December Parent Newsletter

Sheldon High School Families,

Please see the newsletter below for exciting accomplishments, upcoming events, and resources for students, parents and families.

As always, thank you for the support you provide to your Sheldon High School student in their academics, as well as their teams and activities!

If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to contact our HS Offices at (712)324-2501 or by email at nick.miller@sheldonschools.com.

Have a great day and GO ORABS!

Mr. Miller

Principal

Sheldon High School

• Tuesday, December 23 - 1:20pm Dismissal
• December 24-January 2 - NO SCHOOL - Winter Break
• Wednesday, January 14 - Friday, January 16 - Semester Exams
• Friday, January 16 - End of 1st Semester (Calendar Change due to delayed HS start)
• Monday, January 19 - NO SCHOOL - Teacher PD/Workday

2025-2026 District Calendar

In the case of inclement weather, school closure/late start announcements can be found via:

• KIWA radio/website
• Sheldon CSD social media pages
• Families can also notified via text, email and/or voice if signed up for our messenger services

A reminder that, with our delayed start, First Semester ends on Friday, January 16. Sheldon High School students in grades 9-12 will take Semester Exams Wednesday, January 14 through Friday, January 16.

Please avoid planned absences during Semester Exams if at all possible. Below is our exam schedule:

Open Campus Opportunities

• Highlighted times are open campus opportunities for anyone not on the Grounded List

• If students are Grounded, these times are to be spent with specific teachers to make up missing assignments and tests

• Grounded List will be updated each day and communicated in the first TA session of the day.

Scheduled Open Periods, Study Halls, College Courses, Internships, etc.

• If students have a scheduled open period, study hall, college course, work experience, etc. and are not on the Grounded List:

• Students are able to have open campus for that period, and any break period before it

• We ask students to return for the break period ahead of their next final

Students without a 7th or 8th Period

• Juniors & Seniors who do not have a 7th or 8th period scheduled in the building, and are not on the Grounded List, do not have to attend on Friday.

• MUST HAVE SIGN-OUT SHEET TURNED IN BY THE END OF THE DAY THURSDAY

• The 2026-27 FAFSA opened on October 1st.

• ICAN is now scheduling FAFSA assistance appointments. You can use this link to register for appointments with them, www.icansucceed.org/apt

• Winter Break is a great time to work on scholarships, use this link to view our local scholarships, https://www.sheldonschools.com/o/shs/page/local-scholarships

• The next ACT is February 14th, the deadline to register is January 9th, students can register at act.org. If your student is eligible for a fee waiver they can pick one up from the student services office.

New members of the Sheldon High School National Honor Society were recognized at the Induction Ceremony on Tuesday, November 19. Congratulations to this year’s inductees:

Juniors:

Addison Dobbins

Alexis Dykstra

Kyler McCuddin

Theresa Nilles

Hallie Robinson

Mayah Rosales

Kate Van Maanen

Seniors:

Kailey Elgersma

Jada Kamstra

Isabella Lourenco

Olivia Prewitt

Kolt Roos

Elias Thiner

On Thursday, November 13, Senator Chuck Grassley visited Sheldon High School and met with our Student Leadership Team, ORAB Leadership class, and National Honor Society members. Senator Grassley visited for roughly an hour, sharing his background, experiences from his extensive policitical career, and answering a number of questions students had prepared.

Join us for a healthy school breakfast! Breakfast is served at the high school Monday through Friday from 7:35-8:10 AM.

Has there been a change in the financial situation of your household?

Households may fill out a Free & Reduced Price School Meals Application if there is a decrease in wages or an increase in the number of household members. If you have already received notification that you qualify for free or reduced meals for the 25-26 school year, it is not necessary to fill out an application.

Applications are available in English and Spanish in the following places:

• A paper application may be picked up in each school building office.
• An online application for download may be accessed on the school website: https://www.sheldonschools.com/page/free
• An online application may be submitted in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal. Choose "More" and then "Meal Benefits."

Please check with Shelley in the District Office for any questions

All parents and guardians have access to Campus Parent. This allows access to student grades, attendance and absences, seeing upcoming assignments and exams, as well as District Announcements and Lunch Account information. Please contact the high school office if you need help accessing Campus Parent. To download the app - search Campus Parent in the App Store or Google Play.

Students have access to all of their Sheldon High School courses through Google Classroom. If your student is having trouble locating an assignment, instructions or lesson plans when sick/absent, this is the best place to start.

If your student has questions related to a class or activity, please first encourage them to contact that staff member in person. Students have a 30-minute Intervention period each day (except Wednesdays) to check in with teachers, complete missing work, and receive extra support. If there are additional questions, click on the image to access the Sheldon High School staff directory.

See our website (sheldonschools.com) for:

• Parent Portal/Pay Schools (where you can check your student’s grades, attendance, lunch balance & pay fees)
• Daily announcements
• Weekly Friday bulletins
• ORAB newsletters at the end of the quarter

• See Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for announcements and other event information

If you would like to receive an electronic notification when sporting events occur and/or have been changed you can sign up at https://www.gobound.com/ia/schools/sheldon

1. Click the green notifications button on the left side of the screen.
2. Enter appropriate information, and select the notifications you would like to receive and how you would like to receive them (email and/or text).

Board Policy – Code No. 102.E1 Students, parents, employees and others doing business with or performing services for the Sheldon Community School District are hereby notified that this school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, creed, sex/gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or socio-economic status in admission or access to, or treatment in, its programs and activities. The school district does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age (except students), religion, national origin, creed, sex/ gender, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or socio-economic status in admission or access to, or treatment in, its hiring and employment practices. Any person having inquiries concerning the school district's compliance with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), § 504 or Iowa Code § 280.3 is directed to contact:

Cynthia Barwick, MS Principal Sheldon CSD

310 23rd Avenue Sheldon, Iowa 51201 712-324-4346

Cynthia Barwick, Middle School Principal, has been designated by the school district to coordinate the school district's efforts to comply with the regulations implementing Title VI, Title VII, Title IX, the ADA, § 504 and Iowa Code § 280.3 (2007).