What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

Dear Dubuque Schools Families,

On Tuesday night at the Educational Programs Committee of the School Board, the Return-to-Learn Update included some discussion about how and when a return of hybrid students to fully in-person instruction may be possible.

Most important to note is that there were no recommendations of when such a move would occur, no specific timeframes outlined, and no decisions made.

If you hear rumors to the contrary, they are untrue.

Instead, the meeting included discussion of the many factors and considerations involved in making a move to fully in-person instruction, and a look at some additional data such as the active cases of COVID in the district over the course of the school year, as well as some very preliminary information about the academic progression of our hybrid students compared to last year.

At its meeting on Monday, Jan. 11, the Board will continue its discussion — and, as a public school district, that conversation will occur during a public Board meeting. In advance of Monday’s meeting, we also continue to collect additional data to aid the discussion.

This meeting will be broadcast on Mediacom Channel 117.6 or 16, and view the Zoom link on the School Board webpage. 

There may or may not be action taken at the meeting regarding next steps, however it is important that the conversation occurs.

There are many perspectives and opinions regarding when to move back to fully in-person learning and as we look into the future, it is important for us to have these discussions so that we can take the many considerations before us into account and be fully prepared for a move whenever it is possible.

Thankful for your continued support of our students during this challenging year.

Sincerely,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent of Schools

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the launch of VERTEX, a career and college readiness initiative that represents the district’s strategic and intentional work to help students discover where their interests and future possibilities intersect – all with the goal of helping them reach the highest point of their individual journey to success.

This program creates a new umbrella that unites various offerings across the district while also boosting the workforce pipeline with well-prepared, enthusiastic leaders of tomorrow. It also provides students with meaningful workplace awareness, exploration and hands-on work experiences as they prepare to make informed decisions about their future.

“As a school district, it is among our most important responsibilities to help students see the possibilities that exist for them after graduation and prepare them with the tools necessary to achieve their desired success,” said Stan Rheingans, superintendent of the Dubuque Community School District. “VERTEX represents the district’s strategic work to provide a comprehensive career and college readiness program for students.”

VERTEX is designed around a core principle that career and college readiness is about more than just one experience. In the Dubuque Community Schools, the process begins in middle school and continues through high school while providing experiences that get progressively deeper over time, moving through three key areas of awareness, exploration and application.

View the VERTEX Initiative webpage

“Regardless of their skills or interests, we are committed to helping students connect their classroom learning to potential post-high school options,” said David Moeller, the educational support leader in the district coordinating the VERTEX effort. “This includes everything from exploration activities, assistance in course selection and hands-on learning, both in the district and through meaningful experiences available in partnership with area businesses.”

Recognizing that the diverse workforce of tomorrow is sitting in area classrooms today, a key component of VERTEX also aims to provide hands-on experiences for students in partnership with a host of area organizations and businesses. Throughout the development of the initiative, an advisory group including Greater Dubuque Development Corporation, Northeast Iowa Community College, Dubuque Area Labor-Management Council and the City of Dubuque provided valuable community context to the program’s development and continues to support outreach to area businesses.

“Quality career education is vital for Greater Dubuque area employers to ensure a pipeline of talent into the future,” said Anna Roling, director of workforce solutions for Greater Dubuque Development Corporation. “Greater Dubuque Development is pleased to support the Vertex Initiative by supporting area businesses in connecting with students for job shadows, career information, internships and work opportunities.”

Moving forward, VERTEX will lead to enhanced experiences for students, including job shadowing, mentorship programs, service learning and internship/work experience programs. These experiences will be supported by strong academic opportunities across the curriculum, including everything from career technical education and Advancement Placement courses to concurrent enrollment courses at area higher education institutions, that will help prepare students for life after high school.

VERTEX will also support and more deeply align a variety of current programs that connect students with employers in real-world work experiences including: Work-Based Learning Program, School-to-Work Program, Summit Program, Transition Alliance Program (TAP), Housing Education and Rehabilitation Training (HEART) Program, and Iowa Jobs for America’s Graduates (iJAG).

“The launch of VERTEX is really a beginning,” said Rheingans. “The real power of this initiative will be in its ability to more deeply engage students uncovering all that’s possible for them while connecting them to the tremendous outside-the-classroom experiences, and potentially their future employer, that exist right here in Dubuque.”

Businesses or organizations requesting more information about how to be part of Vertex Initiative Programs can contact David Moeller, instructional support leader, at dmoeller@dbqschools.org or 563/552-3082.

On Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, the Dubuque Community School District Board of Education approved the school calendars for the 2021-2022 and 2022-2023 school years.

VIEW THE APPROVED CALENDARS

12/29 UPDATE: Due to the incoming winter storm, there will be NO in-person pick-up on Wednesday, Dec. 30.

Instead, all meal sites will serve meals today for both Tuesday, Dec. 29, and Wednesday, Dec. 30. 

There will be no meal service on Thursday, Dec. 31, or Friday, Jan. 1.

The Dubuque Community School District will provide NO-COST meals for anyone 18 or under (no infant formula will be provided) from Monday, Dec. 28, through Wednesday, Dec. 30.

All Grab n’ Go meal bags will consist of a breakfast meal and lunch meal that meets USDA meal guidelines.

Registration for free four-year-old preschool in the Dubuque Community School District will begin on Monday, Jan. 11. This includes 12 Dubuque public elementary schools offering preschool through the Statewide Voluntary Free Preschool Program. (Please note that due to space constraints, Hoover Elementary School will not offer preschool programming for the 2021-2022 school year.)

Parents and guardians may register students in person at the selected site, beginning at 7 a.m. on Monday, January 11. Masks will be required and social distancing measures will be in place.

Proof-of-age, preferably a birth certificate, is required to register a student. Other accepted proof-of-age documents include a passport or signed immunization record.

Preschool registration paperwork will be available to complete in advance beginning on January 4. It can be accessed on the district’s preschool webpage or in-person at all elementary schools. You can also find registration details and forms, as well as additional preschool information, online at www.dbqschools.org/preschool.

Free four-year-old preschool is open to students who are four by September 15. For additional registration questions, individuals should contact the school they are interested in registering at.

Space may be limited in some facilities and registrations are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment for preschool is not based on geography and all sites are open to residents within the Dubuque Community School District.

In addition to spots in Dubuque’s public schools, a variety of community preschool partners also offer free four-year-old preschool.

The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children is funded by the State of Iowa and facilitated locally by the Dubuque Community School District.

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With all students in the Dubuque Community School District moving to remote learning for one week following Thanksgiving, the district is expanding grab-and-go meal sites during that time.

NO-COST meals will be available for anyone 18 or under (no infant formula will be provided) from Monday, Nov. 30, through Friday, Dec. 4.

All Grab n’ Go meal bags will consist of a breakfast meal and lunch meal that meets USDA meal guidelines.

LOCATIONS AND TIMES

• Audubon Elementary School (located on Lincoln Ave): 11:30 a.m. -12:15 p.m.
• Fulton Elementary School (located in bus drive up lane): Noon-12:45 p.m.
• Hempstead High School (located in the back parking lot near softball fields): 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
• Prescott Elementary School (located in bus drive up lane): 11 a.m.-11:45 a.m.
• Senior High School (located in bus drive up lane): 12:30-1 p.m.
• Super 20 Mobile Home Park (14501 North Cascade Road) WALK-UP ONLY: 12:20-12:40 p.m.
• Table Mound Trailer Park (DOT side) (700 Noonan Street) WALK-UP ONLY: 11-11:20 a.m.
• Table Mound Trailer Park (Casey’s side) (1221 Maquoketa Drive) WALK-UP ONLY: 11:40 a.m.-Noon
• Washington Middle School (located at the south side entrance): 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

NOVEMBER 3-DECEMBER 4 MENU

MONDAY, NOVEMBER 30
Breakfast: Cereal with grahams, craisins, fruit juice, milk
Lunch: Mozzarella breadsticks, assorted fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1
Breakfast: Mini pancakes, craisins, fruit juice, milk
Lunch: Chicken patty on a bun, assorted fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 2
Breakfast: Mini waffles, craisins, fruit juice, milk
Lunch: Cheese pizza, assorted fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3
Breakfast: Mini French toast, craisins, fruit juice, milk
Lunch: Hamburger on a bun, assorted fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4
Breakfast: Cereal bar with grahams, craisins, fruit juice, milk
Lunch: Hotdog on a bun, assorted fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, milk

Iakwe Baam̧le Ko kajjojo,

Einwōt am jeļā ke, jaar kaanooj in kalimjeke ļo̧k im etale nan̄inmij in COVID-19 iloan jikuul kein jen droon im jukjukin pād in bareinwōt.

Ilo an wōt jerpal m̧akūtkūt in hybrid learning.  Wāwein ad kar tilmaake model jab in jen kar jinoin jikuul m̧aantak n̄an Thanksgiving ej Juōn kallim̧ur ņae rijerpal ro ilo staffing im rijikuul rooj ro rar kijejeto bwe en tobrak model in jikuul in.  Ilo Juōn wōt ien, emōj ad loe an lim̧aajņoņo nan̄inmij COVID-19 im erļo̧k ļooran wōt kar holiday ko m̧aantak im jaar pojak wōt n̄an kar Thanksgiving.

JUŌN BUN̄TŌN WĀWEIN BŌBRAE 

Ļooran wōt Thanksgiving, kōm̧ ej karōk n̄an kōm̧akūt ilo Juōn ien eo elmakut remote learning  n̄an AOLEP RIJIKUUL ro JUŌN WIIK jen Mandre, Nobōm̧ba 30 raan ļo̧k n̄an Bōlaide, Tijem̧ba 4 raan.

• District eo emoj an ban ļo̧k an mālim jen Iowa Department of Education n̄an m̧akūtkūt in.
• Tipdik in melele ko ikijjeen remote learning im peļļo̧kin aer bōk kijāer m̧ōn̄ā enaaj alikkar ilo raan kani im̧aan.
• Kōttōpar eo ej n̄an kōro̧o̧l tok hybrid learning ilo an nej Mandre, Tijem̧ba 7 raan.

ETKE N̄AN JA BŌK BUN̄TŌN IN?

M̧akūtkūt in ar jerpal n̄an leļo̧k Juōn bar m̧ōttan kilen bōbrae nan rijikuul ro im rijerpal ro, einwōt ad jelā kin ro uaan armij enaaj alikkar nan̄inmij ko ium̧win 10-raan ālikin aer po.

• Bar Juōn alen, wāwein kōjparok in EJJAB kin an ajeeded nan̄inmij in COVID-19 iloan m̧wōn jikuul ko.
• Oktak n̄an remote learning  enaaj lelo̧k 12-raan in kakkūje jen jejjedredre in katak eo im 10-raan ālikin Thanksgiving.
• Elap jelā ke jōkjōk in ekanooj in kōm̧m̧an apan̄, bōtaab enej em̧m̧an an jipan̄ kij m̧aan ļo̧k bwe jen bar rool ļo̧k n̄an in-person learning akō rool ļo̧k n̄an jikuul ilo ad wōnm̧aanļo̧k.

TA UNIN MEĻEĻE KEIN N̄AN BAAM̧LE KO?

Jooj ej meļeļe ke em̧m̧akūt in ej pād ilo an elmakut enaaj kōjparok imminene ko n̄an baam̧le ko.

• Rijikuul ro rej jikuul wōt ilo online renej loor laajrak ko aer ejja ilo aer kar jerpal wōt.
• N̄an ro ilo hybrid learning model, em̧m̧akūt in enaaj n̄an baam̧le ko bwe ren kōm̧m̧an iaļan rijikuul ro ilo ad pād wōt ilo kabijuknen ilo an nej wiik ņe ilo kakkobaba in ruo raan (A-day an rijikuul ro) akō kakkobaba in jilu raan (B-day n̄an rijikuul ro an)
• Ilo tōrein, kim ej aikuji baam̧le ko bwe ren wōnm̧aanļo̧k im bōk wōt kilaan kōttolo̧k eo jen armij akō social distance, kōņaki māāj ko aer im lale wōt kōkallōn nan̄inmij ko ippāer.
• Jabdrewōt Juōn eo ewōr kōkallōn nan̄inmij ko ippān ej aikuj loor jōkjōk kein em̧ōj kaalikkari ilo district’s COVID-19 Response Protocol.

Kilen kaddikdikļo̧k ko, koba ippān kōkōm̧anm̧an kakien in bōbrae ko ilo aolepen bukōn ko akō state of Iowa im ennaan in kōtmen ko rem̧m̧an aer kāron̄jak kij kin jerpal in uno eo kenono kake, enaaj kōm̧m̧an bwe wāwein em̧m̧akūt in elmakut enaaj kepooj kij n̄an wōnm̧aanļo̧k wōt ilo ejjeļo̧k jabdewōt kaabān̄ban̄ ko ilo nej ilju eo adwōj.

Kom̧m̧ool tata eļap n̄an kin jipan̄ ko am ilo kajjeon̄ karum̧wij ajeedred in an nan̄inmij in COVID-19 iloan jukjukin pād im am kijejeto im jipan̄ tok eo n̄an rijikuul rein ad.

Kilaan wōt Iakwe jen,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent

Dear Families,

As you know, we have been closely and continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation in our schools and community.

Our hybrid learning model continues to work as designed. Our ability to operate this model from the beginning of the school year through Thanksgiving is a testament to the staff and students who have continued to make this model successful. At the same time, we have seen significant spikes in COVID-19 cases following holidays and want to be prepared for a spike following Thanksgiving.

A PREVENTATIVE ACTION STEP
Following Thanksgiving, we plan to temporarily move to remote learning for ALL STUDENTS for ONE WEEK from Monday, Nov. 30, through Friday, Dec. 4.

• The district has applied for a waiver from the Iowa Department of Education for this move.
• Additional details about remote learning and meal availability during this time will be shared in upcoming days.
• Our intent is to return to hybrid learning on Monday, Dec. 7.

WHY TAKE THIS STEP?
This move is designed to provide an extra layer of protection to students and staff, as the vast majority of individuals will exhibit symptoms within 10 days following exposure.

• Again, this measure is NOT due to spread of COVID-19 in buildings.
• This move to remote learning will provide a 12-day break from in-person instruction and 10-days post-Thanksgiving.
• We recognize that this is an inconvenience, but it will have great long-term benefit in allowing us to continue in-person learning moving forward.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR FAMILIES?
We understand that this temporary move will require adjustments for families.

• Fully online students will continue instruction on these days as scheduled.
• For those in the hybrid model, this move will require families to make arrangements for students to be at home during that week for two additional days (A-day students) or three additional days (B-day students).
• During this time, we urge families to continue taking the necessary steps to social distance, wear masks and to monitor for any symptoms.
• Any individuals who develop symptoms should follow the steps outlined in the district’s COVID-19 Response Protocol.

Our ongoing mitigation strategies, combined with enhanced preventative restrictions across the county/state and optimistic news on the horizon regarding vaccine development, will allow this break to set us up to move forward with as little disruption as possible in the future.

Thank you for playing your part to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our community and for your ongoing support of our students.

Sincerely,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent

Iakwe DCSD Baamle ko im Rijerpal ro,

Einwōt ami wōj jelā ke, jej loe an laplok nan̄inmij in COVID-19 iloan jukjukin pād in adwōj im belaak in Iowa in. Im, ippān 14-raan in positive rate eo an Dubuque County emōj an le jen 20% jon̄an eo jaar jab kōtmen, emōj bōk elōn̄ uaan kajjitōk ko kin jorāān in an COVID-19 ilo jikuul ko ilo ad wōnmaanlok wōt.

Ilo ien in, jenej wōnmaanlok wōt kin Hybrid Model in jikuul eo ippān lok bareinwōt katak wōt online eo jikin n̄an ro rej kōnan kālōt e.

The Strong mitigation strategies (akō wāwein bōbrae im kadriklok jorāān ko) emōj an bōk jikin ilo belaak in district in (ekadredreik lok kōnaki māāj ko im kōttolok droon ilo jabdrewōt jikin ko ilo jikuul eo) enej wōnmaanlok ilo ad kōkajoor lok mantin ejmour eo im kōjpārok eo an rijikuul ro im rijerpal ro ilo aer pād iloan jikin jikuul eo.

Jerpal eo an Hybrid ar kōmman tok jen ar jelā ke COVID-19 emōj an kar pād iloan jukjukin pād in, im kim ej kōtmen bwe ewōr ruo wāwein ko kim maron̄ in kajjeon̄ bōbrae wāwein in:

1. Eitōn aolep ien, contact tracing (akō wāwein jelā wōn im wōn ar bōk nan̄inmij in kab jen ia) emōj aer loe ke ro rar ak rinan̄inmij ro iloan district in ilo makūtkūt ko im wāwein ippān droon ko, ar alikkar ke ejjab itok jen jikin jikuul ko akō makūtkūt ko an jikuul im emōj kar karōki
   • Im ekkā wōt an walok, ej ekkejel lok wōt ippān jabdrewōt armij jen juōn kabijuknen eo im ar nan̄inmij tok ako jen ar kar koba lok ilo jikin kweilok ko rellap – emaron̄ bar jikin ko reddrik!
   • Lale lok COVID-19 Dashboard eo an district in, enej kwalok wōn im wōn, jikuul ta kab uaan rinan̄inmij ro im emōj an ajedred ilo belaak in district in.
2. Absentee rate (akō rijikuul/rijerpal ro ren kar pād ilo jikin jikuul eo ak reban) itok jen aer nan̄inmij ilo jon̄an ko rejjab emman. Kar ruo wiik emoot lok, district in ar loe 3% laplok in nan̄inmij in rijikuul ro eitōn aolep raan.

Elukun laplok ammim bulōn̄ kin wāwein an rijikuul ro im rijerpal rein kajjeon̄ dreploke elōn̄ kain oktak ko im elap ammim mōnōnō kake aer pokake im loor aolepen kakien kein an ejmour im kōjpārok kein emōj bōk jikier.

BOTAAB, EJ TO WOT KITIEN.

Einwōt ad tōmak ke jikin jikuul ko rej jikin katak ko an rijikuul ro, remman im ejjelok jorāān ie, im kim ej bōtaab ekkōl wōt im inebata kin an kajoor laplok in COVID-19 nan̄inmij ko iloan jukjukin pād in im belaak in Iowa in. N̄e jeban kōkōmanmanlok ad kajjeon̄ bōbrae ro jet im kij make jen nan̄inmij in ilo jukjukin pād in adwōj, aolepen uaan bwinbwin kein rej walok, enej laplok ad loe an wallōn̄lok im eddrōklok wōt im kōmman an ben lok mour ilo jukjukin pād in.

Kim ej kajjeon̄ ilo jon̄an wōt ad maron̄ n̄an lemaanlok jōkjōk ko ilo model in katak kein adwōj. Ilo ad wōnmaanlok wōt, jenej lale lok bwinbwin ko an COVID-19 iloan jikuul ko im bareinwōt jukjukin pād in. Jenej bareinwōt bebe maan lok ikijjeen jabdrewōt wāwein ad kepooj imaan, n̄an adwōj maron̄ in rool lok n̄an jikuul im katak n̄e ejjelok uata n̄an rool akō kōmakut kilaajruum ko, jikin jikuul eo ako district eo n̄an jikin katak eo emake lok iaan n̄e ebar wōr jabdrewōt utamwe.

N̄AN DREBIJ WŌT KATAK KEIN, ELUKKUN IN LAP AIKUJI JIBAN̄ EO JEN KWE ILO TŌRE IN!

N̄e elaplok bwinbwin ko ilo jukjukin pād in, enej kaaban̄ lok attendance levels (akō an rijikuul/rijerpal jere ilo jikin jikuul) ko an district karōk rijerpal ro, ilo an bareinwōt kaaban̄ lok healthcare system eo an jukjukin pād in – aolepen nej an kakkure wāwein ad naaj lemaanlok bedbed in jerpal kein.

JEMARON̄ UKOT LOK JIBADBAD IM KŌTTŌBAR KEIN, BŌTAAB JEJJAB AIKUJ IN TOTO PĀ.

Joij, ilo etan rijikuul rein im rijerpal rein, kwalok am meanwōd:

• Kanōk juōn am māāj im kōttolok eok am makūtkūt.
• Kadriklok loe lok jikin kweilok ko rellap.
• Kwal peim.
• Ilo koba lok ko, kajjitōk ippam make “ta wāwein in elikit ke n̄a, baamle in aō akō ro jet ilo uata ke?”

Einwōt juōn jukjukin pād eo, kōl eo emman n̄an kadriklok an ajedred COVID-19 ej juōn men eo n̄e jooj ippān droon kake epidrodro n̄an ukot lok. Kommol elap kin am bōk ijo konaam aolep ien.

Sincerely,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent

Dear DCSD Families and Staff,

As many of you know, we continue to see COVID-19 cases increases in our community and our state. And, with Dubuque County’s 14-day positivity rate breaking the 20% threshold, we have received a number of questions about the impact of COVID-19 on schools moving forward.

At this time, we will continue to operate in our hybrid model with the fully online option in place for those desiring it.

The strong mitigation strategies in place across the district (including mandated mask wearing and social distancing in school settings) continue with daily reinforcement to ensure the health and safety of our students and staff while they are in our buildings.

Our hybrid system was designed with the assumption that COVID-19 was present in our community, and we feel confident in maintaining this model at this time for two key reasons:

1. In almost every instance, contact tracing efforts have linked positive cases in the district to activities or interactions unrelated to school or school-sponsored activities.
   • Most frequently, this is tied to another household member being positive or from attendance at a social gathering – even small ones!
   • A look at the district’s COVID-19 Dashboard shows that active, positive cases are widely spread out across the district.
2. Our absentee rate due to illness remains within normal limits. Over the past two weeks, the district has averaged a daily student absentee rate due to illness of just over 3%.

We continue to be amazed with how well our students and staff have adapted to the many changes and are so proud of their ongoing commitment to following the health and safety protocols in place.

BUT, WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE WOODS.

While we believe schools are a safe learning environment for students, we remain very concerned about the upward surge of COVID-19 cases in our county and state. If we do not enhance personal mitigation practices throughout our community, all current data indicates we will see the surge continue to grow and put immense pressure on our community.

We are doing everything in our power to maintain consistency in our learning model. As we move forward, we will continuously monitor COVID-19 data in our schools and community. We continue to plan for a variety of future scenarios, including plans to move back to fully in-person learning when it is safe to do so or to move classrooms, buildings or the district to fully remote learning should conditions necessitate.

TO MAINTAIN CONSISTENT LEARNING, WE NEED YOUR HELP NOW MORE THAN EVER!

If community numbers continue to rise, they have the potential to impact district staffing and student attendance levels, while also putting additional strain on our community healthcare system – all of which could jeopardize our ability to maintain consistent operations.

WE CAN CHANGE THE COURSE, BUT WE CAN’T LET OUR GUARD DOWN.

Please, on behalf of our students and staff, be diligent:

• Wear a mask and social distance.
• Limit indoor gatherings.
• Wash your hands.
• In every interaction you have, ask yourself “Does this behavior put me, my family or others at risk?”

As a community, the ability to reduce COVID-19 transmission is a challenge that we collectively have the power to change. Thank you for playing your part in doing so.

Sincerely,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent