A Note from Mr. Gahan
Hello Coralville Central Families and Friends!
Welcome to Fall! What beautiful days we have been having lately! The weather is changing which brings the reminder of sending a jacket or long sleeves with your child to school. Maybe something that could be left at school as morning recess is chilly and afternoon recess is warm. However, let's enjoy the days while we can. Have a great start to the new season!
--
Andy Gahan
Principal, Coralville Central Elementary
Message on Masks and Vaccines (9/15/21)
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, the Iowa City Community School District requires universal mask use for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to our schools, regardless of vaccination status. This is based on guidance from the CDC. In addition, the President’s Executive Order on domestic transportation requires students and staff to wear a face-covering while on a school bus or while utilizing other District-provided transportation.
In addition, our District strongly encourages eligible individuals to get the COVID-19 vaccine. For individuals 12 years of age and older who have not yet received the COVID-19 vaccine, this vaccine locator may be used to find a provider near you.
Picture Day - coming up OCTOBER 15
Coralville Central Chess Club
Welcome to the Coralville Central Chess Club!
We are excited to have you join us for chess club. You do not have to be interested in playing chess competitively to participate. Club play is casual, not competitive.
Our goals for students are to:
1) Have fun
2) Frame losses as an opportunity to learn
3) Learn chess
YOU DO NOT NEED TO KNOW HOW TO PLAY CHESS TO JOIN THE CLUB – WE WILL TEACH YOU!
Starting on Thursday September 23rd, 2021 we will meet on:
● Thursdays after school starting at 3:30 p.m., on Zoom & chesskid.com
Students do not need to attend all meetings to join. We welcome all students from those who want to check in once a month and hang out with friends to those who want to study every day and play competitively at the highest levels and everyone in between. We will meet every Thursday that class is in session. If you are interested, but can’t make Thursday afternoon virtual meetings, please still sign up. There are a variety of other non-regularly scheduled activities that you can participate in. We also hope that in-person club meetings will be able to resume later in the school year.
To support our costs, our suggested donation (optional) is $20/student/year, which includes a one year gold membership to www.chesskid.com (a $49 value). Additional donations are welcome to support other costs and student scholarships. Checks can be written to “Coralville Central Chess.”
The club is also made possible by the tremendous support of many parents. If you’re interested in volunteering please email coralvillecentralchess@gmail.com
The chess club is in its tenth year. Last year, we had an unusual year because of Covid-19 but we still took first place in the K-3 virtual Iowa Scholastic Team Championship and 2nd place in K-6. Historically our competitive players have a rich history of success. Three times, we have won the team state championships in both the individual play and match play formats (‘14-‘15, ‘15-‘16, ‘18-’19). In 2018 (’17-’18), we won the individual play team state championship. We have also had eight different students win individual state championships. At Nationals, our team has twice finished in the top 10 in blitz (speed) chess (2015, 2016) and a Central duo finished 3rd at Nationals in Bughouse (two player speed chess) in 2016.
Parents, we will send email updates related to the chess club or local chess events. Please provide me with your email address to receive updates. There are a lot of chess events in the area. Information on events for students can be found at www.iowa-chess.org and http://www.chessiniowa.org/ . Our club has a closed group on Facebook that posts pictures and makes other announcements: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CentralChess/
For those interested in learning more about chess outside club meetings, we utilize the web-site www.chesskid.com. They have instructional videos, chess puzzles, and the opportunity to play online in a safe setting. This website has proven to be a key learning tool for students. After Spring Break, we will award the Owen Fiedorowicz scholarship and the Isabel Fiedorowicz scholarship scholarships for $140 to the girl and boy who were most active in studying chess for the year.
Feel free to contact us with any questions! We hope you have fun playing chess with us!
Heather Neuenschwander - Coordinator
Library Information
Hello from the Library! and Devin Redmond
Top Five Things
Coralville Central celebrates and acknowledges all cultures each day, but I thought I’d just point out that September 15-October 15 is National Hispanic & Latino Heritage Month. This means it’s the month that we pay tribute to Hispanic and Latino people who have made our society better. If you’re looking for books to read with your child, check out this link here.
Did you know that all it takes to get a library card from the public libraries is a piece of mail with your current address on it? That gives you access to books, magazines, movies, games, music. I love libraries.
There is an app called Libby that you can download on your phone. It allows you to borrow both eBooks and audiobooks from the public libraries.
Do you follow @cclibrary on Instagram yet? Besides @cclibrary, some other bookish Instas that I recommend are @coralpublibrary, @iowacitypubliclibrary, @01firstsecond, and @hereweeread.
Did you know Lauren Tarshis is going to be the Visiting Author this year for 3rd and 4th graders? The kids are so excited. During Library class, we are reading I Survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. In their classrooms, the teachers are reading I Survived The Eruption of Mount St. Helens 1980 to their kids.
I know it’s hard to find the time if you’re a working parent, but please do try to read a book to your child every day! It’s such a good way to try to unwind before bed. If you’re working, maybe an older brother or sister could read a great story!
Devin Redmond (she/hers)
Teacher Librarian
Coralville Central Elementary : ICCSD
Google Voice (text) : 319.435.8220
Instagram @cclibrary
Facebook @coralvillecentral
Twitter @devinred
Information from Ms. Becca
As the colder weather approaches keep in mind students will soon be needing coats and winter wear.
See the information below for the Warm Winter Wear Clothing Distribution in Iowa City if you are in need of winter wear.
Or utilize our Coralville Central Winter Gear Request Form for help from Miss Becca.
DO YOU NEED UTILITY OR RENT ASSISTANCE?
Late fees and shut offs will be deferred for qualifying Coralville residents, and rent assistance may be available.
Contact the City of Coralville at 319.248.1715, or utilitybilling@coralville.org for more information.
Additional Information and Languages Here
Becca Bender
Student and Family Advocate
Coralville Central
319.688.1104
Health & Safety Information
Hello from the School Nurse!
It has been so nice to see students back in school and my goal is to keep everyone as safe and healthy as possible. This works best when we all work together! I have included the Stay-at-Home Guidelines from the ICCSD website, as well as layered prevention strategies recommended on the district website as well. Please visit https://www.iowacityschools.org/domain/4599 where you will find all Health & Safety guidelines, including the Dashboard, Health and Safety Protocols, and Isolation/Quarantine information.
COVID-19 Stay-at-Home Guidelines
I should stay home when...
I have any of these symptoms:
▢ New Cough
▢ Shortness of Breath or Difficulty Breathing
▢ New Loss of Taste or Smell
▢ Fever (temperature of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher)
▢ Vomiting
▢ Diarrhea
-OR-
I have 2 or more of these symptoms:
▢ Headache
▢ Muscle and Body Aches
▢ Fatigue
▢ Sore Throat
▢ Runny Nose
▢ Congestion
▢ Nausea
-OR-
▢ I am not feeling well.
▢ I have been in “close contact” with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Close Contact is defined as being within 6 feet for more than 15 minutes in a 24 hour period with someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Please review our Quarantine Protocols for further information.
▢ I have been tested for COVID-19 and waiting for the test results.
THEN:Notify your school of your absence.
Contact your health care provider to determine if you should be tested for COVID-19 based on your symptoms.
If you receive a positive COVID-19 test result, please contact your school nurse as soon as possible.
DISTRICT GUIDELINES
Layered prevention strategies, including washing hands, social distancing, and staying home when sick are paramount for all in the school community. The District’s policy, procedures, and these enhanced health and safety guidelines apply to all Iowa City Community School District schools and facilities, District activities, programs and events, BASP, mission and community partners, and community use of District facilities.
Face Coverings: Per guidance from the CDC, universal masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status, is required in District buildings and on District campuses. Face coverings will be available for students, staff, and visitors at each building. For individuals who are eligible for face mask exemption, please complete the Face Mask Exemption Form and return it to your school nurse.
In compliance with the President’s Executive Order on domestic transportation, students and staff are required to wear a face-covering while on a school bus or while utilizing other District-provided transportation. Failure to comply with this requirement could result in loss of bus riding privileges.
Contact Tracing: Our District will continue to work with Johnson County Public Health (JCPH) in their contact tracing efforts. Families will be required to follow JCPH quarantine guidance and should contact their school attendance secretary to report any absence due to quarantine.
Quarantine/Isolation: Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 will isolate at home for 10 days. For quarantine information, please visit our District's Quarantine Protocols page.
Thank you for helping keep our students and staff safe and healthy!
Kelly Joseph, BSN, RN-BC
School Nurse
Snacks & Celebrations
The ICCSD is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for our students. In line with that goal, changes are being made to the district’s Wellness Policy regarding classroom snacks birthday treats, and classroom celebrations.
NO FOOD BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
In line with the district’s Wellness Policy, student birthdays will be celebrated in the classrooms with a special acknowledgment. Each grade level team has determined a special recognition for students who wish to celebrate their birthdays at school. Please note these birthday celebrations will not involve food. If food is sent to school for birthdays the food items will be returned home.
SNACK & CELEBRATIONS :
When food is served to students in the classroom as a snack or during a classroom celebration, the following rules apply (ICCSD Wellness Policy 507.9):
- allow only fresh fruits/vegetables or purchased foods with the ingredients listed (no homemade foods).
- allow only foods that meet the Healthy Food Guidelines/ Smart Snacks. (the only exception to this would be food-tasting related to district-approved curriculum lessons)
- not allow foods with peanuts or peanut butter or foods that were made in a factory where cross-contamination may occur.
- food that does not meet the guidelines will be sent home.
- a list of acceptable foods (Healthy Food Guidelines/ Smart Snacks) will be made available to parents and teachers at the beginning of the school year.
The ICCSD Wellness Policy Classroom Snacks and Celebrations is a complete list of approved foods including where the approved food items can be purchased.
