Wildcat News
April 5 - 9; National Poetry Month; Conditions for Learning
Safe, Responsible, & Kind...
Dear Grant Wood Parents & Families:
It is quite hard to believe that we are well into 3rd trimester, into April in fact, and with each week getting closer to the end of this school year. Please mark your calendars at home and on your phones:
- School opens for breakfast at 7:40am (Monday-Friday, when school is in session)
- Wednesdays are early release days and school dismisses at 1:55pm on Wednesdays.
With Spring it seems that weeks go by faster - here are some April dates to also mark on your calenders:
- April 6th ~ Photo Retake/Make up Day (Tuesday, 3pm-4:30pm)
- April 16th ~ No School
- April 26th-30th ~ ISASP Testing for 3rd-6th Grade
(100% on site enrollment students)
Below you will also find information about National Poetry Month (April) and information regarding the upcoming Conditions for Learning survey.
With Spring comes an excitement and eagerness to be outside, during recess and during non-school hours. It is our goal to have Grant Wood students aspire always to embody our building expectations of being Safe, Kind, and Responsible in our classrooms, throughout our building/campus and while outside as well.
#GrantWoodSafe
#GrantWoodResponsible
#GrantWoodKind
Principal: Ms. Maria, martin.maria@iowacityschools.org
School Facilitator: Mr. Brown, brown.ryan@iowacityschools.org
Counselor: Ms. Newman, newman.heather@iowacityschools.org
Student & Family Advocate: Ms Palante, palante.alyssa@iowacityschools.org
Instructional Design Strategist (IDS): Ms. Mangan, mangan.ashley@iowacityschools.org
Attendance Secretary: Ms. Steggall, steggall.kara@iowacityschools.org
Office Secretary: Ms. Peggy, tucker.peggy@iowacityschools.org
Email: martin.maria@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Domain/552
Location: 1930 Lakeside Dr, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
Phone: 319-688-1180
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grantwoodwildcats/
Twitter: @20_GrantWood_21
Photo Make up/Retake Day - April 6th (3-4:30pm)
Did you take your photo on February 5th but wish ou could retake it? No worries
Halverson Photography will be back at Grant Wood on Tuesday, April 6th from 3pm to 4:30pm in the community foyer.
Josten's Yearbook - Grant Wood
Josten's now has a web page set up for Grant Wood families to order their 20-21 yearbook.
The cost of the yearbooks is $6.50. The link to the Josten's page will be live through April 16th - here it is: http://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A09863917
April - National Poetry Month (2021, 25th anniversary)
Conditions for Learning - District Message
Dear Families and Staff,
The Iowa City Community School District is getting ready to administer an annual school climate and culture survey called Conditions for Learning to students in grades 3-12. This survey administration is required by the state’s plan to meet a federal law called the Every Student Succeeds Act. Our District will conduct the survey between April 5-May 28. All Iowa public school districts will use the Conditions for Learning Survey (Survey) to improve safety, student engagement and the overall learning environment so that all Iowa students have optimum conditions for learning. Our work to improve safety, student engagement and the overall learning environment will have a lasting impact on the future.
Iowa measures conditions for learning by asking the real experts each year - our students. This is their chance to make their voice heard, and we intend to listen. Studies have shown this work matters. Improving skills such as solving problems, working out conflict, and working with other people in a group has led to double-digit increases on achievement test scores, improved classroom behavior and improved attitudes.
All public schools in Iowa will use an online survey to assess the conditions for learning in their school for students in grades 3-12. Student responses will be confidential, and individual response data will not be available to anyone in the survey platform or in reporting. Each attendance center will receive aggregated data annually at the building level to support alignment of professional development with identified culture and climate needs.
We will ask your child to simply fill out a confidential Survey. The Survey will focus on issues ranging from student safety, to positive student relationships, to school rules and how they are enforced. A high rate of participation by students in completing the Conditions for Learning Survey is important for obtaining the most complete school climate data for our school. Support from you in communicating to your students that this is their chance to be heard and to be part of the effort to improve conditions for learning at their school is critical.
Thank you for partnering with us to improve conditions for learning in our schools throughout the state. Included is an overview of this opportunity, as well as:
1) An information summary about the Survey
2) A written refusal form if you do not want your child/children to participate in completing the Survey
Please let us know if you have any questions and thank you again!
2021 Robert E. Yager Active Learning Award
Nominate an educator that has "overcome stressful circumstances, limited resources, and new technologies to connect with children and continue providing an engaging educational environment.... Any educator who has made a significant contribution to student-centered active learning is eligible for the award. Nominations can be submitted from parents, educators, administrators, students, and community members."
- "fosters an "active learning" environment."
- provides "innovative & impactful lessons or activities."
- "demonstrates a spirit of cooperation, responsibility, and respect"
The deadline for nominations is Friday, April 16, 2021.
Planning summer 2021?
City High is excited to be able to safely offer camps this summer! Registration for City High summer camps will become active on May 1st. Please direct your questions to City High athletic department at and contact Mr. Phillip Hansen, hansen.phillip@iowacityschools.org or call 319-688-1045.
7th grade Immunizations - required
- Two vaccines are required for students entering 7th grade: a meningococcal vaccine (MCV) and a tetanus/diphtheria/pertussis booster (Tdap)
- Students are not allowed to start 7th grade in the fall without documentation of a MCV vaccine according to Iowa law
Please check your 6th grade child’s immunization record or call their health care provider to find out if they have received the Tdap booster and meningococcal vaccines (MCV) and make an appointment if needed.
- Johnson County Public Health also provides immunizations and can be reached at 319-356-6045
- If your child does not have insurance, please reach out to Healthy Kids Clinic. Call or text 319-631-3204 to make an appointment
- If you have any questions, please contact the school nurse, Megan Colgan (colgan.megan@iowacityschools.org).
ICCSD Online Open for 2021-22 Registrations
Parents who want their students to learn virtually for the 2021-22 school year are able to register for ICCSD Online, Iowa City Community School District's new online school, between April 5 and April 12. An email will be sent to parents on April 5 which will include a link to the registration form. Parents can also access this form from the ICCSD Online website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/iccsdonline. Registrations are due by Monday, April 12.
There are three ways to learn more about ICCSD Online.
Watch the ICCSD Webinar: https://iowacityschools-org.zoom.us/rec/share/W0j_L1Nf4jkVjjiJLutgSVAcVpIy-coO5H9bYYxTOpfiaxhEoOik-3dyAhWnCDc2.iWzuASCk-XjDDQeJ
Visit the ICCSD Online Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/iccsdonline
Email questions to: iccsdonline@iowacityschools.org
What is a conundrum? A situation where there is no clear right or good solution. Yet, a difficult choice must be made...
In this conundrum, two pizza places want to move into the one vacant business location. The question is: how should the town decide who moves in? This video ends with a question, leading right into a discussion. Download this worksheet to help organize your thinking!
Monitoring Children's Internet Use
ICCSD is entering its fourth year of using Securly, a service that filters internet access on District devices and also includes the SecurlyHome Parent Hub, which parents can use to monitor internet usage, receive usage notifications, and establish limits on what your child can access. Limits parents can set include turning school-issued devices off at parent-determined times (such as bedtime).
You may have already received an email from Securly when your child was issued their 1:1 device. You can access Securly at https://www.securly.com/parent-login, and your login email will be the primary email address listed for your child(ren)'s contacts in PowerSchool. If you have trouble accessing Securly, please verify your primary contact email in PowerSchool or contact your child's school to do so (Grant Wood, 319-688-1180). You can also contact Securly support if you've confirmed your email in PowerSchool and are still having trouble accessing Securly.
Tech Support & Help Desk Assistance
Students and families are welcome to reach out to Tech Support for any issues. Feel free to check out the link below and get the help you need:
http://innovation.iowacityschools.org/2020/03/30/getting-tech-support-during-the-covid-19-closure/Have questions on how your child is using technology this year? Check out this FAQ:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1toS-wrT8tTlEYoCJ2pP6fuEbn7NO1kQlAUCDbswmQL8/edit?usp=sharing
ICCSD HelpDesk
Hours: 7:30AM to 4:30PM Monday - Friday.
Phone: (319)-688-1950
Additional Community Resources...
The following resources are available to students and families for assistance with academic achievement, mental health, and emotional well-being. Additional information on Covid-19 and School-Age Child Care assistance are also available.
Coding for Kids (Free options)
No visitors:
For health and safety reasons we cannot receive visitors onto our campus beyond the office. No visitors into our classrooms nor our cafeteria. To help with keeping our community physically distanced, please keep in mind that the Grant Wood office secretaries along with others can be reached by phone, 319-688-1180 and email. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact us:
Principal: Ms. Maria, martin.maria@iowacityschools.org
School Facilitator: Mr. Brown, brown.ryan@iowacityschools.org
Student Family Advocate (SFA): Ms. Palante, palante.alyssa@iowacityschools.org
Instructional Design Strategist (IDS): Ms. Mangan, mangan.ashley@iowacityschools.org
Counselor: Ms. Newman, newman.heather@iowacityschools.org
Attendance secretary: Ms. Steggall, steggall.kara@iowacityschools.org
Office secretary: Ms. Peggy, tucker.peggy@iowacityschools.org