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Welcome to Mark Twain Elementary School! Our motto at Twain is "We are a responsible, respectful, caring community." The students and staff at Twain demonstrate these character traits every day. Please stop by our wonderful community to see learning happening every minute of every day.
I am excited to be a part of the Twain family. I encourage you to reach out to me with any questions.
Sincerely,
Jason McGinnis, Principal
(319) 688-1165
mcginnis.jason@iowacityschools.org
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Information from Principal McGinnis
As a principal, it is my goal to make teaching and learning my primary focus. Everyone knows how day-to-day management tasks and outside distractions can take us away from our desired goals. As a result, I am participating in a nationally tested and proven professional development process called SAM. It uses a unique set of tools to help principals focus on activities that are directly connected to improving teaching and learning.
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Learning Model Survey
We continue to evaluate the COVID-19 conditions in our community and specifically within our schools. This includes analyzing our learning models and determining the appropriate model that prioritizes health and safety for our students and staff, while also balancing the educational needs of our students. As we collect data to assist our decision-making process (Johnson County COVID-19 positivity rates, positivity rates within our schools, and guidance from Johnson County Public Health), we would like to hear from you.
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Updates to Inclement Weather Guidelines
The seasons have started to change and winter weather is right around the corner. We want to share some changes to our approach to inclement weather days this year and provide a reminder of where this information can be found. Moving forward, the District will provide online instruction on days when the weather prevents us from having in-person classes. Rather than our traditional “snow days”, these days will now be considered “virtual learning days”.
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Grab & Go Meal Program Information
We would like to provide information on school meals for all students beginning September 8, 2020. As was previously announced, we will begin the school year in a 100% off-site learning model. Due to this, we will continue our Grab & Go meal program to provide breakfast and lunch to District students.
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Return-to-Learn Update (9/24/20)
We are looking forward to welcoming our students back into our schools in a hybrid learning model beginning Monday, September 28, 2020. As we shared earlier, we have implemented comprehensive health and safety mitigation techniques to help create a safe learning environment when students return. Expectations reflect guidance and consultation from the CDC, IDPH, and JCPH. One important note, face masks will be required for students and staff while in our schools, on District property, and while riding the bus or in other District vehicles. We will provide a minimum of two cloth face masks for each student; however, students are encouraged to bring their own if they so choose.
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Return-to-Learn Update (9/18/20)
We are regularly monitoring the daily COVID-19 positivity rates in Johnson County. The rates have continued to drop in our community over the last several days with today’s positivity rate at 8.2%. Due to this, we are excited to announce that the District will transition into a hybrid learning model beginning Monday, September 28, 2020.
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Return-to-Learn Update (9/16/20)
We would like to provide information regarding the process we are using to determine movement between learning models (100% off-site, hybrid, 100% on-site). Much like the decision-making process for inclement weather days, our Board of Directors has authorized the Superintendent to make decisions regarding transitions between learning models. To help guide that decision-making process, we have developed a COVID-19 Decision Matrix which was approved by the Board on September 1, 2020. The matrix was developed in collaboration with Johnson County Public Health and Johnson County Emergency Management. It provides data guidelines to determine if a shift in learning models is required for an individual building or the entire District.
