Education

Waukon High School Prom and Post Prom were held Saturday into Sunday, April 24-25. The dance was held in the Waukon Middle School gym with the theme “Night of a Thousand Lights”. The Grand March began at 8 p.m. with parents and community members attending to take pictures and view the students dressed in their Prom attire. Seniors Hailey Fahey and Ryan VanderVelden were crowned as the 2021 Waukon High School Prom Queen and King.

The dance began at 9 p.m. with students enjoying music provided by Austin Brink. The Post Prom committee provided a photo booth from Absolute Music and prizes every half-hour during the dance. Prizes included gift certificates to local restaurants and a $50 and $100 cash drawing at 11 p.m. for students who were present through the entire dance. Some other highlights of the night included a dance camera and board games in the cafeteria.

The annual P.E.O. reception for girls from the graduating class at Waukon High School was held Monday, April 26 at Zion United Church of Christ in Waukon, marking the 57th anniversary of the annually scheduled event. The evening began with refreshments served. After a welcome by Chapter President Nina Van Gorp, introductions by members and guests were made. Loretta Schafer then presented the program on “Defining Moments.” The graduating young ladies from Waukon High School’s Class of 2021, pictured above, then shared memories from their high school years. Submitted photo.
 

Each spring the Waukon Lions Club hosts its annual Waukon High School Honors Banquet at the First Presbyterian Church in Waukon, recognizing students ranking in the top 15% academically of Waukon High School’s graduating class. For the second consecutive year, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the traditional banquet was not able to be held, but the Waukon Lions Club still wants to recognize this year’s 16 Waukon High School graduating seniors from the Class of 2021, listed below in alphabetical order, for their hard work and dedication to academic excellence in ranking within this year’s top 15% of their graduating class:

Animal agriculture lights a fire in Waukon High School senior Madalyn Palmer when she considers her career future. Palmer earned a $1,000 Farm Kids for College Scholarship in the 2021 competition sponsored by National Farmers, Ames.

Palmer lives on her family’s dairy farm where they raise Holsteins for milk production. Highlights of her farm involvement include helping with calf chores, milking cows, treating sick animals and interpreting for and training Hispanic employees using her Spanish skills. She is the daughter of Eric and Stephanie Palmer of Waukon.

April is Financial Literacy Month, so it’s a great time to figure out or revisit a family’s financial plan. Parents with K-12 students should include financial planning for education or training after high school as an integral part of any such plan. These tips from the experts at Iowa Student Loan can help parents plan:

1. Know what your goals are. Every situation is unique. You may need to reduce debt, plan for your students’ college expenses, save for retirement or fund some large purchases - or all of the above. The important thing is that you have a concrete list of your financial goals to start with.

2. Make reasonable estimates. Once you’ve defined your goals, it’s time to come up with a good estimate of the amount of money you need for each. How much will you need to save between now and retirement to fund your future lifestyle? What will college or a specific training program cost by the time your student is out of high school?

The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and Iowa State University Extension and Outreach are launching an online training for the national award-winning Growing Up WILD activity guide.

This online training provides exciting hands-on activities and resources to help lead children (ages three to seven) out the door to explore nature. Activities use age-appropriate practices and concepts to build and nurture a child’s sense of wonder about nature, wildlife and the great outdoors. Early learning activities focus on: math, science, language, literacy, health living, play and creativity.

Participants are required to complete online pre-workshop activities and attend the online training May 19, from 6-9 pm. Cost includes the Growing Up WILD activity guide. Participants receive four (clock) hours credit for childcare license renewal approved by Iowa Department of Human Services.

Waukon High School Prom 2021 is scheduled for Saturday, April 24. Parents of high school students are again hosting the annual substance-free Post Prom event at the Waukon High School gym immediately following Prom, from 11 p.m. until 3:30 a.m. the next morning.

Very strong past support from parents of Waukon High School students, as well as from local businesses and civic organizations, has resulted in the continued success of providing Prom-goers a safe alternative for celebrating the annual event. That support has provided these young adults with games, food, entertainment, games and prizes at the Post Prom event each year.

Assistance is needed for the event in two main areas:

The Waukon Middle School presented the play “A Thousand and One Nights of Reality Television” by Lesley James, published by Youth Plays, Friday, March 12. The production featured Scheherazade, who oversees the production of hundreds of reality TV shows, and if she doesn’t come up with a new one each and every night, the Sultan will have her job. The producer comes up with some clever ideas in a mix of fairy tales and reality television. Due to COVID-19 precautions, this year’s production was not open to the general public, only to family members of the cast and crew.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday, April 19.

Under the consent agenda, the board approved the following personnel matters: Amy Love was hired as an elementary teacher ($61,722), and Brenda Good was hired as a bus driver. The board also accepted the resignation of Joan Schwartz from her teaching position and as Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) advisor, due to retirement, and Jerry Keenan from his varsity bowling coach position.

The board approved Sunday usage of the football field for varsity football. The board also approved usage of the football field October 6 for the Fields of Faith event. The 2021-2022 AEA Purchasing and Luther College Student Teaching agreements were also approved under the consent agenda.

More than 40 cast, crew and band members from the Waukon High School Musical Theatre Department will present “West Side Story” this weekend, including performances Friday, April 16 at 7 p.m., Saturday, April 17 at 7 p.m. and a Sunday Matinee April 18 at 1 p.m. The production is being brought to the Waukon High School auditorium stage under the guidance of Director Sarah J. Bieber, Assistant Director Louise Wild and Choreographer Adam Hooten.

The playwright, Arthur Laurents, wrote a story of two hostile teenage gangs fighting for leadership among the corners, bridges and buildings of New York’s West Side. Composer Leonard Bernstein composed music to capture the harsh realities of life among the New York City streets.