Des Moines Public Schools students come from all over the world, and so do visitors to the district. Today, Central Campus and Central Academy welcomed Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Dr. Hamdullah Mohib. The former war refugee met with Des Moines Schools Board members, staff and students. Click here to learn more about the 33 year-old diplomat and his message.

The bad news: the victim of a mock (repeat mock!) homicide at Central Campus was a DMPS security officer. Evidence at the scene indicated that the perpetrator may be a clown, an appropriate suspect for a mock crime given the nation-wide creepy clown hoax on social media. The good news: the Criminal Justice program is one the case. Now in its second year, the program has more than doubled in size. Click here for more about the program and this unique lesson.

The World Food Prize has been referred to as the Nobel Prize of agriculture and food science. Headquartered in Des Moines, the WFP also feeds students at DMPS with many science-related opportunities. On Tuesday Central Campus hosted a reception in honor of Dr. Charity Kawira Mutegi of Kenya. In 2013 Dr. Mutegi received the Norman Borlaug Award for Field Research and Application from the WFP, endowed by the Rockefeller Foundation. Click here to read more about this special opportunity for students in Des Moines.

Conferences provide a time for you to meet with the teacher, familiarize yourself with the program your student is attending and to get a glimpse into your students learning experience at Central Campus. If your student is attending either our Aviation Technology Academy or our Agricultural Sciences Academy you are invited to meet with the instructors at their facilities. We look forward to seeing during conferences!

Dr. Greg Barord is a teacher at Central Campus, directing the school’s acclaimed marine biology program. He is also one of the world’s authorities on the nautilus. Last week he was in South Africa at a conference on endangered species, where his efforts led to support for regulatory protections governing international trade of nautiluses. Click here to read more about the work of another extraordinary teacher at DMPS.