Amana Elementary
Newsletter
Let the new year begin!
Welcome back! I hope you were able to enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation and I hope your kids were able to get out and enjoy that AMAZING snow storm (we had thunder snow, which is always pretty cool).
Everyone has picked up right where they left off in 2020. My own personal mantra continues to be, “The year is what I make it to be!” 2020 to me isn’t the expletive as I know it has been to some. Personal struggles aside, I continue to be proud of the work of the district and of course the staff of Amana! Whew...maybe 2020 wasn’t so bad for me because of the dedication they put into our work here every single day! The STUDENTS! Further proof their resiliency continues to amaze me. We (all of CCA) will continue to dedicate our time and resources to meeting all the needs of our students to the very best of our ability. We can’t do it alone. We need to keep our partnerships with our parents and communities! “We’re all in this together!” If you or someone you know needs anything, please let us know. And as our most amazing counselor Ms. Koffend reminds us, “We got this!”
Now is also the time to recommit (or stay committed) to the routines that will keep our students on track. We cannot stress the importance of reading with and/or to your child, every single day! Stay actively engaged in what your child is doing at school. Work past the, “How was school today?” I bet you get “good” and yes, I bet you get “bad”. It’s OK to ask what made it good/bad. It’s OK to focus on what was for lunch, who he/she sat with. What did you do during recess. Those positive interactions help reinforce the bond between school and home. A HUGE predictor of success in later grades.
I posted our message to students on our AES Facebook page yesterday in light of the events in Washington. I think it bears repeating the importance of how each and every one of us has the opportunity to help make the world a better place simply by how we treat one another. We here at Amana do our best to teach, practice and reinforce being Safe, Appropriate, Involved, Learners. It really does start with us in re-imagining what American values should stand for. It’s refreshing to hear student perspectives on the election and different candidates. Most often the conversations are rational (and sometimes very humorous). Many adults could take a page from our students when differing politically.
Have a GREAT weekend! Some of you might be aware I’m the self proclaimed biggest Buckeye fan (at least in Iowa) so of course I’m sure you will be joining me in cheering them on to victory Monday night!
WE ARE AMANA!
PEACE
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
Ronald McDonald House Can Tabs
Little things like pop tabs can make a big difference! Help support families and children through our Pop Tab program by collecting and donating the aluminum tabs you pull to open soda, soup, and other cans.
Box Tops for Education
THE NEXT GENERATION OF BOX TOPS IS HERE. Box Tops is changing to fit today's families. The new and improved Box Tops mobile app uses state-of-the-art technology to scan your store receipt, find participating products and instantly add Box Tops to your school's earnings online.
Eventually the Box Tops program will become digital-only. Participating brands are starting to change their packaging from a traditional Box Tops clip to the new Box Top label.
Box Tops are still worth 10¢ each for your school. The app will find participating products purchased at any store and instantly add cash to your school's earnings online.
Register Tapes for Education
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