Education

West Elementary School in Waukon is hosting a Holiday Book Drive, collecting books for students in grades Pre-Kindergarten through second grade at West Elementary School. Donations of new or gently used books, or even a monetary donation to be used to purchase new books, would be appreciated to help give the gift of reading to the young students.

Donations can be dropped off at the West Elementary School office during school hours. Donations can also be mailed to West Elementary School at 953 Third Avenue NW, Waukon, IA 52172.
 

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach-Allamakee County hosted Saturday Clover Kids October 17, and with the changing seasons it was the perfect time to talk about weather. Clover Kids spent time describing their feelings about different types of weather such as sunny, rainy and stormy. Thoughtful words like happy, lazy, nervous and scared were shared.

After reading the book “Wonderful Weather”, everyone agreed sunny weather puts us in a better mood over rainy weather. However, Clover Kids had fun making their own rain out of a cup, water, foam shaving cream and blue food coloring. They also made a tornado in a jar (photo above) and an anemometer, a tool that measures wind speed (photo below).

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors members met Monday, December 7 at noon for a special meeting to discuss a couple of items relating to the $4,680,000 School Infrastructure Sales, Services and Use Tax Revenue Refunding Bonds, Series 2020 and virtual learning plans for snow days and extended school closures. Board member Scott Melcher was absent.

Pertaining to the bond, the board approved a tax exemption certificate and a resolution authorizing the terms of issuance and providing for and securing the payment of school infrastructure sales, services and use tax revenue refunding bonds. Roll call votes were taken on both items with board members Beth Shafer, Brent Beyer, Erik Helgerson and Allan Rissman all voting aye.

Beginning Wednesday, December 23, Winter Break Grab & Go activities are available for kids and for teenagers at Robey Memorial Library in Waukon. Each grab bag includes supplies to create something great over winter break.

Kids Grab & Go features Pasta Snowflakes and Waddling Penguin projects. Teen Grab & Go features Yarn Hats, Candy Cane Reindeer and Coffee Filter Snowflake projects. Activity bags are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis until gone. This program is in addition to the Grab & Go activity available for kids and for teens the second Wednesday of each month.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) held its regular monthly meeting Monday, November 16 at Kee High School in Lansing. The regular meeting began with the board’s annual meeting to elect officers and designate representatives to handle the official business of the board throughout the year.

The annual meeting was called to order by Marian Verdon, Board Secretary. The following board members were present: Tony Becker, Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss, Kelli Mudderman and Heather Schulte. Also present at the meeting were EACSD Superintendent Dr. Dale Crozier, Kee Middle School and High School Principal Dr. Sarah Updegraff, and Board Secretary Marian Verdon.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) continues to secure additional resources that allow the College to serve the community and fulfill its mission while navigating the challenges of the pandemic. The College has received several major federal and state of Iowa grants, more than $4.2 million, with much of the funding made possible by strong partnerships with local private and public sector organizations.

“The grants awarded to the College and our partners in the 5,000-square-mile district allow us to enhance the services we provide for our students, local industries, high schools and communities. Even during the challenges created in a fluid environment by the pandemic, NICC continues to demonstrate resilience, innovation, collaboration and stewardship. The College is able to achieve these results because of our strong partnerships in northeast Iowa,” said Liang Chee Wee, Ph.D., NICC president.

Allamakee County will offer the Aerial Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Monday, December 7. The local attendance site is Allamakee County Extension and Outreach office. The course will be held from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. To register or to obtain additional information, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County at 563-568-6345.
 

The 2020 Northeast District FFA Dairy Cattle Career Development Event was held at the Delaware County Fairgrounds in Manchester Saturday, September 26. Twenty-four teams participated in this year’s District event, with participants completing a dairy evaluation test along with placing four classes of cows and heifers. The Dairy Evaluation test consisted of common knowledge, pedigree evaluation, sire evaluation and farm management questions. This year, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, contestants did not give oral reasons to a set of judges. The state Dairy Cattle Evaluation event date is still to be decided.

At its regular monthly meeting Monday, November 16, the Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors voted - on a 3-2 split vote - to implement the requirement for students and staff members to wear face coverings in all district buildings. The face covering requirement was put in place beginning Thursday, November 19 and was done so in response to rising COVID-19 case numbers in Allamakee County.

“We held off on this issue as long as possible,” explained Allamakee Community School District Superintendent Jay Mathis when addressing the matter with the school board at that November 16 meeting. “We’ve been very blessed that we haven’t had any huge outbreaks in the school yet. I have given a great deal of thought to this, and agonized over it, but we feel that this was the best way to keep staff and students safe, and in school.”

Allamakee County will offer the Aerial Applicator Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Monday, December 7. The program is provided by the Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The local attendance site is Allamakee County Extension and Outreach office. Due to social distancing requirements, preregistration is required. Walk-ins on the day of the program will only be admitted if room allows. The course will be held from 9 a.m.-12 p.m. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach office in Allamakee County at 563-568-6345.

The course will fulfill 2020 recertification requirements for commercial pesticide applicators certified in categories 11 and 10. Some of the topics covered will include information on safe handling and storage of pesticides, laws and regulations, personal protective equipment and pest management.