Good Luck Girls Basketball at State!
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Over 250 students, staff, community members, parents and industry leaders took part in Insight Week. The focus was entirely on the future of learning, especially centered on a new high school. The data from the four days will be developed into "Design Drivers" to help shape our work as we move forward
Focused deeply on community engagement, the process establishes the wants and needs of a future condition for learning. A wide variety of "discovery" activities were used with a diverse range of community groups that provide insights into the patterns, trends, opinions, perspectives and biases that will shape a direction forward.
The importance of the week and time together is to clearly illuminate expectations for learning and create a foundation for the design of a space that has its genesis in the educational experience desired by the community.
Goals
The goal of Insight Week in Cedar Falls was to understand the current reality of learning at the school, the future of the learning experience, and to identify the gaps between the two in the Cedar Falls School District.
Activities
During Insight Week, a variety of techniques were used to begin the process of community engagement that will serve the district as they progress in the design of a new school.
These included:
- A pre-visitation survey to explore patterns, trends, and the capacities of education at Cedar Falls High School
- An exploration of their existing documentation surrounding learning, including their mission and vision, curriculum guides, demographics, state report cards, and social media accounts
- A Salon Dinner with 50 community members at an evening dinner to discuss the future of learning in Cedar Falls and to discuss the opportunities that a new high school would afford
- Three tours of the existing facility through the lens of administration, faculty and students
- Classroom observations, some over the entire class period and some through a set of "snapshot" 5 minute visitations
- Design charrettes with teachers, students, and administrators to deeply explore the wants and needs of the educational experience
- Interviews with parents, community members, the CAPS program, athletics, administrative assistants, library, technology, and instructional coaches
- A capstone review of initial findings to district and building leadership at the end of Insight Week
Insight Week was just the beginning of a process of engaging our community in the discussion of the future of learning in Cedar Falls Schools.
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Cabaret & Variety Show THIS WEEKEND
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The Holmes Variety Show will feature several "Battle of the Band" style acts.
Including two actual bands--the Araknyds (all-boy rock band) and the Monarx (all-girl rock band)
Other battles include:
pogo stick vs jump rope
the "Loathing" duet from WICKED
a dance-off
concrete poetry vs slam poetry
well-mannered insults
two Shakespeare excerpts
New math vs Old math skit
James vs His Desk powerpoint
3 players vying for 1 piano
Men's choir is "Feelin' Good" vs Women's Choir who are feeling "Stronger"
And the final number "We Go Together"
Shows are Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
Tickets available at the door.
Admission $5 adults, $2 grades 6 and under, Holmes students admitted free.
The Peet JH Cabaret Variety Show will be this weekend, including
singing, jazz bands, magic, dancing, and a whole lot of laughs.
Come join us for one of the shows to see the great talent at
Peet Junior High and enjoy some tasty treats!
Shows are Friday 7:30 p.m., Saturday 2 & 7:30 p.m.
Tickets available at the door.
Admission is $6.
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CFHS DANCE MARATHON THIS WEEKEND
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Peet Junior High Team Placed 2nd at the Chapter Competition and Moves on to State
On Friday, February 16th, ten students competed for Peet Junior High at the MathCounts Chapter Competition at Hawkeye Community College. Four students represented Peet in the team competition, Eric Lucas, Alexandra Somodi, Stephen Zheng, and Anita Zheng. Overall, the Peet team placed 2nd in the team competition. Additionally, Ed Lin (Southdale) placed 5th, and Eric Lucas placed 9th individually. All of these students will advance to the State Competition on March 22, at DMACC in Ankeny.
Pictured Left to Right: Alexandra Somodi, Hannah Batterson, Jackson Plummer, Caleb Eskelson, Eric Lucas, Ed Lin, Truman Posey, Sean Radke, Stephen Zheng, Anita Zheng
Peet Team: Stephen Zheng, Alexandra Somodi, Eric Lucas, Anita Zheng
Holmes Junior High Team Placed 3rd at the Chapter Competition and Moves on to State
Holmes Junior High also competed at the MathCounts Chapter Competition.
Overall, the Holmes team placed 3rd in the team competition and five students placed in the top 10! All of these students will advance to the State Competition.
Holmes Team: Akshat Mehta, Ryan Watson, Kimi Du and Hari Surnedi
Five students placed in the Top 10 Individually
Akshat Mehta -- 1st place
Connor DeGroote -- 2nd place
Jack Beecher -- 4th place
Ryan Watson -- 8th place
Eli Flikkema -- 10th place
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Holmes Student Wins Trip to Washington, D.C.
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Students Gillian Aarons, left, of West High School, and Zoe Edgington, of Holmes Junior High School, were chosen for a trip to Washington, D.C., after participating in the Iowa State Bar Association's Know Your Constitution program.
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Congratulations Spelling Bee Winners
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The Knights of Columbus, Council 4516 in Cedar Falls recently hosted the 38th annual spelling bee.
Fifteen area schools conducted their own spell-off leading up to the main event with the five best spellers from fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh grades in a two-hour spell-off at St. Patrick School.
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Incoming Kindergarten Parent/Guardian Meeting
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All elementary schools in Cedar Falls will be holding a parent/guardian meeting for 2018-2019 incoming kindergarten students on Tuesday, March 20, 2018, beginning at 6:30 p.m. A snow make-up date has been set for Thursday, March 22, if school is cancelled on the original date.
All meetings, with the exception of Aldrich Elementary, will be held at each respective elementary building. The meeting for Aldrich Elementary will be held at the District Administration building, 1002 W. First Street.
Students who will be five on or before September 15, 2018, are eligible to begin school this fall. At this parent/guardian-only meeting, the full-day kindergarten program will be described and classroom teachers, school counselors and nurses will be introduced. Parents/guardians will have the opportunity to complete registration packets, tour the school and become acquainted with other kindergarten parents. Parent/guardian attendance also assists schools in planning for the fall in terms of space, staffing, materials and resources.
Parents/guardians of eligible students are asked to contact the school in their attendance area prior to the meeting. If parents/guardians are not certain of their attendance area, please call the Cedar Falls Schools Administration Building at 319-553-2423. Principals' names and school telephone numbers are listed below:
School Principal Telephone
Aldrich Mrs. Kim Cross 553-2900
Cedar Heights Mr. Brian Ortman 553-2855
Hansen Mrs. Tara Estep 553-2775
Lincoln Mr. Ralph Bryant 553-2950
North Cedar Mrs. Katie Johnston 553-2810
Orchard Hill Ms. Andrea Christopher 553-2465
Southdale Mr. Jason Strub 553-2902
Parents/guardians are asked to bring the following documents to the meeting:
- Household registration form
- Copy of child's birth certificate
- Current immunization record
- Residency documentation form: two forms of proof of residency
- Current physical/well-child exam
- Required home language survey form
- Race/ethnicity form
- Migrant form
For all the forms needed, visit the district website at www.cfschools.org and click on Parents and Registration.
Incoming Kindergarten students will have the opportunity to visit the school on Wednesday, May 16 from 9-11 a.m.
If you have any questions, please call the Cedar Falls Schools Administration Building at 319-553-2423.
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Know Your Meal Account Balance Before You Shop A La Cart
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Parents/guardians - please remind your child(ren) to know their meal account balance BEFORE shopping a la carte. This will save them time at the checkout and help eliminate food waste if funds are not available to cover the purchase amount. All students have the ability to check their meal account balance from their PowerSchool account. Once logged into PowerSchool, access the Balance tab, then on the top of the Family Meal Account Balance is displayed.
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Boundary Maps Updated for Fall 2018
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It's an exciting time in Cedar Falls Schools! With the addition of a new elementary and work on two other buildings, there is much activity and anticipation. Part of the transition to a seventh elementary in Cedar Falls includes boundary adjustments. The boundaries were revised by a committee of parents, community members and staff in spring 2015 with board approval following the committee's recommendation. The School Board reviewed and approved the boundary map in the fall of 2017 to take effect in fall 2018.
PLEASE NOTE: the red line on the map indicates Junior High attendance areas
Holmes - all of Hansen Elementary, North Cedar Elementary, Lincoln Elementary and Aldrich Elementary north of University Avenue
Peet - all of Cedar Heights Elementary, Orchard Hill Elementary, Southdale Elementary and Aldrich Elementary south of University Avenue
The official boundary map for the 2018-19 school year is located online:
http://www.cfschools.org/about-us/school_boundary_maps
.
Students residing in the Aldrich attendance area will be attending Aldrich Elementary for the 2018-19 school year; rule exceptions will only be considered for extreme circumstances and will be very limited in number. We know change can be difficult and we want to make sure the transition goes as smoothly as possible for all students and families. To help students with the transition to Aldrich, meetings will be held with the current 5th grade students at Southdale and Lincoln who will be moving to Aldrich. Ms. Kim Cross, principal for Aldrich Elementary, will be sharing more information with these students and families.
If you have a kindergarten student who will attend Aldrich in fall of 2018, please contact Candy Miller at
candy.miller@cfschools.org
or by phone at
319-553-2423
. Also, if you know of anyone new to the District who will have a kindergarten student attending Aldrich in fall of 2018, please ask them to contact Candy Miller.
Kindergarten Round-up (parent meeting) is scheduled for
Tuesday, March 20
, from
6:30 to 8 p.m.
at each elementary building, Aldrich families will be meeting at the Robinson Administration Building at 1002 W. 1st Street.
In regards to Junior High - elementary students who will attend Aldrich, but live south of University Avenue will go to Peet Junior High and elementary students who will attend Aldrich, but live north of University Avenue will go to Holmes Junior High. This is the only elementary that will have split feeder schools for junior high, but this allows the District to keep enrollment numbers balanced at both buildings.
Regardless of which school a child attends, one thing is certain; they will continue to obtain the same quality education they are receiving in their current building, with all the same opportunities to grow!
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we move forward in the excitement of opening a new elementary building. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact
Pam.Zeigler@cfschools.org
or
319-553-3000
.
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Congrats to Group Speech!
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Thirty students participate in five groups at large group state speech and three groups got straight ones, the highest score you can get!
See photos from Group Speech Competition
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Congrats to Boys Swimming
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Hotline Episode on Volunteering
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Mayor's Corner Featuring Team Speedsters
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Meet your Covenant Clinic health care team!
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| Pictured: Lori Rasmusson, RN, and Mellissa Sumerall, Health Assistant |
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Hi! My name is Lori Rasmusson and it is my pleasure to return to the Cedar Falls School District, this time as School Nurse at Southdale Elementary. I have worked at Sartori Hospital, in Home Health Nursing, and as a dialysis nurse in addition to school nursing at North Cedar Elementary and in the Denver School District. My children went to Southdale but are grown now. It is fun to see the changes that have occurred here. My favorite hobby is quilting, and I enjoy watching any sport that I know someone participating in - especially if it is my grandkids. Next year you will see me at the new Aldrich building as well. I am enjoying getting to know the students, parents, and staff in our district. Go Tigers!
Hello, my name is Mellissa Sumerall, I'm currently the Health Assistant at Southdale. I have been a CNA for 14 years. I started in Clear Lake and moved to Waterloo to get married. I have three grown children, five step-kids and 15 grandkids. In my spare time I like to bake, play darts, and hang out with my grandkids. I also work at Covenant Medical Center on the Cardiac/Renal floor and have been with Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare for five years. What I like about Southdale is the warm welcome that Lori and I have received from the staff as well as the students. I also enjoy seeing my students and getting to know them more each day and being able to make them feel better, or just a small talk that they may just need.
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Schedule a Check-Up at Kindergarten Round-up
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Kindergarten Round-up Parent/Guardian meetings are scheduled at each elementary building during the evening of
Tuesday, March 20
. It is important to get your Kindergartener's annual physical scheduled along with dental and vision exams. Immunizations must be up to date by the start of the 2018-2019 school year. Please bring a copy of your child immunization record and a copy of all other completed exam forms to the Round-up event. Please contact your elementary school for more details.
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Iowa Assessements March 26-30
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Board of Education Update
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Watch the February 12 meeting.
The next Cedar Falls Schools Board of Education meeting will be February 26, 2018,
5:30 p.m. at Cedar Falls City Hall and will be shown on Cedar Falls Channel 15.
Agendas, documents and materials for all board of education meetings can be found on the
Cedar Falls Schools website
. Watch previous meetings on the District's YouTube Channel.
Meetings will be available live at
www.cedarfalls.com/live
. This format works best with Internet Explorer.
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Northeast Regional Academy's Deaf & Hard of Hearing Student Winter Social Day
Spring Break Camps, Mar. 12-16 (ages K-6)
Our day camps are the perfect place to try new mediums and make projects to take home! Snacks provided in the morning and afternoon. Students must bring a sack lunch.
Time: 9 am-4 pm
Location: (ages 5-8) Rownd Classrooms
(ages 9-12) McElroy Classroom
Fee: $30 ($27)/day, $140 ($125)/week
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Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) Report
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Calendar
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Interested in knowing when events are?
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1002 W. First Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-553-3000
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It is the policy of the Cedar Falls Community School District not to illegally discriminate in either: its educational programs on the basis of race, religion, creed, socioeconomic status, color, sex, marital status, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, or genetic information; or its employment practices on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, ethnic background, age, disability, or genetic information. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact the district's Equity Coordinator, Dr. Adrian Talbot, Director of Human Resources, James L. Robinson Administrative Center, 1002 West First St. Cedar Falls, Iowa 50613, 319-553-3000.
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