Beartales

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Happy New Year! It is hard for me to believe that we have entered 2023! That date seemed impossible to think of when I was the age of our Bears! 2023 was in the realm of the Jetsons and Back to the Future to me, yet here we are. I hope that you all had opportunities to spend time with family and friends during this holiday season.

As we get back in the routine of school, we will be wrapping up the 1st semester which ends on Thursday, January 12th. We will also be preparing students for their Winter assessment window which opens on Monday, January 9th and goes through Friday, January 20th. During this time students will take the State Winter FAST assessment for Literacy and the iReady assessment for Math. Teachers will be reviewing and practicing PBIS expectations in the various settings throughout the building.

Have you been playing the math fact fluency games with your students that you received on Math Night? How are they doing? Here are some additional tips and guidance for those math conversations.

• Focus most on the mathematical thinking and strategies your student uses, not just on getting the correct answer.
• Help your student by asking curious questions so they can think through a solution strategy and fix their own mistakes.
• Use language that builds a growth mindset. "That was a great explanation." "I can see you've worked hard on this problem." "I'm really proud that you kept going even you when got stuck."
• Ask your students to explain their thinking. Help your students think through their ideas more fully so you can better understand their thought process by asking them to explain their thinking.
• Be patient with yourself and your student, and don't give up.
• Know when your student has had enough. Frequent but brief sessions may be better than longer ones depending on age and attention span.
• Always keep it fun and positive.

We continue to bounce between recess inside and outside. As long as the real feel temperature is above 15 degrees, we will be outside for recess. The only change in that plan would be if there is ice on the playground. Please be sure to send your students in their winter wear. We do have extra coats, hats, and mittens in the office so please let us know if you need any of those items.

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

Dr. Holcomb

Please remember to keep the lines moving both before and after school. The only lane for stopping is the red lane which is closest to the curb. The second lane should be in constant motion for those families that have already received or dropped off their students. Our adults on duty are meant to be there to ensure safety. Please do not drive around the adults with the stop signs. They are trying to cross adults and students safely. We know that everyone has places to be and many are trying to get to work on time so please be cognizant of that as you drop off and pick up your student.

Also, please remember that the staff parking lot is not a place to line up for student pick up. Many staff members have meetings or other jobs to get to after school and need to be able to exit their parking spaces. Students that dismiss from the building out the front doors are walkers. If they are being picked up, it should be away from the building.

We thank you for your help.

Please click on the following link to watch a video explanation of our dismissal. This video has been redone from last year's video, to adjust for the changes we have made this school year.

https://youtu.be/EY6xhg8e04M

Jan. 9-Jan. 20 FAST and iReady Assessment window

Jan. 12 End of 2nd Quarter

Jan. 13 No School; Teacher Work Day

Jan. 19 Report Cards Go Home

Feb. 7 First Grade Music Program @ 5:30 p.m.

Fourth Grade Music Program @ 6:15 p.m.

Feb. 15 Interpreter Supported Conferences 3:40-6:00

Feb. 20 Parent/Teacher Conferences 8-5:40 No School

Feb. 21 Parent/Teacher Conferences 3:40-6:20

Feb. 24 No School

Apr. 4 Kindergarten Music Program @ 5:30 p.m.

Third Grade Music Program @ 6:15 p.m.

**AEA Hearing Tests were rescheduled for Jan. 30th-Feb. 3rd. This will impact grades PK-2 as well as any new students in the District.

The District’s new mobile app provides quick and convenient information at your fingertips. Download the mobile to receive push notifications from the District about closings and cancellations and stay updated on today’s school lunch menu, upcoming events, and school news. Look for Sioux City Community Schools in your app store today! (Please note: If you have an older version of the District mobile app, you will need to delete that app before downloading the new app.)

The District provides every student with a device to enhance the overall learning experience. When a student receives their device, it is their responsibility to take appropriate care of the device. Unfortunately, the District has hundreds of devices damaged or destroyed each year. In just the first few months of this school year, the District has already received 1,400 tickets for damaged devices including nearly 275 devices which have been destroyed. The high numbers result in significant costs including higher insurance costs for the District annually.

As noted in the Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook, the District may charge fees ranging from $20 for lost adaptors to $250 for device losses when repairs are required to a student’s device. Please remind your child about the responsibility that goes with having a device and encourage them to review the Student Device Program Acceptable Use Agreement, located in the handbook. Additional information can be found in Board Policy 581.12.

If your student has issues with their device, they may contact their school’s librarian assistant.

https://siouxcityschools.tedk12.com/hire/ViewJob.aspx?JobID=644

To ensure an engaging learning experience for our students, the District’s cell phone protocols are still in place for the spring semester. The protocols restrict the use of electronic devices during the school day. For more information, please review the 2022-2023 Parent/Guardian and Student Handbook on the District website.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT The Sioux City Community School District offers career and technical programs in the following areas: Business & Marketing, Family & Consumer Science, Health Science, and Industrial Arts, Technology, & PLTW. The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information (for employment), national origin, religion, age (for employment), disability, socioeconomic status (for programs), marital status (for programs), or veteran status (for employment) in its educational programs and its employment practices. The District is required by Title IX and 34 CFR Part 106 not to discriminate on the basis of sex in its programs, activities, or employment. Inquiries or grievances under Section 504 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education/Title IX Coordinator at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Inquiries about the application of Title IX and its regulations to the District may be referred to the Title IX Coordinator, the Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, or both. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.

Contact us!
Principal: Dr. Angela Holcomb

Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/bryant
Location: 3040 Jones Street, Sioux City, IA 51104, USA
Phone: 712-279-6819
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bryant-Elementary-School-392305667903892/
Twitter: @bryant_school