Amana Elementary
Newsletter
It will be a great day when…
In all professions, and in all types of moments on a day-to-day, week-to-week, month-to-month basis, any one decision effects many other decisions causing a butterfly type effect and we as educators (as you would in your daily routine be it at work or in life) do our best to weigh our decisions to maximize our intended outcome. Makes sense right? NOTHING and I mean NOTHING we do now has a clear cut outcome anymore. Our amazing curriculum director was quoted as saying, “I can’t wait till we don’t have to choose between a terrible decision and a terrible decision.” Never in my professional career have I had to overthink when I think I can under think and under think when I need to overthink and then just when you think you have an idea to work with, 10 things change and you’re back to the beginning. My brain hurts….
Such was the case this week with swimming. I thought to myself, we’re in the clear. The pool passed its water inspection, Nurse Kathy has OK’d swimming, we made sure schedules are clear so to keep with our mitigation strategies but what I forgot to do (and it’s an issue my wife reminds me of on occasion) is I probably did not give enough lead time for families to process, ask questions and feel reassured.
Swimming did go off without a hitch. The kids did have fun but I did have a number of really caring and kind families express concern and ask questions. Hindsight probably should have given more than a 12-hour notice!
Such it is for everything we are experiencing this year. There are no simple decisions, there is no easy answer. Many times whether it’s figuring out virtual learning, figuring out what might happen if we have to go virtual, what door students enter, what snacks can be brought it, and literally and an endless list of seemingly simple issues prove to be anything but.
So again, much love to this amazing community of parents and guardians for asking great questions and looking for clarification when needed. The future for CCA and AES particularly is bright, but the perfect answer is not always so clear! We are in this together!
Have a great Labor Day weekend. The weather looks amazing.
WE ARE AMANA!
Ben Macumber, Principal
Classroom Snacks/Birthday Treats
Classroom Snacks must follow the Healthy Snack guidelines to meet the Smart Snack Requirements as set by USDA. No soda, candy and other such items are allowed.
Daily student snacks in the classroom will be brought in by the individual student for their own consumption. While we have no control over what that snack item may be, we ask that you help to provide a healthy snack option for your child.
Due to COVID19 restrictions, we are not allowing classroom snacks for special days such as birthdays, holidays, etc. be brought from home by the parent that do not meet the following standards:
- 1. Item must be individually packaged for each student to open
- 2. Item must meet Smart Snack Guidelines
- 3. Item must not require refrigeration
- 4. If Item is brought in from another source other than the school purchasing, it must be in its original bulk purchase box.**example if purchasing individual bags of popcorn from Costco that come packaged in a box or bag, the bag or box cannot be opened before coming into the school. It must come in as purchased. This includes a purchase made from any other store or source.
Items produced or made at home and then individually wrapped are not acceptable.
A parent or teacher or PTG group may purchase items from the CCA School Food Service Department via the attached Order Guide which was updated 9/2/2020. We understand that a classroom size is much smaller than the case count of most of these products. We cannot purchase partial cases from our Distributor. Suggestions are for the classrooms to combine orders and split the case. Or a parent may purchase a case and take the rest home for what is not needed that day and allow their family to consume.
Some things to remember:
- Snacks orders need to be emailed or faxed to Debbie Klein, Food Service Director at debbieklein@ccaschools.org or 319-828-4743 (FAX)
- Snack orders need to be pre-paid before they are ordered, please write checks to "Clear Creek Amana Food Service"
- Orders are due Mondays and delivered to appropriate school on Thursdays
Click here for a link to the Snack List/Snack Order Form
BackPack Program
Through a partnership between HACAP and the CCA Community School District we are able to offer families a weekend food BackPack Program. The BackPack Program provides a small food bag of kid-friendly, non-perishable snacks for children each Friday and during school breaks. This is a FREE program, with no specific requirements that families must meet. It is also kept completely confidential – only the counselor will be aware of participating families. If the BackPack Program would be helpful for you and your children, please contact your building counselor or social worker.
Kelsey Koffend, Amana Elementary Counselor
Amana Elementaty
benmacumber@ccaschools.org
319-622-3255
Email: colleenconrad@ccaschools.org
Website: https://www.ccaschools.org/AE
Location: 3023 220th Trail, Middle Amana, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 622-3255