DES MOINES PUBLIC
WILDCAT
SCHOOLS
JOURNAL
SMARTER. BETTER. EDMUNDS POWER!
EDMUNDS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
SEPTEMBER 2013
Great Start to The School Year!
“An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
- Benjamin Franklin
Dear Edmunds Families,
It is our sincere hope that each and every one of you had a fun and relaxing summer!
It is amazing how fast time goes when you are together with family and friends and
enjoying the best summer has to offer. And, with such an exciting start to our new school
year, we are turning our focus to our students and our responsibility for creating a school
where students work and learn at their highest levels. Our goal is to maximize student
learning opportunities.
Edmunds Elementary Staff
Attendance:
Research has consistently shown that students who attend school regularly and on time
usually experience more academic success. Please make every effort to ensure you child’s
prompt and regular attendance.
There are times when children should not be at school because of illness, injury, or other
reasons. It is the parent’s responsibility to contact the school by 8:00 a.m. if a child will not
be in school. If your child needs to be excused from school for a doctor or dentist
appointment, please let the office know in the morning. Please sign your child out when
you leave and back in when you return.
Edmunds school hours are 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on M, T, TH, and F. We have early
dismissal every Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. Students will enter the building through the
Northeast door. If they are late, they will need to come in through the main doors and
check in at the office for a pass. Breakfast is served to all students daily beginning at 8:00.
Des Moines Public Schools: THINK…LEARN…GROW… District
Mission:
The Des Moines Public Schools Exists So That Graduates Possess the Knowledge, Skills, and
Abilities to be Successful at the Next Stage of Their Lives.
Edmunds Elementary: SMARTER…BETTER…EDMUNDS POWER
Edmunds Mission:
As a community, Edmunds Elementary provides high quality education and
engaging curriculum for all students and celebrates cultural diversity in a
positive and respectful environment to prepare life-long learners for success.
Collective Commitments
We will. . . .
 Develop strong and collaborative relationships among students,
families, school and community.
 Create a positive and productive learning environment to encourage
innovation and creativity.
 Learn through a variety of strategies, flexibility, and access to many
resources
 Ensure high expectations that ALL students can and will learn.
Literacy SMART Goal:
All Student Goal:
The percentage of “All Students” subgroup, proficient in the area of reading, will increase
from 36% -42%. This will be measured using the Iowa Assessment in the spring of the
2013-2014 school year.
Priority Performance Challenge Goal:
The percentage of “African Americans” subgroup, proficient in the area of reading, will
increase from 34%-40%. This will be measured using the Iowa Assessment in the spring of
the 2013-2014 school year.
Math SMART Goal:
All Student Goal:
The percentage of “All Students” subgroup, proficient in the area of math, will increase
from 32% -40%. This will be measured using the Iowa Assessment in the spring of the
2013-2014 school year.
Priority Performance Challenge Goal:
The percentage of “African Americans” subgroup, proficient in the area of math, will
increase from 26%-30%. This will be measured using the Iowa Assessment in the spring of
the 2013-2014 school year.
Culture and Climate SMART Goal:
All Student Goal:
The percentage of “All Students” subgroup, proficient in the area of behavior, will increase
from 68% -75%. This will be measured using Tableau data for the 2013-2014 school year.
The percentage of “African Americans” subgroup, proficient in the area of behavior, will
increase from 79%-85%. This will be measured using Tableau data for the 2013-2014
school year.
Priority Performance Challenge Goal:
The percentage of red zone students will decrease from 89% of time loss to 75%. This will
be measured using Tableau data in the spring of 2013-2014 school year.
Mark your calendars:
Upcoming Events:

Thursday, September 26, 2013: Culture Fair (5:30 – 7:00)


Fall Intersession: Friday, October 11, 2013 – Friday, October 18, 2013)
Parent Teacher Conferences:
o Wednesday, October 23, 2013 (2:00 to 8:00)
o Thursday, October 24, 2013 (4:00 to 8:00)
o Teacher In-service: Friday, October 25, 2013 (No school for students
Have you seen this sign?
Chances are you have seen a peanut allergy sign somewhere
while walking through the Edmunds hallways or cafeteria. There
are a few students at Edmunds who suffer from peanut and tree
allergies. It is important that students do not bring any items that
contain peanut products for lunch or a snack; or are produced in a
facility that has peanut products. Thank you for helping keep our
Edmunds’ students safe.
News from the Crossing Guard:
Wanted to make you aware that some of your students from Sherman
Hills are running in front traffic while crossing Crocker Street. My fear is
that one of these kids is going to run in front of a car when the driver isn't
paying attention and get hit. There is a designated crosswalk between
16th and 17th streets along Crocker Street. This is where the students
should be crossing.
-Robert Niederklopfer, School Crossing Guard
Parent Pick up and Drop Off:


Pick up and Drop off is located on the East side of the building ONLY!
Enter west bound from 17th and follow North to School Street. Turn right on 15th street and
first right to begin forming a pick-up line by turning into the pick-up lane and pulling all the
way to the far South end.
 There will be No Parking: No stopping or standing North on 15th Street.
 No left turn from 15th Street into the Edmunds parking lot.
 Stay in your cars and students will be brought to you while in the pickup lane! When you
have your child pull into the drive thru lane and exit right turn only.
 Students will stand by signs Lower Unit(K-2) and Upper Unit (3-5).
 Vary your arrival times 3:00-3:10. Students will always be supervised!
 Right Lane is for drop off and pick up ONLY!
 Left Lane is for drive through traffic ONLY!
 When you have picked up your child exit by moving into the left lane and proceeding out
through the exit.
WALKERS:


Walkers going East will exit out the East doors with a teacher. Student will be
walked to the corner and cross the street by a staff member.
Walkers traveling South will exit the East doors. Student will be walked to the
crosswalk and cross using the crossing guard.
Day care Pick up:
Wilkie House and Oakridge vans will be located on the West side of the building.
 Students will be walked out and put on the van.
Bus Riders
Bus riders will exit with a teacher to the North side of the building when the bus arrives.
Read and review the bus
conduct procedures.
Expectations will be
followed or privilege will be suspended.
Culture Fair: “It Takes a Village to Raise a Child”
Culture Fair: September 26, 2013 (5:30 – 7:00)
This is a huge opportunity for our students to learn about where they are from and to
learn about other cultures, foods, traditions, music and art. We will be kicking it off
with an all school assembly on Sept 18, 2013 presented by CultureAll storytellers.
Then that morning those ambassadors will do workshops in each of your classrooms for anywhere
from 30 -40 minutes.
Get a sneak peak at what your children are doing when they are at specials.
The students at Edmunds get the opportunity to learn and grow and show
their talents in areas of health and fitness, music, and through art.
COUNSELOR: Hello my name is Jory Houser and I am the
new Edmunds School Counselor. I am originally from a small
area in southeast Iowa. I graduated high school in 2005 I
graduated from UNI with my master’s degree in counseling
with an emphasis in school counseling. I graduated from
Central College with my bachelor’s degree in psychology and
philosophy in 2010. I have worked in many different fields, ranging from brain injury rehab
here in Des Moines to Para educator at a cedar falls elementary, to being a chemical
research analyst in Ankeny to being a direct support staff at LSI. Some hobbies I have are
running, basketball, guitar, and reading. I love to drink coffee and spend time with friends
playing board games and card games. I look forward to getting to know the families of
Edmunds and cannot wait to see the great achievements our students are going to make
this year! I have a blog on the school website if you want to track what we are doing in
counseling throughout the weeks. We are moving into a unit on friendship and being social.
We focus on how to be a good friend and community member. Our main goal is to work
together and be kind to one another, helping when we are able. Look for these positive
qualities at home and in the community and thank each other for doing those things!
What’s new in the world of ART with Mr. Borzo:
In the art room this month we are working in a number of art
materials and projects with our students, who range from PreKindergarten to 5th grades.
For many of our younger students, Pre-K and 1st grade, we are still
learning the methods and procedures involved in the art room,
including how to use and put away colored pencils and crayons,
scissors, glue, and molding clay.
For the older students we are getting involved with some fun and exciting projects,
including
-
-
“Half and Half” drawings, where a large print is cut in half; then one of the halves is
attached to a large piece of paper; the art student then draws the other half.
Self-portraits, with the students using hand held mirrors and learning the basic
procedures for drawing the human face.
Posters and promotional pieces with world themes for the upcoming Edmunds
Culture Fair on September 26th
And a few classes will be joining art students all across the state putting their
imaginations to work making posters that will help to create awareness about
radon dangers in the home. Our students will be in the competition for prizes,
which is sponsored by the American Lung Association.
Sing along with Ms. Thomas in Music:
In the music room this month we are preparing for several upcoming events! Our
kindergarteners and first graders will be working on multiple pieces that will later
be performed at the Student Activity Night. Our second graders
will be learning the “Irish Stew” dance, which will be
performed at the Culture Fair at the end of the month, and our
third, fourth, and fifth graders are becoming experts on the
xylophones. Some of these skills will also be showcased at the
Culture Fair during the fourth grade piece, “Sambalele.” In all grades, we are
continuing to learn about music basics. We are always demonstrating how to treat
our instruments with respect, and we are mastering how sit and breathe so that we
are always able to produce our best singing.
What’s happening in P.E.:
K-2: K-2 will be working on Building a Foundation for
the rest of the school year by learning games and
activities that will help them learn about personal
space, general space, and different ways to move
through those spaces. They will also begin work on
recess protocol’s and different games.
3-5: 3-5 will be beginning the year by learning about recess protocols and rules for the new
playground. We have learned about 4-square, tetherball, and how to properly use all of the
new recess equipment. Currently we are working on our kickball lesson and will follow that
up with more fun recess activities.
District Information:
Security Cameras
To help maintain a safe school and work environment, security cameras are installed in and
around our school. A copy of the district policy about security cameras can be found on
page 25 of the Parent Handbook.
Bus Drivers Wanted:
The Transportation Department is still in need of some bus drivers for this school year. We
have posted the following on our district website and are asking that you consider posting
it on your school website as well. There also is an image
attached to use as the slide.
DMPS is currently hiring school bus drivers. Join the team at
Iowa’s largest provider of public education and one of Des
Moines’ top employers.
Somali
Hadii aad u baahantahay caawin xaga tafsiirka joornaalka, fadlan wac Issa Abdinoor,
telefoon nambarka 242-8406, asaga ayaana kaa caawin doona tafsiirka jornaalka ama
wax kasta oo suaal ah oo la xariira jornaalka bisha taas oo kaaga timid fsalka ama
dugsigaba. Waad ku mahadsantahay caawintaada joogtada ah!
KIswahili
Kama unahitaji msaada katika kutafsiri jarida, tafadhali piga simu Issa Abdinoor, 2428406, na ataweza kukusaidia na tafsiri yoyote au maswali yoyote kuhusu majarida ya
kila mwezi kutoka darasa au ya shule. Asante kwa msaada wako wa kuendelea!
Districts are required by State Law to annually notify patrons of open enrollment deadlines and
the possibility of transportation assistance. As a district we have determined that this could best
be accomplished through each school’s newsletter. Since notification is required for the 20142015 school year, the publication must be distributed after July 1, 2013 and prior to March 1,
2014. Please include this notice in your August/September and your October/November
newsletter. Thank you for your attention.
2014-2015 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:
March 1, 2014 is the last date for regular open enrollment requests for the 2014-2015 school year.
September 1, 2014 is the last date for open enrollment requests for entering kindergarten students
and those students falling under the “good cause” definition for the 2014-2015 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, 2014.
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, 901 Walnut St., Des Moines, Iowa
50309-3506