Elementary News
Hello from North Butler Elementary School,
As we count down the days to the start of school, I want to wish you a fun and safe few more days of summer, and update you on some back to school information from North Butler Elementary.
To facilitate the transition back to school family conferences for students in preschool through grade six will be offered on Monday, August 20th. This is a time for students and families to meet teachers, visit classrooms, find lockers, and bring in school supplies. Individual conference times for students in morning preschool through grade six, will be offered from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Individual conference times for students in M/TH or T/F preschool will be offered from 8:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Conference sign-up will be made available through a link on the school website or by contacting the elementary office (319-267-2212).
Classes for K-6 students will begin Thursday, August 23rd. To commemorate this, a back to school flag raising ceremony will be held at 8:30 AM that day around the North Butler Elementary flag pole. (In the event of rain, the celebration will move to the gym.) Parents and community members are invited to attend. Coffee and doughnuts will be available for guests.
Preschool will begin Monday, August 27th or Tuesday, August 28th, depending on children’s class assignments. During the week of August 20th, preschool teachers, Mrs. Roxanne Landers and Mrs. Heather Maakestad, will conduct home visits. This experience will offer children a chance to meet their teacher in their home setting. Meanwhile, parents and teachers will have an opportunity to meet, talk and collaborate for the benefit of the child. Sign-up for home visits will be available during back to school conferences on August 20th or by contacting the elementary office.
New Elementary Staff
- North Butler welcomes Amanda Eggerichs. She will be teaching sixth grade and coaching junior high girls basketball. She previously served as a 4th and 5th grade teacher for the Allamakee Community School District at Waterville Elementary School in Waterville, Iowa.
- Melissa Vorhes will be teaching first grade. Mrs. Vorhes and her husband Ray farm near Charles City. Their children Drew, Jake, and Aubrey attend North Butler Elementary.
- Jamie Osterbuhr, will move from teaching sixth grade teacher to teaching kindergarten. She’ll also serve as assistant high school girls volleyball coach.
- Miss Steere will transfer from teaching fourth grade to third grade.
- Melissa Lindaman will move from teaching third grade into an instructional coach position. She will work one-on-one and in small groups with teachers. Together, they will focus on practical strategies for engaging students and improving their learning.
- Heather Maakestad will continue to teach morning preschool and will work as an At Risk teacher in the afternoons.
In 2018-2019 North Butler Elementary’s school improvement efforts will emphasize science and literacy learning. North Butler will also begin implementing PBIS (Positive Behavior Intervention and Supports) and the Olweus Bullying Prevention Program. This means staff and students will do things “The Bearcat Way” by following four expectations - Be Kind, Be Respectful, Be Responsible, and Be Safe.
NBE School Hours
K-6: 8:20 a.m. - 3:05 p.m. (Wed. 8:20 a.m. - 2:05 p.m.)
Morning Four-year-old Preschool: 8:00 a.m. - noon (M-F)
Full Day Four-year-old Preschool: 8:00 a.m. - 3:05 p.m M/Th or T/F
Breakfast is available from 7:45 a.m.- 8:15 a.m. daily
Daily Schedule
7:45 AM Students enter building for breakfast or walk and talk. (*There is no supervision before 7:45 AM)
7:45 AM - 8:15 AM Breakfast
8:20 AM Tardy bell rings
11:00 AM -12:30 PM Lunch is served- classroom times vary.
3:00 PM Greene bus students dismissed
3:10 PM Students being picked up dismissed
3:15 PM Walkers dismissed
3:20 PM Allison bus students dismissed
Six Day Cycle
Students in Transitional Kindergarten through grade six operate on a six-day cycle instead of a Monday through Friday schedule. Our days are known as Day 1, Day 2,… Day 6. Through this system, whenever days of school are cancelled because of inclement weather, staff in-service, or holidays, the students do not miss their special subjects because the number days move to the next day school is in session.
I look forward to our partnership in ensuring a productive and fun educational experience for our students. My door is always open and I welcome your input. Thanks for your help in making it great to be a bearcat!
Respectfully,
Laura Tracy
North Butler Elementary Principal