Welcome Home, CRCSD Family
Welcome home, CRCSD.

We are here together starting a new year. And we are looking so forward to welcoming kids back home. 

This year is not about getting back to normal...it is about continually getting better at getting better. We have learned a lot together and will continue to be flexible and support one another. We have amazing things happening in Cedar Rapids. 

We are opening the first new brick and mortar school in our district in almost 20 years. We are in the second year of opening the virtual doors to our virtual academy. We will be welcoming over 1,000 kindergarten students to our home. We will have the majority of our students on campus for the first time in 18 months. To new members of our CRCSD family, we are so glad that you have chosen us, welcome and please let us know if we can be helpful in anyway. 

We are looking forward to Monday and can’t wait to see kids back at schools. 

This is absolutely a moment to WELCOME all of YOU and our KIDS BACK HOME.

Noreen Bush
CRCSD Superintendent
School starts this Monday, Aug. 23, and is an early dismissal!

Regular School Hours: 
Elementary School: 8:50am - 3:50pm
Middle School: 7:50am - 2:50pm
High School: 7:50am – 3:00pm

Early Dismissal Hours:
Elementary School: 8:50am – 2:20pm
Middle School: 7:50am – 1:20pm
High School: 7:50am – 1:30pm

Note: Preschool starts September 7, 2021
Reminder: COVID-19 Safety Mitigation for In-Person Learning Environment
As we begin a new school year, please read carefully the current laws and guidelines regarding COVID-19 health and safety mitigation. Please note that CRCSD will continually evaluate and adjust the guidelines as needed, via guidance from both the state and federal levels. Regarding communications between the federal agency and the state of Iowa governor’s office, no new guidance has been provided to Iowa school districts at this time. We are reviewing all ongoing discussions and potential changes, and will provide updates as they occur. 
 
Face masks
Due to Iowa HF 847, signed by Governor Reynolds on May 20, 2021, a school district is prohibited from adopting or enforcing a policy that requires employees, students, or the public to wear a mask while on school property. As such, masks must be optional for students, teachers, and visitors.
 
While masks are not mandatory in Iowa public schools, CRCSD strongly encourages people to consider the guidance from public health experts and wear masks to add another layer of protection for everyone.
 
Due to Federal Law, students and staff riding in CRCSD buses/vans/vehicles must wear a mask.
  • A mask will be provided to students who don’t have a mask.
  • Students should use hand sanitizer when boarding and leaving the bus.
 
Contact tracing
Linn County Public Health will continue to notify CRCSD of student or staff positives. Due to federal privacy laws, we must protect the identity of anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. When a staff member or student in a school is diagnosed with COVID-19, a notification will be made to all staff and families in that school in order for others to more closely monitor themselves for symptoms of COVID-19 and to stay home when and if symptoms develop.
 
Quarantine and isolation
Parents/guardians of exposed students will determine if their child will quarantine for 14 days to monitor for development of symptoms. If parents/guardians choose not to have their child quarantine for 14 days, students may attend school and extracurricular activities, as long as they remain SYMPTOM FREE. Students who develop symptoms of illness, or test positive for COVID-19, will isolate at home for 10 days and may return to school/activities on Day 11.
 
Elementary schools
Elementary age students are ineligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to this, it is highly recommended that all elementary staff and students wear a mask. Per Iowa law, masking is voluntary and cannot be required.
 
School Day:
  • Buildings are open to the public. Masks are optional, but recommended for visitors.
  • “Everyday” school structure in place. 
  • Voluntary masked classrooms will not be offered because it likely would not offer greater protection for students and could offer a false sense of security. Students in masked classrooms would still mix with other children who will be unmasked, when entering/exiting the building, using the restroom, going to lunch, recess, PE, music, art and other leveled groups such as some reading groups. Also, many children are unable to wear a mask correctly at all times.
  • Individual schools will determine meal time procedures. 
  • Social distancing will be conducted to the extent possible in all settings.
  • Teacher conferences can be conducted in person.
  • Kindergarten visitation and student orientations can be conducted in person.
  • Food/snacks are allowed according to regular building procedures.
  • Students should wash hands or use hand sanitizer before and after using shared items in the classroom and before/after community activities such as recess and specials (PE, music, art).
  • Open houses can be conducted. 
 
Events:
Elementary age students are ineligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Due to this, indoor events and large group gatherings will be restricted in order to protect the health and safety of our students. Events and activities may be conducted outdoors.
  • No indoor PTO/PTA fundraiser events.
  • No indoor movie nights.
  • No indoor assemblies.
  • No indoor choir concerts.
 
Middle and high schools
Students 12 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. As per CDC guidance, it is highly recommended that middle and high school staff and students wear a mask. Per Iowa law, masking is voluntary and cannot be required.
 
School Day:
  • Buildings are open to the public. Masks are optional, but recommended for visitors.
  • “Everyday” school structure in place.
  • Social distancing will be conducted to the extent possible in all settings.
  • Teacher conferences can be conducted in person.
  • Student orientations can be conducted in person.
  • Food/snacks are allowed according to regular building procedures.
  • Students should use hand sanitizer when entering each classroom and before and after using shared items in the classroom.
  • Open houses can be conducted. 
  • Athletics/activities will be conducted according to State association/IDPH guidelines.
 
Events:
  • All events may be conducted as usual, both indoors and outdoors. 
  • Currently, there are no capacity limits.
  • Families/visitors are recommended to wear a mask during indoor events, but it is not required.
We're Glad You're Here, and on Time
Attendance Policy and Procedure
Regular attendance, as well as being on time to school and class, is essential for students to obtain the maximum benefit from school and take full advantage of educational opportunities provided by the district. Excessive student absenteeism and tardiness is an early warning sign of poor academic achievement and may put students at risk of dropping out of school. An absence is any time a student does not access instruction (physically or remotely as designated). The Cedar Rapids Community School District desires to partner with families to ensure consistent student attendance and assist with removing possible barriers to attending school.

A few changes we need to make you aware of:
  • We will now be defining absences using hours. This will help us better monitor student absences including instruction time missed due to arriving late or leaving early.
  • While we ask that you contact your child’s school as soon as you know your child will be absent, sometimes the situation may not allow for this. If you cannot make contact prior to or on the day of the absence, this must be done within two school days to excuse the absence.

For additional information regarding attendance policies and procedures, please reference your school’s handbook, CRCSD Board policy 602, or contact your building administrator.
CRCSD Happenings
Double-Check Your Contact Information

Each year, it is important for returning CRCSD families to confirm your student’s enrollment, update emergency contacts, fill out yearly field trip and laptop device agreements, complete eligibility for reduced school fees, and update contact information. Please take a few minutes to conduct the “annual verification” process.

Your next steps:


The parent/guardian that the student lives with most of the time should complete this process. Questions? Contact your student’s school or visit the webpage below for more information.
Meals For CRVA Students

Grab N' Go meals will be offered curbside pick-up for Cedar Rapids Virtual Academy (CRVA) students at Madison Elementary School. The meals will be available on in-session school days from 11 a.m. to noon. Virtual students will receive breakfast and lunch at no charge.

High school virtual students can pick up a Grab N' Go breakfast and lunch at their cafeteria anytime from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. These meals must be picked up in the cafeteria.
Useful Resources
Last minute school shopping? Find AK-5 school supply lists here.
Follow us on social media for the latest updates:
August 20, 2021