School Board Update
In case you missed the news, the Le Mars Community School Board of Education received their 23rd consecutive Iowa Association of School Boards Better Boardsmanship Award. Our Board of Education has received this award more than any other district in the state of Iowa and has the longest running streak in the state of Iowa with 23 consecutive years. Congratulations to the Le Mars Community School Board of Education for leading by example! Members of the 2022-2023 school board included Angela Catton, Jane Arnold, Makenzie Lang, Kyle Plathe, Jill Feuerhelm, Lorraine DeJong, and Aaron Tolzin.
With the November school board election, we have two new board members. Replacing outgoing board members, Angela Catton and Jane Arnold, are Zach Lancaster and Zach Davis. These two gentlemen have already been attending Iowa Association of School Board meetings learning about their role as a board member and what it takes to have a strong school board. Welcome, Mr. Davis and Mr. Lancaster!
We would like to thank Angela Catton and Jane Arnold for their years of service to the Le Mars Community School District! These individuals did a fantastic job!
LCSD Facility Study
During the Board of Education’s December meeting, ISG provided a report on the facility study overview. The facility study analyzed our building infrastructure, educational adequacy data from staff, and building capacity. The LCSD Board will now make priorities based off of the data and then update their 10-year facility improvement plan. I encourage you to take a look at the facility study overview on our district website.
District Leadership Instructional Impact Team (DLIIT)
The DLIIT team gathered this past fall to hear reports and provide feedback to administration and the school board. This team is comprised of community members, staff, students, administration, and board members. They heard a report from our building principals regarding student achievement goals and professional development plans, provided input into the new state-required policy “Discipline of Students Who Make Threats of Violence”, and received data regarding school bus stop violations. The purpose of the group is to provide input to the administration and Board of Education regarding school improvement plans and issues the district may be facing. We greatly appreciate the input from these volunteers!
Winter Weather and School Late Starts/Cancellations Protocols
Fortunately, we have not had the busy winter weather season we had last school year, so far. When the time comes this year for a late start, early dismissal, or cancellation to school due to winter weather, there is an updated board approved protocol we will follow for making up time missed from school. The protocol is as follows:
1. We will make up missed full days, but not late starts or early dismissals.
- Rationale- Many classes meet on an abbreviated schedule for late start and early dismissals; therefore, students are able to receive instruction.
2. If missed hours must be made up during Memorial Day week, students will make up time through Thursday only. If only one day of makeup is required during this week (Tuesday only), this day will not be made up. This is subject to meeting state time requirements.
- Rationale- This protocol recognizes there may be a point at which summer activities/vacations for students and their families may be negatively impacted by going beyond the first week after Memorial Day. This protocol also recognizes that making up one partial last day of school on the Tuesday following the Memorial Day holiday weekend may be futile.
3. The district will place makeup dates on the school calendar each year for improved stakeholder communication (makeup days for 2023-2024: May 23, 24, 28, 29, and 30).
Reminder: Winter weather announcements will be communicated through School Messenger alerts, 1410 KLEM, and TV stations KCAU Channel 9 and KTIV Channel 4. Safe travels!
Go Bulldogs!
Happy New Year to everyone! January 3 marks the beginning of the second semester. You will be receiving report cards sometime this week. On the report card, you will see the total credits your son/daughter has earned so far. Reminder, in order to stay on pace to graduate in 4 years, students need to earn 12.5 credits a year. This semester he/she needs to earn at least 6 credits. He/she may have earned 6.5 credits if they had PE during the first trimester.
As we start the second semester, I encourage you to check out your student’s schedule to see what new classes he/she might be taking. Just a reminder about second semester exams, if your child misses fewer than 4 days, 5 or fewer tardies, and has no grade lower than a C-, he/she will be exempt from second semester exams. However, some of our concurrent classes require the semester exams to be taken. This requirement comes from Western Iowa Tech and the exam is needed to receive college credit.
We have started the registration process for the 24-25 school year. On January 17, the 8th grade students will be visiting the CTE classes to learn more about careers in Manufacturing, Hospitality, Agriculture, Welding, Automotive, and Business. This will take place during the school day. The students will visit these classrooms to hear about what courses they offer and what careers these courses lead to. On January 25, we will host our 8th grade registration night. This will start at 6:30 pm and will take place at the Middle School Auditorium. That night, administration and the counselors will go over course requirements and assist in helping students put in course requests. The counselors will talk with the students prior to this night and go over the 4-year plan. This is a requirement from the state. The purpose is to help map out the high school years to help make sure courses are being taken that meet their career interests. Obviously, the 4-year plan will change as interests change. Students will get an opportunity to update their plan each year in high school. All grades will actually register during school. Counselors will also visit with them about their 4-year plan, courses, and meeting graduation requirements. This session will be recorded and posted on the high school website for those who can not attend.
Again, if you have any concerns about your child and their progress in school, please contact the teacher to arrange a meeting to discuss your concerns. We want to see all our students succeed.
Have a great January!
Melissa Hill
Email: melissa.hill@lemarscsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/lemarscsd.org/lchs-counseling/home
Twitter: @lemarsguidance
Judd Kopperud
PERSEVERANCE
One way to think about Perseverance is “pushing yourself through challenges and obstacles.” We all experience challenges in our lives. We all have moments when we feel like we can’t do it or that we want to give up on a big task. It is important to develop tools that help us work through those challenges in order to grow in those moments instead of giving up.
How might you practice Perseverance as a family this month? Perseverance is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students Be Strong.
Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.
Conversation Starters
● Can you share or show what it means to have Perseverance?
● When working towards goals, how does Perseverance help us to reach them?
Purposeful Pursuits
Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing Perseverance.
Here are 2 “Purposeful Pursuits” you can complete together!
#1 Consistency is hard. Have each person in the family commit to 1 thing they will do each day this week. Maybe it is flossing, drinking a certain amount of water, getting to bed at a certain time, limiting screen time, or exercising. Create a place where each person can tally their progress and see who can keep their streak going the longest!
#2 Review Perseverance as a family! Remember that Perseverance is pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles.
Here’s a fun challenge: Can you fit your whole body through an index card? While it sounds impossible, with the correct folding and cutting technique, you can make it happen! Give each family member a 4x6 index card and a pair of scissors. Ready for the answer? You can find the directions and solution online by searching: “Fit Your Body Through an Index Card.”
Kind Regards,
Mrs. Kari Kopperud (Clark & Franklin School Counselor)
Mrs. Abby Simington (Kluckhohn School Counselor)
Le Mars PTO Mission Statement -- Encourage our children's education and support teachers by building relationships with students and parents in our community.
Happy Holidays Bulldogs!
Hoping you all found the teachers favorite lists on our Facebook page Le Mars PTO. Thank you to staff for organizing and filling out the questionnaire.
Our teachers relations committee, led by our vice president Bailey Weets, did a teacher Tuesdays. On Tuesday's our amazing elementary school teachers found a small token of appreciation from PTO.
12/5: mini pies
— “Any way you slice it, you are amazing. Thanks for all you do!”
12/12: cereal bars
— “You are cereal-ously the best!”
12/19: Powerade bottles
— “I am a teacher. What is your superpower?”
We have purchased soccer nets for Kluckhohn and Franklin. Clark has a set out on their playground now that we purchased. The kids at Clark have really enjoyed having them. We are looking forward to having a set at all three schools now. Thank you to our treasurer Kaitlin Oetken for getting them ready.
PTO also does a welcome bag for new students coming into our district. We start this second quarter to the end of the year. Jill Leners personalizes the bags for each student. Jill has done 16 bags as of December 14th.
We also have still have some cold-weather bags available if you are in need. lemarspto@gmail.com
We love seeing the bulldog fan gear. Thank you for supporting PTO with your purchases. Our fundraising committee is led by Lindsey Schroeder.
Birthday breakfast continues to be a wonderful event. Our serving sponsor was American Bank for second quarter. Thank you to their kind staff for taking the time to come in and serve our birthday kids and their families. Thank you to all of the sponsor's continued support for this event.
LeMars Community Education Enhancement Project
Happy New Year! The first half of the 2023-2024 school year has gone very fast. Slow down everyone and enjoy time with your family and friends and take in the beautiful wonder of a new year.
As the new year begins LEEP board members want to thank the amazing communities within the Le Mars Community School District for the continued support. The financial donations and volunteer hours directed to LEEP are appreciated to purchase resources and supplemental curriculum to enhance the education of students.
Save the date: The tenth MENuMASTERS event is scheduled for Saturday, September 21, 2024.
Teacher Requests approved in December:
- Lori Carter, HS Math: Requisition for $402.08 for Magnetic Grids for white boards, for math equation support.
- Michael Prichard, HS Band: Requisition for $637.05 for repair kits for seven different instruments.
- Bill Magnussen, Sixth grade math: Reimbursement for $96 to renew a subscription to Quizizz.
- Victor Mena , HS English: Requisition to $485.00, for novels. The requisition is for two titles Truancy by Isamu Fukui and Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson. Twenty seven copies of each will be purchased and used in Modern American Literature class.
A total of $1,620.13 in requests were honored.
The next regular meeting will be held Monday, January 8, 2024 @ 5:30, in the MS library, enter through door “C”. Meetings are open to the public.
Quote for the month of January: “ The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals. Melody Beattie