Education

The Allamakee Community School District hosted its annual Employee Recognition event Monday, June 3 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium for all employees of the school district as the end of the school year approached. The event featured the honoring of school district employees who have achieved milestone tenures of 15, 20, 25 and 30 years of service to the school district, as well as one staff member who retired from the school district. Some of those employees are pictured in the surrounding photos, and all are listed within their respective captions, pictured or not.
 

In a statement released by Allamakee Community School District Superintendent Jay Mathis late last week, the Allamakee Community School District has announced the hiring of Luke Steege as the new Waukon Middle School Principal and Activities Director. He will replace Jen Garin, who was hired as the Waukon High School Principal earlier this year following the retirement resignation of Dr. Michael Hardy.

According to the released statement, Steege brings 26 years of teaching and coaching experience with him to the position. He currently serves as At-Risk Coordinator and Activities Director at Postville High School and has taught middle school and high school social studies in Arizona and Postville. He obtained his Master’s degree in Administration from Drake University in 2018. His duties as Waukon Middle School Principal and Activities Director will officially begin August 1.
 

Nathan Helgerson and Grace Howe from Allamakee County were each awarded the Marion E. Jerome Foundation 4-H Scholarship of $2,000 through the Iowa 4-H Foundation at a recognition ceremony Sunday, June 2 in Ames. The Iowa 4-H Foundation honored the recipients of over 100 Iowa 4-H scholarships valued at over $115,000 at this year’s banquet.

Recipients accepted their awards Sunday, June 2 at the Foundation’s scholarship recognition ceremony held in the Scheman Building on the campus of Iowa State University. Over 400 applications were submitted and scholarships have been awarded to recipients from 50 counties across the state of Iowa with a wide variety of 4-H experiences.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The regular meeting of the Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) was held at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, May 20. The meeting was called to order by Board President Heather Schulte. Board members present included Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss and Heather Schulte, with board members Bruce Palmborg and Kelli Mudderman absent. Also present at the meeting were EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, New Albin Elementary Principal Chad Steckel and Board Secretary Marian Verdon.

After the agenda was unanimously adopted, the Board held a public hearing on the 2018-2019 budget amendment which increased the budget in the non-instruction program area. With no public comment on the proposed budget amendment for 2018-2019, the amendment passed unanimously during the regular session of the board meeting.

Waukon Middle School seventh grader Olivia Marti entered a drawing for the Iowa State Fair calendar contest hosted by the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The entry was to be an 8.5”x11”, horizontal, black and white drawing that represents agriculture in Iowa. There will be 12 winners selected this summer to be included on this year’s calendar. Submitted image.
 

Pinterest Projects Class is being held Thursday, June 13 from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the lower level of Robey Memorial Library in Waukon, featuring Paper Quilling for this session. This unique art form uses strips of paper that are rolled, curled, shaped and glued to create simple to intricate designs. This bi-monthly class features a project found on Pinterest and materials will be provided by the library.

Pinterest is a visual bookmarking tool that helps discover and save creative ideas. Registration is recommended for this class; contact the library at www.waukon.lib.ia.us or 563-568-4424 to register.
 

Monday, May 15 the Waukon Middle School 10th Hour Program’s Drama Club presented the play “All the Bases” by Alan Haehnel (Brooklyn Publishers) to their families and community members. The play was based on a survey that was conducted in an effort to create the perfect production. The cast begins by reading the “survey results” they got from the audience in response to the question, “What do you want from a play?” Based on these responses, the cast creates a checklist and presents a play meeting all 15 audience requirements. The hilarious result is that its a “short-cheap-educational-safe, non-schedule-interfering, colorfully-costumed-interesting-set, photogenic, Shakespearean, self-esteem-building, combative-musical-repartee-filled, stars-your-precious-child, contains-no-scratching-or-picking-of-the-embarrassing-variety...show!” Drama Club leaders say the students did a wonderful job and had a fun time creating their own costumes. Submitted photo.
 

Nathan Helgerson (center), Waukon High School graduating senior and son of Erik and Janelle Helgerson of rural Lansing, was recognized by Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds (right) and Lieutenant Governor Adam Gregg (left) for outstanding academic achievement at the 17th Annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony held April 28 at Hy-Vee Hall in Des Moines. The statewide program, sponsored by the Iowa Governor’s Office, Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSAA) and its title sponsor, the Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF), honored 424 high school seniors from throughout Iowa at this year’s ceremony. “Iowa Farm Bureau members are proud that their organization showcases its commitment to youth and education in many ways, including the half million dollars in scholarships we provide each year. Our 17-year title sponsorship of the Annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony is just one way we celebrate Iowa’s exceptional high school students,” said IFBF President Craig Hill.

The Waukon High School and Middle School art students under the direction of Carlyn Lechtenberg invited students from West and East Elementary Schools over to their art room again this semester, but this time to “fly” on over and see/take pictures with the students’ Kelsey Montague-inspired wings (pictured below). The wings are part of Montague’s “what lifts you” campaign and are designed to spread a kind, motivational, inspirational, uplifting message. Students have been coming over the last couple weeks of the school year to view the middle/high school artwork that is on display, interact with the large “wing” art display and play a game with the older students to create their own inspirational feathers (as pictured above). The wings were also on display in the Waukon High School gym for the Waukon High School graduation ceremonies held Sunday, May 19. Submitted photos.
 

The Waukon High School Music Department traveled to Decorah for the Iowa High School Music Association Large Group Festival Friday, May 3. Each ensemble performed for three judges during the event and those judges’ scores were averaged to reach a final rating for each group. The Mixed Concert Choir (pictured at center), JV Women’s Choir (pictured at right below) and the Concert Band (pictured above) each received a Division I rating, the highest rating that can be achieved at State contests.