Education

Waukon State Bank is participate in Money Smart Week being observed April 21-28 this year, and there is an opportunity for a student to earn money for college through the Iowa Money Smart Kid Essay Contest, which is sponsored by the Iowa Bankers Association in partnership with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

Students in seventh through 11th grades can now enter the 12th annual Money Smart Kid Essay Contest. The student with the winning essay will be selected as Iowa’s Money Smart Kid for 2018 and receive $1,000 toward college savings, funded by the Iowa Bankers Association.

“The Money Smart Kid Essay Contest is a fun competition to get the next generation thinking about the importance of saving,” said Gail Prestemon, Waukon State Bank President. “We would love to see a student from our local community receive this year’s award and encourage all eligible students to participate.”

After winter weather forced cancellation of school this past Friday, February 23, the Waukon High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter will now be hosting its annual FBLA Carnival this Friday, March 2 in the Waukon High School gymnasium and cafeteria from 4-7 p.m. All games and activities will be available to play for just a quarter with proceeds returning back to the elementary schools. Some of those activities include Gunny Sack Races, Pool Noodle Toss, Soccer, Duck Pond, Bags, Scooter Races, Football Toss, Basketball, Face Painting, Balloon Darts, Fishing, Finger Painting, Ring Toss, Photo Booth, Hungry Hippos, Cookie Decorating, Bowling, Jumbo Jenga and Nerf Darts. A small concession stand will also be available. Submitted photo.
 

by Brianne Eilers

Due to the threat of inclement weather, the regular monthly board meeting of the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) was postponed from its usual Monday date to Wednesday night, February 21. Board member Tim Waters was absent.

During the Superintendent's report, ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold discussed changes to IPERS. He also touched briefly on legislative measures at the State level and talked about public speaker Aaron Thomas, who will be coming to talk to students and the community Tuesday, March 13. Thomas is originally from Parkersburg and attended Aplington-Parkersburg schools. Herold noted that Thomas talks on a wide variety of topics including overcoming adversity, being accepted and how to respond to good and bad situations. (See more about Aaron Thomas on Page 2A of this week's issue of The Standard.)

The John Deere TECH program at Northeast Iowa Community College’s (NICC) Calmar campus has earned a Platinum "College of Tomorrow" score from John Deere. The John Deere TECH program at NICC prepares students for work as a service technician at John Deere implement dealerships throughout Iowa and the Midwest. One of the program’s most unique features is its close partnership with John Deere, which virtually ensures that qualified students will have a technician position with the company after graduation.

The partnership between the company and the College features an internship component at a dealership, and each entering student must secure a John Deere sponsor. When students complete requirements for the two-year degree, as well as a demonstration of their skills, they are hired by the sponsoring dealership.

The Waukon High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter will be hosting its annual FBLA Carnival this Friday, February 23 in the Waukon High School gymnasium and cafeteria from 4-7 p.m. All games and activities will be available to play for just a quarter with proceeds returning back to the elementary schools. Some of those activities include Gunny Sack Races, Pool Noodle Toss, Soccer, Duck Pond, Bags, Scooter Races, Football Toss, Basketball, Face Painting, Balloon Darts, Fishing, Finger Painting, Ring Toss, Photo Booth, Hungry Hippos, Cookie Decorating, Bowling, Jumbo Jenga and Nerf Darts. A small concession stand will also be available.
 

The Waukon Music Department will be hosting the 8th annual Pops Concert this Saturday, February 24 at the Waukon Middle School gymnasium. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. with concert time at 7:30 p.m. The Pops Concert features high energy musical numbers from the 1950s through today. Nearly every musical group at the Waukon Middle School and High School participates in this concert, including the jazz bands, select sixth grade vocalists and all choral groups in seventh through 12th grades. "This event has proven to be very successful each year. The students look forward to the performances and seeing all the decorated tables,” stated JoAnn Sherman, Waukon High School Band Director.

The Waukon Middle School Drama Department will be hosting its Spring Play Friday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the school's auditorium. This year's play, "Cooking Can Be Murder," is a comedy mystery written by Eddie McPherson (Brooklyn Publishers) and lasts about an hour and a half. Tickets are available the evening of the production.

Arrogant James Casanova Valentino Bond is in the middle of judging a cooking contest when he (after a dramatic and quite theatrical death scene) falls over with a thud. It seems he’s been unmercifully poisoned. Each contestant is suddenly a suspect with a motive for wanting this man dead. Detective Biddle shows up out of nowhere to begin his investigation immediately. As he questions the suspects, their stories come to life on stage thanks to a reenactment team that has been provided for entertainment value.

The East Central Iowa Choral Director Association’s (ICDA) 5th & 6th Grade Honor Choir was held Friday, January 26 at Sinclair Auditorium on the Coe College campus in Cedar Rapids. Guest director for the event was Tanya Rosenkranz, a music teacher from the Linn Mar Community School District. Waukon Middle School and Elementary School Vocal Music Director Sarah Schacherer was pleased to take the four students pictured above to this year's Honor Choir event. Left to right: Sixth graders Isaac Ericson and Caleb Perkins of Waukon Middle School, fifth grader Kaija Mahr of East Elementary School and sixth grader Natalie Byrnes of Waukon Middle School. Submitted photo.
 

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met Tuesday morning, February 6 for a special board meeting. Board member Patty Nordheim was absent.

Waterville Mayor Dave Monserud was present to discuss with the board members the future of the Waterville Elementary School building following its closing at the end of this current school year. The City of Waterville has the first option to purchase the building.

“We don't anticipate hanging on to that facility," board member Tom Baxter said. “We know it's a big undertaking to take over."

Monserud explained that the City of Waterville does not have the resources to maintain the building. He has been through the building a few times, and while he felt that the newer part of the building was in “pretty good shape,” Monserud also noted that the heating system in the old part of the school needs some work.

Robey Memorial Library in Waukon will host a six-week video travel series Tuesdays at 1:30 p.m. from February 20 through March 27. Anyone can travel around the world from Robey Memorial Library through the video series made possible by Travelscope®.

Travel destinations include San Antonio, TX-more than the Alamo; Toronto & beyond-Canada's Niagara Peninsula; Williamsburg, VA-America's historic triangle; Alberta, Canada-the Canadian Rockies; Custer Country, Montana; and Ontario, Canada's Far North. For more information, contact Robey Memorial Library at 563-568-4424 or www.waukon.lib.ia.us.