Good morning from TheWeek@DMPS. A busy week around DMPS as school district leaders voiced strong support for our immigrant and refugee students, a senior has her marine biology research published, and a new principal is named at Smouse Opportunity School. Plus, we include a reminder about our DMPS Day at the Capitol ... join us next Thursday to voice your support for our students and schools at the legislature. Read on for those stories and much more.
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STORIES ABOUT OUR STUDENTS, TEACHERS AND SCHOOLS
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DMPS: You Belong Here, We Stand By You
This past week, much of the world's attention was focused on an effort by the federal government to impose far-reaching restrictions on the ability of immigrants and refugees to come to the United States. School Board chair Teree Caldwell-Johnson and Superintendent Tom Ahart issued a statement telling immigrant and refugee students: "you belong here and Des Moines Public Schools stands by you."
Click here to read their full statement.
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Hanna Walker is a senior at Roosevelt High School and a student at Central Campus, where she is also a laboratory assistant in Central's marine biology program. She and her instructor, Dr. Greg Barord, have just had their research on the grass shrimp published in a scientific journal.
Click here to meet Hanna
and read about the unique educational opportunities DMPS students have while still in high school.
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Des Moines Public Schools is pleased to announce Smouse Opportunity School will have a new principal. Roxanne Cumings has been serving as interim principal since last Spring. After it becomes official at Tuesday's School Board meeting, she will drop "interim" from her title.
Click here to learn more about Ms. Cumings.
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Silly PJs, Serious Topic at Lincoln High School
Last Friday was PJ Day as decreed by Joppa, a local nonprofit that advocates on behalf of the homeless. Lincoln High School was one of 27 schools in central Iowa where students showed up for class in pajamas as part of a consciousness-raising aimed at providing assistance to area homeless people. Students conduct supply drives to collect necessary items for donation to area shelters. Click here to read and see more.
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Busy Days for Actor at Turnaround Arts Schools
Actor John Lloyd Young was back in Des Moines recently as part of the Turnaround Arts program. From a field trip to the Des Moines Arts Center with Oak Park students to working with classes at Cattell to advocating for arts education at the State Capitol, it was a full schedule for the Tony and Grammy award winner as he supported DMPS.
Click here to read and see more
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Central Academy hosted this year's Chinese New Year celebration presented by the Chinese Association of Iowa last Saturday. The organization also honored Central Academy as the Education Agency of the Year, noting that the school is home to top Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses. Enjoy photos from the celebration on our Flickr page.
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DMPS AT THE CAPITOL: THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9
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It's not too late to join the DMPS Community Legislative Action Team on
Thursday, February 9 for a Day on the Hill to advocate on behalf of the District's priorities, including preschool funds for
children living in poverty, great support
for English Language Learners, and better school buildings with
the SAVE penny sales tax.
We'll start at East High School at 8:30 AM for training and preparation, then head to the Capitol as a group to connect with legislators. This is a great opportunity to share your voice on behalf of our kids and our schools. You don't need to have any advance knowledge to join us, you just need to care about our kids! Click here for more details and to register to participate.
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PHOTO GALLERIES OF THE WEEK
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Fun + Engineering = Lego Club
Kindergarteners and 1st graders gathered in the Greenwood Elementary School library after school on Friday for the Lego Club. The club, now in its fourth year, combines hands-on engineering with fun. Greenwood also has an after-school coding club. Click here for photos of the Lego Club.
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Celebrating 100 Days with 100 Years
Hubbell Elementary School 2nd graders celebrated 100 days of school by dressing up as they see themselves at 100 years old. From glasses to gray hair, these elementary centenarians had one thing in common: they'll be smiling when they celebrate that milestone.
Click here for photos.
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Hoover/North Feeder School Conferences - more details available at schools
February 7
School Board Meeting - Central Campus (6:00 PM)
February 9
Winter Sports
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ICYMI: DMPS IN THE NEWS
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Recent items in the news or online about or of interest to students, teachers and parents at Des Moines Public Schools:
- The support voiced by Des Moines Public Schools for our immigrant and refugee students received a good deal of media attention, both here at home and around the country. In Des Moines, the Des Moines Register, KCCI-TV, WHO-TV, WHO Radio and WOI-TV all reported on the district's position, reporting on how schools shared the news and interviewing a DMPS student whose family fled one of the countries on the current ban list. Click the links above to read or view the reports.
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TheWeek@DMPS is a recipient of the 2016 Award of Merit
from the National School Public Relations Association.
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It is the policy of the Des Moines Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you believe you have (or your child) has been discriminated against or treated unjustly at school, please contact the Equity Coordinator, Isaiah McGee at 2323 Grand Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50312 or 515-242-7662 or isaiah.mcgee@dmschools.org.
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