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Weekly Update: October 9, 2020

Weekly Update: October 9, 2020

Dear Board of Education, Staff, Families, and Friends:

I hope that this weekly update finds you well and ready for a beautiful weather weekend!  

This past week our staff participated in diversity training to learn about institutional racism. Our presenter, Leslie Bleichner, hosted an amazing training session. We look forward to our continued training next month.  

In the meantime, I hope that you had an opportunity to sign up for The 21-Day Equity Challenge in partnership with the United Way of Central Iowa and the Greater Des Moines Partnership. The challenge is a powerful opportunity for shared learning and growth and invites central Iowans to develop a deeper understanding of how inequity and racism affect our lives and community. Each weekday from Oct. 5 to Nov. 2, participants will receive an email with links to articles, videos, podcasts, or other information related to that day's topic. Today’s challenge is understanding cultural competence.  Many of our staff are participating in this challenge!   

Upcoming Board Meeting this Wednesday, October 14, 2020.

The Board of Education will meet this Wednesday to approve many of the Derecho repair quotes following the August 10th storm. Projects are moving quickly now and it is our hope that this will all be resolved soon. The Board will also review district goals, annual title parent compact for title services, FEMA policy approval, and an update will be provided related to our diversity training and our COVID response.  

INFLUENZA VACCINE CLINIC: 

Unity Point Grinnell Regional Public Health will conduct influenza vaccine clinics in the new gymnasium (North end of the building) at GHS on the following dates:

10/14 from 4-7 pm

10/28 from 4-7 pm

The flu vaccine clinics are open to staff, students, and the community.  If you plan to attend one of the flu vaccine clinics, please review the following guidelines for your visit to GHS:

1.) Park in the North parking lot and use the North doors only to enter the building.  

2.) Follow posted instructions to guide the flow of foot traffic into the building and gymnasium and out of the building to ensure proper social distancing guidelines.  

3.) Everyone who enters GHS must wear a mask.  Masks will be available if you do not have one.  

4.) To help alleviate congestion at check-in, fill out the 2020 Flu Consent ahead of time.  The consent form is available for download and can be located on the GNCSD website, attached to digital school announcements or Dr. Stutz's weekly update, or have your student pick up a paper copy from your child's school.

Parent-Teacher Conferences are being held next week virtually!  Below you will find the details for your grade level! 

Parent-Teacher Conferences Elementary School:  School Dismissal at 1:00

2:00 PM-8:00 PM on Thursday

8:00 AM-12:00 PM on Friday

Your classroom teacher will be sending you a zoom link for your parent-teacher conferences.  All conferences will be held virtually.

Parent-Teacher Conferences: Middle School

Students will dismiss at 1:15 for middle school 

Please contact your student’s school if you have any questions

Thursday, October 15, 2020 

2:00-7:00 Scheduled Conferences

7:00-8:00 Open Forum Conferences 

• During the open forum time, you are invited to click on the link of any teacher you would like to talk to

• Open forum meetings will occur on a first-come, first-serve basis

• You may have to wait in the Zoom waiting room for your conference

• Open forum meetings will be limited to five minutes

Friday, October 16, 2020, No school day for students 

8:00-11:00 Scheduled Conferences

11:00-Noon Open Forum Conferences

Parent-Teacher Conferences Grinnell High School: Dismissal at 1:15 grab and go lunch

• Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held this year on Thursday, Oct. 15th from 2:00 - 8:00 PM and Friday, Oct. 16th from 8:00 AM-Noon. 

• All conferences will be done virtually via Zoom or by phone.  To access your student’s teachers’ sign-up sheets, please go to our staff pages on the district website.

• Parents may open the “Parent-Teacher Conference Sign-Up” form next to each teacher and find a 20-minute slot that works for you and indicate if you’d rather do a Zoom conference or conference via phone.

• The Zoom links in the column header are “live links” and can be accessed at any time by anyone, however, the host (the teacher) will only admit people who have signed up for conferences at that time, others will remain in the Zoom waiting room until their scheduled time. 

Fall Athletics:

I want to thank all of our fans and athletes for your cooperation and support during this fall season as we navigated through COVID! Remember to continue to wear your mask, social distance, and wash your hands frequently. We will be coming out with further guidance as we head into the winter athletic season. Stay Strong Grinnell!  

Grinnell Tiger Football Live Stream Link:

Live Stream of Grinnell Tigers vs. CCA tonight!

Upcoming Events:

Have a wonderful weekend!

Janet