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Weekly Update: April 9, 2021

Weekly Update: April 9, 2021

Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Families, and Friends: 

We are springing into Spring Season as athletics returns to the fields. The weather has been great and our teams are off to a great start! I hope that you find the time to enjoy our outdoor events this Spring. 

In other good news, our COVID-19 positivity rate continues to remain low here in Grinnell. We continue to examine our current practices and make adjustments in order to afford students opportunities to have instructional and activity experiences that were lost last year. Each day we learn more and make adjustments as we plan events. Our priority is to keep students, staff, and our community safe. We will continue to communicate plans for upcoming events, and this week we have a draft document for Spring protocol events that will assist families to know how we will close out the school year.  You can find this draft document here.   We will discuss this at our upcoming board meeting next Wednesday.   Our protocols that are in place will be in place for all school events and outside rentals.   We are beginning to open up rentals with community partners.   We thank you for your cooperation to follow the guidelines during your activity or event.   Masks must be worn at all times, social distancing when possible, hand washing, and use hand sanitizer.  

Spring Sports are on the run!  A few photos from Track and Tennis this week!  

Please feel free to send me photos of your student-athlete's participation in any Spring activities! We enjoy seeing our students weekly!  

COVID Drive-Through Clinic:

On Wednesday, April 14 IDPH will hold their first drive-through COVID-19 vaccine clinic from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m for all persons 18 years and older. We will be administering the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine which is approved for persons 18 years of age and older.

The drive-through clinic will be held at Grinnell Mutual (4215 Highway 146, Grinnell, Iowa) in the south parking lot. We ask that all individuals enter the north entrance off Highway 146 and proceed south on the frontage road to the south parking lot. This will allow us to monitor traffic. We will also have signage and volunteers to help direct cars to different stops.

Individuals will be administered a vaccine on a first-come, first-serve basis. No appointments are needed for the clinic on April 14. Therefore, there will be no call-in scheduling Friday, April 9. When all doses have been administered, the drive-through clinic signs will be taken down and individuals still in line will be asked to exit. Lastly, we ask that all individuals receiving the vaccine properly wear a mask for face covering. If you do not have a mask, one will be provided to you.

Updates regarding the drive-through clinic will be posted on the public health Facebook page, webpage, and on the public health voicemail recording at (641) 236-2385, option one.

We are grateful for our partnership with Grinnell Mutual and the help of community volunteers to continue efforts to administer COVID-19 vaccines.

Thank you!

Shauna Callaway

Knocked Your Socks Off!

We are featuring two staff members this week! Just a reminder to submit your email to janet.stutz@grinnell-k12.org to nominate a staff member who has gone above and beyond and knocked their socks off supporting families, students, and much more!   

Sarah Seney and Staci Harms you have knocked your socks off!  Your nominations were sent to me from a parent who nominated the two of you together as you both have been working with staff while their student was participating in online lessons. Your nomination read, “Mrs. Harms, and Mrs. Seney have been doing such a wonderful job at providing a wonderful experience for my son, in spite of the challenges of online learning. We are thankful for their work every single day”.  When I asked Mrs. Seney, Fairview Principal, what brings her joy in the work she stated, “ I have to say that I have the trifecta here at Fairview when it comes to wonderful students, staff, and families. I enjoy watching students and staff interact with each other in a genuine way with such care and kindness. It is simply heartwarming.  Everyone goes above and beyond and it makes my heart very happy”.  Way to go Sarah!  Mrs. Staci Harms shared, “ I enjoy working with everyone as the instructional coach at Fairview.  Students are a part of our team and to watch how they grow every day while learning brings me joy.   Staci has recently completed her National Board Certification.  She is also endorsed in TAG services as well as instructional coaching methodologies to support teachers. Way to Go Staci!  

End-of-year celebration (2021) for the Grinnell-Newburg Mentoring and Induction Program - Journey to Distinguished.

Four second-year teachers have completed the program and are now eligible for their standard license. Pictured from the left: 

 Justin White mentor to Vanessa Hilton (not pictured - on maternity leave); Jill Meyer mentor to Jocelyn Nimmo; Jennifer Watters and her mentor, Meaghan Hunter; Claire Molony and her mentor, Chellie Wilkins.

Second-year teachers Jocelyn Nimmo, Jennifer Watters, Claire Molony. 

Not pictured - Vanessa Hilton 

Individual snack boxes were provided by Ms. Skouson's Culinary Students. Guest Speaker was Amy Harper. 

Upcoming Events:

Enjoy your weekend!  

Janet