Preschool Pre-Registration Opens at 6:00 p.m. January 24, 2023
Save the Date! Preschool Pre-Registration will begin online at 6:00 p.m. January 24, 2023. Click here to review detailed Preschool Pre-Registration Information for the 2023–2024 school year. Please note: Preschool Pre-Registration will not only pre-register your student, but will play a key role in determining facility and programming needs for the 2023–2024 school year. Pre-registering your student does not guarantee your student a spot in the Urbandale Preschool Program. Once all facility and programming decisions are confirmed, you will be contacted regarding your acceptance into the Urbandale Preschool Program by April 14, 2023.

Urbandale Middle School students and teachers are collaborating to create the most creative winter-themed classroom doors they can imagine! Students and teachers are participating in a Winter Door Decorating Contest as part of their U-time classes. All classrooms are welcome to participate. Students are driving the creativity for this project by deciding on the design and doing all of the construction of each door. Teachers are providing materials and guidance for what types of items fit within a winter theme (non-holiday) design. Students who construct the winning door for each grade level will get to choose having a pizza party or ice cream party. UMS Art Teachers Mol Eisen and Will Warren are the judges in the competition.

The idea for the contest came from 6th grade student, Mireille Isumbelo, who shared her experience doing a similar activity in elementary school and was interested in recreating it at the middle school. That idea turned into a school-wide competition with students and teachers building positive relationships as they collaborate on absolutely incredible design ideas.

What do solving puzzles, deciphering codes, and rearranging positive messages all have in common? They’re part of the fun, engaging, and meaningful activities Valerius Elementary 5th grade students participated in during their self-awareness unit in guidance. Valerius Counselor Liz Donner developed the “Breaking Out With Confidence” activity as a way to promote self-confidence. Similar to “breakout rooms,” students were given the opportunity to work together as a team to solve challenging puzzles and complex codes. Students would complete one puzzle and then move on to the next; the segments were timed and teams competed with each other to “break out” or finish all of the puzzles before time ran out. Students learned they could achieve difficult things by working together toward a common goal.

"I liked this activity because it challenged me and I worked with Stella instead of on my own," said Valerius 5th grade student Zoey C.

Helping each other overcome obstacles, searching for viable answers, and encouraging one another to keep going are all important life skills that were strengthened during this fun-filled activity. Many thanks to Valerius Counselor Liz Donner for this terrific activity that brought learning to life! Well-done! #empoweringU

Pictured Left to Right: Bob Brown Chevrolet Executive Assistant and Accounts Receivables Dianne Schiltz, Olmsted Elementary Facilitator of Family Outreach Joelly Scheff, Bob Brown Chevrolet General Manager Tim Manning, UCSD Superintendent Dr. Rosalie Daca, Bob Brown Chevrolet Customer Experience Director Caitlin Weirich, and UCSD Coordinator of Student, Family & Community Services Michele Hamilton. Not pictured, but integral to this project: Bob Brown Chevrolet team members Bryce Manning, Erik Palmer, and Mackenzie Armstrong; UCSD Coordinator of Equity and Inclusion Dr. Ryan Williamson and all UCSD Facilitators of Family Outreach.

Urbandale Community School District is hosting a community forum regarding the dangers of fentanyl. Fentanyl is a deadly synthetic opioid that is 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. U.S. Department of Justice Assistant Attorneys Mallory Weiser and MacKenzie Tubbs will share critical information about counterfeit pills, warning signs, NARCAN, and how social media is impacting distribution. Attendees will also gain an understanding of Des Moines metro area statistics on seizures of fentanyl, drug cases, and overdoses. The forum is the next session in the District’s “Parent University” program. All metro area public or private school parents and guardians are welcome to attend this free event.

• Event: What Parents Need To Know About Fentanyl Community Forum
• Time/Date: 6:30 p.m. January 17, 2023
• Location: Urbandale High School, Performing Arts Center, 7111 Aurora Avenue
• Attendees: All metro area parents and guardians
• Tickets: No tickets necessary; free admission