Education

Ross Geerdes, Naturalist with Allamakee County Conservation visited the Kindergarten classrooms at West Elementary School in Waukon Monday, November 14, presenting information about wild turkeys. Students learned about what turkeys eat, the names of male and female turkeys, what animals are their predators, their body parts, and their habitat (as listed on the whiteboard in the photo background). Along with learning about their predators, Geerdes brought in furs of these animals for the children to see and feel. Submitted photo.
 

“The Case of the Stinky Stench” engaged the Clover Kids during their November session as they followed Lady Pancake, Sir French Toast and Inspector Croissant through the refrigerator to find the source of the stench. At the end of the book, after the stench was found and cleaned, Lady Pancake was separated from her friends. The Clover Kids were challenged to build a bridge over Corn Chowder Lake for her. Using spaghetti noodles and marshmallows (as pictured above), the bridge had to be one inch off the ground and eight inches long. They worked together in groups and numerous bridge designs were made and tested. Afterwards the youth painted with different food items such as peppers, celery, broccoli and marshmallows (as pictured below) to create their own unique art pieces.

by Alaina Gebel

This past June, I had the privilege of attending the Washington FFA Leadership Conference. FFA members from across the nation traveled to Washington D.C. to learn about serving our communities, meeting new people, and touring the D.C. area.

FFA members attended sessions throughout the conference regarding advocating, setting goals, connecting with other FFA members, and leadership. The facilitators at the conference emphasized leadership and serving one’s community. Participants created an action plan to implement once they returned home.

Since my return from the Washington Leadership Conference, I have been hard at work trying to implement my community service projects. One of my main goals is to bring agriculture education into the elementary schools within our community.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, November 21. Board member Scott Melcher was absent.

Under the consent agenda, the following personnel were approved: After School Program Staff; Jon Snitker as eighth grade girls track coach; Cole Carolan as the Spring Play Director; Louise Wild as Spring Play Volunteer; and Karrie Zidlicky as a bus driver. The following staff appointments were also made: Jay Mathis and Kirby Jones as Level I Investigators for Child Abuse Reporting; Bill Shafer as Level II Child Abuse Reporting; Luke Steege as Equity Coordinator; Jennifer Garin as Title IX Officer; Luke Steege as Truancy Officer; Brian Hilsabeck as Homeless Liaison; Amy Wasson as Migrant Student Point of Contact; and Stacie Cooper as Foster Care Point of Contact.

Each year Northeast District and Iowa FFA officers plan and facilitate Greenhand Fire Up Conferences for FFA members in the Northeast District. Waverly-Shell Rock High School in Waverly welcomed FFA chapters from all over the Northeast District October 17, including 475 total members from 33 schools. The Little Switzerland FFA Chapter at Waukon High School had six members attend the event. Chapter member Alaina Gebel was asked to be a facilitator at the event and worked with Greenhand members on learning how to manage their priorities. Waukon FFA students in attendance included (left to right in the photo above): Owen Regan, Taylor Jackson, Kendra Gibbs, Tucker Burrichter, Trevor Block and Landon Burington.

written by Mallory Berns, Chapter Reporter

The Waukon FFA Chapter participated in the annual Northeast District Soils Evaluation Career Development Event held at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo September 28. Members of the 12th-place team included Waukon High School students Ethan Gibbs, Caleb Helgerson, Olivia Marti and Ethan Palmer.

There were 62 teams at the event, resulting in 223 individuals that participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide students an opportunity to display their agricultural knowledge and skills in the area of Soils Evaluation. The Soils Evaluation Career Development Event included the evaluation of four soil pits, plus a written exam about soils in Iowa.

Elizabeth Blake, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator for Allamakee County Farm Bureau, recently visited Kindergarten classrooms at West Elementary School in Waukon to talk about farm turkeys. She read a story about a family’s turkey farm and the students worked on a book on the life cycle of turkeys. Submitted photo.
 

American Education Week is observed every year in the United States during the week prior to the Thanksgiving holiday with the principal idea of reminding everyone of the roots of American education. This year’s observance is taking place November 13-19.

In addition to the variety of activities and events planned within the Allamakee Community School District throughout this week, the American Education Week Committee of the Allamakee Community Education Association has submitted the photos below that provide a sampling of the foundation of American Education Week within local schools, as well as thoughts from students within the Allamakee Community School District as to why they value the education they receive within the Allamakee Community School District.

West Elementary School

Barrett - I like to see my friends and learn. I really like Mystery Science and all the fun activities we do.

Allamakee County Sheriff Deputy Ross Kolsrud and K-9 Officer Tyr visited East and West Elementary Schools in Waukon for a presentation featuring Officer Tyr’s training and skills during Red Ribbon Week, which is observed October 23-31 each year in an effort to support families and communities in nurturing the full potential of healthy, drug-free youth. Waukon Police Chief Paul Wagner also visited with students and staff during Red Ribbon Week.

The three individual students pictured above with Deputy Kolsrud and Officer Tyr were selected to have their picture taken with the local law enforcement pair from a group of students who had received Indian Pride tickets for their positivity, respectfulness, involvement, dependability, and/or excellence in recent weeks. Those students included Craeton Leiran and Lily Monroe (standing left to right in back) and Emily Grangaard (kneeling in front). Submitted photos.

The 2022 Iowa FFA Dairy Cattle Career Development Event was held in conjunction with the Youth Dairy Classic in Manchester Friday, September 9. Twenty-eight teams and individuals participated in this year’s Career Development Event designed to provide students an opportunity to display their knowledge and skills in the area of dairy cattle selection and management. As a part of the contest, FFA members evaluated six classes of heifers and/or cows, gave one set of oral reasons that required members to justify how they placed the class, and a written examination that covered the production and management of a dairy herd.

The Waukon FFA team of (left to right in the submitted photo above) Kiersten Gibbs, Alaina Gebel, Cassidy Gibbs and Elizabeth Fossum was recognized as the Reserve Champion team at the event. Individually, Cassidy Gibbs placed 13th, Fossum placed eighth, Kiersten Gibbs placed sixth and Gebel placed fourth.