VALERIUS WEEKLY DIGEST

MONDAY 4/5- D DAY

TUESDAY 4/6- E DAY

WEDNESDAY 4/7- F DAY

THURSDAY 4/8- A DAY

FRIDAY 4/9- B DAY

Please join us for our PTO meeting on 4/8/21 from 7pm-8pm

ZOOM: https://urbandaleschools.zoom.us/j/88207978635?pwd=Sm1IWDNBK1h1c3lPZHJNMWpmK0JHdz09

Mrs. Cole will be giving a presentation on the move and what to expect.

Urbandale CSD Families and Staff,

I’d like to provide an update regarding the last day of school for the 2020-21 school year. During the March 29 School Board meeting, the Board approved the following plan:

• All schools, except Rolling Green, will make up two days of school at the end of the school year which will make the last day of school Friday, June 4 (original last day was Wednesday, June 2). This accounts for making up two of the three snow days we missed this winter.
• The last day for certified employees will be Tuesday, June 8 (for all schools except Rolling Green).
• The last day of school for Rolling Green will not change; the last day is Friday, June 11. This is also the last day for Rolling Green staff. (Note: Rolling Green will be making up time during their previously scheduled snow make-up days.)

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding with these changes in our school year calendar.

Steve Bass
Superintendent

During this week of school we took the opportunity to reteach mask wearing. Polk County Health Department has shared that numbers in our community are beginning to increase again, and we want to ensure that we are doing our part to prevent the spread.

Below is the guidance from the CDC. The biggest issue we find is reminding students to wear their masks over their nose. We will continue to reinforce this at school through reminding, reteaching, and redirecting.

You can expect an email or phone call from your teacher after redirecting, reteaching and reminding has happened. Please know that this comes from a place of trying to collaborate to keep your student safe and in school. We also have student sized disposable masks to offer students if their cloth mask is not fitting correctly.

This spring, students in the state of Iowa are required to take the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). This assessment was waived last spring due to school closures in spring 2020. However Senate File 2310, passed by the Iowa Legislature late in the 2020 legislative session, expressly states that the ISASP testing requirement will not be waived during this school year. State law further mandates testing during the last quarter of the school year. Therefore, UCSD will administer the ISASP assessment from April 5 - 23, 2021.

There are four tests within the ISASP suite, which are given within five administration sessions. Below is a table showing the different assessments students will take. Also included is a recommended amount of time for each assessment:

Students will take the test using their school-issued Chromebook. Students will be provided with paper/pencil, consumable testing materials if this accommodation is provided for them in their Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 plan. ISASP assessments are not timed, and students can take additional time to complete the assessments if needed. In order to maintain test security, students are required to finish an assessment they have started within the same school day. Students are expected to bring something to work on or a book to read upon completion of a test. Students will not be allowed to access personal electronic devices (i.e. cell phone, tablet, gaming device, etc.) while in the testing session.

Valerius will be giving this assessment during the second week of the testing window. Our schedule is below:

Welcome Urbandale families! We’ll be offering summer programming for current preschool through fifth-grade students. Each grade’s week is planned around a central theme, which gives your child new opportunities to explore, learn, and have fun all summer long. Students will have the opportunity to participate in crafts, games, literacy/math/science enrichment activities, team building, field trips, guest speakers, and group celebrations. Online registration for the 2021 summer program will tentatively begin on Tuesday March 30th, 2021 at 6:00 a.m.​ ​Please thoroughly read through all the information here before registering your child.

Principal: Michelle Cole; colem@urbandaleschools.com

Office Manager: Angie Jones; jonesa1@urbandaleschools.com

Nurse: Jenny Villegas; villegasj@urbandaleschools.com

Guidance Counselor: Melissa MacGregor; macgregorm@urbandaleschools.com

FFO: Brittany Cooley; cooleyb@urbandaleschools.com

Website: https://www.urbandaleschools.com/schools/valerius-elementary/
Location: 3305 92nd Street, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriuselementary