K-8 Families--  What a tremendous week we had here at the JK-8!  This week I got to spend some time doing formal observations of a few of our teachers and I saw some great things.  Mr. Newberg and I have made an effort to make sure we are visible in our building, we are in and out of classrooms but normally for just short snippets of time.  When doing formal observations, we spend an entire class period with a class and it is amazing the in-depth learning that is occurring.  

One of the things I noticed this week was how the learning is happening.  Last week, I asked you to think about your why, this week... what about the HOW?  Students and teachers use various methods to learn and if you are like me, some of it might look different than what it did when you went to school.  Did you enjoy teaching math last Spring during quarantine?  If it didn't look the same as when you went to school, that is because someone has challenged the HOW.

How do you use a pencil in art?  I am assuming you use the lead end to draw.  What if we changed the use?  What if we created white space for the image out of a darkened area.  The HOW has changed from the lead being the creator to the eraser.  This is a challenge to the HOW but you can still get an image.  This is school today, some of the HOW has changed.  Creativity and deep thought is changing the HOW around us every day!

Unfortunately, I don't get to put an upcoming events schedule in this week's message.  Hopefully it will return soon!  I will report though that the MS Boys basketball team did get to play, this past Monday, at Creston.  The 7th grade boys won big and the 8th grade played a close, competitive game.  We hope to get to see them play again yet this year!

I hope that you are all taking steps to avoid Covid and we appreciate everyone's efforts to send healthy kids to school.  Please make sure that your students are doing their work on Google Classroom or whatever gets sent home if they are put in quarantine.  It is their responsibility to stay active in school while at home, if you need help communicating with teachers or need help on an assignment, we are here to help.  While in quarantine we do not count them absent as the students are to be actively learning while at home.

A last reminder, we do have an early out on Wednesday, November 25 and no school on the 26th or 27th for the Thanksgiving break.

Again, don't forget to check out our school website (www.shencsd.com) or Facebook page (www.facebook.com/shenpk8) to keep up with what we are doing here at school.  

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.  Thanks and have a great week!  --Mr. Burdorf #horsepower 

Today marks the beginning of the winter activity season as our middle school boys will play at Creston.  Unfortunately, there are going to be some large restrictions on who can attend activities.  On November 10th, the Governor issued a Proclamation that stated only two spectators per participant would be allowed in.  There have been many questions on who is a "participant."  A follow up issued on November 12 stated the following people are not participants: Pep band, cheerleaders, dance team, national anthem singers, coaches, managers, trainers, statisticians, video operator, PA announcer, or scoreboard operators.  

In order to attend an event, you will either have to have a pass given from the Hawkeye Ten or Shenandoah administration, or be one of two people designated for a particular participant.  Additionally, once the game that your participant has played in is over, you may not stay for the next game (or arrive early if your game was second).  

Masks are required for those who attend winter events and must be worn at all times.  If you are not feeling well or showing any symptoms, please do not attend an event.  Most events will be available via streaming.  Each school may be different but links will be sent out in advance. Please look for the links on our school's social media outlets (Follow ShenActivities on Facebook, Twitter).  Shenandoah is now a member of the NFHS network (https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/) which does have a fee (you can pay monthly or yearly; at this link all events in the HS Gym or at the Football field will be streamed).  Some other schools will have free streaming options.  

There are several documents below that have led to our guidance.  Please contact me if you have any questions!   Thanks!

Summary of Enhanced Public Health Me.pdf 

November 10 Proclamation Guidance.pdf 

H-10 Winter Activities Guidance & Expectations.pdf 

-Jon Weinrich, Athletic Director

To: Families of SCSD Students

From: Gayle Allensworth, Aaron Burdorf and Tiffany Spiegel

Date: October 28, 2020

Re: Increased precautions due to recent COVID cases and numbers

As all of you may be aware, since the beginning of the school year, our district has had precautions in place to try to mitigate the spread of COVID 19. These have included procedures for classrooms, hallways, lunches and for school sponsored activities.

We want to express our appreciation for your support and collaboration during these times, and also want to assure you that our administrative team is in constant conversation about what to do to best meet safety and learning needs of students. 

Over the past two weeks, the high school building has had an increase in identified positive cases of  COVID 19. These positive cases have resulted in many students being quarantined and having to participate in online learning. This has led to us re-examining many of our procedures.

Starting Monday, November 2, our district administrative team will be implementing additional precautionary measures by having students wear masks throughout the school day with the exception of lunch, recess, early grade rest time, and some PE activities. This additional measure is regardless of the distance between students, and is in accordance with the most recent CDC guidelines (see attached) for business, education and child care settings.  We feel that this guidance, specifically mask wearing by both parties, will help us reduce the number of students who are quarantined when there is a positive case identified in our buildings.

We will also continue to use state guidance for our school activities programs. New winter guidelines have come out from both the IGHSAU and IHSAA and we will be working with our coaches and athletes to keep our programs running as smoothly as possible.

Again, thank you for your cooperation with keeping our children safe. Please call the office if you have questions. 

Mrs. Gayle Allensworth - HS Principal

Mr. Aaron Burdorf - K-8 Principal

Mrs. Tiffany Spiegel - Early Childhood Director

WhenToQuarantine (1).pdf

SCSD Nutrition Department
601 Dr Creighton Circle
Shenandoah, IA 51601

The USDA has EXTENDED APPROVAL FOR FREE MEALS

Dear Parent/Guardian

The USDA has extended approval for FREE Breakfast and Lunch for all students from now through the end of the school year or June 30, 2021, whichever comes first. Your student(s) enrolled with the Shenandoah Community School District will not be charged for regular school meals from now through June 30, 2021.

How does this affect your student(s) school meal status?

If your student(s) is a full pay or reduced meal status, then they will REMAIN on a FREE status through the end of June. No meal charges will be made to the student's account through this time. All money deposited into meal accounts will carry over until regular meal prices resume.

Ala carte options will be available and charged to their meal account. Extra milk and sack lunch milk will be $0.40. Please add funds into your student(s) account to cover this cost if they choose to bring their lunch and plan on getting milk or wish to purchase additional milk at meals, as well if they want to purchase any extra ala carte items. You may add funds to your student(s) meal account using myschoolbucks.com or you may send money to school to be deposited with your student(s) as well.

How does this affect applying for Free/Reduced meals?

We still highly recommend and encourage you if you have not already as a Parent/Guardian to please fill out the Iowa Eligibility Meal Application to apply for Free/Reduced status. You can access this application by going to https://www.shencsd.com/ click on the Nutrition tab, scroll down the left-hand side to Free/Reduced Meals and click, and this will direct you to the website and walk you through the process. You may also pick up an application at any school office.

This Institution is an Equal Opportunity Provider.

If you have any questions, please contact the Shenandoah Community Schools Nutrition Department at 712-246-3773 or email questions to edwardsk@shenandoah.k12.ia.us.

Thank You,

Kristin Edwards, SCSD Food Service Director