Borlaug Bulletin
September 14, 2020
Every Child, Every Day, Whatever It Takes to be.... Borlaug Best!
A Message from Principal Shoppa
Welcome to the 2020-2021 school year! We are very excited to welcome our new and returning families to Borlaug Elementary School, and we welcome new teachers and staff members which you will find listed in the attached Borlaug Staff Directory for 2020-2021. We want to share once again the video of our Borlaug Staff that are here to assist our Borlaug Families. The Borlaug Team is dedicated to our students ….
Every Child, Every Day, Whatever it takes to be Borlaug BEST!
We are pleased with our first week of virtual learning as we begin this exceptional school year. It is wonderful to see our Borlaug Bulldogs participating and engaged, and we thank our families for the outstanding support with our remote learning plans.
We start each day at Borlaug by reciting our Borlaug Pledge. It is a reminder to us all that at Borlaug we are responsible, respectful, and safe. We hope families will use the pledge as a way to talk with your children about their days. We encourage families to display the pledge at home as a reminder.
The Borlaug Pledge
Borlaug Elementary is a caring community of learners
We respect ourselves and others
We make responsible choices
We are safe at school
We are proud to be the Borlaug Bulldogs
WOOF! WOOF!
Thank you again for your resilience during this time of remote learning. We look forward to weeks to come with the hope of safely being together once again at Borlaug, though if not at our school, we will do what is needed to be BORLAUG BEST!
BORLAUG BEST!
At Borlaug Elementary, we are committed to making sure our school is a safe place to learn and grow for our students, staff and families. Racism and hate is not tolerated. We celebrate our diversity and want an environment where students, staff and families of color feel safe and happy to learn. At Borlaug, we are committed to understanding and addressing structural racism. As educators we are committed to advance diversity, inclusion and equity work both inside our community as well as support it outside our walls. Once again, we thank our Borlaug PTO for creating the Borlaug posters as a way to show we stand for at Borlaug. We hope your family has colored it brightly and has displayed it proudly!
Who's That Borlaug Bulldog?
Technology and Internet Support
The ICCSD Technology Help Desk is open on business days, and will be available to support use of district-provided technology and to provide limited support with District-provided internet.
In the event that a student is having trouble with a school-issued computer, or if a device is in need of repair or replacement, please contact the ICCSD Technology Help Desk. The Help Desk can be reached by phone at (319)688-1950, by email at helpdesk@iowacityschools.org, or by using the chat option available during business hours in the bottom right corner of the Technology & Innovation Blog (https://innovation.iowacityschools.org).
For detailed technology support information, visit our technology support page.If your family does not have internet service at home, please fill out this form or call (319)688-1950 to arrange for district-provided internet access. Once your form has been submitted, we will contact a telecommunications provider and assist in arranging for the establishment of service during the 2020-2021 school year. We ask that requests only be submitted in cases where home internet is currently unavailable, as we want to ensure that resources are available for all families in need of service.
Elementary Student Materials Pick-Up
There will be a second pick-up of student materials for our elementary students. These are additional needed items for instruction from home.This will be held on Tuesday, September 22, 2020, from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. We will send additional details regarding the elementary materials pick-up once we know what the School Board decides about the extension of remote learning.
2020 Attendance Process: COVID-19
Students are expected to participate in school on days they have synchronous learning and attendance will be monitored. Parents will need to contact the school to communicate absences and the reason for the absence. The ICCSD will utilize the current excused and unexcused definitions but will follow some different processes for recording absences during the different learning modes. In addition, attendance tracking, attendance plans and truancy referrals will be adapted in response to COVID-19. Tardies will not be tracked. New notification letters will be developed for use this year.
In-Person/Hybrid Classes:
Attendance will be taken utilizing the normal process. Attendance is taken only during in person learning for the group expected to be on site.
Online Synchronous Classes:
Teachers will take attendance during the morning meeting and enter attendance into PowerSchool. This is still the case when a student’s school day starts with a specials class. Each school will have a Google Sheet. This document is designed to track attendance/participation in classes throughout the day including specials. Teachers will add the names of students who are absent to a Google spreadsheet for the students’ home school (regardless of whether the student is enrolled in the standard model or the Online Learning Program). School personnel will use this information to monitor attendance, provide support, and document these efforts.
Asynchronous Learning:
Attendance will not be taken
ICCSD Grab & Go Meal Program
Due to ICCSD starting the school year in a 100% off-site learning model, we will continue our Grab & Go Meal Program to provide breakfast and lunch to District students.The Grab & Go meal sites are outlined below. Meals are served from 11:30 am - 1:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Each meal includes breakfast and lunch. Menu information can be found at MealViewer, under the Grab & Go menu. Meals are free and available to all Iowa City Community School District students and children do not need to be present in order for a guardian to pick-up a meal for the child.
Grab & Go meal sites beginning September 8, 2020
- City High School
- Hills Elementary School
- Liberty High School
- North Central Junior High School
- Northwest Junior High School
- South East Junior High School
- West High School
We are excited to announce that the USDA has extended our waiver allowing us to continue to offer free meals to all students. The waiver has been extended through December 2020. While meals are currently free for all students through December under this waiver, it is critical that families still complete the Free and Reduced Lunch application since meals may not be free beginning in January 2021. The District provides free and reduced meals to families that qualify; however, you must fill out an application each year as federal income guidelines change. Please be aware that even if you applied last year, you need to reapply by September 30, 2020, to prevent a potential loss in benefits.
If you have already filled out an application or have received a benefits notification from the District’s Nutrition Services Department for this year, NO additional action is necessary. Please contact the Nutrition Services Office at (319) 688-1021 if you have any questions about your student’s meal status or if you are unsure about whether an application is needed at this time.
Thank you again to our Nutrition Services team for their continued dedication to the students in our community. We will provide additional guidance for meal pick-up during the hybrid learning model prior to the District moving into that model. #ICCSDtogether
Sincerely,
Kristin Pedersen
Director of Community Relations
Iowa City Community School District
A Message from Ms. Marston, Orchestra Teacher
WESTSIDE ELEMENTARY ORCHESTRA DATES FOR 2019-2020
(Borlaug, Coralville Central, Horn, Weber, and Wickham)
YES Band and Orchestra will still be offered! Watch your student’s Seesaw classroom for more information later this week! Check out the orchestra website here: https://sites.google.com/iowacityschools.org/iccsdelementaryorchestra/home
Upcoming Dates:
● Thursday, September 17th: Be sure to join our informational Zoom meeting at 1:45! Links will be in your student’s Seesaw class.
● Friday, September 25th: Registrations are due.
● Friday, October 2nd: Lessons begin!
A Message from Mrs. Rheaume, Band Teacher
Band will look a little different this year, but I can’t want to make music with you again!
Here’s what to expect:
· Lessons offered via Zoom and/or in-school (when in a hybrid or on-site learning model)
· Small-group concerts and recitals (either in-person or virtual)
· No after-school rehearsals or large concerts for at least the first trimester
· Weekly Seesaw activities to guide practice at home
Dates to Know:
· September 17th - Registration information will be posted on Seesaw
· September 21st at 6:00 pm - Optional Beginning Band Parent/Family Informational Meeting as a Zoom Webinar.This meeting will be recorded for those who cannot attend.
· September 25th - Due date for both 5th and 6th Grade Band Registration
· October 5th - Lessons will begin the week of October 5th
Beginning Band Website: tinyurl.com/joinbandic & Mrs. Rheaume's Website: tinyurl.com/iccsdband
Dine Out for Education
Mark your calendar and #gethungryforeducation! The fall Dine Out for Education is on Thursday, September 24, 2020. Plan to Dine Out or Take Out at one or more of our 40 participating restaurants and businesses on September 24 and they will donate 10% of their daily sales in support of our schools. Take-out and delivery count! For more information, visit the ICCSD Foundation website at www.iccsdfoundation.org/dine-out-for-education/ or take a look at partner restaurants’ online menus.
Borlaug PTO Newsletter
Here is the link to the September 14, 2020, Borlaug PTO Newsletter.
First PTO Meeting
The first PTO meeting of the school year will be Tuesday, October 6, from 6:30-7:30 pm via Zoom. All Borlaug parents are members of PTO so we hope to see many of you there!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/76274484750?pwd=UlU2bTEwQTI4OVRoa2k4bnFKMWZLdz09
Meeting ID: 762 7448 4750
Passcode: 5XzMrdCALENDAR OF EVENTS
09/22/20 - Material Distribution at Borlaug @ 8:00 am - 6:00 pm
09/24/20 - Dine Out/Take Out for Education
09/28/20 - Next Borlaug Bulletin
10/03/20 - Sidekick Fundraiser
10/06/20 - PTO – Virtual Meeting @ 6:30 pm
10/09/20 - No School
10/14/20 - PTO Science Fair – Virtual @ 6:00 pm
11/03/20 - No School
11/10/20 - PTO – Virtual Meeting @ 6:30 pm
11/25/20 - No School
11/26/20 - No School
11/27/20 - No School
12/01/20 PTO – Virtual Meeting @ 6:30 pm
WINTER BREAK 12/21/20 THROUGH 01/01/21
01/04/21 - Classes Resume
01/05/21 - PTO – Virtual Meeting @ 6:30 pm
01/18/21 - No School
02/01/21 - PTO – virtual meeting @ 6:30 pm
03/02/21 - PTO – virtual meeting @ 6:30 pm
SPRING BREAK 03/15/21 THROUGH 03/19/21
03/22/21 - Classes resume
04/01/21 - Dine Out/Take Out for Education
04/06/21 - PTO – Virtual Meeting @ 6:30 pmIs your E-Registration Updated?
It is very important to update your E-Registration Account when changes in your address, phone number, and/or other important information occurs! If you would like to make an appointment for assistance with E- Registration,
please call us at 688-1155.
Absences & Tardies
Please call the Borlaug Office, 688-1155, when your child is ill or will be absent from school. Once we are in session at Borlaug, the earliest children should be allowed at school is 7:40 am, including breakfast which begins at 7:40 am. When children arrive before that time they are unsupervised. All students will enter the front door this school year for health and safety mitigation. Students are considered tardy after 7:55.
On-site Breakfast & Lunch Prices
BREAKFAST
Full Price $1.95
Reduced Price 30¢
LUNCH
Full Price $2.80
Reduced Price 40¢
MILK
Full Price 50¢
Reduced Price 50¢
Borlaug Contact Information
Mary Gauthier, Secretary
Whitney Wessling, School Facilitator
Martha Peterson, Student Family Advocate
Jaime Schneiter, School Counselor
Email: shoppa.celeste@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/BorlaugES
Location: 1000 Kennedy Parkway, Coralville, IA, 52241
Phone: 319-688-1155
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Norman-Borlaug-Elementary-School