Lincoln High School was so excited about our namesake’s birthday that we celebrated a day early. A Lincoln impersonator stopped by school Thursday for our 2nd annual “Selfies with Abe.” Theodore Roosevelt may have said “speak softly and carry a big stick,” but Honest Abe told students to get out their selfie sticks. Click the photo to see more of this fun, new tradition.

AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) is a global nonprofit organization that operates with one guiding principle: hold students accountable to the highest standards, provide academic and social support, and they will rise to the challenge. For the past four years, Lincoln High School has been an AVID school, and today they hosted a national showcase on how the program has contributed to student success. Click the photo to read and see more.

Enrollment in college-level Advanced Placement courses has skyrocketed at Des Moines Public Schools as more and more AP classes are being offered at all DMPS high schools than ever before. An important component of AP courses is the AP exam, which can lead to credit at many colleges and universities. The deadline to register for the 2016 AP exams is March 28. Click the photo for more information on the exams and how to register.

As part of an on-going effort to provide students with more services at school, the Food Bank of Iowa has partnered with DMPS to create school pantries at Lincoln and East high schools. The new pantries provide a readily accessible source of food assistance for low-income students and their families. Click on the image to visit the Food Bank of Iowa’s web site to read more about this new initiative.