Greetings -

Happy New Year! I hope that everyone's 2025 is off to a great start. After wrapping up our first full week, we are back in the swing of things at school. I'd wager that everyone's slightly fatigued going into this weekend. Regardless, it was a good week back at Van Allen.

If you're willing, we'd like for you to share your feedback with us via this Google Form; it is also inserted, below. After the form closes, we'll then plan to summarize the information collected and share it back with you for our next newsletter. Thanks in advance for your time in providing your input and insights.

Additionally, here's a sampling of other new information that's also included within this volume of our newsletter:

• Our student council's mascot fundraiser 🚀

• Comprehensive information regarding Van Allen’s Annual Mini Dance Marathon '25 💃
• A heartfelt letter from our favorite school secretary 💧
• A link for ordering yearbooks 📘
• Current employment opportunities at Van Allen 👩‍🏫
• Information for preschool registration 🏫
• PTO's Square 1 Art fundraiser that allows you the opportunity to order your child's artwork as keepsakes and gifts 🎨

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.

To help fundraise, we are selling t-shirts for $15. Here's the link to purchase. The online store is open through 11:59pm on Sunday, January 12th.

Glow sticks and snacks 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!

Dear Van Allen Rocket Family,

The word has been getting around, so I wanted to officially make an announcement... I have been a part of Van Allen since August of 2006 and have grown relationships with many of you for years. It is with a bittersweet heart that I will be saying goodbye at the end of this school year.

Many of you already know that my boys’ struggle with their mental health is what led me to walk across the state of Iowa (twice) to raise awareness and work towards ending the stigma surrounding mental health struggle. Last winter I made the decision to go back to school and get a degree in human services. I will be finished with that this May. With this degree I will be entering the front lines of mental health crisis intervention and stabilization care. I will also have opportunities to be out in the community to educate and continue my work on normalizing the mental health conversation. At 50 years old, I finally know what I want to do when I grow up!

While I’m very excited about following my passion, I am also overwhelmed with emotion about leaving the place I have called my second home and all the people who feel like family. I can never fully express how much I have learned and grown from this experience. I can never fully express how much my soul has been touched by the students, families, and staff members of Van Allen over the years. This is what helped me get through my family’s struggles. Even in the chaos of the front office, I found peace and normalcy when I needed it. Sometimes life hands us challenges we don't think we're ready for and/or prepared to handle. However, it can be through those challenges that we find new strength and wisdom on the other side. It becomes a gift to share with others.

I have often joked about keeping a journal of some of my favorite Van Allen moments both comical and meaningful. Now I wish I had! If you see me out and about in the community, please don’t hesitate to say “Hi!” I hope to find opportunities to come visit. I wish you all the best!

Sincerely,

Miss Karen

• Thursday, January 16th
• Click here to learn more and see participating restaurants

The Student Support Club (SSC) is a new club at Liberty High School that formed with the intent of hosting fundraising events to benefit students/families who may need additional financial support with AP exam fees, ACT exam fees, test prep materials, purchasing prom tickets, or similar needs. The SSC works in conjunction with the Liberty Fund to manage donations, and to assist in funding grant requests made by students or staff.

Their first fundraising event will be held on Saturday, January 18 at 1 PM. The event is free to attend and they will be accepting free will donations and will also have information available on how to donate directly to The Liberty Fund to support their cause. Please see the flyer for additional details.

• Monday, January 20th
• Wednesday, January 29th

• Tuesday, January 21st, 7pm

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

We are currently seeking to hire the following positions:

• 6.5 hours/day paraeducator - this position is considered full-time and includes benefits
• 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)

Van Allen Families,

Coming home to you soon will be your child's custom catalog for the Square 1 Art fundraiser. Get a head start, and start ordering keepsakes and gifts featuring your child's art online NOW, if you like!

Simply search for your child's art using Art Search, and enter state, school name, and your student's name. Your student's art and code will appear, and you may order!

Be sure to check out our Art teacher's artwork while you shop! (Search for last name "Wade.")

Order by: 1/15/2025

Upload additional art if you like, using Art Upload!

If you have questions, or need anything at all, contact customer care online.

Thank you for supporting our school!

-- Van Allen Elementary School PTO

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.

Your mental health matters, and we want to take a moment to remind you that support is always available. While we celebrate many wonderful moments within our school district community, we also understand that challenges can arise throughout the year.

We encourage you to take advantage of the school-based support services available to you, including School Counselors, Student Family Advocates, and other District staff who are here to assist students in every school. Additionally, we’ve compiled a list of local and national resources to provide support outside of the school setting. These resources are included at the bottom of this message.

To make accessing support even easier, we’ve created a dedicated webpage with a comprehensive list of available resources. You can find it at www.IowaCitySchools.org/Support.

We are continuously working to strengthen our approach to supporting students, staff, and families while finding new ways to engage everyone in these important conversations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

Remember, we are here for you, and it is always okay to ask for help.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent, Iowa City Community School District

Examples of Local and National Mental Health Support Services:

CommUnity Crisis Services and 988 National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Provides 24/7, free and confidential support for anyone in crisis. Mobile Crisis operates in our community as a mental health crisis response. CommUnity Crisis Services & Food Bank has counselors equipped to help individuals struggling with a wide variety of issues. If you or someone you know is in emotional distress, thinking of suicide, or experiencing overwhelming mental health symptoms, Mobile Crisis is there to respond to you in person.

• Crisis Phone/Text: 988
• To contact the Mobile Crisis team, please call 1-855-581-8111 and ask to meet with Mobile Crisis counselors.
• Food Bank: (319) 351-0128
• https://builtbycommunity.org/
• https://988lifeline.org/

Care Solace: A mental health coordination service for families and staff. Visit caresolace.com/iccsd or call (888) 515-0595 for help connecting with a local mental health provider.

Covenant Workplace Solutions Employee Assistance Program: Free counseling for district staff. Contact (833) 434-1335, email EAP@CovenantWorkplaceSolutions.com, or schedule an appointment via your member portal.

Johnson County Social Services: Comprehensive resource directory of services available across Johnson County.

• Phone: (319) 356-6090
• Website:https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/social-services/resource-directory

If you or someone you know has attempted suicide or is facing imminent physical harm, please call 911 immediately.

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.