Pride Post

Wow, February came and went fast! We were excited to welcome students back to being in-person five days a week. As we approach spring break, please speak with your student about the following:

• Masks - masks are required on the bus and within the school. If students need a mask, we have them available at the doors or in the office. It is important that masks are worn properly covering the nose and mouth.
• Social distancing - although we have more students in person, we still need to practice social distancing. Students need to stay in their assigned seats while in the classroom and refrain from touching other student's belongings.
  

As always, we appreciate your support in helping us stay safe and preventing the spread of the virus. As the warmer weather makes it way, we look forward to offering some family engagement opportunities, please look for more information soon!

100% of Goodrell's ELL students took the ELPA21 English language test in February. Thank you to all of the parents who made special arrangements to get your child to the building on his/her designated day. Results will be shared in May!

One of our student clubs, GLOW, spent the month of February selling adorably awesome keychains around the building to help out the American Heart Association. In total, they raised over $350 in sales and donations!

During the week of February 15th, as we welcomed both cohorts to the building together for the first time, we thought it would be a great idea to get our school spirit on! While Monday and Tuesday were both virtual school days do to the cold weather, students and staff still joined in on Monday's Comfy Clothes Day and Tuesday's Dress for Success Day (students were encouraged to show pride for their heritage, someone they respected, or for a career they aspire towards). We returned to the building in time for Wednesday's Battle of the Pride Times. Each Pride Time (Goodrell's homeroom) voted on what their theme should be. Thursday was Decades Day, and we finished the week off with Pride Day. We did manage to capture a few moments from the week in the pictures below, but don't let the small number fool you: there was plenty of spirit to go around!

IB Learner Profile Focus - The International Baccalaureate® (IB) learner profile describes a broad range of human capacities and responsibilities that go beyond academic success. At Goodrell Middle School we focus on different traits of the IB Learner Profile each month. In our classes, we discuss how to embody these traits and then teachers nominate members of our IB community who truly embody these traits.

This February, Goodrell students focused on two IB Learning Profiles. The first was centered around being an Inquirer. As Inquirers we nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. Our second profile was Open-Minded, which taught students to critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. This quality is especially needed in the world today, as changes occur in our own country and others, different cultures frequently come in contact with each other, and we continue building a world society.

To learn more about Black History Month, students had the opportunity to participate in Black History Trivia throughout the entire month of February. Each Monday a new set of questions was sent out through our morning announcements. Students had until Wednesday to submit their answers. Those that got all the questions correct were placed in a grade-level prize drawing! During the last week, there was a regular set of questions and a grand prize set of questions. Students who answered both sets of questions correctly got in the running for the grand prize. The questions were challenging, engaging, and educational! Here were a few:

1. What is the name of the law firm where Barack and Michelle Obama met?
2. Whose refusal to give up her seat on a public bus sparked a boycott of Montgomery, AL buses from 1955-1956?
3. What was the name of the organization founded by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.?
4. What primarily black female college was founded by two white women and where is it located?
   
5. What is the name of Jay-Z’s first album and the year it was released?
   
6. Who is the first African-American female judge in Iowa and in what year was she appointed?
   
7. What president officially recognized February as Black History Month and in what year?
   

Nothing new this month. Make sure you've stopped by for high school scheduling!

Spring break is just around the corner, and we know many of you are considering travel. It's been a long, cold winter!

But before you jump in the car, please take a few minutes to review these tips:

• Don't travel if anyone in your household is ill or in isolation/quarantine.
• Know that travel increases your risk for contracting COVID-19. This is due to the many exposures to persons outside of your household and to the different activities you do while traveling (e.g. eating inside at restaurants, activities that involve crowds, etc.).
• Use these strategies to reduce the risk while traveling:
• wear a mask and maintain distance
• carry hand sanitizer and/or wash your hands often
• avoid crowds, especially indoors
• choose options that are less risky (e.g. driving rather than flying/mass transit, takeout food rather than indoor dining, pick outdoor activities, etc.)
• Wear a mask when you return to school.
• Stay home if you have any symptoms of illness.

If you traveled over spring break, please review the recommendations from the CDC and get tested: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html#travel-types

Boys basketball and cheer started in January and wrapped up at the end of February. The two sports were the first middle school sports to be successfully completed this year without any interruptions. Both operated under the Skills Academy model and were split up by cohort for the first several weeks, but for the final two weeks both cohorts were allowed to practice together. While the season wasn’t what we typically expect during the winter months of a normal year, it was still great to see kids back in action and learning new skills.

With the switch back to five days of in-person learning being offered, that has brought about some changes in our after-school clubs. Soccer Club has continued to meet in the gym, but other clubs such as GLOW and Cosmetology Club have started to have in-person meetings as well. Sisters 4 Success will also be starting up in-person meetings in March. There were also some new clubs that started virtually in February. Sewing Club, DJ Club, and the second round of Culinary Club all started over the past few weeks. With students back in the building and meeting in person and new clubs getting started, it’s starting to feel a little more normal around Goodrell Middle School.

Email: lauren.jacobs@dmschools.org
Website: goodrell.dmschools.org
Location: 3300 East 29th Street, Des Moines, IA, USA
Phone: (515) 242-8444
Facebook: facebook.com/GoodrellMS
Twitter: @goodrelldmpride