PANTHER PRESS
November 6, 2020
The positivity rate in Marion County is increasing and has reached close to 20%; however, at KCSD our positivity rate for students and staff remains very low.
On Thursday, November 5:
- 3 out of 2,000 students/staff are positive cases
- 1.17% of students and 1.09% of staff were absent due to illness
At this time, we will continue our current plan: Face-to-Face learning with a virtual option for those families that have already chosen that model. We will continue to require face-coverings, and encourage hand-washing, sanitizing, and social distancing. Please keep students home if they are sick. These things all seem to be working. Below is the table that shows our data for the past five weeks. If you have questions, please contact me.
Cassi Pearson, KCSD Superintendent
309 W Main Street, Knoxville, IA 50138
o: (641) 842-6551
Coins for Caring
Throughout the month of October, each classroom collected loose change to help support West Elementary staff members that were dealing with a major health concern or they had a child that was dealing with a major health concern. We are humbled and grateful for the participation we received from students/parents. Each classroom contributed to a grand total of $1,666.48. This amount will be split evenly between three West Elementary staff members that are in need right now. THANK YOU for being a part of our caring community at West Elementary. We will be talking with our students about how much their generosity, enthusiasm, and help can make a positive impact and difference in the lives of others.
Affirmations in Guidance
8th Grade U.S. History
Students are finishing up their projects demonstrating the historical importance of key events that took place during the colonial development of America.
Yearbook Cover Contest
KHS Art Classes
BIG WINS THIS PAST WEEK/UPCOMING POSTSEASON
Congratulations to Norah Pearson & Seth Walraven on their outstanding cross country seasons and for representing Knoxville High School at the State Meet last week!
Best of luck to our students performing in these upcoming postseason contests:
Varsity Girls Swimming: Regional Meet on Sat, Nov. 7 at Southeast Polk High School, 1200 PM
Dance Team: State Championships on Wednesday, November 18 in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena, first performance at 824 AM
High School winter sports start this coming Monday!! High School winter sports information is here. The bulk of our plan to address COVID this winter in activities remains the same from this fall. Here is our complete Winter Activities Plan.
THE KNOXVILLE STORE
In partnership with Ramaeker Enterprises Inc., we are excited to offer the Knoxville Store - the online apparel store for Knoxville Panther gear!
This link can be found on our school website: https://www.knoxville.k12.ia.us/ and then click on the "Knoxville Store."
This store features apparel/gear with items from our new brand system with logo marks that have never been on the market! These are exclusive Knoxville Panther items you will only find here!
Some items on this store will stay from month to month - some items will change so that there are constantly new items to choose from for Panther fans!
Orders will be processed twice a month - on the 15th and at the end of the month and Ramaeker Enterprises will email you when your order is ready.
NFHS Network
For events in our high school gym, we will stream on the NFHS Network (https://www.nfhsnetwork.com and then search for Knoxville), a subscription-based service.
When our team is on the road and the host school offers a livestream - we will post that link on Facebook with the host school spectator guidelines that have been sent to us - this will ensure to our viewing public the post/link is authentic. We will also stream all concerts in KPAC on there as well.
SCHEDULES
Get schedules for all extra-curricular middle school and high school activities by going to www.knoxville.k12.ia.us and then clicking on "Activities Calendar". You can even sign-up for email notifications so whenever we make a change to a schedule - you can be notified immediately.
Follow the Knoxville Activities Department on Instagram! @knoxvilleactivities
A Friendly Reminder:
Your child with special needs started preschool: Now What?
At the end of summer, many parents sent their children off to school with relieved grins on their faces. But if you sent your child to an early education program for the first time this year, you may have experienced more complex emotions. Especially if your child has special needs.
Try not to fret; there are plenty of resources and experts out there to help make the transition as smooth as possible. There is more and more research available that supports the benefits of inclusion for young children with and without disabilities. Studies have shown that individualized evidence-based strategies for children with disabilities can be implemented successfully in inclusive early childhood programs, according to the U.S. Department of Education.
Here is a list of things that you can considered to help your assure your child stays developmentally on track.
1. Start the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process as early as possible. This process can be very involved and often overwhelming. Unfortunately, the longer you wait, the more daunting it can become.
2. Communication is crucial. Not communicating upfront often leads to increasingly inefficient communication down the road.
3. Start a routine for before and after school. Regular routines help kids cooperate, learn to take charge, and keep a schedule. Routines give child consistency, certainty and safety.
4. Get Involved. Join the parent-teacher committee, serve as “lead” parent for your child’s classroom, and volunteer when asked. If your schedule is just too hectic to commit to large time investment, at least be sure to always attend parent-teacher conferences, IEP meeting and program-wide functions.
Benefits of Reading
Shared reading time is critically important for improving early literacy skills and strengthening the bonds between parents and their children.
Help boost your child’s vocabulary skills by defining and discussing new words that pop up when reading.
There are lots of places to find great books to read to your child. Public libraries are always a free and fun experience for young children
Have questions about your child’s development… Contact the 1st Five Health Mental Development Initiative with Marion County Public Health.
2020-21 KCSD Academic Calendar
Sign Up To Receive Alerts
Sign up and/or update your subscription to receive alerts regarding school cancellations/delay and/or activity changes, you will need to subscribe to this service through GovDelivery. You can choose to receive text messages, email messages, or both. Please don’t delay, sign up today: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IAEDU3375/subscriber/new
Register now for a remote learning course to obtain your substitute authorization! Learn more at at Heartland.aea.org or register for the class that works for you schedule: http://ow.ly/q7vA50zA9Hi.
KCSD Admin. Office
The Panther Press is a weekly collective newsletter for parents & community members. If you have an article or flyer to share, please submit to Lisa.Willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us for consideration. We love to hear from you so please send us your submissions and feedback. The regular weekly deadline is Thursday at noon.
Stay connected by frequenting our website or following us on social media!
- KHS: www.facebook.com/KHSPanthers/ & twitter.com/KHS_Panthers
- KMS: www.facebook.com/PanthersKMS/ & twitter.com/Panthers_KMS
- Northstar: www.facebook.com/NorthstarElementary/ & twitter.com/MrKeitges
- West: www.facebook.com/knoxvillewestelementary/ & twitter.com/pantherswest
Rate us on greatschools.org!
Email: lisa.willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us
Website: https://www.knoxville.k12.ia.us/departments/district-office/people/1988396/lisa-willis
Location: 309 W Main St, Knoxville, IA, United States
Phone: 641-842-6551
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnoxvilleCSD
Twitter: @KCSD_Panthers