Education

Northeast Iowa Community Action Corporation (NEICAC) has announced the availability of NEICAC Scholarships supported solely by employees and friends of Community Action.

The application and criteria for eligibility are available through the County Family Service Offices or the Administrative Office in Decorah (563-382-8436), online at https://www.neicac.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/2022-Scholarship-Filla..., or at high school guidance counselors’ offices. Applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 29 to be considered.

Kee High School will be presenting the musical “Little Shop of Horrors” (Music Theatre International production: Book and lyrics by Howard Ashman and music by Alan Menken) this Saturday, April 2 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, April 3 at 2 p.m. in the Kee High School gymnasium. Admission will be taken at the door. This production is not like any type of production performed previously at Kee High School as it is not only a little on the creepy side but it also entails the use of hand puppets and life-size puppets; specifically, a large plant that needs human blood to grow. Imagine the dilemma of a young man who lives in Skid Row where the only thing that will gain him wealth, fame and the woman he loves is by succumbing to the demands of a talking, blood thirsting plant with its own initiative. The special effects and music are what will make this production one to remember.

Students taking part in the 21st Century Grant programs in the Allamakee Community School District have been busy learning and sharing through some recent activities. Pictured above, Waukon Middle School students participating in the 21st Century Grant program made lap quilts for residents of Good Samaritan Society and Northgate Care Center in Waukon. Many of the students have not been able to visit family and it was important for them to reach out and show they cared through the project they called “Quilts because we care”.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) met at the Kee High School ICN Room in Lansing Monday, March 21. Board member Kelli Mudderman was not present.

After the approval of the agenda, the public hearing on the 2022-2023 budget was opened. No one from the public offered comment. Later in the business meeting, the board unanimously approved the budget.

The board approved the March consent items, including minutes of the February meeting, bills for March, Student Activity and Food Service February Reports. The board meeting for April 18 was scheduled to be held at the Kee Connect location.

Waukon’s Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter has been very busy this school year.  As chapter members prepare for their upcoming trip to the State Leadership Conference in Coralville March 31-April 2, FBLA students celebrated National Career & Technical Education Month in February with FBLA Week festivities and reflect on all of the achievements this school year.

Waukon FBLA students kicked off the year with its annual FBLA haunted park, selling over 800 admission tickets. Students hosted their rooms and ensured that all visitors had a fun and frightening night, utilizing teamwork to put together a great event that brought students together.

FBLA students also had many opportunities to give back to the community. Opportunities such as a can drive competition and volunteering to rake leaves through town proved to be a fun and productive experience for FBLA students to lend a helping hand in their community.

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met in a pair of recent meetings during the month of March. Coverage of both meetings appears below.

SPECIAL MEETING MARCH 11
The Allamakee Community School District board members met for a special meeting Friday, March 11. Under personnel matters, the board approved the following hiring recommendations: Shaylie Hammel as Middle School Geography/U.S. History Teacher; Jaydon Snitker as Middle School English Language Arts Teacher; Kris Rausch as Third Grade Teacher; Shaylie Hammel as High School Speech Advisor; Casey Walsh as Substitute Bus Driver; and Morgan Renfer as Elementary Special Education Teacher.

Allamakee Scholarship Fund (ASF), Inc. will hold a Recognition Breakfast Wednesday, March 30 at 7:30 a.m. in the Waukon High School cafeteria. Applicants and their parents will be special guests. The breakfast is being held to thank individual and group donors and to recognize student applicants.

Pledges from the recent scholarship fundraising mailing can be turned in at that time or mailed to: Allamakee Scholarship Fund, Inc., P.O. Box 144, Waukon, IA 52172.

Organizations and other scholarship donors need to have awards to ASF Treasurer Amy McCormick at Waukon State Bank by that date also, and Awards Program information can be verified with Amy Wasson at Waukon High School. Individuals, families and organizations awarding scholarships this May are encouraged to attend the Recognition Breakfast.
 

Hundreds of students from the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) celebrated the National Read Across America event together Tuesday, March 1. District Teacher Librarian Lisa Snitker and the elementary reading committee organized the annual paired reading event in the Waukon High School/Middle School Auditorium. Students from East and West Elementary partner-read with Waukon Middle School students, reading print books and eBooks on the middle school student laptops, as pictured in the surrounding photos.

The seven members of Kee High School’s Individual Speech team pictured above took a total of 10 events to District Contest Saturday, February 26 at Maquoketa Valley High School. Pictured above, left to right are: Front row - Zoey Timmerman, Riley Troendle, Cadan Evanson, Neva Peterson; Back row - Isabelle Hammell, Abby Wood, Ahmed Atta. The following students advanced to the State Contest held Saturday, March 12 at Clear Lake High School: Abby Wood in Solo Musical Theatre, Ahmed Atta in Poetry, Neva Peterson in Literary Program, Riley Troendle in Prose and Cadan Evanson in Storytelling.

All five of those performances received a Division I rating and a gold medal at Saturday’s State Contest. Submitted photo.

As a leading contributor to educational programs and scholarships for children in the state of Iowa, Farm Bureau provides students with over a million dollars of scholarship support. By investing in local youth, the Iowa Farm Bureau feels it is investing in the future of Iowa. This year, Allamakee County Farm Bureau is presenting scholarships to four area high school seniors.

Madelyn Helgerson is the daughter of Erik and Janelle Helgerson of Lansing and a Waukon High School senior. She plans to attend Iowa State University in Ames with a major in Elementary Education and a minor in Learning Technologies. Her application is also being sent to Iowa Farm Bureau for consideration of an additional scholarship.

Drew Stock is the son of Mark and Stacy Stock of Waukon and a Waukon High School senior. He plans to attend South Dakota State University in Brookings, SD with a major in Animal Science and a minor in Business.