Education

The United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) has issued nationwide waivers which allow school districts and community organizations to extend the operation of the Summer Food Service Program throughout the current school year.

Allamakee Community School District is participating in the USDA Summer Food Service Program during this time, which will allow for a safe and streamlined service of nutritious meals. Meals will be provided to all enrolled students without charge.

Free meals are being provided to all enrolled students at Waukon High School, Waukon Middle School, East Elementary School and West Elementary School during regular meal service times. The serving of those free meals began October 14 and will continue through May 25, 2021, or until the last day of school.

Members of the Luther College physics and chemistry departments will present a virtual Haunted Lab experience this Halloween season. The video will feature fun and seasonal demonstrations to enjoy, as well as easy to follow directions to replicate them at home.

“We love putting on the Haunted Lab experience each year because we get to see the excitement as kids discover science through doing. While the Haunted Lab experience will be virtual this year, we are excited about the opportunity for kids of all ages to learn about science in their own homes,” says Erin Flater, associate professor of physics. “The process of recording experiments on video has been a lot of fun for our physics and chemistry students, and we hope our viewers enjoy watching and trying the experiments for themselves.”

Gather the following supplies to participate in one or more of the activities:

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) met  in its regular monthly session at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, October 19. After the agenda was adopted, the usual authorizations were approved for the October consent items, minutes of the regular September meetings, bills for October, Secretary’s Financial Report for September, Student Activity and Food Service September Reports.

The board accepted and placed on file the official Certified Enrollment for the district as of October 1. The district’s finalized enrollment figure for this school year stands at 322 students, which is a decrease of just one student from the previous year.

The 2020 Northeast District Soils Evaluation Career Development Event was held at Hawkeye Community College in Waterloo September 23. Eighteen teams competed at this year’s event and evaluated four soil pits and completed a written exam focusing on soils in Iowa. The scoring of each soil pit is divided into five parts: Surface Features, Soil Features - The Profile, Land Capability Classification and Productivity Potential, Evaluation of Management Practices, and Sustainability of Soils for Non-Agricultural Uses. This contest allowed students to display their knowledge of Soil Evaluation.

COVID-19 has certainly changed the way people conduct their daily lives, and Waukon High School’s Little Switzerland FFA Chapter Advisor Jessica O’Connor says her FFA chapter is no different, having also had to change the way it operates while continuing to challenge chapter members and make them more resilient. COVID-19 has made it so her chapter has to conduct fundraisers in a manner that is safe for both its members and its supporters.

Within that realm, this year’s FFA fruit sales format will be different than in the past. Little Switzerland FFA Chapter members will once again be selling fruit from October 5-28, but in a variety of different formats with health and safety in mind, with delivery still occurring during the first week in December.

“While I believe it is important to teach our youth appropriate selling skills, this year, safety is most important for everyone involved,” O’Connor explained.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office will offer the Mosquito/Public Health Pest Management Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, October 28. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa.

World-renowned epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm, a 1971 graduate of Waukon High School and 1975 graduate of Luther College, has been in constant demand this year for his expertise regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. A frequent contributor to major television and cable news networks, radio broadcasts and podcast segments, Osterholm will deliver this year’s Luther College Farwell Distinguished Lecture, “The COVID-19 Pandemic: Stories of a Journey” at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 15, in a virtual format.

This special Farwell Distinguished Lecture is presented in celebration of Luther’s new global health major. Fall 2020 is the inaugural semester for the global health program, which will equip students with the knowledge and skills to improve the health and wellness of people worldwide. It’s a mission that could not be more relevant at this moment in history, and it speaks to Osterholm’s life’s work.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office will host an Aquatic, Forest and Right-of-Way Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, October 21. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa.

The local attendance site is the Allamakee County Extension Office. Due to social distancing requirements preregistration is required. Walk-ins on the day of the program will only be admitted if room allows. The course runs from 9-11:30 a.m. with an additional showing from 1-3:30 p.m. The registration fee increases after October 14. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering “Freezer Pleasers” Tuesday, October 13 from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Participants will learn how to prepare five meals (five servings each) to take home, and will also enjoy a meal in class while also learning what freezes and reheats well, with an emphasis on cooking with fresh, whole foods. The next time anyone in the house puzzles over what to eat, they can simply pull one of these dishes out of the freezer, defrost and reheat at their convenience.

To register online for “Freezer Pleasers” (#77401) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/77401, or call the NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700. Registration deadline is October 9.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular monthly meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, September 21. After the agenda was adopted, the usual authorizations were approved for the September consent items, minutes of the regular August meeting, bills for September, Secretary’s Financial Report for August, Student Activity and Food Service August Reports.

The board  approved the FY20 Annual Transportation Report, the FY20 Special Education Supplement and the Resolution to Request from the State School Budget Review Committee for Modified Supplemental Amount and Supplemental Aid for the 2019-2020  Special Education program  money to cover the deficit for additional allowable growth. This money, as calculated by the Iowa Department of Management, totaled $52,226.81.