Uplifting Urbandale

We invite you to read the UCSD bi-weekly newsletter, “Uplifting Urbandale." Newsletters are archived on the Newsletter section of the District website. Please make note of the accessibility options which can be used to enlarge the text and/or translate this email. Mah hi Hakha holh in don na duh ahcun, Zaangfahnak tein Dar Lian ah peh tlai te.

The first day of school for Karen Acres Elementary was Thursday, July 27 (year-round calendar). “Thank you” Karen Acres teachers and staff for all your incredible work in preparing to welcome students. Karen Acres was full of welcoming words, warm smiles and calming reassurance for a great first day. “Thank you” Karen Acres families for your outstanding support in preparing your children for the school year. It's a fantastic start to our 2023–24 school year! More Photos #KApride

Karen Acres Elementary PTO is excited to offer Urbandale Spirit Wear to community members who are interested in placing an online order. The deadline to order is 11:59 p.m. on August 14, 2023. Check out the glitter U!

Thank you to Shelly Johnson from Next Step Adventure for teaching yoga to our prek-5th graders at Adventuretime on July 17th. Students learned the importance of calming the mind and body for self-regulation. More Photos

From July 15-18, UCSD school counselors Carmen Salter (UHS), Joleen Brady (Webster), Melissa MacGregor (Karen Acres), and Melissa McElroy (Olmsted) had the opportunity to attend the American School Counselor Association Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. School counseling professionals from across the world were in attendance to learn strategies for enhancing best practices, discovering new resources, and obtaining evidence-based materials to continually improve school counseling programs.

“Being able to attend extensive learning in areas of group counseling, college/career readiness and social emotional learning will help counselors support all Urbandale students,” said Salter. “The tools presented and learned are essential in growing UCSD’s resources to ensure we reach and teach all.” #UCSDpride

Urbandale FFOs, Sarah Downing, Maddy Punsalan and Joelly Scheff, coordinated a Family Resource Picnic for Urbandale families on Saturday, July 15 at Lions Park. Applebee’s, Chick-fil-A, Panera, Gloria Del Rei Church, Charlie’s Tavern, and Cookies and Dreams donated food towards the event and many different organizations were present including Embarc, Monsoon, RIVA, Primary Health Care, Iowa Afghan Community, IOWA Migrant Movement for Justice, Urbandale Food Pantry and UCAN.

The event connected families with helpful resources in our area. Organizations donated food, toiletries, laundry soap, clothing, shoes, books, toys, water bottles, household items, and Covid testing kits. Thank you to everyone who made the Family Resource Picnic a huge success! #UCSDpride More Photos

On Tuesday, July 11th, Applebee's sponsored Olmsted Elementary for their "Giving Tuesday" event. Applebee's raised $401 dollars towards the Olmsted Clothing Pantry. Thank you to all who made this possible! #UCSDpride The next "Giving Tuesday" event will be in October!

State and Federal regulations, as well as some district policies, require UCSD to annually post certain notifications to the public. Please find our list of Annual Notices here.

As we look forward to another great school year, we do so with the safety, security, and well-being of students and staff as our highest priorities. In partnership with law enforcement agencies, UCSD has worked extensively in the development of comprehensive, agile, and actionable emergency operations plans. We’d like to invite you to review a page on our site which provides more information regarding District safety and security measures. For security reasons, we are limited in the extent to which we can publicly share information; however, we are able to provide an overview of our emergency plans, preparedness, protocols, reunification, and what parents/guardians should do during a school emergency situation.

When UCSD needs to delay, dismiss early, or cancel school due to inclement weather or emergency situations, UCSD will notify families directly via email, phone, and text*, post an alert on the district website, district Facebook, district Twitter, and communicate with media outlets (WHO 13, KCCI 8, WOI 5). Please make note of the following two-hour delay, early dismissal and cancellation information. Be sure to keep your contact information updated with your school in order to stay aware, updated, and informed.

District will have four open seats on the ballot. All four seats are four-year terms. School Board volunteers are highly valued leaders in our district as they are elected to represent what is best for students, families, and staff. Board members volunteer their time by attending, collaborating, and leading semi-monthly work sessions and board meetings that focus on developing effective policies, establishing efficient budgets, and advocating for high-quality public education that prepares students for success. Learn More

Click here for an updated summary of the construction progress at the new Valerius Elementary School.

The Urbandale Schools and Alumni Foundation is excited to announce the new date and location for the Fourth Annual U-Fest, which was postponed Saturday, July 1, due to inclement weather. Mark your calendars and join us for a “back to school” celebration on Saturday, August 19, from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. at the Urbandale Senior Recreation Center, 7305 NW Aurora Avenue in Urbandale. The event will be held inside the Community Room and outside in the parking lot.

U-Fest is a fun, festive, family-friendly event featuring live music performed by Faculty Lounge, food, drinks and prizes, with proceeds supporting student scholarships and classroom grants throughout the Urbandale Community School District.

U-Fest Admission

• Ages 21 and over: $10

• Ages 3-20: $5

• Ages 2 and under: Free

We're looking forward to welcoming you and your family for the 2023–24 school year! Go J-Hawks!

UCSD (except Karen Acres)

• The first day of school for UCSD K-12 students (except Karen Acres) is Wednesday, August 23, 2023

• All UCSD schools, preschool–12th grades, will have a late start every Monday.)

• The first day of school for Olmsted, Valerius, and Webster preschool students is Friday, August 25, 2023

• View quick-view calendars

Updated Elementary Start and Dismissal Times

Beginning in the 2023–24 school year, all elementary schools will have the same start and dismissal times. Every Monday will continue to be a “Late Start” as our staff utilize this time for professional learning and collaboration.

Elementary Start & Dismissal Times:
Monday (Late Start) = 9:55 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.
Tuesday – Friday = 8:50 a.m. – 3:40 p.m.

List of Schools

• Karen Acres Elementary

• Olmsted Elementary

• Valerius Elementary

• Webster Elementary

• Urbandale Middle School

• Urbandale High School

• Metro West Learning Academy

Additional Information For Quick Reference

• Before- and After-School Childcare (Adventuretime)

• Bus Transportation

• Calendars (Note: Late Start Every Monday)

• Cancellations & Delays

• Forms

• Free & Reduced Meals / Student Fee Waiver

• Health Services

• Kindergarten Registration

• Meal Payments

• Menus

• Online Payments (not meal payments)

• Preschool Registration

• New Student Registration

• Returning Student Registration

• Safety and Security

• Student Assistance Program (SAP)

• Visitors at UCSD Schools

Are you interested in making a positive difference in the lives of Urbandale students? Do you like building relationships and helping others reach their potential? Would you enjoy hours within a school-day schedule while being a member of IPERS (the state’s largest public retirement system)? If you’ve answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, we’d like to hear from you! We’re currently seeking team members for a variety of positions, including several associate openings, working closely with individual students. If you’d like to learn more about specific positions, please reach out to Kate Johnson or building principals!
Our newly posted positions include: Full-Time Substitute Teacher and UMS Math/Science Teacher Learn More

The Urbandale Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following service areas:

• Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources

• Information Solutions

• Applied Sciences, Technology, Engineering, and Manufacturing

• Health Sciences

• Human Services

• Business, Finance, Marketing, and Management

Admission Criteria for Career and Technical Education (CTE) Courses:
In order to enroll in a career and technical education course, students must successfully complete prerequisite course(s) (if applicable). In order to enroll in a career and technical course offered for concurrent credit through Des Moines Area Community College, students must have passed prerequisite course(s) (if applicable) or be identified as talented and gifted. Lack of English language skills will not be a barrier to admission and participation in Urbandale Community Schools CTE programs.

It is the policy of the Urbandale Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, marital status (for program), ethnic background, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (for employment), or socio-economic background (for program) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the District office at 11152 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA or call 515.457.5000. The District’s Equity Coordinator is Stephanie Davis, daviss@urbandaleschools.com.

UCSD Nutrition Services recognizes the important connection between a healthy lifestyle and a student’s ability to learn effectively which is why we ensure all students have access to a healthy breakfast and lunch on a daily basis. Families will need to carry a positive balance in their children’s school meal accounts in order for children to access breakfast and lunch while at school. Learn more about meal prices, payments, the Iowa Eligibility Application, and the Student Fee Waiver Program.

The 2023 Fall Apparel Order is now live! All proceeds go to benefit the Urbandale Booster Club and Urbandale Students! Deadline: August 1, 2023 at 11:59 pm. https://tinyurl.com/ywb9328r

Beginning in the 2023–24 school year, we will be collecting payment for books, materials, and bus transportation fees via PowerSchool. We have created the following step-by-step instructions for this new process. Please review the instructions and contact Student Data Manager Sandy Walters at walterss@urbandaleschools.com or (515) 457-5011 if you need assistance.

Translated instructions for paying book/material fees in PowerSchool:

• Bosanski

• မြန်မာဘာသာ

• Laiholh (ဟားခါး-ချင်း)

• Español

• Kiswahili

Please Note: Meal payments will still be made through LINQ Connect. All other payments will be accepted via RevTrak.

The Urbandale Community School District (UCSD) welcomes and invites parents/guardians to visit schools during the school day. "Visitors" include parents, guardians, volunteers, contractors, students from other schools, student teachers, student teacher advisors, outside counselors/EFR, and members of the community. In order to maintain a safe and secure learning environment, visitors must report to the school’s main office, sign-in upon arrival, provide a U.S. government-issued ID for scanning into the Raptor system (or provide a legitimate photo ID and have name and date of birth entered into the Raptor system), and then receive a visitor’s badge/sticker which they will be required to wear during their stay in our schools. Visitors are required to sign-out and return the badge/sticker at the main office prior to leaving the school. (Note: Signing in via the Raptor system will not be necessary for individuals who drop-off or pick-up a student or materials in the main office.) Learn More

The Urbandale Community School District School Improvement Advisory Committee (SIAC) consists of students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members who learn about and discuss student achievement, programs, and practices. Members of the committee collaborate to develop school and district improvement recommendations for consideration by the School Board.

SIAC typically meets on a quarterly basis from 6:00 p.m.– 7:30 p.m. at the Urbandale High School Media Center. If you would like to participate on this voluntary committee, please email Julie Mitchell mitchellj@urbandaleschools.com by September 1, 2023. Thank you!

We’d like to provide a brief update regarding district facility planning. We’re currently discussing the long-term usage of several buildings and spaces in our district. These include the Jensen Elementary and Rolling Green Elementary buildings, the softball field, and a district-owned property on the west side of our boundaries. Learn More

As of July 10, 2023, all School Board Meetings and Work Sessions start at 6:00 p.m. (instead of 6:30 p.m.). Unless otherwise noted, meetings are held at the District Administration Office located at 11152 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale

Urbandale Community School District is participating in the USDA Summer Food Service Program this summer. The Summer Food Service Program was created to ensure that children continue to receive nutritious meals during the summer months when school is not in session and children do not have access to school lunch or breakfast. Meals will be provided at no charge to all children ages 1 to 18 years. Children do not need to be enrolled in the District. The meals and service provided will be the same for all children regardless of race, creed, color, sex, religion, ethnic background, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, or socio-economic background. Learn More

The Making A Difference Grant is intended to provide educators the opportunity to receive funds from the Urbandale Schools and Alumni Foundation (formerly known as the Urbandale Education Foundation) to assist you in a project to “bring learning to life” in the classroom. Historically, funding for grants has ranged between $100 and $1,500 per grant. Please review the grant criteria on Page 2 of the application, complete the following information and submit your application by September 22, 2023; grants will be awarded in October 2023. If you have questions, please email Aaron Young at younga@urbsaf.org or call 515-412-4284. Here is a link to this year’s application: 2023-24 UEF Making a Difference Grant Application

Adventuretime offers before and after school programming for preschool – 5th grade students at all UCSD elementary schools. Associate positions are great for parents, retirees, community members, college students, and high school students. Work up to 5 hours per day between the hours of 6:30–9:00 a.m. and/or 3:30–6:00 p.m. Must be 16 years of age or older to apply. Beginning hourly rate is $15.43/hour. Learn more and apply today! Also, check out all UCSD open positions by visiting: urbandaleschools.com/jobs

Urbandale Community Ed is excited to offer new classes in Science, Engineering, and Robotics. Your student can also learn Spanish, Chess, and Art in fun and engaging classes offered at UCSD elementary schools. Check out urbandalecommunityed.com for all of our new classes for any age. Don't forget to come back in March when the Summer Camp Series is released for all of the fun camps and clinics offered here in Urbandale!

You can find information about all activities to include athletics, the performing arts, and the Booster Club right at your fingertips. Be sure to visit j-hawks.com for all of the latest information, upcoming events, and highlights. Plus, purchase your fan gear online at the J-Hawk Shop. Let’s go J-Hawks!

The UCSD Flyer Hub is a great resource for finding information about community activities, opportunities, and services. We post flyers from our district, community education, and organizations within our community. Flyers are frequently updated so be sure to check back often.

This email is sent to UCSD parents/guardians and staff on a bi-weekly basis. If someone you know would like to receive this weekly newsletter, please invite them to Opt-In here. Thank you!

Email: communications@urbandaleschools.com
Website: www.urbandaleschools.com
Location: 11152 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-5000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/UrbandaleCSD
Twitter: @UrbandaleCSD

It is the policy of the Urbandale Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, religion, marital status (for program), ethnic background, national origin, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, age (for employment), or socio-economic background (for program) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the District office at 11152 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA or call 515-457-5000. The District’s Equity Coordinator is Stephanie Davis, daviss@urbandaleschools.com.