IOWA-GRANT'S PANTHER PRESS

February is a month when we see hearts everywhere! I am sure Hallmark would like to take all the credit for this BUT did you know that February is American Heart Month!

Please join us on February 4th for National Wear Red Day to help raise awareness for Heart Disease. Check out “15 Reasons to Love your Heart” for interesting facts on your amazing heart.

COVID update:

Iowa-Grant is now able to offer COVID testing to our staff, students and families. The test we are able to complete at this time is a PCR. Test samples need to be collected before 11 am on school days. Results for this PCR Test take 24-72 hours. Tested staff and students will need to remain out of school while waiting for results. Please contact me with any questions regarding testing. – alinscheid@igs.k12.wi.us 608-943-6311 ext 3019.

Iowa-Grant School District will no longer be calling to notify you if your student has been named as a close contact. We will however be emailing you this information. Please update your email with the office if needed. Reminder, close contacts are able to stay in school as long as they are willing to mask properly for 10 days and are fever, diarrhea, and vomit free for 24 hours without control medications. You can always find the most current COVID policy on the District website. Please keep your students home if they are being tested for COVID or you are waiting for results. Communication is key, please keep school informed on testing plans and results.

When to Stay Home or when to Return:

When determining if your student should be attending school please keep in mind the following school exclusions that always apply: Oral temperature greater than 100.4 (must be fever free for 24 hours without medications to reduce fever) Vomiting (must be vomit free for 24 hours) Diarrhea (watery stool free for 24 hours) These have always been and continue to be the guideline that the district would like all families to follow.

Thank you, to those that contributed wishlist items last month, it is greatly appreciated. Please see the updated wishlist.

— Stay Healthy, Nurse Amanda

Happy February IGEMS! In my January newsletter, I asked you when the 100th day of school would be. Did anyone guess February 8th? If you did, you are correct! It is hard to believe we are over halfway through the school year. February will be a busy month with many busy events. Please check Ms. Bast’s post or look on the February calendar Ms. Kennicker made for all of the fun we have planned for staff and students. There are also wrestling and girls basketball games after school to check out.

Last month we had many great events including a book talk with Brad Van Epps from CESA 3 for the 7th and 8th grade students. Thank you to Mrs. Bolt and Mrs. Allen for scheduling the event. The 8th graders attended their ski trip thanks to Mr. Rear and Mrs. Martinez. Congratulations to all of the students that participated in the event and to the two students that represented Iowa-Grant at the sectional spelling bee. Thank you to Mrs. Boldt for organizing the event. We also had our holiday program with the 1st and 2nd grade and 3rd and 4th grade students and it was a spectacular event. Another special thank you to Ms. Wanie, Ms. Carlson, custodians, classroom teachers, physical education department, school lunch crew, the office staff, Ms. Dirks, and anyone I may have missed in tackling the date change. You all made it look easy. Congratulations to the students that placed 3rd in the Math 24 competition at CESA 3. Thank you to Ms. Laufenberg for coordinating this event.

There are so many great students, staff, and events at Iowa-Grant Elementary Middle School that I hope I do not miss anyone. Please know your efforts are appreciated. It has been a chilly winter so I hope the groundhog does not see his shadow and we can head into spring!

IGEMS had 31 students attend 4K screening in January. Incoming 4K students and their guardians will be invited to school in early August for a “meet and greet” event. Anyone who did not attend in January who has a child who will be 4 on or before September 1st is encouraged to contact the IGEMS office to learn more about our full-day 4K program and to be placed on our list to receive information about registration and events for the 2022 school year.

February is a short month packed with noteworthy events:

• February 1st: Vision screening

• February 2nd: Groundhog’s Day and World Read Aloud Day

• February 7-11 is National School Counseling Week. We are so grateful for our school counselors, Mrs. Leeser and Ms. Benish, and we thank them for their dedication to helping all students. They make a difference!

• February 8th will be our 100th day of school this year.

• February 14th: in addition to classroom Valentine’s Day parties, our Kindergarten classes will celebrate the marriage of the letters Q & U.

• During the week of February 14-18th, students and staff members will demonstrate their caring hearts by doing as many kind deeds as they can. IGEMS will have special dress up days throughout the week:

• Monday-red and pink

• Tuesday-wacky day

• Wednesday-rainbow colors

• Thursday-hats and headbands

• Friday-Panther spirit day

• Tuesday, February 22, ‘22 is a special “Twosday.” IGEMS students are encouraged to wear ties and tutus.

• There will be no school on Friday, February 25th.

“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” -Aesop