"Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tip toe if you must but take the step." - Unknown

Please join the CMPG! Each month, the parent group meets in the Cowles Montessori School Library. The CMPG Executive Board provides updates about upcoming events, financial updates, determines approval for funding requests for the school, and invites parents to discuss new business. So far this year, the CMPG has approved requests that total more than $25,000! The funds have directly impacted our classrooms and students. A special thanks to our CMPG Executive Board and parent members for recognizing our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week! The next CMPG meeting is held tonight, Monday, May 14th at 6:00 p.m. in the Cowles Library. All parents are welcome to attend!

CMPG Executive Board:
President - Betsy Mitchell
Vice President - Allison Peterson
Secretary - Jen Speers
Treasurer - Matt Wier

Piano Recitals - May 8th, 17th, and 29th
CMPG Meeting - Monday, May 14th - 6:00 p.m. Cowles Library
Band Concert - Thursday, May 17th - Roosevelt HS
Field Day - Friday, May 18th
Retirement Party - Wednesday, May 23 4:00-5:30 at WH Community Center (Open to the community to celebrate our retiring faculty and staff)
New-to-Cowles Parent and Community School Tours - Thursday, May 24th 4:30-6:00 p.m.
Montessori Alumni Night - Thursday, May 24th 6:00 p.m. (Open to all past, current, and in-coming students of Cowles Montessori and their families)
Preschool: Last Day of School - Tuesday, May 29th
Moving Up Ceremony - Thursday, May 31st
Kindergarten-8th Grade: Last Day of School - Thursday, May 31st (3 hour early dismissal)

View Mac’s video for a few words of wisdom: https://flipgrid.com/9ac936

View other Project Wisdom Announcements: https://flipgrid.com/b795d5

Orchestra Director Carrie Beaderstadt guided several Upper and Middle School students during the Cowles Orchestra Concert last Thursday night. The students performed several songs by foreign and domestic composers. Mrs. Beaderstadt informed the audience about each section of the orchestra, students spoke about details of the songs they were playing, and the overall arrangement was performed beautifully by the students.

From Ried:
I am very excited to join the 7/8 team at Cowles Montessori School! My wife and I live in the Roosevelt Neighborhood and love spending time outside and taking mini road trips. I am the Head Girls Soccer Coach at East High School and volunteer in many aspects of athletics across central Iowa. I grew up in Ft. Madison Iowa graduating from Ft. Madison High School. I went on to the University of Northern Iowa getting my undergrad and then to Drake where I received my Masters in Ed. Leadership. I started my career at Hiatt Middle School teaching 8th grade Math then moving on to Greenwood Elementary teaching 5th grade. I was then blessed to get a Behavioral Coach position at East High School. I've loved every aspect of education that I have been a part of and I'm very thankful for this new position. Thanks for welcoming me to your community!

Please join me in welcoming Lindsey Werner to Cowles as our Montessori Coordinator! Lindsey brings with her an extensive Montessori teaching and leadership background. Her current role is Building Administrator and Lower Level Montessori Teacher at the Montessori Elementary School of Omaha Montessori Education Centers. She is also a Montessori Trainer and Mentor. Lindsey possesses a student-centered approach to teaching and learning, she applies leadership across all school areas and levels, and she demonstrates a high level of collaboration with parents and the community.

Lindsey, congratulations and welcome to Cowles Montessori!

Read more about Lindsey by viewing her introduction flyer posed below.

Tune in next week to find out who our new PrePrimary Associates will be!

Construction Update

Our priorities during construction are as follows:

- Safety and Communication

- Car Line and Parking Lot

- Playground access

3/1/18 - Portion of the playground was removed and a construction fence is up

3/2/18 - The raised gardens and compost were properly moved and stored for future use

3/3/18 - The construction company is preparing for formwork and will be digging to put in footings
3/26/18 - The construction company has spent a great deal of time digging:) The formwork is underway!
3/30/18 - Formwork continues
4/6/18 - Progress continues with formwork. The DMPS construction oversight personnel and the construction company were intentional about reducing noise associated with construction during our testing window
4/10/18- Brian, the Construction Inspector, will provide the building with a copy of the blueprints for the new addition. They will be a traveling document throughout the building for students to learn from. He will also provide someone on-site to speak to classes.

4/11/18 - The new addition coming along well! It is so much fun to image what our building will be like in a few short months! The timeline is currently “on schedule”. We will begin preparing the building for several projects that will be going on in the building starting Monday, June 2nd:

- Library renovations (We will pack up all Library items and store them in open classrooms)

- Elevator installation

- Cafeteria renovations

- HVAC in all east-wing classrooms

- New Addition

4/12/18 - The new playground equipment has been ordered! The installation will occur once the equipment has been received.
4/23/18 - The cement trucks are coming and going non-stop!
4/30/18 - Formwork continues, the progress is going smoothly.
5/4/18 - Our new playground equipment has arrived! It will be installed in the coming weeks!
5/11/18 - The workers are beginning to frame the windows in the Multipurpose/Music room.

"Together we celebrate diversity, respect, and the love for learning through the Montessori Method. Our environment nurtures and prepares the child for a global community."

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