Cowles Montessori Crier

“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, ADOLESCENTS, and ADULTS) flourish in society (ALL ENVIRONMENTS).” - Cowles Montessori Vision

• Ms. Lori Myers
• Mr. Adam Egherman
• Ms. Mona Thompson
• Mrs. Carol Mattes

These legendary Montessori educators will be missed by our school and community!

Here's a look ahead at events we plan to host this coming school year:

• Popsicles in the Park - Sunday, August 22nd – Colby Park – Time TBA
• Back to School Open House - Tuesday, August 24th from 3:30-4:45p
• Peace Walk - Tuesday, August 31st - Dr. Maria Montessori's Birthday (during the school day)
• Preschool Orientation - Thursday, September 2nd from 5:00-6:00p

In-person Student Computer and Power Cord Return:

• All student computers with power cords must be returned to the Cowles office by 12:25 p.m. on Thursday, June 3rd

Virtual Student Computer Return:

• Preprimary: Virtual Kindergarten students can begin returning computers with power cords after school on Tuesday, June 1st.
• Lower Level: Virtual 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade students can begin returning computers with power cords after school on Tuesday, June 1st.
• Upper Level: Virtual 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students can begin returning computers with power cords after school on Tuesday, June 1st.
• Middle School: Virtual 7th and 8th grade students can begin returning computers with power cords after school on Wednesday, June 2nd.
• All student computers with power cords must be returned to the Cowles office by 12:25 p.m. on Thursday, June 3rd

Library Book Return:

• All library books need to be returned as soon as possible.

Middle School Promotion Picnic

• Thursday, June 3rd from 11:30-12:25 p.m. on the east side of the Cowles Montessori building (weather permitting).
• All 7th and 8th grade students (in-person and virtual) are invited to attend in-person.
• Parents of virtual students can drop their Middle School students off at the front of the building and stay in the parking lot or come back for pick up at 12:25 p.m.
• Virtual students will need to bring their own lunch to the Promotion Picnic.
• In-person students will either bring their own lunch or receive a school sack lunch from the cafeteria.
• All students are dismissed from school, and the Promotion Picnic for Summer Break at 12:25 p.m.

Moving Up Ceremony (Prerecorded Video)

• Students will view a prerecorded Moving Up Ceremony on the last day of school.
• Parents will receive a prerecorded video of the ceremony.
• The video will include an explanation of the Moving Up Ceremony and feature students who are moving up to the next level (e.g. Kindergarteners moving up to Lower Level, 3rd Graders moving up to Upper Level, 6th Graders moving up to Middle School, and 8th Graders moving up to High School).

Last Day of School for Kindergarten through 8th Grade

• Thursday, June 3rd - Dismissal at 12:25 p.m.

Volunteer for the Des Moines Arts Festival

• June 25-27th
• Sign up at https://desmoinesartsfestival.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=54057
• Ask your family, friends, neighbors if they want to join you!
• More information is posted below.

If parents want to book an appointment time to speak with Nurse Ann, click on the link below:

Nurse Ann's Office Hours

• Sign up at https://desmoinesartsfestival.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=54057
• Ask your family, friends, neighbors if they want to join you!

Cowles Montessori Parent Group (CMPG) will be once again running one of the nonprofit-run beer and wine sales tents at the Des Moines Arts Festival, and we will also be running the festival's Craft Beer tent! Volunteering at the festival is fun and easy – it’s a great way to get to know other Cowles parents at one of the biggest events in Des Moines, while raising money for fine arts programs at Cowles and in the community. In 2018 we made over $15,000!

How much time? Each new volunteer needs to complete a one hour training session, and then shifts at the booth are typically 3 hours long. You can work up to six hours in any given day.

Who can volunteer? Anyone 18 or older - anyone who might want to have fun while making money for our kids at Cowles! Get a group together to work a shift - Volunteers do NOT need to be Cowles affiliated to come join in the fun - family or friends, the more the merrier!

When is the training? There will be a total of three one-hour training sessions available, all will be held over Zoom, and the training is good for two years:

• Wednesday, June 2, 5:30pm-6:30pm
• Thursday, June 3, 5:30pm-6:30pm
• Tuesday, June 8, 5:30pm-6:30pm

Training is required to volunteer!

When and where is the festival? The Des Moines Arts Festival is June 25-27, at Western Gateway Park.

Where do I sign up? Go to https://desmoinesartsfestival.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=54057 All new volunteers will get a free Cowles T-shirt from RAYGUN, so be sure to mark your shirt size when signing up!

If you have any questions, please contact Melissa Winters
at melowinters@gmail.com or 865-9086.

The Education Bill Tracking webpage provides regular updates during the Iowa legislative session on bills related to education in Iowa. Information about new bills, including names, numbers, and sponsors are provided.

As the session continues to move forward, there are certain session milestones that bills need to clear to stay alive. These milestones are listed within the session timetable

Email: shannon.hines@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