Contributed photo
Contributed photo
Des Moines Public Schools issued the following announcement on Aug. 27.
News and Updates from Des Moines Public Schools
DMPS schools are back in session for the 2021-22 school year. We are encouraging everyone to mask up in school because Wearing is Caring -- and you are responding. Some of our schools report seeing more than 90% of students and staff listening to the experts and doing the right thing.
This week, the Chair of the DMPS School Board shares why the district is so focused on encouraging universal masking and explains why all of us must band together and make good choices to protect our unvaccinated students. (Hint: only the state can issue a mandate and they have not indicated they have any plans to do so.)
We also share photos from the first day of school, a story about a Roosevelt quarterback making a splash, and share reminders about basketball registration, the upcoming One Run fundraiser, and preschool sign up. Also, if you know anyone looking for part-time work, the district is hiring!
ONE WAY: ONLY THE STATE CAN MANDATE MASKS
DMPS school board chair Dwana Bradley shares the frustration of many parents, guardians, and employees, as we begin the school year during a COVID Delta variant surge without a key tool to keep our unvaccinated students safe -- universal masking. As she notes: "It is abundantly clear to the experts that when everyone wears a mask, we keep kids healthy and in school, and most importantly we save lives as we wait for the vaccine to become available to our children." Read her full statement about why the buck stops on the steps of the Iowa Statehouse and it's the only place where change can originate. Click here to read and watch Bradley's statement.
FIRST DAY BRINGS 37,000 STUDENTS, STAFF TOGETHER
When the school year begins at DMPS, Iowa's largest district, traffic patterns shift noticeably, electrical grids that were dim over the summer light up, and students fill hundreds of classrooms across the city. We were there to capture the return of our students on Wednesday, August 25 as they entered our buildings, some for the first time in more than a year. Welcome back to all of our students and staff (both virtual and in-person) for the start of the 2021-22 school year. Click here to see photos of the first day of school.
SAVE THE DATE: ONE RUN RETURNS SEPTEMBER 11
The DMPS Foundation One Run is returning in 2021. Raising money for your school is so easy. Register your family and friends as runners or spectators, then check in before the run. Everyone who checks in will have their entry fee paid by a community partner and donated to their school. Click here to learn more and register today.
DSM YOUTH BASKETBALL REGISTRATION OPEN
DMPS shares a great partnership with Des Moines Parks and Recreation, offering sporting opportunities all year round for students. Youth Basketball registration is underway right now for kids in grades 1-7. Games are played Saturdays & Sundays at schools or community recreation centers. The cost is $60 per player but scholarships are available which drop the registration fee to just $5. Click here to sign up for youth basketball.
PRESCHOOL SIGN UP REMAINS OPEN FOR 2021-22
Des Moines Public Schools and its partner sites are still signing up preschool students for the 2021-22 school year. Children must be 4 years old by September 15 to qualify. Preschool classes at DMPS start on September 9 so don't delay! Click here to learn more and register for preschool.
DMPS: GREAT JOBS, ALWAYS HIRING!
Des Moines Public Schools is hiring help in the classroom, kitchen, lunch line, behind the steering wheel of a bus, and we need skilled childcare providers. The district offers competitive pay, great benefits, and some of the most rewarding work you'll find anywhere. Click here to view the most in-demand positions and apply today!
PHOTO GALLERY AND VIDEO OF THE WEEK
FIRST: MEET THE TEACHERS
Before classes got underway, many schools held meet-the-teacher events and back-to-school open houses (safely outdoors this year). We stopped by several to share a look. See more on our Flickr page.
A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
We shared above School Board chair Dwana Bradley's comments on the responsibility for a school mask mandate resting with the state, and have a video of her comments on DMPS-TV. View them on YouTube.
ICYMI: DMPS IN THE NEWS
Recent items in the news media about or of interest for students, teachers and parents at Des Moines Public Schools.
- Roosevelt High School football player Jamison Patton already has an offer from Iowa State. But, as the Des Moines Register reports, he's not done trying to prove himself, and leaving a legacy in Roughrider territory that will inspire students to give their all to school and sport. Click here to see and read more about Patton.
- The North High Polar Bears haven't won a game since 2016, but after having their season cut short in 2020 North is embracing every snap, reports WOI-TV 5 News. The sports team says North is "building a culture that's grown quickly as they chase their first win in five years." Click here to read and watch the report on Channel 5's web site.
- Des Moines Public Schools was able to offer virtual learning at all grade levels K-12 for the 2021-22 school year. As KCCI-TV 8 has noted, parents are supportive of the option to keep their students home during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and Delta variant surge. Click here to see and read more about just how many students are enrolled in virutal learning this semester.
- Abby Tran, a first grade teacher at Park Avenue Elementary School, and DMPS parent Shelley Skuster have been raising money for a special project: skin-toned bandages. WHO-TV interviewed Ms. Skuster about how these diverse first-aid supplies support our diverse student body. Click here to see Channel 13's interview.
UPCOMING DATES AND EVENTS
September 6
Labor Day - No Classes/Offices Closed
September 7
School Board Meeting - click here for more information
September 11
DMPS Foundation One Run for Schools - click here for more information
September 21
School Board Meeting - click here for more information
September 24
No School - Professional Development for Teachers and Staff
FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES
Click here to follow the Scarlets, Huskies, Rails, Polar Bears and Roughriders
Des Moines Public Schools | dmschools.org
Alerts Sign-up