
The Borlaug Bulletin

April 2025
Message from the Principal!
Hello Borlaug Families,
It's hard to believe it is already April! Along with the rain comes our Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) for grades 3 to 6. This testing will be held during the week of April 7th to 11th. Please make sure your child gets a good night's rest and gets a good breakfast in the morning. All students taking the ISASP have been thoroughly prepared by the classroom teachers and all students have taken the ISASP practice tests.
Teacher Appreciation Week is Coming! May 5th to May 9th - Donations Welcome:)
We will be celebrating our teachers during this week. Some of the celebration includes help from our PTO in the form of food provided for staff. If you would like to donate to the PTO to help provide food, you can donate at bit.ly/borlaugpto or mail a check to the address below:
Borlaug PTO c/o ICCSD Foundation
1725 N. Dodge St.
Iowa City, IA 52245
As always, thank you for your support of Borlaug, its children, and its staff. Our partnership and working relationship with our families is our strength. On that note, always feel free to reach out to me or our staff with any questions or concerns you have.
Sincerely,
Jason McGinnis
Principal
It is time for our May Music Share!
- At Borlaug school, we use this news letter to share what our students are up to in music class during the spring and fall.
- We will feature each class once in the fall (October, November or December) and in the spring ( March, April or May).
- Since not every grade level has three sections, some music shares will not include all grade levels.
- Did you miss a Borlaug Music Share? This newsletter has links to March and April. Our June issue will be a Year in Review, which will contain links to all our music shares for this school year!
Classes Featured this month are:
K: MacKay
1: Solomon
3: Kritsch
5:Doud
What's Coming Up? Important Dates and Events to Remember!
BORLAUG PTO GOOGLE SCHOOL EVENT CALENDAR
April 9 - 7:00-8:00 PM - PTO Meeting - Borlaug Library
April 16 - 5:30-6:30 Kindergarten Round Up - Parents of registered students will be invited and notified in advance. Slideshow for Families
April 25 - Anything but a Backpack Day (bring your school supplies in anything except a backpack)
May 5-May 9: Teacher Appreciation Week!
May 8 - Borlaug Talent Show - West High School Auditorium
May 10 - 3:00 - 5:00 PM - Borlaug School Carnival
May 13 - 11:15 - 1:30 4th and 5th Grade Track and Field Event at Liberty High School - Parents are welcome to attend!
June 4th 1:00 - 5th Grade Graduation
How to subscribe to a public Google Calendar in your Google account
Important: Diet Modification Form
Does your child require specific dietary needs or food preferences? Please see this message below:
Dear Borlaug Families,
We have many families of students with allergies or specific dietary requests and needs at Borlaug. I want to make sure that you are all aware of this new process for the 2025-2026 year. Please stop by or call the office if you need a form or have questions. We are happy to send a form home with your student if you let the office or your child's teacher know.
Thank you,
Jason McGinnis
From Superintendent Matt Degner:
Dear Families,
As we approach registration for the 2025-26 school year, we want to remind you that any request for school meal modifications due to food allergy or food intolerance, requires a completed Diet Modification Form, signed by an approved medical professional and provided to your school. This documentation is essential to ensure that we can accurately and safely honor meal modification requests for your student.
Please review our Food Allergy Protocols. The protocols list guidelines for parents/guardians and staff on how to provide a safe educational environment for food-allergic students so exposure to food allergens is minimized.
Please note the following information:
- Registration Changes in Infinite Campus: We have added three new categories—Food Allergy, Food Intolerance, and Food Preference. Diet modification forms will be required for allergies and intolerances, while food preferences, including religious preferences, will primarily be managed by families.
- Meal Information: Our MealViewer tool provides detailed menu items along with allergen and nutrition information to help guide your choices. Please review this information carefully.
- Data Entry & Safety Checks: All allergen information is manually entered into our system. If you notice any discrepancies or have questions about ingredients or allergens, please contact our Nutrition Services Office immediately at (319) 688-1021. Our Nurses and Nutrition staff will continue to follow established allergy procedures to ensure the safety of our students.
- Communication & Monitoring: The Nutrition Services Office and School Nurses have access to your child's diet information through Infinite Campus. They will review this information with you and school staff as needed. Additionally, our Nutrition Services Team lists allergies and intolerances in our point-of-sale software to provide an extra check during meal service.
We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to keeping our students safe. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Nutrition Services Office.
Sincerely,
Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District
Borlaug April Music Share!
Welcome to our April Music Share: https://secure.smore.com/n/aqzry-borlaug-music-share
- At Borlaug school, we use this newsletter to share what our students are up to in music class during the spring and fall.
- We will feature each class once in the fall (October, November or December) and in the spring ( March, April or May).
- Since not every grade level has three sections, some music shares will not include all grade levels.
- Check the first Borlaug Bulletin each month for a new Music Share!
This month we are featuring:
K: Johnson
1st: Meade
2nd: Landolt
3rd: Peterson
4th:Detweiler
5th: Kiche
Kindergarten Registration
Do you have a little one turning 5 years old on or before September 15, 2025? Then it’s time for Kindergarten Registration! If you have not already registered your child for Kindergarten for the 2025/26 school year, please contact our school office to get started.
We can’t wait to welcome your child to our Kindergarten family! Learn more at www.IowaCitySchools.org/KindergartenIs Your Contact Information Up to Date?
As part of our commitment to student safety, we kindly remind you to review and/or update your contact information in Infinite Campus. Ensuring your details are current is a vital part of our comprehensive school safety plans.
Please take a moment to verify:
Your personal contact information, including phone numbers and email addresses.
Emergency contact details, ensuring they are accurate and up-to-date.
Approved individuals who can pick up your child from school.
This information helps us contact you promptly and ensures proper procedures are followed, especially in the event of an emergency.
You can access Infinite Campus and update your details here: Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
BORLAUG YEARBOOK SALES 2025
It's that time of year again! Yes, yearbook orders are officially open.
Be sure to purchase your child's copy online (at the link below) for $12.75. This year's edition will feature even more pages jam packed with our students' amazing memories at Borlaug Elementary School this school year. Orders are due April 1st. The books will arrive and be distributed to students before Memorial Day weekend.
2024-2025 Yearbook: https://jostensyearbooks.com/?REF=A01120125
Borlaug Elementary Fundraising
All Money Donated to the Borlaug PTO Helps Teachers and Students!
Dear Parents and Caregivers,
A huge THANK YOU to all who donated to Borlaug PTO this year! We see your generous contributions and appreciate each one. Today we are rpeorting our progress and asking for additional help.
If you are interested in donating, you can make a gift online at bit.ly/borlaugpto or mail a check to the address below:
Borlaug PTO c/o ICCSD Foundation
1725 N. Dodge St.
Iowa City, IA 52245
Please email us at borlaugpto@gmail.com with any comments/questions or to be added to our volunteer list.
Sincerely,
Nick Herbold, President
Aden Beil, Michael Crocker, Nick Hatz
Jaguars Softball Information!
West High Athletic Fundraiser: Pancake Day!
Coralville BASP Updates
Car Pick Up and Drop Off
Loading & Unloading Students at Borlaug
The Borlaug Community has in place the following traffic procedures for the safety of our students, families, and staff. This information is for parents choosing to drop off and pick up students from school at the start and end of the day. Please help us ensure the safety of our students. Remember there can never be a rule for every situation. Please use common courtesy when picking up students. The following guidelines need to be followed:
Bus Loading and Unloading: The bus loading and unloading area is on the southwest corner of the building, south of the gym, in the west parking lot. Buses unload/load students from 7:40-7:50 a.m. and from 2:40-3:00 p.m. on MTWF and 1:40 – 2:00 p.m. on Thursdays. Cars should not unload students in the bus loading area.
Morning Private Vehicle Unloading: Please drop off children ONLY in the designated area labeled with numbers one through seven, at the curb in the loading and unloading zone on the southeast side of the building in the east parking lot. Do not leave your vehicle. If you need to do so, please park in the parking lot. Pull to the right to unload your child at the curb, stay in the right lane to exit, and please do not go around vehicles.
Afterschool Private Vehicle Loading: Car line is after school "pick up" for students riding in a vehicle. Follow the far east driveway around the parking lots to the designated pick-up loop. Please have a sign with the last name of any child you are picking up. Be sure the sign is big enough to read from a distance and display it in the right-hand corner of the dashboard. This sign aids teachers in identifying cars. Your child will stand behind the yellow line. Car line supervisors will direct five cars at a time to move forward into the five numbered spots. Drivers must wait to be directed to move forward. To make this process work and to be safe, cars will not be permitted in the left-hand lane. The supervisors will direct your child to your car as you wait in your numbered spot. Students are encouraged to stand with their siblings and/or carpool group regardless of grade level. For safety reasons, all drivers will remain in their cars. Any driver wishing to exit his/her car must use a parking space in the parking lot. Students not picked up by 3:10 M, T, W, F and 2:10 TH will be sent to the office.
Before and After School Care (BASP)
Grades K-5: Coralville BASP
Please visit the following link for more information about the Coralville Before and After School Programs for grades K-5
Borlaug Preschool BASP
Please visit the Champions PreK BASP site for more information about Before and After School Programs for our preschool students.
Elementary Handbook - Please Read
ICCSD Elementary Handbooks
Dear Elementary Parents/Guardians:
Welcome to the Iowa City Community School District’s elementary school program. This handbook, ICCSD Elementary Handbook, has been designed to provide information specifically for families with students in elementary school. Specific procedures and practices for elementary school as well as resources for obtaining additional information are included. We hope it will be of benefit to you. We look forward to having your child(ren) attend our elementary schools and welcome your interest and participation in their education.
Bussing
ICCSD Bussing
The Iowa City Community School District provides free busing for qualified children. Currently the district contracts with Iowa Central School Bus for transportation services. Applications for pupil transportation are available in the school office. Only route riders are allowed to ride the bus. Friends of those students are not permitted to ride. All bus routes and bus assignments are made by the Iowa City Community School District Administrative Office. Route assignments and bus arrival times are listed on Infinite Campus for families before school starts. Questions regarding bus transportation should be directed to Iowa Central School Bus, 688-1900 or Esme Davis, Transportation Manager, Iowa City Community School District, 688-1000.
Birthdays at Borlaug
Birthdays at Borlaug
In line with the district’s Wellness Policy, years ago a successful pilot was conducted with some elementary schools, including Borlaug Elementary. Student birthdays will be celebrated in the classrooms with a special acknowledgement. Each grade level team has determined a special recognition for students who wish to celebrate their birthdays at school. Please note these birthday celebrations will not involve food. If food is sent to school for birthdays the food items will be returned home.
Is your E-Registration Updated?
It is very important to update your Infinite Campus Account when changes in your address, phone number, and/or other important information occurs! If you would like to make an appointment for assistance with Infinite Campus,
please call us at 688-1155.
Absences & Tardies
Please call the Borlaug Office, 688-1155, when your child is ill or will be absent from school. Once we are in session at Borlaug, the earliest children should be allowed at school is 7:40 am, including breakfast which begins at 7:40 am. When children arrive before that time they are unsupervised. All students will enter the front door. Students are considered tardy after 7:55.
2024-25 On-site Breakfast & Lunch Prices
BREAKFAST
Full Price $2.30
Reduced Price 30¢
LUNCH
Full Price $3.25
Reduced Price 40¢
MILK
Full Price 50¢
Reduced Price 50¢
Contact Us
Borlaug Contact Information
Jason McGinnis, Principal
Kim Poulsen, Secretary
Melissa Lopez, School Facilitator
Addie Bockenstedt, Student Family Advocate
Jaime Schneiter, School Counselor
Email: mcginnis.jason@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/BorlaugES
Location: 1000 Kennedy Parkway, Coralville, IA, 52241
Phone: 319-688-1155
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Norman-Borlaug-
Non-Discrimination Statement
It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) 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:
- Laura Cottrell (Executive Director of Educational Services & Student Success) for programming at cottrell.laura@iowacityschools.org
- Nick Proud (Chief Human Resources Officer) for employment at proud.nick@iowacityschools.org, 2255 N. Dubuque Road, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, (319) 688-1000; or
- If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact Janet Abejo-Parker at ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312.
Principal Norman Borlaug Elementary School Iowa City, Iowa
mcginnis.jason@iowacityschools.org
319-688-1155