Education

Mystery Science lessons are hands-on and engaging to students, inspiring students to love Science. All Mystery Science lessons are aligned with Next Generation Science Standards and support Common Core. Pictured in the photo at left, third grade students in Mrs. Byrnes’ classroom at St. Patrick School in Waukon take part in the Mystery Science lesson “Can you outrun a dinosaur?”. In this lesson students learned about how fossil dinosaur tracks reveal how fast a dinosaur can run. The students were able to explore and figure out if they could have won a race with a dinosaur that was just their size. To determine the winner, students compared the length of the dinosaur’s steps with their own running steps, as shown in the submitted photo.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Monday evening, October 18 for its regular monthly meeting. Under the consent agenda, the board approved the following personnel matters: After School Programming staff, Brittany Blocker as a part-time cook, Kimberly Shelton as co-ed bowling coach, changes in hours for Samantha Larsen, and Kyle Gordon as middle school wrestling coach. The board accepted the following resignations: Brooke Welsh from her seventh grade girls track coach position and Sarah Ferguson from her grades 6-12 art teacher position. The board approved an out-of-state trip for the music department to Chicago and Nashville in 2022. The board also approved an eligibility waiver regarding an open enrollment, as well as SIAC members.

Ever wonder why apples turn brown and rot? Allamakee County 4-H Clover Kids took that question a step farther with some apple science at their September meeting. They predicted what would happen to apple slices left out in the air or placed in water, soda pop, vinegar, tonic water and lemon juice (such as pictured in the photo above). After letting the apple slices sit for an hour, the Clover Kids compared the slices to their predictions.

Among states and U.S. territories that use HiSET, a high school equivalency exam, Iowa ranks the highest for the percent of individuals who passed the test. Last year, 95.9 percent of Iowans seeking a high school equivalency diploma passed the exam, compared to 80.5 percent nationally.

The HiSET has served as the state-approved test since 2014. The exam measures the knowledge and proficiencies equivalent to those of an Iowa high school graduate. A total of 1,003 Iowans passed the test last year, which is administered in 25 states, including Iowa, as well as four U.S. territories.

Meanwhile, the highest number of high school equivalency diploma students at Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) also passed the HiSET for program year 2020-2021, with 94 graduates, more than any other program year since the test was introduced in 2014. During that time span, 401 students have graduated from the NICC program.

Equity Cooperative Livestock Sales Association is offering ten $1,250 scholarships for the 2022 academic year to college students pursuing careers, as well as two $1,000 scholarships for students earning degrees from technical colleges/short courses.

“Equity Livestock is proud to help students further their educational endeavors by offering scholarships,” says Curt Larson, president/CEO. “Education can make a difference, and the expense to attend college can be a challenge. Offering scholarships can help make it affordable, and we believe in investing in our future leaders.”

To be eligible, applicants must be a member or the son or daughter of an Equity Cooperative Livestock producer pursuing higher education from an accredited college, university, or technical school. Scholarship winners are selected based on their scholastic achievements, extracurricular activities, application essay response and letter of reference.

Saturday, September 25, the Waukon High School Marching Band performed the pre-game and halftime shows at Warburg College in Waverly. This is the third time in the past five years that the band has had the honor to perform at a home football game for the college. The game featured the Wartburg Knights hosting the Coe College Kohawks, both of which have several Waukon football alumni listed on their respective rosters this season. The band will continue to perform at halftime for the remaining home games for the Waukon High School football team, as well as perform at the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Marching Band Festival this Saturday, October 9. The band is under the direction of Jo Ann Knipfer Sherman. Submitted photo.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) held its regular meeting at Kee High School in Lansing Monday, September 20, the first meeting held after the start of the new school year. Board member Kelli Mudderman was not present.

After some additions to the agenda, the board adopted the agenda and the meeting proceeded with the usual authorizations for the September consent items, minutes of the regular August meeting, bills for September, Secretary’s Financial Report for August, Student Activity and Food Service August Reports.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering “Mini STEAM Camp K-5th” Wednesday, October 20 from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Ave NW.

Keep kids engaged on the off-school day by signing them up for a mini-STEAM camp. Kindergarten through fifth grade students will be doing Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math activities. Snacks and supplies are provided. Camp hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. and campers should bring a sack lunch.

The deadline for paid registration is October 13. To register online for the camp visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/83486 or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

Waukon High School student was last year’s winner

Calling all student artists in kindergarten through twelfth grade. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is now accepting entries for the 2022 Iowa Federal Junior Duck Stamp (JDS) art contest.

While entering the JDS contest, students have the opportunity to learn about waterfowl and their habitat, and then create an image of an eligible North American waterfowl species. School groups and informal groups can enter this contest, or the student may enter individually.

Iowa entries for the 2022 Contest must be postmarked by March 15, 2022 and mailed to: DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge; ATTN: Junior Duck Stamp; 1434 316th Lane; Missouri Valley, IA 51555.

All information needed to participate can be found on the website: www.fws.gov/juniorduck.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a “Mosaic-Framed Mirror” class Thursday, October 14, from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Ave NW.

Starting with a 12”x12” wooden-framed mirror, participants will learn to plan, arrange and finish a project using cutting tools, adhesives and basic grouting and sealing techniques. Personalizing a mirror with “tesserae” - china, stained glass, marbles and tiles - is easy with the selection of materials provided, but participants are also welcome to bring jewelry parts, beads or even grandma’s special china plate to use as well. Participants are asked to bring an apron or smock to protect their clothing and a pair of Playtex gloves to wear for grouting.

The deadline for paid registration is October 7. To register online, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions/83485 or call NICC Waukon center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.