Education

The Alzheimer’s Association Iowa Chapter is offering a free, four-week virtual education series to help families facing Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. The programs help families better understand what to expect so they can be prepared to meet the changes ahead, including changes in communication and behaviors, discussing dementia as a family and planning ahead for future financial and legal considerations.

The virtual series will begin this Thursday, December 7 at 12 p.m. via Zoom and continue each Thursday through December 28. The schedule of programs includes:

December 7 - Effective Communication Strategies: This program explains the communication changes that take place throughout the course of Alzheimer’s disease, how to decode and respond to the verbal and behavioral messages delivered by someone with dementia, and strategies to connect and communicate at each stage of the disease.

by Susan Cantine-Maxson

The  Eastern Allamakee Community School District (EACSD) Board of Directors met Monday, November 27 at Kee High School in Lansing. Board President Bobbie Goetzinger called the meeting to order. Board members  Tony Becker, Bobbie Goetzinger, Melanie Mauss and Arla Wagner were present, and board member Kelli Mudderman was not in attendance. EACSD Superintendent and Lansing Middle School/Kee High School Principal Dr. Sarah Murray, New Albin Elementary School Principal Donna Thomas and Board Secretary Michele Martin were also present.

Audience members attending included Lansing FFA Advisor Ray Rankin and the following FFA students: Jackson Schulte, Kaleb Drape, Dustin Stendel, Kyle Mauss, Mason Mohn, Zachary Meyer and Landyn Rankin. Visitors Tom Martin, Marian Verdon and Tyler Verdon were also in attendance.

The Waukon Lions Club recently donated $600 to the Allamakee Community School District’s (ACSD) Milk Program. Pictured above, left to right, are Jessica Keenan and Kay Gavin of the Allamakee Community School District Food Service Department and Carrie Niehaus of the Waukon Lions Club. Submitted photo.
 

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program will be hosting live-streamed Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses (C-CIC) online this fall as an additional opportunity for commercial pesticide applicators to attend. Attendees will need a computer or device with good internet connection to participate in any of the programs.

Applicators can register by going online to the Extension Store (https://store.extension.iastate.edu) and searching for “Live Streamed”. Note that registration ends when the maximum of 290 attendees is reached or at 9 a.m. the day before the program, whichever occurs first. Following is the schedule for the statewide CIC reshow dates and times:

At its Monday, November 20 meeting, the Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Board of Trustees held its annual organizational meeting to elect members to officer positions. The board also held a closed session to discuss personnel and welcomed a new Trustee.

Members elected Jim Anderson to board chair, Kathy Gunderson to vice chair, Lexi Wagner, NICC executive director of finance, to treasurer and Heather Groth, executive assistant to the president, to continue her service as board secretary.

The board then held a closed session to discuss performance-related concerns of President Dr. Herbert Riedel, and members took action to move forward with possible termination of Dr. Riedel’s contract. The Trustees motioned to proceed with termination procedures for cause for Dr. Herbert Riedel pursuant to Iowa Code 279.24; by unanimous vote the Trustees will move forward with the process of terminating the employment contract of Dr. Riedel.

Early in November, students at East and West Elementary Schools in Waukon enjoyed a visit from renowned illustrator and author Derek Anderson. Students were excited to see his hidden pictures in his drawings, learn about the process of becoming an author/illustrator, and watch Anderson create a drawing from scratch of Ally the alligator.

Anderson currently resides in Minneapolis, MN but is a native of Ames and attended Iowa State University for a degree in art and design. He has illustrated over 30 books and authored more than 20. Some of his most famous works include: Little Quack, Hot Rod Hamster, Benny McGee and the Shark, and Croc and Ally. Anderson also took time to sign some of this books for students in attendance.

In October, students from East and West Elementary Schools in Waukon participated in the annual fall book fair hosted in the East Elementary School small gym and organized by Mrs. Lisa Snitker, Allamakee Community School District Teacher Librarian. Students at East and West Elementary Schools visited the book fair during their scheduled library periods, with West Elementary students taking a field trip to East Elementary to see the array of books.

by Brianne Grimstad

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for a special meeting Tuesday, October 31. The single item on the agenda was the replacement of a main kitchen convection oven. The board approved the purchase of a new oven from Wilson Restaurant Supply for $15,049 to replace the oven.

Monday, November 20, the board met for its regular monthly meeting, first approving the consent agenda. During the Communications portion of the meeting, the board heard from the 1st Grade Professional Learning Team (PLT). They explained about how they assess if students are learning the materials and what they do to assist those who are in need of extra help to learn the material and those who have mastered the material.

The Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program will be hosting live-streamed Commercial Continuing Instruction Courses (C-CIC) online this fall as an additional opportunity for commercial pesticide applicators to attend. Attendees will need a computer or device with good internet connection to participate in any of the programs.

Applicators can register by going online to the Extension Store (https://store.extension.iastate.edu) and searching for “Live Streamed”. Note that registration ends when the maximum of 290 attendees is reached or at 9 a.m. the day before the program, whichever occurs first. Following is the schedule for the statewide CIC reshow dates and times:

The Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center in Lansing will host the Driftless Birding Fest Saturday, November 18. The Driftless Birding Fest will include a guest speaker, exhibits and self-guided field trips to area birding hotspots. The self-guided field trips will include the Brownsville, MN overlook, Stoddard, WI overlook, New Albin’s Army Road, Red Oak Road near Harpers Ferry and the Ferryville, WI overlook.

November 18 At 10:30 a.m. “Tundra Swans, an Icon of the Upper Mississippi River” will be presented at the Driftless Area Education and Visitors Center by Stephen Winter, Wildlife Biologist for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge. Immediately following the presentation, Winter will be heading out to the Brownsville Overlook with spotting scopes where he will be available to answer questions.