VALERIUS WEEKLY DIGEST

In the words of Simon Sinek, "The ability of a group of people to do remarkable things hinges on how well those people can pull together as a team". As educators and parents, we are working together in new ways, and the partnership is needed more than ever.

I speak for everyone at Valerius when I share that Required Continuous Learning is providing new challenges for everyone to be home learning, parents home working, and managing all the different things coming our way. It is challenging for us here as well. HOWEVER, we are working through it together and we are learning new tips and tricks. We love getting to see ALL of our students every day, and we are proud to support the safety and well being of our community.

Thank you for working with us. Thank you for supporting your students on their learning journey. You're doing a great job!

Our Art class is hitting the road! If we can do school virtually, we can virtually go any where for art. We will be visiting artists studios, looking at their artwork, watching them work, and asking them questions about their art, lives, and interests.

Remote learning can be a struggle, but there are also some great things that we can do now that we didn’t have the opportunity to do before, like “virtually” visit someone! Artists are excited about sharing their skills and helping to make virtual learning fun. We will visit an artist and then make a piece of art that is similar in style or materials.

Ms. Baack knew that she needed something really different to spark creative ideas while learning virtually. She has reached out to local artists and Des Moines Art Fest organizers to find new and interesting ways to connect students to the local art scene! Artists at Mainframe Studios have been very responsive and we have 3 studio visits currently set up. She is in the process of setting up more studio visits. If you are an artist or know anyone in the art/creative field that would love to visit with our Valerius students, please reach out to Ms. Baack, baackr@urbandaleschools.com.

Here is the email base I use and add to for each artist, depending on their style, the connection I found them through, or their interest.

Hi!

I am an elementary Art Teacher in Urbandale. I am reaching out today because I am totally passionate about making this virtual learning world just really cool for kids. Really, I can teach virtually anywhere, virtually.

I would love to get out of the classroom and take this show on the road, introduce my students to artists who are creating and working right here in our community. I hope to instill a sense of wonder, plant dreams, and show them all of the possibilities out there. They might not all grow to be artists, but I would love for them to grow and become individuals who know and support artists!

Here is where you come in: Think Mr. Rogers and getting to go visit places and people through his “picture picture”. I could do that with art through zoom. The only thing I need, willing art career people and WiFi.

This is all just currently in the dream phase, but has to be acted on kind of quickly because the world changes daily. Would you be willing to offer a place, an art experience, advice, another art contact? I am open to anything

--

Becky Baack

Art Educator K-5

We’re providing two time frames in which families can drive through to pick up and drop off materials: 11:30AM-12:30PM or 3:00PM-4:00PM.

The plan is for this to run much like parent drop off and pick up.

• Please have your student(s)’ name(s) written on a piece of paper or use your parent pick up visor card visible to staff.

• Give the staff member present any materials that need to be returned to the teacher. Paperclip all materials together and label with your student’s name as well as their teacher’s name.

• The staff member will get you any new materials set to go home.

For those who cannot make Friday, materials will be available by coming to the office doors starting Monday at 8am. Please come up to the office doors with a mask and someone will bring it to you.

The Iowa Department of Education approved our online waiver extension application which means students will continue learning all online from Friday, December 4, 2020 through Thursday, December 17, 2020.

We’d like to provide an update regarding the dates and times our Nutrition Services Team will be providing meals for children beginning Monday, December 7 through Thursday, December 17, 2020.

Breakfast & Lunch 12/7/20 – 12/17/20:

• Meals are for all children 18 years and under; children do not need to be present when picking up meals.
• All meals are free (no charge).
• There is no sign-up required in order to pick up meals during this timeframe.
• Meals are for pick-up only and are not to be consumed on site.
• We are providing meals on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays at the following locations and times:
  • Jensen & Valerius: 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
  • Karen Acres & Bristol Ridge Apartments (behind Fareway): 11:40 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Webster, Urbandale Middle School & Urbandale High School: 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
• On Mondays, we will be providing 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches.
• On Wednesdays, we will be providing 2 breakfasts and 2 lunches.
• On Fridays, we will be providing 3 breakfasts and 3 lunches.

Thank you,

Jessy Sadler, Director of Nutrition Services
Steve Bass, Superintendent

Principal: Michelle Cole; colem@urbandaleschools.com

Office Manager: Angie Jones; jonesa1@urbandaleschools.com

Nurse: Jenny Villegas; villegasj@urbandaleschools.com

Guidance Counselor: Melissa MacGregor; macgregorm@urbandaleschools.com

FFO: Brittany Cooley; cooleyb@urbandaleschools.com

Website: https://www.urbandaleschools.com/schools/valerius-elementary/
Location: 3305 92nd Street, Urbandale, IA, USA
Phone: 515-457-6500
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/valeriuselementary