CCA District-Wide Newsletter
11-17--22
Technology Sale - December 10, 2022
Are you Ready for Weather & Emergency Communications
In order for families to receive important communications such as weather announcements or emergency communications we need you to maintain accurate contact information in PowerSchool. The weather can change quickly this time of the year so please take the time to review and/or update your contact information in PowerSchool.
Weather messages are sent by phone call, text message, email, and the district mobile app - all through Blackboard, the District communication system.
Instructions for Updating Contact Information: Parents can update contact information by logging into the PowerSchool parent portal and clicking on "Update Contacts" in the left side menu. You will have the option of editing an existing contact or adding a new one.
Public Hearing for the 2023-2024 School Calendar is set for December 21, 2022
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Directors of the Clear Creek Amana Community School District will conduct a public hearing on the 2023-24 School Calendar. The public hearing will be held on Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. at the Administration Building, 1486 Hwy 6 NW, Oxford, Iowa. At the time and place of the public hearing, interested individuals will be given the opportunity to express their views, both orally and in writing, on the proposed 2023-24 School Calendar. This notice is given by order of the Clear Creek Amana Board of Directors.
All Staff and administration have had a chance to review and comment on the proposed calendar as presented. CCA reports instructional time in hours and needs 1,080 instructional hours per school year. Some items to note on the proposed 2023-2024 calendar are as follows:
- Teacher Professional Learning (PL) Days are added to both the Fall and Spring Semesters. These are reflected on November 7th and April 5th.
- There will be 10 instructional minutes added onto our school day. This will create 45 extra hours that we can utilize towards snow make-up. At this time, we are planning to add these minutes onto the end of our school day at all attendance centers.
- There are two additional days of no school added in April. These days are reflected on April 22nd-23rd.
- School will begin on Wednesday, August 23rd (per state law) and the last day of school is planned for Friday, May 31st.
Staff Spotlight
Mental Health Matters: Brought to you by the CCA School Therapists
For staff and parents:
There are many benefits of journaling!
Bullet Journaling can be a great way to check in with yourself, track your growth, and learn about yourself. Having both your mental and physical space organized can reduce stress and anxiety. There may be many things that are taking up your mental space, and writing them down can help free up your mind to do the things you need to or enjoy.
Helpful parts of your bullet journal could include:
Appointment Reminders can help you keep track of upcoming appointments and commitments
To-Do Lists can help you prioritize tasks and remember the things you need to complete
Mood Trackers can help you learn about your triggers and mood patterns; this can be set up in a yearly view, or you can create a new (themed) one each month
Bullet Journal Trackers for things like health, sleep, and food can help show you what your patterns are and how they affect your mental and physical health.
Habit Trackers are great for helping you stay on track to do simple, daily tasks like exercise, hygiene, taking medications, or feeding a pet
Brain Dumps can help you write all your thoughts, worries, and mental load on paper. This simple task can feel very freeing.
Vision Boards, Quotes Pages, and Inspirational Pages help give you a boost when needed.
Tips For Using A Bullet Journal
Start by keeping your journal simple. This could mean beginning by only tracking a few things and slowly expanding your journal.
You do not have to have to create a separate tracker for each thing you want to keep track of. You can use one larger monthly tracker, or you can track them in a daily section and reflect at the end of the month what you notice.
Have fun with creating your bullet journal, and do not stress if you miss a day. Habits take time to develop, and being kind to yourself about your growth, patterns, and disappointments will help you succeed in the future.
Here is a link to a Loving-Kindness Meditation
A daily practice of the Loving-kindness Meditation is a great way to encourage a habit of treating others with kindness and feeling connected. It involves mentally sending goodwill, kindness, and warmth toward others by silently repeating a series of statements.
Here is a free live training series:
https://www.supportingteens.com/amazing-connection
DECEMBER 12-14TH, 2022, FROM 1-2PM EST DAILY
3 Days to Better Connection with Your Teen
Ever feel anxious about no knowing what is really going on with your kids? If you are ready to feel more ease, love and connection with your teens, this training is for you. By the end of the training you will have discovered:
The 2 key ways to improve communication
How to connect from a place of compassion and ease
The best approach to grow connection with your teens that you probably haven’t thought of
Strategies to avoid the rabbit hole of frustration - and much more!
Reminders:
12/21 - School Board Regular Meeting
12/22 - 1/03 - No School
12/23 - District Offices are Closed
12/26 - District Offices are Closed
12/30 - District Offices are Closed
1/02 - District Offices are Closed
1/03 - Teacher Professional Learning Day
1/04 - First day back to school after winter break
Quick Links Below
Non-Discrimination Statement
It is the policy of the Clear Creek Amana 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 Angelica Brothers, Equity Coordinator District Office at 1486 Hwy 6 NW, PO Box 487, Oxford IA 52322, 319-828-4510 or angelicabrothers@ccaschools.org.