Shimek Shout Out
September 10th, 2021
New - Monthly Shimek PTO Newsletter!
Shimek families can now follow the link below to our new PTO Monthly Newsletter! On behalf of the Shimek PTO, thank you to all of our families for your continued support. The PTO offers so much to enhance the learning and experiences of our children and we can't thank our families enough!
Open House & Ribbon Cutting Postponed Until Further Notice
Attention All 2nd-6th Grade Shimek Families - Information Regarding the Fall MySAEBRS Survey
Dear Families,
This letter provides information about our school’s continued efforts to identify all students who may need additional help to meet student learning goals. During the 2021-22 school year, the students in our 2nd-6th grade classrooms will participate in universal social, academic, emotional behavior screening that is designed to help schools identify students who may need additional support due to social, academic, or emotional concerns.
We will use the student universal screener, called mySAEBRS, provided through FastBridge Learning®. FastBridge Learning® is the same system we use for our reading and math screeners three times a year. The mySAEBRS screener asks students to complete a 20-item computer-based questionnaire related to their academic, emotional, and social skills. Our school’s leadership team will review the screening scores after the testing. Screening reports will be reviewed during conferences and sent home with all students as part of their end of year information.
We plan to participate in this screening three times during the year (fall, winter and spring). If you are concerned about your student participating in the mySAEBRS screening process or want additional information, please contact me.
Thanks,
Chris Pisarik
Principal
Grades 1-8 One Book, Two Book
Students in grades 1-8 in Iowa City-Cedar Rapids Corridor area school districts, or home school students in those equivalent grades, are encouraged to submit one page of writing for the 2022 One Book Two Book festival from the Iowa City UNESCO City of Literature. This can be any type of writing: story, essay, poem, song lyric, graphic novel page, etc. The piece must be an original work, written this school year, and in polished form – ready for publication. It should be on one side of an 8.5x11 page. It can be single-spaced, but must be at least 12-pt. and in Times or equivalent font. The page should have margins of 1” on each side. Submissions that are longer than one page will not be considered.
The student’s name should be in the top right corner of the piece. The piece must have a title or be labeled “Untitled.” On the separate Student Submission Cover Form, the following information is required: Student name, grade, school, parent or guardian’s name and contact e-mail and phone number. This form is attached. In addition, it can be found as a Google Doc at http://bit.ly/OneBookTwoBook. This can be filled out and saved as part of a document along with the submission.
Student work, including the cover sheet, must be submitted to the City of Literature by Monday, Dec. 13, 2021. They can be mailed to the City of Literature, 123 S. Linn St., Iowa City, IA 52240; or e-mailed as a Microsoft Word attachment or PDF to info@iowacityofliterature.org. If using Google Docs, the submission also can be shared with info@iowacityofliterature.org (Please be sure to set your Google Docs sharing settings so that we can view your submission). The file name should include the student’s school, grade and name (e.g. Hoover-4-HannahSmith or Garner-6-JasonJones). If using Google Docs, please download the file as either a Microsoft Word or PDF document. If the submission is handwritten or drawn, either scan and email a PDF or mail the original. Originals will be held for one month after the festival; it is the guardian’s responsibility to follow up if it should be returned.
The student work will be judged by a team from ACT in Iowa City. Recognized students will be honored at a “Write Out Loud” event during One Book Two Book in February 2022. Two grade level winners will be chosen, one in each of the following categories:
“The Write Stuff”: For language, clarity, structure, and emotional impact.
“From the Heart”: For creativity, passion, and expressiveness.
These students will be invited to read their winning submissions. In addition, a percentage of all students whose submissions are deemed to be of outstanding quality also will be honored with a “certificate of distinction.” They also will be invited to attend the “Write Out Loud” event.
All recognized students will receive certificates and prizes at the event.
The grade-level prize winners will have their work published in a booklet available at the festival.
Questions? Contact John Kenyon with the City of Literature office at (319) 356-5245 or john-kenyon@iowacityofliterature.org.
Drop Off & Pick Up Procedures
DROP OFF PROCEDURES
Breakfast and outdoor supervision will begin at 7:40, at which time students can begin to be dropped off and enter the building. Please do not drop off your child(ren) prior to 7:40, as supervision will not be provided to ensure student safety. There will be a continuous drop-off loop in the main lot. Please have your child(ren) ready to disembark from the vehicle on the passenger side and proceed down Grissel Place to exit.
If you are the parent/guardian of a student who requires your assistance to exit the vehicle, please drive down to the lower parking lot to park. This will allow you and your child time/space to safely leave the vehicle. After your child(ren) has disembarked, follow the loop and proceed down Grissel Place to exit.
Please note that Shimek has three Handicap parking spaces available at the main entrance of the Shimek building.
If buses are attempting to pull into or out of the parking lot, please make it a priority to provide space for them to do so. Their exit will allow traffic to continue to flow in a timely manner.
Please note that attendance is officially taken in each of our K-6 classrooms between 7:55 and 8:00am each day. Any child arriving after this time will need to check in at the main office before proceeding to their homeroom.
PICK UP PROCEDURES
The Shimek private vehicle pick up line will start at 2:55pm M, T, W & F and at 1:55pm on Th. Cars will cue up with name placards visible to the Shimek staff calling students. The first six vehicles behind the buses will be filled and then all six will depart at the same time. After this, the next six vehicles in line will pull up to have their child(ren) enter the vehicle from the curb side.
Just as it is with the AM drop off procedures, any students whose parents/guardians wish to assist them in entering the car may park in the lower lot to pick up their student(s). You are welcome to walk up and meet your child(ren) at the top of the hill. This should allow you and your child time/space to safely enter the vehicle. After your child(ren) has buckled up, please follow the loop and proceed down Grissel Place to exit.
*We will have an additional line for cars heading to the lower lot. Families will not need to wait in the main cue if they are planning on parking down below. Please adhere to guidance from Shimek staff who are outside to assist.
If buses are attempting to pull into or out of the parking lot, please make it a priority to provide space for them to do so. Their exit will allow traffic to continue to flow in a timely manner.
If a student has not been picked up within 10 minutes of dismissal, they will wait with staff and parents/guardians will be called to remind them that school has dismissed and that their child(ren) needs to be picked up from school.
School Supply Lists for 2021-2022
Kindergarten
For all District elementary schools
- 24 sharpened pencils
- 8 glue sticks
- 1 package of washable markers (8-count)
- 1 pencil box or pouch
- 1 box of crayons (24-count)
- 4 two-pocket folders (red, yellow, green, and blue)
- 1 pair of round-tipped scissors
- 1 large towel
- 1 box of colored pencils
- 2 boxes of tissues
- 1 pair of earbuds
- 2 fine-tipped, dry erase markers
- 1 backpack
- water bottle (optional)
Grades 1–6
For all District elementary schools
- 24 sharpened pencils
- 4 glue sticks
- 1 package of washable markers (8-count)
- 1 pencil box or pouch
- 1 box of crayons (24-count)
- 4 spiral-bound, wide-ruled notebooks (red, yellow, green, and blue)
- 1 pair of scissors
- 4 two-pocket folders (red, yellow, green, and blue)
- 1 box of colored pencils
- 2 boxes of tissues
- 1 composition notebook
- 1 pair of earbuds
- 2 fine-tipped, dry erase markers
- 1 backpack
- water bottle (optional)
ICCSD Message on Masks and Vaccines
To help slow the spread of COVID-19, the Iowa City Community School District strongly encourages universal indoor 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, the 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.
Upcoming Shimek Events
Thursday, September 16th - No School
Week of September 20th-24th - Homecoming Spirit Week
*The City High Homecoming Parade that had been scheduled for Wednesday, September 22nd has been cancelled. City High officials indicated that they do plan to start the tradition again next year.
Friday, September 24th - City High Homecoming Game
Monday, October 4th - No School
*Tuesday, October 5th - Shimek Picture Day*
Sunday, October 24th - ICCSD Run for the Schools
Tuesday, November 2nd - No School - Teacher Professional Development Day
Thursday, November 11th - Parent & Teacher Conferences from 2:10pm-7:00pm
Wednesday, November 17th - Parent & Teacher Conferences from 7:40am-7:10pm
November 24th-26th - No School
December 18th-January 2nd - No School