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8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
1/14
Des Moines Public Schools
COMMUNITY REPORTDMPS
February/March 2014
DMPS Community Report | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2014
Opportunities continue to expand
for students to have greater access
to college-level Advanced Placementcourses throughout Des Moines, as
the school district will be offering new
courses at Central Academy while
continuing other AP courses available atall ve comprehensive high schools.
Tese changes result from significantenrollment increases the school districthas seen in recent years in AdvancedPlacement courses as both students and
teachers have stepped up to meet thechallenge of this college-level curriculum. DMPS is pleased to announce, for thefirst time ever, four new AP courses to beoffered to Des Moines students through
Central Academy starting with the 20115 school year: AP Art History, AP
Computer Science, AP Microeconomiand AP Spanish Literature. Tese new offerings are unique, specialized coursethat will be available only at CentralAcademy in order to provide access toall DMPS students. (Previously, AP ArHistory and AP Microeconomics wereavailable only to students at RooseveltHigh School.) In order to facilitate the growth of Advanced Placement program at Centr
Academy, DMPS will reduce someduplication of AP courses. Starting in2014-15, AP Environmental Science, AStatistics, and AP US Government will
AP Continues to Grow at DMPS
Four New AP Courses to be Offered at Central Academy
Continued on Page
3
3
4
4
56
7
8
11
13
13
Upcoming IowaAssessments
KCCIs LewisJoins DMPS
Moulton, ISUDay of Action
Celebrating OurAchievements
The Lulu Name
ach year jurists from the Iowa
Court of Appeals and the Iowa
upreme Court take part in a
esson on the judicial process inAP Government classes at high
chools in Des Moines.
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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The following chart compares the number of students enrolled in AP courses today to
year prior to the expansion of AP offerings at all ve high schools:
In addition to signicant enrollment increases in AP courses, the number of AP exams
nearly doubled in the past two years. Depending on the result, exams scores transfer t
credit at most colleges and universities. The number of AP exams administered at DMP
over the past three years is as follows:
As a result of this effort, for the rst time ever all ve Des Moines high schools are list
on the Iowa AP Index released by the Belin-Blank Center for Gifted Education at the
University of Iowa among the top 50 AP schools in the state. Roosevelt is ranked 7th
among all Iowa high schools, Hoover 26th, North 28th, Lincoln 30th and East 36th. In
addition, Central Academy received special recognition for having the highest score in
on the AP Index.
longer be offered at CentralAcademy but will continue to beoffered at all five comprehensivehigh schools.
Des Moines Public Schools is aleader in Iowa and the nation whenit comes to offering students accessto high-level academic programs,such as Advanced Placement, andour students are to be commendedfor taking on these world-classeducational opportunities, saidSuperintendent om Ahart. Teschool districts effort to makeAP courses available to more and
more students throughout DesMoines is showing that our studentsand teachers are stepping up tothe challenge. We are providingthousands of students access toclasses that will help prepare themfor college and beyond. Participation in AdvancedPlacement courses, high level classesaccredited by the College Board, hasseen a tremendous increase in recent
years as more classes are offered atEast, Hoover, Lincoln, North andRoosevelt high schools in additionto the nationally-recognizedCentral Academy. Te expansionof AP courses in Des Moines alignswith the College Boards missionto provide equitable access bygiving all willing and academicallyprepared students the opportunityto participate. DMPS has worked
to eliminate barriers that restrictaccess to AP for students who havebeen traditionally underserved; domore to reflect the diversity of ourstudent population; and provide allstudents with access to academicallychallenging coursework before theyenroll in AP classes. A recent report issued by theCollege Board found that while Iowa
AP Continues to Grow at DMPSContinued from Page 1...
overall lags the nation in providingstudents access to AP courses, Iowastudents who complete an APcourse and exam do better than thenational average. DMPS started to expand accessto AP courses at all five Des Moines
high schools starting in the 2011-12 school year. As a result, someschools have seen up to a ninehundred percent increase in APenrollment today compared to fouryears ago, and overall the schooldistrict has seen more than a four-fold increase.
Advanced Placement is aprogram created by the College
Board to offer college-levelcurriculum and examinations tohigh school students. Collegesand universities often grantplacement and course credit tostudents who obtain high scoreson the course examinations. Te
AP curriculum is created for theCollege Board by a panel of expertsand college-level educators. Fora high school course to have theAP designation, teachers mustsuccessfully complete additionaltraining and the course is auditedby the College Board to confirmthat it meets the high standards ofthe AP curriculum.
School
East High School
Hoover High School
Lincoln High School
North High School
Roosevelt High School
TOTAL
83
107
164
37
223
614
832
325
554
353
630
2,694
+902%
+303%
+238%
+854%
+182%
+339%
Difference
2010-11 AP
Enrollment
2013-14 AP
Enrollment
2010-11
2011-12
2012-13
1,024
1,834
2,036
+79.1%
+98.8%
Difference from 2010-AP Exams Taken
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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Attendance Area Changes
Considered for Elementary Schools
The year was 1987. Ronald Reaganwas President. Hayden Fry coachedthe Iowa football team. TheSimpsons premiered on TV. Michael
Jackson was at the top of the
music charts. The Berlin Wall wasstill standing. A gallon of gas cost89 cents. And, Des Moines Public
Schools did the last major changeof its school attendance areas.
A lot of things change in morethan a quarter of a century, botharound the world and here at home. o respond to change in orderto better serve our students andmeet the needs of our schools,Des Moines Public Schools isconsidering new attendance areas
for our elementary schools. Temost significant and positive resultin almost every case, if this change isadopted, is that the attendance areasof our elementary, middle and highschools will now better align, creatinga more consistent feeder systemthroughout the district. What could this mean forelementary education in Des Moines?
Several good things:
More neighborhood studentswill be able to attend theirneighborhood school
Enrollment will be betterbalanced between our schoolbuildings
Our school buildings will bebetter utilized
Elementary schools willbe more aligned with oursecondary schools
If approved by the School Boardlater this spring, the changes wouldgo into effect starting with the 2015-16 school year. However, for manystudents and families, the changes
would have little or no impact as theplan would be grandfathered intoplace so that students would not have tochange the school they currently attend. For more information aboutthe proposal including an interactivemap as well as a formto submit comments or questionsonline please visithttp://attendanceareas.dmschools.org.
For additional information including maps, frequently-asked questions, or to submit a
comment please visit attendanceareas.dmschools.org.
ATTENDANCEAREAS
attendanceareas.dmschools.org
Between March 31 and April 1
DMPS students in grades
3 through 11 will be taking
the Iowa Assessments.
Measuring student academicachievement with the IowaAssessments provides informatioto help our students succeed.Te Iowa Assessments make thispossible by providing detailedinformation about studentachievement in content areasincluding reading, mathematicsand science.
Te Iowa Assessments measustudent growth and progressfrom year to year. In addition,they provide information aboutstudents academic performancerelative to their school, the distriand the nation.
Information gained from thIowa Assessments helps teachersidentify students strengths and
areas that may need additionalemphasis. Te assessment dataenable sound decision-makingand provide a focus for teachersto review and improve theirinstruction. Te results of theassessment will help prepareour students for the next stepson their educational paths. Andyou can help prepare them forthe assessment by supporting
them at home in striking ahealthy, effective balance betweehomework, extra-curricularinterests and activities, nutritionand rest.
For more information aboutthe Iowa Assessments, please visihttps://itp.education.uiowa.edu/
Upcoming Iow
Assessments
http://attendanceareas.dmschools.org/http://attendanceareas.dmschools.org/8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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A long-time reporter and anchor with
KCCI-TV, the CBS afliate in Des Moines,
will be joining the school districts Ofce of
Communications and Public Affairs at the
end of February.
I am very pleased and excited to
announce that Amanda Lewis of KCCI-TV will
be joining our communications staff at Des
Moines Public Schools later this month. Shes
a seasoned professional whos going to be a
great addition to our school district, said Phil
Roeder, Director of Communications & Public
Affairs for Des Moines Public Schools.
In her new role, Lewiss responsibilities
will include assisting with media relations,
developing content for the districts
communications channels, and coordinating
new employee communication efforts.
But their vision for the event wasonly realized with a wide swath ofcommunity support. Official sponsors besides theSocial Club were OrchestrateHospitality, Job Corps, GatewayMarket and Raygun. Te idea started to come off thedrawing board when the UL 101students were asked to nominate like-
minded teachers and students fromtheir home high schools. Rolllins andLang followed up with the nomineesand the district-wide critical massof delegates was assembled. Tensponsors got behind it. And now that
its happened questions beg as to nexsteps for this evolving community ofstudent activists. Te weekly writing workshophas already expanded to East (siteof the last and next Share theMic poetry events), Lang said,prompting Rollins to add, Wecan imagine all the high schoolseventually competing versus each
other in poetry slams, as thisirresistible force called variouslyMovement 515, RunDSM, Sharethe Mic, Energetic Reciprocity and,now, een Summit, scales up andspreads. Like wildfire.
TEEN SUMMIT:The re at the rehouse!
Actually, its not a firehouseanymore, its the work-in-progressnew headquarters of the Des MoinesSocial Club, a performing arts hub
in downtown. And the fire therewas the figurative but raging onethat was our citys first annual eenSummit on January 24-25, broughtto you by the students in theUrban Leadership 101 class atCentral Campus and delegationsof their counterparts from eachof the districts five comprehensivehigh schools. Te Social Club is only a block
south of the DMPS administrativeoffices but the een Summit iseven closer to the districts missionthan that. It goes to the essenceof training a new generation ofcommunity-minded citizens,educated and practiced in the waysof change agency. Te two-day event included aseries of panels, town hall-styledmeetings and workshops dealing
with issues and art forms dearto the hearts of young peoplebefore culminating with studentperformance and celebration. Kristopher Rollins and EmilyLang are the UL 101 teachers.
KCCIs Lewis Joins DMPS
Communications Team
Amanda Lewis will be joining the school
districts Ofce of Communications and Pu
Affairs at the end of February.
Students from all ve DMPS high schools gathered at the Des Moines Social Club
for the 1st annual Teen Summit.
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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New Partnership Gives Low-Income Students a Pathway toHigher Education and a Career
On January 16, Drake University
President David Maxwell
announced the university willpartner with Principal Financial
Group, Des Moines Public Schools,
and the Community Foundation of
Greater Des Moines to implement
a pilot program called the STEM
Pathway Initiative.
Te initiative will provide low-income Des Moines high schoolstudents a pipeline to higher
education and employment in high-demand occupations. Te proposalwas featured at a White Housesummit hosted by President BarackObama focusing on increasingcollege opportunity for low-incomeand disadvantaged students. Te initiatives first year will pairas many as 20 high school studentsfrom DMPS with Drake student Continued on Page 6...
mentors and professional mentors atTe Principal to explore a variety of
professional opportunities includingactuarial science, accounting,information technology, finance,and insurance. Participatingstudents will have demonstratedability in math based on eighthgrade assessment scores. Upon completion of highschool, qualified students in theprogram will be admitted to Drakewith necessary financial support.
Te students will be eligible forpaid internships at Te Principalduring their studies at Drake andconsidered for employment uponcompletion of their degree andfulfillment of program requirements. Drake submitted its proposalfor the SEM Pipeline Initiative byinvitation of White House officials,who asked colleges to commit
to plans for increasing collegeopportunity for low-income anddisadvantaged students. Te summiformally launched a plan of actionby the National Economic Council,the Domestic Policy Council, andthe Department of Educationfor improving college access, and
included remarks by PresidentObama, First Lady MichelleObama, and Secretary of EducationArne Duncan. Te Obama administrationscall for partnerships catalyzed plansthat Maxwell has been discussingwith Principal Financial GroupChairman, President, and CEOLarry Zimpleman for some time. Tis summit provided the push
that we needed to stop talking abouthis and take action, Maxwell said.Weve come together to launch apilot project that is fully scalable andreplicable. If it is successfulandwe expect it can beit can serve asa model for additional initiatives inDes Moines and in communitiesaround the country. Various entities at the federal,state, and local levels have identified
a particular shortage of collegegraduates in the United States whoare prepared to work in SEMfields, with the number of SEM-related occupations projected toincrease at 1.7 times the rate of nonSEM occupations. As Iowas largest school district,we have made providing greateraccess to SEM educationalprograms a priority across all
grade levels, said om Ahart,superintendent of Des MoinesPublic Schools. Te new SEMPathway Initiative provides anotherexciting and rewarding opportunityfor students in Des Moines to seefirsthand how the things they learnin school can translate to collegeand careers.
A partnership between Drake University, Principal Financial Group and DMPS is
designed to support students pursuing education and career opportunities related to
science, technology, engineering and math.
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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so we have a strong interest inworking to encourage students ofall backgrounds to pursue educationin the SEM disciplines. We look
forward to partnering with DrakeUniversity, Des Moines PublicSchools, and the CommunityFoundation of Greater Des Moinesto help support and encouragethese deserving students. Community Foundation ofGreater Des Moines President
Kristi Knous said the initiativewill improve the quality of life forIowans now and in years to come. By making a commitment
to support the professionalgoals of deserving studentsthrough education, mentorship,and financial assistance, we areinvesting in the future successof our community, Knous said.We are so proud to join thisinitiative.
activism in the face of inequality andinjustice. Moulton students wear blackpolo shirts with the school igeremblazoned on the chest but onthat Friday in January the look was
topped off with hairnets. Tere wasalso more than a splash of Cyclonecardinal and gold in the building.Without a program you couldnttell the Moulton staff from theISU. And in years to come the linesbetween students of the two schoolswill also blur. Tats a promise.
Zimpleman, the current chair ofDrakes Board of rustees, said everyyoung person should have accessto higher education, regardless of
family income. Its important for Te Principalto have access to a well-educatedpipeline of SEM students fromIowa high schools and universities,Zimpleman said. About a thirdof Te Principals current Iowaworkforce is in SEM positions,
On January 16, Iowa State
University President Steven Leath
was in Washington for PresidentObamas summit on increased
educational opportunities for
minorities and disadvantaged youth.
Leath used the occasion to declarethe schools intention to raise $150million over the next five years tofund scholarships for that expresspurpose. Its no coincidence thatISU Vice President for Public AffairsTomas Hill told an auditorium fullof youngsters at Moulton LearningCenter the very next day that he willhave a boatload of money for themwhen the time comes if they buckledown in school starting right awayand come applying at Iowa State whenthey graduate from high school. Dr. Hills pledge of generositywas the keynote of the assemblythat kicked off Moultons MLKCelebration Day on January 17. Every last one of you in thisauditorium, Hill said loudly andrepeatedly after everyone stood
together for the Pledge of Allegiance,has what it takes to go to college. Following Hills promissory speechthe whole school, Pre-K through8th grade, watched a short trainingvideo provided by Meals From theHeartland before taking a shift, gradeby grade, in the gym where MFHhad set up one of their patentedassembly lines for packaging lifesavingpouches of nourishment to beshipped, in this case, to starving peoplein South Africa and the Philippines.MFH spokesman Joel ODell toldhis troops for the day that togetherthey would assemble some 13,000meals toward MFHs 2014 overallgoal of 10 million. Besides Hills rousing remarks
he brought along a contingent ofISU staff members to pitch in andhelp the kids bag the chow. As hereminded the Moulton students,none of whom were yet born whenDr. Kings birthday was observed as anational day of service by all 50 statesfor the first time in 2000, Dr. Kingslegacy remains community service and
New Partnership Gives Low-Income Students a Pathway
Continued from Page 5...
Moulton, ISU Partner on Dayof Action in Honor of MLK Day
Iowa State and Moulton joined forces in
support of Meals From the Heartland.
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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Annual Art Exhibit is a February Oasis
The local weather between
February 6 and 12 was normal or
worse but there was an an oasis all
that week downtown in the atrium
at Capital Square. Its formallyknown as the Des Moines Public
Schools Annual Art Exhibit but its
many patrons usually refer to it as
Ooh or Aah.
Every school in the district wasrepresented, elementary through highschool. Tere were works in 2D and3D and free takeaways in the formof pocket-sized zines (pronouncedzeenz). And on opening night therewas also live music courtesy of StringFusion and the Hoover Jazz Band.Between that and the wide-ranging
gallery of works and the small kidsnibbling at the edges of the atriumreflecting pool and the atriums highsky, visitors could forget for a whilethat the temps outside were goingfrom cold to worse. But February,for all its frigidity, is a great monthfor this event. What better antidotefor the winter blahs than a cavalcadeof exuberant, emergent, promisingstudent art?
Inspiring as the event traditionallyis, it continues to evolve and expand.Tis was its second year at CapitalSquare and it fit naturally intothe public space there where dailyfoot traffic may weave throughoutthe displays. Next year we hope to have big
banners from all of our schools,according to Sara Dougherty, thedistricts Coordinator of VisualArts Curriculum, and there are plansin the works to actually create somepieces on site during the Exhibit.Eventually there may be some DMPSworks that will be incorporated intopermanent display here. In the meantime there was plentyto catch the eye. Upstairs, a crowd
gathered around a case that enclosedthe 3D pieces. One lady was eager topoint out a clay piece that featuredthe pink ribbon symbolic of breastcancer awareness and research. Seethat, isnt that something? sheasked proudly. My grandson madethat. Beaming at her side was theartist, Pleasant Hill Elementary 5thgrader, Jared Oliviera. A ribbon waspinned to his puffing chest. In a
brief chat with another onlooker shementioned once that her name isPamela Seipel. But she clearly preferto be known as Jareds grandmotherShe declared that status half a dozentimes. Jared was very pleased to haveso pleased his grandma.
Oh, to be the apple of the eye of
at least one very special beholder.
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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Lillian Nellansbroke the all-time
National Forensic Leagues pointsrecord in speech and debate and has
been selected for the nine-member
team representing the United States in
World Schools Debate. The team will
take part in debate competitions around
the world, concluding in Thailand next
summer. The Riders debate team also
won its third state championship in four
years led by head coach Harry Strong.
Connor Gilletteand Nick
Biancalanawere awarded and have
accepted appointments to military
service academies. Connor will attend
the Unites States Naval Academy at
Annapolis and Nick is headed for the
United States Air Force Academy in
Colorado Springs.
This regular feature of the DMPS Community Reporthighlights awards and achievements of district students and staff. Please letus know if you have a notable achievement to share by e-mailing Mike Wellman at [email protected]. Here aresome achievements from the past few months.
Celebrating Our Achievements
TEACHERS
Josie Burg, who teaches mathat the Downtown School, wasnamed by President Obama as arecipient of the Presidential Awardfor Excellence in Mathematicsand Science eaching. Josie is thetenth DMPS teacher to receive thisprestigious national award since itscreation in 1983.
Larry Beallestablished the IowaEnergy and Sustainability Academyat Central Campus in 2010. Tistwo-year program teaches topicsrelated to environmental science,energy, sustainability, wastemanagement, and related areasthrough hands-on field experiences
and students earn college creditin the process. For his efforts
Beall was chosen as a railblazingeacher for 2013 by the UnitedStates Green Building Council.Beall was instrumental in CentralCampus being the only Iowa schoolincluded among the first cohort ofGreen Ribbon Schools selected bythe United States Department ofEducation and the EnvironmentalProtection Agency (EPA) in 2012and DMPS being named a Green
Ribbon District in 2013 when thatdesignation was established.
Four educators from Des MoinesPublic Schools -Alex Hammerof Weeks Middle School, AnsonBonte of Callanan Middle
School, Sara Earleywine of HoytMiddle School, and Julie Goering
of South Union ElementarySchool are among 150 teacherschosen to participate in the neweacher Leadership Initiative, aprogram sponsored by the NationalEducation Association and otherorganizations to help develop a newgeneration of leaders in the teachingprofession. Te Des Moines teacherwill join colleagues from six states inthe pilot year of this program.
STUDENTS
Four seniors attending Hooverand Roosevelt high schools in DesMoines have been named by theU.S. Department of Education andthe White House Commission onPresidential Scholars as candidatesfor the 2014 U.S. PresidentialScholars Program.
Te DMPS students, whoalso attend classes at CentralAcademy, are:
Edel Aron Roosevelt HighSchool
Lillian Nellans RooseveltHigh School
Maxwell Pilcher RooseveltHigh School
Ryan Utke Hoover High
School
Inclusion in the U.S. PresidentialScholars Program, now in its 50thyear, is one of the highest honorsbestowed upon graduating highschool seniors. Scholars are selectedon the basis of superior academicand artistic achievements, leadershipqualities, strong character and
Continued on Page 9..
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head-to-head tournament matchesin the style of the NCAA MarchMadness basketball tournament.
Tis marked the initial full
season of the Math Madnesscontest, which was created withthe goal of shining some of thecompetitive spotlight on academics.During this past season, nearly10,000 students representing 500schools across the nation took part.
District meets were held acrossIowa on February 15 to determine
qualifiers for the 2014 Iowa StateHigh School Wrestling ournament.Congratulations to five DMPSwrestlers who will be seeking statetitles: Chance Raleighof East(132 lbs),Josh Davis of East (152lbs), Nate Lunaof Lincoln (152lbs), Damonte Clarkof Hoover/North (160 lbs) and Reggie JonesoRoosevelt (170 lbs).
involvement in community andschool activities. Each year approximately 3,000candidates or about one-tenth of
one percent of senior high schoolstudents are named as candidatesin the 2012 U.S. PresidentialScholars Program. A total of 53 Iowastudents were included.
Eleven Central Academy CreativeWriting students received regionalrecognition in the 2013 ScholasticArt & Writing Awards with the
Alliance for Young Artists & Writers.Te writing contest, sponsored byUniversity of Iowas Belin-BlankCenter, has an impressive legacydating back to 1923. Over the years,the Awards have grown to becomethe longest-running, most prestigiousrecognition program for creative teensin the U.S., and the nations largestsource of scholarships for creativeyoung artists and writers.
GOLD KEY:Te highest level ofachievement on the regional level.Approximately 7 10% of allregional submissions are recognizedwith Gold Key Awards and allare considered for national-levelrecognition.
Lillian Nellans, BeingCalled a Slut Is a Real Bitch
(Nellans is also an AmericanVoices Nominee forhaving one of five worksselected from all of theGold Key award winnersas the Best of Show foreach region.)
Granger Carty, Blue Haze Montgomery Cason, Evoke,
Prophetical, Starry Sky,Surreal
Julianna Hauri, Te City Madison McKibben, Broke
SILVER KEY:Approximately 10
15% of all regional submissions arerecognized with Silver Key Awards.
Sam Bates-Norum, TeBelly Dancers Putsch
Eleanor McKinley,Countdown
Emily Stavneak, Five Quinn Veasman, #3; Belle Quinn Veasman, O; You;
Tis River
HONORABLE MENION: TisAward recognizes students withartistic potential. Approximately15 20% of all regional submissionsreceive Honorable Mention Awards.
Allison Rapp, Tey CallMe Steve
Reid Wade, Corners Reid Wade, Te Disease
of Mental Illness
Te Independent Study CreativeWriting class is facilitatedcollaboratively by Sherry Brooks, AmyFinnegan, Cate Miller, and DianeMorain. Tese students meet weeklyduring lunch and work collaborativelyto explore their passion and submit topublications and competitions.
Mathletes from Central Academybrought home more hardware for theiralready bulging trophy case, winningfirst place in the Math MadnessAMC/Interstellar High SchoolMathematics National Championship,sponsored by the MathematicalAssociation of America. Te tournament featured 64teams from around the country in
Celebrating Our Achievements
Continued from Page 8...
Scholars from Central Academy also
nished second in the 2014 AmesLaboratory/Iowa State University
Regional High School Science Bowl
on January 25.
Pictured: (front row l-r) Edel Aron, Max Pilcheand Granger Carty; (back row l-r) Assistantcoach Sarah Davitt, Luis Martinez, VaibhavSrikaran, coach Scott Schoneberg, and AmesLaboratory Assistant Director for Scientic
Planning Cynthia Jenks.
Continued on Page 10..
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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welve DMPS swimmers qualifiedfor the Boys State Swimming Meeton February 15 in Marshalltown:
Hoover/Norths CorbinFaidleyqualified in the500 yard freestyle and histeammate Matt Schwarzdid likewise in the 100yard breaststroke. Both arejuniors and they joinedseniors Eric MarkhamandAndrew Gambleon the 200yard freestyle and 200 yardmedley relay units.
Lincoln made the field in the400 yard freestyle relay withthe quartet of senior CarterWorth, junior om Chidleyand freshmen ChristianBeldenand Cooper Worth.
Celebrating Our Achievements
Continued from Page 9...
The annual district job fair was held on
January 11 at the Community ChoiceCredit Union Convention Center. Mo
than 700 applicants attended and appli
for over 200 certied teaching position
for the 2014-15 school year.
Roosevelt senior OliverShimpcompeted in the 50yard freestyle and was joinedon the Riders 200 yard
freestyle relay by seniors SamAuand Connor Gilletteandjunior Davis Ward.
Te West Iowa National ForensicLeague Speech and Debate Qualifierwas hosted by Lincoln High Schoolthe weekend of February 15-16,and nine students representing DesMoines qualified for the national
tournament. Tose students,and their schools and events,are: Brett DuboisandAdrianMitchell (Lincoln - Public ForumDebate) Phylicia BrownandGiovonni Bahena(Lincoln - DuoInterpretation), Murphy Burke(Roosevelt - Dramatic Interpretation),Max Pilcher (Roosevelt - DomesticExtemporaneous Speaking), DannyDrane (Roosevelt - Domestic
Extemporaneous Speaking),JacobTompson(Roosevelt - InternationalExtemporaneous Speaking) and LilyNellans(Roosevelt - InternationalExtemporaneous Speaking)
ADMINISTRATORS
Students First, the school buildingrenovation and improvement planfor Des Moines Public Schools,
has been recognized for excellenceby a top building publication.Building Operating Management,a magazine for building owners andmanagers, selected DMPS as oneof six recipients in the nation for itsannual FMXcellence Recognitionaward. Te award recognizesfacilities management teams thatadd significant value to theirorganizations broader goals.
Students First was honored for itsproven track record of improvingschool buildings to create betterlearning environments while
simultaneously improving safety andsecurity, implementing technologyupgrades, replacing obsoleteequipment with efficient systems,and realizing operationalcost savings.
Te Government Finance OfficersAssociation of the United States andCanada (GFOA) has presented DesMoines Public Schoolswith theirDistinguished Budget PresentationAward, in recognition of the districtsbudget book for FY 2014. Accordingto the GFOA, Te award representsa significant achievementIt reflects the commitment ofthe governing body and staff tomeeting the highest principles ofgovernmental budgeting.
Crunching the Numbers:
As of the most recent monthlyenergy report card compiled
by the districts Operations
Department, overall energy
consumption is down 5.5%
for the months of July through
January. If that rate holds for
the rest of the scal year it
would equate to a savings of
more than $200,000 compared
to FY 2013.
Things we cant wait to
report on:
March Madness, soccer,
tennis, Drake Relays, school
gardens, state track, A.P. Exams,
commencement and baseball!
8/13/2019 DMPS Community Report - February/March 2014
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Record Numbers Take PartIn District Science Fair
First it was the artists on parade
at Capital Square from February
6-12. Then it was the scientiststurn at, where else, the Science
Center of Iowa on February 13.
Education after all, is both art andscience.
In this its sixth year, the sciencefair is not just for middle schoolsanymore. In 2009 the event launchedwith 50 entrants. Tis year therewere 205 projects, 65 of them in thenewly added high school division.What accounts for the dramaticgrowth? Hmm maybe thats atopic for someones project in 2015. Te event program made
plain in black and white how kidscuriosities mature between gradessix and 12 right along with therest of their developing selves.For instance, one of the 6th gradetopics, a very personally practicalone, was What Beverage BestCools Your Mouth After EatingHot Salsa? Once that problemsbeen solved maybe that budding
scientist can move on to weightierconundrums such as SingleNucleotide Polymorphisms Foundin Lung Cancer. You know how theband concerts change over the years?Same thing with science Roaming the exhibits one ofthe patterns that emerged was the
ingenuity displayed in mergingdaily interest and activities with thetemporary disciplines imposed by afocused science project. Tere was lotsof research done on sports; basketball,volleyball, softball, you name it. Andfoods; soda pop and chewing gum, forinstance, besides salsa. Ever wonderabout the variables that impact thespeed of rollercoasters? You shouldabeen there.
Ice in my Pipes was a timelytopic, given the record-breakingnumber of local water mains thathave burst so far this winter. You know youre at a sciencefair when you see a man sportingan Albert Einstein/E=mc2 necktie.Te young contestants dressed forthe occasion, too. Once the judgeshad finished parading through
and penciling their notes therewere beanpoles in blazers walkingabout while munching bags ofchips and young Madame Curies inscholarly black dresses and bracescarrying their flats to relieve thesore feet theyd been fidgeting onwhile getting peppered with judges
inquiries. Speaking of judges, they werean assortment of practitionersin scientific disciplines from thecommunity. In other words, theyknew what to look for and howto rate what they saw on therubric they were provided thatincluded components like creativeability (science and art are one!),thoroughness, dramatic value,
clarity (mumbo jumbo didnt fly)and technical skill. Te space program from Callananwas represented. Now that this is outof the way those Science Bound cadetcan get back to work on the launchlater this semester of Weather BalloonII. Teyre going places.
Continued on Page 12..
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Te Iowa Energy andSustainability Academy was, too.And if that sounds like a sourcefor judges, guess again. IESA is an
already award-winning two-yearcurriculum at Central Campus thatskicking out the kind of kids whoare gonna restore the planet theirancestors fouled up.
Te suspense got thicker thanthe atmosphere some of the projectshad examined by the time DMPSScience Curriculum Coordinator
Kim ODonnell finally strodeto the podium to announce themedalists who now advance to thestate competition on March 28 atHilton Coliseum on the campus of
Iowa State University. But first shetold the SRO crowd that there aremultimillions of unfilled SEM jobsjust waiting for qualified graduates t
step up and do them. Judging by all that we see heretonight, ODonnell said, Id saywere well on our way to gettingthose positions filled.
Record Numbers Take Part in District Science Fair
HIGH SCHOOL WINNERS BY CATEGORY 8TH GRADE WINNERS BY CATEGORY
7TH GRADE WINNERS BY CATEGORY 6TH GRADE WINNERS BY CATEGORY
Continued from Page 11...
Physical Science Place Place
PlacePlace
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Physical Science
Physical SciencePhysical Science
Life ScienceLife Science
Life Science
Life Science
Earth Science
Earth Science
Earth ScienceEarth Science
Nosa Ali & Shivani Kumeresan, Central Academy
Camille Juarez, Central Academy
Abby Espinosa-Gonzalez Bellolio, North High School
Erin Hammond, Jasmine Luangdetmalay, Ben Mueller,
Central Academy
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Frankie Schulte, Central Academy
Ankita Chatterjee, Central Academy
Andrea Squires, Central Academy
Annie Johnson, Central Academy
Keely Stagner, Brooke Oliveira, Central Academy
Cha White, Central Academy
Allison Lumadue, Riley Dunlap, Central Academy
John Goode, Brody Middle School
Faiza Naseer, Merrill Middle School
Natalie Worthington, Brody Middle School
Bridget Easler, Maddie Johnston, Cowles Montessori
Nadine Veasley, Callanan Middle School
Xavier Robles, Brody Middle School
Miguel Vazquez, McCombs Middle School
Ava Mason, Merrill Middle School
Risa Vandergrift, Cowles Montessori
Rezin Tempero, Merrill Middle School
Gary McCall, Cowles Montessori
Chloe OConnor, Cowles MontessoriNatalie Chartier, Merrill Middle School
Evelyn Nelson, Merrill Middle School
Louise Bequeaith, Cowles Montessori
Max Sanders, Merrill Middle School
Maria Cruz, McCombs Middle School
Sophia Gustafson, Merrill Middle School
Maddie Moody, Cowles Montessori
Harrison Eckard-Garrett, Merrill Middle School
Luke Beeman, Merrill Middle School
Ashlyn Marie Miller, Brody Middle School
Helena Anderson, Merrill Middle School
Sam Berg, Brody Middle School
Leon Urias, Brody Middle School
Jonothan Prateusack, Harding Middle School
Aleck OBrien, Merrill Middle School
Anastasia Billington, Kayden Watts, Harding Middle School
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The LuluNamed Lolo
Go, Connie, Go!Talk about walking the walk!
Connie Sievers is the districts Health
Curriculum Coordinator for the Career
and Tech Ed Institute at Central Campus.
Shes also a member of Sassy Six, a
CNN select team that will compete at the
Nautica Malibu Triathlon in Malibu, CA on
September 14. But thats really just the
latest chapter of a compelling personalstory that goes back a ways. Lets rewind.
Eighteen years ago Connie lost her
ve year-old daughter to leukemia. Among
the emotional consequences of that
tragedy was a gradual weight gain of some
70 pounds which, try as she might, she
couldnt undo. Then last year one of her
two sons married a triathlete who became
an inspiration thats rippled throughout the
Sievers family.
Last September Connie rose to her
daughter-in-laws encouragement and
challenge, and began a regular workout
routine that included pre-dawn swims,
weights, biking and running. Shortly after that
her sister tipped her off to CNN health guru
Dr. Sanjay Guptas initiative called Fit Nation.
The program was calling for applicants to
send in videos making their cases to be
chosen for this years triathlon team. Right away Connie sat down and
taped her story, before she lost her nerve.
Around Thanksgiving she got a call from a
CNN producer asking follow-up questions
and talking like she was in the running, so
to speak. Then on December 12 she got a
call informing her that shed been chosen
as one of 15 nalists out of hundreds of
applications for the six spots. Later that
same day Dr. Gupta himself personally
congratulated Connie on being ofciall
named to the team.
For more about Connies continuiand inspiring story, and to learn how yo
can follow her progress between now a
September, click the CNN links below:
http://www.cnn.com/video/data
video/health/2014/01/26/exp-
nation-kickoff-2014.cnn.html
http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/2
health/t-nation-team-announc
index.html?hpt=he_t2
There were no stopwatches
involved but Lolo Jones may have
turned in one of her personal
best events at Findley Elementary
School on December 17 when theworld-class hurdler partnered with
Samaritans Feet, a global nonprotorganization, and provided each
and every Findley student with a
new pair of shoes.
Tere wasnt always the Lolo JonesFoundation. Tere werent alwaysOlympic track sprints and bobsleds.
She hasnt always been a celebrity. Back in the days when sheattended the now defunct BrooksElementary, Weeks and CallananMiddle Schools and Roosevelt HighSchool, there were times when Loloneeded shoes and lacked the meansto get them for herself. Somebodywas always there to help her out andshe remembers how they felt, the
needs and the deeds. So at Findleyshe paid back and forward thekindness that others showed her. Teres nothing like a new pair ofshoes to put extra spring in a kids step.Tey typically walk into shoe storesand skip out. Multiply that dynamictimes several hundred and youve gotthe picture of the Findley gym thatmorning. A volunteer force some70 strong, many of them employeesof Findleys corporate partner, John
Deere, turned out to fit the kids. Some weeks after the event Lolowas named to the US Olympicbobsled team, making her one ofonly ten athletes in American historyto compete in both the summer andwinter games. If she hears footstepsin the start house at Sochi thisweek and feels an extra push behindher sled, Lolo can just chalk thesensations up to the cheering sectionshe enlisted back home in December
Olympian Lolo Jones signs autographs for young fans at Findley Elementary School.
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More DMPS News and InformationAvailable Online and On Air
Des Moines Public Schools is the largest provider of public education in Iowa, which
means one newsletter alone cannot provide all of the information or share all of
the stories about everything taking place in your school district. More news and
information is always available online and on air.
ONLINEYou can nd information on our schools, news stories, data, contacts, and more onthe DMPS web site at www.dmschools.org. In addition, follow DMPS on the followingsocial media sites:
Facebook: facebook.com/dmschools Twitter: twitter.com/dmschools
Pinterest: pinterest.com/dmschools
ON THE AIRTune in to DMPS-TV on Mediacom Cable channels 85 and 97-3at
any time to see stories about programs and events from throughout the school
district. If you do not subscribe to cable television, you can still view stories online atwww.dmschools. org. And if youre in the mood for interesting talk and music, tune
into Des Moines Public Schools own radio station - KDPS 88.1- where your hosts
are students from Central Campus and GrandView University.
The Des Moines Independent Community School District does not discriminate on the basis of
race, color, national origin, gender, 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 have questions or a grievance related to this
policy, please contact the districts Ofce of Human Resources, 901 Walnut Street, Des Moines,
IA 50309; phone: 515-242-7911.
The DMPS Community Report
EBRUARY/MARCH 2014 | Vol. 6 No. 4
he DMPS Community Reportis
ublished every other month by the
fce of Communications and Public Affairs.
ditor/Writer: Phil Roeder, Mike Wellman
Designer: Adam Rohwer
hotographer: Kyle Knicley, Jon Lemons
Des Moines Public Schools
Ofce of Communications and Public Affairs
01 Walnut Street
Des Moines, IA 50309
515) 242-8162
www.dmschools.org
013-2014 Board of Directors
indy Elsbernd, Chair
ill Howard, Vice Chair
ob X. Barron
onnie Boesen
eree Caldwell-Johnson
oussaint Cheatom
at Sweeney
Reminders
MARCH
4-21Spring Recess no classes
APRIL
23 No school for 9th, 10th and 12th
grade students. 11th graders
attend a.m. for ACT testing
24 No school for 11th grade
students. 9th, 10th and 12th
graders attend a.m. only.
MAY
26Memorial Day - no classes
UNE
2Last day of elementary/middle school
3Last day of high school
Coming Home
Celebrating Des MoinesSchools
This inaugural event is sponsored by the DMPS Foundation and proceeds will support
Fine Arts education in the district. Accordingly, it will feature live music provided by DMPS
alumni and staff including Max Wellman, Megan Bobo, Peter Sloterdyk, Scott Davis, Scott
Sutherland and the all-educator band, Faculty Lounge.
Honorary Co-Chairs for the event include Governor Bob and Billie Ray, Des Moines Mayor
Frank Cownie and DMPS Superintendent Tom Ahart.
The event will also include silent and live auctions with a variety of upscale items like use of
condos in San Francisco, Florida and Colorado, as well as artwork and other special items.
For more information or to purchase tickets in advance, click here:
http://foundation.dmschools.org
Saturday, March 8, 2014
6 10 p.m.
Iowa Historical Building in Des Moines
Tickets: $40
http://www.facebook.com/dmschoolshttp://htp//www.twitter.com/dmschoolshttp://www.pinterest.com/dmschoolshttp://www.pinterest.com/dmschoolshttp://htp//www.twitter.com/dmschoolshttp://www.facebook.com/dmschools