Cardinal Parent Update
Friday, October 21, 2022
Communication Updates
Hello Cardinal Families!
We are celebrating a great finish to quarter 1 at Maquoketa CSD. As a reminder, please check out our weekly video below with pictures submitted by teachers to showcase the learning and fun things that students are engaged in!
The purpose of the this communication is to provide timely updates to families in a quick and convenient way. I am trying a new format to achieve this outcome.
As always, please reach out if you have any questions, want to provide feedback or want to share a celebration of something great that's been happening with your child! My goal is to truly partner together to support all families in this journey. Everyone has a story and challenges; we are here to work together in a kind and compassionate way to find win-win solutions that support all students in Maquoketa!
Safety Updates
1. We are asking all secretarial staff (as well as anyone who is in the office and addresses someone when they "buzz" in) to ask the following questions.
* What is your name?
* Who are you here to visit?
* Why are you visiting today?
**Please see the poster below. This is what is posted in each building when families enter.
The reason for this is to gain more information about the visitor and also to allow our staff additional time to determine if this is a safe person to allow into the building. We want to have "welcoming" buildings while also ensuring student safety. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we implement this procedure.
2. In addition, anyone who does enter the building and stay in the building (ex. going to a student meeting, having lunch with their child etc.) must sign-in and must wear a visitor's badge. These will be "hard" badges on a lanyard and not a sticker. Visitors will then need to turn the badge into the office when they sign out of the building.
COVID 19-Policy Update
If a student tests positive for Covid-19, the student is required to quarantine at home for 5 days. The student may return on day 6 IF symptoms have improved. Students are highly encouraged to wear a mask for 5 additional days. {The day symptoms start or the date of a positive test (if the student has no symptoms) is considered day zero}
Please call your building nurse to determine the return date and if you have additional questions.
We appreciate your support with this policy. Our goal is to continue to keep everyone in our schools healthy and safe as well as support students with access to their learning. Please note that if the school district receives updated guidance from the CDC or our local County Health providers, we will update this policy as needed.
Student Social Emotional Screeners
Some of you may have already received a letter describing our social emotional screeners that are given to students in the fall. This is something that we have been providing to students for the past two years but I wanted to communicate so that that all families understood the purpose of these screeners.
Maquoketa CSD is committed to supporting every student’s academic growth as well as their social, emotional and behavioral growth. Part of our desired state for Maquoketa students is for them to be able to regulate their emotions, develop positive relationships and make responsible decisions. As part of this process all students complete a screener which guides our teachers and administrators to make decisions on how we support students at a universal level. For example, maybe the screener provides data that shows we need to do some reteaching about how to cooperate with others. It also provides information about individual students and if a specific student may need support in an area such as being distracted or feeling sad. If this were the case, teachers then contact individual families to share additional information and determine any next steps together.
Iowa has developed the Iowa Social Emotional Learning competencies and the staff at Maquoketa CSD is learning more about these and how they integrate into our daily academic work with students. Here is the link to the Iowa Department of Education's information on Social-Emotional Learning.
At Cardinal and Briggs, students complete the SAEBRS screener and at the MS and HS students complete the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Each building will send information home about the screener before your child participates. If you do not want your child to participate you can complete the "opt out" section of the letter and return that to your child's building.
If you have additional questions please reach out to your child's building principal or school counselor.
Weekly Activities
Community Activities/Flyers
Maquoketa CSD
Superintendent
Website: www.maquoketaschools.org
Location: 612 South Vermont Street, Maquoketa, IA, USA
Phone: 563-652-4984