School starts at 10:00am (Doors Open at 9:45am)

Ellipsis, established in 2021, is a “no wrong door” youth and family services provider that brings together legacy organizations Youth Homes of Mid-America and Youth Emergency Services and Shelter. Our staff work tirelessly to meet all our clients’ unique needs so that we can connect kids and families to successful futures.

On any given day, we serve nearly 600 kids and families with residential care and treatment, counseling and therapy, behavioral health intervention services, care coordination and family support. In doing so, we're helping kids and families overcome turbulent pasts to build successful, rewarding futures.

We’re always looking to expand our services to build a complete continuum of care for those we serve. That’s where our respite program — opening April 17, 2023 — comes in.

Who benefits from respite care?

· Respite care provides short-term relief for primary caregivers and allows kids in crisis to have a safe space to recoup.

· We serve kids ages 6 to 17 who may be at risk of entering the child welfare or juvenile justice systems.

· Families dealing with a variety of challenges including mental and behavioral health concerns benefit from this program.

What does respite care entail?

· We have between five and 10 beds available for short-term stays (less than 72 hours).

· Our program is staffed by trained and qualified shelter staff at a ratio of three staff to 10 kids.

· During respite care, we assess and refer kids and families to services and support systems that provide long-term help.

· Our respite program is available 24 hours a day for 365 days a year.

How can kids and families access respite care?

· Call 515-243-3459 and dial 1 for a crisis call.

· Families can be referred by schools, law enforcement, hospitals, health providers, therapists, service providers and other families who have been served by Ellipsis.

· Kids and families can receive care by visiting 918 SE 11th St. in Des Moines. Enter on the north side of the building.

· Ellipsis staff will screen kids to determine eligibility for respite programming.

At Ellipsis, we’re true to our name. We provide a safe space for kids and families to pause, heal and determine their next chapter. Our respite program is one more way we offer that help.

On April 21, 2023, if your child is in grades 3-5, they will be invited to complete a brief Conditions for Learning Survey (Survey) online. Student participation in the Survey is highly encouraged, but is voluntary and no student is required to fill out the Survey. If you do not want your student to participate please notify your school principal. The Survey will take about 20 minutes to complete. The purpose of the Survey is to obtain information about how students feel about the culture and climate of their school and teachers, as well as the safety of their school. The information collected will help the state, our schools, and local community improve the school. It is important to ask children to tell us what is good and working about their experience in school, and what needs to be improved, in their eyes. The Survey questions are available using the links below, or you may request copies from your school:

Grades 3-5 Conditions for Learning Survey

Watch for information come out about the start of Running Club and how you can sign up to Volunteer. Running Club is held during student lunch recess.

Families attending Webster Next Year -

The Webster PTO is working on planning for the next school year and is in need of some help! Our PTO Board will have 3 openings for the 2023-24 school year. We are also needing your help with RAW. This is our biggest fundraiser and would hate to see it go! Below you will find information on both joining the PTO and RAW. Thank you for helping make Webster great!

Come Join our PTO

The PTO board meets monthly August-April, as needed. Board meetings are typically 60 minutes. Work is done via email and text outside of those meetings.

PTO meetings are held twice a year in September and April. They are typically 30-45 minutes and livestreamed on Facebook.

The PTO is responsible for planning the Fall Family BBQ, overseeing all volunteer positions, and maintaining the PTO financials. Board positions are set up as co-chairs, besides president. Each position on the board is a two-year commitment. Year one is used to train and gain knowledge of the position.

• Co-Secretary - take meeting minutes, work with committee chairs to share updates for the J-Hawk Journal, manage Webster PTO Facebook page. Must have access to Facebook for this position.

• Co-Treasurer - manage the PTO budget, including but limited to, submitting POs, making deposits, and managing the budget sheet.

• Co-VP Volunteers - manage two-hour power, work with Committee Chairs to ensure they have volunteers, assist the Classroom Parties chair with ordering snacks for parties

The PTO is a great way to meet other Webster parents, as well as work with Webster Administration and Teachers. If interested in joining, please email PTO President, Laura Miller @ ericandlauramiller@hotmail.com

RAW

Webster has benefited from having the same Co-Chairs for Race Around Webster for the last several years. 2023 will be their final year volunteering in these roles. We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to co-chair this event starting in 2024. This next school year, they would serve in a learning capacity to shadow the work of our current chairs.

Race Around Webster is the primary fundraiser for Webster. In order for this event to continue to support Webster students and staff, we need parents to step up and co-chair it. If we are not able to secure volunteers, Race Around Webster won't be able to continue and other fundraisers will be held throughout the year to fill its spot.

The time commitment is from late summer through race day in October. We are looking for 3-4 co-chairs so that the workload can be spread out. Please email volunteer.websterpto@gmail.com if you are interested. Let's not lose this day! Race Around Webster is something our students and Webster community looks forward to every year!

With the opening of the new Valerius Elementary School in the fall of 2023, UCSD is also implementing new elementary school boundaries beginning in the 2023–24 school year. These boundaries were created through the work of the Elementary Boundary Committee which was comprised of parents and school employees. The boundaries were approved by the school board on September 26, 2022. Learn More

In celebration of National Teacher Appreciation Week, May 8 – 12, we’d like to invite UCSD parents, guardians, alumni, and community members to share thoughts on video about a current UCSD teacher(s) who has made a positive difference in your child’s life and/or your own life. We’re hoping to compile many short videos as a wonderful way to remind our teachers how much they are appreciated and valued. Videos will be shared online (social media, website, etc.) during Teacher Appreciation Week. If you would like to participate, please review the following.

Option 1: Submit Your Own Video

• Keep your video to a maximum of 1 minute (60 seconds)

• If using your phone to record the video, please turn your phone horizontal when recording (not vertical)

• Make sure you are in a well-lit area, no background noise, and your voice is able to be captured well with the device you are using

• Email Dena Claire claired@urbandaleschools.com, UCSD Communications Manager, when your video is ready; Dena will then send you a link to a Google Folder to upload your video(s)

• Video content will be reviewed and anything deemed inappropriate will render the video unusable in its entirety

• Videos must be received by 11:59 p.m. April 3, 2023

Option 2: Schedule Time For District To Record Video

• We’re happy to help record your thoughts on video; please email Dena Claire claired@urbandaleschools.com to schedule a time (we can also arrange for a translator)

• Videos may be recorded at your child’s school (if your child is currently a student) or at the District Administration Office 11152 Aurora Avenue (whichever is most convenient for you)

• Maximum video length is 1 minute (60 seconds)

• Video content will be reviewed and anything deemed inappropriate will render the video unusable in its entirety

• Videos will be scheduled February 27 – March 10 and March 20 – April 3, 2023

Meal Payments

Funds can be loaded onto student accounts electronically through TITAN, or by bringing cash or check to your student's building. For more information on meal pricing, and how to build a complete meal, please check our menus page.

Video tutorials (with translations) - How to Use TITAN

2022-2023 Application for Waiver of Confidentiality and School Fees

Principal: Lara Justmann; justmannl@urbandaleschools.com

Dean of Students: Derek Wilkins; wilkinsd@urbandaleschools.com

Guidance Counselor: Elizabeth Donner; donnere@urbandaleschools.com

Principal Secretary: Angie Jones; jonesa1@urbandaleschools.com

Nurse: Jenny Villegas; villegasj@urbandaleschools.com

FFO: Madison Punsalan; punsalanm@urbandaleschools.com

Website: https://www.urbandaleschools.com/schools/valerius-elementary/
Location: 6301 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriuselementary

Click here for an updated summary of the construction progress at the new Valerius Elementary School.