Crocker Chronicles

The Crocker Chronicles is a monthly e-newsletter for parents and guardians of students at Crocker Elementary School. Our goal is to keep you informed of the news and information you need in order to be involved and engaged in your student's education.

Soon Iowa's winter will have us opening our closets for warm coats, hats, and gloves. Many Ankeny families lack the funds to purchase these necessary items. Project Fresh Start, in conjunction with the Ankeny Community, presents Faith & Education 2023 Winter Outerwear Event, to help coordinate donations of winter clothing to help our Ankeny children and their families.

Crocker will be accepting donations of adult and children’s NEW or very gently used winter coats, hats, heavy mittens/gloves, and snow pants at our school on Friday, November 3rd- Thursday, November 9th. We will have boxes set up for donations just inside the front doors of the building. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Ankeny students and their families can come to the Winter Outerwear Event to pick out winter clothing items like coats, gloves and hats and more, free of charge November 11th & 12th. See the flyer below with specific event details.

If you would like to volunteer for a shift, you can go here.

Don't forget: Daylight Saving Time ends and we return to standard time at 2:00 AM Sunday, November 5th. Remember to set your clocks back one hour Saturday night, November 4th!!

On Thursday, December 7th, the 3rd grade students will have an opportunity to attend a shortened performance of The Nutcracker ballet presented by the Iowa Dance Theatre of Des Moines at the Des Moines Civic Center. This is an exciting opportunity for the students to experience this type of performance and practice audience etiquette in an authentic setting. 3rd grade students should plan to dress nicely that day as this is a special event. Please watch for a field trip permission email and form on Infinite Campus to complete so that your child may attend the performance.

Reach out to Ms. Peek for any questions!

Ms. Taylor Peek

taylor.peek@ankenyschools.org

Please check below for FUN dress up days to celebrate KINDNESS WEEK starting Monday, November 13th!

Crocker Families,

Ankeny Service Center is offering support to families for the upcoming holidays. Please click on the link below for more information on how to apply for assistance or to find opportunities to help support our community.

Ankeny Service Center Holiday Assistance

The deadline for applying for assistance is Thursday, November 30th.

The Crocker Family Giving Tree Project will begin on Friday, November 17th. Please see attached Giving Tree Pdf below for more details. A paper copy of this information will also be sent home with students soon.

If you are a family that could benefit from Crocker's Family Giving Tree, please contact Nicole Ritland at nicole.ritland@ankenyschools.org or Lindsey VanZee at lindsey.vanzee@ankenyschools.org. You may also call the school at 515-965-9710.

Classroom Guidance

Hello Families! Below are the skills being taught in classroom guidance in the months of November and December.

Unit Title: Self-Awareness: Emotion Management

Essential Question: What are strategies for responding to my strong feelings?

Content taught in this unit:

• Staying in control of my emotions and actions helps me get along better with others and be successful at school.

• When I feel strong feelings, it’s hard to think clearly.
• Calming down emotions that are getting out of control helps me think clearly so I can avoid negative consequences.

• I can name and use the calming down steps: Say stop, name my feeling, and calm down.

• I can name a few ways to calm down a strong feeling in any setting: deep breathing, positive self-talk, and counting.

Marisa Kennedy,

School Counselor

marisa.kennedy@ankenyschools.org

Crocker Families,

With the cold and flu season upon us, please make sure you are following district policies when your student is sick. Your student must be 24 hours fever free with no fever reducing medication before returning to school. If your student vomits, or has diarrhea, they need to be 24 hours past their last episode before returning to school. If your student tests positive for Covid-19, please call me or e-mail me at julie.maile@ankenyschools.org. If you haven't already done so, please contact your doctor and consider getting your student the flu shot and Covid-19 vaccine. If your student requires medication during the day, please let me know, and send the medication in its original packaging, I cannot give medication that is not in its labeled container.

Please remind your students that the best ways to prevent illness are a healthy diet, good sleep, and good handwashing. I am so thankful I get to partner with your family in keeping your student healthy and safe!

Please scan the QR Code below for eligibility information and application forms. Forms are available online in English and Spanish.

You can connect with us on Facebook and Instagram for information and updates about "Life at Crocker"! Tell your family and friends, too!

To ensure every family has the opportunity to remember this year's school memory, Lifetouch is offering 10% off you order. See information below for coupon code.

Don't Forget to Order This Year's School Pictures

ENJOY 10% OFF your order!

CODE: F202310OFF

EXPIRES: May 1, 2024

Redeem Now

As the temperatures start to get colder, please remember to send appropriate clothes with your students for recess:

• Coat
• Hat
• Mittens
• Snow Boots
• Snow Pants

When the temperature and/or wind chill is a 0 degrees or below, students will not go outside for recess.

Thank you!

Stay informed with what is going on with Crocker PTO by visiting their website CrockerPTO.org

Use this link to find our Back-to-School Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
These Back to School tips, are helpful all year long!!

Unforeseen accidents in the classroom, lunch room and playground can result in wet or soiled clothing. Please make sure your student(s) has the following back-up items in a grocery sack or large ziploc that can be kept in their locker for those unforeseen accidents.

Appropriate back-up clothing suggestions:

• Shirt
• Long pants
• Underwear
• Sock
• PE shoes

Please contact the school if your child will be absent from school, arriving late or leaving early. You may call Crocker at 515-965-9710 or email cr.office@ankenyschools.org and include your student's teacher or enter in the Absence Request tool in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal . We do need a reason why a student is not in school.

To enter an absence request in the parent portal please follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
2. Select your child's profile.
3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.
4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
5. Submit your request.

Visit this Absence Request Guide for detailed information on how to report absences.

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Per the student handbook, students who know they will be absent for a reason other than a school-sponsored trip or school-sponsored activity must have a parent notify the school’s office in advance of the absence.

If the school is not notified of an absence, the office will attempt to contact the Parents/Guardians at their primary number listed on Infinite Campus.

Please remember to send a water bottle with your child everyday! This promotes hydration throughout the day and fewer classroom disruptions by cutting down on the student need to leave class and visit the drinking fountain.

While it is encouraged for students to have appointments outside of school hours we understand that at times this is not always possible. When you know your student has an appointment and will need to be picked up from school during the day please call the Crocker Office to let them know you are coming. When you come to the school, ring the Aiphone doorbell and state who you are here to pick up. We will ask for you to remain outside to wait for your student.

If your student forgets to bring something needed that day for class, we ask that you ring the Aiphone doorbell and we will ask for you to put the items on the table just inside the door. Please label item with the student's name and teacher.

Please remember that delivery's of flowers, candy, balloons, or presents are not accepted for students as stated in the parent handbook and will be sent back with the delivery driver.

The Ankeny Elementary Physical Education Department recommends that students keep an extra pair of tennis shoes at school to use. This promotes better safety and full participation in all physical education activities.

The information distributed in the Virtual Backpack (vBackpack) is provided as a community service to inform members of the community of available activities or services. The majority of information included in the vBackpack is from community organizations. Community groups can submit their information within certain guidelines, governed by Board Policy #1004.25.

Virtual Backpack

Email: cr.office@ankenyschools.org
Website: crocker.ankenyschools.org
Location: 2910 Southwest Applewood Street
Phone: 515-965-9710
Facebook: facebook.com/CrockerElementarySchool
Twitter: @AnkenyCrocker

Ankeny Community School District does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, military affiliation, socioeconomic status, or familial status. Inquiries or grievances may be directed to Kenneth Morris, Jr., Equity Director, 306 SW School Street, P.O. Box 189, Ankeny, IA, 50021-0189, (515) 965-9600, kenneth.morris@ankenyschools.org; or the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, IA, 50319-0201, (515) 281-4121; or the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661.