Uplifting Urbandale
Urbandale CSD Bi-Weekly Update 10.30.20 #upliftingU
Quick Tips For A Safe Halloween
Please review the following Safe Halloween Tips from the Polk County Health Department.
IF YOU HAVE COVID-19 OR HAVE BEEN EXPOSED…
If you have signs/symptoms of COVID-19, or may have been exposed to someone with COVID-19, you SHOULD NOT:
Participate in any in-person Halloween festivities
Participate in trick or treating
Give out candy to trick-or-treaters
PARENTS/GUARDIANS
If taking your children trick-or-treating, limit the number of houses you visit and ask your children to maintain at least six feet distance from treat-givers. For small children, consider holding the bag for them.
Only accept factory-wrapped treats. Avoid homemade treats made by strangers.
Wipe off candy wrappers with sanitizing wipes when you arrive home. (NOTE: Never wipe unpackaged food with sanitizing wipes.)
Stay local. Avoid the urge to attend events in another town – it can lead to greater spread of the virus.
Think before you go. Use the CDC’s guidance on deciding to go out to assess what’s best for you and your family when it comes to celebrating this year.
While the flu vaccine will not protect against COVID-19, it can minimize your risk of getting sick or being hospitalized from the flu.
COMMUNITY MEMBERS
If your community hosts trick-or-treating this year, do it more safely.
Refrain from having children select their own treats from using a bowl or common container. Leave out individual grab bags (or paper cups) filled with goodies outside your door for children to take.
If you can, watch and wave to trick-or-treaters through a window. Or, leave Halloween treats outside the door where friends and loved ones live for a contact-free way of celebrating.
UHS Senior Selected To Attend World Food Prize Global Youth Institute
Know the Symptoms of COVID-19 vs Influenza
As the outside temperature drops, we are reminded that it is time to get ready for cold and flu season, in addition to battling COVID-19. If your child is experiencing illness symptoms, please keep them home and monitor their symptoms. If your child is sick and your healthcare provider recommends a COVID-19 test, please keep them home until you know the results. If the test is negative, we will need a note from the healthcare provider stating your child may return to school. If the test is positive, please isolate your child and notify your child’s school. If you have not done so, healthcare providers encourage everyone to obtain a flu (influenza) vaccine this year. Symptoms of the flu are often similar to COVID-19 and it may be difficult to determine what illness you are experiencing. Learn more about symptoms
November 2020 Design and Construction Update
Parents/Guardians/Staff Opt-In To Receive Notifications Via Text Messaging
Chromebook Help
Return To Learn
Superintendent Search 2020: Applications Due By November 17, 2020
Share Your Uplifting Stories/Shout Outs
#upliftingU
Thank You, PTO!!
Brenda Briggs, Webster Building Secretary
#upliftingU
~ Your Biggest Fans!
#upliftingU
I’d like to thank our Director of Nutrition Services, Jessy Sadler, for taking time out of her day, during lunch time nonetheless, to lead our Rolling Green students in activities about learning to make healthy food choices. Our students had a fun time and learned a great deal. Thank you for ALL you and your team do to support our students, Jessy! We #appreciateU!
~ Dania Wilson, Rolling Green Interim Principal
#upliftingU
Big shout out to Thrive Family Chiropractic for their generous donation to help kids in need at Karen Acres! Thank you to everyone who has donated new or gently used winter items to our elementary schools. We are still accepting donations at any elementary school through the end of day today. There are bins by the parent pick-up doors or front entrance of the buildings. In addition, we have collected over 2,000 masks for students at the elementary level. Big thanks to St. Stephens Church, Aldersgate Church, New Hope Assembly of God, and many private donors who worked really hard making masks for our students. We are so thankful for you!!!
~ Brittany Cooley, Karen Acres & Valerius Facilitator of Family Outreach Services (FFO)
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We’d like to take a moment to recognize our District Nurse, Brenda Ness. Brenda just doesn’t ever stop helping people! She continues to do an amazing job of managing all things related to the ever-changing nature of COVID-19. In a very short period of time, with a very steep learning curve, Brenda has truly gone WAY above and beyond in supporting the needs of our students, families, and staff. She leads with wisdom, grace, and compassion. She communicates respectfully and professionally with every single person. These are just a few highlights of how thankful we are to work alongside this incredible leader. We are so lucky to have her!
~ Jill Duffield, UHS Professional School Counselor & Dena Claire, Communications Manager
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I would like to honor two people who are leaving Urbandale Middle School but staying in our district: The first is Tiffany Zmolek. Tiffany has been amazing the entire time I have been here. She is super kind to me and to everyone she talks with throughout the day. Tiffany is incredibly professional and supports students in such positive ways. She knows her job and does it well. She gets things done as quickly as possible and this efficiency helps in so many ways. We will all miss Tiffany very much and wish her well as she transitions to her new position at the Administrative Office.
The second person is Andrew Meyer who is a custodian at UMS. Andrew has always been very positive, incredibly thorough, and greets students and teachers by name! No small task given the size of our building. Andrew has contributed to the spirit in our building in so many ways. He has brought flowers to people and planted flowers in our garden. He is friendly and welcoming to everyone and will ask you how your day is and takes the time to really listen to your response. We will all miss Andrew so very much and wish him well as he transitions to the high school.
~ Carla Madson, UMS Family & Consumer Sciences Teacher
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Our parents of UCSD are the best! Thank you for working so hard to support our students in the remote and hybrid settings as you’re also balancing your other daily responsibilities. We are grateful for your partnership in helping our students to be successful.
Thank you to our UCSD School Board for their leadership during these unprecedented times. We know you’re carrying a huge amount of responsibility on your shoulders to keep our students and staff safe.
~ Lara Justmann, Karen Acres Principal
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I want to share a shout out to Ashley Bartlett, who took it upon herself to give a survey to all of her students that asked if they needed any winter items. This not only helped me identify students who are not signed up for resources on my lists but are asking for help, but this activity really highlights that she is taking time for social-emotional check-ins with her students and there is clearly strong relationship building happening here as students felt safe to disclose this information with her.
I am truly touched that she is doing this work, as well as the work of teaching in her classroom. In times like this, more and more kids and families are struggling so this relationship-building and normalizing of SEL is key for our students to get the help they need.
~ Abby Schueller, UMS Facilitator of Family Outreach Services (FFO)
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Thank you to Kara and Elyse for running pictures ALL day at UHS. With already full schedules, they moved their offices to the PAC, and helped out all REMOTE students! Thank you for going above and beyond. :)
~ Shawna Shanahan, Coordinator of Special Education
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Contact Us
Email: quistd@urbandaleschools.com
Website: www.urbandaleschools.com
Location: 11152 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-5000
Twitter: @UrbandaleCSD