Student Art Exhibit now on Display at the Educational Service Center

      

A reception was held on October 13th to honor our student artists and kick off this year’s first student art talent showcase. More than100 pieces ranging from watercolors and sketches to collaborative sculptures and collages are included in this quarterly exhibit. 

 

The showcase is open to the public and will remain on display at the Educational Service Center through December.   

Kirn ASTRA Club Receives Award from Altrusa International

 

The Kirn Middle School 2008-09 ASTRA Club received thrid place internationally for their members' volunteer work in the community. Jeannie Jones from Altrusa International presented the award to the club on September 16th.

 

Thomas Jefferson Students Deliver to Mohm's Place

 

 

 

President Addresses American School Children

 

 

President Obama addressed American school children on September 8th, which was the first day of school for many across the country. We appreciate the fact that our country's president took the time to encourage students to work hard, take responsibility, prepare for their future, and graduate.  We in schools have said we cannot "do it alone," so we welcome adults in our community and in our country who offer to help us.

 

In the Council Bluffs Schools, some teachers included this as a classroom activity. Others chose not to alter the instructional activities already planned for students.

 

Students and Parents who were not able to view the speech and are interested may access it through this link.

 

 

Students at Washington Participate in International Walk to School Day

 

 

Children from Washington Elementary participated in this year's activities as part of the Safe Kids Walk This Way pedestrian safety program. Volunteers from the Council Bluffs YMCA, Safe Kids Loess Hills and Washington Elementary modeled how to be safe pedestrians as they walked to School. The children were greeted by Mayor Tom Hanafan as they arrived at school. 

 

For more information on International Walk to School Day visit www.walktoschool.org.

 

Washington's Preschool Receives Donation

 

 

Students at Washington Elementary gathered to accept a generous donation from 1st National Bank on Tuesday, October 6th. The donation will be used to support Washington's preschool classrooms.

 

 

Thomas Jefferson Students Participate in Alzheimer's Walk-A-Thon

 

 

Ten Thespian Club students from Thomas Jefferson High School participated in the Alzheimer's walk-a-thon benefit at the Mid-America Center on Saturday, September 5. The group received special recognition at the assembly and raised $50 to support the cause.

 

 

District Celebrates 150-Year History

 

The Council Bluffs Community School District was formed in 1859.  Plans are now being made to mark the history with a series of events and activities for the entire community. Want to get involved in planning an event, gathering historical memorabilia or finding notable graduates? Now seeking volunteers:

link to 150th Anniversary Page

 

Edison Class Gives to Sister School in Tanzania

 

During the 2008-2009 school year Jenni Underwood’s sixth grade class partnered with Martin Luther Primary School in Tanzania, Africa through Opportunity Education’s Sister School Program.  The students became pen-pals and Ms. Underwood informed her class how the other students had trouble meeting their basic needs. The class then decided that they wanted to help their friends from Tanzania and raised money by selling t-shirts and Valentine deliveries and giving from their own pockets.  The students raised over $1,200 which coverts to 1.4 million Tanzanian Shillings.  Ms. Underwood delivered the money to the school this July when she traveled to Tanzania to see the results of the Sister School Program.

 

Tucker Career and College Center Students Travel to HOSA National Leadership Conference

 

 

This past June, 24 students and their advisors, Vicki Leaders and Becky Leaders from the Tucker Career and College Center, attended the 32nd Annual Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) National Leadership Conference in Nashville, TN. The 24 high school students from Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Lewis Central, and St. Albert participated in leadership and competitive events with more than 5,000 other students. Students competed in the categories of CPR/ First Aid, Pathophysiology, Human Growth and Development, Career Health Display, Public Service Announcement, Kaiser-Permanente National Healthcare Issues Exam, Medical Reading, and Dental Terminology. Students also enjoyed side trips to the Wildhorse and Nasvhille Shores.

 

The Tucker Center HOSA chapter was nationally recognized as an "Outstanding HOSA Chapter" as represented by the chapter scrapbook completed by Savannah Pike from Abraham Lincoln. The HOSA Bowl team of Bruce Turpen and Ben Bell from Thomas Jefferson, Brian Fountain from Lewis Central, and Nick Burke from Saint Albert placed in the top sixteen teams in the nation. To qualify for competitive events at the national level, you must place 1st, 2nd, or 3rd at the Iowa state leadership conference in March.

 

 

Teacher's Night to be Held at Durham Museum

 

The Durham Museum will be holding a Teacher's Night on October 9 from 5:00 - 8:00 pm.  This open house gives teachers a chance explore the vast educational resources of The Durham and other regional institutions. There will be a cocktail reception, live entertainment and free take home classroom-ready materials and information about field trips and programs available to students. For more information please click here.

 

Dance Team Members To Perform at Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade

 

 

Seven dance team members from Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson will be dancing in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City. The members include Joie LeRette-Hutchinson a Junior at Thomas Jefferson, and Seniors Shannon Howe and Alaysia Rehfeldt, Juniors Lauren Wilson and Chelsea Budd, and Sophomores Sami Myers and Jordan Rehfeldt all from Abraham Lincoln. The seven members have joined together since they all qualified this summer at their dance team camps. All of them have been working very hard to raise funds to pay for their registration fees and airfare. They have held car washes and raffles, sold cookie dough, held jewelry parties, and sold pizza cards. They are continuing to hold fundraisers and could use everyone's support. The girls are all excited for this opportunity which includes two additional performances in New York City as well as the Thanksgiving Day Parade.  This year's Macy's Parade will take place and be televised on November 26th at 8:00 am CST.

 

Washington's Bonnie Newman Honored by area Wal-Mart

Washington Elementary teacher Bonnie Newman (right) was surprised last week by a special visit from Linda Rhatigan of the Council Bluffs Wal-Mart. Bonnie was honored as the Wal-Mart Teacher of the Year for last year as a result of an anonymous nomination by a parent and Wal-Mart customer. Bonnie received a plaque, a trophy and Wal-Mart gift card. The recognition also generated a $1,000 gift from Wal-Mart to Washington Elementary.

 

Students to Benefit from Donations of School Supplies

Four area organizations rallied to provide school supplies to students in the community. 

The Frontier Savings Bank "Fill the Bus" campaign resulted in more than 20,000 items. 

The Council Bluffs Kiwanis Club provided 60 backpacks complete with everything on each student's school supply list.

Alegent Health Community Care Network also provided boxes of supplies to arm students in Council Bluffs for a successful school year.

Cargill employees also delivered bags of school supplies for students for the second year.