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Beartales

Bryant Elementary School

BeartalesBryant Elementary School
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April 2022

News from Dr. Holcomb

Happy April!


We have lots to do in our short 6.5 weeks of school that we have left: ISASP testing, FAST testing, finishing up our curriculum and DCAs, 5th grade transition visit to NMS, 5th grade celebration, music programs, our Link Up Field trip for grades 3-5, etc. It is going to be a very busy push towards the end of the year!



Our ISASP testing window for grades 3rd-5th is coming soon-the District window is April 20th -May 11. At Bryant, however, we will be starting with a kick off assembly on April 22nd and testing starting on April 25th. Your students have been getting familiar with the technology tools that they will be using to navigate the system during this time. They will be taking practice tests along the way as we prepare. Our BLT has been working on an ISASP countdown with an Encanto theme that has already started with your students.


Below is information about the assessments.


Who will take the assessment?

Students in grades 3 – 11 will take the reading, language and writing, and math assessments.
Students in grades 5, 8, and 10 will also take the science assessment.


Why is this assessment given?

In Iowa and in the Sioux City Community School District, the curriculum taught to students is aligned to the Iowa Core Standards. It is important to assess how well students understand the information taught in our schools. Therefore, ISASP will assess each student’s demonstrated knowledge and understanding of grade-specific content.


How will students take the assessment?

Students will take the assessment online. This year the Reading and Science assessments are adaptive which means the questions will adjust based on student answers. Math, Language, and Writing assessments will be similar to last year.


What should parents/guardians know about the new assessment?

· Results are received quicker.

· Previous assessments relied heavily on multiple-choice questions. The new assessment will evaluate students’ skills using a mix of technology-enhanced questions, including open-ended essay questions.

· Today’s technology-enhanced questions provide greater insights into learning than previous assessments, which were formatted primarily with multiple-choice questions.

· The new assessment will provide parents/guardians with actionable information about their child’s learning.

· Over time, parents will also be able to access year-over-year analysis of how their child performed from one year to the next.

How can parents/guardians help prepare students for the assessment?

Practice tests are available online at http://iowa.pearsonaccessnext.com/test-prep/. Parents/guardians can help prepare students for testing by reviewing the practice tests online. Throughout the school year, and especially during testing periods, parents/guardians can ensure optimal student performance by making sure children get enough sleep, eat a good breakfast, and arrive to school on time. Most importantly, encourage students to try their best.


Playgrounds after school and on weekends


As you know, our playgrounds have been locked since last Spring due to vandalism issues we were having as well as the amount of garbage being left outside. We know that this has been hard for our neighborhood families that would like to have a safe place for their child(ren) to play. We also know that we have students of all ages, trespassing by squeezing through the fences causing additional damage to those areas. After Spring Break, we are going to try and unlock the gates in an effort to provide a safe place for students to play. Please remember that there is no supervision during these times and we have limited resources for garbage cans. We appreciate your help in ensuring that our students continue to follow the expectations of being respectful, responsible, and safe. If we are unable to provide a safe option we will lock the gates again.


Thank you for your continued support of your students and our school. As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out.


Dr. Holcomb

holcoma@live.siouxcityschools.com

712-279-6819

Upcoming Events

April 12 Kdg and 2nd grade Music Programs 5:30

April 13 Early Dismissal 2:30

April 14 No school Spring Break

April 15 No School Spring Break

April 18 No School Spring Break

Apr 20- May 6 ISASP window is open

April 28 1st and 3rd grades Music Programs 5:30

April 29 No School--unused built in Snow Day

May 9-May 23 FAST Literacy window opens followed by FAST Math

May 10 4th and 5th grades Music Programs 5:30

May 26 Last Day of School for Students

Find a Career You Love with the Sioux City Community School District

There are hundreds of reasons to work for Sioux City Community Schools, named one of America’s best in-state employers. Discover the benefits of a career with a competitive salary and great benefits. View our current job opportunities and apply today!

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District Climate Survey Is Coming

All Iowa public school districts are required to administer an annual school climate and culture survey to students in grades 3-12 called Conditions for Learning Survey (Survey). The survey is designed to measure their engagement in school, safety, and the overall learning environment.

From April 1-29, parents and families of students in preschool through grade 12 will also have the opportunity to participate in the Parent Conditions for Learning Survey. The survey contains similar items to those on the student survey, focusing on areas that range from student safety and positive adult and student relationships to school rules and how they are enforced. The parent survey will be accessible to parents or families online from April 1-29. Participation in the survey is encouraged, but it is completely voluntary, and all questions are optional to answer.

Please watch your email on April 1 for more important information regarding this survey, including opt-out information if you do not wish for your student to participate and a link to the parent survey.

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Organizing A Community Event? Share It in Virtual Backpack.

Looking for ways to get your students involved this spring and summer? Sign up for the District’s Virtual Backpack program and receive weekly updates and information about free community events, summer sports league registration, and more. Virtual Backpack is your one-stop resource for upcoming events and opportunities. Sign up for the weekly Virtual Backpack email: https://bit.ly/3tRKVVi

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Attention Parents: End of Year Information on Medication

Student medication and/or medical supplies will be sent home with your child on the last day of school. If you would like to make other arrangements, please contact the school office before the last day of school. Any unused medication that remains at school will be disposed of in compliance with federal and state law or will be given to the School Resource Officers for proper disposal.
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Let's Talk

An engaged community makes our District stronger. That is why we have made it easy for you to connect with us whenever it is convenient for you. We encourage you to take advantage of Let’s Talk!, our 24/7 online submission site. Reach out with your ideas, questions, concerns, and praise. To make a submission, please visit http://www.siouxcityschools.org/lets-talk/.

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Communication and Preparedness

Student and staff safety is of paramount importance in the Sioux City Community School District. For this reason, the District exercises a host of crisis prevention and planning tactics. Should an emergency occur, the school notifies you through our Blackboard phone system. In an emergency, the system calls every phone number associated with your child in order to reach you. The message will give you details about the emergency and provide directions on when/where to pick up your child if the normal school day is altered. Learn more about school safety.

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Focus 2022 Strategic Plan

The Sioux City Community School District Board of Directors spent time developing, with the input of multiple stakeholder groups, the “Definition of the Well-Educated Student.” The definition is the foundation for the Focus 2022 Strategic Plan. The definition identifies what students within the educational system will be able to do upon graduating from our district. Learn about the five goal areas of the strategic plan.

Non-Discrimination Statement

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.