Education

Mrs. Sarah J. Bieber Palmer and Waukon Middle School parent Gregg Jones took a group of students from Waukon Middle School and Waukon High School to the "Real Men Sing" festival hosted in October by Wartburg College in Waverly and directed by Dr. Lee Nelson. Real Men Sing is an event designed to jump start male students in a school's choral program early in the year. More than 500 male singers from around the Midwest joined in a day of singing and voice master classes. Two choirs make up the festival: one for changing voices focusing on students in grades seventh through freshmen/sophomores conducted by Luke Johnson, and one for changed voices focusing on grades freshmen/sophomores on up through adults conducted by Dr. Lee Nelson.

The Kee High School Post Prom Committee will host Bingo Sunday, December 3 in the Kee High School cafeteria in Lansing. Games will start at 4 p.m., with doors opening at 3:30 p.m.

Participants can bring a food item to be donated to the Allamakee County Food Shelf and play an extra Bingo card free. All players will be eligible for door prizes.  Proceeds will be used to fund Post Prom prizes and entertainment in the spring.
 

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office will host a Pest Control Operators Continuing Instruction Course (CIC) for commercial pesticide applicators Wednesday, December 6. The program is offered at office locations across Iowa through the ISU Extension and Outreach Pesticide Safety Education Program (PSEP).

The local attendance site for the December 6 CIC is the Allamakee County Extension Office located at 218 Seventh Avenue SE, Suite #102. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. followed by sessions from 9 to 11:30 a.m. The registration fee is discounted before November 29. To register or to obtain additional information about the CIC, contact the ISU Extension and Outreach Allamakee County office at 563-568-6345.

East and West Elementary Schools in Waukon held a Veterans Day Program Friday, November 10 in the Waukon Middle School auditorium in observance of the November 11 Veterans Day. Staff and students paid tribute to the courage and skills of Veterans of the U.S. Military, as well as the sacrifices they were willing to make to protect America and its people.

Fifth grade students involved in the local Boys Scouts or Girl Scouts programs performed a presentation of the American flag while a reading, “I Am the Flag,” was recited. The Pledge of Allegiance was also recited and the National Anthem was sung, and members of the Sixth Grade Band played “Procession of Heroes”.

The Waukon High School chapter of Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) conducted a canned food drive for the Allamakee County Food Shelf Tuesday, November 7. The chapter members canvassed the Waukon community and collected 1,334 pounds of food and $166 in monetary donations.

Pictured above with the donated food items are the Waukon High School FBLA officers, including, left to right: Joe Schwartz, Aubree Cota, Abe Schwartz, Laurel Keenan, Alyx Ede, Mary VanderVelden, Gabrielle Marti and Katelyn Benzing. Submitted photo.
 

by Brianne Eilers

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) Board of Directors met for its regular monthly meeting Monday night, November 20. About midway through the meeting, under Personnel items, the board accepted the resignation of ACSD Superintendent Dave Herold, due to retirement, effective June 30, 2018.

"You've done a wonderful job for the district and will be missed dearly," noted board president Al Rissman. Board member Patty Nordheim commented that as a board member, Herold is the third superintendent she's worked with and that he has done "a fantastic job."

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering the class “Decorating Cookies for Christmas” Thursday, December 7 from 6-8 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

The pre-baked cookies, frosting, sprinkles and other embellishments are supplied for a fee due the night of the class. Those attending will supply the enthusiasm for decorating and creating, and go home with a dozen cookies. Children ages six to 11 are welcome to participate with a parent.

To register online for “Decorating Cookies for Christmas”  (#58017) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions or call NICC Business and Community Solutions at 800-728-2256, ext. 399 (Calmar campus) or 563-568-3060 (NICC Waukon Center).
 

by Brianne Eilers

It can be hard to imagine that hunger is an issue for families in America. However, life's twists and turns put many families in a situation where it can be a struggle to put food on the table.

One in five children in America faces hunger, and when children don't get proper nutrition, it can affect a number of things, such as concentration. Imagine having to go a whole weekend without having much to eat and then trying to focus on school lessons the following Monday morning.

The Allamakee Community School District (ACSD) has been involved in a program that has been trying to address those hunger issues for local students who may need such assistance. For almost 10 years now the ACSD has been partnering with the Northeast Iowa Food Bank to provide the BackPack

Program to help students make sure they have something to eat when school meals aren't available.

As college and career options begin entering the conversation for high school juniors and seniors, Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC), the Northeast Iowa Career Learning Link Partnership and the Waukon Center are resources that can be used now by students looking to answer the question of what they plan to do after high school graduation.

Taking advantage of the concurrent enrollment agreement between Waukon High School and NICC, as well as Career Learning Link, are good strategies for high school students who want a head start on a two- or four-year college degree, conveniently and more affordably.

Dietsy Mitchell, a 2017 Waukon High School graduate, completed numerous college credits through the college credit agreement. Her participation in the Career Learning Link program as an upperclassman also brought her healthcare career goals into focus.

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Business and Community Solutions is offering the class “Kids and Canvas - It’s Elementary!” Tuesday, November 28 from 3:30-6:30 p.m. at the NICC Waukon Center, located at 1220 Third Avenue NW.

Children can explore the world of painting in this class designed for elementary school-aged kids. In class, the kids are provided the paint and artist’s canvas, an age-appropriate subject and step-by-step guidance to release each child’s inherent creativity.

To register online for “Kids and Canvas - It’s Elementary!” (#57895) or for more information, visit www.nicc.edu/solutions or call NICC Business and Community Solutions at 800-728-2256, ext. 399 (Calmar campus) or 563-568-3060 (NICC Waukon Center).