A Note From Mr. Gahan
Dear Coralville Central Families,
It has been a strange school week this past week! We knew no school on 10/31 and 11/5, but we did not anticipate the water main break on November 4th. Since it was not a District-wide cancellation, there will not be a makeup date. We have conferences on November 13th and 20th from 3:10-7:00 and November 22 from 7:40-3:40 (no school day). If you have not signed up, please reach out to your child's teacher. Or you can use the link below.
Parent Login Page: https://app.ptcwizard.com/iowacityschools/
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1stTf5O07bDHiEbr9_ufEOpUotRuA1Rl-pKycWmcghKA/edit
The November PTO meeting will be Monday the 11th starting at 6:30 in the Coralville Central Library. Free childcare is available.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Andy Gahan
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.
Lost & Found
Our Lost & Found is already overflowing!!
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.
Starting in October, all unclaimed items will be donated at the end of each month.
Dressing for the Weather
Hello Coralville Central families,
With fall upon us, 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
Pertussis (Whooping Cough
What is pertussis (whooping cough)?
Pertussis is a disease caused by bacteria. It causes severe spells of coughing. These spells can interfere with eating, drinking and breathing. Pertussis can lead to pneumonia, convulsions, inflammation of the brain (encephalitis) and sometimes death.
Who can get pertussis?
Pertussis can occur at any age. It is most common in infants less than one year old, but anyone can get it. Pertussis can be hard to diagnose in teens and adults because their symptoms often look like a cold with a nagging cough.
How is pertussis spread?
Pertussis is spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Other people breathe in infected droplets.
What are symptoms of pertussis?
Pertussis starts like a cold with symptoms of runny nose and an irritating cough. Within one to two weeks, the cough develops into coughing fits. The fits are a series of violent coughs during which the victim struggles for breath. A gasping air, which produces a high-pitched whooping sound, follows the coughing. The coughing fits occur more frequently at night, and are often following by vomiting. Between spells, the person usually appears to be well. Adults, teens and vaccinated children may have milder symptoms.
How long is an infected person able to spread pertussis?
Without treatment an infected person can spread the disease from the time he or she starts coughing until 21 days after the start of the cough. After five days of treatment with an appropriate antibiotic, an infected person cannot spread the disease.
Can a person get pertussis again?
Yes.
How is pertussis diagnosed?
A doctor may think a patient has pertussis because of the symptoms, but a sample of mucus must be taken from the back of the nose for testing. This sample is then sent for testing to determine whether the patient has pertussis.
What is the treatment for pertussis?
Treatment with an appropriate antibiotic may help if given early in the illness. Other treatments such as fluids, oxygen and mild sedation may help the child during the prolonged period of severe coughing.
Should people who have been around a person with pertussis be treated?
People with symptoms should see their healthcare provider.
Even without symptoms, all household contacts and other close contacts determined to be at high risk for severe pertussis or in contact with someone at high risk and who don't have symptoms should receive postexposure prophylaxis (PEP), regardless of age or vaccine status.
Vaccination status should be assessed.
How can pertussis be prevented?
Pertussis may be prevented through routine immunization. Pertussis is spread through the air after an infected person coughs or sneezes. Other people breathe in infected droplets. Cover your mouth when you cough, stay away from others when they are coughing, wash your hands frequently. Ask your healthcare clinician/local health department about vaccines for adolescents/adults.
Where is pertussis vaccine available?
All county health departments in Iowa give this vaccine. You may also check with your private health care provider.
Where can you get more information?
- Your doctor or nurse, your local health department (listed in the telephone book under local government).
- Iowa Department of Public Health, Bureau of Disease Prevention and Immunization, (800)831-6293.
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.
Classroom Snacks & Celebrations
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
November
- Wednesday, November 13th Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:10 - 6:55pm)
- Tuesday, November 19th - 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Stanley Museum
- Wednesday, November 20th Parent/Teacher Conferences (3:10 - 6:55pm)
- Friday, November 22nd--NO SCHOOL! Parent/Teacher Conferences (7:40 - 3:15)
- Wednesday, November 27th - Friday, November 29th--NO SCHOOL!
Please send EXTRA Clothes!
Traffic Patterns at Coralville Central
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.
