We are ALL WDMCS
West Des Moines Community Schools | April 2, 2021

From ‘Broken Down And Dirty’ To Up And Running
The interest of agriculture runs in Valley High School junior Nathan Steimel’s family.
Growing up with gardens of vegetables and making homemade salsa, a wealth of knowledge has passed down his family tree. That, coupled with natural leadership skills, has led Steimel to revitalize Valley’s greenhouse.
“Being able to work in the greenhouse has given me a vent through COVID-19,” he said.

Students to Participate in Conditions for Learning SurveyThis spring WDMCS students will complete a survey called “Conditions for Learning.” Students will answer questions about school, learning, and safety. About the Survey
| Resources for New WDMCS WebsitesWe hope you’ve had a chance to check out our 15 new district websites, which launched in March. These include the district site, 13 school sites, and a new Community Education website. Each website is designed with a similar layout, allowing you to quickly navigate to important information. Here are some tips to get started. HELPFUL TIPS How do I access school sites? On a desktop or laptop, click on the “Our Schools” drop-down menu at the top of the page. On a mobile device, click the Menu button, then scroll down and click the Schools button. Click on the school name.
Where can I find quick links to parent or student resources? Each school site includes a Parent Resources and Student Resources drop-down menu. In addition, each school site home page has Quick Links for parents, students, and staff. These links are to the right of the large rotating photos on a desktop or laptop screen. They are located directly below the images on a mobile device.
What if I bookmarked a page from the old site and now the link is broken? You can search for information using the Search function on the new websites. The link to search is located in the upper right corner on a desktop or laptop and the first option when you click Menu on a mobile device.
How do I get back to the main WDMCS site? Click "Our District" in the upper menu on a desktop or laptop. Select "District Home" under the menu button on a mobile device. | IASB School Improvement Needs AssessmentWDMCS has partnered with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) to conduct a needs assessment survey. The survey is designed to help us assess our strengths and areas of needed improvement, with a focus on improved student achievement. We would like your feedback in response to the brief survey linked below. The survey takes an average of 9 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous. Thank you for your participation and helping to make improvements for our students!
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Students to Participate in Conditions for Learning Survey
This spring WDMCS students will complete a survey called “Conditions for Learning.” Students will answer questions about school, learning, and safety.
About the Survey
Students in grades 3-12 take the survey.
Students will take the survey between Monday, April 19, and the end of May.
It is 100% confidential. The survey does not collect student names, birthdates, or any other identifiable information.
Students can choose to not take the survey.
The information collected will help the state, our district, and community improve the school.
Copies of the survey are available in each school office or online.
Contact the school if you’d like an interpreter to share the survey questions with you.
Parents/guardians can complete a form if they do not want their student to take the survey.
Resources for New WDMCS Websites
We hope you’ve had a chance to check out our 15 new district websites, which launched in March. These include the district site, 13 school sites, and a new Community Education website. Each website is designed with a similar layout, allowing you to quickly navigate to important information. Here are some tips to get started.
HELPFUL TIPS
How do I access school sites?
On a desktop or laptop, click on the “Our Schools” drop-down menu at the top of the page. On a mobile device, click the Menu button, then scroll down and click the Schools button. Click on the school name.
Where can I find quick links to parent or student resources?
Each school site includes a Parent Resources and Student Resources drop-down menu. In addition, each school site home page has Quick Links for parents, students, and staff. These links are to the right of the large rotating photos on a desktop or laptop screen. They are located directly below the images on a mobile device.
What if I bookmarked a page from the old site and now the link is broken?
You can search for information using the Search function on the new websites. The link to search is located in the upper right corner on a desktop or laptop and the first option when you click Menu on a mobile device.
How do I get back to the main WDMCS site?
Click "Our District" in the upper menu on a desktop or laptop. Select "District Home" under the menu button on a mobile device.
IASB School Improvement Needs Assessment
WDMCS has partnered with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) to conduct a needs assessment survey. The survey is designed to help us assess our strengths and areas of needed improvement, with a focus on improved student achievement. We would like your feedback in response to the brief survey linked below. The survey takes an average of 9 minutes to complete. All responses are anonymous.
Thank you for your participation and helping to make improvements for our students!

Real Heroes Don't Wear Capes, They Teach
In the past 12 months, we all were forced to adapt our lives to deal with the uncertainty of a deadly pandemic. We heard from many of you who shared that it’s difficult to imagine how our teachers and support staff took on the enormous task of engaging and instructing our students—whether in person or online—as they met and overcame the toughest learning challenges in generations.
We are reaching out to you today for one way to support our students and staff. Would you consider donating to the West Des Moines Community Schools Foundation’s (WDMCSF) TEACHER GRANT PROGRAM? The program, started in 2018, supports innovation in the classroom and provides supplemental funds to teachers for projects/supplies to enhance student learning. In the last three years, approximately $25,000 has been granted, fulfilling teacher requests for STEM equipment, reading enhancement software, dramatic play centers, self-care stations, professional development opportunities, and much more. Last year, however, more than $5,000 in teacher grant requests went unfunded, as requests exceeded money available.
Donating is easy and can be done online! Please select Teacher Grant Program (first listing) from the drop-down menu. If you prefer to send a check, please remit to: WDMCS Foundation, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, IA 50265 (write “Teacher Grant Program” in the memo). All funds raised in this campaign go directly toward the Teacher Grant Program.
Sincerely,
Tina Mowry Hadden
WDMCS Foundation Board President
Please select Teacher Grant Program (first listing) from the dropdown menu.
School/Community Relations
Director
Alexandra Wade
Specialist
Aaron Young
Specialist