Girls on the Run will be at Grant Elementary this spring!

First Practice: Monday February 27

Schedule: Monday & Wednesday 3:00-4:30pm

At an age when girls’ confidence begins to decline, they need a program that reminds them of their excellence. Compared to organized sports or other clubs, Girls on the Run uplifts the whole girl – mind, body and soul. Take the first step to igniting your girl’s spark by signing her up this season. You won’t regret it!

Register by February 2nd & learn more: www.girlsontheruniowa.org/3rd-5th-grade-program-details

Calling all future preschool students! We will begin accepting preschool applications for the 2023-24 school year on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, at 12:00 pm. More information about our preschool program and application process can be found here: www.IowaCitySchools.org/Preschool

Please consider signing up for a slot to assist with the Hearing Van visit on Tuesday, January 31st. The primary duty involves leading students to/from the van which will be parked curbside in front of the school. Thanks!

Here is the link.

Registration closes February 2, 2023.

Cheer Clinic registration: https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?id=235198

Check us out: https://www.iowacityschools.org/domain/3876

Good Afternoon Families and Staff,

As a reminder, our District's Inclement Weather Guidelines for issuing delay, cancellation, and early release decisions can be found on our website at www.IowaCitySchools.org/WeatherGuidelines. Please note the change to the school day if there is a late start issued on a Thursday.

As decisions are made regarding school day changes, we are committed to providing families with information in a convenient and timely manner. In addition to the notifications that are sent via email, phone, and text, we encourage you to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. We also encourage you to download our mobile app, where you can find everything school and district-related in one spot.

If you have any questions, please contact the Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000.

Sincerely,

Kristin Pedersen
Director of Community Relations
Iowa City Community School District

Grant families,

Cold and flu season is upon us and we are seeing an increase in seasonal illness within our community. Please review our school districts health and safety protocols Is your Child Too Sick to Go to School? and keep your child home if they are ill. If your student reports symptoms but seems well enough to be at school, please consider checking their temperature before sending them. To help prevent the spread of seasonal illness, please help us reinforce the following good hygiene habits:

• Wash hands frequently
• Do not touch eyes, nose or mouth
• Cover mouth and nose when sneezing or coughing, use a paper tissue, throw it away and then wash hands
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick

Thank you for your help!

Nurse Taryn

--

Taryn McGuire, MSN-RN

Christine Grant Elementary

ICCSD Online Program 7-12
Phone: Grant: (319) 688-1500
Google Voice: (319) 853-8484 (call or text)

Join our team! The Iowa City Community School District will hold open interviews seeking paraeducators, nutrition services employees, and custodial staff. Interviews will be held on the following Fridays from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm at the District’s Educational Services Center, 1725 N. Dodge Street in Iowa City.

• Friday, December 2, 2022
• Friday, January 27, 2023
• Friday, February 24, 2023

Assistance will be provided, if needed, to complete the application process. To view available positions or to apply online, visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/Jobs.

Hello Grizzlies,

Thanks to those who have already volunteered! All seem to be enjoying their time being with our Grizzlies!

Expectations are in place for students in both locations, and a volunteer would be paired with an experienced staff member. Some cafeteria duties include opening containers (milk, juice, etc..), giving out napkins and spending some time interacting in a positive manner. Playground expectations are also in place. Duties are primarily connected to being visible and available for student needs while monitoring for safe choices.

This link offers opportunities to sign up for specific days and times. We included the lunch/recess schedule so you will know the grade level and location.

The district does have protocols for volunteering. This link will direct you to the online background check.

Not only do we appreciate any support, we are also excited that parents have the opportunity to get into the school and add to our positive and supportive atmosphere!

Thanks!

Mr. Turnis

Each month the District Cultural Diversity & Equity team produces a newsletter. Click here to access the January Cultural Diversity & Equity Newsletter. You can also visit our District Equity website for additional information and links to previous newsletters.

Two years ago, COVID-19 forced us to rethink many of our practices within the school day including our classroom celebrations, such as fall, winter, and spring parties. The decision to do away with elementary classroom celebrations two years provided time for us to reflect on the overall classroom party concept. Our work around equity is at the forefront of everything we do, and in recent years we have looked at participation in our classroom parties through an equity lens. For cultural or religious reasons, many of our families opt for their students not to participate in one form or another. For those that do participate, access for all students is not the same (i.e. lack of costumes, food, cards, etc.). It is for those reasons that we will continue with the practice of no classroom parties moving forward. We understand that celebrations are an important part of our students’ school experience. Each of our schools will continue to find inclusive ways to have classroom and school-wide celebrations, that don’t fall around holidays, throughout the school year. While these may look different, they will continue to be part of our system of support. We strive to make all students and families feel welcome and included in all aspects of our school day and our school community.

Join the Monthly Meetings of the District Parents Organization

The Districtwide Parents Organization (DPO) promotes active engagement and awareness at the school and district level through monthly open meetings that include speakers on matters related to education as well as opportunities to interact directly with the ICCSD administration, foundation, and school board.

The DPO meets on Zoom during the school year at 6:30-8:00pm on the second Wednesday of each month, unless otherwise noted at this DPO General Meeting Zoom Link.

When you join a DPO meeting, you can:

• Connect with parents and caregivers from other schools’ parent organizations

• Find out what is happening in our district directly from the school board and administration

• Learn from experts about important matters related to children, youth, and education

• Exchange ideas and gain information on local, state and national legislative issues

As a district, we have adopted a new school improvement model called High Reliability Schools. This will assist with achieving our goals of excellence and equity for all students.. High Reliability Schools is a framework that supports fulfilling our district vision of equitable outcomes for all students. It gives us a common language to name what we’re doing, assess our current reality, align our initiatives, and determine where to go next. It is a vehicle that allows us to balance shared responsibility and autonomy to make decisions that best meet the needs of all our students.

Our initial focus will be on Level 1: Safe, Supportive and Collaborative Culture. In the near future, surveys will be administered to assist us with identifying areas of focus.

This is very timely for Christine Grant Elementary as we enter our 4th year and we are excited to put an emphasis on our school culture!

Here is a brief introductory video of HRS delivered by Mr. Turnis.

The school day runs from 7:55-2:55. Our weekly one hour early out (1:55) will be each Thursday this year.

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Jeremy Tabor, Director of Equity and Employee Relations, 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245, 319-688-1000, Tabor.Jeremy@iowacityschools.org.

The Iowa City Community School District remains committed to our COVID-19 health and safety practices. The well-being of our students, staff, and families is our first priority. We are following Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) guidelines to ensure we can safely, effectively, and consistently provide access to learning and co-curricular and extra-curricular activities. The District’s measures are meant to keep our community safe, but they are only fully effective if we are diligent and responsible in adhering to them. For further information on our COVID-19 safety protocols, please visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/HealthandSafety.