It's "What's New Wednesday" ... when our teaching and learning staff posts new content to our online learning resources web page. DMPS launched this a week ago - before school was even originally scheduled to resume after Spring Break - to provide students and parents with online educational tools to stay engaged as schools are closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While this isn't a replacement of school, it does provide lots of subject- and grade level-specific resources vetted by our educators to keep students  academically and intellectually active. You can click here to visit our online learning resources web page, plus the box above is included in each of our emails and links to this page.

The current COVID-19 pandemic is an unprecedented experience for virtually everyone who's alive today. But Des Moines Public Schools is old enough to have some basis for comparison to a similar situation, the great flu pandemic of 1918. Our staff writer Mike Wellman combed the archives to share some history. One good thing that happened in the midst of that pandemic was North High winning a state football championship. But there was also a critical lesson for today: don't re-open schools too soon. In the fall of 1918, schools closed for less than three weeks, re-opened only to see a rise in the number of flu cases, and had to close again for the rest of the calendar year.  Click here to read more.

The whole month of April, you can select a job at Des Moines Public Schools, apply for work, and interview from the comfort and safety of your own home! DMPS is looking for Special Education Associates, School Bus Drivers, Sign Language Interpreters, and substitute Teachers and Associates, and substitute Nurses. Many positions are for the 2020-21 school year, as we maintain a qualified team of employees to serve our students, schools, and community. Click here to see current openings and begin the online application process.

This is probably a good year to skip April Fools' Day. But it's the right time to observe Census Day! Be counted: it's important for our community and it's the law. By now, all households should have received U.S. Census info, including how to complete online. Click here to read more information about the Census that we've posted to our web site.

DMPS will be set up each weekday during the COVID-19 closure at 11:30 AM at all ten middle schools and a dozen auxiliary sites to provide students with a free breakfast and lunch. And we will include a reminder in each and every email update so we can all do what we can to make sure no Des Moines student is hungry.  Visit our web site for details on the DMPS meal program. We have added a map to the page showing all 22 meal sites to make it easier to find the one nearest you.