Liberty Newsletter Volume 30
May 15, 2019
Liberty High School
Email: kibby.scott@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/LibertyHS
Location: 1400 South Dubuque Street, North Liberty, IA, United States
Phone: 319-688-1350
Twitter: @LibertyHS_Kibby
Liberty's Smore Newsletter
Welcome to Liberty's Smore newsletters. This is an opportunity to stay "in the loop" on Liberty news.
As always if you have suggestions for my twice monthly newsletter you may simply email me. I am open to feedback and am always looking to get better and grow our Liberty Experience.
A reminder that in June and July we move to only one newsletter per month at the first of the month.
Thank you
Scott
Scott Kibby
Principal
Liberty High School
Iowa City Community School District
New Staff for the '19-'20 school year
Diane Brown
Michelle Miller
Marie Montilla
Kedibona Ochs
Emily Stumpff
Important Dates
AP Testing: May 6-16
Senior Awards Assembly: May 16 (9:40am)
Seniors Last Day/Graduation Rehearsal: May 23
Graduation: May 25, 1pm
Memorial Day (No School): May 27
Last Day of Classes: May 31 (noon dismissal-lunch is available)
2019-20 School Year
New to the district Registration: August 12 (8:30-11:30am)
Registration grades 9-10: August 13 (8:30am-4pm)
Registration grades 11-12: August 14 (8:30am-4pm)
New Student Orientation: August 21 (9am-2pm)
First Day of Classes: Friday, August 23
Recall, Liberty along with the schools of the MVC run all their activity schedules and calendars through a company called Rschool Today. You can look up game schedules for specific sports as well as performing arts events. My favorite feature is "Notify Me". On the middle right hand portion of the page you can sign up to receive notifications for any changes that occur in YOUR child's activities. You will only get what you want. With the notify me feature you'll know before the media if a game is delayed, postponed or changes.
https://mississippivalleyiowa.org/public/genie/80/school/2671/
The Liberty Fund
The first 83 bricks have been engraved. We intend on engraving twice a year, so the next engraving will be in the fall (September/October).
Bricks can be purchased using the link below. They can celebrate a graduation, participation in our numerous clubs, ensembles and teams. Bricks can advertise a business commitment to Liberty. We also have bricks in memorial as well.
www.iowacityschools.org/TheLibertyFund
Money from the bricks supports the Liberty Fund. The Liberty Fund's mission is to serve underfunded groups/activities as well as provide access for students who may not have the means to participate in our programs. The Liberty Fund hopes to support students having a broad rich learning experience and Champion Liberty Pride.
To date the Liberty fund has supported such groups as: Business Professionals of America, In Shoc, MLK Day, Storm Show Choir, Garden Club, The Math Team and the Art Club.
Large Group Music Festival
Last year (our opening year) we had 2 groups earn Division 1 ratings. This year we had FIVE. Earning Division 1 ratings were Band, Orchestra, Bass Clef Choir, Liberty Singers (Treble) and Liberty Singers (Mixed Choir). This accomplishment is especially note worthy in that we competed in class 3A last year and this year we made the jump to the large class (4A) where the competition gets stiffer.
Congratulations to directors Arp, Savage, Williams and Hanson and their students.
Orchestra shines in Kansas City
Congratulations the Liberty Orchestra for their best of show award at Worlds of Fun Orchestra and Band Invitational in Kansas City and their superior rating at the festival.
UICCU Art Show
Students make a campus visit to Kirkwood
Career Development Coordinator Rick Spear organized a campus visit to Kirkwood Community College in Cedar Rapids.
Mr. Spear is not only our career development coordinator, but is currently the student family advocate at Wickham Elementary. We are excited to announce that Mr Spear will be full time at Liberty next year. In addition to his career development coordinator duties, Rick will be adding to our counseling services. He'll be joining Heba Nabhan as an additional Student Family Advocate at Liberty.
Graduation Flowers
Liberty's National Honor Society will be selling purple and white roses at graduation to help fund their service efforts.
Skip the line! If you would like to order ahead and have them ready for you to pick up at graduation starting at 12:30 PM, please fill out the form below by Tuesday, May 20th. Payment is due at the time of pickup. Supplies are limited, so we will e-mail you if we cannot fulfill your request.
Reserve your flowers here: https://forms.gle/4UvCE3j2woLw12RL8
Prices are as follows:
1 Rose- $2.00
3 Roses- $5.00
10 Roses: $15.00
Drivers Education
Liberty High School will be hosting a drivers education class taught by Kirkwood in the fall during first trimester staring on August 26th.
Details
1. Begin August 26th and will run most of first trimester
2. Early Bird class from 7:45 to 8:35 am
3. Transportation to class is not provided
4. Must have your permit before registering for the class
5. Students must have a study hall during first trimester for scheduled driving practice.
6. Cost is set by Kirkwood and has previously been $400 ($160 if you qualify for reduced lunch and free if you qualify for free lunch)
7. Enrollment is capped at 25
If you would like to be registered for Drivers Ed next fall, please stop in the Counseling Office with you permit so we can add you to the list. Or contact Counselor Troy Bergmann at bergmann.troy@iowacityschools.org
World Language-Chinese
Interested in taking Chinese at Liberty?
The Confucius Institute will continue offering Chinese coursework at Liberty High School to current Liberty High students.
In Fall 2019, we will offer CHIN:1115 Beginning Chinese I. This course is designed for students who are not native Chinese speakers but want to learn the basics of the language. More specific course details can be found here.
This coursework is open to all juniors and seniors, as well as freshman and sophomores who are ELP identified. This is a University of Iowa PSEO class, which means that it is free of charge to eligible students. In order to be eligible, students must apply and be accepted to the University of Iowa (which requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.50). This coursework begins the student’s University of Iowa official transcript and will count in the student’s college cumulative GPA. This coursework will also be included on the student’s Liberty High transcript, but will not count toward a student’s high school cumulative GPA.
Beginning Chinese I will be offered at Liberty High before school (7:30 - 8:45am) on Tuesday/Thursday (days are subject to change). Therefore, transportation is the student’s responsibility.
Interested students are required to speak with Mr. Bergmann no later than Wednesday, May 22nd. Mr. Bergmann will provide specific timeline and application details. If you have any questions, please contact Mr. Bergmann at bergmann.troy@iowacityschools.org or at 319-688-1354.
National French Competition
The following Liberty High Students are National French Competition Award Winners for 2019:
Level 3
Chris Nair - 2nd place in Iowa, 13th nationally
Annie Riss - 10th place in Iowa
Christella Luyeye - 10th place in Iowa
Aubrey Dallner - Honorable Mention
Shahad Elnour - Honorable Mention
Amulya Karthikeyan - Honorable Mention
Gradie Nzenga - Honorable Mention
Level 4
Lila Panek - 4th place in Iowa, 17th nationally
Adolphine Kanyiki - 7th place in Iowa
Lumière Bisimwa - Honorable Mention
Sylvie Ntonku - Honorable Mention
Level 5
Rudy Nahra - Honorable Mention
The National French Competition is an annual exam released by the American Association of Teachers of French that tests reading and listening skills, in addition to leveled vocabulary, and grammar. Students compete against other high schools students who are currently enrolled in the same level. Over 70,000 students competed across all levels nationwide this year. Liberty High students currently enrolled in levels 3, 4, and AP participated in this years competition.
Level 3 Award Winners
Lila Panek
Level 4 and AP Award Winners
Student Author Published
We are excited to announce Liberty's own Jasmine Miftahof's short story, A Tale of Two Families, was selected for publication in Past Notes, an anthology of writing from Iowa high school students, curated by undergraduates in the University of Iowa’s publishing track.
According to the anthology's editors, "the protagonists in Miftahoft's story hate their lives, and each wishes she could live as the other while not appreciating what she has. This contrast of family types allows Miftahof to reflect on injustice through contrasted class and power structures, allowing her reader to appreciate the power of perception. The difference between hope and despair, by the end of the piece, comes down to the presence of love and support regardless of one's material conditions."
Congratulations, Jasmine! We are proud of you!
Counseling Office News (Summer School)
Summer School Information
Summer School will be available for Liberty students from June 4 - June 28 from 10:30 am to 1:00 pm.
Registration: Students may register for classes between 5/13/19-6/3/19 through their Counseling Dept. Sessions will be limited to 30 participants. Students will be served based on need, giving priority to upper classmates.
Course Curriculum: Edgenuity
· Edge closely aligns with ICCSD curriculum
· Students may receive credit in courses they have taken previously but failed (summer school can not be utilized to advance in subject areas)
· Students generally complete one course in 45 hours
· On-line credit recovery is not the best method of learning for all students: Please work with your counselor to determine if these classes are appropriate.
Program Structure:
· Students will complete one course at a time. They may sign up for two sessions, but they need to finish one course before starting the second course. It will require significant student commitment to complete two courses and will require work outside of lab time.
· Students may work at home, but all quizzes and tests must be completed on-site. Students must be in attendance all days assigned, for the duration of the session.
Attendance Policy:
Students are expected to report to their scheduled session every day for the duration of the session. Students who have more than three unexcused absences will be removed from the program. This is based on the ICCSD School District Attendance Policy.
Transportation: The parent/caregiver is responsible for student transportation.
Tuition:$150.00 per course. (Reduced lunch: $75.00 per course, Free lunch: no cost)
For a registration form, please stop in the Counseling Office beginning Monday, May 13.
Who's My Counselor? (by students last name)
A-G Troy Bergmann, bergmann.troy@iowacityschools.org
H-N Jenni Naughton, naughton.jennifer@iowacityschools.org
O-Z Mayra DeVries, devries.mayra@iowacityschools.org
AP Testing
Advanced Placement testing will take place the second and third week of May (May 6th-May 17th). Students will receive a testing handout of test time, location, and testing procedures of the day. Several tests start promptly at 8:00 am (before regularly scheduled classes), students are responsible for their own transportation. For any AP testing questions, please contact AP Coordinator/School Counselor Jenni Naughton at naughton.jennifer@iowacityschools.org.
8am, Thursday, May 16th World History
Student Check-In will start at 7:45 am for AM tests. Testing will start promptly at the times listed above.
NOTES:
*AM tests starts before regularly scheduled school- Students are responsible for your own transportation.
Construction Phase 3
The project is still scheduled for completion in Mid-June 2020 and should be fully functional for the 20-21 school year
1) The project has begun with a satellite bus depot to serve the northern part of the district (on the east side of the campus) Pictured to on the left
2)Ground has been broken on our 21-classroom addition on the east side of the building!
3) A fully secure "hard-scaped" courtyard is slated to begin later this summer
4) An additional activity parking lot on the far western portion of campus has broken ground and will be complete before the start of school and football this fall (2019)
Equity Project
The Iowa City Community School District is engaging in a strategic planning process to update the Comprehensive Equity Plan for 2019-2022. Given the importance of ensuring that the District come up with a Comprehensive Equity Plan that is aligned and integrated with current District goals and accountability structures, is data- and research-informed, and is produced through an inclusive process, we are inviting you to provide input and share your suggestions related to achieving equity in the District.
There are two ways for you to provide input and share your suggestions:
1-Attend one of the upcoming Public Forums on Improving Equity in the District
Tuesday, May 21st at 6:00-7:30 at Coralville Public Library
Wednesday, May 22nd at 6:00-7:30 at Iowa City Public Library
2-Complete the Public Feedback Survey on Improving Equity in the District now. The survey will be available from May 13 to May 31. (click here to complete the survey)
The input and suggestions that you share will be compiled and organized for the Comprehensive Equity Plan Development Group who will assist in the development of the District's 2019-2022 Comprehensive Equity Plan. The membership of the Development Group includes representatives from key stakeholder groups including the Board, District administrators, Department of Equity, elementary and secondary principals, teachers/ICEA, parents, students, the Equity Advisory Committee, and community members. The CEP Development Group will review existing District goals and data, and review information, themes, and suggestions that emerge from strategic interviews conducted with the District leadership team, listening sessions convened with key stakeholder groups, and public input received through two open community forums and survey responses.
The Comprehensive Equity Plan will be completed this summer, and be ready for implementation beginning fall 2019.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Laura Cottrell-Gray, Director of Diversity and Cultural Responsiveness at (319) 688-1011 or Cottrell.laura@iowacityschools.org.
Iowa Dyslexia Survey
The Iowa Department of Education is teaming up with the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital to distribute this survey on behalf of the Iowa Dyslexia Task Force. The task force was established by the Iowa General Assembly in 2018.
The survey’s intended audience includes parents of children with reading difficulties, public school administrators, educators, and paraprofessionals; area education agency professionals; and higher education teacher training faculty.
The survey is completely anonymous and voluntary, although participation is strongly encouraged so that the task force can have a comprehensive collection of information about dyslexia response in Iowa. Survey results will be detailed in a report to the Governor and General Assembly in November. This report will be available to the public.
Thank you,
If you have questions about this survey please contact Kathy Bertsch (kathy.bertsch@iowa.gov).
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Need this survey read aloud?
You can use your own screen reading software with this survey. This survey is also accessible using the free screen reader extension, ChromeVox. Click to install ChromeVox for Google Chrome and click the text you would like read aloud.
Required immunization
Per Iowa law, incoming 12th grade students must have a Meningococcal Vaccine (to prevent meningitis, a bacteria that infects the brain, blood and spinal cord) Please check your child’s immunization record or call their health care provider to find out if they had the MCV shot after age 16 and make an appointment if needed. Johnson County Public Health provides immunizations at no cost to children with or without health insurance. Call 319-356-6042 to make an appointment.
Pay to Ride
The Iowa City Community School District Transportation Department would like to notify you of the 2019-20 Pay to Ride Program.
Program details
- The program is provided on a space-available, time-available, first-come, first-served basis. Participation is limited according to capacity as determined by the District, and is available to students in grades K-12.
- The program is only available on existing bus routes and at existing stops. No additional routes and or stops will be considered for pay-to-ride students after the deadline.
- Buses provided specifically for special education students are not eligible for this program.
- Bus stop locations and times are assigned by North America Central School Bus (NACSB).
- Availability of seats and location of bus stops is subject to change based on changes in enrollment, boundaries, and other factors determined by the District or NACSB, and can occur at any time. When changes to routes or stops occur, families utilizing pay-to-ride busing will be notified at the same time that the families of eligible students are notified.
- Students must be picked up and dropped off at their assigned location only. Pick-up and drop-off must be at the same location.
- Requests for a change in a student’s bus stop will only be honored if the student’s address has changed.
- No guest students will be allowed to ride along with pay-to-ride students.
- All students riding the bus are subject to the rules and regulations of conduct and safety established by the District and NACSB. The District and NACSB use video cameras on school buses as a means to maintain a safe environment for students and staff.
- Refunds will be granted for any unused full trimester purchased for the current school year.
- No refunds or rate adjustments will be made for days buses cannot operate because of weather or other circumstances beyond the control of NACSB or the District.
- Payments can be made online via the District’s website or by mailing a check. Fee is charged on a per year basis.
Payment and Fees for Service
- $438 per student, per year, round trip
- $262 per student, per year, round trip, for students who qualify for reduced price lunch
- $0 per student, per year, round trip, for students who qualify for free lunch
- Full payments must be made in advance no later than June 14, 2019, to be included on a bus roster for the start of the school year.
Application Due Date
Payment Due
June 3, 2019
June 14, 2019
· Applications will be accepted after the due dates while capacity remains on existing routes. (Note: Students will only be assigned to existing bus stops and routes; buses will not be re-routed to accommodate requests.)
- Students are not eligible to ride until payment is received and application is approved.
Application Process
- To apply for pay-to-ride busing, please download the following form:
- Pay-to-Ride Student Transportation Application
https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/18202
- Payment can be made online or checks should be made payable to Iowa City Community School District
https://iowa-city.revtrak.net/
- Mail or bring your application and payment, if paying by check, to the following address:
Iowa City Community School District
Att.: Esme Davis
1725 N Dodge Street
Iowa City, IA 52245
- Iowa City Community School District will begin processing applications upon receipt, in the order they are received. Each application and payment will be kept on file until it is determined the student is eligible for a seat on the bus.
If you are interested in participating in this pay-to-ride program please return the application no later than June 3, 2019 and payment must be made in advance no later than June 14, 2019, to be considered for a bus roster for the start of the school year.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me via email or by phone.