Shimek Shout Out
January 14th, 2022
Happy New Year!
I hope this newsletter finds you and yours doing well as we head into the new year! And I hope that you and yours were able to enjoy some quality time together with family and friends while staff recharged and geared up for the second half of the school year. After a quiet couple of weeks, it's nice to hear all of the laughter and learning going on throughout Shimek.
Cold weather or not, the first two weeks of January have been a lot of fun. It has felt really good being able to welcome a few more Shimek Sharks back to the building. Last week we spent time sharing stories about winter break, getting reacquainted with the school schedule and revisiting many of our classroom routines. This week we have enjoyed lessons and activities that have focused on celebrating the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr. We hope that your family is able to do something special in the spirit of Dr. King on the 17th.
In the days and weeks to come we have a lot of content to cover with our students. Additionally, we will be administering our winter screeners to see how our students are progressing in the areas of reading (grades K-6), math (grades K-6) and social/emotional/ behavioral/health or SEBH (grades 2-6). We plan to share results with families during our conference window in February/March after testing is complete. We use this information to self-evaluate the health of our core curriculum and instruction and work on ways that we can meet each learner where they are at so that we can extend them further as they progress through the year. As always, we appreciate all of your time and support with these efforts!
In closing, I look forward to seeing you again soon. If our paths don't cross before Shimek's next newsletter, my wish is that the next two weeks will be filled with joy and happiness for you and all those you love. Take care and all of the very best.
Most sincerely,
Chris Pisarik, Principal
New Entryway
A huge thank you to our PTO and to our physical plant staff at the wood shop. This is the first of four beautiful walnut frames that will hang in the entryway of the school. Inside these large frames are smaller, LED back-lit frames where we can post translucent photos, art work and information. We are very grateful for this gift and look forward to filling them up soon!
ICCSD Message Regarding Updates on Isolation, Quarantine, Testing, and Vaccine Boosters
Dear Families and Staff,
This week the CDC released updated COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidance for K-12 schools. This guidance has also been adopted by IDPH and JCPH. On Monday, January 10, 2022, our District will transition to these updated protocols, which are detailed below. While the CDC has modified quarantine and isolation guidance for schools, we continue to require masks for all students, staff, and visitors to our schools. In addition, we highly recommend that all eligible individuals receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 must follow the below protocols:
- Stay home for five days.
- If you have no symptoms or your symptoms are resolving after five days, you can return to school on day six.
- If you have a fever, continue to stay home until your fever resolves and you have been fever-free for 24 hours without the use of fever-reducing medications.
- The same protocols apply for both vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals testing positive for COVID-19.
If you have been exposed to a COVID-positive individual in your home and you are fully vaccinated and boosted (for those eligible), you are not required to quarantine. However, it is recommended that you wear a mask around others for ten days, monitor for symptoms, and be tested for COVID-19 on day five. Unvaccinated individuals who have a household exposure to someone with COVID-19 must follow the below protocols:
- Stay home for five days.
- If possible, take a COVID-19 test on day five.
- If you develop symptoms, get a test and continue to stay home.
- If you have no symptoms after five days, you can return to school on day six.
- Please Note: The above bullets also apply to vaccinated individuals that are eligible for the booster but have not yet received it and those that have not fully completed the initial vaccination process (individuals that have received one of two doses).
If your child is currently out due to COVID-19 isolation or quarantine, you will be notified separately of any changes to their return to school date. As always, parents have the option to keep their child home for the full ten days if they choose.
We are also excited to share that our District has partnered with Nomi Health to offer a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in the Liberty High School parking lot. The site will be open to the public beginning Monday, January 10, 2022. Hours of operation will be Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. Appointments can be made by visiting nomihealth.com/iowa/. If you are unable to make an appointment online, you may register at the site. We are hoping to add additional testing sites at two other schools within the next few weeks. Information on those sites will be shared soon.
(We have been notified by Nomi Health that their drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Liberty High School will be closed on Friday, January 14, and Saturday, January 15, 2022, due to weather and staffing concerns. The testing site will reopen on Monday, January 17, 2022, and resume its regular schedule. We apologize for any inconvenience this temporary closure may cause.)
As we shared previously, masks remain a requirement for all students, staff, and visitors to our schools. In addition, we highly recommend that all eligible individuals receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For individuals that have received the vaccine, we strongly encourage you to get the booster. Boosters are now available for those age 12 and older. For individuals five 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.
Sincerely,
Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District
mySAEBRS Universal Screening - Winter 2022
Dear Families,
This note 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
Weather & Recess at Shimek
Below 0 degrees - indoor recess
Below 50 degrees - coat, hat, & gloves
50-60 degrees - long sleeve shirt or jacket
Above 60 degrees - personal choice
New federal program helps residents pay past-due water bills
Date: 10/07/2021
Contact: Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP)
Phone: 319-337-5765
Over $10 million in federal aid will soon be available to Iowans who have past-due water bills and may face disconnection.
The State of Iowa has received over $10 million from the federal government as part of the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program. Those interested in applying for financial assistance on past-due water bills can apply beginning Friday, Oct. 8, 2021.
The payment is made directly to the water vendors on behalf of the household.
Funds from the water bill assistance program are being distributed through the Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) - Waterfront Office. To apply, call HACAP at 319-337-5765, or visit www.hacap.org.
To find additional utility, energy, or rent assistance, visit IowaFinance.com, or call Johnson County Social Services for assistance 319-356-6090.
The City also offers a Utility Discount Program for Income Eligible Customers. For more information, call Customer Service at 319-356-5066, or visit www.icgov.org/utilities.
Important Shimek Dates & Upcoming Events
Monday, January 17th - MLK Day (No School)
Wednesday, February 9th @ 6:00pm - Shimek PTO Meeting
Thursday, February 24th from 2:40pm to 7:10pm - Parent & Teacher Conferences
Tuesday, March 1st from 7:40am to 7:10pm - Parent & Teacher Conferences (No School)
Wednesday, March 9th @ 6:00pm - Shimek PTO Meeting
Saturday, March 12th through Sunday, March 20th - ICCSD Spring Break (No School)
Monday, March 21st - Classes Resume after Spring Break
Wednesday, April 13th @ 6:00pm - Shimek PTO Meeting
Friday, April 22nd - No School
Tuesday, May 3rd - No School
Wednesday, May 11th @ 6:00pm - Shimek PTO Meeting
Monday, May 30th - Memorial Day (No School)
Wednesday, June 1st - Last Day of Classes for 2021-22 School Year
About Us
Embracing and Inspiring Excellence is what we do and who we are.
On behalf of the entire Shimek family, welcome to our community. Welcome home.
Email: pisarik.chris@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/11406
Location: 1400 Grissel Place, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: (319)-688-1160
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Shimek-Elementary-School-1392477191054590/
Twitter: @shimcirc