Coralville Central Newsletter

Dear Coralville Central Families,

January has flown by, and our students have settled into a great routine, showing tremendous growth along the way. It’s been wonderful to see their progress and enthusiasm for learning. As we step into February, I’m crossing my fingers that Punxsutawney Phil doesn’t see his shadow, bringing us an early spring and more signs of warmer days ahead! Thank you for your continued support—we’re looking forward to
another fantastic month!

Thank you!

Andy Gahan

Spring Conferences are right around the corner. Parent/teacher conferences will be held Wednesday, February 26th (3:10-7:10), Thursday, March 6th (2:10-7:10) and Friday, March 7th (7:40-3:40).

Please use the link below to sign up to meet with your student's teacher(s). Conferences can be in person or via Zoom. When signing up, you will be going into the app - PTC Wizard. Please use your username and password from Infinite Campus to access PTC Wizard.

https://app.ptcwizard.com/iowacityschools/

Below is a link for the Coralville Central Directory for this school year.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tWpw1Fzz5_yDsQ3i_y89bKZ33M9q5mqF/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=115413838947360080083&rtpof=true&sd=true

Here is the policy for all students' personal devices.

Personal Devices (i.e. cell phones, smart watches, tablets, personal laptops, etc.):

• ALL cell phones and other electronic devices, including smart watches, must be turned in at the start of the day.
• Phone calls can only be made from a school phone with adult supervision.
• If you need to contact a parent about an issue at school, you must first speak to a teacher or another adult about the situation.
• If it is discovered that a student has not turned in their device, parents will be called to pick it up from the office.

The district will not be held accountable for lost or stolen items brought to school by a student.

A further note, this policy extends to field trips. NO PERSONAL DEVICES WILL BE ALLOWED ON ANY FIELD TRIPS.

Midwest One Bank will once again showcase Kids' Art Exhibit. The reception to show the students' art will be on Thursday, April 3rd from 5:30-7:00 at the Iowa City Headquarters (102 S Clinton St, Iowa City).

Fifty featured artists will be honored, with artwork framed through Midwest's partnership with Blick Art Materials.

We hope you will encourage your student to get creative and submit a piece of art to their art teacher. The art work MUST be turned into their art teacher no later than FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 14th, 2025. Use guidelines from attached PDF below!

Our Lost & Found continues to be full!

Please remind your student to check for missing items often. It is EXTREMELY important to remember to label coats, jackets, sweatshirts, lunch containers, water bottles, etc. That way we can give the items back to its owner.

Prior to winter break, all unclaimed items will be donated.

Feb 3-7th we will celebrate NATIONAL SCHOOL COUNSELING WEEK. As your counselor, I am so grateful for the support from staff, students, and families. I hope each of you can advocate for our program. The role of the school counselor may vary from building to building but you can see the weekly layout of what I do here at Central. If you ever have any questions on how I could support you or your family please reach out.

Devin Redmond (she/hers)

Teacher Librarian

Coralville Central Elementary : ICCSD

Instagram @cclibrary

Facebook @coralvillecentral

Twitter @devinred

Spring pictures are being taken by Halverson Photography on Friday, February 21st.

Please remember, these pictures are only taken for students who purchase in advance. Below is the link and QR code.

https://vando.imagequix.com/g1001214414

Hello Coralville Central families,

Winter is here and it is important that all students are dressed for the weather which means having a good, warm coat. If your student needs a coat, feel free to contact me, Mr. Mendoza--Student Family Advocate. I'll work hard to ensure your student has a coat that will fit them and keep them warm throughout this fall/winter season.

Thank you!
Mr. Mendoza

Student and Family Advocate

Coralville Central Elementary

Iowa City Community School District

Email: mendoza.michael@iowacityschools.org

Office #: 319.688.1100 Ext. 4513

What is Group A Streptococcus?

Group A Streptococcus (GAS) or "strep" is a bacteria often found in the throat and on the skin. Strep can be in your body and not even cause any illness. It may also cause illnesses that range from mild to severe and even life threatening.

Most strep infections are mild illnesses, such as "strep throat" or impetigo. Sometimes strep can reach parts of the body where bacteria are not usually found, such as the blood, deep muscle and fat tissue, or the lungs, and can cause serious infections.

How is strep spread?

Strep bacteria can spread by direct contact with drainage from the nose or throat of an infected persons or by contact with infected wounds or sores on the skin.

Why do serious strep infections occur?

Serious strep infections happen when the bacteria gets past the bodies defenses. This may occur when a person has sores or other breaks in the skin that let the bacteria get into the tissue.

Who is most at risk for getting serious strep infections?

Few people who come in contact with strep will get serious illness. Some will have a throat or skin infection. Most will have a throat or skin infection. Most will have no symptoms at all. Although healthy people can get serious strep illness, those with cancer, diabetes and kidney disease needing dialysis, and those who take certain medicine are at higher risk. Breaks in the skin, like cuts, wounds or chickenpox lesions may provide a way for the bacteria to get into the body.

How are strep infections treated?

Strep infections can be treated with many different antibiotics. It is always important to complete the full course of antibiotics as ordered by your healthcare provider.

What can be done to help stop serious strep infections?

The spread of strep is less likely when you wash hands, after coughing and sneezing, before fixing foods and before eating. Persons with a sore throat should be seen by a healthcare provider. A lab test can say if it is strep throat. If it is, the person should stay home from work, school or childcare until 24 hours after starting antibiotics. All sores should be kept clean. If a sore gets red or puffy, drains pus or hurts, see a healthcare provider.

There will be a clinic in Iowa City on Februrary 21st (8:00 - 12:30) for free preventative dental services. By appointment only! See the attached document below.

School begins promptly at 7:50 AM. Any student arriving in the classroom after 7:50 AM
is late to school. Currently we are having a large number of students arriving to school late. Please know these minutes are counted in their absenteeism and can result in consequences.

Confused about attendance that is marked Unexcused?

Anything that is not a state exempt absence (Religious, Medical, Family Medical) is coded in Infinite Campus as Unexcused because it is counting the minutes missed from instruction.

Students are allowed up to 8 Medically Exempt (MEDX) absences per trimester. Medical absences after 8 must have a note to be exempt.

The District is committed to providing a safe and healthy learning environment for our students. Due to the increase in food allergies and concerns with childhood obesity, changes have been made to the district's Wellness Policy regarding classroom snacks, birthday treats, and classroom celebrations. Some elementary schools are celebrating without food, so please check with your child's school to find out their practice.

When food is served to students in the classroom as a snack, birthday treat, or during a classroom celebration, the following rules apply (ICCSD Wellness Policy 507.9):

• allow only fresh fruits/vegetables or purchased foods with the ingredients listed (no homemade foods).
• allow only foods that meet the Healthy Food Guidelines/Smart Snacks. The only exception to this would be food-tasting related to district-approved curriculum lessons.
• not allow foods with peanuts or peanut butter, or foods that were made in a factory where cross-contamination may occur.
• food that does not meet the guidelines will be sent home.
• a list of acceptable foods (Healthy Food Guidelines/Smart Snacks) will be made available to parents and teachers at the beginning of the school year (and can be found on the district web site).

Examples of Acceptable Foods:

• Veggie straws or chips
• Skinny Pop or Boom Chicka Pop popcorn
• Cheddar Goldfish or Annie's Cheddar Bunnies
• Gluten-free pretzels or pretzel chips (example: Snyder's brand)
• Carrots
• Applesauce
• Fruit leathers
• Benton's animal crackers (Aldi)
• Apples, bananas, cuties
• Pirate's Booty
• Mott's, Welch's or Annie's fruit snacks

**Snacks MUST be individually packaged.

**All snacks MUST be PEANUT/TREE NUT FREE and MUST NOT be made in a facility that processes nuts. The packaging should not have any NUT Allergy Warnings.

Read the ingredient label for any allergy warnings.

**Snacks that are not on the approved list will be sent home.

**Non-food items are always preferable so all students may safely enjoy a treat. Some examples include:

• Stickers
• Washable tatoos
• Bubbles
• Pencils/erasers

• Monday, February 10th - Kindergarten Children's Museum Field Trip
• Monday, February 17th - Burn Prevention Puppet Program (2nd grade, in library)
• Wednesday, February 19th - 1st Grade Field Trip Englert Theater
• Wednesday, February 19th - 3rd-5th grades AM field trip to CCPA (practice for concert)
• Wednesday, February 19th - 3rd-5th Music Concert @ CCPA (6:00-7:00)
• Friday, February 21st - Spring Pictures
• Wednesday, February 26th - Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:10-7:10pm)

Preschool registration for the 2025-26 school year will open on Thursday, February 6, 2025.

Do you have a child who will be turning 4 years of age on or before September 15, 2025? If so, we invite you to stop by one of our preschool registration locations on February 6, 2025, to learn about our preschool program, ask any questions you may have, and register your child on-site.

February 6, 2025
4:00 - 6:00 pm

3 LOCATIONS:

City High School
1900 Morningside Dr., Iowa City

Liberty High School
1400 S. Dubuque St., North Liberty

West High School
2901 Melrose Ave., Coralville

Online registration will also be available beginning February 6, 2025, at 4:00 pm.

All of our preschool 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 tuition options also available in all locations.

Principals, preschool teachers, school staff, and interpreters will be available at each registration site. Feel free to bring registration documents with you, including your child’s immunization records, birth certificate, and health physical. Don’t worry; if you don’t have the records available, we can still get your child registered!

We look forward to welcoming your little one to our preschool family! For more information, visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/Preschool.

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY RELATIONS

IOWA CITY COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT

www.IowaCitySchools.org | /Enroll | /Branding | /CommunityRelations

You are invited to join us for a winter concert for all students in 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades. We have been working hard in Music to prepare for this event. The performance will be held at the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts. Friends and family are welcome to attend. Please drop your students off inside the CCPA at the stairwell inside the doors that lead to the parking lot. Coralville Central Staff members will be there to help them find their classmates and the way to the stage.

5:45-5:55 Students arrive

6:00-6:10 3rd grade performs. 3rd graders will rejoin their families in the audience

6:15-6:25 4th grade performs. 4th graders will wait backstage after they are done

6:30-6:40 5th grade performs. 5th graders will meet their families in the auditorium

6:40 4th graders will be picked up in the lobby

Supervision will begin at 5:45. If you arrive early please wait in the CCPA lobby with your students until the designated arrival time. If you have questions about the event please feel free to contact me by email at heimerman.camden@iowacityschools.org or contact the school at (319) 688-1100. I hope to see you at the performance!

Sincerely,

Camden Heimerman

General Music- Coralville Central Elementary

Below are the themes for the class baskets:

PreK - Movie Night

Kindergarten - Spa Day

1st Grade - Sports

2nd Grade - Art Fun

3rd Grade - Outdoor Adventure

4th Grade - Trip Around the World

5th Grade - Game Night

Information will be coming soon for how you can help!

The Jaguars Softball Club (which is the non-profit West Softball feeder) is looking to fill their 10U team with Westbound girls. See information below if you'd like your child to join.

Central Chess Club is open to all students. We meet on Tuesday mornings at 7:15 in the school library and our goal is to have fun, learn chess, and frame losses as an opportunity to learn. Students do not need to know how to play chess to join the club!! Come join us!

For any questions, please email coralvillecentralchess@gmail.com.

If you need to come into Coralville Central for any reason, please come to the front of the school and ring the doorbell. We will let you in and then you need to come into the main office and sign in. Thank you!

ALL parents of Kindergarten and 1st grade students - please make sure that your student has an extra change of clothes in their backpacks EVERYDAY in case of accidents. Please also make sure they are season-appropriate (for this time of year--please send sweat pants or leggings).

The link below is the description of the expectations for drop-off and pick-up at Coralville Central. Thank you for following these guidelines. We want everyone to make it safely and on time.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up

Have you had any conversations with your students about PBIS at Coralville Central?
Some possible questions you can ask:
Why do teachers give kids tickets at school?
What are the PBIS expectations in the hallways? The bathrooms? What about the lunchroom and on the playground?
What expectations are easiest for you to follow? Which ones are hardest? Why?

Looking for information on Securly, our web filtering tool? Find all
the information here www.IowaCitySchools.org/Securly.

If you have any questions, feel free to let me know. Thank you!

CONTACT: (319) 688-1000 | pedersen.kristin@iowacityschools.org
EXPLORE: www.IowaCitySchools.org
FOLLOW: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Mobile App

Technology continues to evolve and play a key role in learning. One recent emerging technology claiming to transform education is artificial intelligence (AI). As the district explores both the potential and pitfalls of AI, we wanted to gain your insights. The questions within the survey will help us better understand your knowledge of AI, what concerns you may have, as well as what hunches you have about its ability to enhance student learning. In addition, your expertise will assist in the creation of guidelines for both teachers and students as they use artificial intelligence in the classroom. Your anonymous feedback will play a crucial role in ensuring artificial intelligence is not only accessible but used responsibly and effectively to enrich student learning experiences. We greatly appreciate your time and thoughtful responses to the probing questions.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSevjjZDHHv9QfHLmy9ek2YhScTmen739_hMp4Q_9Hdc4XdmLA/viewform

Please make sure you review the district student handbook for questions on policies, etc.

https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/14338

Students, Families, and Employees - The Ombuds Office is here to help! Visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/Ombuds to learn more!

In order to achieve our goals of excellence and equity for all students, we have adopted a new school improvement model called High Reliability Schools. High Reliability Schools is a framework that supports fulfilling our vision of equitable outcomes for all students. It gives us a common language to name what we’re doing, assess our current reality, align our initiatives, and determine where to go next. It is a vehicle that allows us to balance shared responsibility and autonomy to make decisions that best meet the needs of all our students.

We are excited to get this work started and we are excited to partner in this process with all of you! We value the voice of our school community and we want to make sure that your experiences are reflected in our High Reliability Schools implementation. Throughout the year, there will be multiple opportunities for our students, families, and staff to provide feedback that will inform the work that we do. Please stay tuned for information on these opportunities. We look forward to partnering with you on this exciting new adventure!

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.