NOTE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT |
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World Class Schools for Our Students:
Covid-19 Vaccination Clinics
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The Norwalk Community School District hosted two COVID-19 vaccination clinics for staff members on Wednesday, February 10th and Wednesday, February 17th. Medicap Pharmacy in Norwalk and Warren County Health Services were instrumental in securing vaccination doses for both clinics. 192 staff members were vaccinated on the 10th and 98 staff members were vaccinated on the 17th. These clinics were open for all part-time and full-time district employees, citizen coaches, and substitute workers. Thank you to everyone who helped out with these clinics in order to make sure they were a success, especially our district nurses - Diana Duffy, Shawna Neifert, Laura Johnson, Kara Greenlee, and Kendall Verwers as well as NCSD Human Resources Generalist, Tiffany Patterson who helped coordinate staff check-ins and manage waitlists for each clinic.
The clinics are one more example of the commitment NCSD staff members have to making sure our learning environments are safe for students and staff members. The district will host two more clinics for the second dose of the vaccine in March. The second dose clinic dates are still being finalized at this time.
March 1st brings us all close to a one year anniversary we all hoped would not occur as March 16, 2020 was the date that Governor Reynolds closed all school districts in Iowa. We are not out of the COVID-19 woods yet, but hopeful signs for an end to this pandemic continue to emerge. Until that cherished time arrives, the district will continue to strive to get through this together as ONE - One Family, One District, One Community.
Yours in service,
D.T. Magee
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New Activities & Athletics Site Launched! |
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The Norwalk CSD Activities and Athletics Department has officially launched a new Norwalk Warriors website at norwalkwarriors.com. New and improved features include a photo gallery, enhanced news section, an upcoming events feed and much more!
*As the district continues to work through the process of updating the new warrior mascot and brand, elements of this website will also be updated.
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Congrats Warrior Wrestlers & Coaches! |
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Congratulations to the Norwalk Wrestling Team on their amazing accomplishments this season and their performance at state last week! Congratulations to head wrestling coach, Brandon Schmitz and Assistant Coaches, Jakob Brown, Erich Thompson, and Ryan Thompson on being named Class 3A Coach and Coaching Staff of the Year!
HIGHLIGHTS: The Warrior Wrestling Team completed their most successful season in program history as the Warriors completed their dual team season with an impressive 5th place finish at their first ever State Dual Team Tournament. In the traditional/individual tournament, Norwalk had three place finishers including Maddux Borcherding-Johnson, who finished 3rd, along with Grant Harbour who finished 7th and Tristen Duncan finishing 8th. Congratulations Warriors on a great season.
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Norwalk wrestlers, coaches and cheerleaders visit Lakewood Elementary students for a school assembly before competing at state. |
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Head Wrestling Coach Brandon Schmitz with his wife Abby. |
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Norwalk wrestlers Maddux Borcherding-Johnson and Grant Harbour wrestle their opponents at state in Wells Fargo Arena.
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NHS 2020-2021 Debate Season |
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2020-21 has been the most phenomenal year for the Norwalk High School Debate team. Here are some of our biggest highlights:
11/2020: NHS debate won the CIDL (Central Iowa Debate League) Championship for the second year in a row.
1/2021: After being placed in the Riggleman Division (big schools) at the IHSSA State Debate Tournament, NHS debaters Isabel Hanson and Maddux Stout came in at 1st runner-up, just behind the Dowling champions.
2/2021: For the second year in a row, NHS will be represented at the NSDA (National Speech & Debate Association) National Tournament in June. With equal records, Isabel Hanson and Maddux Stout edged out fellow NHS debaters, Callan Randall and Jakob DeLong, for the coveted spot at Nationals.
CONGRATS NORWALK DEBATE!
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Norwalk Chamber of Commerce Honors
2020 Teacher and Student of the Year
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Congratulations to Elaine Menke who was chosen as the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce 2020 Teacher of the Year and Adam Serck who was chosen as the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce 2020 Student of the Year! Read more about these amazing Norwalk residents below! |
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Elaine Menke
Norwalk Chamber of Commerce
2020 Teacher of the Year
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Adam Serck
Norwalk Chamber of Commerce
2020 Student of the Year
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Norwalk RoboWarriors Compete in FTC League Championship
by Nicci Lamb
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The Norwalk Robotics teams competed in their FTC (FIRST Tech Challenge) League Championship event on February 20, 2021. Iowa has 151 FTC teams competing this year, spread across 6 leagues. The Norwalk League consists of 25 teams. All Iowa teams have competed remotely due to COVID so each team runs their 6 matches individually instead of with live 4-robot matches.
In addition to robot performance rankings, there is also a judged component of each level of competition. Each team completes a 15 page portfolio to document their team activities, outreach, coding, design and engineering process during the season. Each team also completes 2 rounds of judging interviews to evaluate nominees for various awards given for each of the areas documented in the portfolio, and then one category for teams that excel in all of the judged areas. This is called the Inspire Award, which is the highest award given and the earns the top advancement spot in each tournament.
This year, the Norwalk teams did exceptionally well in both robot performance and judged awards. The Norwalk RoboWarriors Gold team, which is made up of 10 students in 9th to 12th grade, won the Inspire Award and placed 2nd for robot performance. The Norwalk RoboWarriors Purple team, which is made up of 16 students in 7th to 9th grade, was 3rd place Inspire Award, winner of the Collins Aerospace Innovate Award, and came in 3rd for robot performance. With these results, the Norwalk teams claimed 2 of the 12 advancement spots to move on to Super Qualifier events, which will be held on March 20, 2021. Congratulations to both teams and their coaches for their hard work and dedication to the continued development of the Norwalk Robotics program!
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WE'RE HIRING! JOIN OUR TEAM! |
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The Norwalk Community School District has new para, custodian and support staff openings available and is now hiring for the 2021-2022 school year! Join our team and be a part of a creative and collaborative school district striving to grow learners and leaders! Apply online today at norwalkschools.org!
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Honoring the Late Jim Wood, NCSD Staff Member and Friend |
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On behalf of the Norwalk Community School District and the Norwalk School Board, we would like to offer our condolences to the family of Jim Wood. Jim was a dear friend to many in the district and a devoted school bus driver for many Norwalk students and athletes over the past nine years.
On Monday, Jan. 22, the Norwalk School Board honored Jim and presented his wife Connie and family members with a signed picture of his school bus. He will be greatly missed by so many.
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Nominate a Warrior for the Norwalk Wall of Fame! |
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The Norwalk Community School District Wall of Fame has been established to recognize both Norwalk High School graduates and Norwalk Community School District staff for outstanding achievements and contributions to society and our community. These recipients reflect strong role models for current students and staff. There are three inductees this year that will be announced in the District's April newsletter.
Graduate Criteria
- Nominee must have attended and graduated from Norwalk High School at least 10 years prior to the nomination.
- Since graduation, Nominee must have demonstrated notable and outstanding achievement in any of the following areas: arts, business, community service, humanitarian efforts or profession.
Notable Staff Criteria
- Nominee must have been on staff at Norwalk Community Schools for a minimum of 10 years and may be either currently or formerly so employed.
- Nominee must have attained a notable level of performance by demonstrating a caring attitude for students, superior professional skills, and by being highly respected by students, staff and the community.
If you would like to nominate a graduate or employee for the Wall of Fame you can go to the school website or directly to the nomination form listed below.
School website:
Link to nomination form:
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Submit Your Photos To Us! |
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We love our Norwalk schools so much that we have created a fun new way for you to share your student and staff photos with us! Visit our website at NCSD Communications to submit event and activity photos with our district. All photos are received by our Communications Coordinator and will be reviewed according to our district standards. Image submissions may also be subject to additional questions or appropriate approvals for use.
*By submitting photos to the Norwalk Community School District, you agree to allow NCSD to use your photos online (website and social media platforms) and in printed publications. If you have any questions about photo submissions, please contact Tiffany Redman, NCSD Communications Coordinator at tredman@norwalk.k12.ia.us.
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Norwalk swimmer Vincent Martin drops 4 seconds to a 1:13.49 in the 100 Fly! He went on to win his 200 IM heat in 2:29.11! |
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
March 11: K-12 Conferences (No School K-12)
March 12: Teachers Day Off (No School K-12)
March 15-19: Spring Break
April 21: Staff Work Day (No School K-12)
May 19: Staff Work Day (No School K-12)
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National Read Across America Day
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