Le Mars Community School District

Hello, Bulldogs!

LCSD Facility Study

On October 16, ISG Inc. began the first stages of our facility study to provide the Board of Education information for a master facility plan. This facility study will provide an assessment of the existing functional deficiencies, space challenges, safety issues, and educational infrastructure needs for every building within the district. The Board of Education will then utilize this assessment data to develop a short-term and long-term plan to make sure our infrastructure provides our students and staff with the best physical learning environment. The results of the facility study will be presented to the Board of Education in December. The Board will then utilize this information to develop a comprehensive, holistic infrastructure plan to meet LCSD’s goals of providing a progressive, functional, and safe learning environment.

Remember to Vote on November 7, 2023

Please remember to vote on November 7, 2023. Le Mars Community School District will have two items on the ballot for consideration.

The first includes the renewal of the SAVE Revenue Purpose Statement. As mentioned in the October newsletter, the Le Mars Community School District voters will have the opportunity to vote on the type of usage for the Iowa Secure an Advanced Vision for Education (SAVE) funds provided to school districts by the State of Iowa. I encourage you to click the following link to learn more about this revenue purpose statement: www.lemarscsd.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/LCSD-Iowa-SAVE-Revenue-Purpose-Statement-Q-and-A.pdf. You can view the specific language of the Revenue Purpose Statement Public Measure by clicking this link: https://www.lemarscsd.org/?page_id=7895.

*Reminder, this is not a tax vote, but a permission statement vote on how the school district will spend the SAVE funds provided by the State of Iowa for SAVE infrastructure purposes.

Secondly, the Le Mars Board of Education has four positions up for election. Please vote for these important positions. We would like to thank those who have entered their names on the ballot to help the school district as potential board members. These volunteer, non-partisan positions are extremely important in creating policy, creating a future direction for the district, and supporting a top-notch educational experience for the children of Le Mars.

Winter Weather and School Days

The joys of winter will be coming soon. During times of unfavorable travel weather, we do our best to evaluate road conditions and make a determination as to whether or not we have a late start, early dismissal, or school cancellation; always with our students’ safety as the priority. Your best source for accurate and timely school-related weather announcements will be received by signing up to receive alerts through School Messenger. School Messenger will provide numerous types of communication, including emergency/security alerts, weather related announcements, and communication from your child’s teacher. If you are not signed up yet, go to http://www.lemarscsd.org/ and click “School Messenger (All Alerts)” on the right side of the screen under “Announcements” for directives.

Go Bulldogs!

November 8, 2023

December 13, 2023

For the foreseeable future Le Mars Community Activities will be utilizing GoBound ( https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/lemars) for all activities scheduling. In the past, we have used Rschool and that is where you found the schedules for activities, early outs, etc. We have seen many of the surrounding schools make a similar transition from Rschool to GoBound in recent months.

In August, the Missouri River Conference chose to go through GoBound for tickets to all events (LCHS allows both cash and GoBound tickets). When that decision was made, we began to utilize GoBound's various features and felt it was the best option for our coaches, athletes, and supporters moving forward. For many, this change is something that is not new, we have been utilizing rosters and stats for a number of years already, as required by the IHSAA and IGHSAU. For those that are not familiar, we feel you will appreciate the ease in which you will be able to navigate this website or app.

In closing, at the completion of our fall activities, we will no longer update or utilize the Rschool website. We encourage you to download the GoBound app to your devices and add the schedules of your choice to your own calendars, just as many of you have been doing via Rschool. We look forward to continued success at Le Mars Community and feel this is just another step in this process.

Regards,

Dave Irwin & Troy Caswell

Head Activities Director & Assistant Activities Director

Clark, Franklin, & Kluckhohn Elementaries

• Monday, November 2 --- 4:30 pm - 8:00 pm
  

November 17th from 9:00 am - 2:00 pm in the new HS gym entryway. Seniors that have donated two times will receive a red cord for graduation. This blood drive is open to qualifying students and staff. Please stop in the HS office or sign up online at lifeservebloodcenter.org to register. Community blood donations are welcomed as well.

7th graders need Tdap & meningococcal vaccinations and seniors need second meningococcal vaccination by the start of the school year. If this hasn't been done already or an exception form completed, please do so ASAP.

It is hard to believe we have already finished the first quarter. As we move into November, the weather is starting to change and we will see an uptick in students being ill. If you do keep your child home, please call into the high school office to let the school know. Students can check Schoology to keep up with their school work.

I would like to thank the parents that attended our Parent/Teacher conferences. For those of you who could not make it, please take the time to talk with your child’s teachers. It only takes a moment and it demonstrates to your child their education is important to you.

The high school is ending our semester prior to winter break. This means that December 18 will be day 1 of semester test and December 19 is day 2. December 20 will be the make-up day. On day 1, students will take the odd periods (1, 3, 5, and 7), on day 2, they will take the evens (2, 4, 6, and 8). During the make up day, students will take any tests they miss. All students will have open campus for lunch, this includes freshmen. Also, students will not need to report to study hall or Success Center on these days. Students will need to attend all other classes regardless if they have a semester test or not.

We do have a few trimester classes that will be ending on the 15th. Students taking PE, Careers, College Welding, and College English classes will begin new classes on the 16th. Report cards for trimester classes will be sent home on November 20.

Senior parents, the time to complete the FAFSA is quickly approaching. In past years, the form was available in November. This year it opens up in December. This form is used to determine eligibility for financial aid next year for college. This includes any Pell grants. The Pell grants have limited funding, so apply early to give your student the best chance to be awarded one of these grants. If you have questions regarding the FAFSA, the counseling office can be of some assistance. Please visit this site to fill out the form: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa.

Hopefully you have had a chance to talk with your child’s teachers through email, on the phone, or in person. If not, please take the time to contact them, especially if you have a concern about how your child is doing. I have asked the teachers to do the same. Also, feel free to contact Mr. Moss or myself if something comes up.

Email: melissa.hill@lemarscsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/lemarscsd.org/lchs-counseling/home
Twitter: @lemarsguidance

Email: judd.kopperud@lemarscsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/lemarscsd.org/lchs-counseling/home
Twitter: @lemarsguidance

Saturday, November 11, 2023 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Saturday, February 24, 2024 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Saturday, April 20, 2024 1:00 PM – 4:00 PM

All meetings we will be in Room 101- Mr. Bahr at the high school.

Link to sign up - https://bit.ly/LCHSACTPREP

We are off to a great start at Le Mars Middle School as we end Quarter 1. We have just finished up Middle School Parent/Teacher Conferences. While we had great attendance, please feel free to reach out to the Middle School office or your child’s teachers if you ever have any questions or concerns. Our first quarter ended on October 24th. Reminder the Middle and Elementary School’s semester ends on January 11th. You should be receiving grade reports for quarter 1 in the mail. We do set up Pass Plans for students in danger of failing a class. These meetings are used to help determine what supports are needed for each student in order for them to be successful.

Fall seasons have finished up, we had some great participation numbers and are hoping to keep those numbers high as we get into winter sports. Several sports are already starting and we encourage every student in 7th or 8th grade to find something to try out even if it is only for one season. Middle School athletics focuses on teamwork, fundamentals, and sportsmanship. It is a great opportunity for students to get involved and be part of a team.

We have several opportunities to see our Middle School Music Programs in action over the upcoming weeks and before Winter Break. Make sure you check out our Activities’ Calendar on the School’s website for upcoming events.

Email: jason.martin@lemarscsd.org

Email: abby.johnson@lemarscsd.org

School attendance is a powerful predictor of student outcomes. In fact, irregular attendance can be a better predictor of whether students will drop out of school before graduation than test scores, according to the US Department of Education.

Effects of Poor School Attendance.

When children are absent from school, they miss out on consistent instruction that is needed to develop basic skills. Children in early grades are particularly susceptible to falling behind in fundamental reading skills, which can have a snowball effect that impacts future learning.

Poor attendance can also have a negative effect on social and emotional development. For example, students who are chronically absent in the early years of their education may not learn crucial school readiness skills (abilities such as critical thinking, problem solving, and creative thinking), and can fall behind their peers in social-emotional development. Excessive absences are also associated with lower scores on standardized tests, which typically assess primary skills and concepts.

How can parents help with school attendance?

1. Create a positive environment:

• Foster a positive attitude towards school by discussing the benefits of education
• Be enthusiastic about your child's school experiences and show interest in their activities

2. Set a routine:

• Establish a consistent daily routine that includes specific times for waking up, getting ready and leaving for school
• Make sure there’s enough time for breakfast and other morning preparations
  

3. Ensure adequate sleep:

• Set a regular bedtime and stick to it
• Create a bedtime routine that helps your child relax and wind down
  

4. Communicate with teachers:

• Maintain open and regular communication with your child’s teachers to stay informed about their progress and any concerns
• Attend parent-teacher conferences and school events to show your support for your child’s education

5. Be supportive:

• Be there for your child if they have concerns or problems related to school. Provide emotional support and help them find solutions
• Encourage a growth mindset by emphasizing the importance of learning and the value of facing challenges

Clark and Franklin Elementary School Guidance Counselor

kari.kopperud@lemarscsd.org

Kluckhohn Elementary School Guidance Counselor

abby.simington@lemarscsd.org

This month we are talking about responsibility. One way to define responsibility is “taking action and understanding the impact of our choices.” Taking action can mean doing the right thing or completing the tasks you have been assigned. Understanding the impact of our choices means that our actions matter. Positive and responsible actions can help people and irresponsible actions can hurt others. Responsibility is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong. Across grade levels students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

Here are some conversation starters you can use with your child when talking about RESPONSIBILITY::

• Can you share or show what it means to be RESPONSIBLE?
• How can we help each other practice being more RESPONSIBLE?

Now practice as a family:

As a family, think of ways in which you might make someone’s life a little easier by helping a neighbor or family friend with 1 of their responsibilities. Could you bring the garbage to the chute or out to the curb? Could you carry things in from the grocery store? Could you invite someone over for a meal or a show?

Le Mars PTO Mission Statement -- Encourage our children's education and support teachers by building relationships with students and parents in our community.

Thank you to all of the families who came to celebrate August, September, and October birthdays. Thank you to Primebank for serving and sponsoring Birthday breakfast.

At Clark, we had 140 RSVPs, served 16 dozen donuts, and 28 books were donated to the library.

At Kluckhohn, we had 200 RSVPs, served 22 dozen donuts, and 42 books were donated to the library.

PTO's first birthday breakfast of the school year was at Franklin. We had 124 RSVPs, served 14 dozen donuts, and 25 books were donated to the library. We did run out of donuts at Franklin and want to apologize to the families who didn't get donuts. We also want to remind families to send back their RSVPs if plans change so we always have an accurate count. We know special arrangements are made, and we don't want anyone to miss out.

Thank you to the families who donated or bought books in honor of your child's birthday. We have 95 amazing new books in our libraries!

We are looking forward to next quarter’s birthday breakfasts.

Kluckhohn - December 12th

Franklin - December 14th

Clark - December 15th

American Bank will be serving and sponsoring this quarter. We can’t wait to see all the November, December, and January Birthday kiddos and their families!

Sponsors Include: Primebank, The Turnaround, American Bank, Cent Credit Union, Iowa State Bank, Bellissimo, Central Dance Academy, Le Mars Veterinary Clinic, Kylie Petty Century 21, 1st Choice Bank, Schmidt Farms Adam & Amy Schmidt, Smith Co. Manufacturing, Total Motors, Julie Hurt Century 21, Lifewise Academy, Clarey Drywall, Beyond Chiropractic, Tail Trends, Langel's Plumbing & Heating, AgriVision, Schroeder Dozer Service Nathan & Lindsey Schroeder, Impressions Print Shop, Kass Aesthetics. Please thank them for their donation. Without them, this would not be possible.

In last month’s newsletter, our longtime sponsor Central Dance Academy was accidentally omitted from our sponsor list. We sincerely apologize for that.

November is the month to remind us to be thankful for the many positive things happening in our lives. Be thankful for the amazing Le Mars Community Staff who provide support and knowledge every day to students. Be thankful to the volunteer groups, parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and neighbors who believe in quality education and support the public school system. Be thankful for our community and the abundant opportunities that are provided. It is never too early to be grateful for our blessings.

The regular meeting of LEEP was held October 2, 2023. The focus of the meeting was to review the MENuMASTERS event. LEEP board members agreed the event went very well. The final totals will be announced at the November 6th meeting. Thank you again to the chefs, MENuMAIDS, and the many volunteers and donations that helped make the event a success.

Teacher Requests honored during the October meeting:

• Laura VanOtterloo, Kluckhohn PE, approved to purchase a Titan Hybrid Cart with equipment that will be used for recess and PE, for $896.99.
• Sunnie Ludwigs, MS Level 3, Special Education, organizational equipment to teach an organization work system, based on TEACH training, for $102.62.
• Carrie Gill, MS 7th grade Literacy, personal paddle whiteboards for $56.70.
• Molly Boeve, HS Health, and PE, 12 oversized aluminum tennis racquets to use in adaptive PE, for $333.00.
• Mariah Husk, Kluckhohn 5th grade, indoor recess activities such as games, standing white board, and math activities for $181,60.

A total of $1,570.91 in requests were honored.

The next LEEP meeting will be held Monday, November 6, 2023 @ 5:30., in the MS Library, enter through door “C”. Meetings are open to the public.

Have a thankful November and remember, “an investment in Knowledge always pays the best interest."

Students, parents, employees and others doing business with or performing services for the Le Mars Community School District are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, national origin, religion, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, socioeconomic status, and marital status in its educational programs, activities or employment policies and practices in admission or access to, or treatment in, its hiring and employment practices. Any person having inquiries concerning the school district’s compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), § 504 or Iowa Code § 280.3 is directed to contact: Mrs. Rachel Leavitt, Curriculum Director, 940 Lincoln St SW, 546-4155.

Students, parents, patrons and staff of the LeMars Community School District are hereby notified that complaints/allegations of sexual or physical abuse of students by any school employee or person who volunteers services under the control of the district shall be investigated promptly with the investigation handled confidentially to the maximum extent possible.

The Level I Investigator:

Clark Elementary -- Neal Utesch -- 712-546-8121

Franklin Elementary -- Neal Utesch -- 712-546-4185

Kluckhohn Elementary -- Jerad Wulf -- 712-546-7064

Middle School -- Kyle Formanek -- 712-546-7022

High School -- Mark Iverson -- 712-546-4153

The alternate Level I Investigator:

Rachel Leavitt -- 712-546-4155

If the Level I Investigator finds sufficient cause for further investigation, the matter will be referred to the Level 2 Investigator: Chief of Police, Kevin Vande Vegte.

Parents are reminded that only under very special circumstances are students living in town permitted to ride country route buses. We do not have sufficient room on these routes to be able to permiot town students to ride home with country students for visits, birthday parties, etc. Likewise, country students cannot ride the town route buses to the homes of friends.