Crocker Chronicles

The Crocker Chronicles is a monthly e-newsletter for parents and guardians of students at Crocker Elementary School. Our goal is to keep you informed of the news and information you need in order to be involved and engaged in your student's education.

It is that time of year again! Registration for the 2024-2025 school year will open on Friday, February 2nd at 8:00 am. Follow this link to the Ankeny Schools Registration page.

Who needs to complete enrollment? Everyone!

All existing families are required to complete the annual update for each student in their household using the Infinite Campus portal. This is also where existing families can add a child who is new to the district, such as incoming preschool or kindergarten students.

Preschool and Kindergarten families - don’t wait to register!

For your student to be placed in their home building, it’s crucial that you register as soon as possible. Waiting to register may result in your student being assigned to a different building. This is because some buildings fill up very quickly. Don’t wait!

Transitional Kindergarten Comes to Ankeny Schools
Ankeny Schools is excited to announce the addition of a transitional kindergarten (TK) program for the 2024-2025 school year. This new level provides needed time for students to develop the necessary social or academic skills needed to bridge preschool and kindergarten.

Registration will be part of the general registration process opens on February 2, 2024. As with preschool, space is limited and based on the time and date of submitted complete registration. Class sizes will be limited to 20 students per class, while the final number of classrooms will be determined by the district later in the spring.

If you receive any calls related to Transitional Kindergarten, please refer parents to the Registrar’s Transitional Kindergarten website page for additional information. Applicants will receive an email by the end of March confirming a classroom spot or placement on the waitlist.

Crocker's Family Night if Tuesday, February 6, 2024!

Students and families are invited to join in some fun games and activities while exploring the 7 Habits!

All Ankeny elementary schools will host a kindergarten information night on Thursday, February 8th, from 6:00-7:00 p.m. This night will allow families to learn more about kindergarten at their child's home building, as well as to turn in the kindergarten checklist, learn more about Kindergarten Jumpstart, and meet other families at the school. Registration opens to all families on Friday, February 2nd at 8:00 am.

Please note that families transitioning to a new building next year due to boundary changes should attend the school their child will attend for the 24-25 school year, including families that will be attending Abbie Grove this fall.

You can find more information about registering for Kindergarten on our website.

Please share this information with families that may not be aware of this meeting for a first time kindergarten student! Thank you!

Looking for a way to help keep our students safe? See below for information on becoming a Ankeny Schools Crossing Guard!

Students/Parents of 3rd-5th Grade,

For the next few weeks, we will be roller-skating in PE class for grades 3-5. Skates, helmets, and protective equipment will be provided for all students.

Students can also bring and use their own equipment, if they wish to do so.

If for some reason, your student cannot participate in the skating unit, please email Mr. Dittmar to let him know.

Thank you

bradley.dittmar@ankenyschools.org

Music Spotlight happens during your student’s normally scheduled music class. Each classroom meets on a different day, throughout the week, Kindergarten from 12:25-1:05 p.m. and 2nd Grade from 1:10-1:55 p.m. The Google Forms below specify which day each classroom meets and the date the Music Spotlight experience is available.

If you would like to attend, please complete the grade specific Google Form and provide the names of up to two people, per child, who will come to observe music class. As this is during our regularly scheduled class period, we ask that only adults attend.

Kindergarten Sign Up Form

2nd Grade Sign Up Form

All attendees are required to have their State Issued ID scanned through the RAPTOR system. If you have already done this during the 2023-2024 school year, we will have your visitor’s badge ready for you. If not, and you’d like to save some time on Music Spotlight day, you may stop in the office anytime between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to have it pre-scanned prior to the event day.

On the day of the Music Spotlight, please arrive at Crocker 10 minutes prior to the start of class time so you can check in at the school office and complete the needed details to ensure everyone’s safety.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact Ms. Peek at taylor.peek@ankenyschools.org

Volunteers are needed to help our Crocker book fair run efficiently during conference week! This is an important fundraiser for our school library and more importantly, gets new and exciting books in the hands of our students!

All volunteers must have their background check and updated volunteer paperwork completed prior to volunteering. Click here for the Ankeny Schools Volunteer Portal page if you have not already signed up to be a volunteer or here to login to your MyImpact account. Look for the Book Fair option to sign up for a shift on February 26th or 27th!

I try my best to communicate most health office visits with you so you know when your student is injured or not feeling well. I email the non-urgent visits, and call with more pressing concerns. Please make sure your email and phone number are current in Infinite Campus. If your student needs to go home and you are busy at work, please make a plan for someone who can pick them up if you are unavailable.

Wet and snowy weather means there is a great need for extra clothes. Please pack an extra outfit and pair of socks in your child’s bag in case their clothes get wet at recess, or undergo some sort of other accident during the day! Dry air also means lots of chapped lips–please remember to pack a water bottle and chapstick for your student to use.

Thank you so much for continuing to monitor your students for symptoms of illness and keeping them home when they are not feeling well. No matter what virus they may have, students should stay home for 24 hours after having a fever, vomiting, or having diarrhea

During the month of February in classroom guidance, students will be learning about problem solving strategies. Teaching problem solving skills reduces impulsive behaviors and improves social competence and friendships. The skills taught in this unit are designed to build students’ ability to handle interpersonal conflicts effectively. Students capable of calming down and solving their own problems are more successful in school and their interpersonal relationships.

The problem solving steps are:

S- Say the problem in a non-blaming way

T- Think of solutions that are safe and respectful.

E- Explore the consequences – positive and negative

P- Pick the best solution

Mrs. Kennedy, School Counselor

marisa.kennedy@ankenyschools.org

Parent/Teacher Conferences are scheduled for February 26th, 27th and 28th. You should have already received a sign-up link from your student's teacher. If you did not receive this link, please email your student's teacher to resend. Thank you.

Students, parents, and community members are invited to participate in the nomination process for the ACSD People of the Year awards, an event that recognizes outstanding contributions to our educational community.

Nomination forms open on February 1st for the following awards:

Education Professional of the Year Nomination Form

Support Staff Member of the Year Nomination Form

Volunteer of the Year Nomination Form

Your nominations will help us recognize and celebrate the outstanding people that make our school district a great place to be! Please take a moment to consider individuals who have made a positive impact and submit your nominations by March 1, 2024.

On Tuesday, March 5th fourth grade students will be taking a field trip to the Civic Center to attend the Des Moines Symphony youth concert. The concert program will include: Carnival Overture by Antonin Dvorak, Capriccio Espagnol by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Lightspeed by Kevin Day and The Imperial March by John Williams .

We will be participating in interactive learning about instrument families, musical content and styles and discussing concert etiquette in preparation for our field trip. What a great opportunity for our students!

Dress-up attire is appropriate. Students will return to school in time for their regular lunch and recess. Please watch for an upcoming email regarding the trip and completing the Infinite Campus field trip permission form.

Crocker Cruisers will start up again in March after spring break!

Volunteer opportunities to cheer on our student and staff runners and walkers are now available to sign up for. Become a volunteer by completing the 3 steps on our Ankeny Schools Volunteer Page or login to your MyImpact account and look for the Crocker Cruiser activity.

Summer Adventures Camp: get ready for a summer full of sizzling fun! Registration is open to any student completing grades K-5 during the 2023-24 school year. Camp dates are June 3 - August 16. Each week includes fun, hands-on, theme-based enrichment activities focused on science, arts, technology, and recreation, as well as field trips. Two convenient Ankeny Community School District locations. Space is limited! Check out the details by clicking here! Online registration opens February 1 to current B/ASP students & 2023 Summer Adventures Camp students. Registration opens February 8 to all other students.

Now Hiring! Before & After School Program Teachers & Program Assistants: Do you know someone 16 & older who would be an amazing addition to our B/ASP team? We're hiring for multiple positions! If you know someone who loves working with elementary-aged students; working on an energetic team; and who's a committed, positive role model, encourage them to apply online today: https://ankeny.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx?jcat=BASP!

Questions? Contact the central Before & After School Program office - 515-289-3925 or basp@ankenyschools.org

As winter approaches please be mindful of crosswalk areas.

Per Ankeny city code, when drivers approach guarded crosswalks, "the driver of a vehicle shall bring such vehicle to a full stop at a point at least ten feet from the approach side of the crosswalk". However, we're often getting drivers sitting in our crosswalks. Not only does this obstruct the crosswalk when pedestrians need to cross, but it also blocks the line of sight for through-traffic to see our pedestrians/crossing guards and vice versa.

Thank you for your assistance in keeping everyone safe!

Please scan the QR Code below for eligibility information and application forms. Forms are available online in English and Spanish.

As the temperatures start to get colder, please remember to send appropriate clothes with your students for recess:

• Coat
• Hat
• Mittens
• Snow Boots
• Snow Pants

When the temperature and/or wind chill is a 0 degrees or below, students will not go outside for recess.

Thank you!

Please contact the school if your child will be absent from school, arriving late or leaving early. You may call Crocker at 515-965-9710 or email cr.office@ankenyschools.org and include your student's teacher or enter in the Absence Request tool in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal . We do need a reason why a student is not in school.

To enter an absence request in the parent portal please follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
2. Select your child's profile.
3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.
4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
5. Submit your request.

Visit this Absence Request Guide for detailed information on how to report absences.

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Per the student handbook, students who know they will be absent for a reason other than a school-sponsored trip or school-sponsored activity must have a parent notify the school’s office in advance of the absence.

If the school is not notified of an absence, the office will attempt to contact the Parents/Guardians at their primary number listed on Infinite Campus.

Stay informed with what is going on with Crocker PTO by visiting their website CrockerPTO.org

You can connect with us on Facebook and Instagram for information and updates about "Life at Crocker"! Tell your family and friends, too!

Use this link to find our Back-to-School Guide: Everything You Need to Know!
These Back to School tips, are helpful all year long!!

Unforeseen accidents in the classroom, lunch room and playground can result in wet or soiled clothing. Please make sure your student(s) has the following back-up items in a grocery sack or large ziploc that can be kept in their locker for those unforeseen accidents.

Appropriate back-up clothing suggestions:

• Shirt
• Long pants
• Underwear
• Sock
• PE shoes

While it is encouraged for students to have appointments outside of school hours we understand that at times this is not always possible. When you know your student has an appointment and will need to be picked up from school during the day please call the Crocker Office to let them know you are coming. When you come to the school, ring the Aiphone doorbell and state who you are here to pick up. We will ask for you to remain outside to wait for your student.

If your student forgets to bring something needed that day for class, we ask that you ring the Aiphone doorbell and we will ask for you to put the items on the table just inside the door. Please label item with the student's name and teacher.

Please remember that delivery's of flowers, candy, balloons, or presents are not accepted for students as stated in the parent handbook and will be sent back with the delivery driver.

Please remember to send a water bottle with your child everyday! This promotes hydration throughout the day and fewer classroom disruptions by cutting down on the student need to leave class and visit the drinking fountain.

The Ankeny Elementary Physical Education Department recommends that students keep an extra pair of tennis shoes at school to use. This promotes better safety and full participation in all physical education activities.

The information distributed in the Virtual Backpack (vBackpack) is provided as a community service to inform members of the community of available activities or services. The majority of information included in the vBackpack is from community organizations. Community groups can submit their information within certain guidelines, governed by Board Policy #1004.25.

Virtual Backpack

Email: cr.office@ankenyschools.org
Website: crocker.ankenyschools.org
Location: 2910 Southwest Applewood Street
Phone: 515-965-9710
Facebook: facebook.com/CrockerElementarySchool
Twitter: @AnkenyCrocker

Ankeny Community School District does not discriminate based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party preference, military affiliation, socioeconomic status, or familial status. Inquiries or grievances may be directed to Kenneth Morris, Jr., Equity Director, 306 SW School Street, P.O. Box 189, Ankeny, IA, 50021-0189, (515) 965-9600, kenneth.morris@ankenyschools.org; or the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office Building, Des Moines, IA, 50319-0201, (515) 281-4121; or the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1475, Chicago, IL 60661.