Weekly Update: January 11, 2019
Weekly Update: January 11, 2019
Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Families and Friends,
Although it is rather cold outside, these past sunny days have been rather refreshing. Brace yourself, I hear that snow is on its way. Please be sure that your Infinite Campus contacts are up to date in the event that I need to reach you regarding any delayed starts or school cancellations.
Superintendent weekly highlight:
This week has been very busy for me. Each month, I travel to Cedar Falls to the Central Rivers AEA superintendent’s meeting as well as serve on the AEA advisory committee. It just so happened that this month they fell in the same week. These sessions are filled with upcoming legislation information, updates from the Department of Education and the AEA, professional development activities, curriculum, and instructional strategy information. This week, I had the opportunity to learn from Dr. Anthony Muhammad. His message on Transforming School Culture was really awesome. His message: “Our continual efforts to focus on healthy school environments are a result of reflective and prescriptive practices” and “Learning for all students is the responsibility of all educators in the school”. I am proud of our teams efforts to continue to learn about the Multi Tiered System of Support in which planning for all students is our focus. We continue to develop this method and learn about how we can ensure that students needs are met daily so that they are not waiting to learn. Thank you staff for working so hard to ensure that our students have what they need.
A Few Updates:
Final listening tour at GMS - Monday, January 14 5:00-7:00 PM
Join us for the final listening tour at the Middle School. This is your opportunity provide feedback about our schools and facilities. You will have an opportunity to tour the school building too. If you can not make this final session, please feel free to answer the following statement on the Facility feedback form.
Board Meeting Update:
The Board of Education met this past Wednesday night! The Board was grateful for the following donations to cover student negative lunch balances: Anna Kayte’s - $2,000.00, Crystal DeNeve- $200.00 Thank You! The Board listened to a presentation from the GHS School Counselors on current activities and programming for students. The Board also learned that next year that is our goal to keep staffing allocations for the district the same. There will be some shuffling in the district between schools, however we will maintain the same number of staff. We will continue to examine our student enrollment and needs following kindergarten registration.
Just a reminder the district is selling some old welding equipment. Check out the Sale of Industrial Tech old Welding and Fabrication Equipment Bid Sheet.
10 day of kindness - January 25-February 3, 2019
The Grinnell community will be participating in a 10 Days of Kindness initiative from January 25-February 3. During this time there will be multiple opportunities for community members, businesses and schools to participate.
Contact your teacher or school office to learn more about how you can volunteer during the 10 Days of Kindness.
Band Booster Potato Bar is tonight! I hope that you can come out to join us between 5-7:00 PM. Also- it is a home basketball game night!
Fairview students enjoying the warm January temperatures:
Grinnell Middle School January Students of the Month:
Please continue to check out the Virtual Backpack!!
There are some amazing activities coming up! All families may enjoy the “illusionist” event at Hotel Grinnell this Sunday at 3:00 PM.
Jr. and Sr. girls have an opportunity to attend a financial literacy session on January 25 during lunch hour (12:00-1:00 pm) at the Drake Library. The focus is to empower women in learning more about their finances. Lunch will be served. It is open to the public. Students interested should sign up in the counseling office.
Upcoming Events:
Friday, January 11
4:45 JV Boys & Girls Basketball @ Home
5:00 Band Boosters Potato Bar
6:00 9th Grade Boys Basketball @ Home
6:15 Varsity Girls Basketball @ Home
7:30 JV II Girls Basketball @ Home
7:45 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Home
Saturday, January 12
10:00 Varsity Boys Swimming Invitational @ Southeast Polk
10:30 Varsity Wrestling Invitational @ Marion
11:00 JV Boys & Girls Basketball @ Home
12:30 JV II Girls Basketball @ Home
12:30 9th Grade Boys Basketball @ Home
2:00 Varsity Girls Basketball @ Home
3:30 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Home
Monday, January 14
5:00 Facility Listening Tour @ GMS
6:00 JV Boys Basketball @ Home
Tuesday, January 15
4:30 8th Grade Boys Basketball @ Pella
4:30 7th Grade Boys Basketball @ Home
Thursday, January 17
4:30 7th Grade Boys Basketball @ Home
5:15 Varsity Boys Swimming @ Indianola
6:00 9th Grade Boys Basketball @ Oskaloosa
6:30 JV & Varsity Wrestling @ Newton
7:30 JV Boys Basketball @ Oskaloosa
Friday, January 18
4:45 JV Girls Basketball @ Oskaloosa
6:15 Varsity Girls Basketball @ Oskaloosa
7:30 Varsity Boys Basketball @ Oskaloosa
Saturday, January 19
8:00 State Jazz Band @ Pella
9:00 District Large Group Speech
9:00 SEIBA Honor Band Festival @ Iowa City
10:00 Varsity Wrestling Invitational @ Williamsburg