Ithaca School District

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 30th, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today: First Choice - Taco Soup w/Tortilla Chips, Second Choice - Ham Sub, Carrots, Applesauce, Dessert, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Grade 6 - 12 Band Students: All raffle tickets and money are due today to Mrs. Behrens. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 30th, Diane Teach -Congratulations! HS Band Students: There will be pep band for the wrestling meet this Thursday, December 2. If you are unable to make it, please let Mrs. Behrens know. Sorry for the late notice. There will be a student council meeting today during ATTACK in Ms. Sprecher's room The Youth 4 Change meeting scheduled for today has been moved to this Friday, December 3rd during ATTACK in the LMC. If you have any questions, see Mrs. Dickey. Ithaca Youth Wrestling Sign up is December 6 at 530 pm at school. All Ithaca students in grades 2-6 are open to join On Thursday, December 2nd, Mr. Andresen will be holding the first math contest of the year in his room. It will be a pencil-and-paper test. Calculators will be provided. It will be given during 5th hour and Seminar. Prizes to all students who attempt the test, as well as prizes to the highest scoring student. For more questions, contact Mr. Andresen. FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) will meet this Thursday morning, Dec 2nd at 7:00am. All high school students are welcome! Enjoy a hot breakfast, a devotional message and fellowship. Bring your athlete Bibles. If you don’t have one…no worries… one will be given to you! Hope to see you… bring a friend! There will be a popcorn sale this Friday, December 3. Cost is 50 cents a bag, limit 2 bags per student please. Proceeds this week will go to the 1st grade class. Middle school students we will sell in your hallway by the elementary doors during your breakfast. High school we will sell in the hallway by the vending machine during your breakfast. The PTSO's 4th Annual Gingerbread House Fun Night will be Friday, December 10 starting at 5:30 in the Commons. The PTSO will provide frosting and graham crackers, house decorators can bring any candy you want to decorate your houses. Judging will be at 6:45 with prizes for the top 3 houses. Please start saving boxes - like pasta or mac n cheese sized - to use to build your house around as we are not using milk cartons this year. Hot cocoa will be served as well - hope to see you there! Word of the Day: Hoitytoity hoy-tee-TOY-tee adjective hoitytoity means "pretentious, fancy, or pompous." The guidance counselor emphasized that students do not need to go to a hoity-toity college to achieve success. Birthdays: Elementary—Miley Brown H.S./M.S.—Maggie Kershner and Ryan Tourdot

Dig in the back of your closet, dust off your ugliest Christmas sweater and join us for the sixth annual 2 mile Ugly Sweater Fun Run/Walk through the Lights on Campus and overlook the Rotary Lights in the park! If walkers are permitted in the Rotary Lights in the run/walk will go through the Rotary Lights in the park. Afterwards, warm up with a warm bowl of soup, your choice of two healthy soups and fixings. Start at Symons Recreation Complex (SRC) Check-In Starts at 4:00 pm at Symons Recreation Complex. Run starts at 5:30pm Walk starts at 5:40pm. See registration and flyer to register for a start time. Please help support our local Food Pantry by donating a non-perishable food item when picking up race packets, day of the race. Early Check-In on Friday December 3rd for pre-registered participants.

One Elementary class has been closed due to covid transmission. This also puts all Elementary and Middle school at RED. Masks are required at all times. (HS is Blue)

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 29th, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice - BBQ Rib, Second Choice - Fish Sticks, Corn, Pears, Dinner Roll, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band, HS - Day 1 Schedule. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 25th = Sharon Klang, November 26th = Mitch Ricco, November 27th =Chet Sumwalt, November 28th = Rod Klingaman , November 29th = Gregg Hilby - Congratulations! Grades 6 - 12 Band Students: The calendar raffle tickets and money must be turned in by Tuesday, Nov. 30th. All tickets are expected to be sold. If you cannot sell all of your tickets, please bring them in to Mrs. Behrens this week so that someone else can sell them. On Thursday, December 2nd, Mr. Andresen will be holding the first math contest of the year in his room. It will be a pencil-and-paper test. Calculators will be provided. It will be given during 5th hour and Seminar. Prizes to all students who attempt the test, as well as prizes to the highest scoring student. For more questions, contact Mr. Andresen. There will be a Youth 4 Change meeting during ATTACK tomorrow in the LMC. We will be choosing Red Ribbon Week coloring contest winners and working on our plans for the year. Contact Mrs. Dickey with any questions. FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) will meet this Thursday morning, Dec 2nd at 7:00am. All high school students are welcome! Enjoy a hot breakfast, a devotional message and fellowship. Bring your athlete Bibles. If you don’t have one…no worries… one will be given to you! Hope to see you… bring a friend! It is that time of year again! The HS student council is sponsoring Deck The Halls! Join in the fun by decorating your room, door, and locker for prizes!Awards will be given for the best teacher decorated door individual and the best teacher decorated door group. All MS and HS students that participate in decorating their lockers will win a prize too! Decorating must be complete by Friday, Dec. 3 at the end of the day. Judging will be the following Monday. But wait! There is more! The student council is also having the annual Passages Food drive for the month of December. Prizes to the top three classes that collect the most pounds of food! We will collect weekly for the first three weeks of December and announce the winners on December 22! Help support Passages with your donation! This Day in History: Despite strong Arab opposition, the United Nations votes for the partition of Palestine and the creation of an independent Jewish state. The modern conflict between Jews and Arabs in Palestine dates back to the 1910s, when both groups laid claim to the British-controlled territory. The Jews were Zionists, recent emigrants from Europe and Russia who came to the ancient homeland of the Jews to establish a Jewish national state. The native Palestinian Arabs sought to stem Jewish immigration and set up a secular Palestinian state. Word of the Day: Obfuscate AHB-fuh-skayt Verb Obfuscate means "to make difficult to understand" or "to be evasive, unclear, or confusing." The coach obfuscated his response as to whether he would retire at the end of the season. Birthdays: Elementary—Kaylee Ewing and Colton Straight H.S./M.S.—Dayton Scott

The Thanksgiving Day Parade came to Ithaca! Mrs. Pulvermacher's 3rd Grade class read Balloons Over Broadway by Melissa Sweet, which tells the story behind the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade and balloon floats. Students first decided what the float idea would be, then each had to individually draw the float. Collaborating with each other, groups planned the finalized design of the float. They then used balloons and construction paper to build their float. Once the floats were constructed, groups used the Bee Bots to code their floats down along a mapped out “parade route.”

There are so many things to be thankful for. Ithaca Public Schools is thankful for our incredibly resilient students and staff, our supportive families and community, and the commitment to education that is shown by all. Happy Thanksgiving!

The annual food drive put on by Student Council and the NHS starts December 3 and goes through December 20. Have your children bring their donations to their classroom and student council and NHS members will collect items during the week. This year we are making the food drive competition a school wide event. The top three classes throughout the elementary, middle, and high school who collect the most pounds of food will get a pizza party during lunch. Along with these changes, water will not be accepted as a donation. Thank you for your support and donations to the less fortunate people in our community! See the flyer for needed items. We thank our community and families for always making this such a successful event for Passages.

The giving spirit extends to donating blood! The need for blood is very large right now. Please consider donating blood during the FFA Ithaca Community Blood Drive on December 14th in the Community Gym. Schedule an appointment online: bit.ly/ithacadec14 or call 877-232-4376 to be a priority donor. All blood types are urgently needed to help us maintain a healthy blood supply during the winter months and holiday season. Thank you for your life-saving donation!

The #IRS Credit for Other Dependents may represent up to $500 per dependent for people supporting relatives who don’t qualify for the #ChildTaxCredit. Learn more at: https://go.usa.gov/xME8r

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 24th, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today: First Choice - Pizza Dippers, Second Choice - Hot Dog, Mixed Vegetables Applesauce Dinner Roll, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir, HS - Day 2 Schedule. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 24th, Jacey Maxwell -Congratulations! Teaching Assistants--reminder to turn in your log. New assistants, who have not started, plan on meeting with Ms Schoen Monday and starting Monday. Seniors, MAKE SURE you submit your Senior Portrait, Baby Picture, and Then & Now Pictures to Mrs. Burnley or directly to the Josten's website (https://images.jostens.com/416245955) by today. Feel free to forward the Josten's link to your photographer or email it to the adult helping you with your pictures. Also, make sure that you have submitted your Senior Quote and Senior Legacy. Thank you to the seniors who have already submitted your pictures and statements to the yearbook staff. Again, the deadline is NOVEMBER 24! Choir Students: The end of the fruit sale is today. All orders need to be turned in by today. Make sure you collect all the sales by that time and be sure to turn in your order forms before Thanksgiving Break. It is that time of year again! The HS student council is sponsoring Deck The Halls! Join in the fun by decorating your room, door, and locker for prizes!Awards will be given for the best teacher decorated door individual and the best teacher decorated door group. All MS and HS students that participate in decorating their lockers will win a prize too!Decorating must be complete by Friday, Dec. 3 at the end of the day. Judging will be the following Monday. But wait! There is more! The student council is also having the annual Passages Food drive for the month of December. Prizes to the top three classes that collect the most pounds of food! We will collect weekly for the first three weeks of December and announce the winners on December 22! Help support Passages with your donation! Grades 6 - 12 Band Students: The calendar raffle tickets and money must be turned in by next Tuesday, Nov. 30th. All tickets are expected to be sold. If you cannot sell all of your tickets, please bring them in to Mrs. Behrens this week so that someone else can sell them. This Day in History: On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, a groundbreaking scientific work by British naturalist Charles Darwin, was published in England on November 24, 1859. Darwin’s theory argued that organisms gradually evolve through a process he called “natural selection.” Most scientists quickly embraced the theory that solved so many puzzles of biological science, but orthodox Christians condemned the work as heresy. By the time of Darwin’s death in 1882, his theory of evolution was generally accepted. Word of the Day: Feign FAYN Verb Feign means "to give a false appearance of something." After her mom told her that she will bring her to the doctor's, Kim confessed that she was feigning illness because she forgot to finish her book report. Birthdays: Elementary—today: Tucker Brown, Piper Elliott; on Thursday: Todd Dolan, Brianna Louis H.S./M.S.—today: Ashlynn Fowell; on Saturday: Brooklyn Dickey

Tomorrow, November 24th, is a scheduled Early Release as we begin our Thanksgiving Holiday break. Elementary students begin releasing at 12:15pm. The final bell for Middle and High School is at 12:36pm. Enjoy this time to reflect on all the gifts for which we are thankful.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 23rd, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: Turkey Supreme, Mashed Potatoes w/Gravy, Yams, Cranberry Sauce, Mandarin Oranges, Dinner Roll, Dessert, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band. HS - Day 1 Schedule It is that time of year again! The HS student council is sponsoring Deck The Halls! Join in the fun by decorating your room, door, and locker for prizes! Awards will be given for the best teacher decorated door individual and the best teacher decorated door group. All MS and HS students that participate in decorating their lockers will win a prize too! Decorating must be complete by Friday, Dec. 4 at the end of the day. Judging will be the following Monday. But wait! There is more! The student council is also having the annual Passages Food drive for the month of December. Prizes to the top three classes that collect the most pounds of food! We will collect weekly for the first three weeks of December and announce the winners on December 22! Help support Passages with your donation! Ms Hilby's 5th hr study hall is to report to Mr. Thome's room with their materials. There will be a FBLA club meeting during Attack today in Mrs. Burnley's room. Grades 6 - 12 Band Students: The calendar raffle tickets and money must be turned in by next Tuesday, Nov. 30th. All tickets are expected to be sold. If you cannot sell all of your tickets, please bring them in to Mrs. Behrens this week so that someone else can sell them. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 23rd, Jonah Marchwick -Congratulations! Seniors, MAKE SURE you submit your Senior Portrait, Baby Picture, and Then & Now Pictures to Mrs. Burnley or directly to the Josten's website (https://images.jostens.com/416245955) by WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24. Feel free to forward the Josten's link to your photographer or email it to the adult helping you with your pictures. Also, make sure that you have submitted your Senior Quote and Senior Legacy. Thank you to the seniors who have already submitted your pictures and statements to the yearbook staff. Again, the deadline is NOVEMBER 24! Choir Students: The end of the fruit sale is coming fast. All orders need to be turned in by Wednesday. Make sure you collect all the sales by that time and be sure to turn in your order forms before Thanksgiving Break. This Day in History: 1859. The infamous Western outlaw known as “Billy the Kid” is mostly likely born in a poor Irish neighborhood on New York City’s East Side on November 23, 1859. (Much about his early life is unknown or unverified.) Before he was shot dead at age 21, Billy reputedly killed at least nine people in the American West. Word of the Day: enclave. An enclave is an area inhabited by people who are different in some way from the people in the surrounding areas. The district includes an enclave in which students of the university reside. Birthdays: Elementary—no Birthdays H.S./M.S.—Abby Plonka, Ally Plonka, Haleigh Colson

Attention Girls Basketball fans! The Ithaca High School Girls Basketball game originally scheduled for tonight at Wonewoc-Center has been cancelled.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 22nd, 2021 Today is a Day 2 Lunch for today: First Choice - Mac and Cheese, Second Choice - Brat, Broccoli, Peaches, Breadstick, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Band, 7th and 8th Grade - Choir. HS - Day 2 Schedule. Grades 6 - 12 Band Students: The calendar raffle tickets and money must be turned in by next Tuesday, Nov. 30th. All tickets are expected to be sold. If you cannot sell all of your tickets, please bring them in to Mrs. Behrens this week so that someone else can sell them. Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 20th = Karin Teplen, November 21st = Austin Durst, November 22nd = Betty Morel - Congratulations! There will be a middle school FFA meeting today. Bring a friend and come to room 316 for some fun FFA time! There will be a National Honor Society meeting today during Attack in the Library. Seniors, MAKE SURE you submit your Senior Portrait, Baby Picture, and Then & Now Pictures to Mrs. Burnley or directly to the Josten's website (https://images.jostens.com/416245955) by WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 24. Feel free to forward the Josten's link to your photographer or email it to the adult helping you with your pictures. Also, make sure that you have submitted your Senior Quote and Senior Legacy. Thank you to the seniors who have already submitted your pictures and statements to the yearbook staff. Again, the deadline is NOVEMBER 24! Choir Students: The end of the fruit sale is coming fast. All orders need to be turned in by Wednesday. Make sure you collect all the sales by that time and be sure to turn in your order forms before Thanksgiving Break. This Day in History: John Fitzgerald Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, was assassinated while traveling through Dallas, Texas, in an open-top convertible.First lady Jacqueline Kennedy accompanied her husband along with Texas Governor John Connally and his wife, for a 10-mile motorcade through the streets of downtown Dallas on November 22. Sitting in a Lincoln convertible, they waved at the large and enthusiastic crowds gathered along the parade route. As their vehicle passed the Texas School Book Depository Building at 12:30 p.m., Lee Harvey Oswald allegedly fired three shots from the sixth floor, fatally wounding President Kennedy and seriously injuring Governor Connally. Word of the Day: Roister (verb) means "to engage in noisy partying or celebration." Fans roistered after their team won the championship. Birthdays: Elementary—none H.S./M.S.—none

The Ithaca School District is required to make the Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan available to the public online, and to offer the public opportunity to review the plan and provide feedback on the plan. Your comments will be considered during reviews of the plan. Please provide the district with your questions, comments, and/or concerns as they relate to the Ithaca School District Safe Return to In-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan before December 8, 2021. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UStLMdu6BMZv5AnW9R47-jzCf-0WjorhtMrqgEbXvx8/edit?usp=sharing https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfHA3kI1YhAM2de5aWV3P8ottHO30DprVvrTRMKB719shovig/viewform

Our students look forward to holiday meals! Tomorrow is one of those days! Enjoy a special holiday meal made special for our students by our kitchen staff tomorrow. There will be only one meal choice. Tomorrow's hot lunch choice will be Turkey Supreme with all the fixin's. Sides will be mashed potatoes, Mandarin oranges, yams, and cranberry sauce with a dinner roll, dessert, and milk.

Spanish I and Spanish II students learned about the Mexican and Latin American tradition of celebrating Day of the Dead. Day of the Dead is a celebration and welcoming of the souls of the deceased family members and friends. Families often create “ofrendas” or altars to celebrate the lives of deceased loved ones. Spanish students created their own altars or “ofrendas”. The students were to choose either a famous Spanish-speaking person or a friend, family member or pet and create an altar that represented this person or pet. Spanish 2 students wrote a paragraph detailing the likes and dislikes of their chosen person or pet. Spanish II students practiced lots of Spanish grammar! The students did a marvelous job of creating a mini altar for “Dia de los Muertos”.

The Ithaca Youth Basketball (all youth - boys and girls) apparel and jersey store is open! Place your order before the store closes on December 2nd. Check out the store by clicking this link that takes you to the Ithaca Girls Basketball program Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/456857427815454/permalink/2021201034714411/

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Nov. 19th, 2021 Today is a Day 1 Lunch for today: First Choice - Pizza, Second Choice - Chicken Fajita, Steamed Carrots, Pears, Dinner Roll, Milk The schedule today for Band and Choir is: 6th Grade - Choir, 7th and 8th Grade - Band. HS - Day 1 Schedule. Junior Class: Thank you for all of your help at concessions last night. You did a great job! Mrs. Behrens Football Calendar Raffle Winner for November 19th, Doug Faber -Congratulations! Choir Students: The end of the fruit sale is coming fast. All orders need to be turned in by next Wednesday. Make sure you collect all the sales by that time and be sure to turn in your order forms before Thanksgiving Break. High School FFA Members: A reminder that there is OPTIONAL FFA team building today during Seminar, lunch and ATTACK time. Meet in Ms Sprecher's room at seminar time. There will be a National Honor Society meeting on Monday, November 22nd during Attack in the Library. There will be a popcorn sale today. Cost is 50 cents a bag, limit 2 bags per student please. Proceeds this week will go to the 5th grade class. Middle school students we will sell in your hallway by the elementary doors during your breakfast. High school we will sell in the hallway by the vending machine during your breakfast. This Day in History: President Lincoln delivers Gettysburg Address On November 19, 1863, at the dedication of a military cemetery at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, during the American Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln delivers one of the most memorable speeches in American history. In fewer than 275 words, Lincoln brilliantly and movingly reminded a war-weary public why the Union had to fight, and win, the Civil War. Word of the Day: Draconian dray-KOH-nee-un adjective Draconian means "cruel" or "severe." It is usually used to describe harsh laws, rules, or regulations. Small businesses believe that the new tax is draconian. Birthdays: Elementary—today: Avah Fargen, on Sunday: Christopher Prouty, and Remington Whiteaker H.S./M.S.—on Sunday: Natashia Mueller

A group of sophomore and freshman students traveled with Mr. Thome to the Ridge and Valley Conference Sportsmanship Summit in De Soto. The student athletes were able to learn a lot of great team building ideas and ways to increase sportsmanship in the Ithaca community. It was great to see how well they worked together and with students from other conference schools.