We are excited to launch our Campus Newsletter. Central Campus is a Regional Career Academy serving Des Moines Public Schools and over 20 surrounding school districts in Career and Technical Education. We have 30 unique programs aimed at helping students explore careers, learn business and industry skills, obtain professional certifications, and enter their career pathway prior to graduation.

A huge part of the Central Campus experience is engaging our learners in Work Based Learning opportunities both within and outside the classroom. We have hundreds of business partners in Human Services, Health Science, Ag and Natural Resources, Applied Technology and Skilled Trades, and Information Technology industries who provide guest speakers, job site tours, facilitate workshops, and offer internship and apprenticeship opportunities for our high school students.

Campus students will leave DMPS with the knowledge, skills and abilities to make informed career choices, enroll in a post-secondary pathway, and have established relationships with local employers in their chosen career pathway. Our “Earn and Learn” programming allows students to get real-world, hands-on experience with the opportunity to have paid internship and apprenticeship opportunities with local employers before graduation, so families save time and money in helping their graduate successfully navigate their transition into adulthood.

I would be remiss to not mention the incredible staff at Campus who make all these wonderful opportunities happen for our students. Our team is creative, innovative, and passionate about helping youth discover their unique talents and gifts through experiential learning, skill-based curricula, and post-secondary planning and training.

We want to share these successes with you as well as invite you to be a part of our journey to have every high school graduate have access to a family sustainable wage, healthcare and benefits, upward mobility and happy and healthy life. We welcome you to come and explore Central Campus- where learning leads to earning.

Tascha Brown

Director of Career and Technical Education and Central Campus

1800 Grand Ave

Des Moines, IA 50309

515-242-7589

Centralcampus.dmschools.org

Dr. Greg Barord - Marine Biology

I am Jasmine Lester, and am serving my 8th year with DMPS, and 2nd year with Central. I am excited to serve the students, staff, and visitors of the Central Complex, which houses many unique programs! I am thankful the current flu season is wrapping up, which generally runs from October to the end of March, and that while hospitals saw increases in RSV and other illnesses this fall, we seem to be seeing a reprieve. Included is a chart outlining symptom comparisons of common illnesses plus allergies.

The main thing is to remember that exposure is inevitable as we get out and about. Why is it that some people do not become ill? Maintaining body system homeostasis through hydration, adequate nutrition, sufficient sleep, and embracing calm will promote physical and mental health, helping to keep illnesses at bay. Embrace activities that rejuvenate your body such as taking walks, listening to music, reading a good book, working out, meditating, spending quality time with others, anything that brings relaxation and rejuvenation. Avoid activities that drain you of your precious resources of time, money, or energy.

Please reach out with any questions you have, email, call, or stop by.

Jasmine Lester, BSN, RN 515-242-7779

Jasmine.lester@dmschools.org Office # 2503