Ankeny Schools Snapshot
A monthly district newsletter
April 2021
Advancing the Vision
Each spring in the cycle of schools there is a flurry of things to do. We are busy finishing one school year and planning for the next to begin. The last few weeks have been a reflection of that business in Ankeny Schools. That being said, it has been a familiar kind of busy reflecting the hustle and bustle of the last two months of a school term. In a year that the pandemic made like no other, it is somewhat refreshing to experience something that seems more familiar for students, staff, parents, and, hopefully, the community.
As we near the end of the current fiscal year, we are beginning to field questions about the upcoming year and our thoughts about how the pandemic will influence school next year. One thing we have learned about the pandemic this past year is that it is hard to predict with any certainty. As a result, much of the mitigation strategies must be a response to what is happening at the time. This has been one of the challenges since the inception of the virus. Because of the ever changing nature of the virus and its variances, we continue to ask for patience. It would be premature to make any definitive mitigation standards at this time, which could easily be outdated and require changes as we grow closer to the fall. To avoid confusion from the possibility of needing to change we plan to address mitigation strategies as the beginning of the next school year draws nearer.
However, I would add that after a review of student learning outcomes, a parent survey, and consideration of district resources, we have decided not to provide a remote virtual learning option for the 2021-2022 school year. The district will consider investigating this learning mode and consider a virtual learning option as it moves into the future. The district is planning to revisit and update its strategic plan and if virtual learning emerges as a district priority,
resources will be devoted to further development of a high quality virtual learning program.
Finally, we have been working on a robust summer program to provide an opportunity for students to make academic progress over the summer. Students eligible for the program will receive information from their building principals later this year.
Thank you,
Dr. Al Azinger
Last Day of School
Now that we are, hopefully, past any weather concerns that would pose a threat of a cancellation or delay, we are ready to share the plans for the final days for staff and students.
The last day for student attendance will remain Wednesday, June 2 as a late start Wednesday and an early out, which is unchanged from when the calendar was announced last year.
Again, this is all pending no further cancellations or delays to the school day between now and June 2.
Kindergarten Informational Meetings
Incoming Kindergarten Families -
Save the Date for the Parent Informational Meeting! This year, the kindergarten parent informational meeting will be conducted virtually. This meeting will be held on April 22 at 6:30 p.m. Join our elementary principal team for a brief presentation and an open Q&A- bring your questions to hear directly from the district administrators!
Meeting Information:
https://ankenyschools.webex.com/ankenyschools/onstage/g.php?MTID=e6d6258ce5563866b4b04fb40d192e546
Event number: 120 216 4140
Event password: acsdkindergarten
2021-2022 Student Registration is Open!
Ankeny Community School’s online registration is now open through your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account. It is important to have an application completed to ensure everything is set for your child for the upcoming school year. If you have existing students enrolled, but you don’t have a Parent Portal account, please go to the Infinite Campus Parent Portal informational page to find out how you can get an account set up, recover your username, or reset the password of your existing account.
If you know your username and password, you can start your registration by clicking here:
REGISTRATION PROCESS
Log into your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account and in the left menu click on “More”, then in the main window to the right click on the ‘Online Registration’ link to start the process.
Please note, once you begin the registration process, utilizing the forward or backward buttons on your browser can cause complications and should be avoided.
Getting Started
- Select the correct registration year for your student(s) and click Begin Registration. It may take a few minutes for the site to load all of the data on file for your household.
- Enter your first and last name in the box and click the Submit button.
- The registration process is divided into sections that are made up of multiple subsections. Only one subsection at a time can be open to view and edit. You must review or complete every subsection on a tab before clicking on Save/Continue to get to the next tab.
Fill the Fund, Presented by Barb Wiedenman & Associates
Let's Eat Out!
The annual Fill the Fund event will take place April 21, 2021, a percentage of all sales from participating restaurants will be donated to the Ankeny Community Schools FUEL Fund to help pay off negative lunch balances.
Why FUEL?
According to a 2016 report from the United Way, 31% of households in our community struggle to make ends meet. They are working families either living below the poverty line or considered ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed). The FUEL account, established by the Ankeny Community School District, ensures those families have our support when they need it most. Since all school districts are receiving Universal Free Meals this year due to COVID-19, it is a great opportunity for us to help some of those families who have negative balances from previous years get caught up!
How to Donate?
Can't make it out to eat on April 21? No problem! Donations are always welcomed and appreciated.
Donation by check: Make it payable to ACSD Nutrition Fund: FUEL and mail to the District Office (306 SW School St. Ankeny, IA 50023)
Donate online: Parents can log into their student’s TouchBase account and navigate to One-Time Meal Payment > Nutrition > Nutrition Fund Donation; Community Members can donate at: https://bit.ly/30PengB and choose FUEL Donation in the dropdown box on the left.
For more information and for a list of participating restaurants, please follow their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/FillTheFund
April vBackpack
Find this month’s vBackpack here!
- Arts and Entertainment: Des Moines Art Center Summer Camps
- Camps and Scouts: Summer Camp – Des Moines Performing Arts
- Educational Opportunities: Physician Assistant Studies Webinar
- Volunteering, Drives, and Giveaways: Volunteer Camp Counselor/Swing – DMPA Musical Theater
Ankeny Community School District
It is the policy of the Ankeny Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its 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 Ken Morris, Jr., Equity Director at 306 SW School Street, Ankeny, IA 50023, 515/965-9600 or kenneth.morris@ankenyschools.org. The grievance will then be directed to the appropriate administrator charged with managing the program or department specified in the grievance.
Website: www.ankenyschools.org
Location: 306 SW School St, Ankeny, IA, USA
Phone: 515-965-9600
Facebook: Facebook.com/AnkenySchools
Twitter: @AnkenySchools