Abraham Lincoln Dance Team Competes in State Dance
All District Staff, Parents, and Community Members Asked to Provide Input
Classroom Grants Awarded at December Board Meeting
December Employees of the Month Honored at Board Meeting
District Begins Strategic Planning Process
Final Exam Information
Gunn Students Continue the Giving Spirit in December
High School Band Members Audition for District Honor Band
Nonpareil Announces High School Athletes of the Year
Photos of Kirn Musical "Pirates"
Pusey Students Receive a Visit from the Lancers' Joe Marciano
St. Peter's Church Donates Hundreds of Gifts for Students
Students Present Zombie Prom Musical
Thomas Jefferson Football Players Selected for All State
Washington School Partners with Boys and Girls Club and Centennial Rotary
Youth Group Donates Winter Coats to Schools
Nonpareil Announces High School Athletes of the Year
Chelsea Colpitts
Abraham Lincoln
Female Athlete of the Year
Junior Chelsea Colpitts plays volleyball, basketball, and track throughout the school year. She helped guide her volleyball team to within one win of back to back trips to the state tournament, and is leading her basketball team scoring 11 points a game. Last year she qualified for state in track in the discus. Chelsea does not have a favorite sport, but loves the one she is playing at the time.
Dustin Davis
Abraham Lincoln
Male Athlete of the Year
Senior Dustin Davis plays two sports at Abraham Lincoln. He has started on the football team for the past three years and has lettered twice in basketball. Even when he is injured he wants to play. This year in football he injured his shoulder and was told he would miss the remainder of the season, but played his last regular season game. He also rolled his ankle during a basketball and played the next day in another game.
Courtney Ruff
Thomas Jefferson
Female Athlete of the Year
Junior Courtney Ruff plays three sports during the school year, with two of them both in spring. She is involved in track, soccer, and cross country. She has been All Conference in cross country for three years, and qualified for State track the first year she started high school track.
Ndzi Tante
Thomas Jefferson
Male Athlete of the Year
Senior Ndzi Tante is a state qualifier in the shot put in track, but is most known for his football skills. He was a lineman on the football team and through his blocking helped his team get the second-most rushing yards in Class 4A. He is an all-state selection and two-time all-city offensive lineman.
District Begins Strategic Planning Process; Invites Staff, Students, Parents and Community Members to Join Action Teams
A group of 29 students, teachers, administrators, community business people and parents participated in three full day of planning to jump start a multi-phase strategic planning process. All segments of the community will be invited to participate as the process continues. Action teams of 20 members will be formed to create action plans for each of the eight strategies identified by the steering committee. These include:
1) Long-term facility and technology planning
2) PreK-12 curriculum, instruction and assessment
3) Comprehensive, transparent allocation process for human and financial resources
4) Organizational culture to eliminate complacency and counterproductive attitudes
5) Comprehensive and interactive communication process
6) Partnership with families, businesses and agencies to confront negative social issues that hinder success
7) Systemic approach to identify and intervene with students who are falling behind
8) Systemic career education program
A volunteer interest form is available through this link. If you are interested in serving on a team, please complete the form by January 16th. This work of the teams will begin in February and continue through the end of the school year. At that time, the Board of Education will formally adopt the final mission, the objectives and the action planning team recommendations.
Among the Planning Team members were students Cody Stites from Thomas Jefferson and Morgan Hively from Abraham Lincoln.
High School Band Members Audition for District Honor Band
Thirty three members of the Abraham Lincoln High School Band and seven members of Thomas Jefferson's Band recently auditioned for the Southwest Iowa Bandmaster's District Honor Band. The auditions were held on Saturday, December 13th in Red Oak, Iowa. Each student was required to perform two etudes written for their instrument, a chromatic scale and three selected major scales. Southwest Iowa band directors evaluated the students. Thomas Jefferson Junior trumpet player Kylene Carlson was selected to the 11-12 band. Abraham Lincoln led southwest Iowa schools in the number of students selected for this honor band with 27 members.
Students who were selected from Abraham Lincoln were:
Emily Waugh-flute, Danielle Hogsed-flute, Allison Goldapp-clarinet, Emily Koontz-clarinet, Olivia Petersen-clarinet, Lisa Capel-clarinet, Jordan Kinney-clarinet, Natasha Krnfrst-bass clarinet, Krystin Albertus-alto saxophone, Ashley Cross-alto saxophone, Hannah Zimmerman-tenor saxophone, Jordan Stanley- baritone saxophone, Taylor Matuzeski-trumpet, Conner Snyder-trumpet, Sam Kunkle-french horn, Wyatt Seals-trombone, Luke Thallis-trombone, Patrick Peters-trombone, Austin Farwell-baritone, Jordan Zimmerman-baritone, Colin Dall-tuba, Matt Dickinson-snare drum, Nate Stuart-snare drum, Cody Hollinger-snare drum, Zach Williamson-mallets, Alex Cleaveland-tympani, Alex Whalen-snare drum.
Other students who auditioned were: Emily Mintle, Jenna Wredt, Luke and Caleb Byers, and Kelsey Tekippe.
The chosen band members will perform with the Southwest Iowa Honor Band on January 19th in Red Oak, Iowa.
All District Staff, Parents and Community Members Asked to Provide Input --
First Meeting Set for this Tuesday Evening!
All Council Bluffs Community School District stakeholders are asked to provide input as the Board of Education prepares to develop a Master Facilties Plan for the next 5-10 years.
You are invited to take part in an online survey or participate one of three community meetings designed to provide information about the facilities needs in the schools and to gather thoughts and opinions directly from parents, students, staff members and other district residents.
You're Invited to Take Online Survey
The survey can be accessed by following this link: Online Survey
Paper copies will be available at all school buildings and the Educational Service Center, 12 Scott Street.
Community Meetings:
The Community Input Meetings will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday, January 6th at the Council Bluffs Public Library, 400 Willow Avenue, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, January 8th at Kirn Junior High School in the auditorium, 6 p.m.-7:30 p.m.
Saturday, January 10th at Thomas Jefferson High School in the student Commons Area, 10-11:30 a.m.
Abraham Lincoln Dance Team Competes in State Dance
The Abraham Lincoln dance team competed in four areas and received three awards at the State Dance Competition this year. The competition was on December 5 in Des Moines, Iowa. There the girls received a superior rating in both their pom and hip hop routines. They also placed third in the production category. The dance team sponsors are Kerri Jo Watts and Mindi Richardson.
Students Present Zombie Prom Musical
Thomas Jefferson High School Music and Theatre Department performed its fall musical "Zombie Prom" December 9, 12, 13. Thanks to Travis Walker, Sara Jennings and all the volunteers, parents and students who helped put the show together.
Final Exam Information
There will be no required make up for final exams due to the snow day on December 19. Semester grades will be calculated based on work through December 18. Second semester will begin on January 5. Within the first two weeks of second semester, teachers may recommend that individual students make up a final exam if the exam would provide additional evidence about the student's understanding of major learnings. Individual students may request to take a final if they think it would provide additional evidence about their understanding of important course concepts. Teachers have the ability to alter grades through January 16.
Classroom Grants Awarded at December Board Meeting
The Community Education Foundation awarded teachers at 9 schools classroom grants at this week’s board meeting. The grants range from $200 to $500 adding up to a total of $5000, and have been awarded for 8 years as a way of helping teachers. The following teachers received grants for their classrooms.
- Bob Hansen, Abraham Lincoln, $400 for an online homework and assessment system
- Sarah Steinmetz, Abraham Lincoln, $400 for mousetrap vehicles to enhance the physical science curriculum
- Julie Danker, Nancy Miller, and Carol Reynolds, Bloomer, $300 for resource room
- Zachary Scherb, Carter Lake, $500 for building reading fluency
- Danielle Philmon, Franklin, $350 for take-home literacy bags
- Jane Conaway, Franklin, $400 for building lasting partnerships through early connections with parents
- Melissa Taylor and Ruth Rysta, Gunn, $200 for books teaching six traits
- Brandy Palatas, Kirn, $500 for chromatic tuners
- Mary Jane Peterson, Kir, $250 for improving literacy with audio books
- April Kimnach, Longfellow, $200 for a Math Makes the World Go Around contest
- Jennifer Plummer, Rue, $500 for LeapPad readers for ELL students
- Christine Anderson, Rue, $500 for adding to the Spanish and bilingual library
- Jen Finnerty, Walnut Grove, $250 for take-home literacy bags
- Mary Kramer, Walnut Grove, $250 for improving literacy with audio books
December Employees of the Month Honored at Board Meeting
Deb Stephenson gives an acceptance speech for her Employee of the month award.
Chris King and Nancy Wilson receive their awards from Dr. Martha Bruckner
Congratulations to Deb Stephenson, Physical Education Teacher at Kirn Junior High School, who has been selected as Licensed Employee for December. Congratulations, also to Chris King and Nancy Wilson, registration secretaries at Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson. They were both selected as the Support Staff Employees for December. All of these employees were honored at the board meeting Tuesday evening, December 9th. Please join us in saluting them and their good work!
Washington School Partners with Boys and Girls Club and Centennial Rotary
The new Boys and Girls Club, the Centennial Rotary and Washington School are joining together to support the 5th grade class. The Centennial Rotary Club adopted the Washington Class of 2016 last year. This year they purchased memberships to the new Boys and Girls Club for the fifth graders which will be at no cost to the students or their families. On December 11th the fifth grade class received an early tour of the new facility and their pre-paid memberships from the Centennial Rotary Club. They also enjoyed dinner at the club. The Council Bluffs Location of the Boys and Girls Club is scheduled to open in January 2009
Thomas Jefferson Football Players Selected for All State
Seniors Nathan Kammrad and Ndzi Tante of Thomas Jefferson were selected to the Iowa Newspaper Association Class 4A All State teams. Nathan was a second team selection and Ndzi was a third-team selection. Ndzi was named to the Des Moines Register's Class 4A all state team as well.
St. Peter's Church Donates Hundreds of Gifts for Students
The holidays will be bright for more more than 100 students and their families, thanks to the generosity of members of St. Peter's Church in Council Bluffs. They delivered the wrapped gifts, ready for distribution to the families.
Gunn Students Continue the Giving Spirit in December
The Gunn Student Council members are continuing their theme of "giving" this month. On Friday, December 12th they are holding a pajama day, and for a quarter, students may wear pajamas to school. The funds raised through this event will be donated to the Salvation Army. They also will be having a toy drive from December 8th through December 17th. They are collecting new toys which should be brought to the school during those dates. The student council will then be donating all toys to Children's Square. Children's Square has children from birth through 18 years of age whom gifts can be bought for.
The Kirn Musical Production "Pirates" was a huge success thanks to the hard work of everyone who contributed including Deb Masker, the cast, and parent volunteers.
Pusey Students Receive a Visit from the Lancers’ Joe Marciano
Visiting Nathan Pusey Elementary to kick off the 2008-2009 Omaha Lancers "Stick with Reading" program, USHL defender Joe Marciano is shown here with students in 2nd grade. Members of the Lancers visit area schools to provide an incentive for the students to read outside of the classroom. Upon visiting the classroom, Joe read to the students and then presented each with a special Lancers bookmark. For every two books a student reads, he/she receives one free ticket to a Lancers home game. The program allows students the chance to cheer on the Lancers at up to 10 different home games by reading 20 books.
Youth Group Donates Winter Coats to Schools
Members of the Eastside Christian Church Youth Group donated coats and hooded sweatshirts to the Council Bluffs School District to keep students warm this winter. The Youth Group led by Ron Anderson enlisted help from all members of the church. A total of 36 coats and hooded sweatshirts were collected and distributed to the high schools, junior highs, and elementary schools. Carolyn and Mike Forbes helped facilitate and deliver the donations from Eastside Christian Church
