Supporting Your Student, Masks, Website, & Fall Sports
Principal's Message
Happy Sunday!
I hope you are having a wonderful summer break. We are looking forward to seeing 100% of our students for the in-person grade-level orientations on Friday, August 27 (6th and 7th graders at 9:30 am and 8th graders at 12:30 pm) and for the first day of school on Monday, August 30!
We are leveraging lessons learned during the Summer Acceleration Academy to support our transition to a fully in-person learning posture for SY 21-22 that will accelerate all our students towards their full potential. We will need to follow many of the same health precautions that have proven to work in preventing the transmission of COVID-19. All individuals, including DCPS students, staff, contractors, partners, volunteers, and visitors are required to wear a face mask while in school buildings, on school buses, and while participating in any school-related activities, including physical education and sports. The requirement includes individuals who have been vaccinated against COVID-19.
How Families Can Support Students
Many families have asked how they can prepare their students for the return to school. Yes, students should read (and complete their summer reading assignment) and review math concepts from last year. However, students should also be supported in developing a sense of competence and confidence in their ability to handle middle school. Here are a few tips for families that will prepare our students for success. You may want to review this article from the On Parenting Section of The Washington Post - How to Talk to Your Middle-Schooler (So They Might Actually Listen to You).
Celebrate the IB-MYP Learner Profile Traits
As an International Baccalaureate Middle Years School, we follow the DCPS scope and sequence using an IB-MYP framework. The MYP aims to develop active learners and internationally-minded young people who can empathize with others and pursue lives of purpose and meaning. Moreover, The IB-MYP aims to help students develop their personal understanding, their emerging sense of self, and responsibility in their community. One component of the IB Middle Years Programme is the Learner Profile.
The Learner Profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. The Profile supports our efforts to develop students who are inquirers, knowledgeable, thinkers, communicators, principled, open-minded, caring, risk-takers, balanced, and reflective.
In the remaining weeks (and beyond), please celebrate your child's effort and growth in the areas described in the IB-MYP Learner Profile. Identify traits by name without making it a big deal.
Cultivate a Growth Mindset
This year we will continue our efforts in the area of trauma responsiveness. Becoming a trauma-responsive school is a multiyear process that requires improvements on all levels. Some elements of the process will include mindfulness, multi-level safety, strong relationships, integrated social-emotional learning (SEL). Deal will join other DC public schools in using Turn Around for Children's Whole Child Design to:
Ensure that we create a supportive environment for ALL students
Shift to relationships – among teachers, students, leaders, families - as the foundation
Set students up for success by integrating knowledge, skill, and mindset development
In the remaining weeks (and beyond), please explore some of the following ideas around mindset with your child. Again, please be subtle in your approach.
Belief - I am capable of working hard to increase my potential and intelligence
Effort - success comes with effort
Challenges - I embrace challenges as a chance to grow
Failure/Critique - I can learn valuable things from failure and feedback can help me grow
Better Than Normal School Year
The experiences of the past year have provided us with a unique opportunity to reset our behavior and expectations. In addition to learning about and experiencing the power of grace and gratitude, we have been able to acknowledge many of the disparities in our society and commit to being a part of positive change. I am looking forward to working with our entire school community to create a Better Than Normal School Year.
Here We GROW!
COVID-19 Vaccine Site at Deal on Mondays (1:00 - 7:00 pm)
Our vaccine partner, Giant Food, will offer the Pfizer vaccine for students 12+ in the Deal gymnasium from 1:00 until 7:00 pm.
Information is available at https://vaccinate.dc.gov or
1-855-363-0333.
Immunizations
While the COVID-19 vaccine is currently not required to attend school next year, students are required to have their childhood immunizations up to date to attend school in the fall. Immunization forms must be submitted within 20 days of the start of school.
DC Public Schools and their partners at DC Health have pop-up immunizations clinics open throughout the city. Immunization appointments are free for children ages 3-18 years old attending school in the fall, including those at private, parochial, and independent schools. https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/vaccines/
Mask Mandate
Everyone (including adults and students who are vaccinated) must wear a mask at all times at Deal MS. A mask is not required when actively engaged in eating or drinking.
Volunteer for Deal Beautification Day
While you are enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation, please come out on Saturday, August 14 from 9 am to 12 noon to help us spruce up our school for
You may volunteer to help us plant and prune, organize the book room, or help with bulletin boards. Please sign up HERE to volunteer.
Please bring your own tools if possible.
The following tools are needed.
garden gloves
clippers, pruning shears, pruning saw, loppers
hand spades, weeding tools
lawn mower (gas-powered)
wheelbarrows
Popsicles with the Principal
All 6th graders are invited to enjoy a sweet summer treat with Principal Neal on
Saturday, August 14.
Students will be able to ask questions and share their hopes for the new school year.
1:00 - 1:30 | Last Names A - F
2:00 - 2:30 | Last Names G - N
3:00 - 3:30 | Last Names O - Z
Virtual Family Orientations
August 24 and 25
All Deal families are encouraged to join us on Tuesday, August 24 or Wednesday, August 25 for our Virtual Family Orientations (Teams Live Stream) from 6:30 until 7:30 pm.
Tuesday, August 24 at 6:30 pm | Join live event
Wednesday, August 25 at 6:30 pm | Join live event
Student Orientation (In-Person) | August 27
This year we will host an in-person orientation for 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade students on Friday, August 27. During the orientations, students will meet their teachers and visit all of their classes. Students will not eat lunch at school on the day of the orientations.
Students are permitted to bring water bottles.
6th Grade
9:30 am | Arrive at Deal (front of the building)
10:00 am - 12:00 noon | Follow Student Schedule
7th Grade
9:30 am | Arrive at Deal (gym entrance - Howard Road)
10:00 am - 12:00 noon | Follow Student Schedule
8th Grade
12:30 pm | Arrive at Deal (front of the building)
1:00 - 3:00 pm | Follow Student Schedule
Team Name and Student Schedules
Students will find out their team name when they come to orientation on Friday, August 27. DCPS will publish student schedules to the Aspen Family Portal by August 24.
Families and students with existing Aspen accounts will use the same login ID and password as last school year. New family and student account information will be shared via email by the end of the first week of school. All students will receive a printed copy of their schedule for their in-person orientation session and again on the first day of school. For support with an existing Aspen account, please email
School Supplies
Here is the list of recommended school supplies by grade level - Deal MS Student Supply List SY 21-22.pdf. Please contact your grade-level assistant principal if you need support with getting supplies for your student.
6th Grade | stacey.gathers@k12.dc.gov
7th Grade | marcus.moore3@k12.dc.gov
8th Grade | patrick.rottman@k12.dc.gov
Summer Reading
All Deal students are expected to complete a Summer Reading Assignment which will be collected by their English (ELA) teacher during the first week of school. Links to the assignments are below.
6th Grade
Summer Reading Project (en español)
7th Grade
Summer Reading Project (en español)
8th Grade
Summer Reading Project (en español)
Back to School Night (Virtual)
We will host a virtual
Back to School Night on Thursday, September 22, beginning at 6:00 pm.
Additional information will be provided.
WMATA Bus Schedules
Route M4:
https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/M4_210606.pdf
Routes D31, D32, D33, D34:
https://www.wmata.com/schedules/timetables/upload/D31,32,33,34_200823.pdf
Breakfast and Lunch
For SY 2021-2022 students at all DCPS schools will receive all meals at no charge. This includes breakfast and lunch.
Despite universal free meals for SY 21/22, DCPS
still encourages parents/guardians of students to complete the Free and Reduced Lunch Application to ensure they are eligible
for other benefits.
https://dcps.dc.gov/page/meal-prices-and-payment
Deal Website
We’ve spent the summer doing some online cleanup, and with it we’ve refreshed our online digs!
Check out https://www.alicedealmiddleschool.org/ and see what you think. We’ve revamped the site AND added a new logo, designed by our own Ms. Kouri. The site can be read in English, Spanish, Amharic, and French and a calendar you can subscribe to. The website is not yet complete, and we will be adding a staff directory, information on teams, schedules, activities, and more as that information becomes solidified and available.
The goal for the website is to both refresh the look and feel and create a single home for all communications and information. This includes notices from our Weekly Bulletins as well as from our social media feeds and school calendars. We hope students and families find it helpful to have all key news in one place.
As a second step to our digital renovation, we will be updating our email system in a few weeks. Stay tuned for an announcement about that.
A big shout out to the ADCA for spearheading and supporting this effort.
Virtual Learning
DCPS is offering virtual instruction for students who meet the medical eligibility requirements. To access remote learning, families must submit a completed medical eligibility form signed by their child's doctor to DCPS. You can review the form and read a FAQ for families at https://dcpsreopenstrong.com/sy21-22/virtual.
If you are interested in virtual learning for a student with a medical need, families should complete the registration process, by following these steps:
Complete student enrollment for SY21-22. You may submit enrollment forms electronically online or complete them at the school you will attend next year.
Download the COVID-19 Medical Consent and Certification for Distance Learning prepared by the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) or pick up a copy from your school.
Contact your child’s medical provider so they may complete and sign the medical consent form for virtual learning. Forms must be signed by a physician or nurse practitioner, or they will not be accepted.
Complete the virtual learning registration process by uploading your student’s medical consent form signed by their doctor by July 6. You can just take a picture of the signed form if you do not have an electronic copy. The form will ask for your student’s ID number. If you do not have the ID number, please contact your school.
The Student Health Services team will follow up with you if your form is incomplete, or to notify you if your form has been accepted.
If you have questions about virtual learning, please let us know. For general questions on virtual learning in SY21-22, you can reach out to the Office of Integrity at dcps.cio@k12.dc.gov or call 202-442-5885 (Option 2). If you have questions about medical eligibility for virtual learning, or the medical consent and certification form, please contact the Student Health team at medicalconsent@k12.dc.gov.
Deal Athletics
Please submit this FORM to document your child's interest in playing on a sports team this fall. In addition to this form, you will also need to:
fill out the athletic participation forms
upload your child's medical documents to our new digital platform, Seamless Docs, found here: https://dcgov.seamlessdocs.com/f/c4a57hp5qjqy.
These forms must be uploaded and certified by the DCIAA Athletic Trainer before your child will be permitted to participate. You will receive an email from the Deal coach when all forms have been processed and your child can begin participating.
Dates for tryouts for specific sports will be shared on the Deal website and in our weekly updates.
Fall Sports
Boys Cross Country - Ryan Deak, ryan.deak@k12.dc.gov
Girls Cross Country - Allison Beckley, allison.beckley@k12.dc.gov
Boys Soccer - Frederick Mbayu, frederick.mbayu@k12.dc.gov
Girls Soccer - Kwabena Osei, kwabena.osei@k12.dc.gov
Volleyball - Darieal Wimbley, darieal.wimbley@k12.dc.gov
Football - Michael Oliver, michael.oliver@k12.dc.gov
Archery - Staci Pugh, staci.pugh@k12.dc.gov
Cheerleading - Leilani Stevens, leilanistevens21@gmail.com
General sports/athletics inquiries: deal.athletics@k12.dc.gov
A Message from Wilson High School
We have been asked to share this message (en español) from the new Wilson HS Principal with our community.
