Dear Maquoketa Families,
As we gear up for the new school year, I am filled with excitement and energy about the journey ahead. This year, our theme is "One Cardinal Community." This theme embodies our commitment to unity and excellence in all that we do.
We are living out this theme by celebrating all our students' accomplishments, both academically and in their activities. Recognizing their hard work and successes is central to fostering a supportive and encouraging environment.
In addition, we are making significant strides in improving our facilities. These enhancements aim to create better alignment with our academic goals, increase student success for all, and realign grades in our elementary and middle schools to promote collaboration and a sense of oneness.
We have also adopted a new literacy curriculum for Kindergarten through 5th grade and 6th through 8th grade. This will also support our goal of creating “One Cardinal Community” by aligning teaching and learning outcomes for students and staff. We are excited for our teachers and their continued learning about the science of reading and this will help our students achieve even greater heights with their reading success!
We are implementing new handbook expectations at both the Middle School and High School. These expectations will be cohesive and consistently applied, addressing student behavior and ensuring a safe and productive learning environment for everyone while continuing the goal of unity.
Our mission at Maquoketa Community School District remains steadfast: to ensure that all students and staff are learning at high levels. To support this mission, we will maintain clear and consistent communication through our media platforms. Additionally, we will continue the implementation of "Rooms," a two-way communication tool accessible via our MCSD app. Families will receive more information about Rooms and the MCSD app during our open houses and teacher meet-and-greet events.
We look forward to a year filled with learning, fun, and growth for your student(s). Please join us at the following events to kick off the school year:
Cardinal Teacher/Family Meet and Greet: Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 1:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Briggs Open House: Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm
Middle School Open House: Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 5:00 pm - 6:30 pm
Middle School Parent Handbook Information Session: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 6:30 pm
9th Grade and New Student High School Open House: Wednesday, August 21, 2024, from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
High School Parent Handbook Information Session: Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at 7:00 pm
If you have students at the MS and HS, you can choose one of the parent handbook information sessions. It will be similar information presented at both sessions.
We are thrilled about the opportunities this new school year brings and look forward to seeing you soon!
With excitement and gratitude,
Tara Notz
Superintendent, Maquoketa Community School District