Amana Elementary
Newsletter
THE END IS NEAR!
Reflecting back to last year, with the weather related issues among some other building issues, I thought, “there’s no way we could have a year quite like that.” Well...here we are. There are MANY wonderful things we have experienced this year, including, but not limited to the Clipper boys and Clipper girls basketball teams having unprecedented success! Coupled with the excitement that goes along with success, we have the international scare on Coronavirus along with some heartbreaking health issues both internally at AES as well as friends in other parts of the district, I will say it’s yet another year unlike any other. Keeping all this in perspective and still providing high quality instruction, can be trying to say the least. We met as an administrative team yesterday (enough great things cannot be said regarding this outstanding group of leaders). We’re in as good a shape as anyone in the State, but we really don’t have any more answers than anybody else. We will take great measures to disinfect, cover coughs, wash hands and keep people home who are ill, all the while believing whole heartedly students are safer at school than at home! The district will take any and all guidance from the State as well as the Department of Education regarding cancellations but will work from the understanding our students will be at school and the school will continue to work toward meeting all the academic, social emotional and all the other needs we are entrusted to provide.
But it is true...the end is near. Spring break is next week and then the end of the year tends to be a blur! I frequently am asked or hear people mention, “students check out after spring break.” I REFUSE to accept that as an excuse to lower expectations. Adults check out, and students follow suit. Yes, it can be harder to keep students engaged knowing their activity levels do increase as the weather gets nicer, but again, that’s no excuse for any of us (families included) to diminish the work we have left to do. One of the many reasons I love this staff, is they start to feel the pressure of the end of the year, and work even harder to make sure our students get them ready for the next year!
Colleen suggested I write my Friday Note today (Thursday) and then reminded me I had missed the deadline from last week. Our Clipper boys play at 3:45! If all goes well, we play Friday night at 6:30ish. In the event we don’t come out ahead, we play tomorrow morning at 10:30 am in the consolation round. Either way I’ll be there! I have watched a LOT of basketball in the 20 years I’ve been graced to work in this district, we’ve NEVER had this kind of success. Here’s hoping we can duplicate this, and the many other amazing accomplishments, next year. Just not the rest of the *stuff* we’ve had to encounter.
Have a wonderful break! Regardless if you stay home, travel, work, or relax, I hope you have a great week and we’ll be back ready to go on Monday, March 23!
GO CLIPPERS!
We are Amana!
Ben Macumber, Principal
Upcoming Events
- March 16 - 20 * Spring Break
- April 17 * Snow Make Up Day
- May 8 * 4th/5th grade Track & Field Day, Tiffin
- May 19 * K-2nd Concert, 6:30 PM: 3rd - 5th Concert, 7:30 PM
The 2020-2021 Preschool Registration is Open
Please follow the link below for instructions and very important information that goes along with the registration and preschool program. Read all information thoroughly before filling out the form.
If you know of anyone that does not have children in the school district yet but would be interested in Pre-school, please share this information. All information and the form can be found on our CCA District website.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1FhXRPCU6H2iTu8hWTevjwTGkHB1dQtUSl0KCJTnmAoY/edit
Dropping Off Students
Students who do not ride the bus should not be dropped off prior to 7:45 AM. We prefer to have students dropped off by the doors next to the cafeteria. Students should go directly to the cafeteria. This is an attempt to keep our students safe and supervised. At no time should students PreK through 3rd grade be heading to their locker unless accompanied by an adult.
Do not leave your car unless you are parked in a designated parking spot. Buses need to be able to pull through both the loop in the front of the building by the flag pole and the area near the caferteria. If cars are parked in these areas the buses are not able to pull through and stay on schedule.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping the drop off areas clear and safe when students are coming to school in the morning.
CCA Illness Policy
Please report your child's illness and please review the following guidelines about student illnesses:
- Please notify the school if your child is going to be absent or tardy for any reason.
- If the absence is due to an illness, please let us know your child’s symptoms (i.e. nausea, vomiting, fever, headache, sore throat, cough, rash, body aches, etc.).
- If your child sees their healthcare provider for the illness, please let us know the outcome of that visit and if your child was diagnosed with a contagious disease. This will help us track illnesses, identify outbreaks, and allow us to notify the health department if a reportable communicable disease is identified.
- If your child is ill and has a fever (100 or higher), they should not return to school until they are fever-free for 24 consecutive hours without the aid of fever-reducing medications.
- If your child is vomiting, they should not return until they have not vomited for 24 hours.
- If your child is being treated for a contagious bacterial infection (i.e strep throat), they should not return to school until 24 hours after antibiotics are started and until they are fever-free for 24 consecutive hours without the aid fever-reducing medications.
The school nurse or office personnel will evaluate students who become ill at school. If it is determined that the child is too sick to remain in school, a parent/guardian will be called and asked to come and pick the child up.
Thanks for your help in adhering to these guidelines that will help keep our school healthy and decrease the risks of spreading contagious diseases.
The BackPack Program
We participate in a program called The BackPack Program. This is a partnership between HACAP and the CCA Community Schools. The BackPack Program provides a food pack of kid-friendly, non-perishable food for children on the weekends and during school breaks. This is a FREE program, without cost to families. It is also kept completely confidential – only the counselor will be aware of participating families. If this would be helpful for you and your children, please contact Kelsey Koffend by phone at (319) 622-3255 or by email at kelseykoffend@ccaschools.org. There is a limited number of spots available, so it is important that you call or email to get your child’s name on the list.
Shoes That Fit
Shoes That Fit is a program that provides shoes to children in need. If your child needs new shoes this year and this program would be helpful to you, please contact Kelsey Koffend by phone at (319) 622-3255 or by email at kelseykoffend@ccaschools.org.
Help Support Our School
Ronal McDonald House Tabs
Box Tops for Education
Register Tapes for Education
Register Tapes for Education
Amana Elementaty
benmacumber@ccaschools.org
319-622-3255
Email: colleenconrad@ccaschools.org
Website: https://www.ccaschools.org/AE
Location: 3023 220th Trail, Middle Amana, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 622-3255