Education

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach staff members were honored in October at the Iowa 4-H YouthFest professional development conference. Award recipients were recognized for their impact on local communities, accomplishments in their field and embodiment of the ISU Extension and Outreach 4-H mission.

The award ceremony was held over two days, October 29-30, in Ames as a part of the annual YouthFest conference, which brings together ISU Extension and Outreach staff from all over the state to celebrate the work they are doing and participate in workshops and educational opportunities in the field of 4-H youth development. The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office had its County Youth Coordinator and K-12 Program Coordinator recognized at this year’s event.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) met at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, November 11. The meeting began with a work session prior to the regular board meeting.

Board members Bobbie Goetzinger, Heather Lutz, Joe Manning, Melanie Mauss and Arla Wagner were all present. Superintendent Nick Trenkamp and Board Secretary Michele Martin were also present.

During the work session, Superintendent Trenkamp gave a presentation that included an overview of certified enrollment, open enrollment history, unspent balance, insurance costs, class size, and current tax rates.

by Brianne Grimstad

Early in the second full week of November, the Iowa Department of Education released the results of the new state school performance ratings and federal designations, called the Iowa School Performance Profiles. Using data from the 2023-2024 school year, this year’s Profiles marked the first time new state school performance ratings and federal designations have been determined using an updated state plan for school accountability and support.

Second grade students at St. Patrick School in Waukon joined all second grade classes from across the state of Iowa this past week in receiving a complimentary copy of the book “Just Like Caitlin,” written by Ally Obermeier about former Iowa Hawkeye women’s basketball star Caitlin Clark. The books were donated to the students by Dickson and Luann Jensen, who are the parents of the author, and Dickson Jensen was one of Caitlin Clark’s former coaches during her time playing youth basketball for the All-Iowa Attack.

Ellec Armstead, a 2020 Waukon High School graduate and current senior at the University of Dubuque, was awarded the Sergeant Jeffrey B. Dodge Scholarship during Homecoming Weekend at the University of Dubuque, held the first weekend in October. The scholarship is named in honor of U.S. Army Sergeant Jeffrey Dodge, who was a 1968 graduate of the University of Dubuque and went on to serve in the Vietnam War, being killed in action two days before he was scheduled to return to the United States.

The Sergeant Jeffrey B. Dodge Veterans Center on the University of Dubuque campus is also named after Sgt. Dodge. As a member of the Iowa Army National Guard and the University of Dubuque Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) program, Armstead has contributed a great deal of time to that Center during her academic career at the University of Dubuque.

Drew Adam, a Service Technician at R.W. Pladsen, Inc. in Waukon, recently achieved GM World Class Technician certification through General Motors (GM). The achievement is accomplished through the training and certifications available from the GM Service Technical College (STC) and Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) training programs.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors first met Tuesday, October 29 for a special meeting to discuss a pair of agenda items. Board member Scott Melcher was absent.

The board approved specifications for an 84-passenger diesel bus and a 60-passenger propane bus. In October, ACSD was informed it had received a $25,000 grant through the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Clean Bus Rebate, which the propane bus would qualify for. The board approved the specifications, with sealed bids being accepted until November 13, 2024.

The board also approved adding an assistant wresting coach. In an email to the district, Activities Director Brian Hilsabeck noted that 54 individuals had signed up for the 2024-2025 boys wrestling season and the wrestling program requested an assistant coach to help with that. The board approved the addition of an assistant wrestling coach position.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office will host a Fumigation Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial and private pesticide applicators Tuesday, November 19. 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 is the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office, Waukon. The course runs from 9-11 a.m. The registration fee increases after November 12. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

The Greenhouse Pest Control Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators is now available. The program is provided by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The course will fulfill 2024 continuing instruction requirements for commercial pesticide applicators certified in category 3G. Some of the topics covered will include information on application equipment use, maintenance, and calibration; safe application techniques, including pesticide drift reduction; and pests and pest management topics including phytotoxicity as appropriate.

To obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office in Waukon at 563-568-6345. Additional information for this and other courses offered by PSEP can also be accessed online at https://www.extension.iastate.edu/psep/.
 

The auditorium at Waukon High School is slowly being transformed into a magical wonderland for the Waukon High School fall musical production of “Mary Poppins.” The production stars Waukon High School seniors Molly Peake and Dekota Bechtel, along with sophomores Michael Koester and Dani Mason and middle schoolers Connor Buhl and Sophia Pommersheim, in addition to numerous other students within the Allamakee Community School District, all pictured here.

The “Mary Poppins” musical follows the adventures of a magical nanny who transforms the lives of the Banks family. With her whimsical charm and enchanting abilities, she teaches the children valuable life lessons, bringing joy and love back into their home. The story emphasizes themes of family, imagination, and the importance of embracing life’s wonders.