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Cowles Montessori Crier

May 8th

CowlesMontessori CrierMay 8th

New-to-Cowles Info Session for Parents

Cowles Families,


The enrollment department has sent out acceptance letters for next year's incoming students! We are inviting parents of new-to-Cowles students to attend an information session this spring.


Who: Parents who have new-to-Cowles students next year

When: Tuesday, May 23rd, from 4:30-6:00 p.m.

What: Information session and tour


Childcare will be provided for children during the information session.

Important Dates and Events

CMPG Monthly Meeting

  • Monday, May 8th, at 6:00 p.m. in the Cowles Music Room or on Zoom


Music Concerts

  • Tuesday, May 9th - See details below:
  • 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Grade students at 6:00 p.m. - Roosevelt High School
  • 4th, 5th, and 6th Grade students at 7:15 p.m. - Roosevelt High School


Orchestra Concert

  • Thursday, May 11th, at 6:00 p.m. - Cowles Gym


Field Day

  • Friday, May 12th - More details from Mr. White are posted below.


Kindergarten Music Concert

  • Wednesday, May 17th, at 12:45 p.m. - Cowles Gym
  • Cowles Kindergarten students


Cowles Spring Band Concert

  • Thursday, May 18th, 6:00 p.m., in the Cowles Gym
  • Cowles 5th through 8th Grade Band students


Biz Town

  • Upper Montessori students, check out your email for details
  • Monday, May 22nd, from 9:15 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.


New-to-Cowles Parent Info Session

  • Tuesday, May 23rd at 4:30 p.m. in the Cowles Music Room
  • Info session and tour
  • Childcare provided in the library


High School Boys Cross Country Parent Meeting

  • Current 8th grade boys interested in high school cross country
  • Parent/athlete informational meeting at Roosevelt in the library
  • Thursday, May 25th, at 7:00 p.m


Memorial Day

  • Monday, May 29th - No school for students or staff


Preschool Last Day of School

  • Wednesday, May 31st


Moving Up Ceremony

  • Friday, June 2nd, at 10:15 a.m.


Last Day of School for Kindergarten through 8th Grade

  • Friday, June 2nd, 3-Hour Early Dismissal
  • Students will be dismissed after the Moving Up Ceremony or by 12:25 p.m.


The Des Moines Arts Festival


Enrollment

  • Enrollment for 2024-2025 school year for new-to-Cowles students and Cowles siblings will be on Wednesday, July 5th at 9:00 a.m.
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St. Baldrick's Foundation - A Message from Mr. Bonnette

What is St. Baldrick’s? St. Baldrick’s Foundation is a volunteer and donor-powered charity committed to supporting the most promising research to find cures for childhood cancer. Worldwide, 300,000 children are diagnosed with cancer each year. And in the U.S., more children die of childhood cancer than any other disease—more than AIDS, asthma, cystic fibrosis, congenital anomalies, and diabetes combined.


I have personally supported St. Baldrick’s since 2006. We started very small at Keysters in West Des Moines in 2006, but we have grown into one of the largest fundraising events in the county, and we now need the space of an entire parking lot. I have personally shaved hundreds of heads while having mine shaved a few times to help raise money.


The event will take place on July 20th in the parking lot of Farmer’s Mutual Hail located at 6785 Westown Parkway in West Des Moines at 4:30. There are numerous food trucks, beverage stations, and fun activities for kids.


What makes this year special? Last year at our event, I was asked by a mother and father if I would shave their little boy. He dressed up as Captain America, and while holding back tears, I said I would be honored to shave his head. While shaving his head, Sage and I got to talking. I learned that he was diagnosed with Acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is currently receiving treatment. I asked Sage to make me a promise. I told him that if he went to all his treatments, stayed positive, and fought his cancer with all his strength, I would let him shave my head and face.


Last I checked, Sage was rocking it. So much so he is now the “face” of St. Baldrick’s Foundation: https://www.stbaldricks.org/ On the webpage, you can read different inspiring stories about children who have been affected by cancer and fought the good fight. You can see EXACTLY where your dollar goes. You can find other ways to support and help.


I am starting to raise donation funds for the July 20th event. My goal is to raise enough donations to shave my beard AND head this year. Last year I was given $350.00 to shave my beard. I am asking for a minimum of $2000.00 this year. Have you seen my beard and hair lol lol? Any little bit helps. No one should ever have to go through cancer, especially a child. Please consider any donation. It all helps.


- Mr. Jesse Bonnette

Field Day Info

Hello Cowles Parents,


Field day will be held on Friday May 12th. There is a rain date set for the following Friday May 19th.


Parents are more than welcome to join us at the field to have some fun with your child(ren). Students will be outside in the morning and afternoon. Morning will be from 8:50-11:00 am. The afternoon will go from 1:10-3:10 (no PreK in the afternoon).


Parents volunteers are also what makes this day run smoothly! I need volunteers to help run the stations. Classes will come to you, as the volunteer, in which if you will explain how the station is played.


Please email ME ASAP (Not Shannon) if you would like to be a station volunteer for the morning and/or afternoon.

  • Each class will go from station to station.
  • Lunch and recess should run as normal. Recess can be used to relax and rest for the afternoon.
  • Each class will follow the time sheet and visit each station once. Teachers just have to make sure students rotate to the next station properly and listen to the volunteer(s) who are explaining the station.
  • I will be in the parking lot keeping track of time and telling everyone when it’s time to rotate.


Please help me by reminding your kiddos to wear sunscreen, shorts, shirts and shoes at all times. I told some classes that swimsuits are fine, as long as you have shorts and a shirt on.

Looking forward to a fun day! Let me know if you have any questions.


Thanks.


Jaryd.White@dmschools.org

Volunteer at the Des Moines Arts Festival!

The Des Moines Arts Festival is June 23-25! With less than 3 months to the festival, we want to see those volunteer shifts start to fill in!! This is CMPG's biggest fundraiser, and the proceeds support the Arts at Cowles and activities like Fine Arts Day!!


Everyone who signs up for a shift before noon on April 10th will be entered into a drawing to win a $50 Des Moines Performing Arts Gift Certificate!! Each shift you sign up for will be a chance to win! The drawing will be done at the April 10th CMPG Meeting (you don't have to be present to win).


Click the link to sign up for your shift(s) and for your chance to win the gift certificate: https://desmoinesartsfestival.volunteerlocal.com/volunteer/?id=69796


When and where is the festival? The Des Moines Arts Festival is June 23 - 25, at Western Gateway Park. Spend a fun few hours meeting and volunteering alongside Cowles parents while helping us continue our record as the leading beverage nonprofit at the festival!


Who can volunteer? Anyone 18 or older - anyone who might want to have fun while making money for our kids at Cowles! Get a group together to work a shift - Volunteers do NOT need to be Cowles affiliated to come join in the fun - family or friends, the more the merrier! More information will be sent out in the spring regarding online training dates and times.


Beverage training is required every two years. The trainings will be held June 13 & 14, both over Zoom, 5:30pm-6:30pm.


If you have questions, please contact the CMPG board at cmpgdm@gmail.com.


Thank you for your continued support!!

SHOP FOR COWLES MONTESSORI GEAR

Our partner, Raygun, created the Cowles Montessori Store for children, adolescents, and adults to buy T-Shirts. A portion of your payment is donated directly to Cowles!


You can purchase mugs, hats, and other T-Shirts through our Cowles Shop.