Wizards Newsletter

Hello Wickham Families,

This past Wednesday (2/11), families received a smore newsletter with important information about Parent-Teacher Conferences, including how to sign up for conference times. Please take a moment to review that newsletter or see below for a brief overview along with links to access the newsletter and sign-up form.

We’re also excited to share that Readers Are Leaders Day is coming up next Friday, February 20th! This special day will give students extra time to immerse themselves in reading and celebrate the joy of books together. In addition to the wonderful support from our families, we’re thrilled to welcome a few celebrity guest readers who will be sharing stories with multiple classrooms. You may even see some pictures of them featured in next week’s Smore! In the meantime, please check your student’s classroom teacher newsletter for any remaining volunteer opportunities.

As you’ll see in the Office Updates below, our wonderful secretary, Emily, will be leaving Wickham in March to spend time with her mother. While we are supportive of her decision to focus on family, we will miss her more than she knows. She has been the steady, organized, high-energy presence that keeps our days running smoothly, and her impact on our community will last well beyond her time in the office. Once a Wizard, always a Wizard, and she will forever be part of our family.

Please remember that there is no school this coming Tuesday, 2/17. Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the warm(ish) weather.

We are looking forward to Spring Conferences!! It's a great time to celebrate all the wonderful things your child is doing at Wickham. Conferences will be 20 minutes long and are being offered in person and via Zoom. You are only REQUIRED to meet with your students classroom teacher, other support staff are optional.

Conferences will be offered on:

February 25th - 3:10 pm - 6:55 pm

March 4th - 7:40 am - 6:55 pm

Click HERE to read additional information and instructions for conferences.

Click the button below to sign up for a conference!

Your voice matters! As we continue to implement Levels One & Two of High Reliability Schools (HRS), we're capturing feedback from families to improve how our school functions. Share your thoughts and help us create the best environment for our students by clicking the box BELOW!

Dear Wickham Families,

I wanted to personally share that I will be stepping away from my role at Wickham, with my final day being March 3rd. Many of you have probably noticed my absence for portions of this school year. This absence has been due to my mom’s ongoing cancer treatment, which has required a lot of travel and time by her side. While I wish things were different, I know this is the right step so I can be fully present for my family during this time.

Over the past four years at Wickham, it has been such a joy to be part of this community. I will truly miss seeing your children each day and being a small part of their school experience. The connections I’ve made with students and families here are ones I will always carry with me.

Beginning March 3rd, my school email will no longer be active. After that date, please direct any communication to Susan or Heather at Wickham, who will be happy to assist you.

Thank you for your kindness and support during my time at Wickham. This school and community will always hold a very special place in my heart. If you are willing, I would be grateful to have my family kept in your thoughts during this time. 🤍 You are welcome to share this information with your student, as I won't be announcing anything, though teachers may be.

Warmly,
Miss Emily MacLeod

Meal Option for Students Observing Ramadan

We are excited to share that we will again be allowing students who are fasting for Ramadan to take their meals off-site at the end of the school day. Our Nutrition Services Department is working with each school to ensure that students requesting this option receive both breakfast and lunch in a convenient grab-and-go format. Meals will be offered starting on February 18 through March 13, 2026, and will be charged based on student meal status (free, reduced, or full price).

If your child would like to participate in this program, please reach out to the school’s main office to request meals by February 13, 2026. For additional information, please contact the Nutrition Services Department at (319) 688-1021.

Spring Picture Reminder 📸
Spring photos are pre-order only this year! Unlike fall pictures, only students who have purchased before picture day will be photographed. Ordering closes at 5:00 AM on picture day.

Order here: https://shop.imagequix.com/g1001349785

You may also order using the picture form sent home by your students teacher this week.

February 17th- No School, District Closed
February 20th- Readers are Leaders Day
February 20th- MidWestOne Bank Art Show (Optional) Projects Due
February 25th- Kindergarten Field Trip
February 25th- Conferences (3:10 PM - 6:55 PM)
March 2nd- Halverson Spring Casuals
March 4th- NO SCHOOL for Students

Linked here is our 2025-2026 District Calendar!

Visit Pizza Hut at 2439 2nd ST Suite 7 on Tuesday, March 10th between 12:00 AM - 11:30 PM to enjoy a delicious meal while supporting Kate Wickham Elementary PTO.

With 20% of your orders being donated, you can savor every bite knowing you're giving back! RSVP & get all the details here: https://grouprai.se/s320462

Teachers' Conference Meal

Please consider a monetary donation as we support our teachers by providing a meal from Jersey Mike's Subs during Parent Teacher Conferences on the evening of February 25.

Visit https://www.wickhampto.org/store to donate!

Thank you for your support!

It’s time for the MidWestOne Bank Art Show! This is an optional project. All entries must be submitted to Ms. Lasansky by February 20, 2026. Each year, MidWestOne Bank selects 50 featured artists, and the chosen artwork will be professionally framed through their partnership with Blick Art Materials in Downtown Iowa City.

ALL entries will be displayed at the MidwestOne Bank Downtown location, and everyone is invited to the open house on April 9, 2026.

Important Instructions:

• Projects must be mounted on a separate sheet of construction paper at home.
• The entry form must be filled out, signed, and attached to the back of your artwork. (See the entry form for full instructions.)

We are very excited to see all the entries!

Ms. Lasansky and Ms. Goeken

Looking for information on Securly, our web filtering tool?

Find all the information here www.IowaCitySchools.org/Securly.

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 (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its 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:

• Laura Cottrell (Executive Director of Educational Services & Student Success) for programming at cottrell.laura@iowacityschools.org
• Nick Proud (Chief Human Resources Officer) for employment at proud.nick@iowacityschools.org, 2255 N. Dubuque Road, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, (319) 688-1000; or
• If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact Janet Abejo-Parker at ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312