Twin Cedars Community School District

The Fall SIAC/CTE/Title 1 meeting was held on Tuesday, October 26, in the high school cafeteria.  Twin Cedar’s teacher leadership team shared information about voluntary and required summer school opportunities.  Voluntary summer school for elementary students was conducted in Hamilton, Bussey, Tracy and at the school with over 25 children participating.  Approximately ten junior high students participated in our school’s required program.  5th-8th grade students are required to attend summer school if they fail a required core course AND they also score poorly on district-wide assessments.
     TC is partnering with the Bussey Library to offer an after-school book club.  Last spring 4th-6th graders were invited once a week to the library to read a story and share activities.  This year, the program will be expanded to lower elementary as well.  The elementary expects to continue the pop-up library next summer.  This summer over 70 families received a visit and free books from the pop-up library on wheels!
     TC junior high and high school students have participated in “Wellness Wednesday” each quarter since Spring 2020.  Wellness Wednesday focuses on one of the seven facets of wellness.  This fall, the students will learn about social wellness.  Social wellness can be promoted by volunteering and exploring hobbies. 
     Elementary and high schools banded together to support Childhood Cancer Awareness.  With two students at Twin Cedars having fought cancer in the last few years, the students wanted to show their support.  Elementary students had a cancer walk, while high school students raised money through a bake sale, hat day, and a cancer event at the last home volleyball game.  Over $1,500 was raised for the cause and donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand.
    TC Elementary and parents are promoting athletics through several programs:  Little Saber flag football, Little Saber soccer, Bussey Little League, Little Saber volleyball, and Little Saber basketball.  Ashley Schippers and Holly French, as well as, many other parents have been active in supporting and continuing the programs.  Elementary Night at the fall volleyball game was well received.  PTO and Athletic Boosters look to have an Elementary Night for basketball this winter.
    Several social/emotional/mental health initiatives are used at Twin Cedars.  The elementary has weekly instruction through the Second Step program which teaches calm down strategies and problem-solving strategies.  Both buildings utilize Capturing Kids Hearts which is a program to build relationships and support students' social skills.
     Mrs. Roby shared district building goals and district wide assessment scores.  Both buildings are focusing on strengthening reading and math skills and reducing absenteeism.  Mr. Roby and Mrs. Moody shared recent safety updates, including the new window screens which prevent outside intruders from seeing into the building and the staff’s Stop the Bleed training.  Several new cameras have been added to the outside and inside of buildings and buses.  New door locks have also been installed at the high school.
     Each CTE teacher shared about their self-assessment and classroom goals.  Industrial Arts has added DMACC Construction as a course and are currently building a new concession stand for the district.  Family Consumer Science students will be participating in the Iron Chef competition at Indian Hills.  Computer Science students are competing in a computer software design challenge.  Students are attending a National FFA conference in the Ag department.
     Mrs. Micetich, Title 1 teacher, shared how students are identified for the elementary reading program and described the content of the program.