Update as of 3/28/2020

Dear Grinnell - Newburg Families:

This update will provide you information on how to access an iPad for K-4 students through a drive up service at your elementary school, and what to do in the event that you left your device at the Middle School or High School.  Please see below for times:

Please pick up your iPad at your school only. If you can not make these times, please email your building principal. 

Middle School students please call the office Monday the 23rd at 641-236-2750 between 6:30 am and 10:00 to set up a time to pick up ipads that day between 10:00 and 2:00. High School students who left their devices at school should email Mr. Seney at kevin.seney@grinnell-k12.org to pick up their device via drive up.  No students will be allowed in the schools at this time.

Food Service: We need information from our parents on the number of meal requests per family so we have an idea on the number of meals to be packed for pick up.  It is our hope that this will begin mid-week, next week for food drive up service. In order to ensure we have enough to supply our families, please complete this three question survey.

If you do not have access to internet please contact your school office next week, so that our staff can assist you on alternative lessons and activities. These will be available as soon as possible.  

Keep listening and watching email and voice reach updates.   


Janet

Dear Parent/Guardian:

UPDATED AS OF 3/16/2020:

As you may have learned the Governor has made the recommendation to close Iowa Public Schools for 4 weeks at this time. Grinnell-Newburg will be closed through April 10th with a plan to re-open on April 13, 2020. Please know that we are in the midst of planning for iPad pick up for K-4 students, meals for families to be picked up through drive through services at schools, and lessons to be planned for continued learning for all students following our Spring Break. Each day I will be updating you on our planning process and sending messages on how you can access resources, iPads, and meals. All athletic activities, practices and events are cancelled through April 10th. We are waiting on guidance from the Department of Education on make up day requirements. I will keep you posted. I do not anticipate being in school beyond June 5 at this time. I recognize this is not easy on our families. We will do everything we can to support you during this challenging time. Please continue to monitor your email, our website and Face Book page.

We understand that the Novel Coronavirus, now known as COVID-19, is causing much anxiety in our community, state and the world. Grinnell-Newburg Community School District is working closely with Poweshiek County Public Health and the Iowa Dept. of Public Health (IDPH) to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff.

What is Known

• The virus causing COVID-19 is a new coronavirus that has not been previously identified, and causes respiratory illness ranging from a mild cold-like illness to severe respiratory disease.

• Similar to influenza, the people who are most likely to have severe disease and complications from COVID-19 are believed to be the very old, very young and those with other chronic or underlying medical conditions.

• There is no vaccine or treatment currently available for COVID-19, so prevention is very important.

• Currently, there are NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Iowa. However, experts predict there will eventually be community spread. IDPH, Poweshiek County Public Health and Grinnell-Newburg School District are preparing for when/if this happens.

How The Virus Spreads

• COVID-19 is believed to spread primarily the same way the common cold or flu spreads—through respiratory droplets that are produced when someone coughs or sneezes.

• People who are most at risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 are those who have been in close contact (within about 6 feet) with someone who has the disease. 

• People are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic (the sickest).

What You Can Do Now

• Keep children home when they are sick.

• • Students (and parents/guardians) who are ill, especially with acute respiratory symptoms (not allergies or chronic conditions), should stay home. 

• Teach your children to always cover their cough and sneezes with a tissue or elbow.

• Remind them to wash their hands with soap and water (or use hand sanitizer) after they touch their face, use the restroom and before they eat.

• Tell children to avoid touching their mouth and nose since that is how germs get into the body.

• Clean frequently touched surfaces and objects (everyday household disinfectants are fine).

  • Enhance cleaning of high touch surfaces like door knobs, toilet handles and sink handles.

• Plan for when community spread occurs.

  • Ensure you have a plan to designate a caregiver, such as a family member or neighbor, for a sick child(ren) if you can’t stay home.

  • Know your child’s school plan to communicate with you when needed, such as robocalls, email or checking their website. 

Find up-to-date information on COVID-19 in Iowa at https://idph.iowa.gov/Emerging-Health-Issues/Novel-Coronavirus and follow IDPH on Facebook at @IowaDepartmentofPublicHealth and Twitter at @IAPublicHealth, as well as our district social media @GNCSDTigers.

See further travel advisories as of 3/6/2020.

• http://kcci.com/article/state-urges-iowans-who-travel-from-specific-nations-to-self-isolate/31212041?src=app

Online Registration for the 2019-20 School Year is open, and we encourage parents to register early!

Handy Hints as you are going through the registration module:

1. When you begin you will be given a Confirmation Number.  Please save this number. If you need to stop and return to the application, this will be needed to access your saved application.  

2. To move through each section use the “Next” button.  To move from section to section, click on the “Save and Continue” button. Please ensure all information is entered correctly before moving on to a new section.

Fee Payment and Lunch Accounts
After submitting your registration application, please return to your portal account to submit payment for your student’s instructional fees.   Once in your portal account, click on the “Payments” tab to submit your online payment.  **Can be completed after July 1, 2019 **Families applying for Free and Reduced: Please submit all forms before beginning the payment process.   Instructions for submitting you Free and Reduced Application through your parent portal

Directions to set up your parent portal for the first time

To set up an account you will need a key code. Key codes can be obtained from your building administrative assistant. Please enter your key code and follow the steps to set up your Campus Portal account.  You will be able to create your own username and password.

You will only need to do this once.

1. Click on the Help button in the bottom right hand corner of the page. 
2. Click on the option “If you have been assigned a Campus Portal Activation Key.

Please call 641-236-2700 during regular business hours if you have any questions regarding any of these processes.

Weekly Update: May 29, 2020

Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Students, and Families:

Happy Friday!  As we close the official school year for 2019-20, I want to thank all of our families, staff, teachers, Board of Education, and community for their patience and understanding as we navigated a very strange time for our students. We continue to plan for our return this fall and we are following the guidance from the Department of Education, Iowa Department of Public Health and other agencies to ensure that we provide a safe return to school in the fall. Once our plan is complete, we will share this with our Board and families. In the meantime, it is my best hope that all of you have a wonderful summer break! I hope that you have an opportunity to enjoy the outdoors with family and find time to spend with loved ones. Take care and we will keep you posted about this fall! #WeAreGrinnell

Retiree’s: Congratulations to our 2020 Staff who have retired! 

Thank you for your service and dedication to our families and students over the many years! 

We wish you well!

Brenda Hagedorn 

Karen Fausett

Lisa Cirks

Mike Baker

David Abarr 

Emily Schultz 

Tom Dayton 

Carol Scott 

Jean Halverson 

Allison Esbrook  

Cheryl Hull 

Rod Boggess 

Tim Schultz 

Andre Versendaal 

Summer Opportunities:

Catalog for Summer Enrichment Opportunities

Summer Enrichment Opportunities Sign Up

This is just a reminder that we have summer enrichment opportunities available for students pre k-12th grade. Don’t forget to sign up. Registration must be completed by June 1. Please be sure that you look at the catalog for dates for courses. The catalog dates are the correct dates for when the programs will be held. We found an error on the sign up sheet for the “Flat Bailey” session. Please know that this course will be run in August. Please contact the course instructor if you need to change this session.  

Softball and Baseball Summer Guidelines:  Please check out the FAQ on how we will navigate this summer!   Guidelines for Summer Sports Q&A

I want to thank the health and safety committee for their work on putting together the FAQ for our families regarding summer softball and baseball. This will be updated as we navigate opening up summer activities. I will be updating this document as necessary and if there are any changes, I will be sending it to our families. Practice begins this Monday June 1, 2020.

Walk the Track:

The track will be opened for families to walk only. We ask that you social distance yourself and that you do not go onto the field or in the stands. This will open on Monday, June 1, 2020. 

Lunches being served this summer:

We will be continuing to serve drive through grab and go meals on Mondays and Wednesdays  from 11:00 to 12:30 at the high school through the end of June. We will keep posted if this moves into July. We also have deliveries if pick isn't possible, please email emergencymeals@grinnell-k12.org for more information.  

Have you checked out the senior banners downtown? I want to thank Gina Beck, Mr. Seney, Total Choice, The City of Grinnell, and all of our sponsors who made this happen! They look fabulous!

Thank you to all those who donated to the Senior Banners:

Amy Hess     Deanna Vogt     Katie Little

Chad & Gina Beck     Crystal DeNeve     Rachel Bly

Michelle Gruhn     Marlene Johnson     Michael Furness

Amber Porter     Esther Ware     Kara Koester

Megan Nagel     Shanna Wathen     Jennifer Schuster

Sarah Baker     Cassie Geerts     Darryl and Cheryl Hull

Tara Shukla Jones     Julie Gosselink     Dick and Sis Vogel

Shannon Fitzgerald     Becky Rasmussen     Mike Van Tomme

Cecily Bolte     Lee McFee     Brian Heater

Diane Volkman     Teresa Johnson     Bruce & Laura Blankenfeld

Karen Dillon     Greg Heinselman     Nancy & Mickey Munley

Ginette McFarland     Marilyn Ralls     Kelly Beck

Nicole Luther     Doug Cameron     James Jolly

Corey Innis     Melissa Hull     Mike Kriegel

Alyssa Sliger     Amy Skouson     Linda Tish

Erick Jack     Donette Ellis     Jeanne Hammen

Stacy Turley     Brenda Hagedorn     Patty Amador-Lacson

Tammy Strawser     Brent Jaeger     Helen Redmond

Jennifer McAlexander       Stacia Hobbs     Jack and Kathy Grife

The High School and District Office will be closed June 4-5 and 11-12 for asbestos removal.   Please call 641-236-2700 for any questions and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

Due to current school closings, and in order to allow for social distancing, the District Office will be open to the public Monday through Friday 8:30-12:00 or by appointment. Our staff will be working from either home, or in the office during regularly scheduled times 7:30-4:00 P.M.  If you need to talk with a specific person in the office please contact them via email.

Janet Stutz, Superintendent janet.stutz@grinnell-k12.org

Lisa Johnson, CFO/Business Manager lisa.johson@grinnell-k12.org

Jerica Latcham, HR/Payroll jerica.latcham@grinnell-k12.org

Courtney Donohoe, Accounts Payable courtney.donohoe@grinnell-k12.org

Carrie Nachazel, Food Service Director carrie.nachazel@grinnell-k12.org

Judy Smith, Admin Assistant to HR/Payroll judy.smith@grinnell-k12.org

Amber Robson, Admin Assistant to the Superintendent amber.robson@grinnell-k12.org

Tiger Pride: 

Check out this video created by Mr. Dressler!  Way to Go middle school and high school band students!  This is awesome! 

https://youtu.be/LXNA0WVebLw

Middle School Library getting ready for a make-over!  

We are gearing up to place new carpeting in the Middle School. The Library is ready for installation!  Way to go Chelsey Koplin and GMS staff for being creative with book storage during this project!

Have a wonderful Summer Break!   

Sincerely, 

Janet

Interested in volunteering for the Grinnell-Newburg Schools?  There are many ways that you can help to enrich the educational experiences of our students through volunteering.  From reading to a class, to volunteer coaching, to helping out with activities, there is something for everyone. 

Applicants would need to submit a volunteer application and a background check.  Please download the documents and email them to Judy Smith at judy.smith@grinnell-k12.org.  Please call 641-236-2700 with questions. 

Thank you for your interest in volunteering!