Snow Day and New Staff
Dear Central Academy students and families,
Classes in Des Moines Public Schools have been cancelled tomorrow, Friday, January 14, 2022 due to the impending snow storm. Offices will be closed.
January 14 was the last day of first semester. If you were planning on completing a final assessment or assignment tomorrow, please reach out to your teacher. Most teachers had contingency plans for just this sort of situation. Semester 1 grades are due from teachers by the end of the day on January 20.
Remember there are no classes on Monday January 17 – 19. Second semester starts on Thursday, January 20– it will be a 7-period day and not a block day.
PLEASE WELCOME
Central Academy is excited to announce two new staff members.
Please help me welcome Mr. Neil Issa who started on January 4. Mr. Issa is filling a new Restoration and Safety Coordinator position to oversee physical safety as well as help resolve reluctance and avoidance behaviors. Mr. Issa is an expert in de-escalation techniques and problem solving. He will be housed in the main office at Academy and have responsibilities at both Central Academy and Central Campus. He is upbeat and optimistic and has been a wonderful addition to our team. Please help me extend a warm welcome to Mr. Neil Issa! (mounir.issa@dmschools.org)
It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you Ms. Herkisha Burkett who will be replacing Kim Kinney in our main office starting January 18. We are very fortunate to find someone her skills and abilities to fill this position. She has over 10 years experience as an administrative professional and is currently an executive assistant at Drake University. She is energetic, organized, and a big sports fan! Please join me in giving a warm welcome to our new office manager, Herkisha Burkett! (herkisha.burkett@dmschools.org)
MLK DAY
Monday, January 17, 2022, is the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday and will mark the 27th anniversary of the national day of service. This day was established to honor the life and legacy of Dr. King, and to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities.
High school students can volunteer to assist with our blood drive on February 11, 2022, USE THIS LINK TO ASSIST THE DRIVE. Any Academy high school student can help out, even if they cannot give blood.
We hope to get about 50 people to donate blood on February 11. If you’d like to sign up to give blood, USE THIS LINK TO GIVE BLOOD (click on “See Times” on the left). Parents are welcome to donate, too. Students aged 17 and older may give blood without parental consent. Students aged 16 may give blood with Parental Consent Blood Donation EN . INFORMATION FOR TEEN DONORS. Thank you so much!
Did you know…? Dr. Charles Drew invented the technique of blood banking during World War II. A prominent doctor and African American, Dr. Drew’s technique continues to save countless lives. He was also dedicated to racial equality. Read more about Dr. Drew. Charles Richard Drew (1904–1950): Father of blood banking (nih.gov)