What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

Dear Dubuque Community Schools Families,

I recently shared with our teachers that I saw a social media post recently commenting on how the past week has felt like the longest year ever. I’m sure that you can relate – the coronavirus situation is evolving daily, information is constant and shifting, and the uncertainty has brought new pressures and challenges to our everyday life.

As families, we know that you are now faced with juggling work, lack of work, or working from home, in addition to providing childcare, continuing social distancing efforts – and now, helping your student continue learning.

We will make it through this together.

Our teachers are longing for connections with students. They miss the energy that comes with the classroom and are working hard to navigate the new territory of keeping students engaged and learning remotely.

We are all striving for some sense of normalcy in times that are anything but normal.

As we receive and work to understand the constantly evolving guidance from the state in order to finalize our learning offerings for students in upcoming days, we will continue to put students and families first in our decision-making.

And, while we can’t promise that the upcoming months will be without bumps, we can promise you the following:

• We will be flexible – understanding that families will do as much as they can and what is best for them during this time. We ask for that flexibility and understanding in return as the situation continues to evolve.
• We will work to provide educational opportunities as equitably as possible, working to recognize and reduce barriers to learning exacerbated by this situation – knowing that for many families, their first focus will be on maintaining basic human needs during this pandemic.
• We will continue communicating regularly and transparently. We won’t always have all the answers. Information will change and evolve, and tomorrow’s answer may be different than today’s due to changing circumstances. But we will always communicate and listen.
• We will approach all of our work with empathy, realizing that this global situation presents pressures that challenge our emotional wellbeing and can enhance feelings of anxiety, fear and uncertainty. We ask that you remember that our teachers and staff are dealing with these same pressures while working to put our students and families first.

As you know first-hand, our staff are amazing – and they continue to do astounding work with students and families under arguably the most challenging circumstances we have faced in our lifetime. Families, it’s important that you know the same goes for you – we know that you are under immense pressure, are making immense sacrifices and are doing incredible work to support your family.

We will make it through this together.

On behalf of the Dubuque Community School District, we are proud to be part of the bedrock of this community. We are proud of how our families, district and community have stepped up to serve the most vulnerable among us.

We are #DbqSchoolsProud and we are in this together.

Sincerely,
Stan Rheingans
Superintendent

Erkein enaan ko rokaal tok jen Dubuque Community School District:

RIKAKI IN MIDDLE IM HIGH SCHOOL-RENAJ KWALOK KILEN
Iload ekatak kin kilen katakin kein rej itok jen Ra eo an Jelalokjen ilo Iowa im ilo ad bukot tok wewen ko rommanlok kin kilen katakin ko ebo lok lomaer nan rijikuul rein, jenaj etal wot im jino katakin ilo an rikaki ro kwalok waj kilen kommani katak ko einwot ad kar karoke. Karokan katak kein rar ijjino jen wot wiik ko lok im ejab jarjar jen kojjela eo an Kobna eo inne. Ilo ad wonmanwaj kin kilen katakin in ejab kiel district in nan jotak wot ilo komman katakin, ak ej kotlok ad wonman lok wot ilo ad kottar elon lok melele ko tok jen Ra eo an Jelalokjen ilo Iowa wiik in lal ikijen ad komman kilen katakin kein. Jino jen wonje, Eprol 8 ran, rikai in middle school im high school renaj elmakote jabdewot kilen katakin ko, rikaki ro renaj jiban ilo kwalok waj kilen komman ekatak nan rijikuul ro. Rijikuul ro renaj aikuj delone district email account ko aer elkin 8 awa jibban ilo Wonje bwe ren maron loi komlele ko jen rikaki ro aer ikijen kilen aer maron loi nan kommani katak ko. Katak kein renaj iwoj ilo juon jokjok eo rijikuul eo enaj aikuj kadedelok katak kein rokaal elane renaj maron. Rijikuul eo enaj jerbal iben rikaki nan an bok komlele ko ilo tore eo ej komman ekatak. Rijikuul ro im baamle ko aer remaron konono iben rikaki ro im principal ro ilo email kin kajitok ko kake ekatak ko.

RIKAKI IN ELEMENTARY RENAJ WONMANLOK WOT NAN TOBAR KOM KIN KILEN KATAKIN
For our younger learners in the districtAjiri jiddik ro rej jikuul ilo district in, kotobar eo ilo kotaan in ej bwe rijikuul ro ren boub, ren ekatak im kile juon oktak im lo aorok eo an ta eo rej kommane. Aolep rikaki ro ilo district in rej kakkobaba kilen katakin ko ilo Seesaw im eban jomlok aer jeje waj nan baamle ko ilo Seesaw ak email im renaj bar call waj. Ebareinwot lon kaein kein ekatak ko ilo peba nan rijikuul in elementary ilo webpage ne ikijen Coronavirus ijene ikijen KILEN KATAKIN. Kin an tar jen jonan eo jar kotmane kake ear maat peba in komlele kin kilen katakin ko rar ajeji ilo jikin ajej mona ko ilo rainin. Ejja peba eo wot kar ajeje ilo rainin naj bar ajeje ilo Mande, Eprol 6 ran nan ro rar jab ebok aer ilo kar rainin.

KAKEMEMEJ: JIKIN IKKURE KO ILO IMON JIKUUL KO ROKILOK
Kon an ben im aban karreoik kein ikkure ko ilo jikin ikkure ko, im an bar lon armej im ikutkut aer jibjibwi kein ikkure ko, aolep jikin ikkure ko ilo imon jikuul ko an district in rokilok nan an armej etal in kojerbali mae bar juon iien naj kalikare. Kilok in ekar itok elkin wot kar kojjela eo jen Bukon in Dubuque im ebar lon bukon ko jet. Konke elon rijikuul remaron naj konaan kojerbal jikin ikkure kein ilo ran ko emman mejatoto, jej kajitok iben baamle ko nan debij er jen aer etal nan jiban bobrae ajeded in COVID-19.

KOMLELE KO IKIJEN KONONO IBEN AJIRI RO KIN CORONAVIRUS
Juon Jikin Ej Ekatak Kin Aer im Entaan in Komalij An Ajiri ro ear je juon bok in letok melele nan baamle ko Juon Ekatak Buk in Jiban Mama im Baba ro Jiban Baamle ko Tarinaaik Naninmej in Coronavirus (COVID-19) Ekatak in kar eiki nan jiban baamle ko lomnak kin jokjok ko naninmej ko rokabobo romaron jelet baamle – emaron ilo enbwinier ak kolmenlokjen ko aer _ im ta komaron kommane nan jiban baamle eo am tarinaeiki.

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

MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER-GUIDED LEARNING
As we navigate the new guidance from the Iowa Department of Education and work to gain additional details regarding student learning options, we will continue to move forward with teacher-guided learning opportunities next week as planned. Planning for this learning has been underway for more than a week and is not in response to yesterday’s announcement by the Governor. Moving forward with this optional learning does not lock the district into voluntary or required learning, but allows us to proceed as we wait for more details about the application process from the Iowa Department of Education next week.

Beginning on Wednesday, April 8, middle school and high school teachers will provide optional, teacher-guided learning opportunities for students. Students should login to their district email account after 8 a.m. on Wednesday for information from their teachers on how to access lessons. These optional lessons will be offered in an on-demand format, allowing students to complete the new learning tasks as they are able. Students will communicate with and receive feedback from their teachers during this learning. Students and families should connect with their teachers and principals via email with questions about their learning activities.

ELEMENTARY TEACHERS CONTINUE OUTREACH AND ACTIVITIES
For our younger learners in the district, the focus during this time is keeping students learning, engaged and curious. Teachers throughout the district are adding activities for students in Seesaw and they continue to reach out to families via Seesaw, email and phone calls. There are also a variety of worksheets and activities for elementary students in the EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES section of our Coronavirus Webpage. With a higher-than-anticipated demand at meal sites, we ran out of handouts at meal sites today. Copies of today’s handouts will be available at meal sites again on Monday, April 6, for those who were unable to get them today.

REMINDER: SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS ARE CLOSED
Given the difficulty in maintaining the sanitization of playground equipment, and the volume/frequency of contact points on the equipment, all school playgrounds in the district are closed to the public until further notice. This closing comes following a similar decision by the City of Dubuque and a number of other municipalities. While it may be tempting for students to use these areas on nice days, we ask families to refrain from doing so in order to reduce any spread of COVID-19.

RESOURCE FOR TALKING ABOUT CORONAVIRUS WITH CHILDREN
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has developed a new resource for families – a Parent/Caregiver Guide to Helping Families Cope with Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). The resource is designed to help families think about how an infectious disease outbreak might affect your family—both physically and emotionally—and what you can do to help your family cope.

KOBNA EO EAR KAITOKLOK AN BOJRAK JIKUUL NAN EPROL 30 RAN

Elkin raelep rainin, Kobna eo an Iowa Kim Reynolds ear komman juon kojjela ikijen an kaitoklok kitien kean eo nan an jikuul ko ilo aolepen state in rej bojrak maanlok nan Eprol 30. Bar einwot ilo an ejjelok jikuul ilo kotaan in, aolep makutkut im burokuram ko rej kun.

District in ear ron im jela kin melele kein ilo tore eo ke ej konono kaki iben rinuuj ro, komman bwe en ejjelok uaak in kajitok ko ejanin kar wor uaak nani im ebar lon men ko jet jej aikuj melele nani.
Jej melele im jej enjake an baamle ko inebata ro ewor aer kajitok im ebar lon men ko rej aikuj komlele nani.– Jej bareinwot kate kom bukot ejja uaak kein wot. Jej jerbal im bukot elon lok melele im naj kojjelaik kom kaki iien eo wot jenaj maron tobar melele eo ejimwe im ekkar nan karok kein ejjab bojrak aer itok bwe jen loori.

Einwot an lon wot kajitok ko ad, komin kojatdikdik bwe rijerbal rein ad rar baj bojak wot nan jiban baamle ko einwot jar ennoik ke enaj kar aitoklok an jikuul bojrak. .

Erkein jet men ko jejela rainin:

• Einwot ad kar konanik waj kom jinoin lok kar wiik in, jino jen Wonje, rikaki ro ilo middle school im high school renaj lewaj katak ko rokkar, rikaki ro renaj jiban rijikuul ro kommani ekatak ko aer. Jenaj loor karok kein maan waj wot ilo ad kottar tok wot enaan jen state ikijen elane kilen katakin kein rokkar im emman nan ad lori im bwe en wewen eo in.
• Nan rijikuul in elementary ro, rikaki ro renaj ellewaj katak ko im kilen katakin ilo Seesaw, email ak renaj talboon waj.
• Einwot aolep iien, Jenaj kate koj bwe en jokkun wot juon ilo ad bukot menin aikuj ko an rijikuul ro ilo district in ad ilo ad jolok aolep kabanban ko im bukot lamlam ko nan an jelalokjen ilok nan aolep.
• Jokdon elane district in enaj kelet bwe en katakin kin jabdewot menin katak ak men ko rej aikuj bwe rijikuul ro rej aikuj ekatak kaki, einwot an alikar tok jen state, jonen awa in jikuul ko rijikuul ro rej aikuj kar kommani ilo jikuul emoj an Kobna eo jolok.
• Emoj jiron tok kom ke peba/abilkejen eo nan aer kelet elane rokonan ekatak jabdewot kain ak katak ko rej aikuj buki enaj itok Mande, Eprol 6, im enaj jomlok kitien ilo Eprol 10. Jenaj bar likuun lale peba eo elane enaj tobrak tok nan lale bar ta jenaj aiku kommane ilo kotaan in maan waj.
• Elap ad kate koj bwe kilaaj jonoulruo ro robojak in kadiwojlok renaj kadiwojlok.
• Jenaj wonmanlok wot ilo ad najidik rijikuul ro mona ko ejjelok wonaer nan rijikuul ro rej aikuji ilo tore in.

Bar juon alen, district in ej kab jela kin enanin aolep melele kaal kein ilo rainin ilo an kar diwoj tok kojjela eo nan aolep im kom jela ke ej naj wor wot jet kajitok. Ilo an janin wor uaak ibam nan elon ian kajitok kein ilo tore in, komij kate kom nan tobar im boktok uaak ko nan am naj kojelaik waj kom kaki ilo ran kane rej bedo tok.

Jet kein tore rej jab bidodo, im kom jela ke elon armej im baamle ko rej iion men ko reben ejjelok kar kotmane kaki. Einwot juon district, komij bojak in dibuk iien kein reben ibami im komij kate kom nan jiban kom kojbarok ejmuur, im aenomman im jelalokjen eo an rijikuul ro nejid.

Kojbarok wot im ejmuur en ilo kom.

GOVERNOR EXTENDS SCHOOL CLOSURE THROUGH APRIL 30

This afternoon, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds issued an emergency proclamation extending the statewide school closure through April 30. In addition to no school during this time, all activities and events are also cancelled.

The district learned most of the information shared in the Governor’s press conference as it occurred, leaving many questions unanswered and many other points needing clarification.

We understand and share in the frustration of families who have questions and seek additional details – we strive for those details as well. We are working to gain additional information and will share it with you as soon as we can provide accurate, understandable details regarding the shifting guidance we continue to receive.

While many questions remain, be assured that our teams have been planning to serve families knowing that an extension of this closure was a possibility.

Here are a few items we know today:

• As we shared earlier this week, beginning next Wednesday, middle school and high school teachers will provide optional, teacher-guided learning opportunities for students. We will continue to move forward with this plan while also awaiting guidance from the state to determine whether or not it is feasible to make these opportunities required.
• For elementary students, teachers are adding activities for students in Seesaw and they continue to engage with students and families via Seesaw, email and phone calls.
• As always, we will strive to equitably serve the needs of all students in our district by reducing barriers and providing services in order to make learning accessible to all.
• Regardless of whether the district chooses a voluntary or required method of continuous education, as defined by the state, the requirement to make up instructional time has been waived by the Governor.
• We have been told the application to select either the voluntary or required option will be available on Monday, April 6, with a due date of Friday, April 10. We will review the application once available to determine the next steps moving forward.
• We are committed to ensuring that seniors on track for graduation are able to graduate.
• We will continue to provide no-cost meals for students who need them during this time.

Again, the district learned most of this new information today as it was announced publicly and we know that you will likely have additional questions as well. While we don’t have the answers to many of the questions at this time, we are working to obtain them and will continue to share them in future updates.

These are challenging times, and we know many individuals and families are facing unanticipated pressures. As a district, we are committed to moving through these times with you and are always committed to supporting the health, safety and education of our students.

Stay safe and stay healthy.

Every five years, the Dubuque Community School District updates its Special Education Service Delivery Plan, which outlines how the district implements services for students eligible for an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

As part of this process, public comment is sought on the draft version of then plan.

View the Draft Special Education Service Delivery Plan

Comments on this draft are being accepted through Tuesday, May 5, using the form below.

Erkein enaan ko rokaal tok jen Dubuque Community School District:

EWOR KEIN JIBAN KATAKIN KO RAR ALIKAR IM TOBRAK ILO RAININ
Mwenan eo kein karuo an kein katakin ko rar komman jen Ro Rej Jiban ilo Lolorjake Jelalokjen ilo district in rej kio bed im walok ilo website eo am. Bar juon alen kein katakin kein ilo wiik in rej Kolmenlokjen ko kin Kilen Katakin + Ta ko Maron komani im ewor Kilen Katakin ikijen Jomdon ko im Enjake ko, im ebar lon kain Peba ko nan an Rijikuul ro Jerbal im Kaminene nan wiik in. Ewor kein jiban ko nan rijikuul ro ilo elementary, middle school im high school. Kajojo iian kein katakin kein bar juon alen rej elmakot wot, kein kaminene nan aolep ro rej ekatak ilo aolep kilaaj ko, im ej walok website ko ebool kain kein ekatak ko elap aer emman in lap tokjaer ilo online. Enaj iwoj komele kein ilo peba ilo jikin ebbok mona ko ilo Bolaide in, Eprol 3 ran.

LALE KEIN EKATAK KEIN ilo webpage eo ad kon Coronavirus nan ami maron loi wewen katakin kein.

KOKAJOOR IM JIBAN KATAKIN RO EWOR UTAMWE ILO ENBWINIER
Jejkate wot koj nan jiban rijikuul ro rej aikuji jiban ko nan ro ewor utamwe ipeer ilo tore in ej kilok wot jikuul im jar ejaki kein jiban im lewaj komlele im ewor ijoko konaan ro rej ekatak ilo aolep level. Einwot an district jab maron komman katakin ilo tore in ekilok jikuul, im jab maron Jiban rijikuul ro ewor aer mojno ilo ekatak ko aer, rikaki ro an ajiri ro ewor aer utamwe rej jab jomlok aer bukot kilen aer tobar rijikuul ro im baamle ko aer nan lewaj jiban ilo kwalok komlele kein jen district nan jiban debij wot rijikuul ro nan aer komman ekatak. Elane ajiri eo nejum ej maron delon ilo burokuram ko an special education ak kojanin ron jen iben rikaki ro an special education, jouj im jab mijak in kajjeon tobar rikaki eo ak principal eo an jikuul eo nan bukot jiban.

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

NEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TODAY
The second phase of educational materials developed by the district’s Educational Support Team are now available on our website. This week’s resources again include Suggested Learning Resources + Activities and a Social Emotional Learning Guide, with the addition of a variety of Student Handouts and Worksheets for this week. There are resources available for elementary, middle and high school students. Each guide again includes suggested activities, accommodations to assist learners of all levels, and links to a variety of helpful suggested online tools.

Printed copies of these packets will be available at meal delivery sites this Friday, April 3.

VIEW EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES on our Coronavirus Webpage to access these materials.

SPECIAL EDUCATION SUPPORT
We remain committed to assisting our students requiring special education during this closure and we have developed our educational resources to include accommodations for learners at all levels. While the district is not requiring instruction during this closure, and therefore not providing Individualized Education Program (IEP) services, special education teachers are continuing to reach out to their students and families to provide support in navigating district resources and helping keep students engaged in learning. If your child is eligible for special education services and you have not yet been contacted by their special education teacher, please feel free to reach out to the teacher or building principal for support.

Erkein Enaan ko rokaal tok jen Dubuque Community School District:

AN RIJIKUUL RO MARON EKATAK ONLINE
Einwot ijo ej Eddoik Jikuul ko, Jej kate wot koj jerbal ilo ad kajjeon loor ukoktak kein jej jelmai im an wor oktak ilo karok ko jen ritel ro rej eddoik jelalokjen ilo state. Bolaide eo lok, Ra eo an Jelalokjen ilo Iowa ear ukot an lomnak im komman oktak ilo kakien eo an etto an bed im kojjela ke enaj kar komokajkaj an wor kitien kotobar in bwe jikuul district ko ren komman katakin nan rijikuul ro online.

Ilo ad kottar wot an wor kitien wewen in, jej tomak bwe eaorok nan ad wonmanlok wot im lelok katak nan rijikuul ro. Principal ro ad im ro uaan tiim eo ej lonaj im lolorjake jelalokjen rej kwelok jen iien nan iien nan lale ewi wewen eo emman tata nan ad lelok katakin nan rijikuul ro.

Ilju, district enaj lewaj mwenan eo kein karuo ikijen kilen im wewen jiban katakin rijikuul ro ilo elementary, middle school im high school ko im baamle ko aer. Kilen katakin kein enaj wor peba ko aer komman ekatak im kaminene ko roukoktak jen don im rijikuul romaron kommani ilo moko.

Jino jen naj lukon lok wiik in lal, middle im high schools renaj jino lelok nan rijikuul ro ta ko rokkar, katak ko karok lok bwe rikaki ro ren katakin kaki im naj bok melele ko jen rikaki ro kin jonan an rijikuul eo emaron kommane. Rikaki in elementary ro renaj wonmanlok wot ilo aer konono im jerbal iben rijikuul ro im baamle ko ilo Seesaw, email ak ilo talboon.

Rikaki ro renaj kwalok kilen komadmodi ekatak im jerbal ko nan jiban ekatak ilo kajojo ran nan ro renaj monono in bok konaer ak komman ekatak, botaab jeban kajjeon in ella lok jen awa in jerbal ko ilo juon ran in jikuul. Ilo an lon rutto rej jerbal jen moko im keto-ketak ikotan eddo ko aer rollon, jej konan kotlok elap iien nan an rijikuul kadedelok ekatak ko aer ilo tore ko ej wor ilo baamle eo ej maron jiban im iiun er nan ekatak.

Ilo ad jab meloklok aorok in an aikuj wor internet, ilo tore in jej bukot kilen an wor hotspots ko nan baamle ko an rijikuul in middle school im high school nan jiban kadiklok aban eo ikijen an aikuj wor internet. Enaj bar iwoj elon lok komlele ko ikijen ad etale im ekatak kin hotspot.

Einwot ad jela ke komman ekatak ilo online eban ein an emman im wor tokjen wot ad komman im bok katak ilowan kilaaj ruum ko, jej kate koj komman ta jemarone emman tata nan rijikuul ro ilo ad erre maan waj ilowan ran kein rej jab bidodo nan koj woj jimor.

Jej kajjeon kadedelok ad bukot kilen kilen ad kommani ekatak kein im naj bar elewaj melele ran kane tok jet ilowan wiik in.

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

ONLINE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES FOR STUDENTS
As a district, we continue working hard to keep up with changing circumstances and shifting guidance from our state education leaders. Last Friday, the Iowa Department of Education changed course when it reversed its long-standing guidance and announced that it would provide an expedited application process for school districts to provide online education for students.

While we have yet to see this application process, we believe it is important to move forward with providing students with learning. Our school principals and members of our educational support team have been meeting regularly to discuss how to best proceed with providing learning opportunities to students.

Tomorrow, the district will launch a second phase of educational resources for elementary, middle and high school students and families. These resources will be expanded to include a variety of handouts and worksheets students can do at home.

Beginning mid next week, middle and high schools will transition to providing students with optional, teacher-guided lessons and feedback from teachers on student work. Elementary teachers will continue to reach out and engage with students and families via Seesaw, email and phone.

Teachers will guide instructional activities and tasks that support daily learning for those wishing to participate, but we will not attempt to replicate a six-hour school day. With many adults working from home and juggling other responsibilities, we want to provide flexibility for students to complete learning at times when they have family support and supervision.

Keeping internet connectivity in mind, we are in the process of acquiring hotspots that will be available for checkout to families of middle and high school students to reduce the barrier of internet access. More details will be forthcoming regarding checkout of these hotspots.

While we know that online delivery will never look the same or be as beneficial as the education that happens in our classrooms, we are committed to providing the best possible experience to students as we navigate these uncertain times together.

We are finalizing the specifics of how this learning will be delivered and will share additional information later this week.