World Class Schools for Our Students
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Happy Holidays! What a great year it has been for our community and for Norwalk Schools! We have witnessed some major construction changes in our district this past year and are looking forward to 2020 and the years that will follow.
One project I want to mention in this month's newsletter is the Norwalk PE and Competition Center (NPECC). The district has experienced a rapid growth in the non-residential tax base thanks to the great economic development work by the cities of Norwalk, Cumming, and West Des Moines along with the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce and Warren County. Due to this economic growth, the district is able to consider the NPECC project now instead of the original date of 2030.
The overall NPECC facility plan currently includes additional classrooms space, a connection hallway to Eastview and MS, a three court gym (main gym and auxiliary gym), HS wrestling room, MS wrestling room, fitness area, walking track, locker rooms, concession stand, storage, meeting rooms, and office space. This facility will help to relieve overcrowding in our PE spaces and classes, provide additional options for activities (school based and community based) and will allow the district to once again host graduation ceremonies in Norwalk (we currently go to Indianola).
Look for more information about the NPECC project during the upcoming months and make sure to vote on March 3!
Yours in service,
D.T.
NPECC Video
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Images below include some but not all of the areas that were remodeled or built in 2018-2019.
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Oviatt Elementary Construction
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New High School Commons Area and Library
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Oviatt Elementary
Construction Update
by Amy Gage
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The 2019-20 school year is bringing exciting renovations and updates to Oviatt Elementary! The most extensive part of our construction project is the addition to our cafeteria. To accommodate our growing student population, the district has added a corridor on the west side of the cafeteria to allow students to flow into a new serving area and kitchen. The current cafeteria space remains but will allow for more space and efficiency so students have plenty of time to eat lunch.
Another major project is the relocation of the main office to the west side of the building. This renovated office space will include expanded sidewalk access, a secure entryway and front lobby, administrative offices, a conference room and a nursing suite. Oviatt’s art and music classrooms spaces are being updated to include expanded storage and larger classroom space for students to learn, explore and create. Interior classroom and corridor spaces are also seeing renovations to include paint, carpeting and tile updates. On the exterior of the building, the southeast gravel lot has been paved with concrete to increase parking and improve traffic flow. In addition, the Norwalk PTO has generously taken on a fundraising campaign to replace our playground equipment for both our preschool and K-1 programming. We feel so much gratitude to our school board and this community for the support you have shown our school, as well as your flexibility and patience with the construction process. We look forward to welcoming back our kindergarten and 1st grade students in the fall of 2020 to a new and improved Oviatt Elementary!
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NHS Dance Team Season Recap
by Katherine Phillips
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The Dance Team began their season by attending the National Dance Alliance Dance Camp in Ames, Iowa over the summer. The team continued to learn new routines to prepare for the football season and their State Competition.
In November, six team members (Jordan Anderson, Caitlyn Dvorak, Liza Fitch, Autumn Gamboa, Jordanne Hensley, and Micha White) competed in the ISDTA Solo Competition; four of which were awarded a Division 1 rating.
On December 6th, the team competed at the ISDTA Team Competition in the Pom and Hip Hop category. The team received a Division 1 rating for both routines.
Congrats to the Norwalk Dance Team on their recognition and performances this year!
If you missed this year's performances, you can view them online here!
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NHS Photography Class
by Carrie Krupke
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NHS's Photography program has been working through our remaining projects for the semester. In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, students studied food stylizing and food photography, leveraging natural light. We then took that learning into the Culinary Arts kitchen with Chef Molina and his students as they crafted
a Thanksgiving feast
for us to photograph.
Students utilized the natural light available in the Warrior Zone and celebrated the end of the unit by eating the meal together. End of semester projects include Light Writing in the auditorium and a Passion Project where students get to choose a topic of interest that is meaningful to them. Lastly, students will be investigating a famous photographer, their well known images, and their contribution to the photography industry.
Throughout the semester, students have enjoyed hearing from guest speakers highlighting different career fields where photography plays a part including Communications Coordinators from NCSD and Central College, LifeTouch, and WOI Channel 5's Chief Photographer. Additional projects have included: a color grid, black & white images, action, landscape and taking a headshot for an NHS Intern student. NHS Photography students partner with NHS Yearbook Staff to cover athletic/extracurricular activities as well for more work-based learning.
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NHS Dance Marathon Pushes Hard for Year End Donations
by Lisa Popken
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Dance Marathon Raises over $18,000 in 2018!
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The goal of Norwalk's Dance Marathon is to bring the community and students together to help children and families dealing with pediatric cancer. This year, students are raising funds specifically for the
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. The
goal last year was to raise $10,000 and by the end of the year we had raised $18,005! Our goal this year is to raise $20,000. As of December 19th, we have reached $10,000 in donations. Please help us reach our goal by Jan. 1, 2020! It's not too late to donate! Our online donation link is:
https://donate.dancemarathon.uiowa.edu/payment/24566
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NHS Dance Marathon Supervisors Lisa Popken and
Michelle Wiedmann
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Dance Marathon tapes Superintendent
Duane Magee
to the wall after surpassing a $500 fundraising goal. Dance Marathon raised $2,700 in one week before winter break!
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Lakewood Elementary Shares Holiday Cheer and Goods with Community
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Lakewood Elementary staff baked cookies this year to show their appreciation during the holidays. With the help of some young elves, Carter and Beck Huff, Lakewood delivered baked goods to local businesses, churches, and community members.
Lakewood students also took 1/2 hour shifts to sing Christmas carols while ringing the bell at Fareway for the Salvation Army on December 17th.
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NCSD Employment Highlights
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Severe Weather Alert Information:
The Norwalk Community School District will continue to use Infinite Campus Parent Messenger to alert parents on winter season weather delays, early-outs, cancellations and facility closings.
The following communication channels will also be used.
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Upcoming Events & Activities
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