Tik Tok Challenges

 Dear Parents,

Social Media can be a tremendous tool for students and adults.  The positives include increased opportunities for communication and an increased ability to remain in contact with old friends!  Unfortunately, there is another side of social media.   The other side is often not positive and can certainly have a negative impact on our school environment.  In fact, the negative posts and communication can lead to bullying, sharing false information, and inappropriate activities.

Currently, our students who have access to Tik Tok are being presented with a year’s worth of challenges.  These challenges are not positive and  will certainly have a negative impact on students, staff, and learning environment if acted upon.

Tik Tok challenge includes the following monthly actions:

September – Vandalize school bathrooms

October – Hit a staff member

November – Kiss your friend’s girlfriend at school

December – Deck the Halls and show your b**** (show your private body parts)

January – Jab a breast (aggressive behavior towards females)

February – Vandalize  school signs

March – Vandalize the school’s courtyard or cafeteria

April – Grab some eggs (stealing challenge)

May – Ditch Day (skip school)

June – Flip out in the school office

July – Spray paint a neighbor’s fence

At this time, we ask that you speak with your students about the impact of social media to gain an understanding of their knowledge of the challenges, discourage participation, and to promote the positive aspects that social media.

While we hope that our students will not elect to participate in these activities, we have been made aware of instances beginning in schools across the state.  Please know that if events do occur our handbook will be followed and potential consequences could include detentions, suspensions, expulsion, and or potential legal implications.

We have great things occurring in our buildings and we certainly want to highlight these activities and continue to develop a system built on Kindness, Compassion, and Pride in our school community!

Thank you for your assistance,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Community Meetings

 AHSTW Community School District

Topic:  Community Meetings

Recently, AHSTW Community School District approved two resolutions to renovate and build additions to our current K-12 facility.  As we approach the November 2, 2021 election date and referendum vote, we will be hosting community meetings to share information on each resolution.  

We hope that you will be able to visit with us at one of the following meetings:

Community	Date	Time	Location
Avoca	Monday, September 27, 2021	5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	AHSTW HS Cafeteria
Walnut	Thursday, September 30, 2021	7:00 PM – 8:30 PM	Walnut Community Center
Shelby	Wednesday, October 6, 2021	7:00 PM – 8:30 PM	Shelby Community Center
Tennant	Tuesday, October 12, 2021	7:00 PM	Tennant City Council Mtg.
Avoca	Thursday, October 14, 2021	5:30 PM – 7:00 PM	AHSTW HS Cafeteria
Hancock	Tuesday, October 19, 2021	7:00 PM – 8:30 PM	Hancock City Hall

In addition to our community events, we encourage you to continue to learn more about the projects by visiting our district’s website at:  www.ahstwschools.org.  Information on the web-page will include, but not be limited to, our building’s history, infrastructure needs, and financial aspects of the projects.  [Website is currently being developed]

We hope you are able to participate in our community events!

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

COVID Update

Hello Parents,

I hope this letter finds everyone doing well. Once again, we have started our year working to navigate the challenges that COVID-19 has presented, both in the form of illness and guidelines.  Each has provided opportunities to review our mitigation efforts and policies all while complying with Iowa legislation.  We certainly appreciate your patience as we move through this interesting time.

As many of you know both the guidelines and legislation are currently in a state of fluidity due the ruling of a Federal Court Judge on Monday, September 13.  This ruling placed a temporary stay on legislation and does provide schools with the opportunity to once again implement a face covering requirement as a mitigation effort.  Please know that we are monitoring the decision and working to identify what impact this ruling will have on Iowa school districts.

We will continue follow the all updates through both the court and legislative actions, but we do not want to react in a way that will cause confusion for staff, students, and families.  So, at this time we will maintain our current practice of optional use of face coverings during school and school events.  Please know that we do recommend the use of face coverings, especially if you have been exposed to the virus and/or when social distancing is not possible.  We will continue to be supportive of each person’s choice to wear face coverings, as well, as each family's comfort level is different at this time.

We will continue to discuss our plans at all levels, and future communications will be provided in a timely manner as circumstances change.  Please feel free to call with any questions you may have regarding this ever-changing environment.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Petitions on School Improvement Ballot Questions

Hello everyone,

Over recent months our school district in conjunction with SitelogIQ has completed a review of the condition of our facility assets in all areas, including all physical, educational, and mechanical needs.  The review led to opportunities for community engagement through virtual meetings, due to COVID-19, and community surveys over the past school year.  The collection of information and feedback greatly assisted in prioritizing potential projects and overall facility improvements.

To assist in our efforts to continually provide high quality facilities to our students  and communities and address our prioritized needs, the AHSTW Community School District and AHSTW Board of Education have recently approved the development of two petitions.  The petitions were designed to identify if our community feels that members should consider the completion of renovations and additions to our facility to alleviate the identified needs through ballot questions.

The following statements share the language open for consideration on the two petitions.

Petition #1:  Remodel, Repair, Improve the existing K-12 facilities, along with additions.

Shall the Board of Directors of the AHSTW Community School District in the Counties of Cass, Harrison, Pottawattamie, and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $12,900,000 to provide funds to remodel, repair, and improve the existing K-12 facilities; and to build, furnish, and equip additions to and renovations of learning environments, including related site improvements?

Petition #2:  Creation of an Auditorium addition to AHSTW Community Schools.

Shall the Board of Directors of the AHSTW Community School District in the Counties of Cass, Harrison, Pottawattamie, and Shelby, State of Iowa, be authorized to contract indebtedness and issue General Obligation Bonds in an amount not to exceed $6,750,000 to provide funds to build, furnish, and equip a new Auditorium at the existing K-12 facilities?

In the next months, petitions will be circulating throughout our communities to collect signatures.  The signatures do not indicate whether the signer is in support of the projects or not, but only indicates that the signer believes the questions should be considered on an upcoming election ballot, November 2021.

In the future, AHSTW Community School District will hold informational events and share fliers to assist you in your understanding of the areas within our building in need of repair and improvement.  The following shared topics are a section of areas in need:

1. Staff members [Title I and Special Education] are sharing classrooms. 
2. Elementary art has no classroom and has been visiting general education classrooms each day, as the room initially developed for elementary art is currently utilized to support a third-grade classroom.
3. Elementary music relocated from an original location to accommodate for the need of early childhood classrooms.
4. Air quality in our high school can  be improved as we have multiple systems operating past life expectancy.
5. Lighting fixtures can be improved to create more efficiencies and improved lighting in our classrooms.
6. Renovations to classrooms would create spaces with more flexibility and new fixtures.
7. Additions to our high school would create new classrooms in this area and allow for the relocation of classrooms thus creating space on the primary and lower intermediate sections of our building.

If at any time you have questions regarding our facility and facility review, I encourage you to reach out to myself, Darin Jones, or members of the AHSTW Community School District Board of Directors.  We would enjoy talking with you on this topic and developing your understanding.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

Email: darin.jones@ahstwschools.org

Phone:  712-343-6364

Planning for Tomorrow!

Planning for Tomorrow While Building Today!

AHSTW Community School District has done a terrific job of providing quality facilities for the students of our communities.  This is evident through the construction of the elementary addition in 2009 and most recently the construction of the intermediate classrooms on the north end of the building.  The facilities certainly help provide a positive learning environment for our students each day!

Currently, exciting conversations continue to take place in relationship to potential future projects at AHSTW Community School District, more specifically in regards to renovations and additions to areas within our high school, overall energy efficiencies, and air quality.  These conversations began last year between the AHSTW Community School District Facilities Committee, staff, and SitelogIQ.  All conversations provided great insight into the needs within our building and quickly led to conversations with each of our communities.  

Unfortunately, those conversations were required to be held virtually.  Even though they were held via Zoom, each provided insight into the thoughts of our participants.  The information collected, summarized, and shared with the school board as a data point to assist them in their future decisions.

More recently, our facilities committee has met again to further discuss needs and ideas around the overall scope of our projects.  Again, this information was very positive and provided yet another data point for consideration.  On Monday, April 12, 2021, the AHSTW Community School Board met to collaborate during a workshop designed to review the status of our building and consider all of the data points provided by various groups.  All information most certainly will assist us and SitelogIQ in a further refinement of the scope of future projects.

At this time, we have scheduled a second board workshop for April 28, 2021.  This workshop will again include conversations with SitelogIQ to assist us in further evaluating and refining future plans.  After that meeting I will summarize the events and share on the discussion points with everyone through my blog and email.

Please know that I enjoy talking about the future of AHSTW and the potential of our projects.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions as I will help you find your answers.  I would enjoy meeting with groups of community members or organizations to share on this topic, as well.  So, I would appreciate any invitation to attend a meeting or coffee to share with you on this topic.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW & WIC Conference Attendance Guidelines

Hello AHSTW Families,

Governor Reynolds' Public Health Proclamation on December 16, 2020 provided new opportunities for attendance at junior high and high school activities, effective Thursday, Dec. 17 at 12:01 a.m. through at 11:59 p.m. on January 8, 2021.

At this time AHSTW Community School District will implement the following procedures to promote attendance of immediate family members at high school events.

1. Each athlete has been provided with two WIC Conference COVID passes.  
1. COVID-19 passes will continue to be required at the gate for family admission.
2. Prior to this point and time, these passes allowed only TWO spectators per participant per game to attend.
3. Beginning on Saturday, December 19, 2020, the WIC passes will allow all family members living in the home with the participant to attend all AHSTW Home Events
4. Prior to Christmas Break, WIC Conference Schools may differ in attendance procedures. 
1. Missouri Valley will maintain the 2 spectator per participant per game rule for Friday, December 18, 2020.
2. If you are a two-household family and are in need of additional COVID-19 passes, please contact the school and we will help you obtain the additional passes.
3. Additional family members must arrive with the pass or ticket holders to be admitted.
4. ALL WIC passes are non-transferable between athletes and must be used only by family members who reside in the same household as the participant.
5. Our attendance procedures regarding arrival and leave times remain unchanged.
6. In order to help in ensure accurate numbers, we will be asking all players to report the number of household members.  This information will be kept at the entrance to each event and admission will continue as it has in the recent past. 

More recently the Iowa High School Athletic Association and the Iowa High School Girl’s Athletic Union has helped to clarify the possibilities and restrictions for all school sponsored events.  Please take time to review the following questions and answers to assist in your understanding.  

Q.  What is meant by household?
A.  A household includes those people who live/reside under the same roof as the player/participant/performer/coach, etc.

Q.  Would a student who is living in two households due to a divorce or similar situation be allowed to have both households attend?
A.  Yes, the student who is living in two homes would be allowed to have tickets for members of both households.

Q.  Can a district issue additional tickets to provide for grandparents or others who previously were approved as one of the two tickets for a student?
A.  Districts are only allowed to provide tickets to the members of the household that the athlete, performer, etc. reside under the same roof with OR two tickets.  Not both for one athlete.

Q.  Do schools have to account for the individuals in the household and track names for the tickets?
A. How each district manages the ticketing process is local control and host schools for athletic events are charged with following the guidance.  The intent of allowing members of the household is to increase the number of spectators tied to one individual without substantially increasing the risk of spreading the virus.  Two tickets did not cover entire families, nor provide options for divorce situations.

Q.  Do the tickets for coaches also include members of his/her household?
A.  The two tickets that were previously allowed in all categories-athletes, performers, band members, cheerleaders, dance teams members, coaches, have now been expanded to include all members of the household for that individual. 

Q.  Do members of the households have to wear masks and social distance?
A.  Members of the same household may sit together, but must social distance from other households.  Masks are still required.  Nothing in the proclamation changed those requirements.

 Q.  Are schools/conferences required to extend the number of spectators to include members of the household?
A.  If schools/conferences wish to continue with the two-spectator limit, they may do so as a school/conference.

Q.  Do spectators still need to leave after their child has competed, performed, etc.?
A.  Yes. The latest proclamation does not change that requirement.

Q.  If a family member is away at college and returns for break, is he/she allowed to attend as part of the household?
A.  Yes, as long as the college student has his/her primary residence (permanent address) as the family household.

Please know that the guidance regarding attendance at school events is fluid and may be altered at the end of the Governor’s new proclamation.  Please contact us with any questions you may have.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones

Superintendent

AHSTW Community School District

AHSTW Learning Models & Attendance

 AHSTW Learning Model Mid-Year Updates

School districts across the state of Iowa have been very fortunate this year to be able share their classrooms in a virtual manner.  This certainly has helped students stay up-to-date while ill or quarantined due to the COVID-19 virus, overall health concerns, or due to parental choice.  We are excited that both students have been able to participate and stay up-to-date on their learning.
At this time our current distance learning options will remain an option through at least the completion of the 2020-2021 school year.  With that in mind, we want to promote the continued health and well-being of all children and would like to review scenarios associated with COVID-19 or other illness that may become a concern through the winter months.

Health Scenarios and Associated Options:

Scenario #1:  Students wake up ill and are unable to attend school. [Illness during a normal year]

• Attending remotely is not an option during normal sick days, as distance learning requires pre-approval and time for preparation.

• We also want to allow time for your student to recover and is then healthy enough to return as soon as possible.

• Participation in after-school activities during a regular sick day are not allowed.  Attending virtually would not provide an opportunity to do so, as the students regular attendance model is in-person learning.

Scenario #2:  Illness due to COVID-19 or Quarantine

• Again, we want students to rest and recover when ill.  Please know there is no expectation for participation when a student is showing signs and symptoms of COVID-19.  However, we certainly want and expect students to participate in our virtual classes, if a student is only required to quarantine or has recovered from symptoms and remain in isolation for the duration of the 14 or 10-day period of time.

• Regular homework policies will be in place if the absence is due to illness.

• Completion dates will follow classroom expectations if absences are due to quarantine.

• We ask you to please contact the AHSTW Schools if your exposure has come from outside of school.  Planning for on-line attendance will begin upon the initial contact.

• AHSTW Schools will be in contact with you on how to begin participation in our on-line learning model if exposure and tracing started through school.

• Students are expected to participate in classes as soon as possible.  Please know that this could take up to 2 days for preparation and ensuring all the appropriate supports are in place for the on-line setting to begin.

Scenario #3: Virtual Learning

• Families may also request to transition to our virtual model for learning.  This change in programming is a long-term attendance request due to health concerns and or concerns with contracting the virus while thinking of the safety of other family members.

• Participation in our full virtual learning model requires approval from District Administration and Mr. Darin Jones.  

• All expectations regarding attendance and work completion are the same as if your student would be participating in-person.

We hope this helps you in your planning for second semester and overall understanding of the varied options and processes due to general illness or COVID-19.  Please feel free to contact AHSTW Administration, if you would like to discuss any of the above options.

Respectfully,

Mr. Darin Jones
Superintendent
AHSTW Community School District.