We are ALL WDMCS
Oct. 6, 2023
School Board Candidate Information
WDMCS School board elections will be held this year on Tuesday, Nov. 7. There are four seats on the ballot. The following individuals, listed in alphabetical order by last name, filed nomination papers:
- Michael Andreski
- Laurie Beilstein
- Jeff Hicks (incumbent)
- Jill Caton Johnson (incumbent)
- Elizabeth Larson
- Teri Patrick
- Aaron Sewell
- Scott White
Public School Board Candidate Forum
The West Des Moines Chamber of Commerce invites you to meet the candidates at a School Board Candidate Forum on Monday, Oct. 16, from 5:30-7 p.m. The forum will be held at the WDMCS Learning Resource Center, 3550 Mills Civic Parkway, West Des Moines, and will be livestreamed on the WDMCS YouTube Channel.
Please CLICK HERE to submit your questions in advance. The Chamber will not take questions at the event due to time constraints.
These P-EBT cards are part of a government program that provides extra support to children approved for free or reduced-price school meals. The cards are being mailed in the child’s name to their home address.
If your family was approved for the National School Lunch Program, then each student (who was enrolled as of May 1, 2023) would receive a P-EBT card.
Plus, ALL WDMCS students who attended one of the eight Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) schools in our district during the 2022-23 school year will also receive a card. So for example, a sophomore at Valley may receive a benefit card because they attended Valley Southwoods (a CEP school) at the time eligibility was determined. Please refer to FAQs below for exceptions.
Free Meals for ALL at Nine Schools
CEP Schools (Free Meals for All)
Clive Learning Academy
Crestview School of Inquiry
Crossroads Park Elementary
Hillside Elementary
Western Hills Elementary
Indian Hills Junior High
Stilwell Junior High
Valley Southwoods Freshman High School
Walnut Creek Campus
Students who attend these CEP-qualified schools do not need money added to their meal accounts.
Digital Backpack
- Movies in Colby Park: "Hocus Pocus" on Oct. 6
- Windsor Heights Fall Festival on Oct. 7
- Join Cub Scouts at Hillside on Oct. 18
- "The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe" at Des Moines Young Artists' Theatre, Oct. 20-29
- Halloween Hullabaloo, register by Oct. 25
- Trunk-or-Treat at St. Mark Lutheran Church on Oct. 25
- Learn to Skate with Des Moines Figure Skating Club, register by Oct. 27
- Trunk-or-Treat at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church on Oct. 29
- No School Camp at MidAmerican Energy RecPlex, register by Nov. 3
- Granny Squares Crochet, register by Nov. 8
- Landscape Painting for Novice Painters — Watercolor, register by Nov. 8
View Digital Backpack Listings >
Dates to Remember
Monday, Oct. 9, 2023
No School for PK-12 Students
Junior High Conferences
Saturday, Oct. 14, 2023
Raccoon River Rally at Raccoon River Park
Monday, Oct. 16, 2023
School Board Candidate Forum
Friday, Oct. 27 and Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023
Stilwell Junior High Fall Musical
Monday, Nov. 6, 2023
No School for PK-12 Students (except Crestview)
Elementary Conferences
Staff Learning Oct. 9
PK-12 students do not have school on Monday, Oct. 9.
Elementary and high school certified staff will participate in professional development (PD) in support of student and staff needs and each school's improvement plan.
Most elementary certified staff will focus on new resources regarding literacy. Staff will have the opportunity to hear from Kylene Beers and Robert E. Probst, the authors of "Notice and Note: Strategies for Closer Reading." The authors will share with elementary certified staff their "six 'signposts' to help students read closely, encouraging them to explore the text and find evidence to support their interpretations." Elementary staff will also engage in building- and self-directed PD time and learning about dyslexia, and some staff groups will collaborate on specialized topics.
High school certified staff will choose from learning on topics ranging from trauma-sensitive classrooms to English for Speakers of Other Languages support and the district wellness program. Staff may also take part in self-directed professional learning time. Junior high staff will hold conferences throughout the day.
Valleyfest, Band Concerts, and Orchestra Performances
Be HERE! for Valleyfest XLIV this Saturday, Oct. 7. This will mark the 44th consecutive year that the Valley Bands have hosted the best high school marching bands from Iowa and surrounding states in an exciting day and evening of marching excellence.
The Marchmasters will perform at 10:30 p.m. at Valley Stadium. Their performance will be dedicated to Sam Kranovich. Sam is greatly missed, and we’d like to celebrate his love of band, the support he provided our students, and all the hours he put in volunteering for the program.
CLICK HERE for the Valleyfest schedule and information on admission fees and parking.
Upcoming Arts Events
Orchestra Concert (grades 9-12)
Oct. 10, 2023 from 7-9 p.m.
Staplin Performing Arts Center
Valley High School
Concert Band (grades 9-12)
Oct. 12. 2023 at 7 p.m.
Staplin Performing Arts Center
Valley High School
Senior Night for Marchmasters
Oct. 13, 2023 at 7.p.m.
Valley Stadium
Valley Drama presents “Falling Awake” Nov. 3-5
Written and directed by Valley Drama Director Aaron Westrum, "Falling Awake" is an original production you won’t want to miss. Following a devastating accident, a young woman slips into a coma and finds herself in Numa, an enchanting world filled with unnaturally cheerful but oblivious inhabitants. She soon discovers the truth: her body remains comatose and it's but her spirit which resides in Numa. If she doesn't remember who she is, she'll be permanently stuck in Numa... unless her family decides to disconnect her life support and she vanishes entirely.
"Falling Awake" will be presented on Nov. 3 at 7 p.m., Nov. 4 at 7 p.m., and Nov. 5 at 2 p.m. at the Staplin Performing Arts Center at Valley High School. Tickets are $15 each and may be purchased at www.midwestix.com.
To learn more about the Valley Drama Family, please visit www.valleydrama.com.
Walnut Creek Campus is hosting a Bike Donation Day!
Wednesday, Oct. 11
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Walnut Creek Campus | 1020 8th St., West Des Moines
Do you have a bicycle collecting dust in your garage, or has your child outgrown a bike? Walnut Creek is seeking donations that will either be donated to the Bike Collective or used at Walnut Creek to teach students bicycle repair. Tax donation receipts are available. Contact Walnut Creek science teacher Wesley Hall at 515-326-2512 with any questions.
