Weekly Update: April 10, 2020
Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Families and Friends:
Happy Friday! I hope that this weekly update finds you well. This past week the Board of Education passed our continuous learning plan due to the continued school closures through April 30, 2020. Our Pre-K through 8th grade students will engage in the voluntary plan and our 9-12 grade students will participate in the required plan. Principals are sending families information regarding how learning will continue during this time of social distancing and school closures. The FAQ can be found here. Please contact your child’s teacher or building administrator if you have any questions.
Update: Wifi access: Beginning Monday the student/guest wifi in the west parking lot of the high school will be available to students: Please do not gather and remain in your vehicle.
Here is the Weekly Schedule for when it will be on:
Monday 1:00-8:00 PM.
Tuesday 8:00 AM-8:00 PM
Wednesday 1:00-8:00 PM
Thursday 8:00- AM-8:00 PM
Friday: 8:00- AM-8:00 PM
Saturday and Sunday 8:00 AM-5:00 PM
Grinnell on Zoom!
I had an opportunity to meet with our district staff this week via zoom! I want to thank all of them for their hard work and dedication to our students and their families during this time of school closure. The plans that they have in place are amazing. Students learn to draw through FaceBook Live Lessons, story time on FB Live, staff using Flip grid for students to share stories on how they are coping each day, teachers meeting virtually to plan, cooks preparing and disseminating more than 3,774 meals this week alone. Meals this week were up to support 74 additional students. This work is amazing. We will touch base each week on zoom so that we can support each other through this crisis.
Light Up the Stadiums Night:Tiger Pride
The IHSADA has coordinated an effort for Iowa Schools to light up their stadiums each Friday night for the number of days we have missed. The effort is to bring hope and to honor our students. Tonight, Grinnell stadium will be lit between 8-8:15. We are asking people to just drive by and not get out of their vehicles. This is not a place to gather. Each week the lights will stay on for 5 minutes longer. April 17 - 20 minutes, April 24 - 25 minutes
Grinnell students and Staff member Bill Gruman making PPE face shields:
The efforts by Bill Gruman and his ability to connect with others to provide the much needed PPE Face Shields for Iowa Health Care workers is amazing. The donations, connections, student efforts, and businesses right here in Grinnell, so that we could have a unified effort, is above and beyond.
The first 50 face shields went out last week that were run on the school's 3D printers. Twenty-four face shields went to the Newbo crew in Cedar Rapids who are heading towards distributing 10,000 units around the state. Another 26 are staying in Grinnell, with more getting cranked out daily. With other printers added, Bill is hoping we will have another 100 soon.
Today’s update on Face shields: "We are up over 200 face shields printed as of today. The headband frames are all 3D printed. The actual face shields have come from different sources.
Our volunteer team includes ISU student Sloan Volkman, Grinnell College student Jonathan Rebelsky, GHS freshman Ruari Brownell, and myself.
A part of the face shield frames are going to a group in Cedar Rapids, a volunteer network that has produced almost 10,000 face shields to distribute through emergency management coordinators throughout the state".
Students Learning and connecting with classmates through Google meet classroom, Facebook lessons through art and stories being read by teachers, or reading on their own!
Teachers and students are so happy to see each other. Mrs. Gohlmann had hosted a zoom meeting that included an egg hunt.
Have an Awesome Weekend!
Janet