Weekly Update: April 7, 2017
Weekly Update: April 7, 2017
Good Afternoon Grinnell Board of Education, Families, Staff and Friends:
Happy Friday! It is my best hope that everyone had a wonderful Spring Break. This week has been very busy for me traveling to the monthly superintendent’s meeting, attending a learning environment session, collaborating with Estes to finalize the architect interviews for our Board of Education, hosting the Chamber Ambassador site visit, and preparing for our upcoming School Board Meeting. The highlight of the week was having the opportunity to attend the GHS Academic Banquet this past Monday that was held on the Grinnell College Campus. I continue to find each and every day here in Grinnell to be a very rewarding place to live. There have been so many wonderful events and activities for our students and staff. I want to thank the Grinnell Community for their continued support each day. Grinnell is such a wonderful place!
Reminder, no school on Monday, April 10 for a PD Day.
Teachers will be participating in Vanguard training, professional development to become apple certified teachers, Literacy curriculum development (all K-12 Language arts/English teachers), and will be collaborating in their professional learning communities to discuss instructional strategies for students.
Admin Team Meeting:
This week, one highlight from our Administrative team meeting was to host a meet and greet with the Grinnell Chamber Ambassadors. We met our Chamber Ambassadors at Grinnell Middle School. During this time, I highlighted our district’s goals, facility assessments and next steps, and overall operations. We ended our session with a tour of the building. Our Grinnell Chamber Ambassadors had an opportunity to meet our administrators and district office staff to learn about their role and responsibilities. It was a wonderful visit.
Academic Banquet:
This past Monday evening the top 10% of each class was honored at the GHS academic banquet. Rick Ramsey, Grinnell graduate from 1956, shared stories and provided our students with some advice. The students were presented with certificates and below are pictures of each group of students honored.
Seniors – Reanna Campbell, Lucas Chamberland, Catherine Cogley, Emilee Hulsing, Erica Hulsing, Zachary Loftin, Cade McKnight, Leah Ramsey, Luke Roudabush, Madelyn Topliff and Naomi Veldboom
Juniors – Mairead Brownell, Phoenix Chang-Roper, Thomas Clower, Sienna Durr, Isabela Gallegos, Emma Harrington, Nicholas Jacobson, Michelle Krumm, Magdalena Levandoski, Danica Nolton, Lucas Scherf, Zoe Shinefield, Robert Shore and Olivia Vojtech
Sophomores – Julia Chamberland, Matthew Cunningham, Corinne Dahlby Albright, Melissa Krumm, Naomi Jackson, Hope Nelson, Kendall Praitis Hill, Daniel Rebelsky, Sandra Skouson, Ashlyn Stallman, Lane Thompson, Alexias Townsend and Paige Zhorne
Freshmen – Maria Amador-Lacson, Elizabeth Ashing, Micah Benning-Shorb, Mary Blanchard, Nola Conner, Theresa Crawford, Gabrielle Dahlby Albright, Alana Ferguson, Jenae Kastendick, Tara Kastendick, McKenna McKnight, Rebekah Veldboom and Emma Ware
Rick Ramsey
One Year
Two years
Three years
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Four years in a row!!!
AEA Superintendent’s Meeting Highlight:
The AEA superintendent’s meeting began with professional development related to the understanding of working and collaborating with each generation. I found this topic to be rather interesting. Discussion was focused on working and collaborating with each generation and more specifically how to work with “millennials” who are entering our workforce.
21st Century Learning Environments Seminar:
I had an opportunity to visit and meet several employees from ESTES construction to talk about learning environments, and the role and function of each department at ESTES. Following this short meet and greet, I was able to attend the “Association for Learning Environments” panel discussion and seminar at Mid City High School in Davenport. Several groups shared stories and lessons learned about projects that were implemented in their school districts. Sessions presented were: Innovative Learning Environments, Working in 21st Century Spaces, Urban Farm Projects, Purpose Built Engineering and Technology Classroom, How Buildings Teach, Outdoor Classrooms, and The House Build as an Alternative Classroom. These sessions were informative and the lessons learned from each of the projects was valuable.
Literacy Planning Session:
Heather Gould from our AEA 267 and I met to discuss the Literacy meeting that will be held on Monday afternoon for PD day. We are looking forward to a wonderful session with our language arts and English classroom teachers.
Kindergarten Round-up:
Yes! Kindergarten is just around the corner for these future Grinnell Tigers! What an exciting day for these students. Kindergarten registration is ongoing. Please be sure to contact Bailey Park or Fairview if you need assistance in signing up your student.
The class of 2030 came to visit kindergarten today! They spent half a day in the kindergarten classroom learning more about kindergarten. The students listened to stories, made an art project, sang songs, and played at recess.
Tech Tigers:
Our Grinnell Tech Tigers participated in the FRC Regional competition held March 22-25 in Cedar Falls. The team represented Grinnell High School very well. It was impressive what this group accomplished and learned this season. Here is the YouTube highlight video for the event. To review more of what our Tech Tigers have been up to, please visit their blog at https://frctechtigers.weebly.com/ We are very proud of all they have accomplished this year!
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Physics Team Region Winners:
Congratulations to our Physics Team for winning the Iowa Regional Physics Competition for the fourth year in a row! Grinnell School Team A compiled 42 out of a possible 50 points to win the regional physics competition. The Grinnell School Team B compiled 31 points to earn third place behind 2nd place Cedar Falls B Team with 34 points. Our teams will be defending their State Championship Titles next week at the State Physics Competition on Tuesday, April 11th in Cedar Falls. We wish you good luck!
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Summer Reading Program Needs your Help!
The Grinnell-Newburg School District and the Drake Community Library in partnership with the Grinnell AmeriCorps partners will be offering a FREE summer reading program to students K-3. The Grinnell AmeriCorps program is currently looking for individuals 17 or older to apply for the summer learning corps position. Attached flyer.
Upcoming Events
- April 1 - 12 - Preschool Registration for Fairview
- April 10 - NO SCHOOL, PD day
- April 11 - Davis Elementary Music Program
- April 13 - Bailey Park spring music program
- April 20 - Fairview spring music program
- April 21 - Middle School staff and students to Des Moines for the Hypnotic Brass Band Concert
- April 21 - Middle School Honor Choir in Ames (grades 5-6)
Have a wonderful weekend! Spring has hopefully arrived!
Sincerely,
Janet
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Janet M. Stutz
Superintendent
Grinnell-Newburg Schools