Education

During Dyslexia Awareness Month in October, newly-certified dyslexia tutor Nikki Breimon was busy settling her St. Patrick preschool classroom into a new school year in Waukon. Even after she went home in the evenings, her work as an educator continued as she provided much-needed services to the community.

Breimon recently graduated from a 60-hour training course offered by Aspire Academy Northeast in partnership with Northeast Iowa Community College-Waukon Center, with funding support from the Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque.

“I have always loved to read, and I want to share that love of reading,” she explains. “I already tutor during the summer, so what a wonderful opportunity to help a dyslexic reader become more confident.”

Breimon also plans to incorporate some of the strategies she’s learned into her classroom of young preschoolers beginning their literacy journey.

by Brianne Grimstad

In September, the Iowa Department of Education released the 2024-2025 Iowa School Performance Profiles. This is the second year of the Iowa Department of Education using the Iowa unified accountability system, which examines a set of core indicators that include proficiency in the areas of English language arts (ELA), math and science, academic growth in math and ELA, chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and postsecondary readiness index in the areas of college credits and work based learning.

Overall, Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) matched or exceeded the state average in most all of the analysis categories, including attendance growth, graduation rates, proficiency in math, science and English language arts, while staying below the state average in the category of chronic absenteeism.

The Meehan Memorial Lansing Public Library continues to host monthly Bridge Talk sessions the second Thursday of each month, beginning at 5 p.m. The next scheduled Bridge Talk session has been slated for November 13 at the library.

Professionals and experts working on the Black Hawk Bridge replacement project present information and take questions from the community during these public sessions. All are welcome to attend. Anyone who may have questions about the Bridge Talk sessions or any other library matter may contact the library by telephone at 563-538-4693 or by email at library@lansing.lib.ia.us.
 

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) School Board met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, October 20. Under the Consent Agenda, the following personnel were approved: Barbara Johnson, middle school paraprofessional; Jesse Peterson, head varsity co-ed bowling coach; Dani Bucknell, girls wrestling volunteer coach; Bob Wasson, 9th grade girls basketball coach; Andy Sires, 9th grade boys basketball coach; Melissa Ward, head varsity softball coach; Jacob Homp, 7th and 8th grade boys wrestling coach; Cheyenne Freilinger, elementary paraprofessional; and Jennifer Davis, elementary paraprofessional.

Iowa residents are encouraged to participate in a free program to help them pay for college expenses. The Iowa Student Loan (ISL) Education Lending Scholarship program is designed to give high school students, undergraduate college students and their parents and guardians access to important information about planning for and financing college while awarding 45 lucky winners $1,000 each in college savings.

The ISL Education Lending Scholarship is open now through December 5 at https://www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Savings. After completing a simple online registration, participants have the opportunity to experience the engaging and informative resources provided by the nonprofit organization.

Participants also receive weekly emails from the time they register until the end of the registration period.

Two of the global causes that Lions Clubs International focuses on are youth and reducing hunger. Lions Clubs strive to help youth to have healthy, productive lives and have access to nutritious foods. With this in mind, the Waukon Lions Club donated $500 to the Allamakee Community School District Milk Program Thursday, October 9. Donations such as this are made possible by the generous support the Waukon Lions Club receives from the community. Pictured at the presentation of the donation check to the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Food Service Department are ACSD Food Service staff members Kay Gavin and Jessica Keenan, and Waukon Lions members Carrie Niehaus, Rosie and Tom Phipps, and Kim Gates. Submitted photo.
 

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering two fall time Wooden Sign Painting classes, one for youths and the other for adults, Tuesday, November 4. The youth class will run from 3:45-4:45 p.m. that day, and the adult class will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Those attending will learn basic painting techniques and create their own adorable wooden signs. This class is perfect for budding artists who love to express themselves creatively. All materials will be provided.

The deadline for paid registration to participated in either of the classes is Tuesday, October 28. To register online, visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.
 

Osterholm will hold book-signing event this Friday at Luther College

Renowned epidemiologist and public health expert Michael T. Osterholm, Ph.D., a 1971 graduate of Waukon High School, will be signing his newest book, “The Big One: How We Must Prepare for Future Deadly Pandemics,” between 1 and 2:30 p.m. this Friday, October 3, at the Luther College Book Shop on the campus of Osterholm’s college alma mater in Decorah. The event is free and open to the public, and books will be available.

In “The Big One,” Osterholm and Mark Olshaker examine past pandemics, highlighting the ways societies both succeeded and failed to address them; trace the COVID-19 pandemic and evaluate how the global pandemic was handled; and look to the future, projecting what the next pandemics might look like and what must be done to mitigate them.

 Iowa Corn has announced the students selected to participate in the 2025-2026 school year’s Collegiate Advisory Team (CAT) program, which focuses on increasing college students’ understanding of the corn industry. During the one-year program, students will visit the Capitol, tour industry leaders’ operations, and expand their network and knowledge outside of the classroom. 

Among those students selected is Olivia Marti, a 2024 graduate of Waukon High School currently in her second year at Iowa State University in Ames. Marti is one of 26 students from Iowa colleges and universities, and one of 15 Iowa State University students, selected to participate in the Collegiate Advisory Team program.

As part of its Live & Learn: enriching lives through monthly learning series, Robey Memorial Library in Waukon is offering a presentation entitled “The Real Promise of Renewable Energy” Thursday, September 25 at 5:30 p.m. in the lower level Community Room of the library. This presentation will explore what renewable energy is, what it isn’t, and realizing the full promise of the technology.

Renewable energy provides a cleaner path forward and reduces dependence on non-renewable resources, offering hope for a more sustainable tomorrow. This program will examine both the obstacles and the opportunities looking toward a greener future.