Underwood Community Schools Logo

The link at the bottom of the page is another way to help your child stay engaged during our school closure.  If you click on a grade level box, it will give you other links that are appropriate for that age level.  At the bottom of the Symbaloo are other learning opportunities for your child.  I hope this helps keep your child learning during this quarantine time.  Please contact Lois Johnson at ljohnson@underwoodschools.org or your child's classroom teacher if you have any questions.

Underwood Elementary Symbaloo Link

APRIL 2020 DISTRICT DISPATCH Please note that as a result of the school closure to help mitigate the spread of the coronavirus, we will NOT be having prekindergarten round-up and kindergarten round-up on Friday, April 3, 2020. Round-up activities may or may not be held at a later date. We will keep you posted. Nonetheless, the elementary office is presently in the process of identifying prekindergarten and kindergarten students for the 2020-21 school year. If you know that your child or grandchild will be five-years-old on or before September 15, 2020, please call the elementary office to inquire about registering for kindergarten. Our kindergarten program is an all-day program that lasts for the entire school year. If you know that your child or grandchild will be four-years-old on or before September 15, 2020, please call the elementary office and register for prekindergarten. Unlike kindergarten, prekindergarten is voluntary and not required. Our prekindergarten is a half-day program which lasts the entire school year. The school curriculum is a framework for what students should know, understand, and be able to do. In most schools, including Underwood, some parts of the curriculum are compulsory and others are optional. When it comes to curriculum development, Dr. Ken Robinson notes in his book, Creative Schools, that the proper starting point is to ask what students should know and be able to do as a result of their education. Rather than identifying specific subjects, Dr. Robinson identifies eight competencies which he believes should run throughout the curriculum. Interestingly, all eight competencies begin with the letter “C” and are as follows: (1) Curiosity…the ability to ask questions and explore how the world works; (2) Creativity…the ability to generate new ideas and apply them in practice; (3) Criticism…the ability to analyze information and ideas to form reasoned arguments and judgments; (4) Communication…the ability to express thoughts and feelings clearly and confidently in a range of media and forms; (5) Collaboration…the ability to work constructively with others; (6) Compassion…the ability to empathize with others and to act accordingly; (7) Composure…the ability to connect with inner feelings and develop a sense of personal harmony and balance; and (8) Citizenship…the ability to engage constructively with society and to participate in the processes that sustain it. From a common sense standpoint, these eight competencies received approving nods from a group of superintendents I met with recently. We agreed that the eight “C’s” merit discussion as our school districts look ahead to future curriculum work. Don’t forget that classes for students are presently scheduled to resume on Tuesday, April 14, 2020.

SCHOOL CLOSURE EXTENDED...STUDENTS SCHEDULED TO RESUME CLASSES ON TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2020...The Underwood Community School District has joined other school districts in Iowa and is extending its closure time period. Underwood will remain closed through Monday, April 13, 2020. Classes are scheduled to resume on Tuesday, April 14, 2020. The Underwood Community School District will remain closed until at least March 27, 2020. This decision was made after careful consideration with area superintendents, the Pottawattamie County Emergency Response Team, public health officials, and the local Pottawattamie County COVID-19 Response Task Force. While one case of COVID-19 has been confirmed in Pottawattamie County, there are no known cases in the Underwood Community School District. There is not yet evidence of community spread in our county. We acknowledge there is much uncertainty about COVID-19 and we are making decisions with the most up-to-date information available. Our school leadership team met regarding closing the school, and we continue to stay informed with Pottawattamie County Public Health. We will meet toward the end of our closure to lift or extend the closure of the school district. We are asking parents to be prepared for a potential school closure for a longer period of time, if warranted. The top priority of the Underwood Community School District has always been and remains the safety, health, and well-being of the children who are entrusted to our care. With our partners, we will continually monitor and assess the risk of exposure to this rapidly evolving crisis. We understand that Nebraska schools have canceled classes due to recent or upcoming extended spring breaks. However, as you know, we do not have an extended period of school vacation until April 10-13. We are monitoring our situation daily and will extend the closure period if needed. Working in collaboration with local and state health officials, the Underwood Community School District will continue to be diligent in considering what action steps to take to safeguard students and staff. As the situation evolves, be assured that any decision to modify decisions will include timely communication with parents and guardians. Please know that latch-key program will close as the Underwood Community School District is closed for the purposes of preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. While this will be a challenge for many families, we are dedicated to supporting the public health efforts and keeping children safe and healthy in our community. While school is closed, we are taking several steps now to prevent the potential spread of the virus. We are asking students to take home all essential school items that they will need to stay educationally engaged in all of their classes. This will include Chromebooks for students in grades 5-12, content books or workbooks, work packets, calculators, and any personal items they have at school that they will need during this closure. If your student takes medication at school and you will now need this medication for the home we ask that you contact the secretary or nurse in your child's respective building and let them know that you will need the medication for your child sent home. For students that do not have internet access, we ask that you contact the school as soon as possible so we may set up educational options to meet your student's needs during this closure. Our special education families will receive information from their child's special education teachers with guidance and opportunities to meet their special education needs during the school closure. We will be canceling or postponing all scheduled activities, practices, open gyms, weight room usage and use of facilities (individually or as a group) starting March 16th after school until further notice. This will also include any public use of the school facilities and weight room during the closure. We will allow in-season high school coaches to have quick meetings after school on March 16, 2020, to meet with their teams to discuss the closure and the impact on their practice schedules. The health and safety of our students, staff, and families are most important during this difficult decision. Limited Building Access for Visitors and Volunteers: Beginning Monday, March 16th, only school district personnel, students, and key student service providers will be allowed in our school buildings. The school district will not be allowing volunteers, mentors, and visitors to enter school facilities. Parents will have restricted building access in line with the normal pick-up and drop-off routines. Beginning Monday, March 16th, school facilities will no longer be available for community use. Any non-district event scheduled to be hosted on school grounds will be canceled or moved. Please contact the hosting organization for updates on any non-District or non-school events. Please look for information from your child’s school principal regarding planned parent-teacher Conferences. School Events: Beginning the evening of March 16th, large/non-essential school events that include parents and others will be canceled or postponed until a later date Restrictions on Student and Staff Travel: To avoid the potential of travel-related exposure to the virus, beginning the week of March 16th there will be no school-related travel outside the school district by staff members until further notice. Many state and national student events are being canceled. School field trips will be suspended until further notice. Disinfecting: Additional hand sanitizing stations are available at schools. The Underwood Schools have reviewed our cleaning and disinfecting guidelines for schools and busses to help prevent the spread of viruses. Our custodial staff has been concentrating on high touch areas, such as doorknobs, water fountains, and handrails, as well as posting reminders about hand washing. The school district has also increased our inventory of cleaning and safety supplies so that we have what is necessary now and into the coming days and weeks. Student Illness Guidance: If you believe you have been exposed to COVID-19, please do not come to school. Please call the county health hotline at 712-890-5638 or 712-890-5369 from 8 am - 4 pm, Monday through Friday. The United Way hotline can be reached 24/7 by dialing 211. These health professionals will provide guidance. Not sure if you or your children are at risk? Answer these three easy questions by, visiting CHI Health website and take the Coronavirus questionnaire 1 Have you recently traveled to an area with known local spread of COVID-19? 2. Have you come into close contact (within 6 feet) with someone who has a laboratory confirmed COVID – 19 diagnosis in the past 14 days? 3. Do you have a fever (greater than 100.4 F or 38.0 C) OR symptoms of lower respiratory illness such as cough, shortness of breath, or difficulty breathing? Future Plans: While we work to protect the health and safety of our students, it's also important to consider ways we can continue to serve students' academic needs in current closure. We have a team of school district leaders focusing on how we can deliver appropriate lessons and reduce the potential of learning loss. We're committed to doing what is best for students. As information develops regarding plans for potential school closure, we will send out additional information. We will continue to communicate regularly with families throughout the closure, using the School Messenger email system. Thank you for the role you will play in helping our children during this uncertain time. By working together, we can continue to provide a stable and safe learning environment throughout the Underwood Schools. P.S. Everyone plays a vital role in helping to prevent the spread of viruses. These steps may sound simple, but, according to the public health experts, they are tried-and-true measures for all of us to take: Cover your mouth with your upper arm or a tissue when coughing or sneezing Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces. Get plenty of rest Drink plenty of water Thank for your attention to this serious matter. We will keep you informed regarding additional developments. -- Edward H. Hawks Superintendent of Schools Underwood Community School District (712) 566-2332 www.underwoodeagles.org

School Closure: Middle School Student Educational Opportunities

 

            Due to the school closure starting on March 17^th until further notice we will have educational opportunities for our middle school students to remain engaged. The hope is that we will return from this closure with minimal reteaching and be able to continue with where the students would have been if the closure did not occur. We do understand that many of your students will have added roles at home as daycare providers. We have decided as a staff to minimize the number of assignments coming home during this time to 2-3 a week per class. Teachers will still be in contact through various platforms each day (i.e.: phone, google classroom, gmail, and other online platforms). Please remember that during this closure if it was a planned no school day (March 27^th) it will remain a no school day and staff will not be available on those days. Below is a list of each middle school teachers’ expectations and where students can find resources and classwork.

 

Ms. Biggs (Band): 6-8th grade students will have an opportunity to do lessons through zoom. If a student is unable to make that lesson time possible please email me to let me know. They will have a weekly assignment on Sight Reading factory. They are all already signed up for it. I will be available from 9AM-1PM daily to answer any questions you may have. 

Mrs. Kay (Resource): All assignments will be available on google classroom. Students should complete tasks and then mark assignment complete on classroom. I will communicate daily to check in on student progress. Please email me at mkay@underwoodschools.org with any questions or concerns. If students need additional help understanding assignments, please email me to set up a Zoom video meeting. 

Mrs. Hjelle (7^th Reading/English): 7th grade English and reading- All assignments and guidance will be given through Google Classroom and Zoom.  I will be available from 12:30-2:30 every school day for questions and communication.

Mrs. Stamp (7/8 Science): Students: I will be communicating to students through email and/or google classroom daily, Monday-Friday.  I plan to check my email daily for correspondence and also have “online office hours” where I will be at my computer for instant communication if needed.  
  Assignments will be posted/submitted on google classroom.  Occasionally, students will be assigned activities through the HMH portal (student ebooks), but information about the assignment will be found on the google classroom page.  Daily “online office hours” also be posted and updated here.
 - Currently, there is an assignment posted on google classroom that is due on Wednesday, March 18.
 -HMH portal link:  https://www.hmhco.com/one/login/?state=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.hmhco.com%2Fone%2F%23%2Fdiscover%2FSCI_NA18E_SCIDIM_MODA
             Some students also chose to have hard copies of their books, which they picked up today. Parents: Updated classrooms and assignments/expectations can be found on my planbook website.  Please communicate with your students about upcoming activities and assignment due dates, or if would like to see our google classroom.  If you have any questions or concerns, please email me at kstamp@underwoodschools.org

Mrs. Privia – (8th grade English and reading classes): I will communicate all lessons through Google Classroom, email, and Planbook. I will be doing most of my work from 9:00 - 12:00 most mornings, and then I will check in periodically in the afternoon.

AR tests can be taken from home.

Ms. Bolduan (7/8 Social Studies): Google Classroom and email will be utilized for all assignments and communication.  I will check my email periodically throughout regular school hours to answer questions and provide extra assistance

Mr. Mechaelsen (6^th Science and Social Studies): All assignments and communication will be done through Google Classroom and through student's email. I will also update my planbook weekly so that parents can continue to check and keep track of what their child is doing in Science and Social Studies. I will also be available between 9:00-12:00 each morning to answer any questions parents or students have via email. I will check my email periodically throughout the rest of the day in case there are any further questions I can answer.

 

Mr. Ridder: (6th-8th Grade PE): All assignments will be workout based and can be found on TeamBuildr.com (the "e" is supposed to be missing in builder) or the TeamBuildr App.  Seventh and eighth grade students have used this all year, but sixth grade created an account on Monday, March 16th.  There will be three workouts posted each week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.  Students need to click the check mark to show they have completed each activity in the workout.  I will constantly check my email for any questions Monday-Friday 8:00am to 3:30pm.  Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns.

Mr. Hjelle (6^th Math): Students will get a daily email explaining daily expectations.  All videos, worksheets, and notes will be found on Planbook, most graded assignments will be sent using Google Classroom.  I know that daily situations for each student may differ so I will not put due dates on the assignments.  I have let students know that if they need individual help that they can email me to set up a Google Hangout video session if a general email won't solve the problem.  I should be available M-F 8-4, but will also be able to help later if needed.  As this situation is new to all of us some expectations may change as we maneuver our way through this process.  All assignments, quizzes, tests will be graded based on points.  There will not be any weighted categories in my grade book as there have been for the first 3 quarters.

Mrs. Mahoney (6^th Reading/English): I will be communicating to students through Google classroom, emails or planbook. I will have online "office hours" from 9:00-12:00 daily on school days for any questions you may have through google classroom or email.

Mrs. Minssen (7/8 Math): The students were given their assignments for the next 2 weeks. They will have 2 days to complete each assignment.  They are to take a picture of their assignment or type it up and send me an email at tminssen@underwoodschools.org.

Students may email me with questions and I will get back to them as soon as possible.  I also suggest to them if they need help to use Khan Academy. If they need further assignment I will email them to them along with the due dates.

Mr. Adamon (6-8 Choir): 6th-8th Choir students will have music literacy and listening activities. Communication will primarily be through Google Classroom and student email. Mr. Adamon will post assignments and due dates on each class's Google Classroom site. Mr. Adamon will be available daily from 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM. Students also have accounts with SightReadingFactory.com to use and submit literacy assignments. If students or parents have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me.

One of the topics our teaching staff has been working on for the last few years has been Growth Mindset.  Today's professional development was a review of growth mindset and a group challenge-which group could build the tallest tower using the same amount of spaghetti, tape, and string?   The winners were Jay Lahners, Jesús Clemente, Christine Privia, Bridget Hackett, and Eric Hjelle were our winners, building a 44" tower in 20 minutes. The shortest standing tower (to an unnamed group) was 1/2".  Mr. Vanfossan stressed that growth mindset is about the process, not the outcome. We saw a lot of great teamwork, problem-solving, and regrouping when failure struck.  

The Underwood Quiz Bowl Team participated in the Iowa Masonic Quiz Bowl Tournament on Saturday, March 7 in Waukee.  After a close loss in the morning, the team came back to win their last 4 matches against Albia (210-90), Logan-Magnolia(150-140), IKM-Manning (180-170), and Chariton(160-130) to win the tournament.  In the championship round, sophomore, Max Casson scored the most toss up question points and junior, James Brainard, and freshman, Kira Hetfield also scored points on a couple of toss up questions to help the team win.  Kira also ran the table on a set of questions about the novel, Little Women, to help the team earn 30 points in the teamwork phase of the competition to help seal the victory.

 

As part of the tournament, the Grand Lodge of Iowa provided the Underwood Quiz Bowl Team with a $1000 cash prize for winning the tournament.  Team members were seniors: Zach Teten, Jared Redshaw, and Wyatt Redshaw; junior: James Brainard; sophomore: Max Casson; and freshman: Kira Hetfield.

 

Quiz Bowl is an academic competition where schools compete against other schools in a Jeopardy style format.  Questions typically cover the topics of literature, social studies, science, mathematics, fine arts, and miscellaneous.  The Underwood Quiz Bowl Team's next tournament is the WIC Tournament on Wednesay, March 18 at AHST-W.  Their final competition will be the State Quiz Bowl Championships at Des Moines Central Academy on Saturday, April 18.

Carleigh Opal(4th), Meredith Hjelle (1st), Ava Schuster (6th), and Owen Fletcher (3rd) each had their artwork selected for the Art Educators if Iowa Youth Art Month shows in Des Moines at the State Historical Museum during the month of March. Meredith's artwork was also chosen for National Convention to represent Iowa. Ava's artwork was also chosen for the Governor's Show which will be on display in the Governor's office at the state Capitol.

The 2020-2021 Underwood Activities Hall of Fame nominations are now open. We would like to ask for your help in nominating those individuals from Underwood who were participants in extra-curricular events such as band, choir, speech, and sports or as coaches or sponsors at Underwood who are deserving of being inducted into the Underwood Activities Hall of Fame. Guidelines to be nominated are:

1. Extra-Curriclar Participant who graduated from Underwood Community Schools.
2. Coach or Sponsor who worked at Underwood Community Schools.
3. Must be 5 years out of High School.
4. Nominations are due by April 4th, 2020

Nominations link: 

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd2UmuEmhVR8h3cNuevCDa_fLkduNqj-HbS_5ubDlcPC4h24Q/viewform

 

Great news from the Iowa School Performance Profile (ISPP) data that was just released last week.  This is the first year scores from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) were included in the score, so there were some unknowns leading up to the release of the scores.  The high school score placed it in the "High Performing" category, the second-highest ranking level in the ISPP.  Of all of the high schools in Iowa, Underwood High School scored 23rd and among the top 15%!  The middle school made a move up from their previous level and are now in the "Commendable" range, as is the Elementary school.  Congratulations to all of our great teachers, staff, and students for doing so well!

The Iowa School Performance Profile includes a great deal of data in many different areas.  Mr. Greg Bachman, our Data Specialist, will be breaking down the results so we can continue to improve upon our 2019 levels.  More information will be made available to you as we get those reports.  In the meantime, check out the details on the DE website:  Iowa School Performance Profile Link

 

 

The school district is in serious need of substitute bus and van drivers for regular routes and activity trips. Interested applicants should contact Superintendent Ed Hawks or Transportation Director Dan Kvigne at (712) 566-2332 or stop by the bus barn for more information.