The Knight Times North Cedar Community School

District

INSIDE THIS ISSUE Superintendent’s Message…1 Message from Principal Horman…2 Knightcast Broadcasting Schedule….2 Message from Principal Bendixen..3 MAP Testing Sheet…4 Mr. Dohmen’s Message Continued …5 December Activities & Lunch Calendar….6 Holiday Meals Info…7

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Knight Contact Information

Mark Dohmen Superintendent mdohmen@north-cedarstu.org (563) 942-3358 Mary Bendixen Jr/Sr High Principal mbendixen@north-cedarstu.org (563) 452-3179 Jennifer Horman Elementary Principal jhorman@north-cedarstu.org (563) 432-6933 or (563)941-5383

December 2019 Issue Count Day: What it means to North Cedar

October 1 is an important day in the annual cycle of Iowa public schools. October 1 is our official student count day, and that means every public school district in Iowa is taking a count of students enrolled in their schools. We are required to take this count today, and then to certify our enrollment with the Iowa Department of Education October 15.

The reason October 1 is so important is because Iowa public school funding is driven by a per pupil funding formula. In other words, we build our annual budget one student at a time. Our budget for the 2019-2020 school year is based on the enrollment we certified last fall, October 15, 2018. Our Served Enrollment last October was 774.33. The served enrollment is a combination of our students who live in the North Cedar Community School District boundary and attend one of our schools, open enrolled and tuition-in students attending one of our schools, and dual-enrolled homeschool students. As we take our count this year, we are establishing the Served Enrollment number that will generate our budget for the 2020-2021 school year. When the time comes for our board to approve the 2020-2021 budget, we are required by Iowa Code to multiply our enrollment by $6911.00. That $6911.00 is the Iowa Per Pupil District Cost, and the Iowa Legislature generates it annually. The table below shows how the Iowa Per Pupil District Cost has changed over the past 6 years.

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Message from Principal Horman

November has flown by and we will soon be preparing for the holiday concerts and the community holiday meal. Below is a list of dates and times for these events at the elementary level. We welcome the community to all of these events. The elementary teachers and staff spent time during our November professional development continuing their work in literacy and math. We also had several support staff attend an afternoon training connected to the work they do daily with students in our buildings.

As a part of PBIS, each month our students meet in their “Knight Pride” groups to complete activities together. This month the students will be getting together to discuss what they are thankful for. They will then complete a STEM focused “turkey hideout” activity and finish their time together enjoying a snack. This Knight Pride time allows students to work together in groups while encouraging students to be respectful to themselves, others, and property.

MECHANICSVILLE Dec. 3 - Matinee @ 2pm, Preschool-3 Concert @ 7 pm Dec. 4 - Holiday Meal (performers TBA) Dec. 5 - 4-6 Concert including bands @ 7 pm LOWDEN Dec. 10 - Matinee @ 2pm, Preschool-3 Concert @ 7 pm Dec. 11 - Holiday Meal (performers TBA) Dec. 12 - 4-6 Concert Including bands @ 7 pm

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Message from Principal Bendixen Greetings to the North Cedar community! Our students have just finished with MAP testing. So this month, I’m sharing information about student achievement at the Jr/Sr High and how we monitor our students’ progress. Next month, I will share a summary of the MAP and ISASP data.

Students in grades 7-11 take the MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) test twice each year and ISASP (Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress) once a year. MAP testing occurs in November and April while ISASP occurs in March. Holly Hosch, school counselor, is in charge of managing the testing and does a great job of organizing the test sessions/materials, and getting information out to the staff prior to testing. Jay Fetzer, Instructional Coach, is in charge of assessment data and does a very nice job of summarizing and sharing this information with our staff.

We have had multiple conversations regarding our test scores and have generated some ideas for improving our students’ scores. We have implemented some things that we believe will have a positive impact on our results….

In order to increase awareness of the importance of MAP testing, we provide a summary of past results to each student prior to testing. Students review this information with their advisors and set goals for the upcoming testing session. An example of the data summary sheet is on the next page. The hours Jay Fetzer devotes to organizing this data and the conversations advisors have with students have been worth the time. Students are making more effort on these tests in order to reach their goals. It’s been fun to hear students and teachers talking about the scores and the progress the kids are making.

This year Mr. Fetzer added another component to this pre-testing preparation. He created a YouTube video that explains MAP testing, the process, and the scores. Here is a link to the video...https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFyNs5yvaKM&feature=youtu.be

Our teachers utilize assessment data to make decisions regarding instruction and course placement. For example, we have added Reading Lab to the Junior High schedule for students with scores that are below grade level expectations. We also review multiple data points when placing students into 9th grade English classes.

In addition to MAP and ISASP scores, we pay very close attention to how students are performing in their classes on a day-to-day basis. We run a D/F list every week and provide additional time/support to students in order to raise their grades. Our use of KnightTime has resulted in a substantial decrease in the number of course failures since we first implemented this practice two years ago.

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Name: ____________________________ Advisor: ___________________ Grade: __________ Below is a record of your scores on the MAP assessment. Students in grades 7-11 take the MAP assessment twice per year; once in the fall and once in the spring. The MAP assessment measures student-learning growth from the start of the year to the end of the year. The assessment is computer adaptive adjusting the difficulty of the questions being asked based on student performance. 2017-2018 Results: Fall 17’ Spring 18’ Difference

Math: ____________ ____________ ____________

Reading: ____________ ____________ ____________

Science: ____________ ____________ ____________ 2018-2019 Results:

Fall 18’ Spring 19’ Difference

Math: ____________ ____________ ____________

Reading: ____________ ____________ ____________

Science: ____________ ____________ ____________ Score Interpretation:

Grade-level scores: These are the expected fall scores for students based on assessment type and grade level.

Grade Math Reading Science 7 222.6 214.4 207.2 8 226.3 217.2 210.3 9 230.3 220.2 N/A 10 230.1 220.4 N/A 11 233.3 222.6 N/A

College Readiness: Student scores at or exceeding the scores below indicate college readiness, which equates to scoring approximately a 22 on the ACT.

Grade Math Reading Science 9 243 229 N/A 10 247 230 N/A

Goal Setting: Using the information about your past performance on MAP and grade-level scores to set a goal for the MAP this fall. Record your goals in the spaces provided and return to your advisor. Math: __________ Reading: __________ Science: __________

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Superintendent Dohmen’s Message

Continued from page 1

In North Cedar, we have experienced a decrease in enrollment over the past five years. If you look closely at the annual enrollment chart above, you will notice our certified enrollment has decreased by 89.6 students over the past five years. The map below captures trends in enrollment changes across Iowa over the past five years.

October 1st is a critical day in our budgeting and planning cycle. Our official Served Enrollment will generate about $5.3 million for the 2020-2021 school year. The North Cedar CSD Board of Education, our Director of Business Services, Carrie Fortin, and I are committed to serving as highly effective stewards of taxpayer money. Part of that work is open and transparent communication. If you have questions regarding school finance, or annual budgeting in North Cedar, don’t hesitate to reach out. I am always happy to talk Iowa school finance.

Iowa superintendents and school boards pay close attention to whether the annual enrollment numbers for their school district are declining, increasing, or holding stable because this trend is directly tied to whether the annual budget will increase, decrease, or remain stable. Over the past 20 to 25 years, most Iowa school districts have experienced declining enrollment trends. In 2000, there were 374 school districts in Iowa. Today, there are 327.

North Cedar Activities & Lunch Calendar December 2019

Mon., Dec. 2: Lunch: Totally Tacos 5pm Fresh/Soph Boys Basketball @ Cal-Wheat HS Tues., Dec. 3: Lunch: Elem.: Chicken Tenders; Jr/Sr High: Salisbury Steaks 2pm Mechanicsville Matinee 4pm JV Girls Basketball vs Northeast @ Jr/Sr High 4pm Fr/So Boys Basketball vs Northeast @ Stanwood 5:15pm JV Boys Basketball vs Northeast @ Jr/Sr High 6:30pm V Girls Basketball vs Northeast @ Jr/Sr High 7pm Mechanicsville’s PreK-3 Concert 8pm V Boys Basketball vs Northeast @ Jr/Sr High Wed., Dec. 4: Lunch: Lowden: Salisbury Steak; McVille: Pit Ham; Jr/Sr High: Chicken Tenders 11am-12:30pm Holiday Dinner @ Mechanicsville Thurs., Dec. 5: Lunch: French Toast Sticks 4:15pm Jr. High Girls Basketball @ Northeast HS 5:30pm Varsity Wrestling @ Northeast HS 7pm Mechanicsville’s 4th-6th & 5/6 Band Concert Fri., Dec. 6: Lunch: Elem.: Grilled Chicken Sandwich; Jr/Sr High: Corn Dog, Cheddarwurst or Hot Dog 4pm JV Girls Basketball vs Monticello @ Jr/Sr High 4pm Fresh/Soph Basketball Monticello @ Stanwood 5:15pm JV Boys Basketball vs Monticello @ Jr/Sr High 6:30pm V Girls Basketball vs Monticello @ Jr/Sr High 8pm V Boys Basketball vs Monticello @ Jr/Sr High Sat., Dec. 7: 10am Varsity Wrestling Tournament @ Tipton MS Mon., Dec. 9: Lunch: Elem.: Corn Dog or Cheddarwurst; Jr/Sr High: Orange Chicken or Pork Egg Roll 4:15pm Jr. High Basketball vs Camanche @ Stanwood 4:15pm Jr. High Wrestling @ Jr/Sr High Tues., Dec. 10: Lunch: Elem.: Spaghetti; Jr/Sr High: Chicken Drumsticks 2pm Lowden Matinee 4pm JV Girls Basketball @ Camanche HS 4:15pm Jr. High vs Cascade @ Stanwood 5:15pm JV Boys Basketball @ Camanche HS 6:30pm V Girls Basketball @ Camanche HS 7pm Lowden’s PreK-3rd Grade Concert 8pm V Boys Basketball @ Camanche HS Wed., Dec. 11: Lunch: Lowden: Pit Ham; McVille: Chicken Nuggets; Jr/Sr High: Personal Pan Pizza 11am-12:30pm Holiday Dinner @ Lowden

Thurs., Dec. 12: Lunch: Beef Nachos 4:15pm Jr. High Basketball @ Bellevue HS 4:15pm Jr. High Wrestling @ Mid-Prairie HS 5:30pm Varsity Wrestling @ West Branch HS Fri., Dec. 13: Lunch: Hamburger 4pm JV Girls Basketball vs Mid-Prairie @ Jr/Sr High 4pm Fresh/Soph Boys Basketball vs Mid-Prairie @ Stanwood 5:15pm JV Boys Basketball vs Mid-Prairie @ Jr/Sr High 6:30pm V Girls Basketball vs Mid-Prairie @ Jr/Sr High 8pm V Boys Basketball vs Mid-Prairie @ Jr/Sr High Sat., Dec. 14: 10am Varsity Wrestling @ Jr/Sr High Mon., Dec. 16: No School--PD Day 4:15pm Jr. High Basketball @ Anamosa Tues., Dec. 17: Lunch: Elem: Personal Pan Pizza; Jr/Sr High: Crispito 4pm JV Girls Basketball @ Cascade HS 4pm Fresh/Soph Boys Basketball @ Cascade HS 5pm JV Boys Basketball @ Cascade HS 6pm V Girls Basketball @ Cascade HS 7pm V Boys Basketball @ Cascade HS Wed., Dec. 18: Lunch: Elem.: Breaded Pork Chop; Jr/Sr High: Pit Ham Thurs., Dec. 19: Lunch: Elem.: Chili or Cheesy Broccoli Soup; Jr/Sr High: Chicken Fajitas 7pm HS Band & Choir Concert @ Jr/Sr High Gym Fri., Dec. 20: Lunch: Chicken Patty 4pm JV Girls Basketball vs Wilton @ Jr/Sr High 4pm Fresh/Soph Boys Basketball vs Wilton @ Stanwood 5:15pm JV Boys Basketball vs Wilton @ Jr/Sr High 6:30pm V Girls Basketball vs Wilton @ Jr/Sr High 8pm V Boys Basketball vs Wilton @ Jr/Sr High Sat., Dec. 21: 9am Varsity Wrestling Tournament @ Regina HS Mon., Dec. 23- Wed., Jan. 1: Winter Break—No School

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NorthCedarCommunityHoliday

We you to come enjoy from

Mechanicsvil le Elementary: Wednesday, December 4th: 11am-12:30pm

Lowden Elementary: Wednesday, December 11th: 11am-

12:30pm

The meal includes: Pit Ham, Mashed Gravy, Bean Casserole, Dinner Roll, Holiday Gelatin, Relish

or crème pie, water, milk, and

Individuals attending are asked to bring any canned good or a non-perishable food item. These items will be donated to

the local food pantries.

If Deb in by November 26th, or Nikki in at

by Friday,

North Cedar Community School District 102 East North St. P.O. Box 247 Stanwood, IA 52337

Postal Customer

The mission of North Cedar Community School District, in partnership with its community and staff, is to ensure a safe and caring environment for each student, providing the essential knowledge, values, skills, and attitudes to create lifelong learners who are responsible, contributing, and productive citizens in a changing and increasingly diverse world. Everything we do at NCCSD is for our students, and we encourage them all to take part in the enrichment and extracurricular opportunities for which they are eligible.

• Athletics for junior high school and senior high school students • Fine arts activities for 5th through 12th graders • Extracurricular clubs and organizations for junior high and senior high school students • Counseling services for all grades

An active, supportive community strengthens NCCSD. Parents and patrons who elect to get involved and support our students and their activities aid the district.

• Athletics Boosters bolster our student athletes and the athletics programs • Encore Club supports our fine arts programs • Knights Community Organization fosters the relationships between parent, student, staff, and community • North Cedar Education Foundation provides financial support to help broaden the district’s education

opportunities