IOWA-GRANT'S PANTHER PRESS
SEPTEMBER 2021 / IGSD NEWSLETTER
DISTRICT OFFICE
Dear Panther Community,
I am thankful and honored to begin this journey as Superintendent of Iowa-Grant Schools. I am happy the District Office is located in IGEMS because for the past five years I have made IGEMS my home and family. I look forward to expanding my role and spending more time at the high school and meeting with community leaders and groups.
For those that do not know me, I have been a principal at IGEMS for grades 2-8 since 2016. My mother grew up in Linden, the daughter of Royal and Eva (Liddicoat) Jewell. She has fond memories of the Linden School as a child. When I became a Panther, after teaching math and language arts for 23 years at Pecatonica, my family bought my parents' home and moved to Mineral Point. My husband, John, and I have a busy life with our blended family: Spencer (26), Alex (21), Logan (21), Hannah (19), Addison (15) and Alexis (14). We enjoy any occasion that brings us together, including golf and football Sundays.
As we start Homecoming Week, I want to encourage all our students, staff, and community members to come together in Panther Pride. Socrates said, "The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new." This is a chance to refocus our attention on learning.
In August, our staff came together for inservice days. We chose to set our own course, despite a lapse in leadership, and renew our commitment to students and instruction. How? Every day, we will work hard, stay positive and spread kindness. We will focus on teaching, learning, demonstrating, supporting, and challenging. We will focus on what we do well and what we can do better. We will choose to set aside the issues, conversations, and controversies that are outside our schools and beyond our control. We will show our service and gratitude to our school and community. We will celebrate our students and staff in classrooms together. We will choose to learn and grow.
This year will be challenging. Tough decisions will be made. Opinions will differ. I ask all Panthers to join us. Let's steer the conversations to Panther Pride. Let's talk about all the great things happening right here, right now. Let's show our youth the power of community, service, and tolerance. Let's demonstrate how differences in opinion can be accepted and respected. Now more than ever, let's support our students and staff and show our school pride. Get ready to wear your Panther gear - Happy Homecoming!
Go Panthers,
Robyn Oberfoell
608-943-6311 ext 1075
Food Service Update
Warco Busing Information
Dear Parents/Guardians and Students,
Please review the new school bus safety guidelines with your children for this school year. Warco has implemented the following best practices to help protect our passengers and professional drivers based on the current CDC guidelines for public transportation. For the Safety of Our Valued Employees and Passengers, Warco has the Following Rules:
It is mandatory for students to properly wear a mask throughout the duration of the trip.
Assigned seating—Driver will assign seats (They will be grouped by grade levels)
NO eating, NO drinks, and NO chewing gum on the bus to and from school
No bus passes this year. This means you must have your daycare scheduled for the year. Shared custody schedules will be accommodated; although we highly encourage condensing/limiting locations this school year.
Limit, to the extent possible, close contact with others by maintaining a distance from other passengers while entering and exiting the vehicle
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth
Monitor your temperature and stay home if you are sick
Masking on School Buses
As schools get ready for the 2021-2022 school year, there appears to be a fair amount of confusion and uncertainty regarding the duty of school districts when it comes to requiring masks on school buses. At present, schools are required to have persons traveling on school buses wear masks. Under this CDC Order, regardless of the mask policy in a particular district, passengers and drivers on a school bus must wear a mask, regardless of whether the buses are owned and operated by the district or a transportation vendor. This mask requirement applies to all individuals, regardless of their vaccination status. Violations of the district’s requirements of not wearing masks should be handled like all other rules or policy violations with respect to employees or students.
There are certain exemptions from the mask requirement, such as individuals with disabilities under the ADA or individuals for whom wearing a mask would create a risk to workplace health, safety, or job duties. However, for the remaining individuals who are on school buses, masks are required.
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, we have been frequently asked whether districts need to follow “guidance” as opposed to an “order”. While the subtleties between “guidance” and “orders” and the risks of not following guidance is a topic for another article, this is a CDC order and should be followed. There is no set expiration date for the CDC order. Additionally, the order could be modified at any time. However, given the recent surge of the Delta variant and the CDC recently recommending all students and staff mask at all times while indoors, regardless of vaccination status, it is increasingly unlikely that other health and safety measures will be relaxed any time soon.
Information from the CDC Website
“Masks are required on planes, buses, trains, and other forms of public transportation traveling into, within, or out of the United States…”
What is a public transportation conveyance?
A public transportation conveyance is any mode of transportation other than a private vehicle. Types of public transportation conveyances include airplanes, trains, subways, buses, taxis, rideshares, maritime transportation, trolleys, and cable cars.
Which public transportation conveyances does the order apply to, and in which areas? The Order applies to all public transportation conveyances traveling into the United States (i.e., arriving from a foreign country) or within the United States (including within states or territories or traveling between states or territories). This includes school buses. The Order also applies to all conveyances leaving the United States until they arrive at a foreign destination.
Are masks required on school buses?
Yes, passengers and drivers must wear a mask on school buses, including on buses operated by public and private school systems, subject to the exclusions and exemptions in CDC’s Order. Operators of school buses should refer to the Department of Education’s COVID-19 Handbook pdf icon[PDF – 27 pages]external icon for additional guidance.
If you have any questions, please contact Warco at (608) 994-2701.
Sincerely,
Tom Hoffman President
IOWA-GRANT HIGH SCHOOL
IGHS Calendar of Events
9/20 4:45 PM - 8:00 PM Volleyball: JV Invitational vs Multiple Schools (IGHS)
9/20 5:00 PM Volleyball: Freshmen Girls vs Ithaca (Away)
9/20 5:30 PM Football: JV vs Potosi/Cassville (Away)
9/20 6:00 PM Music Parents' Meeting - IGHS Band Room
9/21 5:45 PM Volleyball: Freshmen/JV vs Boscobel (Home)
9/21 7:15 PM Volleyball: Varsity vs Boscobel (Home)
9/23 River Ridge Dairy, Livestock, Horse Contests @ River Ridge
9/23 5:45 PM Volleyball: Freshmen/JV vs Fennimore (Home)
9/23 7:15 PM Volleyball: Varsity vs Fennimore (Home)
9/24 2:00 PM Early Release
9/24 7:00 PM Homecoming - Football: 7:00 PM Varsity vs Benton/Scales Mounds (Home)
9/25 9:30 AM - 1:00 PM Cross Country: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools (Reedsburg)
9/25 8:00 PM - 11:00 PM Homecoming Dance
9/27 5:00 PM 5:00 PM Volleyball: Freshmen/JV @ Riverdale Invite
9/27 5:30 PM Football: JV vs Benton/Scales Mounds (Away)
9/28 World Dairy Expo
9/28 5:45 PM Freshmen/JV vs Southwestern (Home)
9/28 7:15 PM Varsity vs Southwestern (Home)
9/30 4:00 PM Cross Country: Varsity Invitational vs Multiple Schools (Kickapoo High School)
9/30 4:30 PM Volleyball: Freshmen/JV vs Riverdale (Away)
9/30 7:15 PM Volleyball: Varsity vs Riverdale (Away)
IGHS Picture Retake Day
Iowa-Grant High School Picture Retake Day is September 21, 2021
HOMECOMING WEEK - SEPTEMBER 20TH - SEPTEMBER 24TH
"Dancing through the Decades"
Monday, September 20th - Sleeping through the Decades (Pajama Day)
Tuesday, September 21st - Favorite Icon Day - Dress as your favorite movie, music, or pop icon
Wednesday, September 22nd - Wacky Wednesday
Freshmen - Camo
Sophomores - Stripes
Juniors - Floral
Seniors - Checkered
Staff - Argyle
Thursday, September 23rd - Throwback Thursday
Freshmen - 90's
Sophomores - 80's
Juniors - 60's/70's
Seniors - 50's
Friday, September 24th - Spirit Day
IMPORTANT SENIOR YEARBOOK INFORMATION
IOWA-GRANT ELEMENTARY/MIDDLE SCHOOL
IGEMS Calendar of Events
Homecoming Week-IGEMS Dress Up Days
Tuesday 9/21 - Class Color Day
8th - Red, 7th - Orange, 6th - Yellow, 5th - Green, 4th - Blue, 3rd - Purple, 2nd - White, 1st - Gray, K - Black, 4K/EC - RAINBOW
Wednesday 9/22 - Wild Wednesday - Animal Print/Camo
Thursday 9/23 - Hat Day
Friday 9/24 - Panther Pride Day
Happy Homecoming Week!!!
IGSD ANNUAL NOTICE-HOMELESS CHILDREN/UNACCOMPANIED YOUTH
The McKinney-Vento Act defines homeless children and youth (twenty-one years of age and younger) as:
Children and youth who lack a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence, and includes children and unaccompanied youth who are:
sharing the housing of other persons due to loss of housing, economic hardship, or a similar reason (sometimes referred to as a “Double-up”);
living in motels, hotels, trailer parks, or camping grounds due to the lack of alternative adequate accommodations;
abandoned in hospitals; or
Awaiting foster care placement;
living in a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not designed for or ordinarily used as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings;
living in cars, parks, public spaces, abandoned buildings, substandard housing, bus or train stations, or similar settings; and
migratory children who qualify as homeless because the children are living in circumstances described above.
If you are personally aware of or are acquainted with any children or youth who may qualify according to the above criteria, the Iowa-Grant School District provides the following assurances to parents and guardians of homeless children and youth and unaccompanied homeless youth:
There shall be immediate enrollment and school participation, even if educational and medical records and proof of residency are not available.
All educational opportunities and related opportunities for homeless students (preschool to age 21), including unaccompanied youth, shall be the same as for the general student population.
Meaningful opportunities for parents to participate in the education of their children. These shall include: special notices of events, parent-teacher conferences, newsletters, and access to student records.
Immediate enrollment and transportation to the school of origin. “School of origin” means the school that a child or youth attended when permanently housed or the school in which the child or youth was last enrolled, including a preschool.
Written explanation of a child or youth’s school placement, other than school of origin or the school requested by the parent, with the right to appeal within the local dispute resolution process.
Please contact Jennifer Leeser, homeless liaison for the Iowa-Grant School District, at (608) 943-6311 or jleeser@igs.k12.wi.us for additional information about the rights and services described above.
Parent Teacher Club Meeting - TONIGHT
Dear Panther Families,
As we start a new school year at Iowa-Grant, I’m looking forward to sharing many great books with students in the library. One picture book I’ll be highlighting in September is a recently published book by a Wisconsin author. The book, Be Strong by Pat Zietlow Miller, is a companion book to Be Kind, a favorite of both teachers and students at IGEMS. Tanisha, the young girl who helped us learn about kindness and empathy, returns in Be Strong to teach another powerful lesson. The following is a summary as provided by Macmillan Publishing Company:
When her gym class must face the school rock-climbing wall, Tanisha is discouraged. Her muscles are weak, and she knows she'll never reach the top like Cayla. But maybe strength is about more than just muscles. With help from her family, Tanisha learns that by showing up, speaking up, and not giving up, she can be strong, too. And that people are the strongest when they work together and trust each other.
Through Tanisha’s experiences, the reader learns there are many ways to be strong. Being strong might be helping a friend with math when you’d rather be outside playing; being strong might be making sure no one has to sit alone in the lunchroom; being strong might be accepting a friend’s help when you need it. This picture book is sure to spark conversation about examples of strength we see in our school and our community.
I hope our Panthers are inspired by the story of Tanisha in Be Strong and find ways to show up, speak up, and not give up this school year, too.
Work hard, be kind, and keep reading, Panthers!
Mrs. Jodi Bast
Library Media Specialist
Early Learning Principal
Panther Packs
Due to the generosity of our donors, we are able to again offer the Panther Packs Program this year for our Iowa-Grant families.
The Panther Pack Program is designed to send child-friendly food home to hungry children in the district who may be experiencing food shortages at home. If you need assistance feeding your child(ren) on weekends, the volunteers and staff members would like to give your family the opportunity to participate in the Panther Pack Program. Before a weekend or break, a bag of food will be discreetly placed in your child’s backpack for him or her to bring home and eat over the break.
Research suggests that adequate nutrition has a positive link to children’s learning capabilities. We encourage you to take advantage of this program for your family and your child. If your family is in need of the Panther Packs Program please call the Iowa-Grant office to get signed up.
Dear Iowa-Grant Families,
It’s September and the Iowa-Grant Food Service Team wants to send a big “welcome back and good luck” as we kick off the 21-22 school year.
Thanks to the USDA, breakfast and lunch will be free this year to all students enrolled in the Iowa-Grant School District. If you would like to purchase any ala carte items, for example, milk for a sack lunch brought from home or a super meal, there must be money in your account.
Free breakfast and lunch is available for all children up to age 18 in the Iowa-Grant School District. Carryout breakfast and lunch is available for any children not attending the Iowa-Grant School District in person. If you are interested in participating in our free meals program, please contact me at bhugill@igs.k12.wi.us or 608-943-6311 ext. 3013.
We would like to welcome Wendy Gorius to the Iowa -Grant Food Service Team. Wendy is from Highland, WI and brings over 18 years of food service experience to Iowa-Grant. She will be a great addition to the IGHS Food Service Team.
Let’s have a great 21-22 school year!
Sincerely,
Barb Hugill
Food Service Supervisor
Iowa-Grant School District
Welcome Back, Panther Staff!
WHAT A GREAT START TO THE YEAR!
Thank you to Community First Bank for hosting our breakfast on Tuesday (August 26th) with delicious scones from Creative Appeal in Fennimore.
Thank you to Pastor Kristen Lowe and the Livingston, Cobb, and Montfort Methodist Churches for hosting a scrumptious homemade lunch on Tuesday (August 26th) , ending with delicious pies and desserts.
Both of these terrific organizations support our schools all throughout the year. We are very grateful for your kindness and generosity.
Our Panther Community rocks!