Weekly Update: March 24th, 2023
Weekly Update: March 24th, 2023
Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Families, and Friends:
Happy Spring! Spring is officially here, let’s hope the snow stays away this weekend! This weekly update has important information for you to review. Take a look.
Welcome Jessica Arneson!
Jessica Arneson is the new Administrative Assistant to the Superintendent. You can email her jessica.arneson@grinnell-k12.org! Stop by the district office to say hello! We will tour the district next week too!
Senate File 482: Bathroom Law
As you may be aware, the Governor signed into law Iowa Senate File 482, that went into effect immediately, requiring students, employees, parents, and visitors to use bathrooms, changing rooms, and other facilities as defined in the law, in accordance to their biological sex. Any student who, for any reason, desires greater privacy when using the restroom, changing rooms, and other facilities defined in the law, may submit a written request to their building principal, which must be signed by the student’s parent or guardian.
The Grinnell-Newburg School District must comply with the law. Please know that we will continue to support our LGBTQ+ students and all students to meet their needs. Grinnell-Newburg personnel and policies support the safety, well-being, and personal growth of all students. We acknowledge and affirm the wonderful attributes that make each student a unique individual and will work to assure that they continue to feel valued, respected, and encouraged regardless of gender identity and sexual orientation while operating within the confines of new Iowa Laws.
Families should reach out to their building principal for any questions, support, or to request an accommodation for use of alternative facilities. We recognize that this law may create many mixed emotions and concerns. Grinnell policy along with federal and state laws prohibit discrimination and harassment on the basis of gender identity and sexual orientation. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions.
Upcoming ISASP Tests and Conditions for Learning Survey:
The State of Iowa’s Department of Education requires that all schools let their students in 3rd-12th grades give their feedback about what it’s like to go to their school. This is called the Conditions for Learning Survey. We take this survey very seriously because not only will other people in the state see what students at Grinnell think about our school, but our administrators, teachers, parents, and community members will use data from this survey to help us make decisions about how to improve things like safety, student engagement in learning and the overall school environment. Information from this survey can help us to understand why students are doing well in school and why students may be struggling.
The following three links provide families with the questions that will be found on the survey. You may also consider exempting your student from taking the survey. Please review the following links:
Iowa Spring 2023 CfL - Student Gr 6-12 (1).pdf
Iowa Spring 2023 CfL - Student Gr 3-5 (1).pdf
24 Hour Attendance Line:
Parents, please feel free to call the district’s attendance line 641-236-1414 to report your student’s absences. You do not have to wait until the office is open.
From the Nutrition Department: Eat Breakfast at School!!
Breakfast is served at each building before school starts!! School breakfast will energize your child’s day and provide them with a healthy start. A nutritious breakfast helps students be more alert so they can learn more in class, and has plenty of vitamins and nutrients for a strong and healthy body.
Breakfast at school is affordable. If you qualify for free and reduced price meals, you also qualify for the breakfast program, with no additional paperwork.
Speaking of free and reduced price meals, remember you can fill out an application any time throughout the school year. If your situation has changed since the beginning of school, you can locate the application on our website. It can be turned into the office of any school building.
Immunization (HPV) Education Event -
Allison Ringgenberg, RN is hosting an education speaker series about HPV Immunization on the fourth Thursday each month from 5:15 to 6:30 PM at Prairie Lakes Church 925 E. Street, Grinnell, IA
To sign up visit unitypoint.org/grinnell/classes-and-events or call (641) 236-2385.
For more information check out the flyer here.
ISASP Testing Schedule:
Each principal will be sending communications to families regarding the ISASP schedule for students. Please watch for this important information.
Robotics in Cedar Falls:
Grinnell High School Students are participating in the Robotics Competition in Cedar Falls. We wish them all the best throughout this competition.
The team in the queue, ready to go!
Iowa High School Music Association Festival:
Grinnell High School is one of the host sites of the Iowa High School Music Association's Solo/Ensemble Music Festival all day this Saturday! A handful of schools in the area travel to GHS to perform outstanding music and receive comments/feedback and ratings from an adjudicator. Best of luck to our participants!
Reminder: No School on April 3rd
Teachers and academic coaches will be participating in Professional Development on April 3. Therefore there is no school for students.
Grinnell High School & Middle School Annual Art Show
Annual Art Show opening reception is Saturday April 8th, 10am - noon
There will be donuts and a button maker!
Hope to see you there!
For more information check out the flyer here.
Middle School Band Concert
The kids did a fantastic job with their performance!
Grinnell High School Band Trip to Florida:
Here are some highlights from the trip!
Fun Wednesday for FFA!
Kiss the Critter at our Pride Assembly - raised $107 for PALS and Mr. Seney kissed a goat!
With the help of Ms. Hungerford, FS brought in their Sprayer Simulator and allowed students to try driving and operating a sprayer. We had seniors, who did well, that were asked to come work for FS!
Grinnell College Ignite Program:
The Ignite program is returning this spring on Sunday, April 16, 2023. Registration will be open Monday March 20 at 8 a.m. through Monday April 3 at midnight. We are teaming up with Grinnell College Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), therefore we have moved the event to Sunday to accommodate competition and practice schedules. The Ignite Program is open to any student in grades Pre-K through 6th grade from the Grinnell area and beyond. Ignite is a chance for students to experience a college campus and take fun, educational classes taught by Grinnell College students. Ignite is aimed to foster curiosity and expose children to subject areas outside of the realm of traditional schooling. Each child registers for two courses in the afternoon, on a first-come first-serve basis. Please note that spaces are limited. Each student will receive a snack.
Starting March 15, a list of classes and registration information can be found on the ignite website at https://www.grinnell.edu/about/offices-services/community-enhancement/ignite/learn. For those that do not have internet access, register over the phone at 641-269-3900. Please email communityenhance@grinnell.edu with questions.
GEP Summer Learning Americorp Position Opportunity:
Summer learning is just around the corner and the Grinnell Education Partnership is looking for qualified candidates to work with our students throughout the community. The link to the flier is listed below.
For more information, check out the flyer here.
Family Fun Night
Davis Elementary is hosting a Family Fun Night next Thursday, March 30th. There will be games, the StarLab, book fair, and food.
Please come join us!
For more information, check out the flyer here.
Unplug Night:
Unplug night will be held on March 29, 2023, this school year! During this time, we encourage family activities and connecting~ Let’s UnPlug and enjoy time together!
Legislative Coffees News Release
Funnel week is complete and it is time for the last Legislative Coffee which will be held on April 1st from 10 AM to 11 AM at Drake Community Library and via Zoom. The event will be moderated by Terese Grant who will convey questions supplied by the audience before and at the event as time allows.
Senator Annette Sweeney (Senate District 27) will make a brief remark and then answer questions on issues being considered by the Iowa Legislature in the current session. Representative Dean Fisher has chosen not to participate in this event.
If you will be joining via Zoom and did not register for the March Coffee please register in advance for The Coffee using this link (also available at the Grinnell League of Women Voters Facebook page): https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAlduutqj4oH9IlbmIkH0zyXTYuhs0CsmcG
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. The same link works for both Coffees.
We encourage you to submit questions in advance to GrinnellLWV@gmail.com. The deadline for submitting questions via email is 5 PM on Thursday March 30th so that the event host has time to organize the questions. Questions will not be shared with anyone before the Coffee. Attendees will also be able write down questions at the event or post questions in the Zoom chat while the event is underway, but priority will be given to questions submitted in advance.
Legislative Coffees are sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Grinnell Chamber of Commerce to provide residents the opportunity to learn about current legislative proposals as well as to ask questions and raise concerns.
The event will be recorded. The recording belongs to the LWV and we respectfully ask that others not record the event.
23-24 School Registration
The 2023- 2024 Online Registration is now open. Every student needs to complete online registration each year. This ensures that all information in Infinite Campus is up to date, especially in case of an emergency.
For current families, please log in to your parent portal account, select the 2023-2024 year, and follow the prompts. If you are having issues logging into your account, please reach out to me at katie.osborn@grinnell.k12.org.
For New Families or students who are not currently enrolled in the district, click HERE
Parents will want to select New Student Registration and then select 2023-2024. The first series of questions will ask for the parent's first name, last name, email, confirm email, enter the "I'm not a robot code," and a separate link will be sent to the email provided. That link is the Infinite Campus link and official registration. Parents will not need an activation code. If asked for one before starting, they selected the incorrect area and will need to select NEW STUDENT REGISTRATION.
The virtual Backpack can be found here:
The activities Calendar can be found here:
Have a wonderful weekend!
Janet