Cowles Montessori Crier

Week of October 7th

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

Important Dates to Remember

CMPG Monthly Meeting

Monday, October 14th at 6:00 p.m. - Cowles Music Room

Picture Day

Friday, October 18th

Parent-Teacher Conferences

Before/After School from October 21st – October 30th

Trunk or Treat

Friday, October 25th
More details are posted below

Fall Break for Students (No School for Students)

Thursday, October 31st through Tuesday, November 5th
Students return to Cowles on November 6th

Lower Elementary Current News

Cowles Montessori students in grades first, second and third began the year with Peace studies and learning to use words to solve problems. Maria Montessori believed that the children could become the leaders to bring peace to the world. This process continues throughout the years by doing service projects, helping our school community and then spreading out into international projects.

Next comes the first of the Five Great Lessons called: The Coming of the Universe. This initial presentation inspires and calls to the students to investigate the stars, planets, atoms and the laws of the Universe. It was Montessori’s hope to spark the imagination of the child and to entice them to explore their world. At this point, they take ownership of their learning and are excited and eager to learn! Therefore, our students love to come to school and begin to understand how the world works around them.

Lower elementary students are also excited to be involved in “Act Right” as a tool for students to learn to work together. They begin by understanding what cooperation is, show strength, and focus in order to complete challenges as a community. We are hopeful these strategies transfer over into our community here at Cowles.

Thanks to our parent group, we will be attending the “Sugar Skull” at the Civic Center. It is a play about the” Day of the Dead”. The students are excited to attend the performance!

- Lower Elementary Team

Upper Elementary News

“The child of the second plane is hungry for culture, which means for knowledge and understanding: the knowledge and understanding of the world built by Nature and of that built by mankind. He is endowed with the necessary capacities: the power of imagination, the power of abstract thought and reasoning, physical strength, and health (Camillo Grazzini The Four Planes of Development)”

The Upper Elementary students began the year returning to the study of “The Fundamental Needs of People,” this time delving into the Indigenous People of North America. Students work each afternoon during lessons; group time; and research to better understand how the fundamental needs of people, such as shelter; clothing; food; spirituality; beauty; defense; and more were met by the indigenous people of our land. The students have learned about the Land Bridge theory; the variety of shelters such as longhouses, chickees, teepees, and kivas; the connection the Indigenous people had with the sun, moon, and the seasons and how the people used the gifts of our Earth.

The study will conclude with a full-day presentation by each class of in-depth research about the varied ways those needs were met in five regions of the United States. The morning of October 30 will be spent with classes presenting to one another. Parents and Lower Elementary students are invited to tour the work that afternoon from 2-3pm.

- Upper Elementary Team

Trunk or Treat: What You Should Know

When is Trunk or Treat?

Friday, October 25th at 6:00 p.m. in the Cowles Parking Lot

What is Trunk or Treat?

Trunk or Treat is an event at Cowles Montessori School that is intended to bring staff, students, families, and the community together and to provide a safe way for students to Trick or Treat
Staff members, parents, and community members will set up decorated car trunks and will pass out treats in the Cowles parking lot from 6-8 p.m.

How can my child(ren) participate?

Your child(ren) can wear costumes and go from trunk to trunk to trick or treat. Don't forget to bring something to carry all the treats!
If you and your child(ren) wish to decorate your car trunk and hand out treats, park in the Cowles parking lot by 5:30 p.m. and be ready for Trunk or Treaters by 6:00 p.m.

Can other children that are with me participate?

Yes, your children and their friends are welcome
All children must remain with an adult at all times

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PPEL: The Physical Plant and Equipment Levy

Now, imagine you own 71 buildings covering more than 6 million square feet, with an average age of 66 years and valued at over one billion dollars. Add to that the fact these buildings are there to educate and support our children. Maintenance and repairs are not an option, they are critical.

That’s where PPEL – or the Physical Plant and Equipment Levy – comes in, providing school districts in Iowa a way to pay for maintenance and repairs. PPEL can be used to improve school buildings and grounds, purchase technology and safety equipment, implement energy conservation measures, and buy items such as school busses and musical instruments.

WHY CHANGE THE PPEL?

More resources to maintain and improve our school buildings
More technology to support our students’ education
Avoids another $6.5 million in budget cuts
No tax increase for Des Moines property owners

But Des Moines Public Schools has been at a disadvantage for the past several years when it comes to PPEL. While voters in every neighboring school district have approved the maximum PPEL levy, Des Moines has not. That means DMPS is receiving 40% less revenue than it could when compared to our neighbors.

The Des Moines School Board has proposed a solution. Lower the district’s cash reserve and management levy and increase the PPEL levy for the next 10 years. The result? An improved ability to continue providing critical maintenance to school buildings while adding more tools, especially technology, to support the education of our students without raising taxes on Des Moines homeowners.

THIS PROPOSED CHANGE WILL BE BEFORE VOTERS ON THE NOVEMBER 5, 2019 BALLOT.

Students in Des Moines deserve the same resources as students anywhere in Iowa. PPEL helps to make that possible.

For more information, go to:

https://www.dmschools.org/ppel-physical-plant-equipment-levy/

Roosevelt Mini-Cheer Clinic

Who: K-5th Grade

What: Mini cheer clinic and cheer at the Roosevelt Rider Home Game October 11th 2019

Practice: October 8th from 6:00-7:30 p.m. RHS Small Gym (Entrance on Chamberlain side of the building)

Game: Drake Stadium October 11th after the 1st Qtr. Arrive at Drake by 7:15pm (free admission for the participant)

Registration: Please complete by September 30th, the cost is $35 and will include a T-shirt.

Payment (cash or check) can be submitted to: RHS Cheer Attn: Lindsay Cannaday 4419 Center Street Des Moines, IA 50312.

Questions: Lindsay Cannaday (lindsay.cannaday@dmschools.org)

Application form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1dJHxmHiMb-BBblBOpGm41W6G2VNXWomonnwZUlgYWHY/viewform?edit_requested=true

Community Events Supported by CMPG

Community Events:

Oct 25th: Trunk or Treat 6-8 p.m. at Cowles
Nov 20 & 21st: Montessori: The Musical
Dec 6 & 7th: Holiday Bonanza
Jan 9th: Cowles Family Skating Night @ Skate North
February 7th: Sweetheart Dance
Spring Fundraising Event: TBD
June 26th-28th: Des Moines Art Festival (sign up to volunteer now!)