Springtime marks the beginning and end of many things in life. Our senior class experienced this first hand at our school’s 15th high school graduation ceremony held Friday, May 25th. It was the first graduation ceremony held at our Timberline campus. This year’s senior class numbers thirty-five and represents a broad cross section of future plans. As a college prep school, 80% of our graduates must be eligible for entrance into a four-year college or university. When combined with a 0% drop-out rate and top test scores, it is easy to see why our graduates are highly sought after.

Our seniors are headed in various directions after graduation. Twenty-seven are headed to a four-year college or university. Seven will attend a one or two year school prior to moving to a four-year program. Eleven of the twenty-seven will be attending a Christian college or university with the remainder enrolling at a secular university of their choice.

Student academic achievement was recognized and Salutatorian and Valedictorian addresses were given by Alana Hake and Lucas Grundmeier. Rumor has it that Lucas, National Merit Scholar and Iowa Academic All-State Student, penned his address that very afternoon while watching DMCS compete in the rain at the state track meet! The graduating class of 2001 chose Dennis Gonnerman as their commencement speaker. Mr. Gonnerman, former DMCS social studies teacher and parent, is currently on faculty at Trinity Bible College in Ellendale, ND. He challenged the Class of 2001 "that it is now time to seize the day" in their future endeavors, including those of Christian service. Our prayer for all of our graduates is that on whatever path God leads, that each senior puts Him first. "In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6) WE’LL MISS YOU, Class of 2001! Congratulations and Best Wishes!

DMCS NAME RECOGNITION

How are we getting DMCS to become well-recognized in Des Moines?
  April & May - Have you heard our radio spots on 99.5 FM, KZZQ?
  May 17 - A booth at the Urbandale Expo received great response.
  June 15 &16, we’ll have a booth at the Iowa Home Educators’ Conference in Des Moines.
  July 3 & 4 - The DMCS feature in the West Des Moines and Urbandale parades will feature the cheerleaders, music, lots of candy, and DMCS fans to cool parade watchers.

Have you thought as Timberline as an outreach tool? It is! On May 10, the Pam Stenzel Abstinence rally had an excellent turnout. In Zone and He Lives Ministries were featured at a June 1 Praise and Worship Rally. On July 16 DMCS and KZZQ will co-sponsor LaRue and V*Enna. We are working on scheduling other Christian activities at Timberline.

STICK WITH THE STUFF!

Listen to what several members of the Class of 2001 had to say about their education at DMCS: "You have helped to shape who I have come to be... I have been well-equipped by our school to be a leader... Our class is so tight-knit; it is hard to say goodbye... I’ll miss you guys; a lot of good memories here... Being in the body of Christ and going to a secular college will be tough as we won’t have chapel and a group of Christian friends... DMCS has been a great place for me to get ready for college... I’ll miss the teachers, and friends have been really great... A great senior year... Friends, teachers have all been a great influence in my life... Its been great... I’ll miss a lot of good memories here... I am going to miss this school a lot... A lot of fun years at DMCS... I have learned a lot at DMCS; I really love our school..."

What is it worth to us as parents to see our teenager give glowing accolades like these to their school? To see our young people experience the wonderful academics while growing strong in the knowledge of Scripture and faith in Jesus Christ, preparing them for a life of impacting our culture for Christ? The relevant question is not "What is the cost of Christian education?" Rather the question is "What is the cost of not getting a Christian education?" Maybe your loved ones have just finished kindergarten, or the third grade, or junior high. No matter the grade level, we as parents can look forward to the day when our son or daughter will graduate from DMCS and give testimony about this school, like those of the Class of 2001. So many families are, as the enrollment level for the 2001-2002 school year continues to run very high this spring compared to previous years. You cannot make a better choice nor a better investment! We exhort all families to STICK WITH THE STUFF of Christian education through DMCS!

TRACKSTERS COMPLETE 2001 SEASON

Girls and boys track teams have completed another successful season. This year was a building season for the girls team, under new track coach Mrs. Cindy Kostek. The boys team continued to establish new school records and outstanding individual and team accomplishments under long-time coach Clint Luscombe. Three of the team – Jake Nelson, Doug Cole, and Nathan Lemke – qualified for the state track meet. Jake finished his last two seasons being undefeated in the 400 meter dash, bringing DMCS our second state championship in track!

HELLO!

NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL PRINCIPAL!

God has led a member of the DMCS family back to the school as Elementary Principal. Please congratulate Constance Vande Krol, who will assume her responsibilities for the 2001-2002 school year. A member of First Federated Church, Mrs. Vande Krol taught for several years at Des Moines Christian School (1986-1995), and her four daughters all attended DMCS. Mrs. Vande Krol taught the first and fourth grades at our school, and she began the school’s well-known and excellent Developmental Kindergarten program. Mrs. Vande Krol has been a Professor of Child Development and Early Childhood Education at Central College. Since 1995, she has served as a teacher and assistant principal at Jefferson Elementary School in Des Moines. She also has advanced expertise in use of educational technologies. Mrs. Vande Krol earned her Master’s degree in Elementary School Administration and Supervision from Drake University. She is married to Jerry Vande Krol.

Several members of the DMCS community were involved in the interview process – Board members, administrators, students, parents, and guidance counselor. We are all very excited about the ways that Mrs. Vande Krol has articulated her love of the Lord and her knowledge of elementary school education. We invite you to take the opportunity, whenever convenient, to welcome her back to the Des Moines Christian family.

WHAT A YEAR IT WAS!

I blinked. Is the school year completed? Amazing. Where did time go?! We have been blessed immeasurably during the 2000-2001 school year. Most importantly, we have experienced a wonderful spirit of unity as a student body, staff, administration, Board, and Association. We have grown spiritually. Students have recorded outstanding academic and extracurricular successes. Our financial situation continues to improve. The recent assessment of our Timberline property is most favorable for the school. We commissioned a feasibility study and continue to develop a successful plan for retiring the debt and building secondary classrooms at Timberline. Architects will soon be drawing up definitive plans for the school at Timberline. Timberline has also been used more frequently by our school and the greater Des Moines community. We have raised over $8,000 toward the construction of a church in Uganda, Africa, simply by collecting spare change through a number of fun and creative means. The Association UNANIMOUSLY adopted a revised set of Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. The Foundation has been re-instituted, and the Trustees are providing excellent leadership. We have also strengthened our collaboration with the churches represented at DMCS.

How do we build upon those accomplishments? First of all, you should know that I signed up for another two years with a multi-year contract! I am so grateful to be at this school. John Steddom has also joined us for that same contractual timeline. We celebrate Mr. Henderson’s retirement and all he has meant to DMCS for the past three years, and we also look forward to the excellent leadership of Mrs. Vande Krol in that role. We all will work together to share a vision of excellence for Des Moines Christian School. You see the special vision-casting section in the right-hand column of this page. The vision includes the items God has laid on my heart as we anticipate God’s greatness at DMCS.

The future is bright. Have a great summer! But don’t stop growing in your relationship with the Lord. Summer is a time for rest and rejuvenation, but, on a daily basis, we must continue to seek Him with all of our hearts, mind, soul, and strength. Praise God for our successes in 2000-2001, and I lift prayers for many more blessings in 2001-2002!

- Dr. Bob Stouffer, Superintendent

DMCS VOLUNTEERS HONORED

On Wednesday, May 23rd, the Administrative Team hosted a Volunteer Appreciation Coffee for this very important group of people. Serving as hostesses were the Administrators’ wives - Mrs. Henderson, Mrs. Steddom and Mrs. Stouffer. Refreshments were served by the Administrative Team - Dr. Stouffer, Mr. Steddom, Mr. Henderson, Mrs. VanWeelden, Mrs. Reynolds, Mrs. Veenstra, Mr. Nelson, and Mrs. Yentes.

Did you know:

That there were over 524 opportunities to volunteer at DMCS this school year?

That out of approximately 400 school families and a few grandparents, we had over 300 different volunteers to help in classrooms, offices, lunchroom, fundraisers, and other areas of our school?

Volunteers help fuel the engine of Des Moines Christian School, and, with the price of fuel these days, we think they are worth their weight in gold! Thank you, DMCS volunteers!

8TH GRADERS PUT DOWN ROOTS AT TIMBERLINE!

Mrs. Blake’s 8th grade class spent the day at Timberline on April 5 as part of the Spiritual Emphasis Day community service project. DMCS received two bi-color hardwood oak trees from the Department of Natural Resources and the Urbandale Beautification Project. The students were studying properties of soil and water putting their knowledge to work to get the trees off to a good start. The students were challenged to give loving care to the trees, so their senior graduation photo could be taken by the trees they had planted.

DMCS FUNDRAISING STREAMLINED

We have been working hard to reduce the number of fundraisers for next school year. A fundraising strategy and calendar has been adopted which limits each school organization to only one major fundraiser and spreads these events throughout the school year. The first for next year will be the PTF Magazine Sale coming in late August. Please save your magazine renewal notices and renew your subscriptions through this fundraiser. Contact your neighbors, relatives, and co-workers and encourage them to renew through this sale. It’s so simple - they don’t even have to order any new magazines!

A BUSY SUMMER!

A WHOPPING 60 students have received grants from Music Parents Association for summer study in music, art, and drama! This is more than DOUBLE the previous number of students taking advantage of summer study opportunities. The summer study grant program is designed to encourage DMCS students to deepen their commitment to the arts, as well as augment their education at DMCS. Summer study helps students to find and develop their God-given talents and continue the high level of quality of DMCS fine arts programs and performing groups, who also play an important role in the outreach of our school to the Des Moines community and area churches.

 THE VISION FOR DMCS

SPIRITUAL:

A HUGE emphasis on building a deep, abiding, personal, intimate relationship with Jesus Christ for all Board members, administrators, teachers, staff members, students, and family members

Emphasis on prayer and fasting

The best Bible program in the country

Strong emphasis on mission work

ACADEMIC:

Safe, caring environment

Continuing excellence in the Pre-School/Daycare program(s)

Rigorous curriculum – rich with meaningful, important, relevant, authentic content

Programs to support learners of ALL abilities

First-class staff development program for DMCS educators

GROWTH:

Greater representation of people of color, including Board and administrators, in God’s timing

Attracting more people to Christian education through excellence in programming

Seamless PK-16 programs

An alliance with a Christian college to challenge our students during the day, and to offer Bible teaching and degree programs at night.

"Neighborhood" satellite preschool/ daycare and elementary schools at appropriate locations in the Des Moines area (without overextending the DMCS ministry)

Continuing effective Christian transportation system / Kid Taxi service / Ride Share program

COMMUNITY OUTREACH:

Continuing collaboration with a Bible-believing church at Timberline

Dramatically increased church involvement with DMCS

The DMCS Timberline campus as a Christian resource center for such activities as youth concerts and rallies

Internships for students at the high school level

A student Christian radio station

Calendar of events

June 11 Baseball/Softball @ HOME vs Stuart-Menlo

June 12 Baseball/Softball @ HOME vs Paton-Churdan

June 14 Baseball/Softball vs Panorama AWAY

June 16 Softball Tournament @ Colfax

June 19 Committee Meetings

June 19 Baseball/Softball @ HOME vs Guthrie Center

June 20 Baseball @ HOME vs Martensdale

June 20 Softball vs Earlham AWAY

June 21 Baseball vs Van Meter AWAY

June 23 Baseball Tournament @ Adel

June 26 Baseball/Softball vs West Central of Stuart AWAY

June 28 Baseball/Softball vs Paton-Churdan AWAY

June 29 Softball @ HOME vs S.E. Webster

June 29-30 Baseball Tournament @ Perry

July 2 Baseball/Softball @ HOME vs Panorama

July 3 West Des Moines Parade

July 4 Urbandale Parade

July 5 Baseball vs Coon Rapids-Bayard AWAY

July 5 Softball @ HOME vs Coon Rapids-Bayard

July 6 Baseball/Softball @ HOME vs East Greene

July 7 Baseball Tournament @ Waukee

July 9 Baseball Districts Begin

July 10 Board Meeting

July 12 Softball @ HOME vs Orient-Macksburg

July 14 Softball Districts Begin

July 16-20 Music Camp Gr. 2-7

July 17 Committee Meetings

July 21 Music Camp Performance

August 7 Board Meeting

August 14  Committee Meetings

August 20   All Parent Meeting/New Student Orientation

August 22  First day of School

August 27  MPA Meeting

August 29  Magazine Sale Begins