Iowa Heritage Digital Collections
State Library of Iowa

032_Elmwood School Programs

Title

032_Elmwood School Programs

Description

This is a page from the collection "Bicentennial Reflections: History of Des Moines Public Schools, 1876-1976" by Dr. Robert R. Denny, published by the Des Moines Public Schools in Des Moines, Iowa in 1976.

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032_Elmwood SchoolPrograms.jpg

Transcription

30 Cole, would sometimes come to the school to give us talks. Perhaps the best student in our class was Vesta Peak who I believe is an aunt of George Peak who* is active in Des Moines business circles. "About 1900 or 1901 we moved from 38th and University to 38th and Cottage Grove. Cottage Grove was a dirt road and in the spring was an almost impassable quagmire with signs in it on figures upside down saying "He hasn't found bottom yet." "All the time I was at Elmwood I milked a cow every night and morning and after 1900 pumped all the water in a storage tank in the attic, that was required by a family of eight. Of course I walked back and forth to school twice a day. It was in 1901 that I first saw an automobile along a road out our way. Occasionally my mother would have a party for the teachers at our house at 38th and Cottage Grove (where the Grace Methodist church now stands.) "For a time the U.P. church which is the progenitor of the present Westminster held meetings in Elmwood. It must have been about 1900 or 1901 just before the church at 35th and Cottage Grove was erected. I remember well attending religious services in the Elmwood School on Sundays. Sincerely, Henry A. Wallace" During the 1920-1921 school year Elmwood maintained a Milk Station. Four pupils from each class took turns presiding during the morning recess. Over two' hundred underweight pupils received nourishment which helped build their health. By spring the percentage of underweight children in Elmwood had dropped from 40% to 25%. War stamps were sold during W. W. II and in the years that followed. During the 1950's Elmwood pupils used the radio programs broadcast by KDPS-FM. In the 1960's some of the classes began to use television programs from KDPS-TV. A satellite lunch program was inaugurated in the fall of 1964. Elmwood in 1975 - 76 Elmwood's enrollment has shown a continuous decline during the period of 1970-75. The school enrollment now stands at 282. Among the reasons for this decline are the following: 1. The purchase of property by Drake University in the area which in turn has either been turned into parking lots or rented to students more than families with children. 2. The continual decline of the area as the central core of the city spreads north and west. 3. Being an older neighborhood, there are more older people living in the area who at one time sent children to Elmwood. 4. An unusually large number of apartments in the area which are mostly rented to singles or newly-married couples. Programs: 1. Title I Reading Designated as a Title I school for the 1974-75 year, Elmwood had the services of a reading resource teacher and associate. Boys and girls in grades K-4 profited much from this additional help. 2. Headstart A Headstart class was begun in September of 1974. There were 27 youngsters, mostly from the adjacent areas who had a great year and a good send-off to kindergarten. 3. Specific Learning Disabilities In the fall of 1972 a half-time teacher for learning disabilities was added to the staff. Teachers identified boys and girls in K-6 who would need additional help for periods up to 45 minutes with a special teacher. 4. Satellite Resource Room In January of 1975 a specific learning disabilities room from Madison School was moved to Elmwood. These boys and girls in grades K-3 spent most of their day in their own room. As their ability and control permitted they are sent out to various rooms for periods of time ranging up to half a day. 5. School Community Council A School Community Council was begun in September of 1972. It meets once a month and discusses problems of concern to parents and faculty in regard to school and/or community problems. 6. 1975-76 Because of a further drop in enrollment, Elmwood moved to a self- contained organizational pattern for the 1975-76 school year. A special music planning time teacher was added and boys and girls in grades 3-6 have a physical educational teacher, thus retaining some of the benefits of the fused program formerly used. Principals of Elmwood School 1886 - 1900 Mr. Carter 1900 - 1902 J. W. Hay man 1902- 1913 Elizabeth Robb 1913 - 1933 E. Gertrude Burt 1933 - 1952 Blanche V. Toohey 1952 - 1953 Pearl Leander 1953 - 1959 Robert Denny 1959 (6 months) Kenneth Rankin 1959 - 1963 Carl Fehrle 1963 - 1967 Irene Perkins 1967 - 1972 Bernard Miller 1972 - Lester Rees0 Cole, would sometimes come to the school to give us talks. Perhaps the best student in our class was Vesta Peak who I believe is an aunt of George Peak who* is active in Des Moines business circles. "About 1900 or 1901 we moved from 38th and University to 38th and Cottage Grove. Cottage Grove was a dirt road and in the spring was an almost impassable quagmire with signs in it on figures upside down saying "He hasn't found bottom yet." "All the time I was at Elmwood I milked a cow every night and morning and after 1900 pumped all the water in a storage tank in the attic, that was required by a family of eight. Of course I walked back and forth to school twice a day. It was in 1901 that I first saw an automobile along a road out our way. Occasionally my mother would have a party for the teachers at our house at 38th and Cottage Grove (where the Grace Methodist church now stands.) "For a time the U.P. church which is the progenitor of the present Westminster held meetings in Elmwood. It must have been about 1900 or 1901 just before the church at 35th and Cottage Grove was erected. I remember well attending religious services in the Elmwood School on Sundays. Sincerely, Henry A. Wallace" During the 1920-1921 school year Elmwood maintained a Milk Station. Four pupils from each class took turns presiding during the morning recess. Over two' hundred underweight pupils received nourishment which helped build their health. By spring the percentage of underweight children in Elmwood had dropped from 40% to 25%. War stamps were sold during W. W. II and in the years that followed. During the 1950's Elmwood pupils used the radio programs broadcast by KDPS-FM. In the 1960's some of the classes began to use television programs from KDPS-TV. A satellite lunch program was inaugurated in the fall of 1964. Elmwood in 1975 - 76 Elmwood's enrollment has shown a continuous decline during the period of 1970-75. The school enrollment now stands at 282. Among the reasons for this decline are the following: 1. The purchase of property by Drake University in the area which in turn has either been turned into parking lots or rented to students more than families with children. 2. The continual decline of the area as the central core of the city spreads north and west. 3. Being an older neighborhood, there are more older people living in the area who at one time sent children to Elmwood. 4. An unusually large number of apartments in the area which are mostly rented to singles or newly-married couples. Programs: 1. Title I Reading Designated as a Title I school for the 1974-75 year, Elmwood had the services of a reading resource teacher and associate. Boys and girls in grades K-4 profited much from this additional help. 2. Headstart A Headstart class was begun in September of 1974. There were 27 youngsters, mostly from the adjacent areas who had a great year and a good send-off to kindergarten. 3. Specific Learning Disabilities In the fall of 1972 a half-time teacher for learning disabilities was added to the staff. Teachers identified boys and girls in K-6 who would need additional help for periods up to 45 minutes with a special teacher. 4. Satellite Resource Room In January of 1975 a specific learning disabilities room from Madison School was moved to Elmwood. These boys and girls in grades K-3 spent most of their day in their own room. As their ability and control permitted they are sent out to various rooms for periods of time ranging up to half a day. 5. School Community Council A School Community Council was begun in September of 1972. It meets once a month and discusses problems of concern to parents and faculty in regard to school and/or community problems. 6. 1975-76 Because of a further drop in enrollment, Elmwood moved to a self- contained organizational pattern for the 1975-76 school year. A special music planning time teacher was added and boys and girls in grades 3-6 have a physical educational teacher, thus retaining some of the benefits of the fused program formerly used. Principals of Elmwood School��� 1886 - 1900 Mr. Carter 1900 - 1902 J. W. Hay man 1902- 1913 Elizabeth Robb 1913 - 1933 E. Gertrude Burt 1933 - 1952 Blanche V. Toohey 1952 - 1953 Pearl Leander 1953 - 1959 Robert Denny 1959 (6 months) Kenneth Rankin 1959 - 1963 Carl Fehrle 1963 - 1967 Irene Perkins 1967 - 1972 Bernard Miller 1972 - Lester Rees