Education

The Lawrence D. Anderson VFW Auxiliary #4117 recently presented awards to local elementary school students who had advanced and won at the district and department level in Iowa in the annual student essay contest.  The annual “I Love America Because” VFW Auxiliary Elementary School Essay Contest for students in third, fourth and fifth grades was held last November and winning local entries advanced to the district level in January and then on to the department (state) level more recently.

Third grade students used the topic “I Love America Because…” and winning first place at the district level and also first place at the department level was Reegan Benzing, daughter of Ryland and Shannon Benzing of Waukon. She is a member of Mrs. Sara Retallick’s class at East Elementary School where Mr. Joe Griffith is principal.

Allamakee County will offer a “Last Chance” Private Pesticide Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for private pesticide applicators Thursday, April 12 at the Allamakee County Extension Office in Waukon. This program is shown in cooperation with the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

Registration begins at 10 a.m. and the course runs for approximately two-and-a-half hours. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County by phoning 563-568-6345.

The course will fulfill 2017 recertification requirements for private pesticide applicators. Topics to be covered include pesticide storage and handling, laws and regulations, personal protective equipment, pesticide stewardship, and pest management and pesticides.

Ninety percent of the fastest growing careers require additional education and training beyond a high school diploma. To prepare students and families for life decisions and planning beyond high school, the Waukon High School counseling office has invited a representative from the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) to provide a free financial aid presentation Monday, April 2 at 6 p.m. in the Waukon High School library. The presentation is geared toward high school juniors and their parents.

Topics covered at the presentation will include:

• Financial Aid Process
• FAFSA Application Review
• Understanding FAFSA Results
• Understanding Costs - College Comparisons
• Financial Aid Options
• Scholarships Process
• Where to Go for Help.

The Junior High Band (pictured above) and the Sixth Grade Band (pictured below) from the Allamakee Community School District each earned Superior ratings at the Northeast Iowa Bandmasters Association (NEIBA) Large Group Contest held Tuesday, March 13 at the Waukon High School gymnasium. This is the tenth consecutive year that both bands have earned the highest available rating at this contest. A total of nine middle school bands from throughout northeast Iowa participated in the annual event. Submitted photos.
 

East Elementary School fifth grader Mercedes Wilkins of Waukon is currently being featured as Artsonia’s Artist of the Week for fourth-sixth grades. Some of her artwork, including the “Straw Weaving” project she is displaying in the above photo, will be featured on the Artsonia website, www.artsonia.com/museum/aotw/, during this week of March 25-31 after she received one of the top vote totals in the weekly contest. She will also receive a plaque and a $50 gift certificate from Blick art supplies, and the Allamakee Community School District elementary art program, under the direction of Carlyn Lechtenberg, receives a $100 art gift certificate as well. Submitted photo.

by Brianne Eilers

MARCH 5 SPECIAL SESSIONS
The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met in closed sessions for special meetings Monday, March 5 regarding the selection of a new superintendent to lead the district. During the 6 p.m. meeting, the motion to offer a two-year contract for the position of superintendent to Robert Jay Mathis at an annual salary of $149,500 was approved. See sidebar story in shaded box at right for additional information on Mathis and his hiring.

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors officially hired area native Jay Mathis for the district's Superintendent position at the board's regular monthly session Monday, March 19. Mathis and retiring ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold will be transitioning the rest of the school year before Mathis officially begins his duties July 1 of this year.

Iowa State University Allamakee County Extension and Outreach is hosting a financial workshop, "Making Ends Meet." For those who would like to get more for their money, save money for their financial goals, have money ready for emergencies, develop a plan for spending and saving and be more confident about their money, this program, taught by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Human Sciences Family Finance Specialist Jeannette Mukayisire, is designed to help.

During this two-part workshop, attendees will learn how to make their money work for them. The workshop is free to the public and will meet at the Allamakee County Extension and Outreach Office in Waukon, located at 218 Seventh Avenue SE, Suite #102, Tuesday, May 22 and Tuesday, May 29 from 2-3:30 p.m.

Waukon High School junior Sean Liddiard, pictured in the center of the above photo at the State of Iowa competition for the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and VFW Auxiliary Voice of Democracy student essay contest where he was awarded first place earlier this year, represented the VFW Department of Iowa at the national level of competition held in early March during the 2018 VFW Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. The son of Dan and Kelly Liddiard of Waterville, he was one of 53 finalists for the national level of the essay competition, and he was one of 17 essayists in that national competition to win a $1,000 scholarship, being awarded the Department of Tennessee Cooper T. Holt - John Furgess Scholarship. All 53 national finalists were awarded scholarships ranging from the $30,000 top prize to $1,000 scholarships. Robyn Anzulis of Woodbine, MD represented the VFW Department of Maryland and was awarded the $30,000 T.C.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering "Air Fryers & InstaPots: Avoiding the ‘Single Use Syndrome’" Tuesday, March 20 from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Those who own an Air Fryer and/or an InstaPot, or who are thinking of getting one, can explore a range of easy-to-prepare meals and snacks that will make these appliances worth the space they take in the pantry. To register online for “Air Fryers & InstaPots: Avoiding the ‘Single Use Syndrome’” (#59647) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions, call NICC Business and Community Solutions at 800-728-2256, ext. 399 (Calmar campus) or the NICC Waukon Center at 563-568-3060.