Education

submitted by the Allamakee Schools Education Association

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) brings out the best in the community. Those who attend any event, from an elementary concert to a middle school track meet, to a high school musical, witness all ages celebrating the talents of young people.

These public events, while integral to the mission of the school, are only part of the offerings and opportunities. ACSD is a place for diverse opportunities that are worthy of celebrating throughout the year, not just during American Education Week, which is being observed November 12-16 this year.

Students at St. Patrick School in Waukon learned another new game in their Physical Education class to help them remain active and develop skills. The game is called Nitroball (pictured above), and it has the same fundamental elements and rules as volleyball but the net is much lower to the ground and the students have to let the ball bounce once before hitting it. The lower net allows the students to practice all the skills of volleyball, including the spike. Allowing the ball to bounce once before hitting it also gives the students more time to react. Submitted photo.
 

Employees working in the trades, and the companies that employ them, stand to benefit from Northeast Iowa Community College’s (NICC) development of new apprenticeship programs. The College has established seven U.S. Department of Labor approved apprenticeships.

Those apprenticeships include Tool and Die Maker; CNC Set Up Programmer Milling and Turning; Mold Maker; Electrician, Maintenance; Mechanic, Maintenance; Plumber; and Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). With the support and input of northeast Iowa employer sponsors, NICC continues to develop, market and promote additional apprenticeship programs, according to Chris Carlson, Ed.D., NICC dean of career and technical education.

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 5. The program provided by the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP) can be seen at office locations across Iowa.

The local attendance site for the December 5 CIC is the Allamakee County Extension Office located at 218 Seventh Avenue SE, Suite #102 in Waukon. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9-11:30 a.m. The registration fee increases after November 28. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County in Waukon at 563-568-6345.
 

Building a successful future for Waukon and Allamakee County requires a collaborative dialogue and shared commitment between business partners, workforce agencies and educators.

The Allamakee County Business and Community Board is generating and providing a forum for these important conversations. Board members identify workforce needs, discuss employment trends and insights, and assist in the development of career pathways for high school students, according to member Denny Ford, president of Norplex-Micarta in Postville.

Those who may be interested in discussing the books they read with other readers, in meeting new people, in looking for a new author or genre to read but who may not be quite ready to jump all in just yet, or who are simply at a loss for what to read next are invited to join the Thursday Night Book Club held at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon the third Thursday of every month. Upcoming discussions by the Book Club in 2018 include the following:

November 15: Animal/Pet-themed
December 20: With more pictures than words.

All are welcome to attend. For more information on the Thursday Night Book Club that meets at 6 p.m. the third Thursday of each month at the library, contact Robey Memorial Library by telephone at 563-568-4424, by email at robeymemorial@waukon.lib.ia.us or through the library website at www.waukon.lib.ia.us.

The Waukon High School music department has selected “The Addams Family” as this year’s musical production under the direction of Louise Wild and musical director Sarah Palmer. Three performances are being planned for this weekend, including Thursday and Saturday, November 1 and 3, both at 7:30 p.m., as well as a matinee performance at 1 p.m. Sunday, November 4. Anyone previously purchasing tickets for the originally planned Friday evening performance that has now been moved to the Sunday matinee, may use them for admission to any of the other performances. Each of the performances will be held at the Waukon High School auditorium and children who come in costume to any showing of the musical will receive a special treat with The Addams Family. For ticket information, call Shelly Lydon at 563-568-8670 or email  waukonmusical@live.com.

Students in the Waukon Middle School 10th hour afterschool program (pictured above) recently went “Groovin’ to the ‘music’ on a Wednesday afternoon!” at Jewels skating rink in Decorah. The following poetic description of the event was compiled and submitted by 10th hour student Ethan Kelly:

They can’t imagine anything better, the world is ours whenever we’re together;

There were lots of things that they could see and do, like singing, dodgeball and freestyle skating too.

We can be anyone we want to be, just so we have some fun is the key.

But the greatest of all was the Limbo contest, where it was a success.

How low can you go to the floor, the winners were Mia, Jacob and Taylor (picture at right, left to right).

The ice cream was the best, when it was time for a rest.

Stopping at the “Sugar Bowl” for a treat, enjoying something great to eat.
 

This November, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) will celebrate five outstanding alumni and two retirees for their outstanding career achievements and exemplary service to their communities. The first ceremony, scheduled for November 5, celebrates three NICC Calmar campus alumni and the late William “Bill” Wermers, NICC accounting instructor. The second ceremony, to be held November 19, will honor two Peosta campus alumni and retired NICC communication instructor James L. Brimeyer.

After graduation from Northeast Iowa Community College, the alumni inductees achieved outstanding success in their careers and service to the community. Recipients of the Outstanding Retiree Award will be honored for their service to the College, leadership and advocacy in the community.

The Waukon High School music department has selected “The Addams Family” as this year’s musical production under the direction of Louise Wild and musical director Sarah Palmer. Three performances are being planned for Thursday, Friday and Saturday, November 1, 2 and 3, all at 7:30 p.m. The  performances will be held at the Waukon High School auditorium.

The ghoulish Addams family is visiting the graveyard for an annual gathering of all family members (living, dead and undecided) to celebrate what it is to be an Addams. Uncle Fester (played by Sean Liddiard) stops the ancestors’ return to their graves to enlist their help. He explains that Wednesday (played by Oonagh Ahouse), under protest, has invited her new (normal) boyfriend, Lucas Beineke (played by Denzel Decker), and his parents, Mal (played by Robbie Drew) and Alice (played by Emily Kolsrud), to dinner.