In This Issue
Preschool Registration

Preschool registration for the 2017-2018 school year will be
Friday, January 27, beginning at Noon  click HERE for the online registration form.

Registrations will only be accepted online.  For more information on
the preschool program, please go here .
Exciting Update for School Menus
The District is proud to announce an exciting update to our school menus!

There is now:

We've worked hard over the past few months to get the new site up and running. Pictures and descriptions of all items may not be available yet, but are coming soon. Printed copies of the menus will no longer be provided to students.

We hope you'll check out our new menus and let us know what you think!

Congratulations Hansen Elementary - Breaking  Barriers Award
Five Iowa schools were honored by the State Board of Education for their work to raise achievement among groups of students who traditionally face challenges in the classroom.  The Breaking Barriers to Teaching and Learning Award was created
by the State Board of Education. Each year, the award recognizes successful efforts to eliminate achievement gaps.  This year's award-winners were recognized for having the highest proficiency rates statewide in math and reading among a specific subgroup of students.  Among this year's winners was H ansen Elementary

Hansen was honored for its work with students who have special needs and are on an Individualized Education Programs (IEP). Among Hansen's students on IEPs, 79 percent are proficient in reading and math, compared to a statewide average of 43 percent.
Congratulations Troy Becker!

Congratulations to Troy Becker, Cedar Falls High School boys' cross country coach! 

Mr. Becker has been named a finalist for the National High School Athletic Coaches Association coach of the year honor. Eight finalists from across the nation will be honored during the NHSACA national convention June 21 where one coach in each of 19 sports will be recognized as coach of the year.

Finalists are selected based on longevity, service to high school athletics, honors, championship years and winning percentage.

Know Your Constitution Winners
9th graders Krisha Keeran, Devin O'Loughlin, Sophia Schillinger and Sabrina Sires of Holmes Junior High School and Autumn Cantrall, Tori Ward and Mia Dexter of Peet Junior High were recently named finalists in The Iowa State Bar Association's Young Lawyers Division "Know Your Constitution" Project. Holmes instructor is Kevin Kuker and Peet instructor is Sarah Carlson.

One hundred finalists were selected from the more than 1,000 students across the State of Iowa who participated in the "Know Your Constitution" Project. These finalists were honored at a luncheon in West Des Moines.  From the finalists, five students and their teachers were chosen by random to attend the all expense paid, Close-Up Foundation's five-day long education work session in Washington, D.C., in February. Devin O'Loughlin was chosen! The work sessions are designed to develop a deeper understanding of government and the political process.
 
The "Know Your Constitution" Project is designed to enrich students' understanding and appreciation of the Constitution.  The students participating in the project were required to familiarize themselves with Constitution related issues.  A quiz was completed by each participating student.  An essay question accompanied the quiz in case of a tie.  This year's essay topic involved Constitutional questions centered on the admission into the United States of immigrants from identified nations and the documentation of current residents in the U.S. of immigrants from those countries.
Peet Students
Holmes Students

Nominate a Teacher for the Gold Star Award for Outstanding Teaching
The nominations for the 2017 Gold star award for Outstanding Teaching are now open!  Do you have a teacher who has made an impact in your life? Someone who has gone above and beyond as an educator?  If so, send in a nomination! Your favorite teacher could be honored at a flashy award ceremony, and win $1,000 for their hard work!  Nominations are due by midnight on February 20, 2017, so  submit  yours online or at your school today!
Shrek the Musical - In Need of Costumes
Cedar Falls High School is currently rehearsing for a production of  Shrek the Musical due to open the first weekend in March. This is a fun-filled show with great music and lots of laughs for the entire community to enjoy and we hope to see you there!

We are going to be costuming over  60  kids for this production and would love to have your help! If you happen to have costume pieces that you think might work and would be willing to lend or donate, we are looking for the following:
  • Pinocchio
  • Humpty Dumpty
  • Pied Piper
  • Peter Pan
  • Mad Hatter
  • Fairy Godmother
  • Fairy wings
*We are currently building pieces for main characters (Shrek, Donkey, Fiona, Farquaad, etc.) that are not yet completed. If someone (for some strange reason) has a quality costume of any of these characters, please let us know as well.

Even small elements of  any  of the above would be welcome! Feel free to snap a picture of what you have, email it to (including size, if known)  joe.frenna@cfschools.org , and he'll get back to you.
 
All borrowed costumes will be returned when the show closes.  It's always so much fun to see what interesting items members of our community have lying around their houses!  If you would like more information about this topic, please contact Joe Frenna joe.frenna@cfschools.org .
Want to see cool stuff happening in our classrooms?
Protective Factors for Mental Health
All children and adolescents experience stress. Stress affects youth in different ways and can even lead to thoughts of suicide. Protective factors can really make the difference for all youth. Instead of labeling "at-risk" kids, it is important to know that every child needs and deserves these supports.  Researchers suggest that caregivers, friends, and community members can promote wellness by:
  • Listening and valuing the child's or teen's concerns
  • Encouraging the use of effective coping skills, practicing together
  • Identifying positive relationships both with peers and adults
  • Sharing that the child or teen is worthy and loved
  • Supporting help-seeking behaviors like encouraging youth to talk honestly about their experiences and feelings, asking for what they need and seeking help from professionals (i.e. school counselors, medical providers, or mental health clinicians)
Together, we can take community-level steps to support our youth,  because they are worth it!
Prepared by Roger Pollock, MSW Intern
Source: Pisani, A. R., Schmeelk-Cone, K., Gunzler, D., Petrova, M., Goldston, D. B., Tu, X., & Wyman, P. A. (2012)

Home & School Connection: Elementary Counselors Newsletter


CFHS Dance Kids Clinic

SAVE THE DATE! 


Fliers
 

 




Board Brief

Watch the January 23 meeting.

The next Cedar Falls Schools Board of Education meeting will be February 13, 2017, 7 p.m. at Cedar Falls City Hall and will be shown on Cedar Falls Channel 15.  Agendas, documents and materials for all board of education meetings can be found on the Cedar Falls Schools website . Watch previous meetings on the District's YouTube Channel.

Meetings will be available live at www.cedarfalls.com/live. This format works best with Internet Explorer.
Calendar
Interested in knowing when events are?

Open Positions

The District is also in need of substitute bus drivers, 
substitute para-educators and food service workers. 


The School District is looking for bus drivers.
Join our team and be a part of the driving force behind education!
 
Cedar Falls Schools is looking for candidates who possess a good driving record and who have or the ability to obtain their Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Candidates will be required to obtain their CDL, but District will assist in process. District will provide required State of Iowa School Bus training for candidates who have successfully obtained their CDL.
 
For more information please call 319-553-2443.


Annual Notices

http://www.cfschools.org
Cedar Falls Community School District
1002 W. First Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-553-3000