Cultural Diversity & Equity
August 2021 Newsletter
In This Issue
- Department Updates
- Website Updates
- Back to School
- Women's Equality Day
- Upcoming Events
- Religious Holidays
Welcome Luke Dillon, Assistant Director of Equity and Instruction/Principal of PK-12 Online Learning Program!
We would like to welcome Luke Dillon who has accepted the position of Assistant Director of Equity and Instruction and Principal of ICCSD K-12 Online Learning Program.
Luke was born and raised in Gary, Indiana. He is married to Melinda Dillon, and they have 2 kids, Luke (7) and Eilis Dillon (5). Luke is a graduate of The University of Northern Iowa where he holds a bachelor’s degree in Physical Education and Sports Psychology and a master’s degree in Educational Leadership from Concordia University. Luke comes to us from Omaha Public Schools where he has spent the last 15 years of his professional career while serving as a teacher, dean, assistant principal, and principal. He is looking forward to joining ICCSD and working with all stakeholders within our learning community.
Welcome Janet Abejo-Parker, Ombudsperson!
Welcome to Janet Abejo-Parker who has accepted the position of Ombudsperson for the district!
Janet is elated to be joining the Iowa City Community School District as the new Ombudsperson. Janet previously worked at the Cedar Rapids Civil Rights Commission as a Senior Investigator for ten and a half years and also served as Interim Executive Director for approximately two years.
Prior to the Commission, Janet worked in Human Resources for the City of Cedar Rapids for approximately two and half years. She acquired a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, with a minor in English, at the University of Iowa and a Master of Arts degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology at Roosevelt University. Janet is also currently pursuing a Master of Studies in Law degree at the University of Iowa, College of Law with an expected graduation date of December 2022. Janet also earned her Senior Certified Professional Certification (SHRM-SCP) through the Society for Human Resources Management in December 2017.
Since December 2013, Janet has served as an adjunct faculty professor at Mount Mercy University, teaching Dispute Resolution. Janet previously served as a board member for the Arc of East Central Iowa, chair for Monsoon United Asian Women of Iowa, volunteer advocate for Waypoint Services, ESL tutor for the Catherine McAuley Center, board member for the Cedar Rapids Metro YMCA, and member of the Linn County League of Women Voters. She currently serves as co-chair for the Sixth Judicial District, Iowa Department of Corrections, Cultural Competency Advisory Committee. Janet lives in Cedar Rapids with her husband and their beloved pets. She is originally from the Chicagoland area, where most of her family resides.
We are very excited to have both Luke and Janet on our team, and we know they will do great work for our schools and our district!
Social Emotional Learning (SEL) Reflection Tool: REMINDER!
This is a great tool for self-reflection to assess personal strengths, think about how to model these strengths when interacting with others, and plan strategies to promote growth across areas of social competence.
Gentle reminder for our staff to practice with this resource before the school year begins, to help you prepare! Please download the file below to get started.
Apply for the Equity Advisory Committee Today!
There are multiple seats currently open for our Equity Advisory Committee. The Equity Advisory Committee functions to:
Advise the Equity Department, speak for community concerns, make recommendations for the school district, review district programs, and employment policies, promote more positive inter-group relations within the community, and provide support in regards to multi-culture gender-fair concepts. Make recommendations for school programs, assist with reviewing progress reports, serve as liaisons between parents and the school district.
If this is something you're interested in, please fill out the application below, or click here to learn more about the committee.
Infinite Campus: Student Gender Identity Registration Options
As most of you know, the Iowa City Community School District has changed its student information system from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus this year.
With this new system, there are changes in options for parents whose students' names and/or gender identities differ from their legal documentation. Parents will be able to select the correct information for their student's identity (in terms of gender, preferred pronouns, or name) by following 2 simple steps (see button below for instructions).
What will this change mean for my student?
Entering in preferred names and genders will update certain education records (such as attendance reports, class rosters for substitutes, school IDs, transcripts, student email, electronic records, etc.). The student's "Legal Name" and "Legal Gender" will then be hidden from these records. This will also update Canvas information for your student.
*Official transcripts require the legal name of the student, and will not be updated by this process. Upon a legal name change from the State of Iowa, students may then request their name on transcripts to be changed for future use.
What is "Legal Gender"
You will see the terms "Legal Gender" and "Legal Name" in your student's demographic information. This is a term used for State Reporting in Iowa.
To access the Infinite Campus Parent Portal, click here.
**If your child’s gender identity status changes after registration, please contact your school secretary to update their records. Click here to view our School Directory
[Click here for printable Student Gender Identity Registration Instructions]
New Placement for District Webpage Translation Tool
Having a website that is accessible to all our students, staff, and families is very important to us, and because of our diverse population, a translation tool has always been a feature on our website.
The Translation Tool for the website will now be in the top right corner of the webpage (see image). You will click this button and then select your desired language from a drop down menu.
Back to School Information
It is almost time to return to school! We are very excited to have all of our students and staff back in our buildings to begin a new exciting year of growth and learning. As always, the transition from summer back to school can seem hectic, so we've compiled a few resources below to try to make the process easier.
Please click here to see Registration Information for the 2021-22 School Year
Where is PowerSchool?
At the end of last school year, the Iowa City Community School District switched student information systems, moving from PowerSchool to Infinite Campus. By June 15, 2021, parents/guardians with students enrolled for the 2021-2022 school year will have receive a message with instructions to create a parent portal account within Infinite Campus.
COVID-19 Updates
We know that many are understandably concerned about COVID-19 when thinking about returning to our buildings. Please click here to see our district COVID-19 Information. This is a developing situation, so check back frequently for any changes or updates.
To view federal and state guidelines for COVID-19, please click here to see the most up-to-date Iowa Department of Public Health COVID-19 Guidance and click here to see the most up-to-date CDC Guidance for COVID-19 Prevention in K-12 Schools
We are so excited to see you all this fall!
Resources for Teachers and Students
In 1971, the U.S. Congress designated August 26 as Women’s Equality Day. And though, as we've discussed in previous issues, there were still obstacles that women of color faced that kept them from the full impact of this amendment, they never stopped fighting for their rights.
The 19th Amendment reads as follows;
"The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex."
On this day we hope you'll all show your appreciation to the women on our staff, and in our community! You are all awesome and we couldn't do this without you!
Want to learn more about Women's Equality Day?
Upcoming Events
Trauma-responsive Education: Supporting Students and Yourself
Co-hosted by Teaching Tolerance Advisory Board members Kinette Richards, Ph.D., school psychologist, and Barbie Garayúa Tudryn, school counselor, this webinar will help you gain a common understanding of trauma and how it affects both learning and relationships at school—for students and educators alike. It will also examine ways to recognize trauma in students and address it, both virtually and in person. Finally, you’ll learn about tools to build strong relationships and address trauma in your school. Join us!
Sunday, Aug 1, 2021, 06:00 AM
undefined
The Value of Educator Self-care
Sunday, Aug 1, 2021, 06:00 AM
undefined
World Wednesday: Celebrate the Chinese Qixi Festival with Ying!
World Wednesdays are the perfect opportunity to learn about and celebrate world cultures! Each week we will learn by doing with a craft, game or activity that explores a different part of the world. School age children are invited to join us online, and/or with a Take & Make Kit to be picked up from the library ahead of time, for an activity that will help us learn and understand something new about different world cultures.
The upcoming Qixi Festival (August 14) is a Chinese festival celebrating the annual meeting of the cowherd and weaver girl in mythology. The festival originated from the romantic legend of two lovers, Zhinü and Niulang, whose love was not allowed, thus they were banished to opposite sides of the Silver River. Once a year, on the 7th day of the 7th lunar month, a flock of magpies would form a bridge to reunite the lovers for one day. For our last World Wednesday, Ying will share the story of the folktale as well as a poem in English and Chinese about the cowherd and weaver girl, and together you can create your own moveable papercraft that tells the story of their meeting. Please register for to receive the Zoom link as well as a craft kit containing the supplies for the papercraft to be picked up from the library prior to the program.
This event is open to the public.
Wednesday, Aug 4, 2021, 02:00 PM
undefined
SUMMER OF THE ARTS FREE MOVIE SERIES, MOANA
Watch Disney's Moana play outdoor at the Iowa City Municipal Airport!
Like the Terminator, we promised we’d be back — on the big screen! Enjoy some popcorn with us as we bring new venues to our 2021 Free Movie Series. The first movie will be on May 29 and run through the end of August with a special Halloween showing on October 2. More information to come.
- Presented By: Summer of the Arts
- Dates: August 7, 2021
- Address: 1801 Riverside Dr
- Time: 8:45 PM
- Price: FREE
Saturday, Aug 7, 2021, 08:45 PM
1801 Riverside Drive, Iowa City, IA, USA
Servolution: Back-to-School Assistance
Description
Servolution will hold a back-to-school event on Wednesday, August 11th, at Live Church (2205 2nd St. - Coralville), for families who are in need of assistance in getting their children ready for the new school year. Resources include gift cards for new shoes, free haircuts, groceries, backpacks, school supplies, vision screenings and dental exams will be provided. Families do not need to provide proof of need, nor do they need to meet specific financial requirements in order to participate. For questions regarding this event, please contact Megan Lobb, at 688-1124.
Contact
Megan Lobb
Phone: 688-1124
Wednesday, Aug 11, 2021, 06:00 PM
2205 2nd St, Coralville, IA 52241, USA
2021 IOWA ARTS FESTIVAL
The 2021 Iowa Arts Festival is back in person, featuring over 90 visual artists and several musical acts for its 39th year.The Jayhawks will headline Friday night, and Horseshoes and Hand Grenades Saturday night. There will be a Main Stage, a Side Stage, a Beverage Garden, an Emerging Artist Area, several Fun Stops, children's activities, and a variety of Culinary Delights.
- Dates: 8/13/2021, 8/14/2021, 8/15/2021
- Address: Downtown Iowa City
- Time: 6:00 PM to 4:00 PM
- Price: 0
Friday, Aug 13, 2021, 06:00 PM
Iowa City, IA, USA
Totally Tweens: Back-to-School Skate-O-Rama
Registration opens July 29, 2021 at 9:00 am.
Calling all Roller-Tweens in grades 3-6, join us for an exciting roller skate skills workshop in partnership with Iowa City Parks and Recreation!
This 2-hour workshop, led by local roller derby skater Lauren Willberg, aka OCCRD’s HaughtPlate and founder of @LaurensSk8class, is appropriate for all levels of skater, from brand-new aspiring beginner to the experienced roller skater. This workshop will be taught on quad skates and honors the comeback that is sweeping the nation! Roller skating is a fun accessible thrill for all ages, and Lauren will help you find your feet and show those wheels who’s boss!
Join us for an engaging and inclusive workshop starting with the very basics of standing and falling safely, skating forward and backward and progressing to fun and fast-paced skills, drills, dance moves and games.
A limited number of helmets, kneepads, and wristguards will be available and encouraged; please wear your own if you have them and want to wear them for the event. Parents, discuss your family's expectations around safety gear with your tween before the event.
Celebrate the end of summer with a Library and Parks & Rec Skate-O-Rama!
This event is open to the public.
Friday, Aug 20, 2021, 04:00 PM
Iowa City, IA, USA
Johnson County Fair 2021
Tuesday, Aug 24, 2021, 09:00 AM
4261 Oak Crest Hill Rd SE, Iowa City, IA, USA
How Public Health Can Collaborate with School Districts to Improve Academic Outcomes by Improving Health
How Public Health Can Collaborate with School Districts to Improve Academic Outcomes by Improving Health
August 25th 2021 at 2:00pm-3:00pm ET
Presented by Kara Ihedigbo, MPH
This session covers the link between academic achievement and the health of students, strategies to embrace the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model for a campus culture shift, and tangible ways school districts can begin to make changes through collaboration with the local public health community and private partners.
Learning Objectives
- Participants will be prepared to identify strategies to create a healthier school environment for all students by collaborating with local public health agencies and community members.
- Participants will be prepared to describe how the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child (WSCC) Model can be incorporated into district and campus improvement plans to improve outcomes.
- Participants will be able to identify the correlation that exists between healthy students and academic achievement.
Primary WSCC Component Addressed: Community Involvement
Secondary WSCC Component Addressed: Physical Education & Physical Activity
Wednesday, Aug 25, 2021, 01:00 PM
undefined
Commemorative Observances
This year we will acknowledge the various diverse cultures that are celebrated throughout the year. We understand that our calendar may not be all-inclusive, so if you are aware of any cultural holidays or months of observance that we should know about, feel free to reach out and let us know.
African American History Month (February)
National African American History Month in February celebrates the contributions that African Americans have made to American history in their struggles for freedom and equality and deepens our understanding of our Nation's history.
Women's History Month (March)
Women’s History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States.
Irish-American Heritage Month (March)
Irish-American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions which Irish-Americans have made to the United States.
Jewish American Heritage Month (May)
Jewish American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions Jewish Americans have made to America since they first arrived in New Amsterdam in 1654.
Asian Pacific Heritage Month (May)
Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month is a month to celebrate the contributions Asian/Pacific Americans have made to American history, society and culture.
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month (June)
Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Pride Month commemorates the events of June 1969 and works to achieve equal justice and equal opportunity for LGBTQ Americans.
National Hispanic Heritage Month (September 15 - October 15)
National Hispanic Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic Americans have made to American society and culture and honors five of our Central American neighbors who celebrate their Independence days in September.
National Disability Employment Awareness Month (October)
National Disability Employment Awareness Month celebrates the accomplishments in the workplace of persons with disabilities and reaffirms the commitment to ensuring equal employment opportunities to all citizens.
American Indian Heritage Month (November)
National American Indian Heritage Month celebrates and recognizes the accomplishments of the peoples who were the original inhabitants, explorers and settlers of the United States.
By Month
https://www.loc.gov/law/help/commemorative-observations/index.php
Happy Holidays!
- Lammas - Sunday, August 1
- Lughnasadh - Sunday, August 1
- Transfiguration of the Lord - Friday, August 6
- Hijra (Islamic New Year) - Monday, August 9
- Nag Panchami - Friday, August 13
- Obon - Friday, August 13
- Dormition of the Theotokos - Sunday, August 15
- The Assumption of Mary - Sunday, August 15
- Day of Ashura/Muharram - Wednesday, August 18
- Asmá’ - Tuesday, August 19
- Varalakshmi Vrat - Friday, August 20
- Onam - Saturday, August 21
- Raksha Bandhan - Sunday, August 22
- Krishna Janmashtami - Monday, August 23
Who is in the Equity Department?
Laura Gray, Director of Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness
Email: gray.laura@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations
Email: howard.eric@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/Equity
Location: 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Luke Dillon, Assistant Director of Equity and Instruction and Principal of ICCSD K-12 Online Learning Program
Email: dillon.luke@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Charita Martin, Equity Coordinator
Email: martin.charita@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
Andrea Jayne, Equity Specialist
Email: jayne.andrea@iowacityschools.org
Website: iowacityschools.org/equity
Location: 1725 North Dodge Street, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1000
About Us
Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or 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 Eric Howard, Director of Equity & Employee Relations
Email: howard.eric@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/domain/64
Location: 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245
Phone: (319) 688-1000