Dear Van Buren Families,
As we settle into the rhythm of a new school year, I wanted to reach out to you not just as your principal, but as a fellow parent and member of our school community who shares your deepest concern: the safety and well-being of our students. I want to assure you that the safety of your children is our top priority. We have completed our first full week, and it has been exciting to see our students back in the classrooms, engaging with their teachers, and reconnecting with their friends.
Recent incidents in our district have reminded us all of the paramount importance of creating a safe and secure learning environment for our students. I want to assure you that the safety of your children is our top priority. In light of recent events, we’ve been reflecting deeply on our safety procedures. While we’ve always had strong measures in place, we’re constantly looking for ways to improve. We’re reviewing and enhancing our protocols, increasing staff training, and working closely with local law enforcement to ensure we’re doing everything possible to protect our students.
I’d like to share some crucial safety reminders and ask for your partnership in reinforcing these at home:
Reminders For Our Students and Parents:
- Walking to and from School: Remind your child to stay on the sidewalk and to use crosswalks when they need to cross the street.
- Drop-off and Pick-up: For those who drive their children to school, please use designated areas for drop-off and pick-up. Don’t park or linger too long in the drop-off/pick-up zones in order to keep the traffic flow organized and moving. Also, remind your kids to look both ways before running out into the street between parked cars.
- Bus Safety: Remind students to remain seated while the bus is moving and to listen to the bus driver’s instructions. All drivers must stop for a school bus when their red lights are flashing, and the extended stop sign is out.
- Classroom and School Building Safety: Students should not leave the classroom without a teacher’s approval. If a student needs to leave school during the day for any reason, they must check in with the office before exiting the building. All exterior doors on our buildings are locked during the school day. Students should not prop open doors or open them for strangers.
- Attendance Matters: Regular attendance is key to your child’s success. Arriving on time and staying for the entire school day, keeps them from missing out on important learning activities. We ask for your partnership in ensuring your student attends school regularly and on time. If your child is absent, please notify the school office as soon as possible.
- See something, say something – If you or your student sees or hears something suspicious, please report it to a school administrator immediately. You can use the Safe+Sound App to report anonymous tips of students in crisis, school violence, self-harm, threatening behavior, and any other forms of misconduct that may jeopardize the safety of students and staff. The reports are monitored 24/7 by trained dispatchers, who then pass the information to school administrators and local law enforcement. The free Safe+Sound app is available in the App Store and Google Play.
- Mental Health: Mental health is a rising concern among today’s youth, with approximately 20% of U.S. children aged 3 to 17 experiencing mental health issues. Ask your child how they are doing and talk about mental health often, not just when you notice red flags or have concerns. The District has partnered with Hazel Health and will be launching a new mental health program in the coming weeks. This program will allow students to access high-quality mental health care from a team of locally licensed therapists without any out-of-pocket cost for families. The licensed therapists are local, speak multiple languages, understand cultural differences, and are experts in the unique needs of children and teens. This new telehealth service will be available inside and outside of school hours on any internet-connected device. More information will be shared in the coming weeks.
Partnering Together for a Successful School Year We believe that a strong partnership with our families is vital to creating a safe and supportive environment for our students. We ask for your help in reinforcing these safety guidelines at home and encouraging your students to follow them. We also encourage you to get involved in our school and in your student’s learning. Together, we can create a safe and positive environment where all of our students can thrive.
Thank you for your continued support. We are looking forward to a fantastic school year ahead! If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.Handbook Highlights:
Attendance Phone: Call 319-558-2377 and select 1 to leave a message
Email: vbattendance@crschools.us.
If your student needs to be picked up early – please call the main office at least 30 minutes before you arrive so we can have your student ready.
Any changes for students need to be made by 3pm – this makes sure we can communicate with each child the new plan and keep our dismissal lists updated. LINK FOR HANDBOOK
VAN BUREN PTA
Our PTA email is: vanburenchargerspta@gmail.com
We now have a Van Buren PTA Facebook Page we would love for you to like!
1st Meeting – September 10th at 6pm in the school library
PPEL Renewal Coming
For 50 years, the community has supported our District’s PPEL (Physical Plant & Equipment Levy). This levy serves as the primary funding source for urgent and ongoing maintenance and repairs of our buildings, and for purchasing needed equipment and vehicles. It ensures our students and staff have a safe and conducive learning environment. To learn more about PPEL and to see what projects it has helped fund, visit our website crschools.us/PPEL
PPEL is up for renewal and will appear as” Public Measure C” on the ballot for a special election on September 10, 2024. During this special election, voters will have the opportunity to renew the existing PPEL funding for another ten years. Renewing this levy will NOT increase property tax rates.
We hope you and your family will head out to the polls on September 10th. To find your polling location, click here and enter your home address. If you have questions about voting registration and to see a sample ballot, click here.
New State Attendance Policy: LINK
We want to share some important changes to our district’s student attendance policy. Due to recent changes to the Iowa Code (SF 2435) concerning student absenteeism, truancy, and compulsory attendance requirements, we are revising our district’s attendance policies to ensure compliance with the new legal requirements. Also, new guidelines for parent notification and intervention procedures have been established. It is important to note that the new legislation does not differentiate between excused and unexcused absences; all absences count toward the total time missed. With these policy changes, our goal is to enhance our procedures, give parents and students clearer guidelines, and reduce school absenteeism.
Please mark your calendars!
This Monday – No School – Labor Day!
Tuesday, September 10th – PTA at 6pm in the IMC
Friday, September 20th – Teacher Work Day – No classes –
Monday – September 30th – Staff Professional Learning Day – No classes –
Fall Picture Day is Tuesday, October 8th!
Looking forward to a great week!!!
Mrs. Evans
Van Buren Principal