Education

The Allamakee County Conservation Foundation (ACCF) is offering scholarship opportunities for graduating seniors who will be attending a college or university pursuing a degree in natural resources or a related field. One $500 scholarship will be offered to a senior from each of the area high schools in Allamakee County, including Postville, Waukon and Kee High Schools.

Students who would like to apply for the scholarship are encouraged to visit www.allamakeecountyconservation.org, the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing, or their school’s guidance counselor for an application. Applications will be accepted until April 1 of this year and recipients will be notified by May 8.

The Kee High School Speech Program had seven individual speech members (pictured in group photo below) take nine events to the District Contest February 24 at West Delaware High School in Manchester, where eight of the events advanced on to the State competition held at Hampton-Dumont High School Saturday, March 9. Kee Speech students attending the District Contest, pictured left to right, included: Front row - Payton Becker, Riley Troendle and Ashlyn Henkes; Back row - Isabelle Mettille, Cadan Evanson, Izzy Hammell and Brendan Jones.

At the State Contest, the Kee participants received the following ratings: Cadan Evanson - Radio News (1) and Prose (1); Riley Troendle - Prose (2) and Expository Address (1); Brendan Jones - Spontaneous (1); Izzy Hammell - Poetry (1); Payton Becker - After Dinner (2); Isabelle Mettille - Music Theatre (1).

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday, March 18. Board members Erik Helgerson and Kelly Deeney were absent. The board approved the revised agenda.

Under the consent agenda, the board approved the hiring of the following personnel (pending a satisfactory background check): Josh and Nate  Keenan, Summer Custodial Help; Ann Hagensick, Elementary Education Teacher, Strat I; Tim Bulman, Middle School Football Coach; Alison Sherman, Middle School Math Teacher; and Kids Club Staff. The board also approved two staff transfers: Stacy Miner from Middle School Special Education to Middle School Math and Allison Rottink from Elementary Special Education Strat I to Elementary Special Education, Strat II-ID.

Iowa high school and college students, as well as their parents or guardians, have a chance at one of 45 scholarship awards deposited into a College Savings Iowa account. Registration for the Iowa Student Loan (ISL) Education Lending Scholarship is open now through March 29. Registration is available online at www.IowaStudentLoan.org/Savings and scholarship recipients will be determined by a random drawing in April.

“After a very successful fall registration period, we are happy to offer a second chance for Iowa families to receive funds for their education,” said Steve McCullough, president and CEO, Iowa Student Loan Liquidity Corporation (ISLLC), which sponsors the scholarship and provides educational funding under the name ISL Education Lending. “And the valuable information all registrants receive as part of the program can help make their existing college funding go further.”

Area residents of Waukon will have the chance to see one of Iowa’s premier performing arts organizations when OPERA Iowa, Des Moines Metro Opera’s educational touring troupe, arrives Monday, April 1 to present Gretry/Borths’ Beauty and the Beast (sung in English), at the Waukon Middle School Auditorium at 7 p.m.

The performance is sponsored by the Allamakee Music Boosters and PSST (Parents Supporting Students and Teachers - the parent organization that helps support the elementary schools in Allamakee Community Schools). Tickets will be available at the door the evening of the performance.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District Board of Directors held a special board meeting Friday morning, March 8 to discuss a handful of personnel matters and a change authorization request. Among those personnel items, the board approved Carley Sweeney as a volunteer coach for the Waukon golf program.

The board also accepted the following resignations: Bob Wasson from his ninth grade boys basketball coaching position (pending finding a suitable replacement), Melissa Ward from her middle school math position, Jason LaPage from his positions of middle school math and middle school play director, Jeff Haas from his custodian position, and Ashley Beach from her position of Strategist II Special Education Teacher. The board also approved a Change Authorization Request for $20,856 to the Waukon Middle School HVAC Upgrade project that includes the replacement of four doors at the middle school facility.
 

St. Patrick School in Waukon will be hosting its annual 5K Family Fun Run & Walk Saturday, March 30 in Waukon. The event is open to all ages and the 5K walk/run will begin at 8 a.m.

Registration for the event can be accomplished by filling out a registration form and returning it, along with the appropriate payment, to: St. Patrick School, c/o Katie Fahey, 200 2nd Street SW, Waukon, IA 52172. The registration fee, which guarantees a long-sleeved t-shirt, is $20 ($15 for youth participants) if paid by March 18. Registration will also be held the day of the event from 7-7:45 a.m. at the St. Patrick School Upper Building gymnasium, but registration after the March 18 date will not guarantee receipt of a long-sleeved t-shirt and will be charged an additional $5 fee.

The Kee High School Speech Program will host its annual Dinner Theatre Saturday, March 16 at TJ Hunters Banquet Hall in Lansing. Students who were part of the Kee High School Large Group and Individual Speech performances this season will present their creative talents on stage for all to enjoy.

Doors open at 5 p.m. and the meal will be served beginning at 5:30 p.m., including brisket, barbeque chicken, party potatoes, green bean casserole, and Oreo fluff, along with the famous dessert bar. Tickets are being sold through this Thursday, March 7 and can be purchased from any Kee High School Speech student or from the Kee High School office by calling 563-538-4201.
 

The Waukon High School Class of 1983 held its 40-year reunion during the 2023 Homecoming celebration of its alma mater this past fall, and members of that class raised $500 for the Welding Program at Waukon High School. Pictured in the photo above, Class of 1983 members (left to right in center of photo) Rita (Ronan) Pfiffner and Gregg Jones presented the $500 donation check to Waukon High School Industrial Technology instructor Caleb Ferring, with Waukon High School Principal Jen Garin (far left) and welding students from Waukon High School also pictured in the photo. Ferring said the funding will likely be designated to pay entry fees and meet other financial obligations for his students entering the welding competitions available to them through the recently expanded welding program coordinated by Waukon High School with Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC).

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering a Ceramic Self-Watering Flower Pot class Tuesday, April 9. The adult class will run from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, 1220 3rd Avenue NW.

Historians and archaeologists believe the earliest examples of glazed ceramics appear in the world as far back as the 8th century. Class participants can learn this ancient tradition and art, how to apply glaze colors, styles and their own unique imprint on pottery through the glazing process. Participants can be creative and enjoy uncomplicated artmaking with pottery pieces and numerous glaze colors provided. No experience is necessary and all skill levels are welcome. All supplies will be included.

The deadline for paid registration for the class is April 2. To register online visit www.nicc.edu/waukon or call NICC Waukon Center at 844-642-2338, ext. 6700.