Upcoming changes to current COVID protocols
at the elementary level after Winter Break:
  • All students will move back into the cafeteria to eat each day by January 18.
  • We anticipate welcoming volunteers back into our buildings following January 18. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete this form and submit to your building principal.
  • At this time, we are not planning to allow adult visitors during lunchtime.

The district will continue to monitor positive cases and may adjust plans as needed. Thank you for working with us as we work to support student health and safety!
Cedar Falls Families,

School districts across the state recently learned of an anonymous, nationwide threat against schools that is being shared on social media outlets, including TikTok. The general threat is toward all U.S. schools declaring Friday, December 17, as “American School Shooting Day.” The posts warn about the possibility of nationwide shootings or bomb threats associated with this day. 

We always partner with local police to thoroughly investigate whether there are any local connections to these social media posts. At this time, we do not have any evidence that these threats are credible in our area. Out of an abundance of caution, our schools will be in close contact with law enforcement throughout the day on Friday.

Please take this opportunity to talk with your students about the appropriate use of social media, and the seriousness and resulting consequences of making any kind of threat. Encourage your students to speak with you or an adult at school if they see or hear something so immediate action can be taken. In addition, if anyone in our community sees something suspicious, please report it to the school immediately, call local law enforcement or utilize our Anonymous Alerts online tool: 
Thank you to the Northeast Iowa Board of Realtors for their donation of winter gear for our students in need!
Thank you to Farmers State Bank for their donation of hats and gloves for our students in need!
Congratulations Nicole Davis, band director for Hansen, North Cedar and Lincoln Elementary schools! She was awarded the Phillip Sehmann Excellence in Teaching Award for the elementary level by the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association! The award is presented to those who meet the criteria of excellence, dedication, and commitment to the value of instrumental music in our schools.
What parents should know about the COVID-19 pediatric vaccine series:
The Federal Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommend the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for children ages 5-11 years under Emergency Use Authorization.
The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 5-11-year-olds is a smaller dose and is packaged differently than other COVID-19 vaccines.
  • As of October 2021, more than 6.3 million COVID-19 pediatric cases have been reported.
  • 30% of hospitalizations for kids with COVID-19 had no underlying medical conditions. 
  • Long COVID, or lingering COVID-19 symptoms, can lead to learning problems, heart problems, exercise fatigue with sports and respiratory issues. This has been reported in about 8% of children who have had COVID-19. 
  • Since the pandemic began, more than 600 pediatric deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported. It is now a top 10 cause of death for kids in the United States. 

COVID-19 vaccinations are safe and effective
Clinical trials show COVID-19 vaccines are very effective in children ages 5-11, preventing 90.7% of symptomatic infections. Data shows the immune response for children was similar to that of trial participants ages 16-25, even with the lower dosage administered to children.

COVID-19 vaccines approved for emergency use authorization (EUA) in the United States are safe. The vaccines go through the same testing and clinical trials as all vaccines, and no serious safety concerns have been identified.
Short-term side effects of receiving a vaccine include pain at injection site, fatigue, diarrhea, headache, muscle aches and joint stiffness. Based on what we know about mRNA and the human body, we do not expect long-term side effects. Vaccine development is based on decades of research. Scientists have done a rigorous review of all available data before approving for children.

What are the ingredients? Put simply, it's fat, salt, electrolytes and sugar.  
  • Lipids: This "fatty layer" protects the delicate mRNA so it has time to work before getting chopped up. Polyethylene glycol (PEG), the most famous lipid, is also the main ingredient in MiraLAX (which you know about if your child has ever been constipated).
  • Potassium chloride, monobasic potassium phosphate, sodium chloride, and dibasic sodium phosphate dihydrate and sucrose: These fancy names are just salt, some electrolytes, and sugar. These ingredients help keep the vaccine stable and are natural preservatives.

Ready to schedule your child's COVID-19 vaccine? Call your child’s primary care provider today or the College Square Hy-Vee is taking appointments for pediatric vaccines, just schedule online at https://www.hy-vee.com/my-pharmacy/covid-vaccine
Visit the District Equity Website for New Resources
for Students, Staff and Families
This website and all resources are for informational purposes only and do not represent curriculum or what is taught in our classrooms.
FLIERS

Cedar Falls Schools | 319-553-3000 | Website