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Since we have already seen the first snowfall of the season, we wanted to remind you of a few CRCSD’s winter weather procedures.
The safety and well-being of students and staff is always our top priority, and the decision to modify the school day due to extreme weather conditions is no simple matter. Every weather event is different and requires district leaders to consider a multitude of factors. The district tries to make weather-related decisions as early as possible when we need to change our regular schedule. With that said, sometimes Mother Nature does not appreciate our need to meet timelines.
Announcements of district weather-related decisions are communicated through multiple district communication platforms - School Messenger (phone calls, e-mails, and text messages), the district website, the district’s Facebook page, along with local news/media outlets. Make sure your family's contact information is up to date in Infinite Campus. These are the phone numbers and emails the district uses when we send out weather closings and delays. Click here to update your information.
Late Start/School Delay:
Delaying the start of school due to weather conditions that are expected to improve throughout the school day.
- If possible, the decision will be made and communicated before 5:30 AM.
- There will be no morning preschool, morning practices, and before-school programs. Full-day preschool at Truman Early Learning Center will be delayed by two hours.
- In the event of a late start on a regularly scheduled early dismissal day (Friday), the early dismissal will be canceled, and schools will follow the regular dismissal times. (High Schools and Middle Schools – 2:50 PM, Elementary and Preschools – 3:50 PM.)
Cancellation of Classes/Schools Closed:
Canceling classes due to weather conditions that make it exceedingly hazardous or impossible for school buses to travel their routes and/or for employees and students to report to school safely.
- If possible, the decision will be made and communicated by 5:30 AM.
- All CRCSD schools & preschools are closed, with no before and after school programs and no school activities for elementary and middle schools.
- High school activity, practice, and athletic event cancellations are communicated by each building's administrator/athletic director.
Early Dismissal:
Releasing schools early due to weather conditions that are expected to worsen throughout the school day.
- If possible, the decision will be made and communicated by 10:00 AM.
- Early dismissal times may vary depending on the weather conditions.
- No afternoon preschool, after-school programs, or evening activities unless otherwise noted.
- High school activity, practice, and athletic event cancellations are communicated by each building's administrator/athletic director.
- Lunch will be served to students before school is dismissed.
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Winter Recess Policies
With winter weather settling in, we wanted to remind our families to send their students with the items they need to stay warm both inside and outside the school building. Elementary and preschool students need snow pants, snow boots, and mittens/gloves to play in areas with snow during recess. Those not wearing snow pants and boots will be required to stay on the shoveled hard surface areas. Students are asked to change out of their boots into a dry pair of shoes when inside the building. Also, students go outside for recess unless the air temperature or windchill is 10 degrees or below.
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Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation - Holiday Giving
The Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation has been supporting CRCSD students and staff for over 40 years. The foundation helps to enhance our students' educational experience by providing funding for class field trips, classroom/teacher supplies, and extracurricular activity fees for students in need. They also provide financial assistance for professional development opportunities for our district staff by providing funds for conference registrations, certification and graduate degree work, summer workshops, and more.
This holiday season, the foundation would like to invite you to recognize and thank a district staff member or coach for the important contributions they are making to our students and schools. In lieu of a holiday gift, make a donation to the Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation in that staff member or coach’s name. The staff member you chose will receive a card announcing your generous donation in their name. Plus, all of the donations go right back into our schools. Click here to make a donation.
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Kennedy’s Lion King Jr.
Are you ready for a wild adventure? Kennedy High School is roaring into action this weekend with their paw-some show, “Lion King Jr.” Students will bring the savannah to life with a wildly entertaining performance of this Disney classic. Join Simba, Nala, and the gang for a roaring good time! Click here to get your tickets. This show is part of the Playtime Poppy Children’s Theatre.
- November 30 at 5:00 PM
- December 1 at 5:00 PM
- December 1 at 7:00 PM
- December 2 at 11:00 AM
- December 2 at 2:00 PM
- December 7 at 5:00 PM
- December 8 at 5:00 PM
- December 8 at 7:00 PM
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Harding Mock Trial Competes
Congratulations to the Harding Middle School Mock Trial students who competed at the state competition this week. A total of three teams competed - one 7th grade and two 8th grade. They walked away with both team honors and individual awards.
“Our teams fought hard this week and should be incredibly proud of their performances,” shared Michele Wilson, PACT specialist at Harding.
Earning All-State Outstanding Witness Awards were Colin Riley and Raegan Reicks. Jordyn Velitchkov received one of the All-State Outstanding Attorney Awards. One of the 8th grade teams competed all the way until being one of the final four teams in the State. This honor gave them an opportunity to present a trial in the Appeals Courtroom in the Iowa Judicial Building. In the end, the team placed 3rd in the state and was honored as a semifinalist.
The students making up that semifinalist team were Logan Clark, Grahm Burkert, Sage Mersch, Hayden Christoffersen, Jordyn Velitchkov, Raegan Reicks, Ashlynn Cumings, Rachel Horton.
In a Mock Trial competition, teams prepare and argue both sides of a criminal case. This year’s case involved the murder of referee Tom Donahue. Donahue was found shot twice in the chest in an alley after he refereed a brutal game of Battle Ball. Was the murderer, Avery Sherman, a fanatic fan, angry about the outcome of the game? Or could it have been the Albanian Mob, a savage group that had it out for Donahue? You’ll have to ask one of the Mock Trial students to find out!
Congratulations to all on a successful Mock Trial season!
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CRCSD Job Fair
Are you looking for a job where you can make a difference? Then, Cedar Rapids Community School District is the place for you. Join us on Tuesday, December 19th, for a district job fair. Discover the career opportunities available, meet hiring managers, and explore the many benefits of working at the district. We currently have open positions for coaches, teachers, food service assistants, custodians, paraprofessionals, bus drivers, and bus attendants. Click here to see job listings. The job fair will be held at the CRCSD Educational Leadership and Support Center on Edgewood Road from 4:00-7:00 PM. We hope to see you there!
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Holiday Concert List
As the holiday season approaches, our students have been eagerly gearing up to showcase their remarkable talents as they celebrate the joy and spirit of the holidays with several holiday concerts and performances. Mark your calendars for these upcoming school holiday concerts that promise to fill the air and your heart with the magic of the season. We will continue to add more dates as they become available.
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Glance Around The District | |
Students in the Jefferson High School choir had some special guests in class. “Mufasa” from the Broadway cast of “The Lion King” and the pianist and music director from Broadway’s “Wicked” visited Jefferson for a masterclass! What an awesome experience for our students. | |
Dr. Mark Weldon, a Sustainability Engineer from Quaker Oats, spoke to Franklin 8th graders about various energy sources and provided real-life examples of renewable energy practices at Quaker Oats. This was part of the research the students are doing for this their Future City Competition. | |
Kindergarteners at Erskine Elementary School participated in a “Friendsgiving” meal last week. They enjoyed a delicious meal with one big table set up in the hallway. so everyone could celebrate together. | |
Last week, the Student Ambassadors from Madison Elementary spent some time manning the kettle and ringing the bell for the annual Salvation Army fundraiser. Way to go! | |
At Erskine Elementary School, students took advantage of the snow and warmer weather on Wednesday to make some snowmen during recess! | |
Students at Nixon Elementary have been busy learning about crayfish in science class. They observed and recorded their behaviors, learned new vocabulary, and were even brave enough to touch them. | |
The Wilson Middle School Choir had the opportunity to perform at Barnes and Noble as part of the school's book fair fundraiser. | |
Hiawatha students had a special presentation from ATA Martial Arts. They learned about martial arts and being confident and strong. | |
All of the students at Viola Gibson Elementary have been learning to skate in P.E. Class. They even tried doing the limbo and chicken dance on their skates. | |
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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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