What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

On Tuesday, Jan. 26, the Dubuque Community School District is implementing its inclement weather meal delivery plan.

No-cost meal service will be available at four Grab n’ Go meal sites to any individual 18 or under (with no infant formula or food served), regardless of whether or not they are enrolled in a district school:

• Fulton Elementary School (located in the bus drive up lane): 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• Prescott Elementary School (located in the bus drive up lane): 11-11:30 a.m.
• Washington Middle School (located at the south side main building entrance): 11:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.
• Hempstead High School (located next to the softball fields): 11-11:30 a.m.

All “Grab n’ Go” meal bags will consist of a breakfast meal and a lunch meal that meets USDA meal guidelines. Hot dogs are on the menu for today!

Last night, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds updated her Public Health Disaster Proclamation, which included modifications to the spectator guidelines for high school sports.

Social distancing requirements are still in place at high school events. Based on the latest update to the proclamation, the following spectator guidelines will be in place for district events effective immediately:

• Admission will still be limited based on available capacity, with students and families of participants receiving priority.
• There will be NO general admission tickets available to the general public.
• All spectators MUST have an approved wristband to acquire admission to the event.
• Masks are REQUIRED to be worn by spectators at all times
• All spectators should practice appropriate social distancing and abide by posted signage and directions from event staff.
• Individuals are asked to stay home if:
  • Exhibiting any symptoms of illness or have a temperature of 100.4 or above.
  • Awaiting the results of a COVID-19 test, have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in the past ten (10) days or have been a close contact to someone who has COVID-19 in the past ten (10) days.

Thank you for your continued support of our students as we work to keep our extracurricular activities as safe as possible!

Iakwe nan baamle ko an Dubuque Schools,

Jota in juje eo ilo Educational Programs Committee an School Board, Obtait in Rool-nan-Katak kon melele ko ikijeen ewāwein im knaat bunton ko an korool rijikuul in hybrid nan fully in-person emaron bok jikin.

Elukun aurok nan jola ke ejanin wor alikar kon kōm̧akūt in, ejelok jejet in knaat eo, im ejanin wor alikar in bebe kain.

Ne ewor naan kwoj ron nu ial kon menin, rej jab mol.

Ijelokin wot, kweilok eo ej nan bebe im etale bunton in kamakut tok jikuul nan fully in-person, im lale jot data ko ikijeen keej in COVID iloan tijtrik in ilo jikuul io in, bareinwot jot melele ko ikijeen katak im progress ko an hybrid ien in jen io eo lak.

Kweilok ne ilo Mandre, Jan.11, Board eo enaaj wonmanlok kon lomnak im bebe ko-im, enwot juon public school district, melele ko renaaj bok jikier ilo kweilok ne an publik board. Mokta jen kweilok ne Mande, kom naaj wonmanlok im kakobabaiki tok data ko nan kenono kaki.

Alooje kweilok ne ilo channel 117.6 ak 16 an Mediacom, im zoom link eo nan alooje kweilok ne enaaj walok ilo webpaij e an tijtrik ilo jemlok in wiik.

Mene emaron ak emaron ejelok makitkit ko etobrak ilo kweilok ne nan komani bunton ko elik, botaab elukun aurok nan kenono kaki.

Ewor lomnak im melele ko kon rool nan katak fully in-person im ilo ad reimaanlak , elukun aurok nan kenono kaki lomnak kein nan ad maron kelet lomnak ko reman im jejet im m̧aanjāppopo jekron knaat im ien eo emaron.

Kommol kon support ko am nan rijikuul ro nejid ilo io in aban im ben.

Ilo kautiej,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent an Jikuul ko

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