WE ARE ALL WDMCS
West Des Moines Community Schools | April 24, 2020
2020-21 PK & Kindergarten Enrollment Still Open
Life may feel uncertain right now, but we know this for sure: It’s time to enroll in 2020-21 preschool and kindergarten! We are excited to learn, play, and grow with you.
Enroll in Tiger Cubs Preschool
Tiger Cubs is our WDMCS preschool program. There are Tiger Cubs Preschool programs at Clive, Crestview, Fairmeadows, Hillside, Jordan Creek, Western Hills,
Request a Tiger Cubs Placement >
Welcome to Tiger Cubs Preschool >
Enroll in WDMCS Kindergarten
Kindergarten is a big step in life’s journey and a time of discovery and change for your child and for you. We hope you begin your kindergarten journey with the WDMCS.
UnityPoint Health - Des Moines to Open New Behavioral Health Urgent Care
UnityPoint Health – Behavioral Health Urgent Care opened Monday, April 20. This clinic is adjacent to the Iowa Lutheran campus located at 1250 East 9th Street.
UnityPoint Health – Des Moines, along with Eyerly Ball Community Mental Health Services and Orchard Place/Child Guidance Center, will work to provide mental health services, psychiatric evaluation and assessment, addiction medicine, crisis services, and community resources to patients of all ages, both pediatric and adult.
The clinic will be open to patients from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. This is a walk-in site of care; no appointments available at this time.
The goals of the new UnityPoint Health – Behavioral Health Urgent Care are to:
- Decrease the number of patients going to emergency departments, especially Iowa Lutheran
- Decrease the time behavioral health patients (who will not be admitted) spend in emergency departments
- Have a non-emergency department location for UPH-DM/Blank/UPC/community organizations to refer patients to in crisis
Access to School Buildings
Because students and staff were able to collect Chromebooks and other essential items in March, we believe it is important to wait until mid- to late-May to allow individuals back into buildings. This allows our buildings to remain clean. We will continue to follow appropriate social distancing guidelines provided by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds for that time period. School-specific plans will be shared with students and staff in May.
Show Your Support with a Tigers Together Yard Sign!
West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) is excited to announce several custom yard signs to help us all show how much we miss our teachers, students, and schools and honor our Valley senior class.
We are partnering with the West Des Moines Community Schools Foundation to offer a custom yard sign for $18, with $6 going back to the Foundation to support our students' educational and nutritional needs.
Select your yard sign design, enter your custom name (if applicable), and pay online. Orders will be open through Sunday, May 3. You will be emailed once the signs have been delivered to WDMCS. We will provide instructions on how you can pick up your yard sign(s) following appropriate social distancing guidelines.
Thank you for uniting as a district to show our Tiger pride and support our students. #tigerstogether
Continued Support for Our WDMCS Staff During Time Off
On Monday, April 27, WDMCS administrators will present a third resolution and recommend a payroll plan to the Board. The new recommendation requests hourly employees be paid from May 1 through the end of the school year.
Beginning May 1, 2020, there will no longer be any “premium” pay for employees working from home or in the office . All hourly employees, even those working from home or in the office, will be paid at their regular hourly rate except for school nutrition hourly staff who are working in the Covid Emergency Feeding Program. These employees will continue to receive premium pay equal to 1.5 times their regular rate of pay for hours worked. These changes would be reflected in the June 5 payroll, which covers the pay period starting May 1.
We are also recommending that certified and salaried staff continue to receive their regular pay. These employees should use appropriate leave if unable to work.
We wish to thank all of our WDMCS staff for their dedication. We consider each an important part of our family and are doing our best to support staff, provide timely information, and help ease anxiety. #weareWDMCS
What does 2020-21 Look Like in Light of COVID-19?
West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) is working to not only support our students and staff through the remainder of this academic year, but consider the impact the spring’s situation will have on next school year. The Iowa Department of Education (IDOE) announced school districts will need to develop a plan to address our students’ needs for the fall.
IDOE shared that Return-to-Learn Plans are required to be submitted no later than July 1, 2020. However, districts are currently waiting for guidance on the content of the plans which is expected to be shared sometime in the next few weeks. Once we receive additional guidance, we can finalize and communicate our plan with staff and families.
We can share:
- Plans will be designed to help schools consider what they need to support students and staff.
- Plans will focus on consideration of students’ academic and social-emotional-behavioral learning and mental health needs.
- Plans will include supports for students with disabilities, students who are English learners, students at-risk, and students living in poverty.
- Plans will also include considerations for school staff safety and wellness.
Thank you for your patience. Our teachers, staff, and administrators are focused on providing the best possible support to our students both now and as we prepare for next school year.
WDMCS Nurses' Tips and Messages to Students
IHSAA, IGHSAU Announce Suspension of Summer Sports Seasons Through June 1
As a result of the suspension, in-person contact between coaches/administrators and student-athletes in all sports is prohibited.
Student Chromebook Tech Support
If the technicians determine the Chromebook cannot be repaired remotely, we will schedule a time for you to drop off your device to the Learning Resource Center and receive a replacement device.
Steps for Support
- Complete Form - https://discover.wdmcs.org/Chromebook-tech-request
If you are unable to fill out this form, please call 515-633-5100. - You will be contacted by a member of the Tech. Department within two business days.
- If we are unable to fix the Chromebook issue remotely, we will schedule a specific time for you to stop by the Learning Resource Center, 3550 Mills Civic Pkwy.
You must be on time for your appointment, as we are limiting the number of people who can enter the building.
Please bring your Chromebook and charger with you. - Because of this process, you may not receive your original Chromebook back after repair. If you have any decals on your Chromebook that you want to keep, please remove them before turning in your device.
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