Uplifting Urbandale

We invite you to read the Urbandale CSD bi-weekly newsletter, “Uplifting Urbandale." Newsletters are archived on the Newsletter section of the district website. Please make note of the "View it in your browser" link at the top of this email which can be used to enlarge the text and/or translate this email. We look forward to #upliftingU!

The Urbandale Community School District Adventuretime Preschool Program received a one-of-a-kind honor when Webster Elementary Preschool Associate Jessica Nothdorf and husband US Navy Reserves Senior Chief Michael Nothdorf nominated Director of Adventuretime Family Services & Preschool Ashley Myers and Assistant Director of Adventuretime Family Services Kellie Dickinson for the Patriot Award due to the outstanding support Myers and Dickinson provided Jessica Nothdorf during the time her husband was deployed.

“Supportive employers like Urbandale Community School District Adventuretime Preschool are vital to the success of our mission and the defense of this nation,” said Becky Coady, Iowa ESGR state chair. “Our Guard and Reserve members could not perform their military duty without knowing their civilian employers support them 100%.” Full Article

Dr. Cheryl Modlin has accepted the opportunity to become the new Urbandale Middle School Principal beginning July 1, 2021. Dr. Modlin currently serves as Principal of Weeks Middle School in Des Moines Public Schools. She previously served Des Moines Schools as an Administrator at East High, North High, and Callanan Middle School. Before joining Des Moines Schools, Dr. Modlin served as a School Improvement Leader at Heartland AEA, a Health and Wellness Teacher at Urbandale High School from 1999–2003, and a Science and Health Teacher at the middle and high school levels in Iowa and South Carolina. Dr. Modlin holds a Master of Arts and Teaching in Health Promotion and Education from the University of South Carolina and a Doctorate of Education in Administrative Leadership for Teaching and Learning from Walden University.

“I could not be more excited to return to J-Hawk territory,” said Modlin. “The relationships I built with students, community members and staff members years ago have truly been one of my life’s greatest treasures. Urbandale continues to be a progressive, student centered system that has high expectations for students and staff alike, and produces outstanding people. I can’t wait to learn more about the proud past of UMS and embrace the opportunity to lead the middle school into the next chapter of continuous improvement. The warm welcome has felt like a homecoming for me and I want every learner to feel the same way as they walk the halls of UMS!” Full Article

We’d like to provide an update regarding the last day of school for the 2020-21 school year. During the March 29 School Board meeting, the Board approved the following plan:

• All schools, except Rolling Green, will make up two days of school at the end of the school year which will make the last day of school Friday, June 4 (original last day was Wednesday, June 2). This accounts for making up two of the three snow days we missed this winter.

• The last day for certified employees will be Tuesday, June 8 (for all schools except Rolling Green).

• The last day of school for Rolling Green will not change; the last day is Friday, June 11. This is also the last day for Rolling Green staff. (Note: Rolling Green will be making up time during their previously scheduled snow make-up days.)

Thank you for your flexibility and understanding with these changes in our school year calendar.

School registration for the 2021–2022 school year is underway! Families with students in kindergarten through 11th grade currently enrolled in the district received an email mid-March with instructions for online registration. For families without email, a letter will be mailed to you in April with instructions for registering your student(s). Once the email/letter has been received, families are welcome to register their student(s) through the online registration process. Ideally, we’d like to have all students registered for the 2021-22 school year by June 4.

Student Registration:

• Preschool Students—if your child will be 3 years old or 4 years old by September 15, 2021, click here for specific information about registering your preschool student.

• Kindergarten Students—if your child will be 5 years old by September 15, 2021, click here for specific information about registering your kindergarten student.

• Returning Students—if your student(s) is registered in the Urbandale CSD this school year (2020–2021), click here for specific information about registering your returning student.

• New Students—if your student(s) is new to the Urbandale CSD, click here for specific information about registering your new student.

We know this is a busy time of year for students and families. Thank you in advance for taking time to register your student(s) for the 2021-22 school year. For help with registration, please contact Sandy Walters registration@urbandaleschools.com or 515-457-5011. Full Article

Throughout the 2020-21 school year, Mr. Casey Goodhue has been serving as our UHS Interim Associate Principal following the departure of Mrs. Dania Wilson as she served as the Interim Principal at Rolling Green Elementary and was then selected as the Principal of Rolling Green. Mr. Goodhue has brought such a wealth of expertise, knowledge, and insight during his time as our UHS Interim Associate Principal and the previous year as a Dean of Students at UHS. This is why we’re excited to announce that Mr. Goodhue has been selected as our Urbandale High School Associate Principal beginning July 1, 2021.

Prior to Mr. Goodhue joining our UHS team, he served as a Vice Principal and Dean of Students in Des Moines Public Schools, and as a Math and Science teacher in the Indianola and Carlisle School Districts. Mr. Goodhue earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education with endorsements in math, science, and coaching from Simpson College and a Master of Science in Education Leadership from Drake University.

“I am very excited about this opportunity to further my professional career as a J-Hawk,” said Casey Goodhue. “I look forward to focusing on creating an environment where all students feel safe, welcome, and have a sense of hope at Urbandale High School. In addition, our staff will grow in our understanding of how to perform at high levels as a Professional Learning Community. Go J-HAWKS!” Full Article

Please review the following information regarding dates in April 2021 when school is not in session.

April 2021 “No School” Dates

• Metro West Academy Professional Development: Friday, April 9 (no school for Metro West only)

• District-wide Recess Day: Friday, April 23 (no school).

• Rolling Green Intersession: Monday, April 26 – Friday, April 30 (no school for Rolling Green students in grades K-5 only; Rolling Green Preschool will still have class April 26 - 30)

Join us in celebrating our truly outstanding Associate Principals and Deans of Students during National Assistant Principals Week April 5-9! We’re fortunate to work alongside these exceptional leaders as they empower students, support families, and inspire educators:

• Joe Blazevich – Dean of Students & Activities Administrator at Urbandale Middle School

• Jolee Donnelly – Interim Dean of Students at Urbandale High School

• Casey Goodhue – Interim Associate Principal (Associate Principal beginning July 1!) at Urbandale High School

• Kara Paulson – Dean of Students at Jensen Elementary

• Jennifer Silvay – Associate Principal at Urbandale Middle School

• Malorie Todd – Dean of Students at Webster Elementary

• Derek Wilkins – Dean of Students at Urbandale High School

We’re thankful for their leadership, expertise, and compassion. Our school district is most definitely better #becauseofU! #APWeek21 #UCSDpride

Now, more than ever before, many of us could be feeling increased anxiety, stress or loneliness following a year of living with the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. It is OK to not be OK right now. May is Mental Health Awareness Month and serves as a great opportunity for our community to begin eliminating stigma by starting conversations and increasing understanding about mental illness. 1 in 5 people will have some kind of mental illness in a given year and stigma is the greatest barrier to individuals seeking help regarding their mental illness.

By breaking down the stigma around mental illness, we can support those who are struggling to find resources and treatment. To learn more about how you can help end mental illness stigma and access free mental health resources, visit: MakeItOK.org/Iowa Together, we can eliminate mental illness stigma and support those who are struggling to find the resources and treatment they deserve.

UCSD supports the Make It OK campaign through the Healthiest State Initiative. Please remember, you are not alone; we are here to help.

• What To Say What Not To Say: Tips For Talking About Mental Illness

• How To Help Someone Experiencing A Mental Health Crisis

• Stories: First-hand Experiences From Iowans Living With Mental Illness

Join us in celebrating the expertise, innovation, and leadership of Urbandale CSD Teacher Librarians and Associates during National Library Week (NLW) taking place April 4 – April 10, 2021. This year’s National Library Week theme is "Welcome to Your Library." During the pandemic, library workers continue to exceed their communities' demands and adapt resources and services to meet their users' needs during these challenging times. Whether people visit in person or virtually, libraries offer endless opportunities to transform lives through education and lifelong learning.

Please take a moment during National Library Week to reflect on all of the countless projects, initiatives, tasks, and classes Teacher Librarians and Media Associates in all of our schools lead for students and staff, and share your appreciation with your Library Team. Happy National Library Week 2021!

• Barb Blakesley – Media Associate at Rolling Green

• Jackie Chow – Media Associate at UMS

• Chrissy Cochran – Media Associate at Valerius

• Tricia Fleagle – Teacher Librarian at UMS

• Anna Humston – Media Associate at Webster

• Christine Watson – Teacher Librarian at UHS

• Jennifer Huber – Media Associate at UHS

• Pam Mefford – Teacher Librarian at Jensen and Webster

• Melissa Marwedel – Teacher Librarian at Karen Acres, Rolling Green, and Valerius

This spring, students in the state of Iowa are required to take the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). Students in grades 3–11 will complete ISASP tests that cover reading, language and writing (part 1), writing (part 2), mathematics, and science (grades 5, 8, and 10 only). Because students must take four to five separate tests, the ISASP assessments will be administered over several days which will occur between April 5–23, 2021. School-specific test schedules will be communicated by your school principal prior to the start of testing. More information regarding the ISASP assessments, including practice tests, may be found by visiting: http://iowa.pearsonaccessnext.com/

Registration for the Urbandale Community Education Summer Camp Series is open. Be sure to register early and before deadlines as there will be no walk-in registrations. Classes fill up quickly so be sure to register today!

The Iowa Communications Network (ICN) will be performing fiber maintenance tasks on its network on the evening of April 22, starting at 10 PM. At that time, access from off-campus to UCSD-hosted servers (notably PowerSchool and Moodle) will go offline until the ICN has completed its work, which may be as late as 6 AM on April 23 (the next morning).

Vaccinations

The state of Iowa expanded vaccine access to all adult Iowans beginning 4/5/2021. The demand for vaccine continues to be greater than the supply, so please continue to be patient.

• There are currently three vaccines authorized: Pfizer and Moderna (both require 2 doses) and Johnson & Johnson (requires 1 dose). All three vaccines have been proven safe and effective; recommendations are to accept the vaccine that is available. Pfizer is authorized for ages > 16; Moderna and J&J are authorized for ages > 18.

• From the CDC: key things to know, myths, and FAQs. Side effects are mild for most people.

• There are many benefits to being vaccinated. All of the the vaccines significantly reduce the risk of serious illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Being fully vaccinated allows you to safely gather with your family and vaccinated friends in small groups. You will still need to wear a mask in public and when gathering with groups of people. Learn more about what you can do when you've been fully vaccinated here.

• Where can you find a vaccine appointment?

• Polk County posts their new appointments at noon on Fridays; follow them on social media for updates

• Iowa lists vaccine providers by county

• Your PCP may have vaccine available for established patients

• @IAVaccineAlerts lists new openings for several large providers across the state in real time

• Don't have technology access? Call 211 for assistance

• When will your student be eligible to receive a vaccine?

• Clinical trials to study the vaccines in teens and children are underway. We will keep you updated as we know more.

Mask and Face Coverings

We will continue to require masks to be worn in our buildings. Masks should have two or more layers, should completely cover the nose and mouth, and should fit snugly against the sides of the face and not have any gaps.

Following CDC recommendations, gaiters will now be accepted as an approved face covering. They must be 2-ply and be worn appropriately (mouth and nose covered at all times).

We appreciate students bringing their own mask from home. If students forget their mask, a disposable mask will be provided.

Quarantine

• Monitoring when masked appropriately and exposed

• Iowa Department of Public Health recommends that when approved face coverings or masks are properly worn by both the person testing positive for COVID-19 and their close contacts at school and school activities, out of school quarantine is not required.

• We have been following this recommendation for several months, but we will no longer contact you if your child was a close contact to a positive individual when both were masked appropriately.

• Quarantine when determined to be a close contact and not masked appropriately

• Students that are not masked or do not wear an approved face covering appropriately will be placed in quarantine if they are a close contact to an individual that tests positive for COVID-19.

• Parents will continue to be contacted by phone and email.

• Quarantine information will be emailed to parents.

• Exposure to a positive person outside of school.

• Please continue to contact your child’s school nurse if they are exposed to someone positive for COVID-19 outside of school.

• We will assist you with the appropriate quarantine information.

Isolation

Students with a positive test for COVID-19 require isolation.

• Please contact your school nurse and keep your child home.

• We will assist you with the isolation requirements.

Monitoring Illness Symptoms

We recommend that you always monitor your children and household members for possible COVID-19 symptoms and stay home until further evaluated.

• COVID-19 symptoms

• High risk symptoms include a new cough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathing, or a loss of taste or smell.

• Other symptoms include fever and/or chills, sore throat, headache, body aches, fatigue, runny nose, congestion, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea.

• Students with COVID-19 symptoms should contact their healthcare provider for further evaluation and testing.

• A release from the healthcare provider will be required to return to school when a student is called in with illness symptoms.

While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has eased on some restrictions for fully vaccinated people, most of our students and many in our community have not been vaccinated. The CDC recommends we all continue to protect ourselves by planning ahead when leaving the house and deciding to go out:

• Plan ahead: have an extra mask, tissues, and hand sanitizer

• Consider the activity: how many people you’ll interact with, if you’ll be able to stay at least six feet away from others, if others will be wearing masks, and how long the activity lasts

• Remember that outdoors is safer than indoors

Welcome Urbandale families! We’ll be offering summer programming for preschool through fifth-grade students. Each grade’s week is planned around a central theme, which gives your child new opportunities to explore, learn, and have fun all summer long. Students will have the opportunity to participate in crafts, games, literacy/math/science enrichment activities, team building, field trips, guest speakers, and group celebrations. Online registration for the 2021 summer program began March 30, 2021. Please review the following information about our summer programming. It’s going to be a fun summer!

Click here for an updated summary of actions that have been taking place for design and construction projects throughout the District.

Please review the following information regarding dates in May 2021 when school is not in session.

May 2021 “No School” Dates

• Metro West Academy Professional Development: Friday, May 14 PM (no school for Metro West PM session only)

• All Urbandale CSD schools and Adventuretime will be closed on Monday, May 31, 2021, in observance of Memorial Day.

Urbandale CSD Facilitators of Family Outreach (FFOs) are committed to supporting our students and families by connecting them to important services and resources. Resources include, but are not limited to: clothing and hygiene, child care, English language learning community, employment, financial, food, health, housing, homelessness, legal, mental health, safe family support, technology, transportation, and virtual community partners. Learn more about these resources for your family. #wesupportU

Safety City is a week-long summer program for children entering kindergarten in the fall of 2021. Children will learn about traffic safety, fire safety, home, playground and other kinds of personal safety in an entertaining, positive environment. To make learning about safety fun, Safety City incorporates songs, story books, films, games, and artwork in addition to riding Big Wheels in a mock city setting. Safety City also provides the experience of riding on a school bus to the Urbandale Police and Fire Departments for tours. Safety City is taught by Urbandale Police Officers and staff who are assisted by a team of student helpers. Register for Safety City by May 2, 2021. More information including dates, times, and locations included here: Safety City Flyer 2021. Plus, be sure to pre-register your child for kindergarten!

Our Backpack Buddies Program provides food for students to take home on the weekends. We are seeking a volunteer, a team of two people may be ideal, to help pick up a pallet of food boxed up from the Food Bank of Iowa (we get 44 boxes, each box contains 10 bags with goodies in it) and deliver to Karen Acres, Rolling Green, Valerius, and Webster Elementary Schools. We are looking for a volunteer(s) who has a trailer that can put the pallet in their truck and deliver the boxes to the elementary schools (note: physical strength is needed as the boxes can be heavy). The time commitment is one day per month for approximately two hours. The volunteer(s) would need to pick up during the day (time period is 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday). The volunteer(s) could let us know what works best for them (ideally a set date and time every month such as the second Tuesday of the month at 9 a.m. ) and we will schedule it with the Food Bank of Iowa. Learn more here.

Our priority is to ensure that we are supporting student learning in the safest way possible by being responsive to the status of district and public health as it relates to the spread of COVID-19. On a weekly basis we’ll be updating the current COVID-19 status page within the Return To Learn section of the site to keep our students, families, staff, and community informed about the status of the virus within our District.

The Urbandale CSD Flyer Hub is a great resource for finding information about community activities, opportunities, and services. We post flyers from our district, community education, and organizations within our community. Flyers are frequently updated so be sure to check back often.

This email is sent to Urbandale CSD parents/guardians and staff on a bi-weekly basis. If someone you know would like to receive this weekly newsletter, please invite them to Opt-In here. Thank you!

Email: claired@urbandaleschools.com
Website: www.urbandaleschools.com
Location: 11152 Aurora Avenue, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-5000