Education

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Education met in a brief special session Monday morning, May 18 for the purpose of approving the hiring of a new principal for Waukon High School following the recent resignation of current principal Dan Diercks, who is assuming the role of Superintendent for the Oelwein Community School District. The Board had interviewed three candidates for the high school principal position Friday, May 15, including current Waukon High School Assistant Principal/Activities Director Jennifer Garin (who is scheduled to be Principal/Activities Director at Waukon Junior High for the next school year), Waukon native Colin Wikan and Dr. Mike Hardy of Maryville, MO.
The Board approved the hiring of Dr. Hardy at Monday's meeting at a salary of $105,000 per year. ACSD Board of Education President Al Rissman said, “We had a lot of good applicants. Dr. Hardy will be a great asset to the school and community.”

Valedictorians or top graduating seniors were once again honored by KWWL Television and Wartburg College in a ceremony held Saturday, April 18. The students took part in KWWL’s 31st annual “Best of the Class” celebration on the Wartburg College campus in Waverly. Lyvia Bulman from Waukon High School, daughter of Lenny and Kelly Bulman of Waukon, was honored as a member of the 2015 Best of the Class. Best of the Class students were videotaped on the Wartburg campus for a series of public service announcements, which have been airing on KWWL. KWWL Vice President and General Manager Jim McKernan noted, "KWWL is proud to be associated with an event that shines a light on these outstanding students, their families and schools." Pictured above, left to right, are KWWL Chief Meteorologist Mark Schnackenberg, news anchor Ron Steele, Lyvia Bulman, news anchor Amanda Goodman and Sports Director Rick Coleman. Submitted photo.
 

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

An open house is scheduled for this Saturday, May 23 for the new home constructed by students in the Waukon High School Construction Class under the direction of instructor Jed Hemann, with students in several other Waukon High School classes also participating in design and other aspects of completing the home. The open house will take place from 9 a.m. until 12 noon this Saturday, and the address of the house is 116 12th Street NW in Waukon, just south of the Waukon Wellness Center. For additional information about the house or the overall construction project contact Jed Hemann at Waukon High School at 563-568-3466.
 

by Brianne Eilers

Emily Opfer (right), Waukon High School (WHS) graduating senior, was recognized by Iowa Governor Terry Branstad (left) for outstanding academic achievement at the 13th Annual Governor’s Scholar Recognition Ceremony April 26 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 436 high school seniors from throughout Iowa. “Iowa Farm Bureau members believe that by investing in our youth and communities, we’re investing in the future of Iowa,” said IFBF President Craig Hill.

Parents have been there for all of their child’s firsts: the pivotal first day of school, the first time they rode a bike, their first heartbreak, the much anticipated first school dance, and their first graduation. The time has flown by, and now students have their sites set on getting ready to move out of the house for the first time to go to college.
Helping teenagers navigate their way through life doesn’t have to stop just because they are going away to school. Carol Hopp, prevention specialist at Helping Services for Northeast Iowa, says, “We, at Helping Services, are here to empower you to continue helping your young adolescent grow into a motivated young adult. One way to do this is by having regular conversations with your student about your respective values and expectations - especially how you each view substance use and its impact on their future.”

The Oelwein Community School District is reporting the hiring of Waukon High School Principal Dan Diercks as its new Superintendent, effective July 1 of this year. The Oelwein Community School District Board of Education announced the hiring of Diercks at its Wednesday, April 29 meeting.

Waukon High School seniors Brock Waters and Samantha Swartz were selected as the 2015 Waukon High School Prom King and Queen at the annual event held Saturday, April 25. Swartz was selected from a Queen court that also involved fellow seniors Katelyn Kolsrud, Allie Schwartz and Jacqueline Welch. Waters was chosen from a King court that included fellow seniors Adam Benzing, Jacob Ronan and Landon Sivesind.
 

Kee High School seniors Tom Brennan and Malerie Mathis were selected as the 2015 Kee High School Prom King and Queen at the annual event held Saturday, April 25. Mathis was selected from a Queen court that also consisted of fellow seniors Morgan Davis, Winter Manning and Megan Vinson. Brennan was chosen from a King court that also included fellow seniors Keegan Ahouse, Michael Harris and Sam Hisel. Photo courtesy of the Kee High School Yearbook.