Kindergarten Kickoff Offers Families a Better Start

Welcome to Des Moines Public Schools! New this year, incoming kindergarten students will focus on learning schoolwide routines, take part in welcome, culture and community building, and undergo some informal assessments before being assigned to a teacher. During the same timeframe, parents will have an opportunity to access resources, tour the school and participate in orientation activities. You could say school begins for the whole family on Aug. 24. Studies show this kind of orientation reduces social-emotional stress on children and families and increases family involvement in school, improving academic growth over the course of kindergarten and beyond. Meet the Teacher night is planned for Thursday, Sept. 1. Kindergarten students will then have Friday, September 2 off from school, in addition to Labor Day.