Weekly Update: July 30, 2021
Weekly Update: July 30, 2021
Dear Grinnell-Newburg Board of Education, Staff, Families, and Friends:
Happy Friday! It has been an exciting week for our SLICK students as they returned to their sessions this week. Thank you to all of our families for returning! Attendance was impressive and students engaged in fun activities. Take a look at the photos below! Thank you to our teachers, coordinators, LINK, and AmeriCorp members to make this experience so much fun for our students!
We will soon welcome our new teachers on August 16, 2021, and all staff, on August 18, back to school. All staff members will receive an official welcome back letter with information early next week. Please check your email with important back-to-school and professional development activities. I look forward to our official welcome opening day kick-off on August 18, 2021, at Grinnell High School. Enjoy your remaining summer days! We look forward to seeing you back soon!
COVID-19 Update:
I have had many inquiries about the return to school regarding COVID. The Iowa Department of Public Health released this information for the public:
We are closely monitoring the COVID-19 numbers in Poweshiek County as well as the announcements from the Centers for Disease Control and Governor Reynolds. Please read below for Poweshiek County updates as of July 28.
**COVID-19 positive cases have shown an uptick over the last two weeks, and we continue to encourage those who have not been vaccinated and are eligible to please get the vaccine.
**Total Positive COVID-19 cases in Poweshiek County are 1,598 with a 14-day positivity rate of 3.4%. In the last 14 days, we have had 10 new positive cases.
**Social distancing, mask-wearing, good hand hygiene, and vaccination continue to be our best tools to stop the spread of COVID-19.
**We encourage individuals to be fully vaccinated before traveling. Please reference the link below to look at transmission and vaccination rates in your travel destination.
https://covidactnow.org/?s=
The Grinnell Community School District encourages families to consider wearing masks indoors upon return to school. The School District can not require masks under the law. All student instruction will be held on-site this fall following what is allowable under the department of education guidance. We will implement extra cleaning, maintaining the same transportation procedures, having hand sanitizer available, and encouraging hand washing. We will monitor the virus and as soon as a vaccine becomes available for students under the age of 12, I will coordinate with the Iowa Department of Public Health to host a vaccine clinic for families.
National Night Out! Tuesday, August 3
This Tuesday is Night National Night Out, this event will be held in Grinnell’s Central Park from 6-8 PM. It is a wonderful time to meet our Grinnell Police Officers, eat some free and delicious ice cream, and meet your neighbors and community members! I hope you and your family can come out and enjoy the fun!
In Person Registration Night - August 2, 2021 4:00pm-6:00pm at the High School
It is that time of year when we gear up for the fall! We will host an in-person registration night for families who need assistance with online registration. We are here to assist you to register your students.
2021-2022 Online Registration:
Log into your parent portal to register.
Please do not forget to complete your free and reduced form if you qualify! Although lunch will be free for all students once again, it is important that if you qualify that you complete the form to ensure your fees and other items will also be covered.
If you have questions about your parent portal please contact Katie Osborn at katie.osborn@grinnell-k12.org or 236-2676.
Does your student need to ride the bus?
Transportation Sign Up
Bailey Park Transportation Request
Fairview Transportation Request
Davis Elementary Transportation Request
Middle School Transportation Request
High School Transportation Request
Free Meals will be offered for all Students: Fee Waiver Application available for other fees for families.
Our schools are offering FREE meals to all students in the school year 2021-2022. All students will have access to free breakfast and lunch.
Families who need additional financial assistance for registration and other school-related fees should complete a free and reduced-price application form. This will enable families who qualify for this additional support to waive school fees and P-EBT. Apply online in your Infinite Campus parent portal under the More section and click on the Meal Benefits section or return the completed paper application to any school building or the district office. If your student(s) qualified for direct certification you will be getting a letter in the mail with a paper waiver to return to the school.
Thank you!
Carrie Nachazel
Food Service Director
LOCAL CITIZEN(S) RECEIVE(S) GOVERNOR’S VOLUNTEER AWARD: Congratulations!GRINNELL, IA – Grinnell Mutual and Grinnell Middle School received a Governor’s Volunteer Award from Governor Kim Reynolds and Lt. Governor Adam Gregg during a special recognition ceremony held virtually on July 14, 2021. The two organizations were honored with a service award by the Iowa Department of Transportation for their 30-year partnership in cleaning a portion of Highway 146 south of Grinnell. “Through our long-standing Partnership in Education, our highway cleanup efforts serve our local community, reinforce an important message to our school students, and provide an important collaborative effort between our business and the local school,” noted Barb Baker, director of advertising and community relations at Grinnell Mutual. “We appreciate this acknowledgment from the Iowa DOT.” Grinnell Middle School educator and partnership co-chair Jill Hulsing added, “We are very excited about this recognition. Our strong partnership and commitment to this community service are important to us in teaching our students about volunteering and serving others.” “Reaching out and lending a helping hand is at the core of who we are as Iowans,” said Governor Kim Reynolds. “For 37 years, the Governor's Volunteer Award program has recognized those with a deep commitment to serving their communities in unique and meaningful ways. It’s truly an honor to recognize their work and convey the gratitude of our state.” More than 790 awards are being presented this year during a ceremony held virtually on July 14. It is estimated that more than 265 communities in Iowa were served by this year’s honorees. "The Governor's Volunteer Award recipients demonstrate a unique commitment to service for others," said Lt. Governor Adam Gregg. "I hope their commitment inspires even more Iowans to engage in the gift of volunteering." Coordinated by Volunteer Iowa, the Governor's Volunteer Award program provides an easy way for Iowa nonprofits, charitable organizations, and government entities to honor their volunteers with a prestigious, state-level award. More information, a complete list of award recipients, and an electronic copy of this news release are available at volunteeriowa.org. |
Slick and Enrichment class students enjoy Summer Fun!
Let’s Get Baking with Mrs. Edsen
Don’t forget to check the Virtual Backpack!
Enjoy your summer! We look forward to seeing our students on August 23, 2021, for the first day of school. Please contact your building principal or school office beginning next week if you have specific questions about your child’s program.
Sincerely,
Janet