilagyi will be your fearless leaders. Come prepared with questions and exciting ideas. We are excited to meet many students at this first meeting.

Parents or students who are unable to attend the first meeting can send any questions or comments to dealdispatch@gmail.com.

Photography Club
The Photography Club will meet on Thursday from 3:30 - 4:30 pm in W204. Please bring your camera and a photograph that you have taken and are willing to share with the club. If you were unable to make the first meeting and still want to join, please come to this week's meeting! See Mr. Gueltig in C215 or in the Team Athens hallway for more details.

Attention Eighth Grade Parents!
Please join the eighth grade English Department on Thursday, September 24 at 6 pm for a brief seminar: Strategies for Supporting your Eighth
Grader With Their Writing. The content of this seminar will include : the eighth grade writing method, standard rubrics, and proofreading strategies. Please report to your child's English teacher's classroom. If you have any questions please feel free to contact:
Miss. Hovancsek at miss.hovancsek@gmail.com.

Student information...

Spring Break Travel Abroad Opportunity!
Attention all 8th graders who are interested in traveling abroad: it's the time of year to start signing up for your World Language Spring Break Trip. The Spanish students will be traveling to Spain this year and the French students will be traveling to France. Please talk to your Spanish or French teacher for more information.

Team Cairo Homework Help
Team Cairo, are you looking for some extra help on homework or staying organized? Then stop by morning Homework Help with Ms. Mazzone on Mondays in the library media center before school. Remember you must have a written pass from one of your teachers.

Team Cairo Colors, Motto, and Logo
The team colors for Team Cairo have been decided-- Yellow and Green! This week we will also be voting on team motto and logo from a list of student generated suggestions in homeroom. Ms. Hampton, Ms. Bartels, Ms. Hovancsek and Mr. Rich would like to thank all Team Cairo for their great suggestions during our team building activity period the first week of school!

MATHCOUNTS WILL BEGIN SOON!!!
Do you like to solve interesting math problems? Come join MathCounts! It is open to 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students. Practice will be begin on Wednesday, September 30 from 3:30 - 5 pm. If you are interested, pick up a permission slip from Ms. Philip in E103 or Ms. Milikin in E205.

The MATHCOUNTS Competition is a national middle school coaching and competitive mathematics program that promotes mathematics achievement through a series of fun and engaging "bee" style contests. The program exists in all 50 states plus 5 US territories and the Department of Defense and State Department schools. It is supported by the National Society of Professional Engineers at the state and local levels.

Department of Music Listserv
The Music Department uses a listserv in order to communicate information to its students and parents. All students involved with the Department of Music should sign up to be a member of this listserv. To become a member send an email to roger.jackson@dc.gov.

Science Department Science Fair Website
The Science Department website is http://dealscience.googlepages.com/. Visit this site to contact your child's science teacher, download the handouts for the Science Fair, contact the department chair, or find out how the the projects are tied to the International Baccalaureate Program.

Art Department

The Art Department email address dealartists@gmail.com. Students and parents with questions or concerns about art homework, Edline, classwork, etc. can contact Mrs. Bustos or Ms. Kouri at this address. Please include the teacher's name in the subject line.

RECYCLING AT DEAL
The Recycling Club sponsored by Mr. Winn-Ritzenberg (C213) invites Deal's staff and students to recycle paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic and glass bottles and printer cartridges.

It's this easy:
1) Find a sturdy box (a cardboard box will do). Let Mr. Winn-Ritzenberg know if you need help finding one.
2) Label your box clearly with the following information: your name, your room number, the words "RECYCLING ONLY"
3) We recycle all paper, cardboard, metal cans, plastic and glass bottles. All these recyclable may be collected/co-mingled in the same box. Please make sure that the bottles and cans are empty and relatively clean.
4) Empty printer cartridges may be recycled, but they should be given to Mr. Winn-Ritzenberg or put in his mailbox.
5) Follow the directions on your Green Card. If you need a new Green Card, you may get another from Mr. Winn-Ritzenberg's mailbox. Green Cards are returned and reused.

HAPPY RECYCLING - RETHINK, REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE!!

Music at Deal, Still Not to Late
Every student at Deal is encouraged to participate in one of the vast musical ensembles. There is 6th Grade Chorus, Concert Choir, Show Choir, Jazz Combo, Jazz Band, Concert Band, Beginning Band, and Drumline. To join, see Mr. Frye or Mr. Jackson.

Hemlock Overlook

All 6th and 7th grade students will bring home a permission slip on Wednesday for our outdoor educational enrichment activity at Hemlock Overlook. Please return the completed forms to your student's homeroom teacher as soon as possible.

Team Rome Reading and Writing Club
Attention Deal Romans: Are you an avid reader? Do enjoy writing? Would you like to be published in a newspaper? Then join the Team Rome Reading and Writing Club!

We are looking for students to write articles about their Deal experience. Articles could include, new school developments, interesting assignments, and current events. These articles will then be published in the local newspaper The Northwest Current. Students can earn extra credit, and an invitation to a monthly party for published authors. Contact Mr. McDowell or Mr. Kirschenbaum for information.

Also, do not forget about the Rome Reading Club. You all did a great job on your summer reading essays, so let's keep the ball rolling. Just read a book, write a summary, and give it to Mr. McDowell. You will then be invited to the monthly book club party to discuss what you have read! See Mr. McDowell for more details.

Sketchbook for Art
Students in 6th and 8th grades are required to bring a sketchbook to art class everyday. The sketchbook should be 50 - 100 blank pages. Please do not spend over $15.00.

Students can purchase sketchbooks for $10.00 from Ms. Kouri or Mrs. Bustos at the beginning of class.

US History Lunch Tutoring for La Paz
La Paz students seeking extra help with their history coursework are invited to lunch time tutoring with Ms. Mostoller. Students must have a pass to come. Eat first and report with your books and other materials to room 308 for quiet study time or help with assignments. Success is yours if you work for it.

Tutoring with Ms. Brown and Ms. Bruce
Beginning September 28, tutoring will be available for inclusion students on Mondays and Tuesdays from 3:30 - 4:30 pm. Permission slips are due by Thursday, September 24. Please see Ms. Brown or Ms. Bruce for additional information.

Chinese Fitness Begins Next Week
Chinese Fitness will meet on Tuesdays from 3:20 - 4:30 pm in room C206. Students will practice fitness the Chinese way. Students will learn Chinese meditation, Tai Ji, fitness dances, and many other stress-reduction activities. If you are interested, please see Ms. Wang for more details.

Staff information...

Thank You!
Thank you to our wonderful Deal staff for your thoughtful and attentive participation in our professional development on Friday.

Thank you to the Special Education Department for providing an informative Inclusion Professional Development.

Thank you to our Humanities Department for such great learning opportunities for our students on Constitution Day. Please visit the 2nd floor and the cafeteria to see our students' wonderful work!

Questions About IMPACT

Please make sure that you have given all of your "Parking Lot" questions to Ms. Neal. You may place them in her mailbox this morning.

6th Grade Team Meeting

All 6th grade teachers (including electives and ELL will meet with Ms. Neal and Ms. Hernandez in room N101. Please bring a list of the students who will receive deficiency notices.

7th Grade Team Meeting
There will be a team meeting with Mr. Humes in E205 at 8:10 am on Thursday.

8th Grade Teams (La Paz, Cairo & Singapore) Meeting
There will be a team meeting for the 8th grade teams on Wednesday September 23rd at 8:10am in Room C308 (Ms. Mostoller's Room)

DC BAS results are in!
Please check out our results on thinklink!

IB MYP Committee

The IB MYP Committee will not meet this Friday as initially planned, but will be rescheduled to Monday, September 28 at 8 am.

Student Attendance
All teachers must enter student attendance data into DCSTARS each period. Please see Ms. Baxter if you have any questions.

Extracurricular Information
Thanks to all teachers who have started extracurricular activities. This is an important way to connect with students and a point of pride and distinction for Deal. Please post information for your extracurricular activities on the Bulletin. All activities are expected to begin this month. Please see Ms. Kim with any concerns.

Before & after school activities this week...

Monday AM

Concert Choir practice, 7:45 am - RM CG17

Beginning Band, 7:45 am - RM CG01

Spanish tutoring, 8:10 am - RM C310
Team Cairo tutoring with Ms. Mazzone, 8:10 am - library media center

Monday PM

Girls' Soccer practice, 3:30-5 pm

Cross Country practice, 3:30-5 pm

Scrabble Club, 3:30 - 4:30 pm, cafeteria
Team Addis Ababa Study Hall, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM N103

Volleyball practice, 3:30-5 pm - gymnasium

GeoPlunge, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM W205

Debate Team, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM E304

Run for Fun Club, 3:30 - 4:30 - RM W101

National History Day Help, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM C308

Team Nairobi Tutoring, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM W207
Team Addis Ababa Tutoring, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM N103

Ms. Hampton's Science Help, 3:30-4:30 pm - W301

Tuesday AM

6th Grade Chorus, 7:45 am - RM CG17

Jazz/Concert Band auditions, 7:45 am - RM CG01

Tuesday PM

Drumline practice, 3:30-4:30 pm

Cross Country practice, 3:30-5 pm

Science tutoring, 3:20-4:15 pm - RM C315

"Café Con Leche" Club, 3:20-4:15 pm - RM CG06

Boys' Soccer practice, 3:30 - 5 pm

Afternoon Studios Club, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM C224

Rugby, 3:30-5 pm - RM C104

Deal Dance Team, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM W201
Team Nairobi Tutoring, 3:30 - 4:30 - RM E201

Team Athens Tutoring/Homework Help, 3:30-4:30 pm - Team Athens Hallway
Gardening, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM C309
Video-Audio Visual Meeting, 3:30 pm - Gallery

Wednesday AM

Concert Choir practice, 7:45 am - RM CG17

Spanish tutoring, 8:10 am - RM C310

Wednesday PM

Student Council, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM E205

Ms. Washington's Homework Help, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM C212

Team San Francisco After-School Academic Assistance, 3:30-4:30pm - RM W101
Team Athens Tutoring, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - Team Athens hallway

Volleyball practice, 3:30- 5 pm- gymnasium

Girls' Soccer practice, 3:30-5 pm

Show Choir practice, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM CG17

Cross Country practice, 3:30-5 pm

International Cooking Club (Group A), 3:30-4:30 pm - Teacher's Lounge (2nd floor)

Fencing Club, 3:20-5 pm- RM C217

Science Tutoring, 3:30-4:30 pm - RM C315

Improv Club, 3:30-5 pm - RM E307

Alice Deal Science Olympiad Team, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM E101

Thursday AM

6th Grade Chorus, 7:45 am - RM CG17

Jazz/Concert Band, 7:45 am - RM CG01

Thursday PM

Fencing Club, 3:20-5 pm - RM C217

Volleyball practice, 3:30- 5 pm - gymnasium
Boys' Soccer practice, 3:30 - 5 pm

Cross Country practice, 3:30-5 pm

Rugby, 3:30-5 pm - RM C104

Arabic Interest Meeting, 3:30 pm - RM E307
Deal Dispatch, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM E204
Photography Club, 3:30 - 4:30 pm - RM W204

Friday PM
Girls' Soccer Game

Food for Thought...
Check out some of these resources!

Online Curriculum Resources

(Originally titled "The Change Agents")

"Instead of requiring our students to check their Web 2.0 technologies at the schoolhouse door," say Cheryl Lemke and Ed Coughlin in this Educational Leadership article, "we should teach them how to use these tools for learning." In a sidebar, they share several websites that might be particularly helpful:

· Biovisions, a Harvard biology website: http://multimedia.mcb.harvard.edu. Video clips and animations, including a spectacular eight-minute animation, "The Inner Life of a Cell."

· MIT Open Courseware: Free course syllabi, lecture notes, assignments, exams, and audio and video lectures: http://ocw.mit.edu. For sample lectures by dynamic physics professor Walter Lewin, see: http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/courses/instructors/lewin/lewin.htm.

· Connexions, a Rice University site for viewing and sharing educational material, with more than 12,000 learning modules, including one on African message drums that could be used in units on music, percussion, communication, history, or world cultures: http://cnx.org.

· WISE: Web-based Inquiry Science Environment from Berkeley for grades 5-12, with one-week units on real-world evidence and current science controversies, including global climate change, hybrid cars, genetics, and recycling: http://www.wise.berkeley.edu.

· Birdjam: Bird species, habitats, and songs: http://www.learnbirdsongs.com, created by a nature photographer and writer.

"The Change Agents" by Cheryl Lemke and Ed Coughlin in Educational Leadership, September 2009 (Vol. 67, #1, p. 54-59); the full article is available for purchase at

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership.aspx

Lemke can be reached at lemke@metiri.com, Coughlin at ecoughlin@metiri.com.