Weekly Update: September 24, 2021
Weekly Update: September 24, 2021
Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Families, and Friends:
Happy Friday! Happy Homecoming! This week students participated in homecoming activities that were full of fun! Go Tigers! We look forward to cheering on our team tonight at T.T. Cranny Field.
I would like to thank all of our families and students for their cooperation as we implemented the mask requirement in our school buildings this week. Let’s hope that this will be a short requirement and that progress is made toward having a vaccine available for children under 11.
COVID Update from IDPH:
There have been 30 positive cases in the school district reported since the beginning of the school year. Seven new COVID cases in the District were reported this week. I have linked the COVID report provided by the Iowa Department of Public Health. Last week 82 positive COVID cases were identified; a week later, there were 161 in the County. The positivity rate for 14 days in our County is 13.6%, while the three-day rate is slightly down from last week to 9.1% for positive cases. You can find the data dashboard on our website that relates to our district COVID cases reported. The attendance on the dashboard indicates absences for students from appointments, field trips, illness, etc. Once the attendance rate reaches 10% in the District or at any building, the data are examined to determine the cause for absences. A determination is made at that time if there will be a closure.
SIAC meeting:
This past Wednesday, the SIAC committee met for the first time this school year. The SIAC Committee provided feedback on Mission, Vision, and Core beliefs and some language changes to our district goals. Currently, we are making the track changes from their input and will be sharing this with the school Board at the October 8 meeting. I will send the track changes to the committee early next week to review to ensure that I correctly captured their comments. Thank you for your participation, and please watch for the doodle poll coming out for our next meeting in early December. I am looking for a parent or teacher facilitator to assist in meeting planning. Please email me at janet.stutz@grinnell-k12.org if you are interested.
Board Workshop:
The Grinnell-Newburg School District Board participated in a workshop focused on School facilities related to the recent school buildings audit. CMBA and Boyd Jones shared the audit report with board members. Next steps, we will reconvene the Adhoc facilities committee to examine the audit more closely and make recommendations to the Board for a timeline of future projects. Next week I will be sending out a sign-up sheet to staff and community members who would like to participate on the committee. The committee will meet in mid-October.
Homecoming Week Festivities! Go Tigers!
Kites Over Grinnell: Just a reminder that the Rotary-sponsored “Kites Over Grinnell” Family event will be held tomorrow in Ahrens Park from 10:00 A.M.-4:00 P.M. Professional Kite Fliers will be flying giant kites, students will be able to participate in games, bring their kite that was made during art class this week to fly, and there will be free meals provide. There will be a kite hospital if you need to fix your kite or build a new one. The weather should be gorgeous for this family fun event! I hope to see you there!
Have you looked at what is on the virtual backpack? It can be found here!
Activities Calendar: Please follow this link to see activities for next week.
Have an awesome weekend! Go Tigers!
Janet