Beartales

December 22- January 2 - No School - Winter Break

January 5 - Return to school from Winter Break

January 15 - End of 1st Quarter

January 16- No School- Teacher Workday

January 19- Start of 2nd Quarter

January 26- 30 - Fine Arts Week

Hello Bear Families,

January is here, and we’re excited to welcome everyone back for a fresh start to the new year! As the winter season continues, please remember to send your child to school with warm layers, hats, and gloves. The colder months can bring unpredictable weather, and we want all students to stay comfortable throughout the day.

Thank you to everyone who supported our Popcorn Fundraiser! Your participation helps provide fun and meaningful opportunities for our Bryant students. We appreciate your continued support and enthusiasm.

Please note:

There will be no school on January 16th for a Teacher Workday.

Fine Arts Week will be the week of January 26th - January 30th.

As we settle back in after Winter Break, we look forward to a month of learning, growth, and new beginnings. We hope your family enjoyed a restful and joyful holiday season, and we’re excited for all that January will bring!

Mr. Preston Fischer

School will not be in session from Monday, December 22 through Friday, January 2, resuming on Monday, January 5.

School will not be in session on Friday, January 16 due to a teacher workday.

The District has cell phone protocols in place to ensure an engaging and distraction-free environment for our students. The protocols restrict the use of electronic devices during the school day. For more information, please review the 2025-2026 Parent/Guardian & Student Handbook on the District website.

Do the terms Snap map, private account, or ghost mode sound familiar? If you answered no, you are not alone. Many families are unfamiliar with these social media terms and others. The District website offers information for parents on the most popular social media platforms and tips for keeping kids safe online. Information is available on the District’s website.

Stay connected with family-friendly activities, programs, and clubs in the community through Virtual Backpack. The e-newsletter, which includes information from various Siouxland organizations, is sent out monthly to all district families. Or, view the most up-to-date lists of events and activities on the Virtual Backpack website.

With the cooler temperatures upon us, please ensure your child is dressed appropriately for the colder winter. Even during the winter season, the District allows recess and outdoor activities to continue as usual, so it is important that students have the right winter weather clothing. When the temperature feels like 15 degrees or lower, students are kept inside for recess and activities. Students should be prepared for the cooler weather with a warm coat, hat, scarf, and gloves. If your student does not have access to cold-weather apparel, please contact our school office.

As a parent or guardian, you have the right to decide to keep your child home on any day you feel it is unsafe for your student to be in school because of weather conditions. If you believe the weather provides a sincere reason why you may have to keep your student at home or take your student home when classes are scheduled to continue, you, as a parent or guardian, will simply need to contact our school office to let us know.

The District sends out important information regarding school closings and cancellations and other updates to our families via phone, email, and text. Additionally, our school will contact you in case of an emergency or student health concern. Make sure your contact information is updated in our system and that your phone accepts the school’s phone calls. Doing this will ensure you receive school communication promptly and we can reach you in case of an emergency. To make updates to your contact information, please contact our office.

Studies show a strong connection between eating breakfast and improved academic performance. To support a healthy learning environment, our school provides breakfast daily in addition to lunch. Breakfast is served at our building from 8 am to 8:30 am (elementary school) OR 7 am to 8 am (middle and high school).

Visit the District's website for more information on the District’s breakfast and lunch menus.

Connect with your student’s teacher! TalkingPoints is a communication tool that allows you and your student’s teacher to easily communicate via text message. Text messages will be sent to you in your family’s primary language. Watch for a text from your student’s teacher or contact your student’s school if you have any questions.

Have you reviewed the 2025-2026 SCCSD Parent/Guardian – Student Handbook? The handbook includes important information to help students reach their fullest potential at school. Families are encouraged to review the handbook with their students to make sure they are aware of what is expected of them as a student in the Sioux City Community School District.

Click here to view the 2025-2026 Parent/Guardian – Student Handbook.

Safe + Sound Iowa offers students and families a convenient way to anonymously report safety concerns related to our school. Trained dispatchers will share the information with appropriate school administrators and/or law enforcement so help can be given to those in crisis or at risk.

Visit Safe + Sound Iowa for more information.

The safety of our students and staff is paramount. The District uses Standard Response Protocol or common terms to communicate our actions and response to an emergency situation. The terms Hold, Secure, Lockdown, Evacuate, and Shelter are used so students, staff, and first responders understand the situation and how best to respond.

We encourage families to become familiar with these terms to better understand our school’s response and what to expect in a crisis situation. For more information on safety preparedness within the District, visit siouxcityschools.org.