The Twain Tiger Times

Hello Tiger Family,

We are well into Trimester 3 for the 24-25 school year. Summer will be here before we know it! I know the warmer temperatures have been welcomed at Twain. Recesses are just more fun when it's not so bitterly cold. If you know of future preschoolers and kindergartners for next year, please encourage them to contact the elementary office to get registered. We are already making plans for next year and hope to get kiddos registered as soon as possible.

Theresa's Tidbits:

1. Grades 3-5 Music Concert: We are so excited to host our Twain Families for our upcoming music concert on Thursday, April 17th. Our show will begin at 9:30 a.m. Families will be allowed to start entering the building at 9:15 a.m. Families will be directed to the gym where chairs will be available. Our entire student body will also be joining in on the fun! Hope to see you on the 17th @ 9:30 a.m. to support our 3-5 performers!

2. Kindergarten Round Up: The 25-26 Kindergarten Round Up will take place on Wednesday, April 16th. It will begin at 5:30 p.m. All parents/guardians and students are invited to attend. Parents/guardians will meet in the library with various staff to learn about the Kindergarten program. Future Kindergarteners will spend time in the Kindergarten classrooms doing activities with teachers and staff. We hope you can join us!

3. ISASP Testing: Students in grades 3-5 will be engaging in state testing the week of April 7-11th. It's so important that students are in attendance on those days so they can complete the tests. 100% participation is required. We encourage families to ensure that our Tigers get plenty of rest and also have a good breakfast on testing days. A reminder, breakfast is always free for our Tigers so feel free to drop them off a few minutes early to eat breakfast on those days. These assessments are important and serve as the academic measure to show how our school is performing. It's time for our Tigers to shine!

4. Kindergarten Registration and PK Registrations: Spread the Word!!! Registrations for the 2025-2026 school year are open for both! You are welcome to stop into the Twain Elementary to register. You may also visit the following links to do registration online:

PK Registration: https://www.iowacityschools.org/students-families/preschool

K Registration: https://www.iowacityschools.org/students-families/kindergarten

Verification of your child's birthdate (birth certificate, passport), proof of residency (lease, rental agreement, or utility bill), and current immunization records are necessary in order to register. Spread the word to others in the community that have upcoming PK and Kinder students!

5. Yearbook Orders: Yearbook orders are due by April 28th! Please click here to place your order! All 5th graders will receive a free yearbook courtesy of the Twain PTO.

Thanks for all you do to help support our Twain Tigers. As Tigers, we will bring the light and love to all we do. We are all in for ALL Tigers! Please never hesitate to reach out if you have questions, concerns to express or ideas to share. We love to hear from you!

Tigers together🧡 🖤,

Theresa Kirkman

Twain Elementary Principal

Ms. Melissa, Nutrition Educator, from Iowa State University Extension and Outreach joined our second graders for Read Across Iowa. She read a book about making strawberry jam and treated them to a delicious snack!

Monday, March 31:

Tuesday, April 1:

Wednesday, April 2:

• 3rd Grade Field Trip to the Stanley Art Museum
• Jazz Band Assembly

Thursday, April 3:

• Early Out @ 1:55 p.m.
• Twain PTO @ 5:30 in the Library

Friday, April 4:

• Kindergarten Field Trip to the Children's Art Museum

Monday, April 7:

• ISASP Testing Grades 3-5

Tuesday, April 8:

• ISASP Testing Grades 3-5

Wednesday, April 9:

• ISASP Testing Grades 3-5

Thursday, April 10:

• ISASP Testing Grades 3-5
• Early Out @ 1:55 p.m.

Friday, April 11:

• ISASP Testing Grades 3-5

Monday, April 14:

Tuesday, April 15:

Wednesday, April 16:

• Kindergarten Round Up @ 5:30

Thursday, April 17:

• 3-5 Grade Music Concert @ 9:30 a.m.
• Early Out @ 1:55 p.m.

Friday, April 18: NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 21:

• 5th Grade School of the Wild

Tuesday, April 22:

• 5th Grade School of the Wild

Wednesday, April 23:

• 5th Grade School of the Wild

• PTO Day/Night at Shakespeare's

Thursday, April 24:

• 5th Grade School of the Wild
• Early Out @ 1:55 p.m.

Friday, April 25:

• 5th Grade School of the Wild

Monday, April 28:

• Yearbook Orders Due!
• Band and Orchestra Exploration Night 6:00 - 8:00 @ SEMS for current 4th graders

Tuesday, April 29:

Wednesday, April 30:

Thursday, May 1:

• Early Out @ 1:55 p.m.

Friday, May 2:

On the evening of Monday, April 28th from 6:00pm-8:00pm at Southeast Middle School, the Eastside Instrumental Music (Band and Orchestra) teachers will host an Instrument Tryout Night for all current 4th grade students. On that evening, your child will be able to try playing Band and Orchestra instruments that they are interested in and start learning to play once they get into 5th grade. Please click here for more information about the instrument exploration process!

Do you have a little one turning 5 years old on or before September 15, 2025? Then it’s time for Kindergarten Registration! If you have not already registered your child for Kindergarten for the 2025/26 school year, please contact our school office to get started.

Preschool registration for the 2025-26 school year is open.

Do you have a child who will be turning 4 years of age on or before September 15, 2025? If so, please stop in at any elementary school or visit the website to register your child.

All of our preschool teachers are certified in both general and special education, and we offer free half-day programming for 4-year-olds in all of our elementary schools with full-day tuition options also available in all locations.

Feel free to bring registration documents with you, including your child’s immunization records, birth certificate, and health physical. Don’t worry; if you don’t have the records available, we can still get your child registered!

We look forward to welcoming your little one to our preschool family! For more information, visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/Preschool.

1.PTO is being reimagined. If you are interested in helping out in small or large ways, join us at our next meeting. Our next PTO meeting is April 3rd at 5:30 p.m. in the Twain Library.

2. Keep bringing in Hy-Vee receipts! Ms. Janet will take them in the office.

3. Eat at Shakespeare's on Wednesday, April 23rd. 15 % of all food sales comes back to Twain!

4. Yearbook orders are due by April 28th! Please click here to place your order. All 5th graders will receive a free yearbook courtesy of the Twain PTO.

Follow PTO on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/109614672461941

Imagine a summer filled with exciting sports, fascinating encounters, creative art projects, and enriching fieldtrip opportunities. Each day brings a new adventure, with fresh destinations and activities to explore. Plus, there's plenty of time for free play, learning new games, and making new friends. It's the perfect blend of fun and discovery!

NCJC Summer Camp Registration Now Open!!! For youth who have completed Kindergarten to fifth grade

Locations:

Alexander Elementary - 3571 Sycamore St. Iowa City, IA

Mark Twain Elementary - 1355 Deforest Drive Iowa City, IA

Tuition: $260/week - tuition includes all meals and activities

Hours: Monday - Friday 7:30am - 5:30pm

Dates:

Week 1: June 16 - June 20

Week 2: June 23 - June 27

Week 3 - July 7 - July 11

Week 4 - July 14 - July 18

Week 5 - July 21 - July 25

Week 6 - July 28 - August 1

Week 7- August 4- August 8

We CAN'T WAIT to see YOU there!!! Come join the fun!!

Interested in the Iowa City Public Library summer reading program?

Color Our World starts May 27th!

Visit icpl.org/summer for more information!

Twain Elementary will be hosting the ICPL Bookmobile on Thursdays from 2:15 - 2:45 p.m. in the Circle Drive. It will run Monday, January 6 through Friday, May 30, 2025 this Winter/Spring. Please visit the following link for more information about dates and any updates. https://www.icpl.org/services/bookmobile

The Mark Twain Lucas Farms Food Pantry is hosted the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month from 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. at Faith UCC, 1609 Deforest Avenue, Iowa City. This is open to all Twain Families needing assistance with food.

In order to make the food pantry a success, the pantry is always looking for volunteers to assist in picking up, organizing and handing out food. If you are interested in volunteering to help, please contact a_satterly@msn.com. Your help would be greatly appreciated!

It's okay to ask for help! Our District has proudly partnered with CareSolace for 24/7/365 mental health care for students, staff, and their families. For more information, head to: https://www.caresolace.com/site/iccsd

Dear Families,

As we approach registration for the 2025-26 school year, we want to remind you that any request for school meal modifications due to food allergy or food intolerance, requires a completed Diet Modification Form, signed by an approved medical professional and provided to your school. This documentation is essential to ensure that we can accurately and safely honor meal modification requests for your student.

Please review our Food Allergy Protocols. The protocols list guidelines for parents/guardians and staff on how to provide a safe educational environment for food-allergic students so exposure to food allergens is minimized.

Please note the following information:

• Registration Changes in Infinite Campus: We have added three new categories—Food Allergy, Food Intolerance, and Food Preference. Diet modification forms will be required for allergies and intolerances, while food preferences, including religious preferences, will primarily be managed by families.
• Meal Information: Our MealViewer tool provides detailed menu items along with allergen and nutrition information to help guide your choices. Please review this information carefully.
• Data Entry & Safety Checks: All allergen information is manually entered into our system. If you notice any discrepancies or have questions about ingredients or allergens, please contact our Nutrition Services Office immediately at (319) 688-1021. Our Nurses and Nutrition staff will continue to follow established allergy procedures to ensure the safety of our students.
• Communication & Monitoring: The Nutrition Services Office and School Nurses have access to your child's diet information through Infinite Campus. They will review this information with you and school staff as needed. Additionally, our Nutrition Services Team lists allergies and intolerances in our point-of-sale software to provide an extra check during meal service.

We appreciate your cooperation and commitment to keeping our students safe. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Nutrition Services Office.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

The ICCSD's main goal is for students to be in school daily and to confirm their safety with a parent or guardian if they are absent. While we understand absences may occur for reasons like illness, family activities, or appointments, the State of Iowa requires us to track the number of days missed, regardless of the reason.

Reporting Absences:
If your child will be absent, please notify your school’s attendance office before the start of the school day. You can do this by creating an Absence Request in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal or by calling the school attendance office. If we do not hear from you, the school will reach out to confirm your student’s safety and ensure you are aware of their absence.

State Attendance Requirements:
The Iowa Department of Education has implemented strict guidance that requires schools to address absenteeism. As part of this, schools will send notifications to guardians when a student has missed a certain number of days each grading period.

• First Letter: A written notification that your child has missed a certain number of days.
• Second Letter: A certified letter sharing that your child has reached 10% absenteeism in a grading period and that the district was required to inform the county attorney.
• Third Letter: If your child reaches 15% absenteeism, a School Engagement meeting will be scheduled, and an Absenteeism Prevention Plan will be created. If these steps are not followed, the county attorney may initiate legal proceedings.

Additional information about the State’s attendance requirements and absence exemptions, as well as district guidance, is available on the updated Attendance Page of our District website.

Regular school attendance is crucial for your child's success, both academically and socially. Thank you for your partnership in making this a successful year for all our students.

Janet Abejo-Parker, Ombuds, Iowa City Community School District

The Ombuds Office plays an important part in the District's efforts to raise awareness of concerns, promote a civil, equitable, and inclusive organization, and improve organizational culture.

The Ombuds serves as an informal concern and conflict resolution resource regarding school and district-related matters. For example, if you don’t know who to talk to or what to do, the Ombuds provides a safe space to discuss options for resolving your concern or conflict.

Ombuds Guiding Principles

• Independence: Operates independently of other District departments.
• Impartiality: Does not take sides. Works collaboratively with all parties involved.
• Confidentiality: Communications with Ombuds are confidential to the extent permitted by law.
• Informality: A voluntary, supplemental resource; does not participate in formal processes, investigations, or complaints.

You may contact the Ombuds by phone at (319) 688-1312 or by email at ombuds@iowacityschools.org. For more information on the Ombuds role, please visit www.iowacityschools.org/Ombuds.

7:30 a.m.: Students eating breakfast/bus riders arrive

7:40 a.m.: Doors open for students not eating breakfast to go to classrooms

• If your student isn't eating breakfast, please plan to drop them off after 7:40 a.m.

7:55 a.m. Tardy Bell (students should be in the building by this time)

2:55 p.m.: Dismissal (Mon. Tues., Wed. and Fri.) 1:55 pm. (Thurs)

Looking for information on Securly, our web filtering tool? Find all the information here www.IowaCitySchools.org/Securly.

Email: kirkman.theresa@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Page/2438
Location: 1355 Deforest Avenue, Iowa City, IA, USA
Phone: 319-688-1165
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/109614672461941