Cowles Montessori Crier
Week of October 19th
Cowles Montessori Vision
“Human flourishing, as Maria Montessori put it, means becoming a person of one’s time and place with the means and wherewithal not only to function within but to shape society (NCMPS, 2019).”
“All humans (CHILDREN and ADULTS) flourish in society (ENVIRONMENT).” - Cowles Montessori Vision
Important Dates To Remember
The week of October 19th:
- Cohort A PrePrimary, Lower, and Upper students will attend school on Monday and Tuesday
- Cohort B PrePrimary, Lower, and Upper students will attend school on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday
- Middle School (7th and 8th Grades) in-peron (hybrid) begin on October 26th.
- Related Arts will meet with in-person (hybrid) students live twice per week.
- Friday, October 30th through Tuesday, November 3rd
- No School for students
- Cohort B and Virtual students return on Wednesday, November 4th
- Wednesday, November 25th through Sunday, November 29th
- No School for students
- Cohort A students and Virtual students return on Monday, November 30th
- Wednesday, December 23rd through Sunday, January 3rd
- No School for students
- Cohort A and Virtual students Return on Monday, January 4th
In-Person (Hybrid) Information
School Hours
- Doors open at 8:15 a.m. for students to enter the building. (Please no parents or family members in the building at this time.)
- School begins at 8:30 a.m.
- Morning pre-school half-day students dismiss at 11:30 a.m.
- School dismisses at 3:25 p.m. See car line information below.
Items to bring to school:
- Masks. Students may wear a shield in addition to a mask. (Please no gaitors or bandanas.)
- Water bottle labeled with student name. Bottles will be sent home weekly for cleaning.
- District-issued laptop and charger. Students will practice assessing online materials and engage with the virtual Montessori manipulatives that we purchased from Montessori Services due to the cleaning requirements for physical manipulatives in the classroom.
- Weather-appropriate outdoor clothing.
Meals & Snacks
- Each child can bring their own snacks. Students are not able to bring snacks to share at this time.
- Breakfast and lunch will be consumed in the classroom.
- All students will receive to-go meals that will be sent home each day with enough meals for the week and weekend. (If you wish to opt-out, please call Central Nutrition Center at 515-242-7636 and let your teacher know.)
Heart Of The Matter: A Message From Nurse Ann
We had a successful first week with our hybrid pre-primary students and Kindergarteners. We are looking forward to seeing our upper and lower elementary hybrid students this week. I hope you are as excited as we are! We missed you!
One important responsibility of the school nurse is to help educate the school community and that includes you, the parents, teachers, staff, and students. It means being proactive not reactive in keeping our students healthy and safe while at school.
This past week our Cowles pre-primary students and Kindergarteners, I have to say, just rocked it! I was really impressed to see how well they all kept their masks on, as well as the great role modeling from our pre- primary teachers. With just a few reminders from our teachers, to adjust a mask over those button noses, our Cowles students did fantastic. I am so proud of them! Please remember that a mask will be worn at school all day. The only time it will be taken off, will be when your child is having breakfast, lunch or snack or in one exception, during strenuous exercise at recess or PE. Please put extra masks in a baggy in their backpack in case his/her mask happens to get dirty, wet, etc. during the school day. Make sure your child is wearing a clean mask every day. The following videos have helpful information regarding storage ideas while at school, proper fit, proper hand washing before and after donning your mask, and how to wash and dry your mask.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jayKBZFx_aw
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EC2OxVSX53M&spfreload=10
Please monitor your child’s symptoms daily and keep your child home when he/she is ill. Add in all the mitigation measures of mask wearing, proper hand washing, physical distancing and daily sanitizing of classrooms, this will be our best effort to slow the spread of this virus at school.
Other reminders:
Medications: All medications will need a medication permission form filled out by the parent/guardian and returned with the medication in order to be given at school. All medications need to be in the original container with a current prescription label, with name, dosage and instructions of when to be given at school. A pharmacy can give you a school bottle with a current prescription label that you may leave at school. This bottle will be sent home for refills. All non-prescription medication requires a doctor’s note to be given at school as well as a medication permission form filled out by the parent/guardian. Please make sure the medication is not expired before sending it to school.
Peanut allergies: There are students in our building who have serious peanut or tree nut allergies. We are a “Peanut Aware” school. It is very important that we all work together to make sure these students remain safe and healthy and are not exposed to peanuts, tree nuts or peanut by products. I would like to ask you to do the following: If you serve the student peanut butter at home, make sure he/she has no residue left on hands, face or clothing, etc. The most important thing we can all do is WASH our hands. Hand washing is the best way to prevent the spread of germs and other unwanted substances. Please do not send Peanuts, tree nuts, or peanut by products to school with your child’s lunch. This includes peanut butter.
Birthday Celebrations and Treats Policy: This school year, DMPS will not participate in the sharing of birthday treats (pre-packaged items included) or birthday nonfood items (pencils, balloons etc.) during the current COVID-19 pandemic based on the CDC guidance: 1. Limiting use of shared objects (e.g., gym or physical education equipment, art supplies, games) when possible, and cleaning and disinfecting these objects frequently. Schools should encourage students and staff not to share food or utensils and use disposable food service items (e.g., utensils, trays).2. If use of disposable items is not possible, ensure that all non-disposable food service items and equipment are handled by staff with gloves and washed with dish soap and hot water or in a dishwasher. Sharing food requires students to remove their masks and also promotes fingers going to the mouth which increases the risk of transmission. The Iowa School Nurse Organization (ISNO) does not recommend birthday treats of any kind during the pandemic. The majority of the surrounding Urban districts are not allowing birthday treats.
It is very important this year to get your flu shot! Take the whole family and get one today. You can get a flu shot from your doctor, at the Polk County Health Department, or there are many local pharmacies that are giving flu shots. (HyVee, Target, Walgreens, CVS, Medicap, etc.)
Free Meals: Remember free meals are available to all DMPS students, ages 1-18, now through May 31st, regardless of income. No ID required. More information found here.
Kindness Challenge: Can you imagine what could happen if all children were encouraged to spread kindness with the hope of making our world a more compassionate and loving place? Well, I’d like to introduce you to the Kindness Elves. My hope is that the students at Cowles will sprinkle kindness on each other, their families, people in our community and those in need. This month we are honoring all of our community helpers. We all know or have one in our lives. Let them know you appreciate them.
If you ever have any questions or concerns, feel free to email me at ann.humphrey@dmschools.org or call me at 242-7818 ext.2757. I am always happy to help.
Be well! Stay safe!
Nurse Ann 😊
Nurse Ann's Office Hours
If parents want to book an appointment time to speak with Nurse Ann, click on the link below:
CMPG Cowles Masks
CMPG Parent Education
"When we speak of peace, we do not mean a partial truce between separate nations, but a permanent way of life for all [mankind]." —Maria Montessori
Members of the Des Moines Public School District and Cowles Montessori School, our teachers, staff and administrators have made a commitment to collectively think, learn, and grow as an organization in the area of equity. In partnership with them, CMPG hopes to see Cowles Montessori parents make that same commitment.
Real challenges exist when it comes to raising white children in a society that is full of racial injustice. As a school with predominantly white families, the Cowles Montessori Parent Group feels a responsibility to support care-givers to engage in race-conscious, anti racist-committed parenting. Where to start? Cowles parent, Drake University professor and author Dr. Jennifer Harvey has graciously donated free access to her "Raising Antiracist White Kids" on-line course for a Cowles parent education series. This step-by-step guide will be broken down into 6 week sessions. Each weekly session will be an hour long group virtual discussion that follows "homework" consisting of a 10-20 minute video by Dr. Harvey and reflection work. To learn more about the course, visit Dr. Harvey's website here. Starting on October 26, we will cover the six sessions weekly as a group and will culminate the learning with an interactive Q&A session with Dr. Harvey on December 7th. You can view a special message from Dr. Harvey here to kick things off.
Sign up now for a Monday evening or Tuesday morning session by following the link here. If your session is full, please sign up for a waiting list spot. If there are enough people on the waiting list, we will add more time options to accommodate demand. We also plan on hosting this series again in early 2021 when it MAY be less hectic for all. Once you are signed up, more information will be forthcoming regarding links to the virtual meeting, access to the curriculum and other instructions.
The Cowles Montessori Parent Group is also committed to efforts to create a more supportive environment for students of color at Cowles. In exchange for free access to Dr. Harvey's course, which would normally cost $130/person, we are asking participants to donate to a dedicated CMPG fund for anti-racism efforts at Cowles. Staff leading anti-racism efforts in consultation with parents of students of color will direct those funds to training and other materials. Donations can be made to Venmo @CMPG6401 or Paypal @ CMPGDM@gmail.com or by check made out to CMPG.
We are also looking for additional moderators for the discussion sessions should we need to add sessions. If you are interested in volunteering or if you have any questions about this program please contact Allison Petersen at allisonepetersen@gmail.com.
Thank you,
Allison Petersen
Car Line
Car Line Reminders
Car Line Traffic Flow: Important Things to Remember
To ensure student safety and the efficiency of our traffic flow system, please note the following:
- If you are new to Cowles or new to parent pick-up, notify the office if you need a sign with your child’s name for your car for parent pick-up
- Drop-off and pick-up locations are marked on the map
- Right-hand turn only when exiting the parking lot
- "NO PARKING" zones are designated by city signs that are posted (also indicated on the map)
- When picking up your child, post their name sign in your window and our teachers will support students crossing and loading into your vehicle
- Watch for signals from teachers supporting students at designated crossings
- Follow the traffic laws that pertain to cell phone use and seat belts while driving
Washington Street Car Line
Washington Street Car Line Reminders
Washington Avenue Car Line
- This is an ideal drop off option for anyone, especially Preschool and Kindergarten before school
- Due to traffic flow, Washington Avenue Car Line is reserved for the following classes of older students and their siblings for pick up after school:
- Mr. Egherman's students and their siblings
- Ms. Allie''s students and their siblings
- Middle School students and their siblings
- Students walk in from Washington Street on the designated sidewalk with teaching monitoring
- "NO PARKING" zones are designated by city signs that are posted
- Avoid turning around in residential driveways
- Follow the traffic laws that pertain to cell phone use and seat belts while driving
Contact Cowles Montessori
Email: todd.johnson@dmschools.org
Website: cowles.dmschools.org
Location: 6401 College Avenue, Windsor Heights, IA, USA
Phone: 515-242-7818
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CowlesMontessori/
Twitter: @CowlesDMPS