This is WDMCS
West Des Moines Community Schools | Sept. 7, 2019
Free WDMCS App Makes Your Life Easier
Join the hundreds of WDMCS staff, students, and parents who use the WDMCS smartphone app. The "Notifications" tool pushes important information straight to your phone. We all get too much email, so anything that helps provide YOU information quickly and efficiently is win-win.
To download the free app, go to Google Play or the App Store on your phone and look up "West Des Moines Community Schools."
Questions? Email scroffice@wdmcs.org.
Canvas Offers Teacher-Student-Parent Connections
Canvas is West Des Moines Community Schools’ official learning management system. A learning management system is a software that helps provide, track, and report on classes and assignments.
Canvas provides parents and students with greater access to their curriculum and learning by housing important student curricular expectations and information. This could include their online textbook, links to resources, homework, videos, assessments, online discussions, and so much more.
Effective Grading Practices Resources
As a district, we are making strides toward improving our grading practices to ensure all students’ grades are a true picture of what they know and are able to do in each course.
If you have questions about the district's implementation of Effective Grading Practices, the WDMCS website provides an overview and podcast on this subject.
Additional information will be shared throughout this year to help staff, students, and parents/guardians understand how we are working to support each student's success.
Coffee and Conversation Sept. 13-19
Welcoming Week is a national event to bring immigrant and receiving communities together in order to build connections and affirm the benefits of welcoming everyone. This year, Welcoming Week is Sept. 13-22.
Through collaboration with our English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) program and Community Education, our bilingual family liaisons, learning supports, family engagement coordinators, and our intercultural outreach coordinator will be co-hosting a Coffee & Conversations Welcoming Event at each of our elementary schools. Events will take place during morning drop-off near the front entry.
- Sept. 13—Fairmeadows, Westridge
- Sept. 16—Western Hills
- Sept. 17—Clive
- Sept. 18—Crossroads Park, Hillside
- Sept. 19—Crestview, Jordan Creek
Teams will greet parents, have informal conversations about school, share important dates, building contact information, and begin to build that strong family/school connection.
We hope to see you at Coffee and Conversations!
Virtual Backpack Community Opportunities
S.T.E.M. at the Zoo
Date: Sept. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
Location: Blank Park Zoo
Cost: Free
Organization: Blank Park Zoo
Participate in fun activities throughout the zoo to encourage students to explore science- and art-related fields.
National Portfolio Day
Location: 715 Bissell Road, Ames, IA 50011
Event For: grades 9-12
Cost: Free
Organization: Iowa State University College of Design
Image source: Wil Paterson
Heartland Youth Choir Open Rehearsals
Location: Windsor Heights Lutheran Church
Event For: ages 4-18
Organization: Heartland Youth Choir
Image source: Heartland Youth Choir website
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