World Class Schools for Our Students
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Leaders in the Norwalk Community School District have started a District “Return to Learn” Leadership Team and have begun answering questions and creating action items in order to create a plan that will meet the requirements of the Iowa Department of Education’s “
Return to Learn”(RTL) guidance
. Our district will be developing a plan to address the three different RTL scenarios put forth by the DE: Scenario #1 - Return as Normal with Modifications; Scenario #2 - Return with Blended Model; Scenario #3 - Required Remote Learning. A report must be submitted to the DE by July 1, 2020. More information will be sent out to parents after July 1 that will include details about NCSD’s plan to reopen our schools.
I want to give a huge thank you to all of the NCSD staff members who have been working so hard to meet the needs of students and families while also trying to navigate their own personal challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our teachers, custodians, food service workers, support staff, district office staff, and district administrators have all stepped up and demonstrated what it means to be a Norwalk Warrior. Finally, congratulations to our seniors. This senior class has faced the challenges of the 2020 school closure and cancellation of so many important events with class, grace, and a true Warrior spirit. I will see you all on June 27 to celebrate your well-deserved graduation!
Yours in service,
D.T. Magee, Superintendent
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Everyone is invited to the senior sign parade at the high school parking lot on Saturday, May 30. Senior signs will be lined up throughout the parking lot for visitors to drive through and see.
Graduates, please put your name in your car window so we know who we are waving at (we learned at graduation cap and gown pick up that it is hard to see through the sunshine into the car).
Follow the link to more details:
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NCSD to Update Existing Activities and Athletics Branding
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The Norwalk Community School District is continuing to see record-breaking growth alongside the development and expansion of the City of Norwalk. In this time of rapid growth and with the recent passing of a $24 million (M) bond to build a new Norwalk Physical Education and Competition Center (NPECC) voted on by Norwalk residents, the District is excited to see positive change that will benefit our students and families for generations to come.
The physical growth that the Norwalk community is experiencing is benefiting our District in tremendous ways. Larger enrollment numbers bring in more individualized talent and abilities and help create special opportunities that meet the needs of our students. With the success of our schools and the growing importance of an effective social media presence, imagery and information can easily be shared and accessible not only on a community level, but on a state and national level as well. In this era of social media dominance, a protected brand presence is an essential identity component of a school district’s profile to help support and promote its activities and athletics programs in a highly successful way. Like other Iowa school districts, specifically districts that surround the DSM Metro Area who have also experienced large amounts of growth and state recognition for their achievements, the NCSD is utilizing this growth opportunity to take some of the same precautionary steps/measures to define its own uniquely established brand for the future of Norwalk Schools.
The NCSD’s current athletics and activities logo resembles symbols used in the vintage Florida State University Seminoles logo. After seeking legal guidance, the Norwalk Community School District has determined that using our current image of the spear may be a copyright infringement that violates the legal standings of a registered trademark that belongs to Florida State University. In efforts to avoid any legal issues, the NCSD has since formed an official District Branding Committee composed of staff, students, Board Members and Norwalk residents/parents to support the work of creating a new brand. The mission of this committee is to determine the plan of action for NCSD’s logo rebrand or alterations including trademark and licensing of current or future logos and the possible development of an NCSD mascot. To obtain the community’s weigh-in, the Committee has developed a branding survey to help fuel future development of this work.
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2020-2021 Norwalk School Registration & Kindergarten Registration
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2020-2021 Online Registration (OLR) will begin for all PK-12th grade students on May 15, 2020. An annual registration must be completed for ALL students (returning and new). The online application for both new and existing families can be found
here
.
The district will again be offering discounted fees for registration and transportation fees to all parents that register and pay fees prior to June 30th. Early registration of students allows the district to properly plan for the number of students served and the specific needs of individual students. The “Early Bird” discounts will end if both steps (OLR & fee payments) are not completed by June 30th. The 2020-21 fee schedule can be found right or by clicking
here
. Fees can be paid through Revtrak Online by clicking
here
after submitting the registration application. Debit or credit card payments are accepted with no transaction fees.
- Parents of students qualifying for Free and Reduced meals and completing the fee waiver must complete the registration by 06-30-20, but the payment date is extended until 08-01-20 when the new Free & Reduced meal application is due. If the student does not qualify, fees are due immediately.
- Transportation requests, activity passes and student parking permits are now included in the online registration process.
- Transportation requests received after 08-01-20 may not be placed on a bus route until 09-09-20.
- Bus passes are scheduled to be mailed 08-15-20.
- All students are required to have a bus pass to board their assigned bus.
- All fees for the household must be paid in full before parents are eligible to purchase optional school services such as Pay-for-Ride Transportation or Student and Family Activity Passes.
2020-2021 Kindergarten Registration Presentation & Information
Kindergarten registration information is now available online! These materials were created in absence of what is usually a Kindergarten Parent Meeting that the District hosts in the spring. Since we are not able to meet in person, this is a great way for parents to learn all about Kindergarten at Oviatt Elementary!
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Oviatt Elementary Construction Updates
Amy Gage, Oviatt Elementary Principal
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Oviatt's year-long construction project is nearly complete, and the building is beautiful! The main office, cafeteria, and music and art classrooms have been fully expanded and renovated. The interior of the building has been repainted, recarpeted and new furniture has been added to all Kindergarten and 1st grade classrooms.
The final stage of the project will be new playgrounds for Preschool and K-1st courtesy of our amazing Norwalk PTO and the generosity of the Norwalk community's fundraising efforts.
We cannot wait to welcome back our youngest Warriors this fall!
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Summer Nutrition & Wellness Topics for Parents:
Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens,
and Young Adults
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What’s the Bottom Line on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults?
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- The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults.
- Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.1
- E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine.
- Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.
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Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.
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What Are E-cigarettes?
- E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air.
- E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid.
- Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not look like other tobacco products.
- E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).”
- Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called “vaping” or “JUULing.”
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It is difficult for consumers to know what e-cigarette products contain. For example, some e-cigarettes marketed as containing zero percent nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.
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*Materials sourced from The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
CDC.gov
*Information Provided by the Norwalk SIAC Wellness Committee
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Community & School Resources for Parents
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Emergency Meal Service for Children under 18 years of Age
The next weekly meal pick-up day will be Monday, June 1. This service has been extended through Monday, June 29, 2020.
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Wifi Access Available for Chromebooks
The Norwalk Community School District is offering free wifi availability for school Chromebooks only, in the NHS west parking lot, stadium, and Middle School parking lot. Wifi access is also available in the McAninch parking lot and the Norwalk Easter Public Library parking lot.
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Norwalk Local Community Support
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The City of Norwalk has launched a new
website
to connect residents with local resources to help combat the COVID-19 virus. On Norwalk Local, you can find local resources such as takeout and delivery restaurants, online worship, grocery hours, food pantry information, pharmacy options, doctors, workouts from local gyms, creative ideas for kids, and much more.
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Employee & Family Resources’ Student
Assistance Program
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Employee & Family Resources’ (EFR) Student Assistance Program (SAP) remains open and accessible to students and families through these unprecedented times.
Phone support is available 24/7/365 at
515-244-6090
. Assessment, referral and brief counseling sessions are also still available, but will be available by Zoom or telephone only as of March 18, 2020.
The uncertainty of COVID-19 pandemic can increase feelings of anxiety and stress, which is a normal response under such circumstances. Please don’t forget to look to EFR to help you navigate these feelings in the coming days and weeks. EFR is prepared to continue serving our clients. Do not hesitate to reach out.
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NCSD Career Opportunities
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Shop Now for 2020-2021 School Supplies
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Avoid the stores and get all your school supply shopping done online. EPI school supply packs contain all the items and brands our teachers require. Deadline to order is June 14, 2020.
Supply packs will be shipped to the school.
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Upcoming Events & Activities
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District Calendar
View Upcoming Student Programs:
Family & Community Resources:
Senior Sign Parade:
Saturday, May 30th
High School Parking Lot
10 AM-12 PM
2020 Commencement:
Saturday, June 27th NHS Warrior Stadium
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