Career Academy Newsletter

It’s hard to believe we are a few days into April already. With the snow seemingly behind us we are ready to blast into spring. We’ve had some pretty amazing things happening at the Career Academy this past month. What I love most about this place is the passion the teachers hold for what they teach, and the hands on experiences they provide for our kids. Recently the students in our Ag pathway got up close and personal with the inside of a cow and a pig to better understand animal health, nutrition, and digestion. Students in fire science are always out and about getting hands-on opportunities from local fire departments. Students in the ACT prep and education classes practiced calming exercises to help themselves, and future students, prepare to learn. Students in our health science wall to wall program created podcasts and entered them into NPR’s national podcast challenge. Real life learning at its finest, and we’re not slowing down now. Only eight weeks to go and it feels like we’ve only just begun.

University of Iowa School of Business:

Tippie School of Business at the University of Iowa is offering a free one week summer program for underrepresented students in business fields. Preference is giving to women, first generation college students, and minority students who are currently juniors in high school. The program runs from Sunday, June 23rd thru Friday, June 28th.

The program is free—including lodging, meals, and activities—thanks to a scholarship from generous donors. Your only expense will be travel costs to and from the program.

During the program, students learn about aspects of business and participate in business simulations and case studies. Students also work with faculty, staff, and business professionals as you begin to hone your business skills. Participate in cultural and recreational activities while you explore the university and Iowa City. If interested see Mr. Lucas in the Career Academy counseling office.

College Planning Group:

Any students needing help with post-secondary planning are encouraged to attend the next College Readiness Crew meeting. The group meets over lunch time at the Career Academy. Bring questions, concerns or any items you would like to discuss! If you would like more information, see Mr. Lucas or Mrs. Grau

WITCC Courses:

Students who are interested in taking courses next fall thru WITCC and have questions about how those courses may transfer to other 2 year colleges and 4 year colleges/universities can schedule a time to see Mr. Lucas or Mrs. Grau.

Tri State College Fair:

The Tri State College Fair is Sunday, April 7th at the conference center across from the Delta Hotel in South Sioux City. There are currently over 75 two year and four year colleges attending. The Tri State College Fair is a great opportunity for sophomore and juniors to begin exploring post-secondary options. The fair also gives students the opportunity to make contacts with admissions reps at schools they are interested in. Students are encouraged registered online prior to attending the fair by getting a barcode. For additional information and to register online go to EducationQuest.org. If you need help getting your bar code see Mr. Lucas by April 5th.

The following students were finalists in the annual Invent-to-Innovate (i2i) Entrepreneurial Competition at the University of South Dakota on Friday, March 29th. They all did very well! I have attached several pictures of the Invent-to-Innovate (i2i) Entrepreneurial Competition to this email. Participating teams have the chance to win up to $1,000 to fund their business ideas in the hopes of assisting aspiring entrepreneurs in their approach to launching companies. Students in the Sioux City Career Academy’s Entrepreneurship class were chosen as the 2nd place winners this year and received $750.00 to fund their business idea.

The students who participated in this competition are all enrolled in the Sioux City Career Academy’s Business Entrepreneurship course. They were required to submit a business plan for a new business or for a product/service idea using the Business Model Canvas format. In addition, they were required to do an eight minute elevator pitch about their business idea to six judges (regional business people) and answer a variety of questions from the judges.

The results of the 2019 Invent-to-Innovate (i2i) Entrepreneurial Competition:

2nd Place:

Grass Gear: An app that connects young people to home-owners needing yard work done. Similar to Uber, but for lawn care.

· Madison Johnson, East/Heelan High School - dual-enrolled

· Cole McClure, North High School

· Austin Craighead, North High School

· Austin Wilshire, North High School

· Turner Henry, East High School

Additional Finalists in the competition:

· EZ Track: A locating device in the form of a chip that is constructed into a wallet and into a key chain attachment.

· Yovani Topete, North High School

· Jose Sebastian, North High School

Pyrrhic Ratings (originally called Straight Rate): A politically unbiased rating system that rates news articles, news organizations, and also journalists on political news.

· Colby East, East High School

· Liam Streit, East High School

· Jonah Snieder, East High School

·Snow Raptor: A remote control snow blower & salt dispenser that can be operated while the consumer is inside.

· Thomas Anderson, West High School

· Carlos Ozuna, North High School

Additional Entry Submission:

Alarm Box: Device that locks cell phones into a puzzle box. When the alarm goes off, the person needs to solve the puzzle to open the box and get their cell phone.

· Hailong Nguyen, East High School

· Sam Bigelow, East High School

Enduring Glass: We aim to make quality glass that will stay cleaner longer by creating glass that is smear, scratch, and fingerprint resistant.

· Christopher Wheeler, North High School

· Kaleb Taylor, North High School

· Sam Stodden, North High School

Do you have school fees that need to be paid? Visit www.siouxcityschools.org and click on the “Parents” tab to pay your fees online. On the drop-down menu of the “Parents” tab, you can select either “Pay Curriculum Resource Fees” or “Pay Lunch Balance.” Both links will take you to “My School Bucks” to complete the payment transaction. Payment for curriculum resource fees can be made under the “School Store” by selecting “Categories” and then “Curriculum Fees.” If you have any questions, please contact our school’s bookkeeper. Thank you

Kindergarten and 3rd Grade Students

According to Iowa law, all children enrolling in kindergarten and 3rd grade are required to evidence of a vision screening no earlier than 1 year prior to enrollment and no more than 6 months after the date of your student’s enrollment. Vision screening forms are available through eye care professional, from your school nurse, or at the following website, https://idph.iowa.gov/Portals/1/userfiles/88/Cert%20of%20Vision%20ScrnDec2015%20wFacts%20Fillable_FINAL.pdf

7th and 12th Grade Immunization Requirements

Iowa Immunization law requires that all students entering 7th grade have both a Meningococcal vaccination and a Tdap (Tetanus, Diphtheria, and Pertussis/whooping cough) vaccination before school starts in the fall.

Iowa law requires that all students entering 12th grade have a Meningococcal vaccination. The requirement is 2 doses of meningococcal (A, C, W, Y) vaccine for students in grade 12, if born after September 15, 1999; or 1 dose if received when students are 16 years of age or older are required before school starts in the fall.

The Tdap requirement has been in place since the 2013/14 school year and requires a booster dose of Tetanus, Diphtheria, and acellular Pertussis containing vaccine for students entering 7th grade, regardless of the interval since the last Tetanus/Diphtheria containing vaccine. Pertussis (whooping cough) is a very contagious disease that causes violent coughing fits that make it hard to breathe.

The meningococcal vaccine has been required since the start of the 2017/18 school year. Meningococcal disease is a life-threatening illness that is caused by bacteria that infects the brain, blood, and spinal cord. It easily spreads in crowded settings. The vaccine is required prior to both the 7th and 12th grades.

What does this mean for you? You will need to call your physician’s office to make an appointment for these vaccines. You will need to check your home records or call your physician’s office to see what your student’s status is. If you do not have insurance, you can contact the Siouxland District Health Department at 279-6119. Please send a copy of your student’s updated immunization record to the school nurse prior to the first day of school. Thank you in advance for your cooperation in this matter.

Kindergarten & 9th Grade Students

According to Iowa law, all Iowa children enrolling for the first time in Kindergarten or 9th grade must have a dental screening on file. It’s required per Iowa law! According to this law: Screening must occur no earlier than 1 year before enrollment and no later than 4 months after enrollment. If you think you have already sent this form to school, please double check with your student to make sure that they have turned it into the nurse’s office. Screenings can be performed by dentists or dental hygienists.

Here is a link to the dental form. http://www.siouxcityschools.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Certificate_of_Dental_Screening_9.13.12.pdf

Please have this form filled out by your dental provider and turned in to your high school.

Between April 8 and May 24, 2019, your child/children in 4th, 6th, 9th, and 11th grade will be invited to complete a Social and Emotional Health screening. This is a survey that asks students questions about their social and emotional health, family and school safety. If you do not wish to have your student participate in the Social and Emotional Health screening, please complete the PPRA Notice form found online in the District Forms by April 5, 2019.

April 5th - Snow make up day

April 9th - District ACT test date for JUNIORS. No classes for 9th, 10th &12th graders. Juniors will report to their home high school for testing. No Career Academy Classes.

April 18th - 22nd - Spring Break - NO SCHOOL

ISASP Testing Dates (formerly Iowa Assessment)

May 1st - May 3rd - 9th, 10th and 11th grade students will report to their home high school for testing. 12th graders do not test and will report to their home high school at 10:40 am. . There will be no classes at the Career Academy(exception: Wall-to-Wall) on these days as CA teachers will be at the traditional high schools to assist with the assessments.

Email: towlerk@live.sioxcityschools.com
Website: siouxcityschools.com
Location: 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Phone: 712-279-6668
Facebook: Facebook.com/SiouxCityCareerAcademy
Twitter: @sccareeracademy

The Sioux City Community School District is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. It is an unfair or discriminatory practice for any educational institution to 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.

Inquiries or grievances, including Section 504 grievances and grievances under Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, may be directed to Jen Gomez, Director of Student Services & Equity Education at 627 4th Street, Sioux City, IA 51101, (712) 279-6075, gomezj2@live.siouxcityschools.com. Please see District Board policies 103 and 504.4 for additional information on available grievance procedures.