May 11, 2020
The school district is committed to keeping you updated throughout the COVID-19 closure of Des Moines Public Schools' buildings and our completion of the school year through distance learning. Lots of news to share today: first and foremost, read about our personal commencements, and how we will be celebrating the Class of 2020 one graduate at a time. We also share a couple of other Class of 2020 items, include a message from our ELL team, look back at Teacher Appreciation Week, have a story about an East grad and the 75th anniversary of VE Day, and post reminders about both our online budget forum and the start of AP exams.
CELEBRATING SUCCESS ONE GRADUATE AT A TIME
As high schools and colleges across the country make changes to graduation ceremonies for the Class of 2020, with many doing some form of an online virtual event, the staff at DMPS has been working hard to expand beyond our virtual plan. In June we will be holding personal commencements, a chance to celebrate the success of the Class of 2020 one graduate at a time. High schools will hold an event with each senior given an assigned time range for them and two guests to arrive,  in order to walk across stage in their cap and gown to receive their diploma and have a graduation photograph taken. This is not a time when large events are being held, but we want to make sure each graduate has a chance to be presented their diploma. More information is on our web site (seniors: your high school will be in touch with more details on times and other arrangements). 
HOOVER PAYS TRIBUTE TO CLASS OF 2020
The Class of 2020 is being celebrated in lots of different ways this year. One of the ways at Hoover High School is lining a fence between the parking lot and baseball field with a mini-banner with the name of each graduate. We stopped by as staff and supporters were hard at work to honor their seniors. Click here to see more of Hoover's effort.
CLASS OF 2020 PICKS UP THEIR CAPS & GOWNS
A lot of things might be different about the end of the 2019-20 school year, but one thing is constant: caps and gowns. The traditional regalia for graduates is being distributed over the next several days to members of the Class of 2020. We stopped by Roosevelt High School as they began the process, with a long line of cars winding through the parking lot for their very special delivery.  Click here to see more.
A GLOBAL MESSAGE OF LOVE AND HOPE 
We've shared videos from time to time of teachers and staff reminding students how much they are missed. Be sure to check out this one, organized by our ELL team featuring some of the many languages spoken throughout DMPS as we educate students from a hundred different nations around the world.  Visit our YouTube channel to see this special message.
TEACHER APPRECIATION DURING A PANDEMIC
If absence makes the heart grow fonder then it follows that appreciation of teachers is running deeper than ever before this spring.  As Teacher Appreciation Week wound down on Friday, we sampled some of the lengths that principals and administrators went to in expression of a job especially well and difficultly done by their staffs under extreme duress during the homestretch of the 2019-20 school year.  Click here to read and see more.
A VE DAY SALUTE TO A LONE RANGER EAST GRAD
Friday marked the 75th anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. VE Day celebrates the triumph of the allies over forces from Nazi Germany in World War II. Accordingly, DMPS invites the entire district community to salute US Army Master Sergeant Lester B. Cook, ret., East High Class of 1940. Sgt. Cook enlisted in the Iowa National Guard while still in high school. His unit was activated in February of 1941 and in 1942, he was selected as one of the original US Army Rangers, an elite special operations force. We had a chance to talk with the 97-year old Cook, a living memorial to East's motto: For the Service of Humanity. Click here to read more.
REMINDER: AP EXAMS ARE THIS WEEK
Due to the closure of thousands of school districts across the nation, Advanced Placement  exam s are being done online this year starting today. AP exams got underway today and will continue through May 22. Students who have registered for this year's exams have been receiving updates from their teachers and/or schools.  We've also updated our AP exam page with reminders about what to prepare for to take the exam online.
REMINDER: FY2021 VIRTUAL BUDGET FORUM
Rather than our normal process of holding public forums in late March and early April, DMPS consulted with the Iowa Department of Education, the Iowa Department of Management, the Polk County Auditor, and the Iowa Assoc iation of School Boards to develop a new plan to present and approve our budget.  This year the school district is holding an online budget forum. How does it work? Simply view the video on our web site at the link below, with Superintendent Tom Ahart and CFO Shashank Aurora presenting details about the proposed budget. Then, if you have a question or comment, just complete the online form.  Click here to visit our FY 2021 Virtual Budget Forum.
A NOTE ABOUT MEALS FOR OUR STUDENTS
Throughout the COVID-19 school building closure, Des Moines Public Schools is serving approximately 10,000 breakfasts and 10,000  lunches per weekday. Even as we do our best to prepare for turnout at all 50 of our meal distribution sites, we are still running out of food at some locations.  Our goal is to make sure that no Des Moines child goes hungry in our city, and the United States Department of Agriculture provides the district funding for meals with the understanding that the meals will feed children in need who are ages 1-18 . It is up to each family to determine what need looks like during this uncertain time in our world. We appreciate the support of our DMPS community in following these guidelines to help us make sure every hungry child has enough to eat.  Rain or shine, we will be at all 50 meal distribution sites each weekday from 11:30 AM to 12:30 PM to serve our kids. Click here to see a list of the meal sites.  Be sure to see the map on this web page to find the site most convenient for you.
CORONAVIRUS: RELY ON THE EXPERTS FOR INFORMATION
Accurate health information about COVID-19 is important as people around the world respond to help put an end to this global pandemic. Stay informed and look for information on Coronavirus from reliable and trusted expert sources:
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 (or your child) have been discriminated against or treated unjustly at school, please contact Susan Tallman, 2100 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321; phone: 515-242-7709; email: [email protected].