HOME SCHOOL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
OPEN HOUSE INFORMATION
2025-2026
SCIENCE
My name is Sarah Trosper and I am excited to share my love of science with your children. I have been teaching with the HSAP program since 2014 and teaching science for 29 years in the Des Moines area.
I am a mom to 3 wonderful children. Abby is a junior at University of Iowa, John is starting his freshman year at The University of St. Thomas in Minnesota, and Kate is a junior at NW high school in Waukee. Our family also includes Wrigley (our 5 year old golden retriever) and Zena (our 6 year old Great Pyrenees rescue). We spend lots of time walking the dogs, enjoying our yard and flowers, attending swim meets and cherishing time with my parents.
This year in science, we will start with an activity in each class where students work together to practice, review and strengthen their science skills and get to know their classmates. We will also spend time during those weeks learning about lab equipment and safety and/or reviewing the metric system.
Kindergarten and 1st grade will start the year exploring what a scientist does and how to safely use lab supplies and equipment. We will also tie in lessons about our senses. In October, we will be adopting a cow (virtually) through the Discover Dairy program and learning all about dairy farming. We will finish the fall semester with some basic chemistry activities. After winter break we will learn about owls and crayfish and spend the spring semester learning about water and why it is important to our lives and the ecosystem.
Grades 2-9 will start the year working on science team building activities and then move into a big unit on chemistry. We will dissect after winter break and spend time in the spring learning about water and the role it plays in our ecosystem and environment.
The 10th-12th grade students will spend time this year engaging in STEM activities and community service projects.
SPANISH
HOLA. I am Señora (Allyson) Day and I will teach most of the Spanish classes this year! I have lived, attended school, and taught in West Des Moines all my life. I started teaching third grade at Phenix Elementary in 1993, and then took a year off to be a mom. In 1997, I began teaching Spanish very part-time, and I have been doing it ever since! My husband and I have five adult children and four grandchildren. We have one Hawkeye (a lawyer), and four CYCLONES (insurance manager, police officer, Civil engineer, and corporate analyst). I enjoy spending time with my grandkids, entertaining, crafts, planning events for my family, reading the news, and listening to either Christmas music or talk radio. My favorite hobby is painting kindness rocks for "The Kindness Rock Project."
Grades K-1
Students will experience immersion in the language (but not 100% of the time, due to only meeting once a week). Students will participate in a wide variety of games, songs, stories, and activities - all in Spanish. Colors and numbers are constantly reviewed during this level of class. Holidays and cultural topics are discussed. Special attention is given to the developmental level of the students.A piñata party is held on the last day of classes in May!
Grades 2-5 (Some classes taught by Señora Chapman)
These Spanish classes have a high level of excitement and fun! Students will experience immersion in the language (but not 100% of the time, due to only meeting once a week). Students will participate in a wide variety of games, songs, stories, and activities - all in Spanish. Cultural points are taught as they relate to the curriculum. A piñata party is held on the last day of classes in May! We will begin the year of a review of colors, numbers, school supplies, weather, days of week, classroom objects, and conversation questions. Our new units this year will be emotions and sports (which will coincide with the 2026 winter olympics in Europe)!
Grades 6 and 7
These students will be taking a class called Spanish Stories which is a unique and cutting-edge Spanish course taught through stories! No Spanish experience is needed. The class utilizes the TPRS/CI strategies which are currently sweeping the nation as the BEST way to enable language acquisition. For more information on this teaching/learning style, watch this short video by my friend and colleague, Profe Craig Klein: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zuB95uetgXA
Grade 8 (Taught by Señora Roberts)
Eighth graders will be taking a class called Spanish B. It is the continuation of last year’s class, Spanish A. They will begin the year reviewing the subject pronouns and conjugating AR verbs. Units for the year include prepositions, classroom items, school subjects, and foods. An end of the year field trip to a Mexican restaurant is planned.
WRITING
Writing K-5:
Hello HSAP families! The K-5 writing teachers are Sara Weis (K-5), Lisa Drost (K & ⅔), and Kimberly Chapman (K & ⅘). We’re looking forward to working with your child in writing class this year! We welcome students of all writing abilities, as we make writing relevant for each child. Potential writing topics may include: Personal Narrative, Descriptive Writing, How-to, Opinion, and Poetry. Our K-1st grade writers will engage in interactive and shared writing with their teacher, as they ease into a variety of themed independent writing activities. Our 2nd/3rd grade writers will be introduced to the 6 traits of writing through trait-specific lessons. They’ll also participate in practice through activities, games, and a mentor text read aloud pertaining to the specific trait that’s being studied. Our 4th/5th grade writers will work to enhance their writing skills, as they participate in trait-specific lessons on the following topics: Ideas, Organization, Word Choice, Voice, and Sentence Fluency. Lessons will include a trait-specific Mentor text that’s read aloud, that models the author’s writing style. We’ll have a discussion asking open-ended questions based on the current writing trait. Practice through quick-writes, activities, and games will keep students engaged and prepare them for their writing assignment. 4th/5th graders will be asked to write a paper that they will complete and present to their classmates on the current writing trait.There will be five total papers spread out throughout the school year.
K/1st Grade: Please provide a 1-inch binder with a clear-view front cover *(no tab dividers needed)
2nd-5th Grade: Please provide a 1-inch binder with a clear-view front pocket with 5 tab dividers. Label with each writing trait: IDEAS, ORGANIZATION, WORD CHOICE, VOICE, SENTENCE FLUENCY. **Labeling the tabs ahead of time is a huge help, thank you!**
This notebook will serve as the Writer’s Notebook that students will be responsible for bringing to class each week. It also serves as a collection of their work. Please take time to have your child share the work that they’ve done each week. This is a great way to encourage and build your child’s confidence as a writer. On occasion, students will need to complete work at home that they started in class. Many times, this work will be needed for the next week’s lesson. Please feel free to contact us with any questions that you may have. It’s going to be a great year!
Mrs. Drost……...drostl@wdmcs.org
Ms. Weis………weiss@wdmcs.org
Mrs.Chapman….chapmank@wdmcs.org
6th-12th Grade Writing:
We will continue to incorporate the 6 + 1 Traits of Writing in our writing studies. Our class will run much like a writer’s workshop where we analyze each other’s writing during class and offer feedback. We will learn how to provide constructive criticism to our peers’ writing. Students really enjoy sharing their writing with others during class. Writing topics are still being determined, however, we will start the year with a Newspaper Unit. We plan to use the LMS platform Canvas for 6th-12th Grade writing.
If your student checked out a Chromebook, please have them bring it to class as we will use them every day. If you did not check out a Chromebook, each student will still have a Canvas account through the district that can be accessed on any computer. We will have extra Chromebooks for those students who did not check one out to use during class. Canvas will be a great tool for turning writing assignments in electronically and offering digital feedback from the teacher and peers. All writers should also bring a writer’s notebook/folder where they can keep papers, assignments, etc. to bring to school every day.
Mrs. Nichols & Mrs. Roberts
DRAMA
Drama class is performance-based, with a lot of fun thrown in throughout! Drama students of all ages will play games; some titles include “Who Started the Motion,” “Magic Beans,” “Masters and Robots,” “Revolving Door,” and “Freeze.” Body and vocal warm-ups are a part of class as well. Students will have a chance to work with different genres of theatre, possibly including pantomime, puppetry, choral reading, storybook theatre, and one- and three-act plays. Many times, students will be actively involved in writing the plays! Students also will have opportunities to help create and gather materials needed for each show. Sometimes, a mini-audition will take place to choose roles. All students will play a role unless a backstage position is desired—there is a place for every child in this class!!
We will have performances two times a year, at the end of each semester. These will be evenings of delightful entertainment complete with costumes, props, and scenery. There are few things more heart-warming to see than children taking the stage to act for an audience! Younger students will develop self-confidence that will last throughout their lives, and the older ones will find talents that they didn’t even know they possessed!
All of the dates for our Drama Performances are on our website: https://www.wdmcs-hsap.org/
Mrs. Nichols & Mrs. Talley
PHYSICAL EDUCATION
Mr. Blake and Mr. Mohr are excited to get students moving during their day at Rex. The goal for Physical Education is for students to be active. The classes offer an opportunity to enjoy exercise and activities—both in a team and individual format. Stretching and games are used to help students enjoy and appreciate physical movement.
A combination of activities include stretching and exercises at the start of class to stunts and games for the rest of class. Many different games and activities are offered, stressing individual as well as group participation. Effort is emphasized over winning and losing. Activities may be outside in the Fall and Spring with inside activities during the winter and inclement weather. Games and activities will depend on grade level as well as skill level.
ART
Welcome to the 2025-2026 school year! At Craven’s Corner, our theme for this year will be Rockin’ Rainforest! We will be excited to explore the layers of rainforests as well as the animals and inhabitants who may reside there.
Mrs. Craven is ready to work with Artists to create with a multitude of materials in a nonthreatening, encouraging, fun, empowering environment. Drawing, Painting, Printmaking, Ceramics, Mask making / Puppets and Paper Mache’ are among some of the mediums studied. Art history and art from different cultures are frequently tied in, and students have many opportunities to share their work both with their peers and in school-wide displays.
This year we will welcome donations such as newspapers, cardboard paper towel tubes, glass marbles, and plastic hand soap bottles.
See you soon at Craven’s Corner~ Please feel free to reach out if you have related questions or comments regarding our HSAP year in the ART room~
See you soon!! ~Mrs. C.
LEGOS & LITERATURE
Mrs. Drost, Mrs. Nichols, and Ms. Weis are looking forward to sharing literature and Lego building time with the students. Our legos and literature class provides the opportunity for our Kindergarten and First grade students to listen to a quality and engaging literature books and build with Legos with our corresponding theme.
The students love this time to interact with one another by building together and increasing creativity. Each child has the opportunity to share what he or she has created. This also enhances our speaking and listening skills while having fun.
