January K-8 Newsletter

Gladbrook – Reinbeck K-8 Newsletter

January 2011

Gladbrook Campus News – Mr. Parker

It seems like I just finally got used to writing the year as 2010 and here we are now at 2011.  Where did this year go?  I remember we had a seemingly short summer as winter never let go and school continued into mid-June.  This fall has gone very quickly with the football and volleyball teams doing very well and the effort the students and staff has put in on improving test scores.  It is true I guess, time flies when you’re having fun.

After being identified on the School In Need of Assistance list in Reading, we spent a great deal of extra time during homeroom working on building reading comprehension skills.    The time spent on finding main ideas, suffixes, root words, prefixes, topic and supporting sentences, and other fundamental skills appear to have paid off as the Iowa Test of Basic Skills scores in reading came back showing great improvement from last year.

Just like in athletics, you can do all the coaching you want, but in reality it comes down to the performance of the athletes during the game that makes the difference.  The same is true of the high-stakes testing.  We did better because our students gave their best effort when we took the ITBS.  Our students deserve all the credit for the improved scores, so be sure to let them know what a great job they did this year.    The end of the semester for the middle school is Friday, January 7.  Report cards and ITBS results will be sent home the following Friday. 

Reinbeck Campus News – Mr. Kuehl

Report Cards and ITBS Scores:  Your student(s) will be bring report cards and ITBS Scores home with them on January 14^th.  The second quarter ends on January 7^th.  Half way through the year!  Not sure how that can be.  Our students and staff have learned a lot and worked hard, pushing through January, February, and March always seems a challenging time.  Your continued encouragement of students and teachers is much appreciated. 

Our 5^th – 8^th graders made great improvement, as relayed by Mr. Parker above, on their ITBS scores, especially in the area of reading comprehension.  I’d like to thank the students, parents, and teachers for the work they put in to helping these student achievement scores improve.  It’s truly a team effort and you were quite successful.  Now the challenge is to keep those scores going up!

Winter Weather:  Please make sure that your students are dressed appropriately for the winter weather.  We’ve been very fortunate in regards to weather related delays and cancellations to this point.  I encourage you to sign up with School Alerts, https://schoolalerts.iowa.gov/, this site will be the first one I make announcements on and is very quick at sending out text and email notifications.

Read, Read, And Read:  Reading is probably the all around best activity for your child to encourage overall success and academic achievement.  People who read tend to be good thinkers, have a broad knowledge base and have a very deep knowledge base in areas of interest.  Keep you students reading, it’s one of those things that can actually be fun AND good for you.

After School Pick-up

Congestion in the parking lot is becoming quite an issue again.  Please use the following procedures to ensure things go as smoothly as possible.

Parking lot procedures:

• Please do not drive through the horseshoe area in front of the school.
• Please do not pickup/drop off students in the actual parking lot area.  This practice creates a lot of congestion in an already congested area.  If you must go in to pick your child up after school, please park legally.  Several people have started leaving their vehicle unattended in the center of the parking lot.  This practice is inconsiderate and unsafe. 
• Please do drop your student(s) off on the west or east side of the horseshoe.  This allows the student to exit the vehicle directly to the sidewalk, eliminating the need for students to cross the street.

Thank you for all the support you provide to your children in their development.  We are fortunate to work with such a great group of kids.

Educationally yours,

Tim Kuehl

Calendar for January 2011

Jan  3            Classes Resume

            IMPACT/PTO meeting @ RB Elem.  7:00 pm

Jan  6            JHWR @ Jesup

Jan  7            JHBB vs DNH: B@NH; G @ GB

Jan 10            Advisory Committee Meeting @ RB 7:00 pm

Jan 11            JHBB vs West Marshall: G @ State Center; B @ GB

Jan 13            JHBB vs AGWSR: G @ Wellsburg; B @ GB

            JHWR @ Union (Dysart)

Jan 17            No School (1^st Snow Make-up Day)

Jan 18            JHBB vs BCLUW: B @ Union; G @ GB

Jan 20            JHBB vs S. Hardin: B @ Hubbard; G @ GB

            School Board Meeting @ RB  7:00 pm

Jan 21            JHWR @ Dike-NH

Jan 25            JHBB vs East Marshall: G @ Gilman; B @ GB

Jan 27            JHWR @ RB 4:15

Jan 31            JHBB vs A-P: G @ Aplington; B @ GB

RB & GB 1st Grade Thanksgiving Plays 2010

We All Fit In- November Assembly

December K-8 Newsletter

 

Gladbrook – Reinbeck Community School District

K-8 Newsletter for December 2010 and January 2011

Mr. Parker’s News

What a fantastic Winter Concert we had on December 6.  The K-2 and 5^th -8^th Grade students in Band and Chorus put on a wonderful show.  As always, the little ones always seem to shine bright and with the enthusiasm they have for singing and dancing around.  The 5^th – 8^th grade singers did an excellent job with the multiple parts and voices.  The bands sounded great also.  We have some very talented musicians in the district!  Thank you to Mrs. Hagedorn and Mrs. Eckhoff for their hard work and dedication to the music department and students.

Thanks for making the Book Fair a huge success.  The libraries and classrooms will be getting over $500 worth of books.  There isn't a final count yet but we will let you know when everything is final.  The following kids won $10 worth of merchandise: Madison Knaack, Ashley Sieh, Audrey Leyen, Bryce Schick, Emily Else, Abby Smith, Brandon Drew, Trey Eggers, Destiny Frieling, and Gracey Nagle. The following middle schooler students have won posters and they may be picked up in the library as well:  Emily Moss, Caden Kickbush, Gage Murty, Max Schweppe, Walder Thede, Cael Wyatt, Mikayla Saak, Dan Robinett, Sydney Brown, Kendra Vavrock, Matt Roeding, & Brandy Yates. The following elementary kids won posters: Madisyn Eggers, Autumn Schlictmann, Kyla Moore, Ashlyn Moore, & Jaci Drew.  Kids at the Reinbeck Elementary that won posters are Chloe Butler, Paige Adair & Preston Goos.  $60 was collected for the Books for One Campaign.  Scholastic will give $60 worth of books to a deserving organization.

Along with the business of the holiday season, it is also a busy academic time at the middle school as we approach the end of the second quarter on January 7^th.  Midterms went out last week and everyone is working hard to finish this first semester strong.  The K-2 elementary staff has been busy and is working some new things into their teaching as well.  They are using IXL, a math program that the students can also use online at home to strengthen math skills.  They have also been trying out some IPADS in the classroom during center time as we continue to try and integrate technology into our students’ learning opportunities.

Mr. Kuehl’s News

Nearly half way through the year!  With the winter season upon us I’d like to remind you that you can receive notification of weather related schedule changes by signing up for School Alerts.  There’s a link on the district website, or go to: https://schoolalerts.iowa.gov/ and sign up to receive the notifications.  This site will send you an email and/or text message as soon as the decision to start late, dismiss early, or cancel school is made.  We will also continue to report to local television and radio stations when schedules change due to the weather.

Staff and students have been working hard at Reinbeck Elementary.  Staff has begun experimenting with The Daily 5 and CAFÉ.  These programs manage instructional time and focus individual instruction, especially in the areas of reading and writing.  Teachers have been reading about it, visiting classrooms in other districts, and working together to continually improve the learning of our students.  We are also utilizing new ways to integrate technology into our classrooms.  IXL.com math is being used by all students, http://xtramath.org/ is another website that is great for students to practice their math skills.  Please make sure and check your teacher’s website/blog regularly to see what’s going on in your child’s class.  A video of our recent assembly is available on the G-R YouTube channel, link from district website, www.g-r.k12.ia.us, along with the first grade performances.

The Holiday Season is a fun and exciting one, especially for elementary students.  The elementary concert is Monday, December 20^th, 7:00 p.m., in the high school gym.  We wish you and your family and safe and happy Holiday Season.  Our break begins on December 23^rd, with students returning to class on January 3^rd.

Upcoming Events for Rest of December and Early January 2011

Dec 09  JHWR @ SH/BCLUW (Eldora);

              JHBB: B @ E.Marshall (Gilman); G@GB

Dec 10  Human Right's Day

Dec 14  JHBB: G@BCLUW (Union): B@GB

Dec 15  Bill of Right's Day

Dec 16  Public Hearing in GB at 6:30pm (regular School Board meeting to follow)

               JHWR @ Wapsie Valley;

               JHBB: B@Grundy Ct.; G@GB

Dec 20  Reinbeck Elementary Concert at 7:00pm

              JHBB: B@GMG (GrMt); G@GB

Dec 23  No School

Dec 24  No School

Dec 27-31  No School

Jan 01  New Year's Day

            Emancipation Proclamation Anniversary

Jan 03  Classes Resume

            IMPACT/PTO Meeting in RB at 7:00pm

G-R 1:1?

Attached is a presentation shared with the Board at a work session earlier this year.  Please use the pause button if you need longer to view a slide.

November K-8 Newsletter

 

Gladbrook – Reinbeck K-8 Newsletter

November 5, 2010

Mr. Parker’s News and Notes

Thank you to everyone that attended conferences last week.  If you couldn’t attend, please remember that you can call, email, or set up an appointment with any of the teachers to discuss your child and his/her progress at any time.  We had an outstanding first quarter and I know that there were many parents happy with how their child had done grade-wise.  I was also pleased with our student’s behavior and how they took care of business doing the right thing. 

Mrs. Eckhoff and Mrs. Hagedorn led their students in an awesome concert on October 21.  The junior high band and choir sounded outstanding.  The Gladbrook campus Winter Concert is on December 6.  The K-2 and 5^th/6^th Concert will begin at 6:30 pm with the 7^th/8^th Grade Concert to follow at 7:30.

We have been working this past week on doing the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills.  We have placed our focus on trying to do our best work and have reduced the test down to focus on the reading, math, and science components that are reported to the state and federal governments.  We have seen the students working more carefully and trying to do the best they can.  We hope that this will show in our scores when we get them returned.

The second quarter brings with it our winter sports of basketball and wrestling.  Add in the concerts, holidays, and all the other family events that occur make second quarter one of the most difficult for students to stay on task.  Please help us by helping your child find that necessary time to keep up with their schoolwork in November and December.

Reminder: it’s a great time to check the batteries on your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide testers.  I heard that last part on the radio while driving to work. 

Have a GReat month.

Mr. Kuehl’s News and Notes:

Hopefully everyone has been enjoying this fabulous fall weather.  Personally, I’m hoping that it is a precursor to a mild winter, but time will tell. 

Parent – teacher conferences went well this fall.  Reinbeck Elementary enjoyed a 97% attendance rates.  If you were unable to attend your child’s teacher should have contacted you via telephone or email.  If you haven’t had a chance to visit with your child’s teacher, please contact them.  We know that support for your child’s learning both at school and home is very beneficial to student learning.  Thank you for all you do to ensure your child’s success.

The third and fourth graders completed the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills last week.  We’ll be doing make-up tests for students that were absent last week and then submitting the tests for scoring.  These are the tests used by the Iowa Department of Education and No Child Left Behind to determine how well our school is performing.  We think that the students put forth a solid effort and are looking forward to getting the results.

The Winter Concert for Reinbeck Elementary students is on December 20^th, at 7:00 p.m., in the High School.  The students will be looking forward to the opportunity to perform for their family and friends.

Recently many of our classes have been utilizing on on-line math program, iXL.com.  This program allows students to practice math skills at their individual level and gives out detailed reports on student progress.  Since it is an on-line program, students can work on it at home.  Currently teachers are using a trial membership/license for their students.  So far, the program has been very well received by teachers and students. I anticipate purchasing licenses for the elementary classrooms and possibly the middle school in the very near future.  I encourage you to visit with your child about this program, and have them demonstrate it for you if possible.

Please feel free to contact your child’s teacher, or me, any time you have a question, or concern.

Go Rebels!

November / December 2010 Calendar

Nov 11                    Veteran's Day

Nov 14-20                    American Education Week

Nov 15                    School Board Mtg.  Reinbeck at 6:30pm

Nov 17                    Education Support Professionals Day

Nov 18                    National Parental Involvement Day

Nov 19                    Substitute Educators Day

Nov 21-27                    National Family Week

Nov 24                    No School

Nov 25                    No School - Thanksgiving

Nov 26                    No School

Dec.  6                  GB Campus Winter Concert

                           6:30 K-2 & 5^th/6^th

                           7:30 7^th/8^th Grades

Dec.  7                    Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Dec.  8                  12:35/12:45 Early Dismissal

                           Teacher In-service

Dec. 20                  Reinbeck Elementary Concert 7:00 pm

Dec. 23                  Winter Break Begins

G-R Happenings 11-8-10

G-R Happenings

In our current world technology seems to be revolutionizing nearly everything, from the ways we communicate (remember bag phones?), to industry, and education.  Currently the G-R Schools are exploring the possibility of implementing 1:1 computing at the high school in the fall of 2011.  1:1 computing involves each student having a laptop to use, as their own, during the school year.  As we continuously work to better prepare our students to be successful after their experience at G-R we realize that they do, and will, use technology in nearly every aspect of their lives.  We believe that 1:1 computing will help us to improve the educational experience of our students and better equip them for success throughout their lives. 

The G-R administrative team and technology directors have been exploring 1:1 computing for many months.  The Board of Education, along with administrators and technology directors, have visited schools currently utilizing 1:1 computing.  Schools visited include BCLUW, Newell-Fonda, and Van Meter.  These schools have all experienced success with their implementation.  A board member from Van Meter noted that their lease on the computers would expire in two years and he couldn’t imagine not having 1:1 anymore. 

The G-R Board of Education has discussed 1:1 at several regular meetings and work sessions.  Their will be further discussion at the November 15 regular Board Meeting, the December 1 Work Session, and the December 16 regular Board Meeting.  It is anticipated that a decision will be made at the December 16 meeting.  We encourage interested patrons to attend the meetings and/or visit with a Board Member, Mr. Kuehl, Mr. Teckenburg, Mrs. Luehring, or Mr. Bixby about any questions they might have.

Educationally yours,

Tim Kuehl, Superintendent