COWLES MONTESSORI

Families are invited to meet at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 29th at
the Grinnell Heritage Farms booth (on south side of Court Ave. between 2nd and
3rd Streets) at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. Rain or shine. We have
pre-ordered vegetables from farmers Melissa and Andrew Dunham, who harvested
our fresh, certified organic, Iowa-produced ingredients (like parsnips, beets,
broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi, bell peppers, potatoes, carrots, beans, tomatoes,
cauliflower, onions, brussel sprouts, marjoram and parsley). Stay for free
entertainment and meet other farmers on your own. For information about parking
and other vendors, see http://desmoinesfarmersmarket.com/

Children in grades 1-8 had the opportunity to see the play The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by the Windy City Players. They performed at 10:00-10:45 in the Cowles gym Tuesday, October 18.

The performace was wonderful. They had Cowles’ students and staff participate in the show!

This is a reminder that all “new” parents to Cowles Pre-School age children are invited to attend a parent information meeting from 6:00-7:00 on October 18th at Cowles. From 6:00-6:30 we will be in the gym for a large group presentation. From 6:30-7:00 parents will be with their child’s teacher in the classroom. Childcare for school age children is provided in the PAX Place room from 6:00-7:00. We hope to see you at the meeting.

Last week we had a fact filled and fun visit from the Windsor Heights Fire Department. The children were shown the fireman’s gear, discussed fire safety at school and home, and were given a tour of the fire truck. They were very excited to have the opportunity to sit in the back of the truck. This was all to honor Fire Prevention Week. Thank you to the WHFD for taking time to stop by!

Reminder… Wednesday is early dismissal at 1:45.

No school for students on October 13

No School for students or staff October 14

Parent Teacher Conferences started last week and will continue this week for our K-8 grade students. Please check with your child’s teacher to schedule a time if you have not done so.

Cowles Science Club Off
to a Great Start                       

Our first science club meeting was a success! This week we
asked the question: What happens when you put hot water inside of cold water?
Students came up with a hypothesis and we moved onto the experiment. We
observed what was happening and then recorded the results. Later we talked
about underwater volcanoes and how this experiment simulated what an underwater
volcano does under the ocean. We even had time for another experiment. For this
experiment, we turned the lights off and looked at a jar of water with a
flashlight. We were able to see the reflection on the other side, the water was
clear. Ms. Galluzzo asked the students what they thought would happen if we
added another liquid such as milk into the jar. We looked at the jar using our
flashlights and discovered that some jars had a hint of color and that the
liquid was not as clear. We asked students what the sun looks like at noon
compared to what it looks like when it was setting. When the sun is setting it
is closer to earth’s atmosphere and comes in contact with more particles
creating a variety of beautiful colors. These beautiful sunsets can actually be
the result of pollution! Next we poured food coloring in the jar to simulate
pollution/added particles in the atmosphere. The jars of liquid turned into
beautiful marble- like colors, just like a sunset. With parental supervision
students should be able to try some of the experiments from our club out at
home.

Cowles Participates
in the Start Somewhere Walk

We walked at noon on Friday, October 7 as a part of the
Healthiest State Initiative. We left Cowles at 11:30 to walk up to the Hy-Vee
grocery store in Windsor Heights.  Ms. Anderson’s, Ms. Lori’s, Ms. Stacey’s, Ms. Parmerlee’s, and Mr. Moody’s classrooms walked together. The walk was a  1 kilometer route (a little over half a mile) that started at noon from the Windsor Heights Hy-Vee. Other neighbors and businesses walked with us. This helps our students/school build a sense of community with our surrounding neighborhood.  We also
had other classes who walked on the Cowles property during the day.

Cowles Celebrates
Fire Prevention Week

On October 11^th, the Windsor Heights Fire Department will speak to our PK and 1-3 grade classes about Fire Prevention. The PK students will learn about all the protective gear that fireman wear. All students will have an opportunity to learn about what firefighters do and to ask questions. They will discuss fire safety with all of the classes and get an up close look at a fire truck. Thank you to the Windsor Heights Fire
Department!

Here is a link from Karlette Brannon that was shared with us. I will be sharing it with my administrators group. It has been shared with Dr. Sebring also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcgN0lEh5IA

Keep the flame alive!!!!

Fall pictures will be Thursday, September 29. A picture package price list and envelope will be sent home this week with your child.  All students will have their picture taken but only students who have prepaid for pictures will receive a picture package.

Please return the envelope with payment enclosed by September 29 to your child’s teacher. The company will accept payments on picture day until 12:00 noon. After that time, payments will need to be sent to the company.

All students PK-8 will have their picture taken.

Tomorrow is our Peace Walk. It is also International Peace Day. Students will walk with their classes starting out on the soccer field at 10:20. Ms. Anderson’s class will release their butterflies and students wil be carrying pinwheels to celebrate peace. If you or your child has a Montessori shirt we are encouraging wearing them tomorrow. We would love to have parents come to school to walk with their child.