Education

Commercial manure applicators should plan to attend the Commercial Manure Applicator training program scheduled for Thursday, January 4, 2018 from 9 a.m. to noon. Iowa State University Extension and Outreach, in cooperation with the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR), will conduct the required three-hour training workshop at that time.

There is no fee to attend the workshop, but commercial applicators must register by December 28 by contacting the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

The Allamakee Business and Community Board convened November 17 to collaborate with businesses and local career and technical education teachers. Ray Rankin, Kee High School Agriculture/Industrial Technology teacher, and Caleb Ferring, Waukon High School Industrial Technology teacher, discussed externships they participated in this past summer.

During an externship, educators work side-by-side with knowledgeable and skilled industry employees who help bring the classroom curriculum to life. Teacher externships provide educators with the exposure to answer questions about real-world application, prepare students for careers they may have in the future and improve educational experiences.

 “Afterschool with Ross” is scheduled for Tuesday, December 19, which is a date change to the third Tuesday for the month of December only, due to the upcoming holiday. The event is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. in the Anne Lauerman Story Corner. Ross Geerdes, Conservation Naturalist with Allamakee County Conservation, will share information on the Winter Solstice.

“Afterschool with Ross” is a regular feature of library programming on the fourth Tuesday of each month. Families and children of all ages are encouraged to attend. For more information contact the library at 563-568-4424 or robeymemorial@waukon.lib.ia.us.
 

Ten 4-H’ers from Allamakee County recently participated in a Youth Leadership Training where they explored what it takes to be a leader through various group activities. In addition, youth learned skills that can be applied to their leadership role within their 4-H club. More specifically, they learned about officer positions and practiced parliamentary procedure. This training is hosted and facilitated by the University of Iowa Collegiate 4-H Club. To find out more about the ISU Extension and Outreach 4-H program in Allamakee County, contact Morgan Bjerke, Allamakee County Youth Coordinator at mlheim@iastate.edu or 563-568-6345.

The three young ladies pictured above from the Waukon High School Vocal Music Department were selected to participate in the Iowa All-State Music Festival, the highest individual honor attainable to Iowa high school musicians. Thousands of students from across the state of Iowa auditioned for All-State Chorus Saturday, October 21 for selection to the 600-member All-State Chorus. The 2017 All-State Music Festival was held Saturday, November 18 at Iowa State University's Hilton Coliseum in Ames. Pictured above are the three All-State selections from Waukon High School under the vocal direction of Sarah J. Bieber Palmer. Left to right: Leslie Halverson is the daughter of Brent and Jill Halverson of Waukon. Madalyn Ellingson is the daughter of John and Bethany Ellingson of Waukon. Jasmyn Enyart is the daughter of Dustin and Amanda Enyart of Waukon, and she was unable to attend the November 18 All-State Music Festival. Submitted photos.
 

Jasmyn Enyart, a senior from the Waukon High School Vocal Department and a member of the Waukon cheerleading squad, was selected to sing the National Anthem at Iowa's State Cheerleading Championships held November 4 in Des Moines. This is the highest individual honor attainable to students who prepare versions of "The Star-Spangled Banner".

Enyart is under the vocal instruction of Mrs. Sarah J. Bieber Palmer and coached in cheerleading by Mrs. Amy Bieber. Following her singing performance to open the event, Enyart then helped the Waukon cheerleading squad to a State Championship finish in the Class 2A Stunt Group competition and a State Runner-Up finish in the Class 2A Time Out competition at the Cheerleading Championships.

Mrs. Sarah J. Bieber Palmer and Waukon Middle School parent Gregg Jones took a group of students from Waukon Middle School and Waukon High School to the "Real Men Sing" festival hosted in October by Wartburg College in Waverly and directed by Dr. Lee Nelson. Real Men Sing is an event designed to jump start male students in a school's choral program early in the year. More than 500 male singers from around the Midwest joined in a day of singing and voice master classes. Two choirs make up the festival: one for changing voices focusing on students in grades seventh through freshmen/sophomores conducted by Luke Johnson, and one for changed voices focusing on grades freshmen/sophomores on up through adults conducted by Dr. Lee Nelson.

The Kee High School Post Prom Committee will host Bingo Sunday, December 3 in the Kee High School cafeteria in Lansing. Games will start at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m.

Participants can bring a food item to be donated to the Allamakee County Food Shelf and play an extra Bingo card free. All players will be eligible for door prizes.  Proceeds will be used to fund Post Prom prizes and entertainment in the spring.
 

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office will host a Pest Control Operators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, December 6. The program is offered at office locations across Iowa through the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The local attendance site for the December 6 CIC is the Allamakee County Extension Office located at 218 Seventh Avenue SE, Suite #102. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is discounted before November 29. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

East and West Elementary Schools in Waukon held a Veterans Day Program Friday, November 10 in the Waukon Middle School auditorium in observance of the November 11 Veterans Day. Staff and students paid tribute to the courage and skills of Veterans of the U.S. Military, as well as the sacrifices they were willing to make to protect America and its people.

Fifth grade students involved in the local Boys Scouts or Girl Scouts programs performed a presentation of the American flag while a reading, “I Am the Flag,” was recited. The Pledge of Allegiance was also recited and the National Anthem was sung, and members of the Sixth Grade Band played “Procession of Heroes”.