From the Virtual Desk of Schuba...
Dear Izzi B. Family and Friends,
I hope you are all well and enjoying the warmer weather this week. Our first 7 p.m. AND virtual Council Meeting was a great success with close to 50 attendees. During the meeting, we featured behind-the-scenes work being done by IBCS teachers, staff and admin to reach our students and community remotely. As parents, you deserve an extra special shout-out for all you're doing to provide for your children, to keep them safe and healthy, and thriving academically. We thank you for your on-going dedication.
The at this time, DPS is planning to move forward with in-person learning in the fall, but health and safety information is changing daily. School districts across the state face difficult budget deficits and lack of tax revenue. As a result, the 20/21 school-year budget could be bleak. Thankfully, Izzi B. is incredibly fortunate to have raised an estimated $140,000 for next year.
Like most of you, I am buried in Zoom meetings followed by Zoom meetings, and keeping up with collaborating with all of you. I want to recognize IBCS Dean of Operations, Tabetha Ross, and our amazing paras who are partnering with our talented classroom and specials teachers to execute upon high-caliber learning. If I had to guess, our paras and specials teachers likely don’t miss lunch and recess duty.
Please continue to email, text and send me videos of your children. Daily announcements have allowed me to re-engage with the children, which is what I miss the most.
Thanks for all you do,
Schuba
Isabella Bird Community School Administration
For questions or conversation, reach out to Schuba (lisa_schuba@dpsk12.org) or Caleb (caleb_melamed@dpsk12.org).
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A Note from IBCS School Nurse, Gay Lynn Olsen...
To parents of Izzi B. children with medication at school—
We hope you are doing as well as can be expected during these uncertain times. A number of you have asked about how to retrieve your child’s medications from the school's health office. DPS Nursing Services (in collaboration with the health department) has developed a plan to be used at all schools.
We request you make an appointment to pick-up your child's medication and to maintain social-distancing. Pick-up appointments are between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Friday, May 1. Link to sign-up: www.signupgenius.com/go/20f044ba8af22a6ff2-isabella. Please contact Tina Lin, IBCS parent and health technician para, with any scheduling questions.
Please drive into the kiss-and-go lane in front of the school and remain in your car with the passenger-side window rolled down; medication(s) will be placed in your car via this window. You’ll need to be prepared to show your ID.
To protect the health of everyone, parents, staff and/or students who are ill at the time of pick-up, are not to come to school. Instead, email us for an alternative pick-up plan. If you cannot come on May 1, and wish to send another adult on your behalf, please send an email to me providing your consent for this person to pick up.
Any medications not picked up by May 1 (or other arrangements made by that date) will be disposed of.
If you cannot make arrangements for May 1, or you have questions or concerns, please email me at Gay_Olsen@dpsk12.org.
Gay Lynn Olsen
School Nurse, Isabella Bird Community School
Remote Learning Spirit Week Continues
Virtual Spirit Week continues to be a great success. With two days of themes remaining, we hope your students will join in on the fun.
Thursday, April 30 – Dress to Impress Day (since we're all most likely wearing lounge clothes and because pajamas just don't have the same meaning)
Friday, May 1 – Izzi B. Spirit Day
Izzi B. Council Budget Seeking Input on '20-'21
Spring is typically the season when our community comes together to decide how Council dollars could best be spent for next school year. While Council Board is currently working on drafts and proposals for next year's budget, allocation of budget money is delayed until we can gather in person again. In the meantime, Council Board invites you to share your ideas and feedback for allocation of variable funds via https://forms.gle/E41njAfehqhGggq6A. Additional information is available through a School Deets post entitled, Izzi B Council Budget - seeking input on '20-'21. Thank you in advance for your time and attention to this important IBCS Council process impacting our entire school. For questions, please contact IBCS Parent and Council Treasurer, Ashley Williams.
April Council Meeting Zoom Replay, Notes
Many thanks to the nearly 50 (!) IBCS Community members who attended the April 23 Council Meeting. If you were unable to attend, please consider watching the replay (16:10 - 21:00 there is no content as meeting participants were in breakout sessions), or reviewing meeting slides and notes. Another Council Meeting is planned for Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m. As a reminder, Council Meeting notes are archived at www.ibcscouncil.org > communications > meetings.
What's Going on with...
Denver Health School-based Health Centers
Denver Health School-based Health Centers continues to provide care for all students who need it during this difficult time. For more detailed information, please review the organization's flyer.
School Deets Search, Prioritizing Posts
There's no shortage of School Deets messages these days. One of the key features of Deets is its ability to translate into languages other than English, making school-to-home communication a reality. To make more efficient use of Deets, try using the app as much as possible (as compared to the Deets email push). From within the app, you can search your groups for specific messages by using the filter option (the filter resembles a sliding scale graphic). For quick access to important Deets sent by classroom teachers, leadership, etc., find the message within your School Deets' app feed and select the heart in the bottom right. To refer back to this post, click on the filter symbol at the top right of the feed and select 'Favorite Posts.' For questions related to School Deets, please send an email to ibcscommunications@gmail.com.
Noteworthy Stats, Virtual Library Interactions
Earlier this month, DPS Library Services released usage statistics capturing the number of ebooks and audiobooks checked out by each school throughout the District. Isabella Bird had some AMAZINGLY HIGH numbers on this listing with more than 6,300 ebooks and audiobooks checked out from Overdrive/Sora platform this year! This is an average of 14 books per student at Izzi B. In comparison, other neighborhood schools averaged just 5 books (and less) per student. For questions about digital book access, contact IBCS Librarian, Andrea Rothstein. Encourage your student(s) to visit Andrea's virtual classroom during the afternoon for new content daily.
Save the Date...
Dine & Donate: Cinco de Mayo
Everything is a bit different these days, so why not order your favorite Cinco De Mayo fares from Eastbridge Town Center's Cattivella (10195 E. 29th Dr., Ste 110)? For one night only, the restaurant is hosting a Dine & Donate deal for IBCS families on Tuesday, May 5, and includes chips, guacamole, salsa taqueria, queso, slow rotisserie prime rib carne asada, chicken fajitas, tortillas, frijoles charro, cilantro, onions and whole roasted jalapenos plus caramel-stuffed churros for dessert. All this for $80; will feed up to four people. Signature cocktails are also available for purchase. Call 303-645-3779 to preorder and plan to pick up between 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. For questions, contact IBCS Parent and Fundraising Co-Chair, Tricia Houston.
Mark Your Calendars...
Tuesday, May 5, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m.: Dine & Donate: Cattivella
Thursday, May 7, 9-10 a.m.: Coffee & Conversation
Friday, May 8, All Day: No School (Professional Development Day)
Thursday, May 21, 7 p.m.: Council Meeting
Monday, May 25, All Day: No School (Memorial Day)
Friday, May 29, 8-11:30 a.m.: Last Day of School