Cowles Montessori School Crier

"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."

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 19th from 3:00-5:00pm at Colby Park. Popsicles in the Park is a great chance to connect with one another and to meet with new and returning Cowles teachers and parents! Due to construction and renovations, this event will replace our Back-to-School Night. We will have a separate Open House for parents and the community to see the new addition and renovations after the school year has started.

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

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

- Online registration begins July 16th

- Support for online registration - Office at Cowles Thursday, July 26th from 1-7p.m. (due to construction, park on the street and walk in)

- Popsicles in the Park - Sunday, August 19th from 3:00p.m. to 5:00p.m. at Colby Park

- First day of school for Kindergarten through 8th Grade - Thursday, August 23rd

- First day of school for Preschool - Thursday, September 6th

- Open House for the new addition and renovations - TBA (We will host this event after the school year has started.)

Semso, our custodian, recently stopped in to visit at Cowles. He completed his third round of chemotherapy for pancreatic cancer. He is able to go on walks, he is eating fairly well, and he has a good level of energy. We will continue to communicate with him and keep everyone updated. We will be collecting letters for Semso and sending them to him on the first of each month. We will have an envelope in the main office at Cowles if you wish to drop off a letter.

Sailor is proposing a Drama Club for Cowles students this Fall! She is looking for parent and teacher volunteers to sponsor the club. See her video below for details. Contact Mr. Johnson if you are interested.

The safety and security of students at Cowles is of upmost importance. As part of the continuous review of our practices, please answer these questions to the best of your ability. We value your feedback! While we are collecting feedback, please know my door is always open if you have any questions, suggestions, ideas, or concerns. - Mr. Johnson

School Safety and Security Parent Survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3N9MF9H

Callanan, Cowles, and Merrill Combined Cross Country Team

Important Information:

· ALL 7th and 8th Graders ARE WELCOME!!! Cross country is an inclusive sport. The more, the merrier!!

· 7th and 8th Grade students need a current physical on file with school nurse to participate (physical are good for 13 months)

· To register, sign up via school website and pay $15 fee

· Please wear comfortable athletic clothing and running shoes to practice

· Head Coach: Jamie Charlton (515) 707 -0820

· Assistant Coach: Susanne Carney (515) 707-5159

Optional Summer Running Club Information:

· Middle School students are invited to begin their conditioning with summer running. They will join the high school team as they begin informal practice.

· OPTIONAL Summer Practice Begins Monday, July 9

- Mondays and Fridays 7:15 -8:00 AM Waveland Tennis Courts, Polk Ave.

- Wednesdays 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Various Locations (See Below)

- Come join in when you can! Get in shape!

Summer Night Fun Runs

· Wednesday, July 18 6:30 – 7:30 PM Sculpture Park Run (Drop off and pick up in library basement level parking lot)

· Wednesday, July 25 4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Bill Riley Trail Run (Ashworth Pool after!)

· Wednesday, Aug. 1 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Soccer Fields Water Balloons

· Wednesday, Aug. 8 6:30 PM – 7:30 PM Grays Lake Run Boats/Paddle Board After

Cross Country Practice Information

· Practice Begins: Monday, August 20, 2018

· Practice Times:

3:45 – 5:00 Mon., Tues, Thurs., Fri

2:15 – 3:30 Wednesday

· Practice Locations:

Monday: Merrill

Tuesday: Merrill

Wednesday: Pick up from Aliber Soccer Complex 6226 Grand Ave. Des Moines, 50312

Thursday: Merrill

Friday: Roosevelt High School Track

Cross Country Meet Schedule:

· Tuesday, September 11 4:30 PM Valley Southwoods

· Tuesday, September 18 4:15 PM Newton Invitational

· Monday, September 24 4:30 PM Waukee Invitational

· Thursday, October 4 4:00 PM Ewing Park (MS City Meet)

· Tuesday, October 9 4:30 PM SE Polk (Conference Meet)

Athletes will take a bus to each meet. There will be a return bus home. Athletes may leave meets with a parent after all team members have completed the race and a coach is notified.

Please contact Jamie Charlton with any questions you may have!

jamiecharlton@yahoo.com or call/text (515) 707-0820

2019-2020 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 1, 2019 is the last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2019-2020 school year.

September 1, 2019 is the last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students and those students falling under the “good cause” definition for the 2019-2020 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 1, 2019.

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

Email: todd.johnson@dmschools.org
Website: cowles.dmschools.org
Location: 6401 College Avenue, Windsor Heights, IA, USA
Phone: 515-242-7818
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CowlesMontessori
Twitter: @CowlesDMPS