A Note From Mr. Gahan
Dear Coralville Central Families and Friends,
Happy Winter Break! We are now off from school for the next 2 weeks (returning on Monday, January 3rd, 2022). Enjoy the time off, relaxing with family and friends. We look forward to seeing everyone back in 2022!
Mr. Gahan
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Andy Gahan
Principal, Coralville Central Elementary
Message on Masks and Vaccines (9/15/21)
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, the Iowa City Community School District requires universal mask use for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to our schools, regardless of vaccination status. This is based on guidance from the CDC. In addition, the President’s Executive Order on domestic transportation requires students and staff to wear a face-covering while on a school bus or while utilizing other District-provided transportation.
In addition, our District strongly encourages eligible individuals to get the COVID-19 vaccine. For individuals 12 years of age and older who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, this vaccine locator may be used to find a provider near you.
Word of the month...
All of your children received a Friendship Bracelet to celebrate our Empathy over the month of December. If you would like to continue talking about Empathy at home over the winter break here are some read aloud ideas for you and your family.
In January we will be focusing on the word 'Perseverance'.
Important Upcoming Calendar Days - Pls Read!
December 20 - 31, 2021--NO SCHOOL
Back to school on Monday, January 3, 2022!
Library News!
From the Library
Thank you to those who were able to make it to the Barnes & Noble Book Fair! It was a big success, and that’s because of you. I hope your books are read and loved. The gift card we receive will buy all great titles.
Do you notice in the picture that all of your donations to Coralville Central classrooms are (almost) as tall as a kindergartener? And I know that you also purchased books as gifts for kids at the Children’s Hospital when you were checking out. The Teen Advisory Board at the Coralville Public Library waited to spend their money, received from the Friends of the Coralville Public Library, on the day of the book fair. The books they purchased are then wrapped and given to kids at the Coralville Food Pantry’s Free Supper on December 10.
Are you feeling all of this holiday goodness circulating around Coralville right now? It’s awesome, don’t you think?! Thanks for the part you all played this holiday season!
Devin Redmond (she/hers)
Teacher Librarian
Coralville Central Elementary : ICCSD
Google Voice (text) : 319.435.8220
Instagram @cclibrary
Facebook @coralvillecentral
Twitter @devinred
Follow @cclibrary on Instagram for BN recommendations from CC Staff AND CC Students!
Labeling Items
Also, please remember to label lunchboxes that are sent to school. We get many dropped off in the office when they get left behind. If they are labeled, we can easily find who they belong to!! Thank you!
Nurse News
We are seeing an increase in illness in the Health Office, with both gastrointestinal and respiratory bugs circulating. Please remember that if your child has a fever at home, do not give them fever-reducing medication and send them to school. The standard district policy on illness is listed below:
Is Your Child Too Sick to Go to School?
The Iowa City Community School District has a protocol in place for sending and keeping children home from school when they are ill. We follow this protocol to make sure that children are given an adequate amount of time and rest to get well before returning to school and to prevent the spread of germs to other children and school staff. Please help to keep the schools in the Iowa City Community School District healthy environments by following these simple rules:
- Keep your child home from school when he/she has a fever of 100.4 (F) or greater and for 24 hours after the fever has gone away, without taking Tylenol or Ibuprofen.
- Keep your child home from school when he/she has diarrhea and/or vomiting and for 24 hours after these symptoms have occurred.
- When your child returns to school after an illness he/she should be able to participate in the total school program including outdoor recess and physical education. Your child will be excused from outside recess and physical education after an illness only by a written recommendation from your family doctor or primary health care provider.
- Please be sure the school has a telephone number where you can be reached in case your child becomes ill at school. Call the school if your child will not be attending school because of illness.
- Make sure your child is adequately dressed for the Iowa winter weather. Please mark your children's clothing to help recover lost articles.
- Our students will not be going out for noon recess if the temperature or wind chill is below zero. If your child has proper clothing, playing outside will not be uncomfortable, but pleasant and healthy.
The policy can be viewed on the district's website:
· https://www.iowacityschools.org/HealthProtocols
Thank you for your help keeping all students and staff safe and healthy!
Snacks & Celebrations
The ICCSD is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for our students. In line with that goal, changes are being made to the district’s Wellness Policy regarding classroom snacks birthday treats, and classroom celebrations.
NO FOOD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
In line with the district’s Wellness Policy, student birthdays will be celebrated in the classrooms with a special acknowledgment. Each grade level team has determined a special recognition for students who wish to celebrate their birthdays at school. Please note these birthday celebrations will not involve food. If food is sent to school for birthdays the food items will be returned home.
SNACK & CELEBRATIONS :
When food is served to students in the classroom as a snack or during a classroom celebration, the following rules apply (ICCSD Wellness Policy 507.9):
- allow only fresh fruits/vegetables or purchased foods with the ingredients listed (no homemade foods).
- allow only foods that meet the Healthy Food Guidelines/ Smart Snacks. (the only exception to this would be food-tasting related to district-approved curriculum lessons)
- not allow foods with peanuts or peanut butter or foods that were made in a factory where cross-contamination may occur.
- food that does not meet the guidelines will be sent home.
- a list of acceptable foods (Healthy Food Guidelines/ Smart Snacks) will be made available to parents and teachers at the beginning of the school year.
The ICCSD Wellness Policy Classroom Snacks and Celebrations is a complete list of approved foods including where the approved food items can be purchased.
