Christine Grant Chronicle

Hello Grizzlies,

We were thrilled to have our students return to school after a well-deserved winter break! We hope you had an awesome time, whether you were cozying up with a good book, traveling, or spending time with your family.

We are going to have a fantastic rest of the year full of new learning and experiencing many opportunities to be Grizzly Great!

Monday, January 20th - No School

Wednesday, January 29th - No School

Come join the PTO and Student Council for a groovy time at Christine Grant Elementary! Get ready to bust a move at our Mini Dance Marathon Sock Hop. Put on your favorite dancing shoes and show off your best dance moves. We will also have crafts, games, and snacks for purchase with all proceeds benefiting the Children's Hospital. This event is all about having fun for a good cause. Entry will be free but donations will be accepted to benefit University of Iowa's Dance Marathon. Don't miss out on this exciting event - see you on the dance floor!

Check out the DETAILS!!

Grant Families!

The Yearbook needs your help! Do you have yearbook worthy photos from Grant events?

We'd love to see them!

Events include (but not limited to):

Ice Cream Social

First Day of School

Homecoming Parade/Week

Special Class Activities

School of the Wild

Field trips

Birthday Boulder

Submit pics to https://photos.jostens.com/XH6YED

See the link below to register for Liberty Athletic Camps!. There is also a Dance Clinic coming up next week.

Liberty Camps

We’d love to welcome your little one to our preschool family! Our 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 options also available.

Preschool registration for the 2025-26 school year opens Feb. 6, 2025. Register on-site between 4 & 6 pm at City High, Liberty High, or West High School. Online registration is also available beginning at 4 pm on Feb. 6.

Learn more at www.IowaCitySchools.org/Preschool

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,

Your mental health matters, and we want to take a moment to remind you that support is always available. While we celebrate many wonderful moments within our school district community, we also understand that challenges can arise throughout the year.

We encourage you to take advantage of the school-based support services available to you, including School Counselors, Student Family Advocates, and other District staff who are here to assist students in every school. Additionally, we’ve compiled a list of local and national resources to provide support outside of the school setting. These resources are included at the bottom of this message.

To make accessing support even easier, we’ve created a dedicated webpage with a comprehensive list of available resources. You can find it at www.IowaCitySchools.org/Support.

We are continuously working to strengthen our approach to supporting students, staff, and families while finding new ways to engage everyone in these important conversations. Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you have questions or concerns.

Remember, we are here for you, and it is always okay to ask for help.

Sincerely,

Matt Degner
Superintendent
Iowa City Community School District

Good Afternoon Families and Staff,

It’s that time of year again—winter weather is just around the corner! Snow, ice, and cold can sometimes mean schedule changes. We want to make sure you have the information you need to stay updated on our inclement weather announcements, including school cancellations, delays, and early releases.

Here’s how you can stay in the know:

• Inclement Weather Guidelines: Visit www.IowaCitySchools.org/WeatherGuidelines to review our detailed plan for cancellations, delays, and early releases.
• Late Starts on Thursdays: In the event of a late start on a regularly scheduled early dismissal day (Thursday), the early dismissal will be canceled, and school will follow regular dismissal times.
• Timely Notifications: You’ll receive email, phone, and text notifications with weather announcements.
• Follow Us Online: Stay informed by checking our website and following us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and Threads for updates.
• Check Out Our Mobile App: Download our official Iowa City Schools mobile app for a centralized hub of all school and district-related information, including weather notifications.

We’re here to help! If you have any questions about our weather procedures, feel free to contact our Educational Services Center at (319) 688-1000.

Hello Grizzlies,

Thanks to those who volunteered last year! All volunteers enjoyed their time being with our Grizzlies! We are rolling this out again for the 23-24 year.

Expectations are in place for students in both locations, and a volunteer would be paired with an experienced staff member. Some cafeteria duties include opening containers (milk, juice, etc..), giving out napkins and spending some time interacting in a positive manner. Playground expectations are also in place. Duties are primarily connected to being visible and available for student needs while monitoring for safe choices.

This sign up link offers opportunities to sign up for specific days and times. We included the lunch/recess schedule so you will know the grade level and location.

The district does have protocols for volunteering. This link will direct you to the online background check.

Not only do we appreciate any support, we are also excited that parents have the opportunity to get into the school and add to our positive and supportive atmosphere!

Thanks!

Mr. Turnis

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

The school day runs from 7:55-2:55. Our weekly one hour early out (1:55) will be each Thursday this year.

Here is a link to the district elementary handbook. There will be some updates added soon relative to attendance. Please let us know if you have any questions.

Sarah Siddig is Grant's SFA.

Sarah can assist families in a variety of ways including, but not limited to:

• seeking out community resources
• assisting with registration
• building home-school connections
• locating school supplies and winter gear
• housing
• transportation
• attendance
• accessing mental health supports

As noted above, breakfast and lunches are back on a payment system this coming year. A pricing link is included above.

Breakfast is available at a cost daily for all Grizzly students from 7:40-7:50. If opting to have school breakfast, please use the front doors. Depending on the number of students accessing breakfast, we may adjust to an earlier time.

BIRTHDAY BOULDERS

The celebratory boulders have been fun! For a $10 donation to the PTO, you can “rent” the large boulders in front of the building and paint a special birthday message for your child on their big day.

Here’s how it works:

1. Sign up for a date to “rent” a boulder. Reserve both if you’re extra ambitious! The $10 reservation fee goes straight to the PTO support teachers, students, and staff at Grant.

2. Pay through our secure payment portal (you’ll get instructions after reserving your date)

3. Come up with your birthday message design idea. Is your kiddo into sharks? Cover the rock with blue and put Jaws on there. Does your child love all things strawberries? Paint a bushel of them around their name. It's all up to your imagination.

4. Gather your materials—we’ll advise you on the best kind of paint to use. You can begin painting after 4pm the day before your rental.

All the guidelines and details can be found on the sign up sheet >> Reserve a Birthday Boulder

https://www.facebook.com/ChristineGrantGrizzlies/

@ChristineGrantGrizzlies

Email: turnis.ken@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/Domain/4089
Location: 1000 Centro Way, North Liberty, IA
Phone: 319-688-1500
Facebook: facebook.com/ChristineGrantGrizzlies/

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Eric Howard, Director of Equity and Employee Relations, 1725 N. Dodge St., Iowa City, IA 52245, 319-688-1000, Howard.eric@iowacityschools.org.