Beartales

We are so excited to have our Bears back with us! I know this school year has not started like many of us had hoped but we are ready and able to handle anything that this year throws at us. While many of our COVID mitigation strategies have changed this year, we do have a number of protocols still in place to keep everyone as healthy as possible.

• Our cleaning protocols within the classroom have continued this school year. This is why we are not able to have food within the classrooms.
• In addition, each classroom has access to a spray bottle and paper towels to spot clean desks when students are moving around.
• Each classroom has access to hand sanitizer like we have in the past year. There are also bottles throughout the building to support use coming back inside from recess.
• Water fountains continue to be covered, so water bottles will need to be our source of hydration for students and staff.
• Masks will be encouraged with signage in the building for those individuals who are not vaccinated. Parent choice is the determining factor.
• We have let students know that it is absolutely ok to wear a mask if that is most comfortable to them and their situation.
• A positive COVID test for staff or students, will include being away from school for 10 days with a return after that, as long as there is not have a fever of 100.4 or higher AND the individual has been fever free for 24 hours without the use of medication AND have improving symptoms.
• There is limited use of our building in terms of visitors being allowed inside. If you need to drop something off at the school an adult will meet you at the door when you buzz in.
• There will be NO field trips at this time.
• Recess time is back to normal in that students can mix classes. We continue to have hand sanitizer at the doors and bathroom breaks should be scheduled after whenever possible to promote handwashing.
• Lunch will return to normal with students sitting on both sides of the tables.
• Lunch staff continue to use a specific cleaning protocol in between each lunch.
• Lunch staff also hand out all items to students to limit the items being touched by multiple people.
• Classrooms will promote social distancing any time it is possible.
• We continue to have a staggered dismissal; however, it will be slightly adjusted so that we are missing less time.
• 3:15 PK through door 4
• 3:25 Walkers, BTB, Boys and Girls Club through front doors
• 3:25 1st grade through door 6 (line up in front of the fence area by 3-5 playground)
• 3:25 2nd grade through door 2 (line up outside fence of K-2 playground)
• 3:25 3rd grade through door 4 (line up in same location as last year)
• 3:30 Kdg through door 2 (remain on playground lines)
• 3:30 4th grade through door 5 (line up in same location as last year)
• 3:30 5th grade through door 6 (line up in same location as last year)

Please click on the following link to watch a video explanation of our dismissal: https://youtu.be/sjHEj9tG6Lg

As an administrative group we have made an adjustment to our policy on birthday treats that will still allow us to follow our guidelines while providing students a chance to celebrate. Birthday treats MAY be allowed as long as they are store bought and prepackaged. Due to the cleaning protocols and not being able to eat in classrooms, birthday treats will be sent home with each student so they can eat them at home.

Our school is considered Community Eligible which means that all meals are free to our students. Please have a conversation with your child about whether they want hot or cold lunch. We are noticing more students getting both, which is totally fine. However, they are not eating all the food and I hate to see the waste. I also know how expensive Lunchables and other cold lunch items are and hate to see the waste for your family as well.

I look forward to working with all of you this school year! If you have any questions please do not hesitate to reach out.

Bryant Elementary is pleased to announce that we will begin using a computerized visitor management system for the 2020/2021 school year. We believe the implementation of this new technology will benefit you, your child, and this school by better allowing us to track visitors, contractors, and volunteers in our schools to provide a safer environment for everyone. To ensure every visitor checks in using the new computerized system, you must enter the building through the main entrance.

The new system is a computerized security program that offers many features to protect your child from outside threats. Let’s review the basic functions of the system. First, any visitor entering Bryant Elementary will be required to provide a state-issued photo ID. If you do not have a state-issued photo ID, you may contact the school in advance of your visit to inquire about other acceptable forms of identification.

Once the ID is presented, a school representative will scan this ID using the latest in ID scanning technology. The system instantly captures the name, photo, and the birth date of the visitor and when this successfully occurs the software compares the identity of the visitor with the national sex offender registry. If a positive match occurs, district personnel will be immediately and discreetly alerted. Individuals with a sex offense on record will not be permitted to enter the building.

It is important to note that the computerized visitor management system only scans the visitor's name, date of birth, and photo for comparison with a national database of registered sex offenders. Additional visitor data from the driver's license is not gathered nor is the system connected to any other system such as the Department of Motor Vehicles. Therefore, any other information on the ID is not scanned by the system and is not accessible to any of the users.

Once an entry is approved, the visitor will be issued a badge that identifies him/her as a visitor. The badge includes the date and the purpose of the visit. All staff members are trained to recognize visitor badges. Collectively, everyone in the building will be working together to ensure all visitors have a badge on and have gone through the appropriate check-in process at the main entrance.

As you leave our facility, please pass through the main office to return your badge so we can scan you out of the system.

The safety of our students is our highest priority and the computerized visitor management system enhances the safety practices at Bryant Elementary. Thank you, in advance, for your understanding and cooperation. If you have any questions, please call our office at 712-279-6819.

• Student Birthdays

We love celebrating students’ birthdays. To help us keep your child’s celebration safe for everyone, treats for birthdays should be store purchased, individually wrapped items. Also, due to Covid-19, parents or guardians are not allowed into our building. Your child’s teacher will assist with distributing birthday treats as needed.

• Your Child’s Attendance Is Vital

The Sioux City Community School District recognizes that good attendance is essential to academic success. Nationwide, far too many students are at risk academically because they are chronically absent. Chronic absence is described as missing 10 percent of the school year—or about 18 days – for any reason, excused or unexcused. Research shows that’s the point at which absenteeism begins to affect student performance. We need your assistance to reduce absenteeism and help your student reach their highest potential. If there are challenges that make it difficult for your student to attend school, please let us know. We want to partner with you to build a habit of regular attendance and help your child succeed.

• School Safety

The safety of our students and staff is a top priority. Each year, our school has fire, tornado, and intruder drills to ensure our students and staff are prepared for potential emergencies.

If an emergency should occur, we will notify you through our Blackboard messaging system. The system will call every phone number listed for your child, providing details about the emergency and directions for you on where and when to pick up your child if necessary. For more information on our safety processes, visit our website at https://www.siouxcityschools.org/parents/safety/.

• Your Voice Is Needed

We are looking for volunteers to join the Sioux City Community School District’s Grassroots Advocacy Committee. As a volunteer, you will receive email updates about important legislative events that could impact public education. All we ask is that you take the information you receive and contact our legislators to let your voice be heard in support of public education. We will provide tips on how you can contact our legislators. There is very little time commitment on your part and no meetings to attend.

Interested? Please contact our office today at 712-279-6819 to join.

• Download Our New Mobile App

Convenience at your fingertips! Download our new mobile app for easy access to the school calendar, events, and all the information you need about the Sioux City Community School District. The app is available to download now in the app store on your mobile device.

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.

Website: https://www.siouxcityschools.org/bryant
Location: 3040 Jones Street, Sioux City, IA 51104, USA
Phone: 712-279-6819
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Bryant-Elementary-School-392305667903892/
Twitter: @bryant_school