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Cowles Montessori Crier

Summer Edition

CowlesMontessori CrierSummer Edition
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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

Greetings from Cowles Montessori School

We hope this parent newsletter finds you in good spirits and that you are enjoying Summer Break! This newsletter will be our main form of communication throughout the school year and it will be sent to you weekly, via email, starting in August.


We are excited to announce the hiring of our Nurse, PrePrimary Teacher, and Lower Level Teacher for this coming school year! Help us to welcome them as they begin their new journey in their respective roles:

  • Ann Humphrey, Nurse - Ann served in the North Polk School District for 10 years prior to coming to Cowles. She replaces Melissa Stalvey who is now at Greenwood Elementary.
  • Kelly Sanders, PrePrimary Teacher - Kelly recently served as a Preschool Teacher in Des Moines Public Schools. She replaces Sara Downing who is transitioning to Colorado.
  • Lindsey Werner, Lower Level Teacher - Lindsey recently served at Cowles as the Montessori Coordinator. She replaces Renee Jansen who is transitioning to South Carolina.


We welcome several new families to Cowles Montessori this coming school year! We would like to invite our new-to-Cowles families to visit the building this summer to learn more about Montessori Education and to provide a tour of our campus. Here are some suggested dates and times to visit:

  • Monday, August 5th from 7:45-9:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, August 6th from 2:30-4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 7th from 11:30-1:00 p.m.


Today's newsletter provides everyone with updates about events coming up, important dates to put on your calendars, and a quick checklist to prepare you before school begins in late August. You can also receive communication about events and other information pertaining to Cowles from the following sources:


Website: Managed by DMPS Personnel & Cowles Montessori Faculty and Staff

Facebook: Managed by our Cowles Montessori Parent Group (CMPG)

Twitter: Managed by Cowles Montessori Faculty and Staff

  • @Cowlesdmps #WeAreCowles

Infinite Campus Student/Parent Portal:


Enjoy the rest of your Summer Break!


Todd Johnson, Principal

Important Dates to Remember

Online Registration is Now Open

New-to-Cowles Family Visits at Cowles Montessori School

  • Monday, August 5th from 7:45-9:00 a.m.
  • Tuesday, August 6th from 2:30-4:00 p.m.
  • Wednesday, August 7th from 11:30-1:00 p.m.

Popsicles in the Park

  • Sunday, August 18th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Colby Park in Windsor Heights
  • See more details from our Cowles Montessori Parent Group (CMPG) posted below

Back-to-School Night

  • Thursday, August 22nd from 3:30-5:30 p.m. at Cowles
  • Back-to-School Night is a chance to visit the classroom, meet with teachers, pay supply fees, sign up to be a volunteer, and learn more about the traditions and events at Cowles

First Day of School for Kindergarten through 8th Grade

  • Friday, August 23rd from 8:30-3:25 p.m.
  • Doors open at 8:15 a.m.

Annual Peace Walk

  • Friday, August 30th from 8:30-10:00 a.m.
  • Stay tuned for more information from our Maria Montessori Services Committee

New-to-Cowles Preschool and Kindergarten Parent Meeting

  • Tuesday, September 3rd from 5:30-6:45 p.m.
  • Childcare provided
  • New-to-Cowles Preschool and Kindergarten parents will meet with our PrePrimary Teachers to learn more about Montessori Education and the programming provided to our students at Cowles

First Day of School for Preschool

  • Thursday, September 5th
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Back-to-School Checklist

____ Register your child(ren) for school online

> https://www.dmschools.org/enrollment-registration/online-registration/

  • Proof of residency (e.g. utility/water bill with your current address on it)
  • Submit online or provide a copy to Marian, Office Manager


____ Register for before and/or after-school care (This is optional and as openings remain available.)
> https://www.dmschools.org/academics/programs/before-after-school-care/metro-kids-care/


____ Follow the Cowles Montessori School on Twitter

> @CowlesDMPS


____ Follow the Cowles Montessori Parent Group (CMPG) on Facebook
> https://www.facebook.com/CowlesMontessori/


____ Submit a volunteer form (This is required for all prospective classroom volunteers.)

> https://www.dmschools.org/volunteer/online-volunteer-application/


We will see you soon!
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Popsicles in the Park

The Cowles Montessori Parent Group (CMPG) will be hosting our students and families for Popsicles in the Park! This event will take place on Sunday, August 18th from 3:00-5:00 p.m. at Colby Park. Popsicles in the Park is a great chance to connect with one another and to meet with new and returning teachers and parents!


Check out the CMPG Facebook page for updates throughout the summer!

https://www.facebook.com/CowlesMontessori/

Classroom Placements

We are very close to finalizing our classroom placements for the 2019-2020 school year! If your child is new-to-Cowles, or will be going into 3 year-old preschool, 1st Grade, 4th Grade, or Middle School, please call or stop by beginning Thursday, August 1st and we will provide you the name of your child's teacher. We will have full class lists available at our Popsicles in the Park event on Sunday, August 18th.


Phone number: 515-242-7818

Office hours: 8:00-3:30

2020-2021 School Year

PATRON NOTIFICATION

Between District Open Enrollment

Iowa Administrative Code 281-17.3(2)

Parents/Guardians considering the use of the open enrollment option to enroll their children in another public school district in the state of Iowa should be aware of the following dates:

DEADLINES:

March 2, 2020 is the last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2020-2021 school year.

September 1, 2020 is the last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students and those students falling under the “good cause” definition for the 2020-2021 school year. To insure that the transfer of individual students does not adversely affect the diversity plan of the District, certain limitations to open enrollment have been established. Parents of kindergarten students are therefore encouraged to make application requests prior to March 2, 2020.

APPEALS:

Within 30 days of a denial of an open enrollment request by the DMPS Board of Education, a parent/guardian may file an appeal with the state board of education only if the open enrollment request was based on repeated acts of harassment or a serious health condition of the student that the district cannot adequately address. All other denials must be appealed to the district court in Polk County.

ATHLETIC ELIGIBILITY:

In most cases, a high school student who open enrolls is ineligible for varsity athletic competition during the student’s first 90 consecutive school days of enrollment in the receiving district. Some, but not all, exceptions to this general rule of ineligibility are as follows:

1. The sending district does not offer the sport in question.

2. The sending district was dissolved and merged with one or more other districts.

3. The sending district whole-grade shares with another district for the student’s grade level.

TRANSPORTATION:

Parents/Guardians of students open enrolled from another school district are eligible for transportation assistance if the household income of the parent/guardian is at or below the federal poverty guidelines for household size. The two districts must be contiguous. Assistance may be in the form of actual transportation or in the form of a cash stipend. Information regarding transportation eligibility and a complete copy of the District’s open enrollment policy and procedures may be obtained from the Open Enrollment Office, 2100 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321