Washington Students Explore Creative Futures | |
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Four Washington High School students, Amari Rogel, Kaydance Barnes, Sakariya Drayton, and Sher Star, had an opportunity to attend the Creators of Tomorrow Multicultural Workshop at Iowa State University’s College of Design on September 25th. The workshop provides an opportunity for multicultural students to nurture their artistic talents and learn more about the world of higher education and professional opportunities in the field of art and design.
The students had the opportunity to engage in several hands-on group activities with ISU professors and professional designers. One of the activities had participants redesign a storefront, interior space, and pedestrian area and then present their ideas to professional designers from the firm ISG Architects. Students also had the chance to visit a former Washington student's art studio class and meet with the deans from the College of Design and Multicultural Student Affairs.
Washington’s visual arts teacher, Elizabeth Schmelzer, hopes the workshop helped to highlight the potential art and design college and career paths available to her students after graduation.
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Boys’ Golf All-Division Honors
The Mississippi Valley Conference Divisional boys’ golf meet was held this week at Meadows Golf Course in Dubuque. Kennedy High School claimed third in the team title, with both Washington and Jefferson placing 7th. Several CRCSD athletes also walked away with all-conference honors. Kennedy High School senior Reid Hall earned MVC Divisional Player of the Year honors for the third straight season. Reid Hall (Kennedy, 12) and Preston Haefner (Washington, 11) were named to the first All-Conference Team, and Leo Koester (Kennedy, 10) and Nolan Grawe (Kennedy, 12) were named to the second All-Conference Team. Congratulations!
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Supporting All Students - Crisis Prevention at CRCSD Update
On Sept. 12, 2022, the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) entered into an agreement with the United States Department of Justice around the areas of seclusion and physical restraint of students with behavior concerns. The district has worked diligently with our school buildings to ensure that we are implementing approaches to student behavior that are evidence-based, positive, and the least restrictive means of responding to each student. As a result, our efforts provide a heavy emphasis on prevention and de-escalation strategies such as truly knowing and understanding the reason for individual student behaviors, giving a student choices, listening to a student, and encouraging/collaborating with the student to find a solution.
On Tuesday, October 10, 2023, the district will host a public Zoom meeting to invite the community to ask questions and comment on the agreement and strategies.
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Shout-out Wednesdays at Erskine
Lunchtime is always a fun and high-energy part of a student’s day. But, if you haven’t heard the symphony of cheers and applause coming from Erskine Elementary’s cafeteria every Wednesday, you’re missing out. No, it’s not because they are serving the students’ favorite food; it’s because Principal Joslin Hanna is making it EXTRA special with “Student Shout-Outs.”
Each Friday, Erskine staff take five minutes to write up how they saw a student demonstrating the “Erskine Way” norms that week. The “Erskine Way” consists of seven student behavior expectations that the school teaches - mindful, determined, kind, responsible, hard-working, safe, and respectful. Then, during the lunch period on Wednesday, Principal Hanna reads the shout-outs in front of all the students
"It's their favorite day of the week," shares Principal Hanna. “Students cheer for their classmates and are enthusiastic during shout-out Wednesdays.”
Besides getting the shout-out at lunch, each student’s parents receive an email from Principal Hanna, letting them know that their student was recognized for their outstanding behaviors. Plus, the student’s name is put on a mini-pennant that is hung in the hallway for the remainder of the school year.
This great Wednesday tradition started last year with over 800 shout-out sheets written for students. The staff and students are hoping to break that mark this year.
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News, Updates, & Reminders | |
Kennedy Fall Production
The Kennedy High School Theatre Department has been working hard on its fall theatre production, which is a rendition of The Anxiety Project. The Anxiety Project, written and composed by Kennedy graduate Rachel Dean, is a musical that explores true stories of the effects of anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses. The story follows senior psychology student Avery as she works to finish her thesis - a study of the mechanics of mental illness and how science can change lives. Soon, Avery becomes immersed in the lives of the patients in her study as they struggle with anxiety, depression, suicide, and medication. Catch the show October 5-7, 12, and 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Kennedy High School. Click here to get your tickets today.
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America Reads
Online registration is now open for the 26th annual America Reads literacy celebration, which will take place on October 19th & 20th. This program is designed to highlight the importance of reading. During the event, community members visit elementary classrooms to share their favorite children’s book with the students. Click here for more information and to register to read to a class. Registration closes on October 13th.
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Get Involved
At CRCSD, we firmly believe that family and community engagement are essential for our student’s success. There are many different ways you can get involved in our schools to help support our students. Consider attending a school performance or cheering on our athletic teams. Volunteer to help with a school celebration or class field trip. You can join a school’s PTA, collect Hy-Vee receipts, or do behind-the-scenes work to support our teachers. The great thing is you can choose your involvement level. If you are interested in getting more involved with our schools, click here. We look forward to you sharing your time, talent, and treasure with our students!
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Glance Around The District | |
1st graders at Cedar River Academy visited Mt. Trashmore on Wednesday to learn about composting at the city of Cedar Rapids. While students do compost some items at CRA ,the students were impressed to see it on such a large scale. | |
In Ms. Tinkham’s Stagecraft and Stage Design class at Washington High School, students are building scale 3D models of their original set designs for a re-styled production of Romeo and Juliet. | |
All three high school marching bands participated in the Linn-Mar Marching Band Festival last Saturday. Kennedy took home 2nd place and won the “Best Winds” award, Jefferson claimed 5th, and Washington finished 7th. | |
Arthur Elementary held its last walkathon last Friday to help raise money for the school’s PTA. Next year, Arthur and Garfield Elementary will combine to form Trailside Elementary. | |
Students at City View High School used their artistic talents to illustrate their understanding of basic art concepts like space, texture, value, and color. | |
Johnson STEAM Academy 1st graders used nonstandard units of measurement (popsicle sticks) to measure the length of objects in their room - including their friends! | |
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In case you missed it, here are some of the recent stories in the news media about or of interest to students, teachers, and parents of Cedar Rapids Community School District.
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Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to discriminate in educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, socioeconomic status, national origin, religion, disability, age (except for permitting/prohibiting students to engage in certain activities) or genetic information and in employment opportunities on the basis of age, race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Darius Ballard, Chief of Human Resources, Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, (319) 558-2000.
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