STARTING ON MONDAY, MAY 13, 2013. . .

. . .ALL DMCS ENTRANCES WILL BE LOCKED-DOWN FROM 8:45 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.;

. . .ALL VISITORS WILL BE EXPECTED TO WEAR VISITOR BADGES obtained in any office complex;

. . .ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS OR ADMINISTRATORS WILL ELECTRONICALLY ALLOW ACCESS TO THE BUILDING ONLY AFTER VERIFICATION OF VALID REASONS FOR APPOINTMENTS AT DMC;

. . .VISITORS CAN EXPECT A STANDARDIZED STATEMENT OF WELCOME:  "Hi, I'm Carmen Kopf in the Elementary Office.  May I help you?"

. . .AFTER JUNIOR HIGH AND SENIOR HIGH LUNCHES, SECONDARY STUDENTS WILL BE EXPECTED TO WALK BACK TO THE TWO-STORY BUILDING THROUGH THE SOUTH INTERIOR HALLWAY;

. . .THE BROWN EXTERIOR DOORS BY THE INTERIOR TROPHY CASES WILL BE LOCKED-DOWN 24/7/365; and

. . .A DOCUMENT OF "WHAT IF" QUESTIONS WILL BE HELPING TO GUIDE OFFICE PERSONNEL IN CONFIRMING THE AUTHORIZATION OF ENTRANCE BY PEOPLE AFTER 8:45 a.m. (prospective families, delivery persons, volunteers, grandparents, parents, people at the incorrect entrances, vendors, those picking up DMC$ DOLLAR$, students coming after appointments off-campus, pizza delivery people, those renting DMC property, activities with arrivals of spectators and coaches and competitors prior to 3:00 p.m., etc.

. . .STUDENT OFFICE VOLUNTEERS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED TO AUTHORIZE ELECTRONIC ENTRANCE OF THOSE WITHOUT FOBS.

We will be MUCH MORE STRICT about authorizing entrance to the school, because a single breech defeats all of the hard work and expense of better securing the building.  

Everyone, please -- PATIENCE, PATIENCE, PATIENCE -- as we work through these new procedures to develop good safety and security habits. 

Thank you for your assistance, EVERYONE!

In Christ,

Dr. Bob

I was so touched by the account of Roxanne Pemoulie's second graders asking to pray for her prior to a long-term absence from school. Without any prompting by Mrs. Pemoulie, the students suggested they pray, surrounded her, laid hands on her, and offered up prayers of petition to the Lord! Where else can you witness such student behavior than in a Christ-centered school?! Praise God! 

Northwest Des Moines Rotary Club:  $1,000 Scholarship to a Des Moines Christian student.  Criteria include (1) evidence of financial need, (2) academic potential to succeed, (3) participation in community and school activities, and (4) work experience.  Applications may be obtained from Secondary Guidance Counselor Cindy Kostek.

Thomas Goodrich Memorial Wildlife Scholarship: This scholarship is intended for students who are interested in working toward careers in the outdoors, conservation, and wildlife. Applications may be obtained from Mrs. Kostek.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITY: The Bankers Trust Youth Board is looking for students interested in serving on their Board. Any current sophomore or junior interested in this opportunity, see Mrs. Kostek.

Des Moines Christian families, and prospective DMCS families, our school offers two forms of needs-based financial assistance to our K-12 families.  The first are School Tuition Organization (STO) funds which come to us from the Heart of Iowa STO.  Eligibility is clearly defined by the Iowa Department of Revenue, and, if your family is eligible for this funding, we encourage you to submit your application to the Business Office, attention Julia Veenstra, DMCS Business Manager.  Below is a link to this form that can be printed from our website.  Families must apply each year, and applications for the 2013-2014 school year should be submitted by June 1.  Funds are distributed in July and again in December.

Application for needs-based assistance is confidential.  This application information is available only to the Business Manager.  For accountability purposes, a  list of scholarship recipients is given to me, Dr. Bob Stouffer, DMCS Superintendent, and Nate Schelhaas, the DMCS Board Treasurer. 

2013-2014 STO application 

FAST" on-line application - 2013-2014 Christian Scholar Grant 

A group of professional people posed this question to a group of 4- to 8-year-olds, "What does love mean?"The answers they got were broader and deeper than anyone could have imagined! See what you think:

"My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don't see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night, do you?!" (Clare, 6)

"Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken." (Elaine, 5)