Shimek Shout Out
November Newsletter
Letter from Principal Bruening
Dear families,
November is the month of giving thanks. I would like to say thank you to all of you for all that you do to help make Shimek such a fantastic place to learn and work! Whether it is bringing in snacks for the classroom, volunteering in the library, chaperoning field trips, or spending hours working on spelling and math homework, we appreciate it all.
This month we have more ways for you to give back to our school and our community. The annual book fair is this month and there will be opportunities for you to volunteer or purchase books both online and at the fair. The money raised goes back to our library. The PTO will also put on the annual fall supper, with a twist - food trucks! The money raised at this event goes to the PTO. Last month the PTO was able to make large technology and flexible seating purchases for our classrooms - Thank you! Without the money raised at their fundraisers, these generous purchases would not be possible. Finally, the student council will be sponsoring a food drive for our community. All donations will be given to the Crisis Center.
We have wrapped up Iowa Assessments for the year and we have completed our fall screening for reading and math. The screening results will be shared with you during parent teacher conferences in November. The results help teachers know which students need extra help, or more challenging work. The results also make sure we are on target to meet the benchmarks for each grade level. Iowa Assessment scores are usually returned after winter break.
The annual Halloween costume parade will be held October 31 at 2:10. We will parade through classrooms, and weather permitting, make a loop outside to wave to our parents. Most classrooms will be holding parties prior to the parade. Please contact your student’s teacher with any questions or concerns. Remember that the school district requires healthy treats and costumes must be school appropriate - no weapons or offensive clothing. We want to be sure to respect everyone!
Be sure to tell your child that you are thankful for them this month and encourage them to tell their teacher thank you too! Enjoy the month ahead and let us know if there is anything we can do for you or for your student.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Bruening
Principal, Shimek Elementary
Please Dress your child for the Weather
Temperature guidelines for clothing at Recess
Recess gives your child a chance to get some fresh air and exercise. Please send children to school dressed for the weather. Below is a list of weather standards that we follow when determining what is needed for recess.
Below 0 degrees with wind chill or raining – Inside Recess
Below 40 degrees – Coats, hat and gloves Required
41-50 degrees – Coats or Heavy Sweatshirts Required
51-60 degrees – Long Sleeves required
Above 60 degrees – Student/Family Choice
Visiting Author - 3 & 4 grade
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2017, 09:00 AM
Grant Wood Elementary School, Lakeside Drive, Iowa City, IA, United States
Halloween Parade
The Parade will begin inside at 2:10 and outside by 2:20.
Parents may line the blacktop to view students.
Rain Route:
• The parade will go in same order, but instead of going outside, into the gym, to the right in front of parents, who will be standing back by the walls, and moving around the gym counter-clockwise
Classroom Snacks & Celebrations
The ICCSD is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for our students. Due to the increase in food allergies and concerns with childhood obesity, changes are being made to the district’s Wellness Policy regarding classroom snacks, birthday treats and classroom 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.
NO after school Orchestra rehearsal on Oct. 31st.
Tuesday, Oct 31, 2017, 03:30 PM
South East Junior High School, Bradford Drive, Iowa City, IA, United States
Student Council November Project
Student Council is excited to begin a food drive for the Crisis Center Food Bank. This drive will run through the end of November, so you will have many opportunities to send items over the next few weeks. Below is a list of the items most needed. We will have collection boxes and bins by the front office and in most classrooms beginning Wednesday, November 1st. Thank you for helping us support our local community!
canned fruit juice canned meat (like tuna) peanut butter canned soups/stews pasta rice canned vegetables baby food all baby items (wipes, diapers, etc.) laundry detergent toilet paper
GWAEA Hearing Screening
K, 1st, 2nd and 5th graders and all new students in 3rd, 4th & 6th grade will have hearing screening with GWAEA.
We do need a parent volunteer to help transition students from class to the GWAEA Van.
Please contact Amy at 319-688-1160 if interested.
Thursday, Nov 9, 2017, 08:30 AM
Shimek Elementary School, Grissel Place, Iowa City, IA, United States
November 9 is Preschool Conference Day
- Conferences will be held in the classroom
Parent Teacher Conferences
Please report to your child's classroom for your scheduled Conference time
Thursday, Nov 9, 2017, 02:15 PM
Shimek Elementary School, Grissel Place, Iowa City, IA, United States
The Scholastic Book Fair
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Shimek November 13-17! This is a great opportunity to support the library while adding more awesome books to your collection. All profits from the book fair go toward buying books for the Shimek library.
The book fair is staffed by volunteers. Wouldn't you like to volunteer? Click this link to sign up now: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a084eadaa2cab9-shimek3
Can't come and shop during the book fair? You can shop online from November 8 - 21. Click on this link to find our more: https://tinyurl.com/y9greyxc
Thank you for supporting the Shimek library!
No School - Parent Teacher Conferences
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2017, 07:45 AM
Shimek Elementary School, Grissel Place, Iowa City, IA, United States
PTO Fall Supper
Wednesday, Nov 15, 2017, 05:00 PM
Shimek Elementary School, Grissel Place, Iowa City, IA, United States
Physical Education News
Dear Parent(s), Guardian(s)
I hope the two plus months of the school year have gone well for you, and your student(s). Many new routines have begun and hopefully everyone has settled in. With this being my second year at Shimek, I am excited to continue teaching the great students at Shimek and am looking forward to a healthy and active school year.
The district Elementary Physical Education Program contributes appreciably to the development of students in a holistic manner, so that students move to learn and learn to move. The program is divided into three broad learning areas: fitness/wellness, basic movement skills and concepts, and movement forms. Each area has a cognitive, psychomotor, and affective component. When students leave Shimek elementary school they will possess a variety of basic skills and be well grounded in quality movement (space awareness, quality of movement, and body awareness), balls skills (throwing, kicking, and striking) and fitness activities which are integrated within the curriculum throughout the whole year.
Students in Kindergarten through 2nd grade learn the basics of movement in the early years with little importance given to competition to promote self-esteem, confidence, and success. Students in 3rd through 6th grade are offered more challenging movement activities such as individual and team sports with a focus on skills. Other areas of the curriculum include but are not limited to rhythms and dance, problem solving and cooperative activities, outdoor adventure activities, and lifetime fitness activities. Introducing students to lifetime physical activities is important now, and for the future, as students need to be prepared for a healthy productive and active adult life.
For your child’s safety, it is important that they are wearing appropriate shoes to Physical Education class. Open toe sandals, flip-flops, boots, loose shoes, and Crocs are discouraged. Proper footwear in PE should cover the toes and protect the heel, be comfortable and have a rubber sole on them. Fabric shoes are OK but leave the possibility for blisters to form especially if worn without socks. Please remember to send your child with appropriate footwear for activity on the days in which they have P.E. With the weather changing it is important that your child bring proper shoes. If it is easier, you may want to keep a pair of shoes for P.E. at school so your child can change in to them on P.E. days. If a child does forget shoes, there is a basket of shoes that they can use if needed. If your child has a pair of shoes that does not fit anymore, you can donate them to the extra shoes basket at Shimek. Shoes that you would like to donate can be dropped off in the office. Thank you for your help and support.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me. I will communicate with parents as much as necessary. I will be doing so through the classroom teachers, the office, or with letters like this. I am looking forward to a great year at Shimek!
WHEN DOES YOUR CHILD HAVE P.E.?
Kalsem- Monday-Thursday
Buxton- Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday
Muhlenbruch- Tuesday-Wednesday-Friday
Anderson- Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday
Chapman- Monday-Wednesday-Thursday
Schneider- Wednesday-Thursday-Friday
Sproule Wednesday-Thursday-Friday
Skay- Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday
Cordova- Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday-Friday
Muller- Monday- Tuesday- Wednesday-Friday
Joe Graf
Shimek Elementary Physical Education
(319) 688-1160
PTO News
Fall "Non-Fundraiser" Fundraiser will be begin November 1st and go thru November 30th, so please do what you can for Shimek Elementary! Forms can be found at the link below and hard copies are available outside the Shimek office.
This year our annual Fall Supper will be November 15th and it is going to look a little different than years past as we are going to have food trucks in the parking lot to purchase your dinner and then join other families in the cafeteria to eat and chat. Please come and enjoy this community building activity!
PTO meeting notes from October 11th, 2017 will be posted on the PTO Facebook page during the week of October 30th, prior to the November PTO meeting.
Reminder that if you want to add an item to the PTO meeting agenda, please email Bridget Brenton, bridgetbrenton@yahoo.com by Friday, November 3rd.
DPO
On Wednesday, November 8th, Northwest Junior High will host the monthly District Parent Organization (DPO) meeting from 6-7:30 pm. The guest speaker will be Iowa City Community School District Special Education Director Lisa Glenn who will provide an overview of the work currently underway in the Special Education department. In addition, questions will be addressed that have been submitted from the community over the last month.
The DPO will also have their monthly reports from the Iowa City Community School District Foundation and the District administration team.
Northwest Junior High is located at 1507 8th Street in Coralville and is accessible to wheelchairs. Northwest’s Nutrition Services team will try to provide food, so RSVPs are appreciated. You may RSVP for the meeting at https://www.facebook.com/events/173469316555349/permalink/179043229331291/.
The District Parent Organization will provide childcare for the meeting. If you require this service, please complete the information at the following link: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/30e094aaca629a20-dpomeeting.
For more information about the District Parent Organization please visit https://www.iowacityschools.org/domain/26. For more information about a new Special Education support group please contact Renee Speh at reneespeh@gmail.com.
Thanksgiving Break - No School
Wed. November 22- Friday November 24, 2017
SHIMEK NEWS CAN ALSO BE FOUND ON SOCIAL MEDIA
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 Kingsley Botchway II, Director of Equity, 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245, (319) 688-1000, botchway.kingsley@iowacityschools.org.