July G-R Happenings

G-R Happenings

The 2010-2011 School year:

It’s hard to believe that the beginning of another school year is just around the corner. We are currently taking registration materials at the district office. Forms can be found on the district website, www.gladbrook-reinbeck.k12.ia.us, and fees can be paid on-line using PaySchools, for no additional fee. We hope this format will make registration as simple and convenient as possible for the families of G-R. On August 10th the offices will be open for walk-in registration from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., if that is the most convenient for some families. Families that receive assistance in the form of Free/Reduced lunches need to pay their fees in the office in order to receive the appropriate discount.

Registration is critical in our preparation for the upcoming school year. Please make sure that you have completed the process by August 10.

The schools will be hosting an open house on Monday, August 16^th from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Reinbeck Daycare Center will be open that evening to give tours and distribute enrollment information. Whether you are a parent or community member we encourage you to stop in to visit with our staff and view the facilities.

Summer Projects:

It has been another busy summer in our buildings and on our grounds preparing for the upcoming school year. Our custodial staff has done an excellent job of cleaning, painting, and generally having our buildings in tip-top shape for the return of students and staff.

Some of the projects that will be completed by the beginning of the school year include:

• Renovation of middle school locker rooms, including painting, new plumbing fixtures, new lockers, and restroom partitions has been completed. It had been a long time since these facilities had received much attention and they look Great!
• The middle school family and consumer science room, Home Ec. to many of us, was also renovated over the summer. Students will benefit from the addition of another kitchen in the room, as well as the new cupboards, appliances, and utensils.
• There is concrete work at the Reinbeck Campus that will, hopefully, be completed by the beginning of the school year. It includes repair to the elementary parking lot, replacing crumbling curb at the elementary, and expanding the concrete portion of the parking area to the west of the high school. All the rain has not been very helpful in getting this work completed this summer.

High School Offerings:

This fall marks the beginning of our utilization of the Western Outreach Center. Our students have the opportunity to take courses in a number of areas that interest them, as well as gain college credits while earning high school credits. Courses offered for our students at the Western Outreach Center this year include: Introduction to Psychology, Math for the Liberal Arts, Composition I, Composition II, Introduction to Literature, Introduction to Statistics, Art Appreciation, and Project Lead the Way-Principals of Engineering. In addition to the Pre-Engineering courses of Project Lead the Way we anticipate courses in health care being offered in the future.

These courses offer a tremendous opportunity for our students to get upper level and technical courses that G-R would struggle to offer without collaborating with our neighbors. A side benefit to families is the chance to earn college credits at minimal cost to the student/family. The school is able to offer this opportunity by having local teachers teach the courses and receiving supplemental weighting dollars from the State. Essentially, the supplemental weighting off sets the cost to the district for the courses.

Technology:

The high school and middle school campuses now have complete wireless internet coverage! The district is working to incorporate the use of technology more comprehensively into our instructional practices. Teachers have received and will continue to receive training on how Web 2.0 tools can improve instruction for our students. We are excited to continually explore and develop ways that technology can improve the learning of our students.

2010-2011 promises to be another GReat school year! I’m excited for the return of staff and students after a busy, but refreshing summer break. I look forward to seeing you at the Open House, as well as the many activities that will be beginning soon.

Go Rebels!

Tim Kuehl, Superintendent