Stardust

Starmont CSD Newsletter

November 2020

Monday, November 2 7/8 G BB Central City (H), 4:00 pm FFA Meeting, Café 6:00 pm Tuesday, November 3 Parent Teacher Conference, 3:45 – 7:45 pm Thursday, November 5 Parent Teacher Conference, 3:45 – 7:30 pm 7/8 WR @ Lisbon, 4:30 pm Friday, November 6 NO SCHOOL, Comp Day Monday, November 9 NO SCHOOL, Professional Development 7/8 G BB @ Alburnett, 4:00 pm Board Meeing, 6:30 pm Tuesday, November 10 7/8 WR East Buchanan/Lisbon (H), 4:30 pm Wednesday, November 11 Virtual Veteran’s Day Assembly Thursday, November 12 7/8 G BB East Buchanan (H), 4:00 pm 7/8 WR Maq. Valley/North Linn/ Jesup (H), 4:30 pm Monday, November 16 CoGAT Testing 3-6-9 7/8 G BB @ Ed-Co, 4:00 pm Tuesday, November 17 CoGAT Testing 3-6-9 7/8 WR @ Ed-Co, 4:30 pm NHS Induction, Conference Room, 7:00 pm Wednesday, November 18 CoGAT Testing 3-6-9 Thursday, November 19 CoGAT Testing 3-6-9 7/8 G BB@ Maq. Valley, 4:00 pm 7/8 WR @ Lisbon, 4:30 pm Friday, November 20 CoGAT Testing 3-6-9

Monday, November 23 7/8 G BB North Linn (H), 4:00 pm V B BB Jamboree @ MFL MarMac TBA Tuesday, November 24 7/8 WR @ Alburnett, 4:30 pm JV/V G BB East Buchanan (H) 6:00 pm Wednesday, November 25 NO SCHOOL Thanksgiving Break Thursday, November 26 NO SCHOOl, Thanksgiving Day Friday, November 27 NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Break Monday, November 30 7/8 G BB @ Springville, 4:00 pm JV GB BB Oelwein (H), 4:30 pm V GB BB Oelwein (H), 6:00 pm JV WR @ North Linn, 5:30 pm

Starmont Starlights Starmont 2020 Homecoming MASK-Querade

This year the high school student council’s homecoming theme was MASK-Querade. We kicked off the week with pictures taken on Friday, September 25 at 6:45 a.m. of the seniors that made in on the homecoming court. Jeff Barker was nice enough to join us in the morning to help us out. THANK YOU JEFF!!!!

On Sunday, September 27, homecoming kicked off with hallway decorating for the 9-12th grade students from 2:00-5:00. The middle school student council, with assistance from Terra Corbin and Jennifer Otdoerfer helped decorate the 6th-8th grade hallways for homecoming. Pictured below is the middle school student council: At 5:00, the student council hosted a pizza night for the students that participated with hallway decorating. For the fourth year in a row, the seniors won the hallway competition for decorating.

freshman hallway

sophomore hallway

junior hallway

senior hallway

On Monday, our MASK-Querade theme continued with Quarantine Day, asking staff and students to wear their comfy clothes to school.

On Tuesday, we celebrated Tie Dye Day and to help support the day, our spirit squad tie dyed masks and sold them for $2.00. If interested in purchasing a tie dyed mask, send money to school. On Wednesday

we asked staff and students to dress like their favorite essential worker.

Essential workers

Also on Wednesday, with the help of the Spirit Squad girls, we were able to host a cheer trail to practice

cheers for the pep assembly. Students walked the fitness trail and stopped at specific spots to practice

the cheers.

Thursday was Farm Day, and we encouraged students to drive their tractors to school.

Finally on Friday, the student council, with the help from the spirit squad, hosted our first ever outside

pep assembly on the football field.

Above is the Starmont Spirit Squad

Above is the Starmont Spirit Squad

Pictured above is our class of 2021 enjoying their last homecoming pep assembly.

High School Student Council.

The football boys line up to greet the elementary students every Friday morning during the season. This was a tradition started more than 10 years ago.

On Friday, Oct 2 at 6:45, Ricky Garcia and Anna Hamlett

were crowned the 2020 Homecoming King and Queen.

Each year the Ronald McDonald House sponsors a state wide pop/pull tab program. They collect the metal tab pieces located on the top of pop cans and other aluminum cans with a tab. This activity not only helps save the earth, but it also raises much-needed awareness about how one individual’s contribution can make a substantial difference for a family staying at the Ronald McDonald Houses or using the Ronald McDonald Family Room.

The high school and middle school student councils are once again collecting pop tabs for the month of November. Last year we were able to collect over 1 million tabs. This year we are challenging the

community to collect 500,000 tabs. The winning high and middle school STAR classes will earn an ice cream party. The elementary class that collects the most tabs will win an extra recess with the high

school student council. Collecting pop tabs is fun and EASY!!! It is also a great way for children, families, staff, and companies to get involved with the Ronald McDonald Family. Please drop off your pop tabs at

your child’s classroom or at the local banks to help us meet our goal of 500,000 pop tabs. Pictured below is our 2019-2020 high school student council members with the million tabs collected and Carson King,

who had agreed to join us if we collected a million tabs.

Due to the restrictions with Covid, the student council has chosen to do a virtual, prerecorded Veterans Day for the community. This recording will be uploaded to the school’s Facebook page on November 11. Set your calendar for the Student Council hosted Red Cross Blood Drive on December 9. More information to follow.

SENIOR PICTURE INFORMATION

Please start getting your senior photos taken, if you already have

please start bringing them into the office. Photos needed for the

class composite and newspapers will need to be

Vertical NO HORIZONTAL PHOTOS!

A head and shoulder photo is preferred.

Photos for the yearbook can be any pose and horizontal if you

choose. A baby picture is also needed for the yearbook. Photos

can be sent digitally to jzitelman@starmont.k12.ia.us. Baby

photos will be scanned at the high school office and given back to

the student.

Deadline for senior and baby pictures to be in the office will be

December 18, 2020.

Photos WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED AFTER THIS DATE!!

Students interested in taking the ACT test this year here are the upcoming test dates. Current seniors who will be

attending University of Iowa, Iowa State University, and University of Northern Iowa in the fall of 2021 do not need an

ACT score to gain admission due to the limited access to ACT tests. This also may apply to private colleges and

universities as well. Students need to check with the schools they will be attending. Please be aware that some dates

for the tests in the past few months were canceled and students had to reschedule their test dates at no added charge

for change in test date.

December 12-- Registration Deadline Nov 6

February 6-- Registration Deadline January 8

April 17-- Registration Deadline March 12

June 12-- Registration Deadline May 7

July 17-- Registration Deadline June 18

Free test booklets are available in the school counselor’s office.

Active Sensory Spaces

www.actionforhealthykids.org/activity/active-sensory-hallways/

Overview

Sensory spaces are a fun and engaging way for children

to get their wiggles out, refocus during a transition or self-

soothe after facing a difficult challenge. These paths are

created to be colorful and playful and turn a passive

environment into an active one. Not only do they add more

physical activity to a child’s day, they can also be designed

to help them practice a variety of skills and just play.

Take Action

At School

Carve out some time to plan what your path will look like. Research sensory path or movement

hallways and pick out your favorite stations and activities. Get creative! Consider a variety of

stations and activities that touch on various skills.

Gross motor skills:

o Create a mix of zig zag, curved and straight lines with directions for children to hop on one foot,

balance and walk on their tip toes or crab walk.

o Use hand print and foot print cutouts or decals along the floor and wall with directions for children

to match their hands and feet to do wall sits or pushups.

Fine motor skills:

o Create lines or shapes with colorful tape or paint for children to trace along the wall.

o Include spaces with small manipulatives like a buttoning and zipping wall or interactive Lego wall.

Social emotional skills:

o Promote goal directed behavior and decision making through a mix of increasingly challenging

tasks along the path. Include spaces where children can decide to go one way or another.

o Encourage optimistic thinking and self-regulation through positive affirmations. As children push

up against the wall or hop from one square to the next, post affirmations for them to read aloud

such as:

I am smart and I am capable

I am going to have a good day

I am strong

I am ready to learn new things

Core academic skills

o Encourage literacy skills with alphabet patterns or sight words along the path.

o Practice numeracy skills with numbers to determine how many hops or addition/subtraction

hopscotch.

o Tie in science with themes around weather, outer space or animals – ex. tracing a line from flower

to flower to help the honey bee carry pollen.

Choose a space that is both accessible to all children and not a disruption to others when in use.

Sensory and movement paths can also be modified for an office or classroom for mid-day brain

breaks or to help children refocus.

Main hallway

Sidewalk or playground

Guidance counselor or principal’s office

Cafeteria or gymnasium

Classroom

Hallway

Meet with your principal or administrator to discuss the project and share your ideas. This is also a

great opportunity to engage your School Health Team, including parents, to pull in different ideas

and gather support and install.

At Home

Just like at school, sensory spaces can refocus attention and add physical activity to your child’s

day at home, while improving self-awareness and allowing them to practice key decision-making

skills.

Use Chalk and a sidewalk to create a twisting, turning maze or path for children to follow. Add in

hopscotch, alphabet patterns or other key educational concepts to reinforce school work. Or, just

keep it fun and active! Trace your child’s hands or shoes in a line to give them a “path” to follow.

Make it fun by practicing critical developmental skills like hopping, walking on a “balance beam”

and following a twisting line.

Create an obstacle course out of your outdoor space! Using chalk and basic equipment like cones,

jump ropes and balls, encourage kids to follow the course through to the end.

No outdoor space? No problem! Utilize the hallways in your house with easy to access items like

paper plates, pillows and painters tape! Create a sensory space with basic household items,

encouraging kids to walk toe-to-heel along a string or jump rope, bounce on a mini-trampoline and

balance on mom’s Yoga ball. Cut out handprints and footprints and encourage them to stretch,

reach and balance.

Social Emotional Health Highlights

Activities such as these help students explore…

Self-Awareness and Self-Management: Exploring senses through unstructured play helps

children identify emotions to better manage stress, self-regulate and control their impulses. Sensory

based activities can also help develop organization skills through physical and visual orientation

activities.

Responsible Decision Making: Providing children with alternative methods to walking down the

hall in a straight line allows them to choose how they want to exert their energy. Giving children

more options to decide how they want to react to their emotions helps them reflect and problem

solve and make constructive choices in consideration of the well-being of themselves and others.

Tips

Starting small is okay! Start with a classroom path and then widen to a school-wide initiative

to engage children and add more playful time into the day.

Consider the space and the materials you use. Laminating any pieces you make on your own

will keep them in good condition for longer. For outdoor paths, talk with your administrator

about using paint or consider chalk for a temporary path and then change it up! Similarly, if

placing in a hallway or communal space like the cafeteria or gymnasium – vinyl tape or

decals are longer lasting – where for classrooms, masking tape on the carpet or floor can be

more temporary, but still get the job done!

As with anything, think of safety first! Be sure any routes you create are safe for children

(ex. corners or intersecting hallways) and there is adequate supervision when in use. Also be

sure to secure anything that is on the floor or wall to avoid slips or falls. If you need a

flexible option, contact paper is great – just be sure to clean the area before placing to ensure

a nice stick!

Tie in arts and crafts. Cut out and laminate children’s handprints or footprints instead of

using decals, ask children to help lay down zig zag lines with colorful tape or encourage

them to write their own positive affirmations. Die cut machines are also a great way to cut

out labels like ‘jump’ or ‘skip’.

Keep in colorful and fun! Ensure there are age appropriate signs or directions throughout like

arrows for directions, alternative footprints for jumping in and out, or pictures such as a crab

for a crabwalk or bear for a bear crawl.

Take a video of a teacher or child using the course. Share with teachers, other school staff

and parents to demonstrate how to use and encourage modeling its use for brain breaks,

sensory walk to support self-regulation when upset, during parent pick up and more.

For more activities and ideas like this one, be sure to sign up for our news and updates. And if you like

what you see, please donate to support our work creating more ways to help build a healthier future for

kids.

Heating Assistance The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is a federally-funded program designed to assist low income families meet the cost of home heating by providing a one-time payment to the heating utility. Applications will be accepted from November 1- April 30 and will need to be completed at the appropropriate outreach office. If you have any questions please contact Rachael Hach at rhach@starmont.k12.ia.us or 563.933.2218. Clayton County Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation – Family Services Clayton Co. 563-245-2452 Website: http://www.neicac.org/ Fayette County Fayette County – Oelwein Office (LIHEAP and Weatherization information) Phone: 319-283-2510 Website: http://www.neicac.org/

Fayette County – West Union Office (LIHEAP and Weatherization information) Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation – Family Services Courthouse Phone: 641-394-2007 Website: http://www.neicac.org/ Delaware County Hawkeye Area Community Action Program (HACAP) 721 South 5th Street, Suite B Phone: 563-927-4629 Website: https://www.hacap.org/ Buchanan County Buchanan County (LIHEAP and Weatherization information) Operation Threshold Phone: 319-334-6081 Website: http://www.operationthreshold.org/

These students received acceptance letters into Starmont’s National Honor Society.

They will be inducted on November 17th at Starmont High School. Madelyn Otdoerfer, Maria Gruman, Autumn Keppler, Mia Vaske, Sydney Baumgartner, and Sam Kremer.

Starmont’s Dollars for Scholars Chapter is looking for committed volunteers to join our committee. If you would like to share your time and

talent to help give Starmont Seniors an added boost to her/his educational plans, call Abbie Thompson (563.933.2213) or Rachael Hach (563-933-2218) to find out when the next Starmont Dollars for Scholars Board meeting will be held.

Parents: COVID 19 Decisions As I stated above, this has been a very different year; but I want to thank parents and students for corroborating with all of the new rules and policies given to us by the Iowa Health Department, the CDC, and School Board. With this letter, I would like to update everyone with the new rules that were released on September 29, 2020. The CDC, along with Iowa Health, have deemed gaiters and face shields as non-relevant in their ability to help or stop the spread of COVID 19. So, we will make final determination on this guidance later this week. In the meantime, the Starmont School Board determined that we will be abiding by the following rules: 1. Indoor activities (sports/fine arts) are highly encouraged to wear masks and maintain six-feet distance when in attendance. 2. Parent/Teacher Conferences will be face-to-face (masks required) or through Zoom meetings. 3. Concerts/plays will be either online or virtual until further notice. 4. Jr. Stars can practice and use facilities as long as they are helping clean up after themselves. We are still determining whether or not we allow tournaments or other schools to attend. 5. The Community Weight Room is now open. All rules must apply (masks, cleaning, and six-feet distance). 6. Field trips are still not allowed unless they are only with district students and we are not meeting with other out-of-district people or students. (Local field trips only) 7. Other (if you have any questions, please call Troy Heller at 563-933-4598).

Free Meals

Great news for our district’s families. The Department of Education and Nutrition has told each Iowa School District that meals (breakfast and lunch) will be free until the end of the 2020-2021 school year. This should really help families with this monthly expense. Activity Calendar

If your son or daughter is a participant in any type of PK-12 Activity in our district such as: Conferences, Fine Arts Activities, Sports Activities, Elementary Meetings, or MS/HS Meetings, I would highly suggest that you sign up for our Activity Calendar that you can find on the main screen of our school’s website. This system will allow you to see when the activity is taking place, where the activity is taking place, maps to find locations, cancellations in real time, and makeup dates. This is a great system that allows you to receive messages from the school, which are sent to your phone (by text) or by email. If you have questions, please call Cristen at 563-933-4598. With the above information established, another part of the legislation is that all students, sixth grade through seniors and their families, must have their email and cell phone recorded with our district in our Emergency Management System. The system we have chosen is called Iowa Alerts. This will allow schools to get information out as quickly as possible to all of those who are in need of any type of emergency information or critical information that the school needs to share. Some of you may have signed up this year or some of you may have signed up in the past. We ask that you review to make sure we have your correct contact information. Call Cristen at 563-933-4598 Instructional Support Levy The Starmont School Board will be participating in an election on March 2, 2021. This vote will be about the school district’s Instructional Support Levy. The last time the district voted for the Instructional Support Levy was 2015. It was passed, as it does in most districts. This Levy brings in $337,000 each year to help with curriculum and other school supplies. This is a very important Levy for our district, and the School Board and staff will be very appreciative if our community members of Lamont, Arlington, and Strawberry Point would support their students with voting to approve this Levy with a fifty percent plus one vote.

Superintendent Search In the near future, the Starmont School Board, along with the West Central School Board, will share a new Superintendent for the 2021-2022 school year. The two Boards have hired McPherson & Jacobson as their consultant firm to help with the superintendent search. The firm has put the following dates together as we are move forward in this important search for Starmont. October 19 (talking with both Boards) October 26 (initial advertisement) November 19 (meeting with stakeholders) January 18, 19, and 20, 2021 (holding interviews) The reason I’m updating you in this capacity is that the Starmont District is seeking volunteers to help with this search. If you are interested, please contact Robyn Hosch at 563-933-4598. We are looking for students, staff, and community members/parents. Budget On a bright note, it appears that we have spearheaded a wonderful budget experience this past year. Even though we have lost students for a few years, we have managed to reduce expenses well enough to put us in a decent position with our overall district budget. So, with the possibility of future enrollment declines, we will continue to purchase items that help our students succeed in the 21st century; and we will review each expense with a critical eye. Please contact the school with any questions you may have. We will be glad to help. Troy L. Heller Shared Superintendent (Starmont/Tripoli)

Secondary PBIS Celebration PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support) is an evidence-based three-tiered framework for helping schools create a positive climate in which every student can learn and grow academically, socially, and emotionally. Staff members recognize positive student behavior in our school. The students receive a “STAR TICKET” for positive behavior and names are drawn weekly. Students' names drawn are considered VIPS and can go to lunch five minutes early. This being our second year of PBIS, the secondary PBIS committee coordinated a celebration to recognize students making a positive difference in our school. We celebrated on October 26th. The activities students participated in were, board games, computer time, volleyball, Mat Ball, a movie, dancing, Breakout box, and a cook-off. Thank you to the students who participated and the staff that created the activities. Fun was had by all. “Go Stars.”

October 25, 2020 Prom meeting was called to order at 6:00. 11 adults and students attended the meeting via zoom. We started the meeting voting for a president (Bev Keppler) vice president (Jennifer Schuhmacher), secretary/treasurer (Terra Corbin) Prom is tentatively set for April 24, 2021. UNI has not decided if they are going to open the wellness center for outside parties at this time. Once we receive confirmation, we will continue with our prom plans. Last year’s theme was Aloha and it was decided during the meeting to keep this theme since items have already been purchased. Discussion was held about the current fund raisers the juniors will be completing this year. The Cake Rolls by Joyful Traditions has already been completed with a net of $3606.00. 33 out of 52 juniors sold cake rolls or provided a donation to their graduation/prom fund. This fund raiser is a 50% profit for the students. Monies collected will go to graduation expenses. If any money is left remaining, the money is used for prom expenses. The next fundraiser will be Fan Apparel which will start on October 29 through November 5. The juniors will not have to do anything for this fundraiser…it is handle from within the committee. January 6-January 20: The junior will kick off the cookie dough sales, which is also a 50% profit. We are asking each junior to sell 10 boxes. We are hoping we will be able to do a bake sale during the Fish Fry sometime this spring. We are also hoping to be able to host an elementary glow stick dance. It was decided that the letters mailed to the community business asking for donations will not take place this year since we were unable to host prom last year. Instead, we will send out thank yous for their continued support. Finally, a rough draft of activities for April 24, 2020

5:30 p.m.-6:30 Grand March ~Students will be sent a google form to fill out. The

students need to supply their song of choice for the grand march, their guest name,

and their shirt size.

7-8: Meal at the Arlington Community Center

8-11 p.m. Dance at the Arlington Community Center

11:00-Traveling to Starmont to change into comfy clothes. Tuxes and dresses will be

left at the school for pickup after we return from UNI

11:30-12:15 Traveling to UNI…transportation provided by Windstar

12:15-4:30: Pizza, drinks, and snacks provided for students by post prom committee

12:15-3:00 Swimming Pool, Racquet Ball Courts, Rock Wall, BB Courts at UNI

3:00-4:00 Hypnotist: Cost is $1500.00.

4:00-5:00 Travel back to Starmont… transportation provided by Windstar

All plans as this point are very tentative due to the nature of Covid. Meeting was concluded at

6:25. Our next meeting will be held on January 10, 2021 @ 6 possibly in Hamlett’s room or

possibly Via Zoom.

MORE

Starmont CSD

3202 40th

Street

Arlington, IA 50606

Starmont Equity Statement The Starmont Community School District does not intentionally discriminate on the basis of sex, race and color, national origin, religion and creed, age, marital/parental status, sexual orientation, gender identity, physical attributes, physical or mental ability or disability, ancestry, political party

preference, political belief, or socioeconomic status or familial status in its educational programs, activities, or employment practices, or as otherwise prohibited by statute or regulation. If you believe such discrimination has occurred and want to receive more information about the grievance

procedure, please contact the Superintendent/Equity Coordinator at 3202 40th Street, Arlington, Iowa 50606 or call (563) 933-4598.