Education

In difficult economic times, generosity of spirit and service to community can take on a heightened importance, especially as individuals and families struggle to make ends meet during the holiday season. This year, a number of junior high students are learning some new skills and making a difference, one stitch at a time.

by Jennyanne Hager
 
A resolution passed last Monday, December 28, will affect Allamakee Community School District taxpayers if the measure is certified at the end of January. During a special session last week, the Board of Education voted unanimously in favor of adding an Instructional Support Levy (ISL) to help maintain the district’s General Fund expenses.

Piano in the Country students presented their holiday recital called “Christmas A to Z”, Saturday afternoon, December 12 at Mt. Hope Presbyterian Church. The performance order was determined by age, beginning with Alison Sherman and Owen Leppert, both seven years old. Alison played “Island Breeze,” “Rain, Rain” and “Speak Up, Please.” Owen performed “Zoom, Zoom, Witches Broom,” “Rain Dance” and “Sunflower Boogie.”

A Senior Citizen Lunch was held December 15 at the Waukon Junior High cafeteria.  Marci Vinsand’s foods class prepared the meal and the Student Council served it. Entertainment was provided. Music students sang carols and a brass quartet played during the meal. Mrs. Heck’s first grade class performed several plays and sang carols for the occasion. Mrs. Heck’s Adopted Grandparents used this time to meet with their first grade friend. They enjoyed the meal and entertainment and exchanged gifts with their adopted grandchild. Submitted photo.

by Jennyanne Hager
 
The Allamakee Community School District Board of Education took the next steps towards instituting an Instructional Support Levy (ISL) during a special session held Monday, Dec. 28. The noon meeting began with a public hearing regarding the proposed levy, however there were no comments from the public and the hearing was closed.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) in Calmar is offering a Farm Business Management course that meets the requirements of the USDA Farm Service Agency for Direct Borrowers. The series of classes, conveniently scheduled Wednesdays, meets January 13-March 3, from 6-10 p.m. Dave Lawstuen, NICC dairy science chair, teaches the class over the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) in Room 114 at The Dairy Center in Calmar.

Generous donors have fully funded a project request for classroom materials submitted by Jessie Emerson, a science teacher at Waukon High School. The project is titled “The World as Viewed Through a Photogate” and it will provide applied sciences resources and experiences for 100 students. Four generous donors contributed $229 in total to the project, which was matched with funds from a DonorsChoose.org grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

During this current session, the After School Program at East Elementary School in Waukon is hosting a “Holiday Giving” club. Members of the club have been making decorations to take to the residents in the nursing homes within the city limits. The group of girls pictured above, along with advisor Pam Dundee, recently visited the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon. They delivered turkey table decorations along with Thanksgiving posters which they hung with activity director Judy Hanson at the facility. They also went around to rooms and visited with some of the residents.

by Jennyanne Hager

by Betsy Fruechte