Gladbrook – Reinbeck K-8 Newsletter
March/April 2012
Bill Parker: Gladbrook Campus
Last Thursday night I was outside about 10:30 shoveling the snow that had fallen over the evening hours. It was warm outside and as I moved the snow off the sidewalks and drive I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful it was, so white and fluffy. Isn’t it amazing how when you have seen so little of the snow all winter, a night like that can seem so nice! It was really fun the next day at school to watch the elementary students playing and building walls of snow.
We are quickly approaching the end of the third quarter. It’s that time for Parent-Teacher Conferences again. We will have a one-hour early dismissal on both Tuesday, March 6, and Thursday, March 8. Conferences will run from 4:00 – 8:00 pm both nights. If you find that your time doesn’t work for you, please contact the office and we will help you find a time to visit with the class sponsor or whatever teacher you need to see.
The new Iowa Assessment scores are in and are the forms ever different! We are still in the process of figuring out exactly what the testing information is telling us. In the long run, the scores will allow everyone to determine individual student growth over a period of time which makes far more sense than comparing a fourth grade class against another fourth grade class. The Iowa Assessment Parent Narratives will be sent home on Friday March 2. Information about the new levels of proficiency can be found at: http://itp.education.uiowa.edu/ia/documents/Proficient.pdf
We are looking for the Class of 2026! If you have a child that will be ready for Kindergarten next year, please contact the elementary offices in Gladbrook (473-2875) and Reinbeck (345-2822) to get a Kindergarten Welcome packet sent to you. The Kindergarten Parent Welcome meetings will be held on Monday, April 2 at both sites starting at 6:30 pm. Kindergarten Welcome for the future kindergartners will be on Wednesday and Thursday, April 4 and 5 respectively. In order to be Kindergarten eligible, your child must be five years old by September 15, 2012. We look forward to meeting all the new students at this time. Please help us out and if there are new families to the area, or people that don’t see our newsletter, please pass the word along.
Gladbrook – Reinbeck will be hosting a Strength, Conditioning, and Speed Training Clinic on Friday, March 2 at in the High School Gym and Weight Room from 4:00-7:00 pm. The clinic is free for Boys and Girls in Grades 6-12.
Zach Mathers, a 1997 GR graduate, and current Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for the University of Sioux Falls, South Dakota will be running and teaching the clinic with his athletic staff. Zack was the National Strength and Conditioning Coach of the Year and it is a great honor to have him help develop all of our athletic programs.
March is a busy time for the Middle School Band students. On Monday, March 5, is the Parade of Bands concert. All of the bands from 5th Grade through High School will be playing at the High School gym with the music starting at 7:00 pm. It is a great chance to see how band students progress from beginners to advanced musicians.
Then on March 22, the 6th, 7th, and 8th grade band students will travel to South Tama for a Band Jamboree. Each of the three grades will make up a band and perform in concert starting at 7:00 pm in the South Tama High School. Other schools involved in the jamboree are North Tama, East Marshall, Belle Plaine, GMG, HLV, and the host South Tama.
Reminder for present Kindergarten Parents: This year’s Kindergarten students will not have school on April 4 and 5 while we have Kindergarten Welcome.
Mr. Kuehl-Reinbeck Elementary
We’ve got some exciting things coming up as we begin to anticipate spring. Parent-Teacher Conferences will be held at Reinbeck Elementary on March 6th and 8th. You should have received notice of your scheduled time. If you have not received notice please email your child’s teacher, or call the office at 319-345-2822. Conferences are a great time to check in with your student’s teacher as we begin the last few months of the school year.
Students completed the Iowa Tests (ITBS) last November. Our third and fourth graders participate in this assessment. We received the results and your child’s teacher will be sharing those with you at P-T Conferences. Please feel free to ask any questions about this portion of your child’s progress at that time.
It is time to begin preparing for the next school year as we work toward the end of this one. Kindergarten Welcome will be the week of April 2nd. The parent meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 2nd, with next fall’s kindergartners attending on April 4th and 5th. If you know of any prospective kindergartners please pass this information along to them. If they contact the office, 319-345-2822, we’ll get them the Welcome Packet and look forward to meeting them on April 2nd.
The excitement levels will begin to go up over the next couple of months as the temperatures begin to rise outside. Please help your student to keep focused on their academic progress, in addition to enjoying the other activities nicer weather will allow. Our students have done an excellent job so far this year and it’s always a pleasure to see their hard work and progress.
I hope all the families will have a chance to relax and spend some enjoyable time together over the upcoming spring break.
Sincerely,
Mr. Kuehl
Calendar for March and April 2012
Mar. 2 Free Strength and Conditioning Clinic for Grades 6-12
4:00 – 7:00 pm at the High School gym and Weight room
Mar. 5 Parade of Bands @ RB HS 7:00 pm
Mar. 6 One-Hour Early Dismissal:
Parent – Teacher Conferences 4:00 – 8:00 pm
Mar. 8 One-Hour Early Dismissal:
Parent – Teacher Conferences 4:00 – 8:00 pm
Mar. 9 No School
Mar. 12-16 No School – Spring Break
Mar. 19 JH Track Practice Begins
Advisory Committee Mtg. @ GB 7:00 pm
Mar. 20 Elementary Battle of the Books
Mar. 21 Middle School Battle of the Books
Mar. 23 End of Third Quarter for Elementary and Middle School
Mar. 27-28 Site Visit by Department of Education
Mar. 29 7th / 8th Grade Vocal Concert @ GB 7:00 pm
Apr. 2 Kindergarten Welcome Parent Meetings @ 6:30
GB in Elem. Library; RB in Multipurpose room
Apr. 4-5 Kindergarten Welcome Student Days
No school for current Kindergartners
Apr. 6 No School
Apr. 9 No School
Apr. 11 Spring MAP Testing begins for 3rd – 8th
Gates-MacGinitie Testing for K-2
Apr. 27 Middle School 4th Quarter Midterm
Apr. 30 IMPACT/PTO Meeting in RB @ 7:00 p
