This is WDMCS
West Des Moines Community Schools | Feb. 9, 2019
Download the New WDMCS Smartphone App
WDMCS is excited to announce the launch of a districtwide smartphone app. The app allows users to select school(s) to follow and provides easy access to events, news, menus, student information, and more.
To download the free app, go to Google Play or the Apple Store on your phone and look up "West Des Moines Community Schools."
Check out the tutorial videos below. View more tutorials on our YouTube Channel - http://discover.wdmcs.org/apptutorials
Questions? Email scroffice@wdmcs.org.
2019-20 Calendar at a Glance
The Board of Education approved the 2019-20 calendar.
School starts Friday, Aug. 23, 2019. This decision was made to allow younger students and/or students who may be nervous about starting school to have one day in class prior to a full week of school.
Winter Break: Monday, Dec. 23 - Wednesday, Jan. 1
Spring Break: Friday, March 13 - Sunday, March 22.
The calendar is available in seven languages.
WDMCS Raising Awareness About Growing Vaping Trend
National studies in recent months have shown that an increasing number of students are vaping. The latest recorded data has even prompted U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams to declare e-cigarette use among youth as an “epidemic.”
Looking solely at the West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS), the spike is evident here, too. Tobacco violations (which e-cigarettes are classified as by Board of Education policies) has increased compared to years’ past, records show.
The culprit, WDMCS administrators say: Vaping.
And the district is prepared to combat it. Read more >
WDMCS Strategic Plan: Start with WHY
WDMCS Portrait of a Graduate
A central focus for all WDMCS staff centers around our Portrait of a Graduate statement. Starting with the strategic plan and filtering to all schools and district departments, the work we do is intended to help prepare students for post-secondary education, careers, and life.
"A West Des Moines Community Schools graduate
will possess the essential skills and integrity
to communicate, collaborate, and solve problems
as a confident citizen, embracing
our diverse and changing world."
WDMCS Smartphone App: News, Calendar, Notifications
Effective Grading Practices: Purpose, Practices
In order to facilitate consistent and effective grading practices as outlined in Priority Six of the WDMCS Strategic Plan, a task force representing parents, teachers, central office administration, building administration, and school board members engaged in a yearlong process during the 2016-17 school year to study various assessment and grading methodologies. By consensus, the task force recommended a districtwide grading purpose statement that reads:
The purpose of grading is to communicate achievement relative
to course standards to students and parents.
The task force came to the consensus that WDMCS had the capacity to implement five grading practices focused on assessment for learning.
1. Use quality assessments.
The term "quality assessments" includes a variety of methods to evaluate student learning. For example, a state assessment given once a year provides a snapshot of achievement.In contrast, day-to-day monitoring of learning using intentional tools and practices provides timely feedback to both students and parents/guardians.
2. Achievement and behavior will be reported separately.
Achievement grades should be determined based on individual achievement of the content standards (or equivalent standards) and learning targets. Students should not be penalized for requiring more time, resources, or support to demonstrate proficiency of a standard. Effort, participation, attitude and other essential life skills should not be included in grades but should be incorporated into learning with feedback for growth.
3. Involve students in the assessment process—allow for reassessment opportunities.
It is important for students to become reflective learners who are able to self-assess and set goals for themselves. Students learn at different rates and require multiple opportunities to practice skills, revise thinking, demonstrate their learning, and track their progress. These opportunities should be a part of the continued learning happening daily in class.
4. Grades reflect the standards in the Iowa Core (or equivalent standards).
The Iowa Core, mandated by Iowa Code, provides clear and rigorous expectations or standards. Some courses such as Advanced Placement courses or DMACC courses also provide rigorous expectations with course competencies or objectives. Systems that are aligned - curriculum, teaching, and assessment - will yield greater success for students.
5. Use criterion-referenced grades. Students can demonstrate understanding at a specified level of proficiency.
Criterion-referenced grades are used to distribute grades related to content standards and learning targets. Criterion-referenced assessment informs how well students are performing on specific standards rather than sharing performance compared to a norm group of students.
Starting in 2017-18, an effective grading team of approximately 55 teachers, teacher leaders, and administrators began to engage in shared learning and work in order to further define each effective grading practice and impact implementation of five effective grading practices. This work has continued throughout this school year. The goal is to implement all five effective grading practices for the 2019-20 school year.
West Des Moines Community Schools
We understand a students’ education is an important part of their life journey, and we are committed to their success. At WDMCS, students will gain knowledge and develop skills to prepare them for life. The excellent opportunities we offer enable students to explore their interests and achieve their potential because we believe every student can find their place in the WDMCS.
Email: scroffice@wdmcs.org
Website: wdmcs.org
Location: 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA, USA
Phone: 515-633-5000
Facebook: facebook.com/WDMCS
Twitter: @WDMCS