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Welcome to the first 2025 edition of TheWeek@DMPS. We are excited to launch DMPS On the Go, bringing Wi-Fi to all 126 school buses and enhancing connectivity for over 14,000 students each day. Our Rapidly growing Options Academy celebrates its first winter graduation, while Parent University helps families access essential resources later this month. Plus, learn about DMPS employees making a difference. Lyn Wilson was recognized as a 2025 Des Moines Register Person to Watch! Read on for all this and more!
Remember there is no school next week on Thursday and Friday, January 16-17 for professional development days, as well as on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Monday, January 20. The new semester begins when students return to school on Tuesday, January 21.
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'DMPS ON THE GO' WIFI AVAILABLE ON SCHOOL BUSES
Des Moines Public Schools is proud to announce the launch of DMPS On The Go, a new initiative that provides Wi-Fi service on all 126 school buses in the district. This service is designed to enhance students’ access to the internet, allowing them to make more productive use of their travel time, whether heading to school, returning home, or traveling to out-of-town events. More than 14,000 students ride a school bus during some point on a typical school day at DMPS. Click here to learn more.
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GROWING OPTIONS ACADEMY ADDS 2ND CEREMONY
We are excited to join the leaders, staff, and graduates of Options Academy for their first, second commencement! In addition to a May ceremony, the rapidly expanding program aimed at offering students an alternative to a traditional high school setting has added a winter graduation ceremony. You're invited to help almost 100 new graduates celebrate on Thursday, January 16 at 6:00 p.m. in the Central Campus auditorium. Congratulations to the first members of the Class of 2025! Click here to learn more about the Options Academy expansion on our podcast.
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DR. ROBERTS PLANS JANUARY COMMUNITY COFFEE
Join Dr. Roberts for coffee and a lively discussion about Des Moines Public Schools later this month. Dr. Roberts has scheduled his January Superintendent Chat at Smokey Row, 1910 Cottage Grove Ave., on Friday, January 24 from 8:30 - 10:00 a.m. Grab your beverage of choice and get to know the leader of Iowa's largest school district. NOTE: due to a scheduling conflict, this date has changed from what was originally announced.
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REGISTER'S 2025 PEOPLE TO WATCH: LYN WILSON
We are so proud to have Lyn Wilson as a part of our team at DMPS. As our homeless and migrant education liaison, she is making a difference in the lives of hundreds of students by helping to meet their needs in and out of school. The Des Moines Register profiled Lyn as one of 15 People to Watch in 2025. Click here to read more about Lyn Wilson's work at DMPS.
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DMPS FOUNDATION'S INVITATION TO DINNER
The 2nd Annual DMPS Foundation Dinner will be an evening of community and celebration featuring our talented students, a state of the schools update from superintendent Dr. Ian Roberts, and the opportunity to raise much needed financial support for the students of Des Moines Public Schools. Join us in uplifting and continuing our tradition of educational opportunity and excellence for all children in Des Moines on February 13 at our annual Foundation Dinner. Click here to learn more about attending the event.
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WRESTLING IN BLACK AND WHITE
Wrestling meets at the Lincoln Roundhouse are known for the action on the mat and the dramatic lighting: a single illuminated globe suspended over the grapplers. At a triangular meet Lincoln hosted with Ottumwa and Roosevelt, we tried to match the dramatic mood with our black-and-white photos of the competition. Click here to see more images from the meet.
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KINDERGARTEN SIGN UP OPENS FEBRUARY 17
Starting kindergarten is an exciting time for you and your child and we want the sign-up process to go as smoothly as possible for your family. Kindergarten sign-up for families new to DMPS begins on February 17, 2025. We experience longer lines and wait times as the school year draws near, so we recommend completing the process early. Children who are five years old on or before September 15, 2025, are eligible for Kindergarten starting with the 2025-2026 school year. Click here to find the information you need to start enrollment. NOTE: If you already have a child in a DMPS preschool or partner preschool, you will receive a letter in February with instructions for registering for Kindergarten.
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PARENT UNIVERSITY TEACHES BASIC NEEDS ACCESS
If you are struggling with accessing basic needs resources, plan to join Parent University to learn how on Wednesday, January 29 at 5:00 p.m. at Harding Middle School. DMPS school leaders will help with engaging Iowa Legal Aid, food pantries, health clinics, and more. Google Fiber sponsors this monthly program for families focused on supporting their students' learning at school.
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COFFEE WITH LEGISLATORS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 1
The DMPS Community Legislative Action Team is hosting another opportunity to have coffee with legislators and school leaders and learn about the critical importance of early childhood education. Join them on Saturday, February 1 at Mitchell Early Learning Center, 111 Porter Ave. from 9:00 – 10:30 a.m. Find out how the data shows that preschool levels the playing field for all students. Click here to learn more about CLAT and coffees with your local legislators.
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DMPS AND DMPL HOST 'THE RIGHT TO READ' EVENT
Des Moines Public Schools and the Des Moines Public Library are partnering to present a screening of The Right to Read - a documentary on the literacy crisis and the Science of Reading. A public forum will follow, offering a chance to discuss the film and to learn more about Des Moines Public Schools' strategy for embracing literacy improvement for all. Join us at the Franklin Avenue Library, Thursday, January 16 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Click here to read more about the event on the DMPL website.
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CONNECT WITH DMPS COMMUNITY EDUCATION
Community Education presents a catalog of courses for Winter/Spring 2025, offering a variety of learning opportunities across the Des Moines area. Pick up a new hobby, develop professional skills, or engage in cultural enrichment! DMPS Community Education has something for everyone. Click here to see the options available to you.
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VIDEO AND PHOTO GALLERY OF THE WEEK | |
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Recent items in the news media about or of interest to students, teachers, and families at Des Moines Public Schools:
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IMPORTANT DATES AND EVENTS | |
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January 16
Options Academy Winter Graduation, 6:00 p.m., Central Campus Auditorium
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January 16-17
No School - Professional development days
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January 20
No School - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
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January 24
Dr. Roberts' Superintendent Chat, 8:30 a.m., Smokey Row, 1910 Cottage Grove Ave.
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January 29
Parent University: Basic Needs Resources, 5:00 p.m., Harding Middle School
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February 1
CLAT Coffee with Legislators, 9:00 a.m., Mitchell Early Learning Center
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It is the policy of the Des Moines Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you believe you have (or your child has) been discriminated against or treated unjustly at school, please contact Carol Wynn-Green, 2100 Fleur Drive, Des Moines, IA 50321; phone: 515-242-7709; email: carol.wynngreen@dmschools.org.
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