Liberty Newsletter Volume 19
December 1, 2018
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
Welcome to Liberty's Smore Newsletter
Welcome to Liberty's Smore newsletters. I do these twice a month during the school year. This is an opportunity to stay "in the loop" on Liberty news. For suggestions to the newsletter email me at kibby.scott@iowacityschools.org
Thank you
Scott
Scott Kibby
Principal
Liberty High School
Iowa City Community School District
B is for B.O.L.T.S. Basketball Game
Additionally, we took the time between quarters to recognize all students who earned an academic letter during the previous school year. Students who earn a 3.5, or above, GPA for each trimester during the previous school year are awarded an academic letter. If your student has not picked up their academic letter yet, they are available in the main office.
Staff and student participants
Two of the winning team members with the trophy
Live action picture from the game
Liberty High Parking Update
1) Please check to make sure your student has registered the vehicle they use to drive to school. If they have not, they can do so easily in the main office. There is no cost, and students will be given a parking tag to display from their rear view mirror when parked at Liberty.
2) Additional student parking will be opened up soon as the construction company consolidates their remaining materials in the south student lot. As this lot opens, there will no longer be any need for student overflow parking in the staff lot for the remainder of this school year.
Liberty Supports Veterans Event
Please join Liberty High School's BPA club in showing our gratitude to our Veterans by updating your Liberty wardrobe through Camo for a Cause. This is an opportunity for our community to give back to the men and women in the armed forces. A portion of the proceeds will go to the G.I.V.E. Foundation’s mission to support veterans.
Wear your Camo for a Cause gear to cheer on the Liberty basketball team on December 21st when we host IC West High. The goal is to fill the gym with purple camo!
#CamoForACauseGrayOut #LibertyBasketball #GIVEFoundation #LibertyBPA #LibertySupportsVeterans
Browse the online store for any potential holiday gifts, and also be sure to forward the link to anyone you know who may be interested in supporting a great cause. There is an assortment of different shirt styles on the link below.
Thanks for your consideration, and go BOLTS!!!
Online Newspaper Launch: The Liberty Live Wire
Message from ICCSD Foundation
The ICCSD Foundation covers 100% of the costs for programs, events and experiences for our students at every grade level. Soon, you will be receiving a mailing from the Foundation. We want you to know that, when you give to the Foundation, you are directly reaching the families and children in your school –including your own children.
KinderTales, the Visiting Author program, Symphony Goes to School, School of the Wild, LiveArts@Hancher, Robotics clubs, AVID, Lexia & Dreambox and more…are examples of the kinds of programs provided to students in the District at no cost to the individual buildings or PTO/PTA’s. If you are able, please consider supporting the effort. As we know, if we all could give a little, it would make a huge and lasting impact on every student that calls this District home.
Buy a Brick with The Liberty Fund Path of Recognition Program!
Pave the way for future generations of Liberty students by purchasing a personalized, engraved brick at the front entrance of Liberty High School. It’s the perfect way to build a legacy by supporting student co-curricular programs and ensuring all Liberty students have access to opportunities. Learn more about the Path of Recognition and The Liberty Fund — www.iowacityschools.org/TheLibertyFund
ICCSD and Liberty High in the News
https://cbs2iowa.com/news/local/iowa-city-school-district-emphasizes-use-of-pbis-reprimanding-system
At the end of last school year students and staff worked together to identify our core values: BOLTS- Belonging, Ownership, Leadership, Teamwork, and Safety. These core values are now taught, reinforced, and acknowledged. Over 900 positive online referrals or positive post cards have been sent home to students and their families as a result of our acknowledgement system this school year. PBIS provides Liberty with a framework to be systematic about creating a positive school culture focused on relationships. Our focus on relationships and school culture assists in enhancing academic and social behavior outcomes for all students.
The link to the article and news clip that aired on CBS 2 on Thursday evening is located under the title of this section. The title of the article is misleading, PBIS is so much more than a "reprimanding" system, however the news clip does a pretty good job of quickly capturing the positives we are seeing from PBIS at Liberty and across the District.
Liberty High Modified/Life Skills Program
Counseling Office Corner (FAFSA)
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
Students can stay connected through their District email.
Please encourage your students to frequently check their emails. Counselors send out information on a regular basis about College Visits, testing and scholarship opportunities.
FAFSA
Seniors if you are going to college next year, an important step in the process begins October 1. The first step of the financial aid process is to file the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) , the form that helps you access grants, scholarships, and student loans.
Deadlines
Every college or university has their own preferred filing date for the FAFSA -- some as early as December 1st -- so check out www.ICANsucceed.org/priority to find the priority dates for the schools you are applying to.
Assistance
Seniors, if you have questions about paying for college, or would like free help filing your FAFSA, the Iowa College Access Network offers free resources for college planning and financial aid. You can visit their website, www.ICANsucceed.org/ to schedule an appointment, or call their toll free number, 877-272-4692 to talk to an advisor.
You can follow the Counseling Team on Twitter at @BoltCounseling
Pre-ACT for 10th and 11th graders
Pre ACT: Optional test for sophomores and juniors
WEDNESDAY, December 12th
7:45 AM - 12:00 PM
RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN TRANSPORTATION
Why take it?
· Prep test for the ACT
· PreACT simulates the ACT test experience within a shorter testing window. Results predict future success on the ACT Test, and provide both current achievement and projected future ACT test scores on the familiar 1-36 score scale.
· PreACT simulates the ACT testing experience within a shorter test window on all four ACT test subjects: English, Math, Reading and Science.
Sign Up in Counseling Office
· $15 dollars (check made out to Liberty High School) cash also accepted
· Deadline is Tuesday, November 20th
Peer Tutoring Available
National Honor Society students has begun providing tutoring available to all Liberty students!
WHEN IS IT? Liberty Time (3:05 Tuesdays and Wednesdays)
WHERE IS IT? Library
WHAT DO THEY OFFER TUTORING IN? The tutors have been trained in the areas of:
- Helping students with practice problems
- Writing Papers
- Organization and Study Skills
- Test Prep Help or Quizzing
- Public Speaking Assistance for Class Presentations or Speeches
- Help in any subject area! Math, Science, Social Studies, Business, English, Foreign Language, etc!
Staff Spotlight-Brian Donohoe-Head Custodian
Now that Liberty is a fully functional high school that fills daily with over a thousand students and staff, Brian leads his custodial staff in keeping Liberty in working order. With Brian's leadership, the Liberty community can remain confident that Liberty will continue to be the best well kept building in the District.
Staff Spotlight-Chris Arnold-Day Custodian
In addition to his daily custodial duties, Chris spends many of his evenings in the winter and spring coaching two different sports at Liberty. In the winter Chris works as an assistant coach on the wrestling team. In the Spring he assists the boys soccer team. Chris also coaches volleyball at Iowa City West High in the fall. Chris enjoys spending time with friends and family, especially when he is competing in intramural sports. Chris' wife also works for the Iowa City Community School District as an elementary teacher.
Free workshops for families
Liberty Staff in partnership with the Grant Wood AEA are pleased to share the following upcoming workshops.
December 10: Strategies for Independence (shifting the responsibility from you to your child)
PSTO
PSTO meets at 4:45 on the third Wednesday of the month in the Liberty Library.
2018-19 dates and guest speakers
· December 19-guest speaker-Counselors on the upcoming Registration Process
· January 16-guest speakers Sakinah Ellickson and Jonna Hall on National Honor Society
· February 20-guest speakers Jenny Saylor and Beth Long on the Garden Club
· March - No meeting due to Spring Break
· April 17-guest speaker Marge Hartman on the North Liberty Summer Meals Program
· May 15-tba
The PSTO has done wonderful work to support the students and staff at Liberty. They'd love to have you join them for meetings. No signup is necessary If you'd like more information you can contact them at libertyhspsto@gmail.com
PSTO board members for 2018-2019:
· President: Sandy DeSchinckel
· President Elect: Marisa Keeney
· Secretary: Deb Wagner
· Treasurer: Shawn Eyestone
· Volunteer Coordinator: Lyse Strnad
Activity Calendar Information
Liberty Calendar Website
Please see the rSchool calendar to not only stay in the know about our athletic events but for ALL events happening at the school.
There is also a phone app. To get the app click on the rSchool calendar link below and then click on "Get the mobile app" on the menu on the right side. Once you download the app:
1. Click set up
2. Select state- Iowa
3. Scroll down until and find Mississippi Valley Conference, IA
4. Select Iowa City Liberty (There is also a listing for Liberty under the Iowa City Community School District heading but this calendar will be blank so use the Iowa City Liberty listing under the MVC heading)
You may also sign up for notifications for your student(s)' specific activities.
Rschool is the first place that schedules are posted and announcements on changes are posted. You'll know before the media!
https://mississippivalleyiowa.org/public/genie/80/school/2671/