Anyone in DMC or throughout the world can now start following me, Dr. Bob, on Twitter! I have arrived in the 21^st Century! Look for my posts at DrBobStouffer! I'll try not to over-tweet! 

Would you like up-to-date notices about school closings and athletic scores? Follow Des Moines Christian School on Twitter at DMCS_Updates.

Congratulations to the following student-athletes for being selected as members of the 2011 All-District Football Team:
 
1^st Team Offense:
Seniors Danny Clinton, Josiah Gates, Jimmy Juergens, and Austin Stubbs

1^st Team Defense:
Seniors Hunter Schmitt and Ethan Zepp
 
2^nd Team Offense:
Senior Justin Nunes

2^nd Team Defense:
Juniors Cody Carlson and Alex Toulouse
Seniors Aaron Troll, Mitch Crook, and Austin Stubbs
 
Honorable Mention:
Seniors Austin Gafford, Tyler Osborn, and Austin Stubbs
 
Gold Squad Member:
Senior Cody Carlson
 
All-Academic:
Seniors Matt Herbers, Jimmy Juergens, Justin Nunes, Austin Stubbs, Aaron Troll, and Ethan Zepp
Juniors Ben Burkett, Cody Carlson, Anthony Flynn, T.J. Sheely, and Alex Toulouse  

Sophomore Dillon Bruxvoort
 

SEAMSTRESSES NEEDED:   Can you follow a pattern?  Would you share your talent with the high school Show Choir - Light, Inc.?  We are in urgent need of people to help sew boys' vests for this year's show.  Contact Sharon Zonnefeld to volunteer or get more information.

The Word on Elementary Guidance.The Elementary Guidance Counselor is trying to get the word out about Elementary guidance. Do you know what the guidance counselor does? Amy Wilson is our Elementary Guidance Counselor. She comes in contact with every student in K-6^th grade throughout the year. Many of you know her, and your children may speak often of her. Other children may never share about their interactions with the guidance counselor. We have recently updated the elementary webpage to include a section specifically for the guidance and counseling program. Please take a moment to check it out. You'll find out a little about the different roles that she fills at the school and her hours and contact information. Additionally, to learn more about her, you may check out her profile under the teacher pages of the website. Just look for "A_Wilson". Guidance is also listed under the academics tab. You can find more about topics covered in the curriculum with the grade level information. Amy is available during the day, but call for an appointment if you need to talk to her - to assure she will be here due to her part-time schedule.

Mrs. Kostek has received information regarding the Iowa National Guard Officers Auxiliary Scholarship. If you are a child/stepchild of an Iowa National Guard member - either currently serving, retired, or a deceased retiree - you are eligible for scholarship application. Stop in the Secondary Guidance Office for your application.

The Des Moines Christian fourth graders did an excellent job of leading Elementary Chapel on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. If you would like to read my summary of chapel activities, "Give This Christmas Away," please click here.

Destiny Bible Church Youth Pastor Guy Puthoff delivered an invigorating message about ethics to an audience of Des Moines Christian staff, junior high students, high school students and several Dowling Catholic High School student visitors during Secondary Chapel on Wednesday, November 16, 2011. If you would like my summary of Guy's message, "Choices," please click here.

Upcoming Chapels:

November 23 -

Elementary - No chapel due to Thanksgiving Break

Secondary  - No chapel due to Thanksgiving Break

Calling all veterans and current service people in the Guard or active military service! We have changed our annual Veteran's Day Chapel to Wednesday, November 30th to accommodate a special speaker. Please invite grandparents and parents to don their uniforms or caps to be honored by the DMC community. Chapel is scheduled for 8:45 a.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room. The more, the merrier! Let's properly honor the men and women who have protected our freedoms! 

Here are two fun opportunities for kids and parents, play groups, child care centers, and pre-schools:

Jumpin' Jamboree

Indoor Inflatable Play Date

The Orange Planet

5650 Metro East Drive

Pleasant Hill

Come in from the cold!

Bounce, jump, and slide on 5 inflatables!

February 8^th, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

February 17^th, 9:00 a.m. to Noon for toddlers to age 5, Noon to 3:00 p.m. for children ages 7-15

Single day entry = $8 (Two siblings = $15, three siblings = $20, etc., caregivers and parents free)

Complimentary bottled water included.

Parents must accompany young children during play time.

Highest inflatable is 18-feet tall. February 17^th is a no-school day for Southeast Polk students, so anticipate crowds on that day.

No pre-registration required.

Consider bringing sack lunch and sharing lunch time with your child at the Big Orange Planet's sit-down café.

Additional drinks and snacks available on-site.
For more information, click here.

I was thrilled to receive the following link  to an excellent article about former Elementary Principal Cade Lambert, and I thought some of the members of the school community would enjoy catching up on his transition to Minnesota.  He speaks very superintendently!  (Whatever that means.)  What's up with that "aging" comment, though!  The guy is still so close to 30!