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Valleyfest XLI LivestreamedValleyfest XLI will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. This will mark the 41st consecutive year that the Valley Bands have hosted the best high school marching bands from Iowa and surrounding states in an exciting day of marching excellence. Due to the current public health situation, this year’s festival takes on a different look. The primary impact is that there will not be spectators. Instead, the Valley Band Boosters are happy to provide a live stream of Valleyfest XLI. | Update to How We Share COVID-19 InfoWDMCS will continue to send messages and Polk County Health Department (PCHD) guidance to WDMCS students and staff considered close contacts of a district-related case. This will include whether or not close contacts need to quarantine. COVID-19 information will continue to be updated each weekday on the WDMCS website, but we will no longer email families or staff who are not close contacts to announce positive COVID-19 cases at buildings. District leadership and the Board of Education will be sent daily summaries of any cases across the district. We will also communicate with building staff and families if there is ever a need for a class or building temporary transition to online learning. | District Newsletter TransitionAlthough we are not taking a break from the important planning for next school year, we ARE taking a break from sending out our weekly We Are All WDMCS. We will continue to update you on many topics over the semester. You just won't see this newsletter each Friday. If you ever have questions, please email scroffice@wdmcs.org. |
Valleyfest XLI Livestreamed
Valleyfest XLI will be held on Saturday, Oct. 10, 2020. This will mark the 41st consecutive year that the Valley Bands have hosted the best high school marching bands from Iowa and surrounding states in an exciting day of marching excellence.
Due to the current public health situation, this year’s festival takes on a different look. The primary impact is that there will not be spectators. Instead, the Valley Band Boosters are happy to provide a live stream of Valleyfest XLI.
Update to How We Share COVID-19 Info
WDMCS will continue to send messages and Polk County Health Department (PCHD) guidance to WDMCS students and staff considered close contacts of a district-related case. This will include whether or not close contacts need to quarantine.
COVID-19 information will continue to be updated each weekday on the WDMCS website, but we will no longer email families or staff who are not close contacts to announce positive COVID-19 cases at buildings. District leadership and the Board of Education will be sent daily summaries of any cases across the district.
We will also communicate with building staff and families if there is ever a need for a class or building temporary transition to online learning.
District Newsletter Transition
Although we are not taking a break from the important planning for next school year, we ARE taking a break from sending out our weekly We Are All WDMCS.
We will continue to update you on many topics over the semester. You just won't see this newsletter each Friday.
If you ever have questions, please email scroffice@wdmcs.org.
Who You Gonna Call?
Instead, we've created some simple steps you can use to share information with the district and receive guidance.
WHAT IF AN EMPLOYEE TESTS POSITIVE?
The employee communicates the DAY they find out, regardless of if it’s outside of school hours or on a weekend.
Who does the employee contact?
1. Employee contacts immediate supervisor who informs the building administrator.
2. If at school during work hours, employee contacts the school nurse, then goes home.
3. Employee contacts Human Resources (Carol Seid, associate superintendent of HR.)
W: 515-633-5037 C: 515-321-3214
What if the employee can’t get ahold of anyone?
Call the new WDMCS COVID-19 Response Line: 515-633-5990
Include your name, building, role, and phone number.
WHAT IF A STUDENT TESTS POSITIVE?
The parent communicates the DAY they find out, regardless of if it’s outside of school hours or on a weekend.
Who does the parent contact if during school hours?
- Parent calls the school and asks to speak with the school nurse.
- The parent should not communicate the positive COVID-19 results with other staff.
- The student should be kept home and wait for a phone call for contact tracing.
Who does the parent call at night or on a weekend?
Call the new WDMCS COVID-19 Response Line: 515-633-5990
Include your name, your student's name, school, and phone number.
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Two Additional Days of No School This Fall At the Sept. 28, 2020 Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a change to the 2020-21 calendar. This change adds two additional professional development days this fall for staff.
Kids West child care will be open at full daycare sites from 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. for current participants. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Kris at 633-5018 to register for these days. | WDMCS Community Encouraged to Join Equity Challenge West Des Moines Community Schools has signed on as an official supporter of United Way of Central Iowa's 21-Day Equity Challenge, beginning in October. The goal of the challenge is to foster deeper understanding of the diversity of our communities through a self-guided learning experience that is open to all members of our communities and is being offered at no cost to participants. From Oct. 5-Nov. 2, participants will receive a daily email with readings, videos, podcasts, and ways participants can take action! Please consider joining WDMCS in this powerful opportunity for shared learning and growth that invites central Iowans to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and community. | This Valley Senior Is Helping Refugee Students, Families Share Their Voice. Here’s How.One West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) student is leading the charge of showcasing the talents and spirit of children in refugee communities in West Des Moines and the greater Des Moines area, going as far as publishing a book and establishing a new nonprofit organization to do so. |
Two Additional Days of No School This Fall
- Friday, Oct. 30
- Friday, Nov. 13
Kids West child care will be open at full daycare sites from 6:30 a.m. - 6 p.m. for current participants. Pre-registration is required. Please contact Kris at 633-5018 to register for these days.
WDMCS Community Encouraged to Join Equity Challenge
From Oct. 5-Nov. 2, participants will receive a daily email with readings, videos, podcasts, and ways participants can take action!
Please consider joining WDMCS in this powerful opportunity for shared learning and growth that invites central Iowans to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and community.
This Valley Senior Is Helping Refugee Students, Families Share Their Voice. Here’s How.
One West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) student is leading the charge of showcasing the talents and spirit of children in refugee communities in West Des Moines and the greater Des Moines area, going as far as publishing a book and establishing a new nonprofit organization to do so.
School/Community Relations
buckl@wdmcs.org
515-633-5023
Alexandra Wade
515-633-5022
Aaron Young
younga@wdmcs.org
515-633-5016
