Education

Iowa PBS’s commitment to early childhood education continues with the expansion of its Ready for School initiative. Educational specialists will work with educators, parents, childcare providers and local partners in several Iowa communities to implement STEM and literacy-based activities for children ages two through five years old.

Ten such school districts throughout Iowa were selected as part of this year’s program. Among those school districts are both the Allamakee Community School District and the Eastern Allamakee Community School District.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Christmas Tree Painting Party class Tuesday, November 14. The youth class will run from 3:45-4:45 p.m., and the adult class will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Ave NW.

Adults and young students will learn how to apply beautiful colors, styles and their own unique imprint on a ceramic Christmas tree. Have fun being creative and enjoying uncomplicated artmaking with a ceramic tree and numerous colors provided. No experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome. Ceramic tree, bulbs and light kit supplies are included in the cost of the class.

The deadline for paid registration for either class is November 7. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

A pair of 2023 Waukon High School graduates and Allamakee County 4-H members were among 4-H’ers from across the state of Iowa who received scholarships through the Iowa 4-H Foundation at a recognition ceremony held Sunday, July 9 in Ames. Alaina Gebel, daughter of Nate and Tami Gebel of rural Lansing, and Emma Palmer, daughter of Eric and Stephanie Palmer of rural Waukon, were among those honored 4-H members.

More than 470 FFA members from 39 Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin high schools participated in the annual Tri-State Ag & Dairy Expo held Thursday, September 14 at Iowa’s Dairy Center in Calmar. The expo featured dairy judging and dairy products contests where students enhanced their evaluation skills on dairy cattle and products.

The Little Switzerland FFA chapter at Waukon High School was named the champion dairy products judging team. Team members included Caleb Helgerson, Ethan Gibbs, Kendra Gibbs and Olivia Marti. Ethan Gibbs was also named the high-scoring individual of the dairy products contest, and Olivia Marti was the runner-up finisher in that competition.

Anissa Stanley, a member of the Lansing FFA Chapter at Kee High School, was a fourth-place individual finisher in that dairy products judging competition.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Ceramic Self-Watering Flower Pot class Tuesday, October 10. The adult class will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Historians and archaeologists believe the earliest examples of glazed ceramics appear in the world as far back as the 8th century. Attendees of this class can learn this ancient tradition and art form while learning how to apply glaze colors, styles and their own unique imprint on pottery through the glazing process.

Have fun being creative and enjoying uncomplicated artmaking with pottery pieces and numerous glaze colors provided. No experience necessary and all skill levels are welcome. All supplies included.

The deadline for paid registration is October 3. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) School Board met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, September 18. Board member Scott Melcher was absent. The board approved the revised meeting agenda, with the addition of item “G”: Utility Tractor Trade-In under New Business.

Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel matters were approved (pending a satisfactory background check): staff for Kids Club; an increase in hours for Nancy Snitker; and Jay Schneider as a bus driver.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering Fall/Halloween Cookie Decorating classes Tuesday, October 24. The youth (Halloween Cookie Decorating) class will run from 3:45-4:45 p.m., and the adult (Fall Cookie Decorating) class will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Those who want to decorate some fun Fall/Halloween cookies will receive some direction, a few tips and a bit of practice with a pastry bag. The class will be taught by Katie Ruff.

The deadline for paid registration is October 17. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

This year, 247 youth from 49 Iowa counties participated in Iowa State University Extension and Outreach skillathons for dairy, meat goat, sheep and swine at the Iowa State Fair, which was held in mid-August in Des Moines. The dairy skillathon was August 9, swine and sheep skillathons took place August 13 and a goat skillathon was August 16.

Each skillathon team was comprised of no more than three individuals and the competition included five stations where youth worked together to solve problems and identify dairy, goat, swine or sheep production components. Participants identified feed samples, breeds and meat cuts while answering questions about genetics, nutrients, quality assurance, handling and welfare.

“My son came home with new knowledge, excitement and interest in how to build and engineer moving objects. It starts with bringing toys to life and can lead to endless possibilities!”

“STEAM camp was the best day of my summer!”

These are just a couple of the rave reviews that parents and students recently gave summer camps hosted by Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Waukon.

These positive experiences were made possible this year thanks to a partnership with the Allamakee County Community Foundation and the Jim and Margo Sweeney Family Endowment for Allamakee Forever. A grant provided $3,000 for the program in response to NICC’s application to the Community Foundation.

The Iowa Department of Education has released new spring 2023 assessment results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress for students in grades 3-11. The overall results show little improvement over last year with significant proficiency gaps between certain groups of students, according to Iowa Department of Education officials.

State-level results from the 2022-2023 Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) show relatively little to no growth across most grades in English language arts with some grade levels up a percentage point and other grades down a percentage point. Sixth grade results increased the most from last year, going up four percentage points.