Davis County CSD

Dear Davis County Parents, Guardians, Students and Staff, As you likely already know a federal court judge made the decision to temporarily block the State of Iowa’s ban on mask mandates in schools. Since then, Davis County CSD has been considering if the district should implement a mask wearing requirement to combat the spread of COVID in our school. As you also know, the issue of requiring people to wear masks at school has our nation, state, and our community divided. School districts across our great state and nation have been placed in a terribly difficult position in a seemingly no-win situation with public opinion. Because the district is concerned about the health of our students, staff, and our entire community and because the district also values the support we receive from the entire community, the decision has been made to implement an administrative policy that is conditions based to determine when students, staff, and the public will be asked to wear masks while on school district property. The conditions the district will use will coincide with reporting requirements to the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) we have been required to report for several years and well before COVID. For years, IDPH has required school districts to report when absences due to illness are greater than 10% in a building. Absences due to illnesses are determined when a parent contacts the school and reports the child is home sick, no matter the reason why. The district will use this same 10% absence due to illness in a building to determine if or when that particular building will be asked to wear masks. For everyone’s reference, please know that we are aware of only one instance in the past five years when a single building’s absences due to illness was greater than 10%, and that was not during COVID. So far this year, 5% absences due to illness has been the highest in any single building. Davis County CSD’s Administrative Policy on Mask Wearing effective immediately: 1. Masks may be worn at any time by students and staff. Everyone will be treated with dignity and respect. 2. If a building reaches 10% student absence due to illness for two consecutive days, all students and staff in that building will be required to wear masks for 10 school days, or 2 calendar weeks whichever is shorter. All students in that building who ride a regular bus route to and from school will be required to wear masks on the bus during that same time period. 3. Davis County CSD encourages families to keep children home from school when they are sick as per the student health policy. Our goal continues to keep students at school by keeping illness out of our buildings. Thank you for your continued support of our efforts here at Davis County CSD. Sincerely, Dan Maeder, Superintendent

Football Playoff Tickets: Here is the link to purchase tickets. All tickets must be purchased on-line. https://www.iahsaa.org/tickets/ The game will be live streamed on the NFHSNetwork: https://www.nfhsnetwork.com/events/iowa-fallsalden-high-school-iowa-falls- ia/gam952f293ad9

Volleyball Tickets: Here is the link to the online tickets for tomorrow's regional semi-final vs West Burlington: https://ia.varsitybound.com/sports/vb/2021-22/tickets All tickets must be purchased online.

Congratulations to the Mustang volleyball team. They beat Centerville in 3 tonight! They advance in the post-season and will play West Burlington on Wednesday in West Burlington at 7:00pm.

State Qualifying Cross Country Meet: The Mustang cross country team will travel to Williamsburg on Thursday. 4:00 - Girls race 4:30 - Boys race ADMISSION PRICE: $5.00 per car - No pets allowed per IHSAA & IGHSAU Rules. PARKING: Please communicate to your fans that highway parking is PROHIBITED. There are two main parking lots that spectators are asked to park. RESTROOMS: There are restrooms near the recreation center and at the concession stand building.

Football Playoffs: The Mustang will travel to Iowa Falls of Alden on Friday, October 22nd to take on the Cadets in the 1st found of the playoffs. Kickoff is at 7:00 pm. On-line tickets will be required for this event. Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, October 19th at 9:00am. https://www.iahsaa.org/tickets/

This Friday night, October 22nd our football team will be on the road for the first round of post season play. They will be traveling to Iowa Falls-Alden with kick-off at 7:00pm. Cadet Field 815 Cadet Road Iowa Falls, IA

Post-Season Volleyball Reminder: You MUST purchase tickets on-line for tonight's match vs Centerville. Here is the link. https://ia.varsitybound.com/sports/vb/2021-22/tickets

Simon Estes, world renown classical singer, will present a concert on Sunday, October 24th beginning at 2:00 PM in the Davis County High School gymnasium. Mr. Estes grew up in Centerville, studied voice at the University of Iowa and the Julliard school of music in New York City. He has sung in many opera houses around the world and given many concerts in the United States. Mr. Estes will be singing patriotic song, spirituals and selections from Broadway musicals during the concert. The Davis County High School and the Van Buren County High School Choir will be singing on the program as well. The program will close with both choirs and Mr. Estes singing "The Battle Hymn of the Republic. Tickets may be purchased at the Davis County High School office, the Bloomfield Democrat and from Karen Spurgeon and Lyle Stirling and at the door. Ticket prices are $10.00 for adults and $5.00 for students. There will be seating available for those who cannot climb the stairs in the bleachers. This is a one-in-a lifetime opportunity to hear Mr. Estes. Please join us. A reception will follow in the high school commons.

ATTENTION MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL WINTER ATHLETES: Here are the official practice start dates for winter sports: REMINDER: All athletes MUST have a current physical on file in order to participate in practice. Contact your child's school office with questions. Middle School Wrestling - October 18th Middle School Girls Basketball - October 25th Middle School Boys Basketball - November 2nd High School Girls Basketball & Bowling - November 8th High School Boys Basketball & Wrestling - November 15th

Congratulations to the Mustang cross country teams. The boys are SCC champs and the girls finished in 2nd. Congrats Mustangs!

Davis County will host Centerville in Regional Volleyball on October 18th. It's IGHSAU policy that all post-season host schools must use online ticketing. Here are some links to help with this process. Contact Activities Director, Dave Mason at the High School with any questions. https://ia.varsitybound.com/sports/vb/2021-22/tickets https://intercom.help/varsitybound/en/articles/5639867-how-to-buy-tickets-regional-volleyball

The 9th grade volleyball team will travel to Fairfield tonight to take part in a quad tournament. REMINDER: MASKS/FACE COVERINGS ARE MANDATORY FOR ALL SPECTATORS IN ATTENDANCE. Here is the live-stream link. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSRHKPFDWxdaoLepRPpxkCw

Update for Middle School Volleyball at Chariton. The 7th grade will play at the Middle School (1600 N. 16th St.) and the 8th grade will play at the Community Center (501 N. Grand) Both games start at 4:15.

Mustang Nation: Friday Night Lights with begin with 9/JV at 5:00 and Varsity kicking off at 7:30. The Cattlemen's and DC Cheerleaders will be providing concessions tonight. Should be a GREAT night for Fall Football! GO MUSTANGS!! Tonight's Menu: Ribeye Sandwich $10.00 Hamburger $4.00 Hotdog $2.00 Pickles $0.50 Popcorn $1.00 Candy Bars/Candy $1.50 Ring Pops $0.50 Tootsie Pops $0.50 ALL DRINKS $2.00

The Mustang Volleyball team improves to 28-8 after beating Centerville, Van Buren and Pekin in straight sets at the Pekin quad. Libero Kara Greiner joins the record books as she records her 1000th dig tonight! Way to go Mustang Volleyball and Congratulations Kara!! The Mustangs will host the annual DC Tournament on Saturday at the Mutchler Community Center.

Middle School volleyball will be played at Eddyville High School this afternoon.

Volleyball Schedule for tonight at Pekin: 5:00 - vs Centerville- Elementary Gym 5:45 - vs Van Buren-Elementary Gym 7:00 - vs Pekin -High School Gym

ACTIVITY UPDATE: High school cross country ran at Honey Creek this evening. Our boys were meet champions and the girls finished in 2nd. Congrats to senior Macy Hill for breaking the school record in the 5k. Mustang volleyball beats Clarke in SCC action. Great job Mustangs!

Tonight’s Davis County Festival of Bands will be live streamed on Davis County Mustangs YouTube channel. Bands start performing at 5:30.