WE ARE ALL WDMCS
West Des Moines Community Schools | May 1, 2020
Celebrating our Class of 2020
Great news... we not only have a plan to celebrate our Valley seniors, we think it’s an awesome plan. Do you know why?
Because we listened to YOU, we researched dozens of options, and we collaborated with some pretty smart people to provide the best possible option for our seniors despite the numerous challenges surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
We are planning a summer commencement at Valley Stadium and have other plans to celebrate our class of 2020.
Read about our Valley celebrations >
We also plan to honor our Walnut Creek Campus graduates August 11 at the Staplin Performing Arts Center. We are excited to celebrate our WCC students in person this fall!
When Can You Pick Up Student's Stuff?
We understand that when students left for Spring Break, no one anticipated that we would not return for the remainder of the school year.
Families were able to collect Chromebooks in March but we did not allow them to collect other student's items so we could practice appropriate safety protocols.
We are working on a plan for families to pick up any remaining items left in buildings. Each school will communicate to families the dates and instructions for collecting student's items. Watch for an email and app notification from your school with more details within the next couple of weeks.
What Will Summer Look Like for WDMCS?
Summer is often full of activities for WDMCS. In past years, we offered Stretching Minds, Summer Enrichment Adventures, athletic camps, Kids West childcare, Community Education classes, and more.
At this point, we have not confirmed any summer activities will occur. We continue to seek guidance from Gov. Reynolds and the Department of Education to determine what opportunities and services could be offered. Our hope is to provide additional information about summer in the next couple of weeks. Thank you for your patience!
Order Your Yard Sign by May 3!
We are excited that our WDMCS community already ordered more than 450 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
Second Semester Grading in Canvas
We shared in a previous We are ALL WDMCS how we implemented a Pass/No Mark option for secondary students due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As teachers update Canvas, we want to provide more information on what this will look like.
When viewing grades for 7-12 courses, grades may appear different than expected due to the Pass / No Mark Designations for COVID-19. Students will initially see the calculated percentage for their course and the "Pass" designation.
What if Students Choose the Letter Grade Instead of Pass/No Mark?
Students choosing the letter grade will see a percentage of 4 ,3, 2, or 1 when the grade is entered. Depending on the course, and the decisions of students and teachers, it may not appear in the gradebook until the end of the term.
A = 4
B = 3
C = 2
D = 1
These percentages will ONLY appear in the Canvas gradebook and do not reflect the actual percentage in the class. Only the letter grade will transfer to your transcripts at the end of the year.
DMACC courses have different designations in Canvas. View DMACC information.
You can view all course grades by clicking the "View Grades" button on your Canvas dashboard. Please contact your student's teachers with specific questions about course grades.
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.
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