With Valentine's Day approaching this is an appropriate time to share our District's practices around classroom parties. Please note that this includes prohibiting the exchange of Valentine's cards.

"Our work around equity is at the forefront of everything we do, and in recent years we have looked at participation in our classroom parties through an equity lens. For cultural or religious reasons, many of our families opt for their students not to participate in one form or another. For those that do participate, access for all students is not the same (i.e. lack of costumes, food, cards, etc.). It is for those reasons that we will continue with the practice of no classroom parties moving forward.

We understand that celebrations are an important part of our students’ school experience. Each of our schools will continue to find inclusive ways to have classroom and school-wide celebrations, that don’t fall around holidays, throughout the school year. While these may look different, they will continue to be part of our system of support. We strive to make all students and families feel welcome and included in all aspects of our school day and our school community."

Previously this month I asked you to share your feedback with us via a Mid-Year Community Feedback form. The following is a summary of the responses regarding the things that we should keep doing at Van Allen.

The school’s supportive and caring atmosphere is appreciated, along with opportunities for field trips, enrichment programs, and club involvement. Fun events and activities such as assemblies, dance marathon, spring fling, and Workout Wednesdays should be maintained to keep students engaged. School pride and student recognition programs, including Birthday Selfies, PBIS points and Rocket Boosters also play a vital role in fostering a positive environment.

Parental involvement is highly valued, so allowing parents to watch performances, sharing videos and photographs, as well as maintaining open communication through the app, newsletters, and social media should continue. These regular updates on academics and student activities that are shared help keep families informed. Continuing to reinforce car line rules to ensure a smooth drop-off process is also appreciated.

Respondents acknowledge a great learning atmosphere with a supportive environment that is a result of staff's positive attitude and care for each and every student.

In regards to the responses regarding the things that we should start and/or stop doing at Van Allen, the following are themes that we identified being are within our control of influence:

• Incorporate more art projects, field trips, clubs, and other educational activities to further engage and enrich students' experiences at school.
• The school should also enhance safety measures during arrival and dismissal times. This includes increased monitoring, ensuring that the existing procedures are followed, and possibly additional signage.

We appreciate and acknowledge your feedback. We will get to work and see what additions and adjustments we can make to improve our school.

Thanks, take care, and have a great weekend!

- Eric Ewald
Principal, Van Allen Elementary

Van Allen’s Annual Mini Dance Marathon is scheduled for Friday, January 31st from 6:30 to 8:00pm at Van Allen. Admission is free, but donations will be accepted at the door. Please note that all students must be accompanied by an adult. Come to share a night of dancing and fun with our school community and the University of Iowa's Morale Dancers!

We will be raising funds to 1) benefit the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, and 2) make a donation to a GoFundMe that will support one of our Van Allen teachers, Mrs. Choun. Mrs. Choun's son, Elym, was recently diagnosed with Severe Aplastic Anemia. He is starting chemotherapy and radiation to prepare for an upcoming bone marrow transplant. We thank you in advance for your support with both of these important causes.

We'll have pizza, chips, cookies, apple sauce /fruit, other snacks, and drinks available that night to buy; glow sticks will also be for sale during the event. Here is a link for snack donations and volunteer opportunities for the event. Thank you in advance for your help in our ability to put-on this event!

To kick off our Van Allen Dance Marathon we are planning to hold a coin drive where each day of the week is designated for bringing in a certain coin. Thank you in advance for your contributions!

• Monday, January 27th
  Gold/Yellow for Pediatric Cancer + Pennies
  
  
• Tuesday, January 28th
  Pajama Day + Nickels and Dimes
  
  
• Thursday, January 30th
  Favorite Team Day + Quarters
  
  
• Friday, January 31st
  Neon/Dance Marathon Tee-Shirt Day + Dollars

Any dance marathon questions can be directed to Mrs. Schultz. Thanks, and enjoy your break; we look forward to seeing everyone back at school in 2025!

• Wednesday, January 29th
• Lunar New Year

• Click here for online ordering
• Order by February 14th!

We are currently seeking to hire the following positions:

• 3.5 hours/day paraeducator, AM only - this position is considered part-time and does not include benefits
• Half-time (AM) preschool teacher
• Full-time special education teacher

For more information and/or to apply, please visit the appropriate link that is inserted below.

Any questions can be sent via email to ewald.eric@iowacityschools.org.

Please share this information with others who you think might be interested in either of these opportunities. Thanks!

We’d love to welcome your little one to our preschool family! Our teachers are certified in both general and special education, and we offer free half-day programming for 4-year-olds in all of our elementary schools, with full-day options also available.

Preschool registration for the 2025-26 school year opens Feb. 6, 2025. Register on-site between 4 & 6 pm at City High, Liberty High, or West High School. Online registration is also available beginning at 4 pm on Feb. 6.

Stay up-to-date on all things PTO, and join our 'VA Rockets PTO 2024' Facebook group! There are screening questions to ensure the group is limited to VA Parents joining.

• Tuesday, February 4th, 6:30pm at Van Allen (in the library)

Digtal!

Get the app and collect money for Van Allen! It’s easy.

1. Download the Free App: Box Tops for Education
2. Register and select James Van Allen as your school.
3. Scan or take pictures of your receipts within 14 days of purchase.

Use the referral code INLK3WN8 when you sign-up and you’ll get 25 Bonus Box Tops when you scan your first receipt now through 05/31/2025, while supplies last!

It’s that time of year again—winter weather is just around the corner! Snow, ice, and cold can sometimes mean schedule changes. We want to make sure you have the information you need to stay updated on our inclement weather announcements, including school cancellations, delays, and early releases.

Here’s how you can stay in the know:

• Inclement Weather Guidelines: Visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/WeatherGuidelines to review our detailed plan for cancellations, delays, and early releases.
• Late Starts on Thursdays: In the event of a late start on a regularly scheduled early dismissal day (Thursday), the early dismissal will be canceled, and school will follow regular dismissal times.
• Timely Notifications: You’ll receive email, phone, and text notifications with weather announcements.
• Follow Us Online: Stay informed by checking our website and following us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads for updates.
• Check Out Our Mobile App: Download our official Iowa City Schools mobile app for a centralized hub of all school and district-related information, including weather notifications.

We’re here to help! If you have any questions about our weather procedures, feel free to contact our Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000.

The Iowa City Community School District remains deeply committed to creating equitable and inclusive learning environments where students feel safe and valued. This includes supporting all students and families as outlined in our non-discrimination statement, which includes national origin.

We are aware of reported changes to federal immigration policies and practices and want to assure you of the measures we have in place within our schools.

Key Points of Support:

• The law guarantees all students receive free public education, regardless of their immigration status.
• We do not collect or maintain any information about students' immigration status.
• Requests from immigration officials to access information or communicate with a student will be immediately referred to the Superintendent’s Office. We will work closely with legal counsel to ensure compliance with the law while safeguarding students' privacy and rights.

Our Safeguards:

• Any law enforcement action involving our schools must comply with proper legal authority.
• Building principals know the policies and processes in place to protect our students.
• While following the law, we will prioritize protecting students' constitutional and legal rights. We will not share student information or grant law enforcement building access unless legally required to do so.

Important note: Please review and update your contact information in Infinite Campus to ensure we can communicate effectively with you. Accurate information helps us maintain our comprehensive school safety plans. Please take a moment to verify the following:

• Personal contact details (phone numbers and email addresses).
• Emergency contact information.
• Approved individuals who can pick up your child from school.

Please visit our Supports for Immigrant Students and Families webpage for more information. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need assistance.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

Elementary Schools: With the implementation of these new secondary guidelines, we are simultaneously reinforcing our elementary cell phone policy. That policy can be found in the Elementary Handbook. Key points include:

• Elementary students are asked to refrain from bringing personal devices to school.
• If students must bring a personal device to school, the device must be put away and/or not in use (backpack, purse, desk, locker).
• Parents are encouraged to contact the main office if they need to contact their child during the school day.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we navigate these new guidelines, which will provide a more productive and inclusive environment for all students.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

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.

If you have any questions or need assistance, please don’t hesitate to contact your child's school.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

Our District is deeply committed to ensuring a safe and healthy learning environment for all our students. In response to the rising concerns about food allergies and childhood obesity, we've made adjustments to our District's Wellness Policy concerning classroom snacks, birthday treats, and classroom celebrations. Please be aware that some elementary schools have chosen to celebrate birthdays without food, so we recommend checking with your child's school to learn about their specific practice.

When food is served to students in the classroom for snacks, birthday celebrations, or classroom festivities, we follow these guidelines:

1. Only fresh fruits/vegetables or store-bought items with clear ingredient lists are permitted (homemade foods are not allowed).
2. Foods served must align with the Healthy Food Guidelines/Smart Snacks (with the only exception being food related to District-approved curriculum lessons).
3. Foods containing peanuts or peanut butter, or those produced in facilities with potential cross-contamination, are not allowed.
4. Any food items that do not meet these guidelines will be sent back home.
5. We will provide parents and teachers with a list of approved foods (Healthy Food Guidelines/Smart Snacks) at the beginning of the school year.

These measures are designed to promote the health and well-being of our students while maintaining a positive and inclusive learning environment. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in supporting our commitment to their safety and health.

• Find all the information here www.IowaCitySchools.org/Securly.

Our District cooperates with approved community partners by posting eflyers online and distributing them electronically through our service provider, Peachjar. As part of our efforts to be more environmentally friendly, embrace innovative technology, and maintain fiscal responsibility, we have transitioned from paper to electronic flyer delivery.

• Listing of Van Allen Elementary's Current Peachjar Flyers

We’re now taking nominations for the 2024-25 Shine Awards! This is your chance to recognize employees who go above and beyond for our students and schools. Shine Award honorees inspire, make a positive difference, and leave a lasting impact in our school community.

Please consider the teachers, paraeducators, secretaries, nutrition services workers, student & family advocates, counselors, librarians, nurses, custodians, tradespeople, support staff, administrators, and more throughout our District who have had an exceptionally positive impact on students. Nominations can be submitted by completing the form at the following link: Shine Award Nomination Form. If preferred, you can also copy and paste the following link into your web browser: https://bit.ly/3QeTeUP.

Thank you for considering this opportunity to recognize the outstanding contributions of our team, especially those who have made the biggest impact on your family.

Sincerely,

Kristin Pedersen
Director of Community Relations
Iowa City Community School District

Students, Families, and Employees - The Ombuds Office is here to help! Visit https://www.iowacityschools.org/services-supports/ombuds to learn more!

We are continuing to embrace the HRS framework at Van Allen and throughout the ICCSD. Please see this linked form (also inserted, below) that helps us achieve Leading Indicator 1.6, "Students, parents, and the community have formal ways to provide input regarding the optimal functioning in the school."

This will be a standing item in our newsletter. Please note that submitting an idea to this form does not ensure that it will be implemented. Once we have a collection of responses to share, we will plan to include a recurring section within our newsletter dedicated to providing feedback and/or any response in regards to the different ideas that we have received from this form.

We use these platforms (below) to highlight our accomplishments (including pictures) and share relevant announcements and reminders.

Email: ewald.eric@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://vanallen.iowacityschools.org/
Location: 170 Abigail Avenue, North Liberty, IA, United States
Phone: (319)688-1185
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JVANorthLiberty/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanallen_iccsd

X: @VanAllen_ICCSD

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, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or 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 Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations, 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245, 319-688-1000, howard.eric@iowacityschools.org.