Articles from March 2020

Here are the latest updates from the Dubuque Community School District:

STUDENT MEAL AVAILABILITY
We are pleased to share that the district and a number of community partners will provide meals for students during the school closure. These grab-and-go meals are available at no cost to any individual ages 18 and under (note that infant formula or food will not be available). Breakfast, lunch and dinner options are available throughout the community. VIEW THE FULL LIST OF LOCATIONS AND TIMES

STATE ACTION REGARDING MAKE-UP TIME
Late last night, the Iowa Legislature took official action to waive a school districts’ requirements to make up lost instructional time due to the coronavirus-related closure. At this point, we believe this action covers the closure in place through April 13. We will provide updates regarding the calendar for the remainder of the school year later in the closure.

MEDICATION PICK-UP: UPDATED TIMELINE
If you have a request to pick-up medication from school, please contact Lead Nurse Allie White at awhite@dbqschools.org by NOON ON MONDAY, MARCH 23 to schedule an appointment. For requests received after that time, the district will be in a reduced staffing mode and cannot guarantee the ability to obtain the medication.

Thank you to our families and staff for their patience and understanding as we move through these uncertain times. We are uplifted by the overall positivity and support shown by our families and community partners.

As a reminder, all schools are currently closed until Monday, April 13. We are working hard to answer all of your questions and appreciate your patience as information is developing and changing quickly. We also expect further guidance from the State of Iowa on a number of issues and will provide details as soon as we are able.

Here are the main updates for today:

DISTRICT ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
During this closure period, all school events and activities (both athletic and non-athletic) are cancelled, following guidance from the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union:

“All IHSAA and IGHSAU sports are now in a prohibited period for practice, competition, and sanctioned activity until the closure is lifted. This prohibition means no in-person contact between coaches/administrators and student-athletes for the duration of the period.”

NON-DISTRICT ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS
All outside events and activities by rental permit holders in district facilities are also cancelled. The district will work directly with renters to refund any rental fees paid during this period.

MEDICINE PICK-UP AT SCHOOLS
Families with students who have medicine at school, and who need that medicine during the closure, can contact Lead Nurse Allie White at awhite@dbqschools.org to arrange a time to pick it up. Medication not needed over break will remain in the health office to be used following the closure.

MEALS FOR STUDENTS
School is a key provider of meals for many of our students – and we are committed to maintaining this resource during the closure. The district will begin providing meal options for students on Monday, March 23, with specific locations and times to be announced in the next few days. We are also collaborating with community partners who are providing meals and will collect and share information with families regarding all community meal options.

ACT EXAM CANCELLED
ACT announced this morning that the ACT exam scheduled for April 4 has been postponed to June 13, 2020.

Again, thank you for your continued support. Please continue to look for updates each day around 3 p.m. via email, on our Coronavirus Update Webpage and on our official district Facebook and Twitter channels. Also, please remember to look for the most accurate, up-to-date information on these official district channels and be conscious of the misinformation that is sometimes shared by other sources, especially on social media.

Tonight, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds announced that she is recommending that all Iowa schools close for four weeks to assist in reducing the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

The district learned of this unprecedented move as the general public did, and we realize that you are likely to have questions. We share in many of those same questions and expect more details to be available tomorrow and over the next number of days.

Schools in the district will remain closed until April 13. Knowing that this decision was a possibility, our leadership team has been working diligently to prepare. We are finalizing our plans for this closure, which for the district begins impacting us next week following spring break. Throughout this situation, we will work hard to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date information possible.

While we have few details tonight about the implications of this closure, in these challenging times we can tell you that we will remain committed to serving our students, families and staff to the best of our ability.

As a reminder, we will plan to send an update to families and staff each day this week at 3 p.m. (at a minimum) and will post the most up-to-date information on our website at www.dbqschools.org/coronavirus.

Thank you for your continued support.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Announcements

Friday, March 13, 2020 — Day A

• Birthdays Today – March 13^th…Lillian McClain. March 14^th…Makayla Cooper.  March 15^th…Cole Johnson, Ryleigh Harmon.  March 18^th…Demarrion Rolling.  March 19^th…Olivia Wand, William Dean, Camryn Copeland.  March 20^th…Gavin Wardle, Kora Siebert.  March 21^st…Taniza Hannon.
• Honors applications are due to the main office today, March 13^th.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Weber.
• There will be a Student Council meeting for all members today, March 13th during Success Time in Mr. Tringale’s room, Room 1.
• LEAP…Friday, March 13^th – Homework Help only.
• Hempstead High School is hosting a Middle School Cheerleading Clinic on March 26^th. The cost is $35 dollars and you can register online and more information available at hempsteadcheer.dbqschoolscamps.com.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Announcements

Thursday, March 12, 2020 — Day B

• Birthdays Today – March 12^th…Maliyah Bisdorf.
• Honors applications are due to the main office by Friday, March 13^th.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Weber.
• There will be a Student Council meeting for all members on Friday, March 13th during Success Time in Mr. Tringale’s room, Room 1.
• LEAP…Thursday, March 12^th – Ping Pong with Andrew Kim; CATS! with Kelsey from Dbq Humane Society. Friday, March 13^th – Homework Help only.
• The Library will be closed from 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. today, March 12^th due to meetings elsewhere in the district for Library Staff.
• This message is for the crew of The Lion King: the following crew members need to attend Thursday’s rehearsal this week…stage crew, sound, lights and curtain.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Announcements

Wednesday, March 11, 2020 — Day A

• Birthdays Today – March 11^th…Nathan Erner.
• Honors applications are due to the main office by Friday, March 13^th.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Weber.
• There will be a Student Council meeting for all members on Friday, March 13th during Success Time in Mr. Tringale’s room, Room 1.
• LEAP…Wednesday, March 11^th – Fun & Games with Chona Kutsch;Korean Culture/Language with Andrew Kim.  Thursday, March 12^th – Ping Pong with Andrew Kim; CATS! with Kelsey from Dbq Humane Society.  Friday, March 13^th – Homework Help only.

The Library will be closed from 9:15 to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, March 12^th due to meetings elsewhere in the district for Library Staff.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Announcements

Tuesday, March 10, 2020 — Day B

• Birthdays Today – March 10^th…Kylee Schmitt.
• Honors applications are due to the main office by Friday, March 13^th.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Weber.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Announcements

Monday, March 9, 2020 — Day A

• Birthdays Today – March 9^th…Athina Goodman
• Boys and Girls 6^th Grade Intramural Basketball begins today, please make sure you have a physical on file in the main office. You must have a physical to participate.
• Honors applications are due to the main office by Friday, March 13^th.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Weber.
• Come to Fulton Elementary from 6-8 p.m. this evening, March 9^th. Re-Imagine Comiskey is going to have a Park Plan Reveal.
• DCSD Band Festival for 6^th, 7^th, and 8^th grades today. Bus will pick up students at 9:15 and return to Jefferson between 1:15 and 1:30.
• Hempstead High School is hosting a Middle School Cheerleading Clinic on March 26^th. The cost is $35 dollars and you can register online and more information available at hempsteadcheer.dbqschoolscamps.com.

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Announcements

Friday, March 6, 2020 — Day B.

• Birthdays Today – March 6^th…Albon Batongtong, Addyson Hollister. March 7^th…Katelyn Brokus, Haylee Goodman, Alysa Arneson.
• Boys and Girls 6^th Grade Intramural Basketball will begin on March 9^th, please make sure you have a physical on file in the main office. You must have a physical to participate.
• Honors applications are due to the main office by Friday, March 13^th.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Weber.
• LEAP – Friday, March 6^th …Homework Help only
• Come to Fulton Elementary from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 9^th. Re-Imagine Comiskey is going to have a Park Plan Reveal.
• Yesterday the 7th and 8th Grade Band traveled to Roosevelt to perform in the NEIBA Concert Band Contest. The Band performed for 2 judges and received a rating of “Superior” from both judges, which is the highest rating possible. Congratulations Band!

Thomas Jefferson Middle School Announcements

Thursday, March 5, 2020 — Day A

• Birthdays Today – March 5^th…No birthdays
• Boys and Girls 6^th Grade Intramural Basketball will begin on March 9^th, please make sure you have a physical on file in the main office. You must have a physical to participate.
• Honors applications are due to the main office by Friday, March 13^th.  If you have any questions, please see Ms. Weber.
• LEAP – Thursday, March 5^th …Ping Pong with Andrew Kim; Paper Flowers with Sharon from Carnegie-Stout Library. Friday, March 6^th …Homework Help only
• Come to Fulton Elementary from 6-8 p.m. on Monday, March 9^th. Re-Imagine Comiskey is going to have a Park Plan Reveal.
• Band Contest at Roosevelt today for 7^th and 8^th grade only. Load bus at 8:20 and return between 10:30-11:00.