[News] July Waukee School Update

Sat Jul 1 14:45:58 EDT 2006

For those receiving this for the first time, welcome to my monthly update of
happenings in the Waukee School District.  Please feel free to share with
others who may be interested or let me know if you would like to be taken
off the mailing list.  Others can get on the list by sending me an e-mail.  

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July 1, 2006

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www.waukee.k12.ia.us

If you read the school page in the Waukee Today, you know that even as we
hope our students are enjoying the summer break, the life of a school
doesn't stop when classes dismiss. 

Many of our students are busy with summer sports programs, band, choir,
dance and academic lessons, or a variety of other activities in addition to
work for most of our high school students.  Many of our teachers are back in
school preparing for the new math program that will begin this fall.  Others
are back at college with continuing education; some are helping students by
tutoring, giving lessons or coaching summer programs.  Our custodians are
preparing all of our buildings for the fall even as construction continues
on the high school addition and at the new Maple Grove Elementary building.
The administration is completing hiring for the new year, preparing for the
increasing academic rigor for the fall and handling the endless tasks of
keeping the fastest growing district in the state ready for the new year.
It's great to be Waukee where we expect excellence in all we do!

Miss Iowa Pageant has Waukee fever!

Did you know that three contestants in this year's Miss Iowa Pageant came
from Waukee?  Cassie Lauterbach with a platform of "The Impact of Media on
Society" was honored with 4th runner-up, and Michelle Yoshimura with a
platform of "Reaching Down and Lifting Up" came in the final 8 contestants
for the crown.  The new Miss Iowa, Emily Nicholas has local ties by singing
with her sister, Carolyn,(Miss Iowa 2004) at many of the Thursday evening
services at Lutheran Church of Hope. 

Competing for Miss Iowa's Outstanding Teen was Liz Roling, one of the final
9 competing for that crown.  All three demonstrated the poise and talent
that made them all winners in my eyes!  Waukee was also represented by our
students who were part of the Westside Dance Academy team who were selected
as special entertainment at the evening ceremony. 

School Board meetings on June 13 included a host of technical actions
regarding our continuing construction projects.  Plans were approved, bids
accepted, and sale dates for bonds set.  Insurance policies for the coming
year were reviewed and approved, and district policies reviewed as part of
our normal rotation.  General Obligation Bonds were also "refinanced" at a
lower rate.  This will save the district over $337,000 over the course of
the bond issue.

Did you know that the high school girls soccer team came in 6th in the
State?

Special congratulations to Tessa Fegen and Amanda Gruis, both selected to
the Class 1A All-State team and to Steph Whitmer, named to the second team.
Kelsey Pigg and Kara Knott also received honorable mention.  What a season!

Also, congratulations to Gian Duckworth, named to the boys Class 2A
All-State team!

Reading should never take a summer break!

Last month I mentioned the 3K walk that was part of the Walnut Hills
Elementary Media Center fundraiser.  That night students, parents and
faculty raised over $3,000.  Principal Deb Snider shared an update that
those students read 186,000 minutes in just two weeks and received pledges
for their reading totaling over $19,200 to purchase books for our Media
Center.  In exchange for their excellent reading, Mrs. Snider kept her
promised from the challenge to read enough to receive a minimum of $15,000
in pledges....well exceeded by our kids!  For their terrific reading and
pledge efforts, Mrs. Snider dyed her hair purple and gold and kissed a VERY,
BIG, UGLY FROG in front of the entire student body!  It was awesome and fun
for everyone!  Walnut Hills' kids are GREAT READERS!

An extra special THANK YOU to Sue and Pat DeMouth, Walnut Hills' parents of
Ben and Megan DeMouth, who donated $2,500 towards the wonderful reading
efforts of our students!  A HUGE thank you for their support in addition to
all of our terrific parents who donated towards our Media Center fundraiser!

Let me add that our district is blessed with the support of our parents and
community.  We appreciate every contribution, whether it be an hour to help
at a concession stand or read to a class, or a large contribution for those
able to do so,  Please find the time to help in some way during the coming
school year!

Lost and not yet found!

Jen Johnson from Waukee Elementary left her wedding ring on one of the
yellow swings at the building.  Engraved inside "7-12-03 Together Forever"
If anyone happened to find it, please contact Jen at 991-5123 or call the
building office.

Education legislation signed:

I found the following note on a national education Web site:

Governor Tom Vilsack recently signed a legislation package to require more
demanding, first-time graduation requirements and increase teacher pay. The
graduating class of 2011 will be required to take four years of English,
three years each of math and science, and social studies. Total state aid to
public schools will increase by four percent in 2006-2007.

Recognizing the importance of high quality teachers to education, the bill
will increase average teacher salaries by about $2,700 ($900 a year over
three years), at a total cost of $210 million. Iowa hopes to improve its
average teacher pay ranking from 41st in the nation to 32nd.

I applaud these efforts, but think we should be ashamed that 32nd in the
nation is acceptable in a state that understands the importance of preparing
out children for life in a global economy.

In another article this week, I read a report talking of Iowa's need for
thousands of employees who will not need a college education in jobs with
lower middle class wages.  I believe there will be jobs available for all of
our students, but they will still need to develop their talents to the best
of their abilities in order to obtain even these jobs.  The article stated
that attitude, personality, trustworthiness, and meeting responsibilities
are keys these employers are looking for.  (Sounds like Character Counts to
me!)

Optimists are always on the move!

Thanks to Ryan Irwin for providing the following update on work the
Optimists do with our students:

Last week the Optimists wrapped up a year long program with the first grade
students at Waukee Elementary.  Working with Mrs. Thode from the reading
lab, the volunteers with the Optimist Club have worked with about two dozen
kids throughout the year helping them develop and hone their reading and
spelling skills.  Through out the week, each child worked with an Optimist 2
- 3 times, doing various activities to enhance their reading skills.  Based
on reported results, the kids have been reaching their goals!  It has also
been an extremely rewarding experience for our club as well!   

We plan on continuing to grow the Optimist reading program next year and
assist the students in achieving there goals.

I missed another great accomplishment!

Thanks to Peg Armstrong-Gustafson for sharing the following information.  I
hope more parents will share accomplishments by their sons and daughters
that I can share.

Our daughter, Alex Gustafson, was selected by the Iowa Band Masters
Association for the All Iowa 8th Grade band.  She plays the bassoon.  She
was the only one from Waukee and the only one in several years.  There were
138 members of the band from across the state.  A special conductor was
brought in by the name of Mr. Steve Bulla.  He has been the conductor of the
U.S. President's Marine Corps. Band for several decades.  He also writes and
composes music.  He was commissioned to write a special piece for the band.
He did so and it is now published for all bands to use; it is a march.
Every piece of music printed with identify that it was commissioned by the
Iowa Band Masters Association and first performed by the 2006 All Iowa 8th
Grade Band.  He had never heard it performed before until he came to Des
Moines on May 11 and the band played it.  The whole thing was very exciting.
It is another example of the outstanding music program we have at Waukee.
Mr. Todd Woodard is her band instructor.

Another update from Jim Duea, Athletic Dirctor:

The Girls 4x400m Relay team of Freshmen Claire Johannesen, Whitney Westrum,
Colette Gnade, and Sophomore Amaura Cope were State Champions in a State
Meet Record time of 3:53.65.  The girls Sprint Medley Relay team (Maddie
Romano, Betsy Embree, Whitney Westrum, and Colette Gnade) that won the Drake
Relays placed second at the State meet, but ran the 6th fastest time in the
nation this year for high school girls teams.  Also in Boys track, Robbie
Utterback was State Champion in the Discus. Congratulations to Michelle
Mayer for qualifying for the state tennis meet for singles. Only 16 girls in
Iowa make it in singles, so it was a great accomplishment.

Volunteerism never stops in Waukee!  

Thanks to chairperson Patty Myers and the entire Relay for Life committee
for another great event that raised over $35,000 to fight cancer!  It was
great to see the growing support for this important event. 

Food, food and more food!

At our June 27 board meeting, we had a report from Jeannie Allgood, Director
of Nutrition for the school district, sharing her efforts to ensure Waukee
meets all the state and national regulations.  Did you know we serve around
4000 meals every day making us the largest and fastest growing restaurant in
the county!  Did you know that Waukee's food service was selected as the
model of school lunch programs for the Nation? Thanks for Jeannie and the
entire food service staff for providing the nutrition needed for our
students to do their best in the classroom.

Special Report on Special Students!

At our June 27 board meeting, Roxanne Cumings also provided an update on our
efforts to meet the needs of our 416 special education students.  Federal
and State laws continue to emphasize the need to help all students reach
grade level.  An emphasis this year will be to provide the professional
development and extra support for our teachers so that these students can be
merged more fully into regular classrooms.  Another emphasis will be to
focus on pre-school 4 year olds, helping these special students to be ready
for kindergarten.  

We are lucky to have Roxanne leading this effort. 

Character Counts In Waukee!

As parents, please take the time to find ways to show your students that the
character counts principals should apply all year long, not just during the
school year.  Test them on the 6 pillars:  Trustworthiness, Respect,
Responsibility, Fairness, Caring and Citizenship, and find ways that they
can demonstrate these traits during the summer break.  Whether you still
have children in school or not, take the time to talk to any student you see
that demonstrates these traits and thank them for their actions.  It's
amazing what a little attention and recognition can do to build self-esteem!

Coming Events....

July 4  parade starts at 2:00 at Waukee Elementary ending at Centennial
Park.

July 4 fireworks at Centennial Park.  Voted best in the metro last year!

Ragbrai July 25.  The athletic, band and vocal booster clubs have joined
forces and will need volunteers to serve food at the Middle School, High
School and Football Concession Stand.  Please take the time to help out and
show Waukee hospitality!

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Hope you all have a great July 4 Celebration!

Have some news I can share?  Just send me a note and I'll be glad to share
it next month.

Wayne Cooper

Waukee School Board          

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Our significant purpose:

*	Create a caring culture where students feel safe and nurtured. 
*	Provide students the skills to be literate and productive citizens
in a democratic society. 
*	Build a foundation for the pursuit of continuous life-ling learning.

Values we are committed to:

*	Integrity, Responsibility, Perseverance, Respect, Trust, Honesty,
Tolerance, Optimism, Loyalty 

We want to be:

*	A caring school community where adults model the district's values
and build a solid partnership with teachers, students and parents. 

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