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Delivery Model / Revised Guidance Indicators
November 24, 2020

Delivery Model / Revised Guidance Indicators

Delivery Model After Thanksgiving Break We will be submitting our application for approval from the Iowa Department of Education (DE) to continue 100% online remote learning for all buildings PK-12 after Thanksgiving break. The DE approves applications in two-week intervals, and if approved, the 100% online remote learning would continue for another two weeks through Friday, December 11. As you head into the Thanksgiving break, please plan to continue online learning on Monday, November 30.  As a reminder, when a school building has been granted approval from the DE to move into remote learning, the ability for that school to participate in extracurricular activities is suspended for the duration of the period of remote learning. As a result, all practices, competitions, and in-person meetings of any sports, activity, or club will continue to be suspended through the period of remote learning. 

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Enrollment in Ames Down for the 2020-2021 School Year
November 17, 2020

Enrollment in Ames Down for the 2020-2021 School Year

Across the state, October 1st marks the official “count day” for certified enrollment, which is the annual report of enrolled resident students used for the Iowa School Finance Formula calculation. After recent years of steep increases, certified enrollment decreased for this year. Here is a snapshot of key statistics: Certified enrollment is 4,352.6 students. This is -125.31 from a year ago. The gain from open enrollment and whole grade sharing is +232.5 (down 100.4 from a year before). Preschool students total 253 students who are not included in certified enrollment, +15 from a year ago.  The actual number of students served in the District is 5,121. This year’s certified enrollment was 4,352.6 students, which is down 125.31 students from a year ago. The graph below shows the trends over the last 36 years.

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All PK-8 Schools to Move to 100% Online
November 10, 2020

All PK-8 Schools to Move to 100% Online

As we continue to monitor our District on a daily basis, we have expanded our application for approval from the Iowa Department of Education (DE) to move to 100% online remote learning for all school buildings PK-8. This includes all elementary schools, Northwood Preschool, and Ames Middle School. 

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Edwards, Meeker, and Sawyer Elementary to Move to 100% Online Starting Wednesday, November 11
November 9, 2020

Edwards, Meeker, and Sawyer Elementary to Move to 100% Online Starting Wednesday, November 11

The contents of this message immediately impact families at our elementary schools, but we are sharing with all parents in the District.  As a District, we will be applying for approval from the Iowa Department of Education (DE) to move to 100% online remote learning for Edwards, Meeker, and Sawyer Elementary Schools. Pending approval from the DE and our school board, we would move to remote learning for these three schools on Wednesday, November 11. This online remote learning will continue in two-week intervals, which is the maximum that the DE approves at one time. 

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LC2: Little Cyclone Limited Collection
October 28, 2020

LC2: Little Cyclone Limited Collection

We are excited to announce that the next design in our LC2: Little Cyclone Limited Collection is available on our online apparel store. The LC2 collection is a partnership with Sigler where this specific design is a buy one, give one opportunity for our community. For every LC203 piece that is purchased online, Sigler will print and donate another t-shirt that will be given to a student in the District. Between the previous two campaigns, LC201 and LC202, we were able to give over 130 Ames branded shirts to students. 

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Return to Face-to-Face Instruction for Grades PK – 5th – FAQ
October 23, 2020

Return to Face-to-Face Instruction for Grades PK – 5th – FAQ

Last night, the school board approved to return grades PK-5 to 100% face-to-face instruction on the following timeline: PK - 2 - Monday, November 9 3 - 5 - Monday, November 23 We have provided answers to several questions below.

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Masked Hero: Katrina Williams
October 21, 2020

Masked Hero: Katrina Williams

Superpower: The ability to take every learning on an educational journey. When in the classroom, Katrina Williams often moves into her alter ego to take students on an educational journey to places where they may not have gone before. “The journey each day is to convince a student learner that I have something worthwhile to teach them.” With 27+ years in education and her second in Ames, Williams is navigating a complicated year by focusing on her powers while developing others along the way. 

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Free Meals for All Children at Ames Schools Through the 20-21 School Year
October 16, 2020

Free Meals for All Children at Ames Schools Through the 20-21 School Year

The Ames Community School District is excited to share that we will be able to offer free breakfast and lunch each school day to every child in our community through the end of the 2020-2021 school year. The U. S. Department of Agriculture recently announced that it would grant the flexibility for school districts to offer no-cost meals to all children through the end of the school year.

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Henry May: Ames’ First School Teacher (1829-1919)
October 7, 2020

Henry May: Ames’ First School Teacher (1829-1919)

Henry May is known as the first teacher of Ames Schools. Originally from Connecticut, May came to Ames in the spring of 1866 when the population was reported to have been 100. He bought 11.5 acres of bare prairie for $346.20 on the land that is now Mary Greeley Medical Center between 9th and 13th Streets and Douglas and Duff Avenues. He built one of the first houses in the area. 

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New Quarantine Guidance / Mask Wearing
October 1, 2020

New Quarantine Guidance / Mask Wearing

On Tuesday, September 29th, Governor Reynolds and the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) released new quarantine guidance for COVID-19. This change impacts situations where both the person positive for COVID-19 and those in close contact with them (less than six feet for greater than 15 minutes) were wearing masks. This change differs from current CDC guidance, which states individuals in close contact with someone with COVID-19 should quarantine for 14 days following the exposure, regardless of whether masks were worn. 

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