Thomas Jefferson Student Named All-American Cheerleader

Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson Junior Varsity Cheerleading member Marcos Segovia. Marcos has been selected as a 2009 Universal Cheerleading Association (UCA) All-American Cheerleader. Each cheer team attending UCA camp can nominate team members to compete for the honor of being named a UCA All American. In order to become an All American cheerleader, Marcos had to perform his single best jump, the UCA All American Cheer, and his best single-base stunt. Marcos auditioned and was selected at a recent UCA camp in Okoboji, Iowa and will have the opportunity to perform at the Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade this fall.

Middle School Students Participate in Southwest Iowa Leadership Academy

Kirn (bottom) and Wilson (top) Leadership Academy Students

Middle School Students from Kirn and Wilson participated in the Southwest Iowa Leadership Academy this summer. The Southwest Iowa Leadership Academy is a program designed to build leadership skills in junior high students. The Academy was held June 16-19, 2009 at the Iowa School for the Deaf campus.  The program began in 1990 and has reached over 1700 young people in West Pottawattamie County over the past eighteen years. As an educational organization their mission is to work with seventh grade students to define and build leadership skills that they will take back to their schools and use during their eighth grade year.  During the week students participated in teamwork activities, and listened to presentations from local business leaders.  They also volunteered during the week at various sites including Risen Son Retirement Home, Micah House, Jennie Edmundson Hospital, the Henry Doorly Zoo, and many others.  

Thomas Jefferson Students Named 2009 Council Bluffs Soccer Players of the Year

The Daily Nonpareil named Jamie Swotek, a senior at Thomas Jefferson, the 2009 girls soccer player of the year and Erick Estrada, a sophomore also from Thomas Jefferson the 2009 boys soccer player of the year.  Jamie Swotek made 14 goals, 10 assists, helped her team remain unbeaten by all other schools in Council Bluffs, and helped her team to an 11-9 record this past season. Thomas Jefferson girls soccer coach Mark Royer was quoted in the Nonpareil saying, “She was the money player for us when we needed her.  To get where we got, we wouldn’t have done that without her.” Swotek is a forward on the team and will be continuing her soccer career in college at Morningside College in Sioux City. Other activities that kept her involved during high school are volleyball, track, cheerleading, and dance.  Erick Estrada netted 25 goals, helped his team finish with a 9-7 record, and helped his team also remain unbeaten against the other city schools this season. In addition to soccer at Thomas Jefferson Erick also played Omaha traveling club soccer last year.

Lincoln Field Dedicated

The new home of Lynx Baseball was dedicated on June 5th with a ceremonial first pitch and a gift from Abraham Lincoln graduate, booster and accomplished softballl Hall of Famer Ann Fatovich. She, along with Head Coach James Larsen, Activities Director Jeff Novotny, District construction project manager Neal Evans, Board of Education vice president and Lynx parent Mark McGee; and Dugout Booster Club president and parent Howard Hively threw the ceremonial pitch to Lynx seniors and coaches. 

According to Mr. Novotny, Lincoln Field is much bigger than a new facility for the AL baseball program. "It is a sign of the dedication by the school district, Board of Education and Lynx Dugout Club members to make the facilities in the Council Bluffs Community School District second to none," he said. "Lincoln Field would not have been possible without all stakeholders working together for the sake of our students.This field is a perfect example of everyone working towards the one goal of giving our students the best."

Elementary Students Earn Bronze Award at Girl Scouts Ceremony

From left: Claire Neal, Jennifer Plummer, Abaigeal Plummer, Kayla Thomas, Trista Cornelison, and Alyssa Ladd

Congratulations to Girl Scout troop 274 for earning their Bronze Award at the Girl Scout award ceremony held June 7th.  Their project was "Making Our Community a Better Place."  They organized and participated in a "Locks of Love" event at Creative Hair Design with three of the girls donating their hair.  The girls also made cancer care bags for the patients at Children's Hospital in Omaha.  Troop members are Claire Neal, Abaigeal Plummer, and Alyssa Ladd from Bloomer; Kayla Thomas from Roosevelt; and Trista Cornelison from Lewis Central. Jennifer Plummer is their troop leader.

Thomas Jefferson Senior Selected as All-American Dancer

Congratulations to Thomas Jefferson Senior Dance Team Captain Alli Hedrick. Alli has been selected as a 2009 Universal Dance Association (UDA) All-American Dancer. Each dance team attending UDA camp can nominate team members to compete for the honor of being named a UDA All American.  Each candidate has to perform six eight-counts from a selected UDA routine and add two eight-counts that they choreograph themselves. Alli auditioned and was selected at a recent UDA camp and will have the opportunity to perform at various venues around the world in the coming school year.  The process to choose All-American Dancers

District Employees Take Part in Relay for Life

This past weekend more than 30 Council Bluffs Community School District Employees took part in the annual American Cancer Society's Relay for Life for Pottawattamie County. District employee Jeff Boe from Kirn was the chairperson and pulled off a spectacular event. The day was a great success as we had numerous district employees as committee chairs and many others walking in the event. All these individuals gave their time, and effort to support family, friends, colleagues who have somehow been touched by cancer. For details on who participated please visit our Start Page to read the full story.

Abraham Lincoln Students Place in State Tennis Meet

Abraham Lincoln students Alex and Collin Crowl did very well at the recent State Tennis Meet in Cedar Rapids. Alex, who is in 9th grade, and Collin, who is in 11th, qualified for State in Doubles for Class 2A.  In their first match, they lost to Linn Marr 6-3, 7-6 in a 7-4 tiebreaker.  They then came back in the consolation bracket winning 3 matches against two teams from Waterloo-West and one from Iowa City-West, respectively. They placed 6th overall falling to Bettendorf in their final match. With the highly competitive field, this is a great accomplishment.

CB Half Marathon Raises Money for Schools,

Promotes Wellness

Friends of the Council Bluffs Schools had a unique opportunity to become active and donate to the non-profit Community Education Foundation, named an official charity of the exciting new Council Bluffs Half Marathon event held on Sunday, June 7th. The Foundation provides direct support and funding for students and staff in the Council Bluffs Schools.

Bloomer Teacher Receives Recognition Award

Gail Kenkel poses with Charles Land, Quartermaster who presented her with the award.

Gail Kenkel, a TAG social studies teacher for students in 2nd through 6th grade at Bloomer, received the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Citizenship Education Teacher Post Recognition Award.  She was given this award in recognition for promoting citizenship education in her classroom and school. Gail was the 4th place winner for the state of Iowa.