Education

Waukon After School Clover Kids beat the snow with a blizzard-themed meeting in January. After discussing the characteristics of a blizzard and reading the book ‘Blizzard’, they made their own snowman measuring sticks (pictured below). Youth learned the correct way to take an accurate measurement: away from buildings, in the open and in a relatively flat spot. They then had fun painting a winter scene with snow paint made out of glue and shaving cream (pictured above). Clover Kids ended the meeting with an emergency kit relay game. They had to choose which items are needed in case of an emergency and which items are for fun. After each group had their kit done, the group discussed why each item was important. Items included were a blanket, weather radio, emergency contact list, food/water, flashlight and a first aid kit.

Mailed letters will replace phone calls again this year

The Allamakee Scholarship Fund (ASF), Inc. phon-a-thon held in February has been the major fundraiser for the organization and is conducted by the student applicants in conjunction with the Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc. Board of Directors. In past years students used phone banks at Waukon High School and at Waukon State Bank and FreedomBank in Waukon.

Last year with COVID-19 precautions, no phone calling was done and students addressed and mailed phon-a-thon donation letters. That will hold true again for this 2021-2022 fundraiser also. Dates for those mailings to be completed this year are Thursday, February 10, Tuesday, February 15 and Wednesday, February 16.

The Lansing VFW Auxiliary Post #5981 and the New Albin VFW Auxiliary Post #5603 recently sponsored their annual Patriotic Essay Contest. Third through sixth grade students at New Albin Elementary School shared their ideas in written essays. Pictured above are the top essay entries from New Albin Elementary School. Left to right -  Front row: Caleb Verdon, Iris Reiter-Marsolf, Leon Berg, Evelynn Dibert, Cody Colsch; Middle row: Davina Shako, Henry Martin, Noah Mauss; Back row: Morgan Mohn, Austyn Mohn, Wesley McKee, New Albin Elementary School Principal Donna Thomas. Not pictured: Eli Schobert . Submitted photo.
 

High school students graduating in spring of 2022 are encouraged to apply for Iowa Farm Bureau Federation’s (IFBF) $2,500 scholarship, awarded to 27 eligible Iowa high school seniors and renewable for four years, up to $10,000.

“Iowa leads the nation in agricultural production, and that is because of the innovation and strong work ethic of emerging young leaders,” says IFBF President Brent Johnson. “Iowa Farm Bureau is proud to award nearly $500,000 in annual scholarships to these students whose agricultural knowledge will strengthen the industry and Iowa’s rural communities.”

The Allamakee Music Boosters will be holding their Annual Prom Dress Sale this Friday, February 4, from 6-8 p.m., and Saturday, February 5, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m., at the Waukon Banquet Center. This sale welcomes gently used prom and semi-formal dresses to be offered for resale, allowing shoppers an alternative to buying new dresses at higher prices.

Prom and semi-formal dresses can be dropped off Thursday, February 3 from 6-8 p.m. and again Friday, February 4 from 4-6 p.m.  Consignors are charged $5 for each dress they wish to sell, and they can set their own price on each dress they want to sell.

For each dress that sells, the consignor receives the price they set on their dress less a 10% commission that is given to the Allamakee Music Boosters for coordinating this event. Anyone in the tri-state area is welcome to attend this event for consigning dresses, shopping for a dress or both.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Tuesday, January 18, a day later than its usual Monday meeting day due to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day observance. Under the consent agenda, the following personnel matters were approved: Joe Egan, Pam Jones and Joseph Howard as substitute bus drivers and Andrea Nolan as an elementary paraprofessional. The board also accepted the resignation of Kasie Criswell from an elementary paraprofessional position and Jon Snitker from the eight/ninth grade softball coach position.

The following Sunday requests were approved: sixth grade basketball for Sundays in February and March and a high school band trip to La Crosse, WI. The following agreements were also approved: William Penn University Student Teacher Agreement and Retiree HRA and Special Pay Plan Amendments.

Elizabeth Blake, Ag in the Classroom Coordinator for Allamakee County Farm Bureau, joined the four kindergarten classes (one of which is pictured above) at West Elementary School in Waukon Thursday, January 13 to share a presentation on sheep. Some of the major points she touched on with students are what sheep eat, how they are cared for, what they are used for, and what some of the benefits are.

“The students were very engaging as I asked them questions about what they already knew and what they were learning throughout the presentation,” Blake said. “The vocabulary words seemed to go over very well, and the kids were very excited to learn more about each word. I had a great time and cannot wait to go back to teach the kids more about agriculture.”

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular meeting of the board of directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held at the Kee High School ICN Room in Lansing Monday, January 17. Board business included a variety of approvals beginning with approving the summer overnight baseball trips to Eddyville June 3 and to Hillcrest Academy June 17.

In personnel items, the board approved a contract for Sydney Garrett, Kindergarten Teacher. An additional kindergarten classroom was needed because of increased enrollment at that grade level.

The public hearing for the 2022-2023 school calendar was set for February 21, just prior to the next regular board meeting, which will be held at the former Lansing Middle School location at 696 Main Street. That next board meeting will be held at that location so board members can visit the site of the Kee Connect program.

The Kee High School Speech program has its busy competition season underway, beginning with the Conference Large Group Contest this past Saturday, January 15 in Postville. Kee’s events received six “I” ratings and one “II” rating. The Conference contest is considered a preparation for Upper Iowa Conference schools before they compete at the District level, where all teams will compete again.

District Contest is scheduled for this Saturday, January 22 in Cascade, with State Contest slated for February 5 at Decorah High School. The teams have been practicing since the beginning of November.

State Treasurer Michael L. Fitzgerald recently opened the 2022 Robert D. Blue Scholarship for applications. Applicants must be a current senior or former graduate of any Iowa high school who plans to attend a college or university within the state. Awards are based on financial need, an original essay, academic achievement and recommendations.

Treasurer Fitzgerald is a member of the Iowa Centennial Memorial Foundation, which funds the scholarship.

“We’re looking for students who exemplify greatness,” he said. “Aaron Eilerts is a notable example. He spent his time volunteering and giving back to those in his community before tragically losing his life when a tornado struck the Little Sioux Boy Scout Camp on June 11, 2008. People like Aaron, who dedicate themselves to serve others, are strongly encouraged to apply.”