Weekly Update: February 1, 2019
Weekly Update: February 1, 2019
Welcome Back to School! The best quotes of the day came from two of our K-2 students as they skipped into school so happy to be back stating, “that was the longest weekend ever” and “I am so looking forward to 40 degrees”. I could have not said it better myself! Thank you for your patience during this challenging week.
Please note that Monday February 4th is a Professional Development Day. There is no school for students. Please know that we could not use this day as a make up day for students as we have contracted outside agencies for professional development scheduled. Please see adjusted calendar information below!
Recommended 2018-19 amended calendar schedule to the Board:
Thank you everyone for your patience as we work through a difficult time when the Polar Vortex event caused us to miss 6 full school days and 8 hours of late start or early release time. The administration looked at several options yesterday to create an amended calendar that will be shared with the Board on Wednesday February 6, 2019. Please know that we examined our current Professional Development days for us to try to absorb some student make up time. However, we currently have committed contracts from outside agencies in which we can not break. Therefore, we can not use all of the PD days to make up for student contact hours. Plus it is important to know that the upcoming trainings are with our Discipline literacy trainers, School Wide Workshop trainers, AEA representatives, Timberline training for Medicaid documentation and training for the new state assessment. I know that our staff values our professional development time and opportunities to learn and enhance our professional practice.
Next, we looked at possible dates for students and staff to make up during other holidays or Spring Break. However, we can not use these dates as we did not approve the original calendar that stated that these dates would be used as make up days. This would have had to be communicated when the calendar was originally approved. So we can not use those days.
What we did come up with meets the needs of our students instructionally, does not impact graduation dates or senior contact hour requirements, and fulfills staff contracts and committed work days for teachers, cooks, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and staff.
Here is the plan as of today if we have no more snow days!
March 8: The Second Trimester will end
March 11: Third Trimester will begin
May 6: This will be a student attendance day for all students except kindergartners as this is Kindergarten roundup day.
Seniors will be able to make up the day on May 6 and we have some wiggle room prior to graduation if we have more snow days. Graduation Date will not change
June 6: Last day for students in grades
Our PD days can not be used as student make up days as we have scheduled outside trainers coming into the district that are under contracts. We can however absorb one day on May 6.
Large Group District Speech Results:
18 out of 24 qualify for State. They will travel tomorrow Feb. 2 to compete! We wish you the best of luck tomorrow! This is an impressive “Large Group” for Large Group State! Awesome!
Spelling Bee:
The Knights of Columbus in the state of Iowa have held a multi-level competition for many years, but this is the first year our local Council at St. Mary's Catholic church has participated. We had participation in two of the grade levels, and it proved to be an enjoyable and learning opportunity for those students participating. We awarded up to three places for each grade level and the first and second place winners are going on to compete at the regional level in Pella in February. Winners from that competition proceed to the state level in Ames in March.
CONGRATULATIONS Billy Lopatto!!! He advances to the regional competition.
In the 4th grade division, the following students placed in the following positions: Adrin Nance (1st place), Frances Pedersen (2nd place), and Lucy Turley (3rd place). A great time was had by all!
Wrestling Highlights: Congratulations to our wrestlers! Way to Go Tigers!
Eli Rose LHC Champion Brock Beck LHC Champion
Wyatt Hunter & Kamrin Steveson both placed 3rd at LHC Wrestling Tournament
Wyatt Dillon 2nd place at LHC Wrestling Tournament
Unfortunately, the Bass Clef Concert 7-12 Grinnell Students with the Iowa Statesmen, that was scheduled to take place on Thursday, January 31, 2019 had to be canceled due to weather. This event will not be rescheduled for this year. Please watch for this event to take place in the 2019-2020 school year.
Upcoming Events:
Friday, February 1
4:45 JV Boys & Girls Basketball @ Indianola
6:00 9th Grade Boys Basketball @ Indianola
6:15 Girls Varsity Basketball @ Indianola
7:30 JV II Girls Basketball @ Indianola
7:45 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Indianola
Saturday, February 2
9:00 State Large Group Speech @ Cedar Rapids
12:00 Varsity Wrestling Sectionals @ Williamsburg
9:00 Winter Whirl
Monday, February 4: No School Professional Development Day
9:00 Conference Honor Band @ Newton
6:00 9th Grade Boys Basketball @ Norwalk
7:30 Varsity Girls Basketball @ Oskaloosa
7:30 JV Boys Basketball @ Norwalk
Tuesday, February 5
4:30 8th Grade Boys Basketball @ Home
4:30 7th Grade Boys Basketball @ Newton
4:45 JV Girls Basketball @ Home
6:15 Varsity Girls Basketball @ Home
7:30 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Home
Thursday, February 7
4:30 8th Grade Boys Basketball @ Pell Christian
4:30 7th Grade Boys Basketball @ Home
4:45 JV Boys & Girls Basketball @ Home
6:00 9th Grade Boys Basketball @ Home
6:15 Varsity Girls Basketball @ Home
7:30 JV II Girls Basketball @ Home
7:45 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Home
Friday, February 8
4:45 JV Girls & Boys Basketball @ Pella
6:15 Varsity Girls Basketball @ Pella
7:30 JV II Girls Basketball @ Pella
7:30 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Pella
Saturday, February 9
9:00 Middle School Solo/Ensemble @ Home
12:00 Varsity Wrestling District Tournament @ Knoxville
6:00 Large Group Speech Showcase @ Home
6:30 JV Boys Basketball @ Knoxville
8:00 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Knoxville
Sunday, February 10
9:00 ISU Honor Choir @ ISU
Have a great weekend!
Janet
--