News from Spalding Park

September 6th - Early dismissal @ 1:30 pm

September 13th - Early dismissal @ 1:30 pm

September 16th - Popcorn Fundraiser begins

September 20th - Early dismissal @ 1:30 pm

September 27th - Early dismissal @ 1:30 pm

September 30th - Popcorn Fundraiser ends

October 2nd - All order forms for fundraiser need to be in

October 10th - Fall Festival (Free to Spalding Park Families)

October 10th - Fall School Pictures

8:30 - Class starts

Spalding Park would like to welcome our new principal, Mrs. Jody Vanderloo. Mrs. Vanderloo comes to our school with 33 years in education with 30 of those years in the Sioux City Community School District. She has experience as a teacher (grades K, 1, 2, 8, ELL & Title Reading/Math), she has also been a consulting teacher, a K-5 Math Curriculum facilitator, an assistant principal & a principal. Most recently Mrs. Vanderloo served as an Elementary Math Consultant for the Iowa Department of Education. Mrs. Vanderloo, we are excited to have you and your leadership with us at Spalding Park Elementary.

We would also like to welcome our new assistant principal, Mrs. Megan Garbe. Mrs. Garbe comes to us with 15 years in education all with the Sioux City Community School District. She has held many roles that allow her to bring her expertise to Spalding Park. Mrs. Garbe has expeience as a special educaton teacher, Instructional Coach and most recently District Behavior Coordinator. Mrs. Garbe we are so excited to have you and all your expertise with us at Spalding Park Elementary School.

Every 2 weeks a new staff member is chosen for "Being a Light" in our school. They are chosen from other staff members for things or ways they have brought the light to a classroom, a student or to the school.

Dear Family,

We are excited to tell you that we will be using Purposeful People this year, a program that teaches skills to help students be successful in school and in life. We believe that students should have safe, predictable places to learn where they feel included. Students should have healthy and helpful connections with teachers and classmates. They should also experience learning that will help them tackle challenges inside and outside of school. Purposeful People is more than a set of lessons - it is a partnership between schools and families to create a place where students feel like they belong and learn skills that will help them be the best they can be! The path forward is full of growth! We cannot wait to partner with you in this work…

● To teach students how to build strong friendships

● To work together to solve problems, big and small

● To grow skills for life

● To become Purposeful People

Our world needs more Kindness! That’s why Kindness is how we are starting the school year. Our definition of Kindness is acting with understanding, generosity, and care. You’ll hear a lot about Kindness this year because it is also 1 of our 3 outcomes:

● Be Kind: Teaching social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership. These skills are taught alongside Empathy, Respect, & Cooperation

● Be Strong: Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals. These skills are taught alongside Responsibility, Courage, & Perseverance

● Be Well: Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress. These skills are taught alongside Gratitude, Honesty, & Creativity

TalkingPoints

You now have a more convenient way to connect with your student’s teacher! The District has partnered with TalkingPoints, a communication tool that allows you and your student’s teacher to easily communicate via text message. Messages will be sent to you in your family’s primary language. Watch for more information on this exciting tool coming soon!

Update Your Contact Information

The District and our school are continuously updating families on important school information, closings and cancellations, and other announcements. Information is shared through email, phone calls, and text. Make sure we can connect with you by keeping your contact information updated in our records. If you need to change your contact information, please contact the school office.

Join Our Team

Looking for a part-time or full-time career with flexibility? Instructional assistants, bus drivers, and food service staff are needed to join our amazing team! Check out the District’s openings today!

Stay connected with family-friendly activities, programs, and clubs in the community through Virtual Backpack. The e-newsletter, which includes information from various Siouxland organizations, is sent out monthly to all district families. Or, view the most up-to-date lists of events and activities on the Virtual Backpack website.

Spalding Park Envirnomental Sciences Elementary School is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) program which allows our school to serve breakfast and lunch at no cost to our students. Spalding Park Envirnomental Sciences Elementary School students will not be charged for breakfast or lunch during the upcoming school year.

A complete list of CEP schools in our district can be found on our website. If you have a student attending another school that is not a CEP school, we encourage you to complete the 2024-2025 online application for free and reduced meals. This will help ensure other students in your family receive the meals they need during the upcoming school year.

For questions or assistance with school meals, please contact the District’s Food Service Department at 712-279-6860 or 712-279-6862.

Have you reviewed the 2024-2025 SCCSD Parent/Guardian – Student Handbook? The handbook includes important information to help students reach their fullest potential at school. Families are encouraged to review the handbook with their students to make sure they are aware of what is expected of them as a student in the Sioux City Community School District.

Safe + Sound Iowa offers students and families a convenient way to anonymously report safety concerns related to our school. Trained dispatchers will share the information with appropriate school administrators and/or law enforcement so help can be given to those in crisis or at risk.

Visit Safe + Sound Iowa for more information.

The safety of our students and staff is paramount. The District uses Standard Response Protocol or common terms to communicate our action and response to an emergency situation. The terms Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter are used so students, staff, and first responders understand the situation and how best to respond.

We encourage families to become familiar with these terms to better understand our school’s response and what to expect in a crisis situation. For more information on safety preparedness within the District, visit siouxcityschools.org.