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

A Des Moines Christian Elementary parent shared the following testimonial with me, Dr. Bob, this week: "I wanted to share a proud parent moment with you.  It is a moment for which DMC deserves full credit. A couple of weeks ago, my son had a DMC friend over to play.  The boys were having a great time running around in the backyard.  They decided to make our fireplace log pile into a fort.  I gave them some sidewalk chalk and told them they could decorate it however they'd like.  Well, in predictable boy fashion, their decorations included a 'no girls allowed' sign and smiley faces, along with each of their names.  Scattered among these 'typical' boy writings, though, were the words, God, joy, peace, and King.  It hit me that these words, too, are as natural for these two 7 year-old boys as making a log fort and trying to keep girls out.  I wanted to share the story with you, because it warms my heart to know that my son, and his playmates, are immersed in God's love every day.  I feel blessed that we are part of the DMC family. Thank you." Praise the Lord for the positive discipling influences of parents, good Bible-believing churches, and Christian schools!

Elementary Principal Karla Lowe and I received a very positive e-mail from an Elementary parent this week, and I thought you, too, would be encouraged by this parent's words: "Dr. Bob and Mrs. Lowe, as we all know, it takes more than just the home environment influence on our children to ensure they learn about life and about making good decisions, which is why I wanted to share with you the e-mail I received about my son after he volunteered for the Animal Rescue League last weekend. Thank you for all you do at school to help reinforce what we try to do at home."

"I would like to first of all say a big thank you for picking ["Jimmy"] to help me out by having him push my wheelchair and my considerable weight around for nearly all of the two hours of the silent auction.  The two of you could not have been more friendly, courteous, kind, polite, or helpful. Your son was very intelligent about remembering the many bids I placed and was very quick to get an item number or amount bid for me as I was writing them down on my paddle to keep track.  He never complained about how many times I said to go back.  You were also very helpful in guiding him, but, for a twelve-year-old, he was very mature and didn't seem to really need any help.  You were both an absolute God-send, and, when he is old enough to volunteer at the Animal Rescue League, the organization better snap him up before somebody else does.  Both he and his mother were so very kind and very personable, friendly, and professional.  They have what is missing from most of today's society: respect for elders and the disabled. Helping in itself is its own reward, and a mother wanted to teach a son about the latter one the most.  That is rarely found in today's society.  It was very refreshing to meet and interact with two so gracious, generous, helpful, self-sacrificing, kind, Christian, good, honest, decent people.  I can't even begin to say enough good things about you. . . .A better pair to help me out could not have been picked.  You were absolutely perfect volunteers and, especially, human beings."    

 

Wow! What an amazing story of God working through Christians as a witness to others!     

On Thursday, the first grade classes of Charlene Brown, Sherry Ites, and Brenda Simpson took a 20-minute walk as a field trip to the Animal Health Clinic on 128th Street, just north of Des Moines Christian. Students had an opportunity to see how a veterinarian clinic cares for animals.

I am pleased to report the words of one of the judges (also a Christian and former DMC parent) at the recent conference art competition: "I had the privilege of working with your students yesterday at the West Central Activities Conference art fair in Van Meter. I love your kids! Their focus, understanding, and conduct were head and shoulders above the other groups. Good job, to your faculty, the parents, and God, of course." Praise the Lord for this extremely positive assessment of the fruit of the Spirit shown by Des Moines Christian Secondary students!  

All-Parent Fine Arts Booster (FAB) booster club meetings are held once each semester.  The second semester meeting will begin at 6:30 p.m. in the Gymnasium before the 7:00 p.m. spring music concert.

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.

Summer order dates for DMCS Dollar$ are:  

May 26

June 2

June 16

July 7

July 28

August 11

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:

"Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford." (Chris, 7)

"Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day." (Mary Ann, 4)