From the Desk of the Superintendent...
October 22, 2017
NOVEMBER 2017 DISTRICT DISPATCH
With November here, we know that winter weather conditions are just around the corner. Please start to make plans now regarding late starts, early dismissals, or school cancellations due to hazardous winter weather conditions. Tune in to radio or television stations KMA (960 AM), KFAB (1110 AM), KNOD (105.3 FM), KMTV (Channel 3), WOWT (Channel 6), or KETV (Channel 7) and make arrangements with your spouse, friends, relatives, and/or our latch-key program regarding where your child will go when the weather turns bad. In addition, our school district subscribes to the JMC Instant Parent Contact System. This automated telephone broadcast service enables school personnel to notify all households and parents by telephone within minutes of an emergency, an unplanned event, or a winter storm that causes a late start, early dismissal, or a school cancellation. If you have not signed up for this service and are interested in participating, please contact the principal’s office of the building where your child or children attend. Please note that there will not be breakfast on days that we have a two-hour late start, and all practices are cancelled whenever we have a two-hour early dismissal because of incoming bad weather.
On Wednesday, October 4, 2017, new school board members Jeff Bonsall, Michelle Soloth, and I attended an “Orientation to School Governance” workshop in Carroll sponsored by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB). At that meeting we reviewed the IASB standards for effective school boards, learned the difference between board and administrative roles and responsibilities, considered effective strategies to focus the board’s attention on student learning, discussed various policy and legal responsibilities of the board, reviewed important basic facts regarding school finance, and examined the critical role that school board members play as advocates for public education.
Make plans now to attend the upcoming fall high school play, Romeo and the Bachelorette, under the direction of Kaitlyn Krumm in the high school performing arts center at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, November 10, 2017, and Saturday, November 11, 2017. This year’s play is a comedy that adds a special Underwood Eagle touch since it was written by Ms. Krumm and senior Karsten Lambert. Come join in the hilarity as bachelorette Julie searches for true love on the hit television show, The Bachelorette, and ends up in a love triangle with the host of the show, a romantic bachelor, and the pizza delivery guy! The cast and stage crew of over 43 students have been working extremely hard learning lines, building sets, and spending long nights at practice preparing for this fun-filled show. Call the high school at 566-2703 for ticket information. We hope to see you there!
Looking ahead to December, the members of the Underwood Dollars for Scholars organization will be having their annual fundraiser dinner featuring a “Soft Shell Taco and Nacho Bar” in the high school commons from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 8, 2017, during the home basketball game against Tri-Center. You need not attend the basketball game to enjoy the meal. In addition to soft shell tacos and nachos, the meal will include beans, rice, ice cream with candy toppings, and a drink for $6.00 per plate. All proceeds will help fund college scholarships for students graduating from Underwood High School. It is the goal of the Underwood Dollars for Scholars organization to help as many students as possible make their dreams of attending college a reality.
November always brings with it thoughts of Thanksgiving. At Underwood, November also brings with it thoughts of Grandparents’ Day! This annual event is always held the Wednesday morning before Thanksgiving in our middle school gymnasium. Our elementary music teacher, Mrs. Sonya Schiphoff, and our elementary students have been working very hard on their musical numbers for this very popular event. We are looking forward to another huge turnout. Don’t forget that we have a 1:30 p.m. dismissal that day. Best wishes to each of you for a great Thanksgiving holiday!
