Weekly Update: April 17, 2020
Weekly Update: Friday, April 17
Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Families and Friends:
It is with a heavy heart that I inform you that Governor Reynolds has closed our school buildings through the end of the school year. We all knew it was coming, it is just very sad that we will not see our students back in our buildings together. The safety and the health of our students and staff is our priority during this challenging time. There is a lot to sort through over the next few days and I know that many have questions about graduation, awards events, picking up belongings in lockers, dropping off library books, summer school, and much more. Please know that we will be communicating a plan with you as soon as we work through our game plan.
At this time the guidance that the Department of Education has shared is basically this:
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School buildings closed through the end of the year for students
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Continue with our learning plan: Voluntary PreK-8 and Required Plan 9-12
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Spring Sport seasons have been cancelled
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On June 1 we will be notified about summer sports and other activities
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August start date has been waived: Meaning that we have an opportunity to start earlier than August 23, 2020. We will work with our union leadership and Board on options
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Submit a re-enter to learning by July 1, 2020: We will work with our staff this May to get started once we receive the template and guidance from the Department of Education
Please know that I will continue to keep you updated as we work through this guidance and develop a plan. Our first priority will be to establish a back up plan for graduation and activities for seniors. My goal is to have this information to you by next Friday.
Today we ended the first week of our new plan for our students. I want to thank all of our teachers, administrators, families and community for supporting this effort. Please let me know if there is anything we can do to assist you during this challenging time.
As you navigate the various activities with your students, it important to remember a few things to ease any stress or the feeling of being overwhelmed:
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It is not the expectation that students sit and do school work all day as if they were in school
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It is not the expectation that parents/guardians take the place of their child’s teacher
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Reach out to your child’s teacher if students are overwhelmed or do not understand the concept
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Be sure students take breaks and try to encourage your student to keep a schedule each day
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Get plenty of rest, exercise, and stay healthy.
FAQ’s for Grinnell-Newburg Students & Families Regarding “Continuous Learning” Opportunities
The FAQ document has been updated to reflect the Govenor’s waiver regarding graduation requirements for seniors. Please take a look at the link above. All new information is in blue!
Books donated by the Grinnell College Center for Humanities
This week staff continued to deliver these donated books to students! Thank you Grinnell College Center for Humanities for this donation! Smiles like these below were plentiful!
We would like to highlight activities that your students are doing at home!
Please feel free to share photos of your children engaging in learning activities! We would love to see their smiles! You can send your photos amber.robson@grinnell-k12.org
The Grinnell Food Coalition is reaching out to those in need.
April Snow Day!!!! Thank you for sharing these amazing photos!
Have a wonderful weekend! Let’s hope for some wonderful sunshine!
Be Strong Tigers! #WeAreGrinnell
Janet