Our 2014-15 school year has been so fantastic with many good things happening in our classrooms. Please click on the headline to read the latest Downtown School Dispatch from Principal John Johnson.

The PTA would like to say ‘thank you’ to all of the parents who turned out for the 2015 Downtown School Auction, “Bids for the Kids”, and to everyone who donated items to auction. The PTA raised more than $15,000 through live and silent auctions. There were many generous spirits at the event! The money will be used for library, playground and garden improvements.

More Book Character Day photos are now available for download FREE OF CHARGE. Select the photo you want, click on the word “download” below the image and save the image to your computer. You may also order prints from Blind Photography, for a fee. To see the photos, click on the image and use the password: dts2015.

Principal John Johnson will be retiring at the end of the school year and over the weekend, he was honored at the annual Downtown School “Bids for the Kids” auction event. Mr. Johnson spoke fondly of his years at DTS and talked about how much he will miss everyone at The Downtown School.

Nurse Jean Smith was honored at the annual Downtown School auction over the weekend. She is retiring at the end of the year. “She has been a true blessing for the children and families at the Downtown School,” said Principal Johnson. Join us Friday, May 15 at 8:30 a.m. in the lower gym at Central Campus for a sing-along in her honor!

Mr. Johnson dressed as Geronimo Stilton and greeted students, as a who’s who of children’s literary characters roamed the hallways at The Downtown School. Students and staff dressed up as their favorite book characters, sharing their love of reading and a little bit about themselves in the process. To see more fun costumes, click on the image.

The new proposed 2015-16 calendar is now available. It still needs to be approved by the Department of Education, but we know many of you would like to begin making summer plans. This has been quite a process and we thank you for your patience. Click on the image to see the calendar.

When Rose the Des Moines Public Library mascot visited The Downtown School this week to talk about reading, first-grader Aidan Vens noticed one of her shoes was untied. Not wanting his new friend to trip and fall, Aidan offered to tie the shoe for her.