Beartales

Oct. 7-Nov. 1 Character Strong SEL student and staff survey (More info to come)

Oct. 8 Fire Prevention Week--Fire Engine for Kindergarten and 1st grade

Oct. 8 4th grade Sioux City Museum Trip (2 classes)

Oct. 9 Picture Retakes

Oct. 9 Fire Prevention Week--Safety House for 3rd grade

Oct. 9 4th grade Sioux City Museum Trip (2 classes)

Oct. 10 5th grade Homecoming Parade 12:30

Oct. 10 We are STARS Assembly (2:15)

Oct. 14 AEA Hearing Tests

Oct. 24 End of 1st Quarter

Nov. 1 Fall Parties

Nov. 7 Report Cards will go home with students.

North High Dress Up Days for Homecoming.

Monday (10/7): Pajama day

Tuesday (10/8): Inside Out Tuesday (inside out colors – like the movie)

Wednesday (10/9): I See the Lights Wednesday (neon)

Thursday (10/10): Spirit Day (red, white, and blue)

Friday (10/11): Flower Power Friday (floral)

Fall Conferences (Information will be coming home soon.)

Oct. 14 Interpreter Supported conferences (3:40 PM-5:40 PM)

Oct. 22 Parent/Teacher conferences (3:40 PM-6:20 PM)

Oct. 24 Parent/Teacher conferences (8:00 AM-6:00 PM) (No School this day)

Oct. 25 No School Exchange Day for conferences

I can officially say Happy Fall Bears! Here are things that are happening or have been happening as October has gotten started.

All of our students have been assessed using the iReady diagnostic screeners. This last Friday during PD sessions staff analyzed their Literacy and Math data. Our ESL and Title teachers have been analyzing data and determining student interventions that will occur during our Literacy FLEX times. These groups had a soft roll out last week so students would know who was in their groups and what the group expectations were. You will receive more information about your student's scores during parent/teacher conferences.

Starting October 7th during our Character Strong time, grade levels will be learning about Responsibility. The various grade levels will focus on the following:

Kindergarten--will show responsibility by learning what following directions looks like, sounds like and feels like; will practice responsibility by following directions using their listening skills through guided drawing; will practice responsibility by demonstrating how to ask questions for understanding and will practice following 2 and 3 step directions working with a partner.

1st grade--learning ways to practice responsibility with their hands, feet, ears, eyes, and mouth, exploring what it feels like and looks like to manage distractions, learning to focus, and how to self-monitor during important tasks.

2nd grade--learning what a responsible community circle looks like, will show responsibility by reviewing community circle agreements and engaging in a community circle, determining actions that demonstrate responsibility at school, and demonstrating how specific responsibility impacts others.

3rd grade--identifying how they can show responsibility in specific situations, exploring TOP goals and creating one for themselves, practice flexible thinking and identifying obstacles to their goals, and creating skits to practice and show their learning.

4th grade--learning the importance of organization and the 3T's model, putting time management skills into practice, determining the importance of organizing their thoughts, and learning how to organize tasks to achieve their goals.

5th grade--exploring TOP goals and create a TOP goal poster, working in groups to create a plan for achieving their responsibility goals, evaluating their time management and building time management skills, and creating goals with accountability partners.

Conference times continue to be later in October which gives us a greater opportunity to get to know your students. In the Upcoming Events you can see our conference dates. We are fortunate to have extra interpreters from the district on the 14th only. Letters will also go home in Thursday folders soon which will include the link you need to sign up.

We continue to need your help with morning drop off for students that are eating breakfast. As a reminder, only students that are eating breakfast should enter school through our front entrance, UNLESS, they are late for school. The curb out front has been painted red and is a no parking zone. There is also a no parking sign out front to help remind you of this. When you pull up, you should stop long enough for your child(ren) to get out of the car and close the door. Then you should drive away. If you want to make sure your child makes it in the front door, please park in a parking space and walk your child(ren) in. Watching from the drop off line slows down the traffic.

Students also have to be in their classrooms by 8:35 or they are marked tardy. This means that our older students are not able to continue to walk their younger siblings to class without being late. All students should know the morning routines and should be able to get to their classrooms using our building structures and routines.

At Bryant we celebrate this time of year with fall parties. We do this so that all students in the building have an opportunity to participate. You will see the fall parties listed in the Upcoming Events which is later this year due to our conference schedule. You may reach out to your student(s) classroom teacher to see if they need any help with these parties. As a reminder, anyone who helps in the classrooms needs to be an approved volunteer. I have linked the form here from our district website or you can get a form from the Bryant office. It usually takes a day or two to get back the approved forms. We do not have any costumes connected to our fall parties.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child's education.

Dr. Holcomb

The District is committed to providing all students with a safe learning environment in which everyone is treated with dignity and respect. The District’s Anti-Bullying, Harassment, and Hazing policy defines bullying and harassment as well as the procedures for reporting and investigating bullying or harassment complaints.

Bullying and harassment are defined as any electronic, written, verbal, or physical act or conduct toward a student which is based on any actual or perceived trait or characteristic of the student and which creates an objectively hostile school environment that meets one or more of the following conditions:

· Places the student in reasonable fear of harm to the student’s person or property.

· Has a substantially detrimental effect on the student’s physical or mental health.

· Has the effect of substantially interfering with a student’s academic performance.

· Has the effect of substantially interfering with the student’s ability to participate in or benefit from the services, activities, or privileges provided by a school.

If your student feels they are being bullied or harassed, encourage your student to visit with the student involved and tell them to stop. They should also tell a teacher, principal, or trusted adult at their school. An online discrimination, bullying, harassment, and hazing complaint form is also available on the District’s website and may be completed by the student, parent, or school employee.

Parent/teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 22, and Thursday, October 24. There will be no school for students on Friday, October 25.

Thank you for partnering with us in your child's education.

Volunteers are needed to join the District’s Grassroots Advocacy Committee. As a volunteer, you will receive email updates about important legislative events that could impact public education and be asked to contact local and state leaders to advocate for our schools. Volunteer today and let your voice be heard! Contact Communications@live.siouxcityschools.com to volunteer.