Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Students Make All-State Speech Contest
Abraham Lincoln Band Director Named One of "50 Directors Who Make a Difference"
Abraham Lincoln Jazz Band Receives 10th Consecutive Division 1 Rating
Abraham Lincoln Jazz Bands Have Successful Day at UNO and Southwest Iowa Bandmasters District Contest Abraham Lincoln Students Honored at Career and Technical Student Organizations Recognition Event
Action Teams Begin Work on Strategic Planning Process
Edison Students Raise Money for Pen Pals in Tanzania
Free Help Available for Students and Families Filing Their FAFSA Forms
Kirn Students Deliver Hand Made Cards to Jennie Edmundson Patients
Longfellow Students Raise Money for School Defibrillator
Nomination Deadline February 27th for Nelson Family Foundation "Excellence in Teaching Awards"
Rue Holds Family Literacy Night
Rue Student Wins "Hit the Books" Contest
Seeking Employee of the Month Nominations
Students Meet Abraham Lincoln on His Birthday
Thomas Jefferson Hosts Second Annual Speech Showcase Night
Thomas Jefferson Students Winners in Poetry and Writing Contest
Walnut Grove Named Highly Successful Reading First School
Nomination Deadline February 27th for Nelson Family Foundation "Excellence in Teaching Awards"
The H.H. "Red" and Ruth H. Nelson Family Foundation is now accepting nominations for the Excellence in Teaching Awards to be announced in May. A total of five educators from the Council Bluffs and Lewis Central Community School Districts will honored as part of this annual program and each will receive a $5,000 cash gift from the Foundation. Last year's honorees from the Council Bluffs Schools include Al Hudek, Mary Reid and Joan VonTersch Crampton. Nominations are due February 27, 2009. For more information from the Omaha Community Foundation and access to the nomination form click here.
Nominees must have a minimum of two years experience as a certified teacher or counselor to be considered.
Click Here for a direct link to the nomination form.
Free Help Available for Students and Families Filing Their FAFSA Forms
Students and families who would like help filing their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) forms may attend the 2009 Iowa College Goal Sunday. Filing the FAFSA is the first step toward qualifying for federal financial aid for college. This event, which is part of the national College Goal Sunday program held in 36 states, focuses on helping low-income and first-generation students attain their college dreams.
The 2009 Iowa College Goal Sunday will be held on Saturday, February 28 from 9 am - 3:00 pm at Iowa Western Community College. To complete the FAFSA, families should bring, for both the student and parent, the following:
- Social Security number, driver’s license number and date of birth
- Most recent federal and state tax returns
- W-2 forms or other records of income earned last year
- Current bank statements and investment records
- Records of untaxed income received last year
- 2008 Business and farm records
- Alien registration numbers if not a U.S. citizen
Thomas Jefferson Students Winners in Poetry and Writing Contest
Four Thomas Jefferson students were winners in the Midlands of Iowa Reading Council's poetry and writing contests and were sent on to the State competition. In the poetry contest 10th Grader Dusty W. Smith won second place and 12th Grader Heidi Gutha won third place in the high school category. In the writing contest, 9th Grader Kyle McGlade won third place and Heidi Gutha won fourth place in the high school category.
Abraham Lincoln Jazz Bands Have Successful Day at UNO and Southwest Iowa Bandmasters District Contest
Abraham Lincoln's Jazz Bands I and II had very successful performances on February 20 at two regional competitions. The contests took place at UNO in Omaha and IWCC in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Jazz I performed in the morning at the Great Plains Jazz Festival at UNO and received a Division I rating from three judges. The scores were outstanding as the band received scores of 95, 92, and 96 out of 100 points. Jazz bands I and II both competed in the Southwest Iowa Bandmaster's (SWIBA) District Jazz Festival at Iowa Western This competition was for the Class 4A bands in southwest Iowa which includes Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson and Lewis Central. The results were excellent for both bands from ALHS receiving Division I ratings. The final ranking of the bands were 1st Place: Abraham Lincoln Jazz Band I; 2nd Place- Lewis Central Jazz Band I; and 3rd Place-Abraham Lincoln Jazz Band II. The outstanding soloist was Wyatt Seals-trombone soloist from Abraham Lincoln High School. This is the 9th consecutive year at ALHS has won the SWIBA, and the win qualifies Abraham Lincoln Jazz Band 1 for the Iowa Jazz Championships in April in Des Moines, Iowa.
Students Meet Abraham Lincoln on His Birthday
Gail Kenkel speaks to Bloomer students at the Union Pacific Museum on Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
Washington Elementary Students see how they compare to Abraham Lincoln's Height at the Union Pacific Museum.
Rue Student Wins "Hit the Books" Contest
Cassandra Warner poses with Omaha Royals Mascot Casey after winning the "Hit the Books" Contest sponsored by the Omaha Royals.
Congratulations to Rue sixth grader, Cassandra Warner, for winning the grade level "Hit the Books" bookmark contest sponsored by the Omaha Royals. Leslie Crutcher from the Omaha Royals and Casey stopped during Rue's February Just Read assembly to surprise Cassandra with a special prize package from the Omaha Royals. Way to go Cassandra! All Rue students are encouraged to "Hit the Books" by reading four books to earn a free baseball ticket to the Sunday, April 26th Omaha Royals game.
Seeking Employee of the Month Nominations
The Council Bluffs Community School District is proud to continue its program which allows parents, students and community members to celebrate the outstanding dedication and contributions made to students by school faculty and staff members. Nominations are now being accepted for Employee of the Month honorees. This program recognizes one faculty member and one support staff member each month at a Board of Education meeting.
Please send nominations for this recognition to Traci Matters, Educational Service Center, 12 Scott Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa 51503, or e-mail tmatters@cb-schools.org. Nomination forms can be accessed in the office of every school building or under Quick Links on the left side of the homepage. Nominations should be submitted before the 30th of each month.
Walnut Grove Named Highly Successful Reading First School
Walnut Grove Elementary School has been named a Highly Successful Reading First School by the Iowa Department of Education due to the gains in student proficiency in reading during the 2007-08 school year. Walnut grove is one of only 14 schools to gain this honor. Congratulations to Walnut Grove on this accomplishment.
Kirn Students Deliver Hand Made Cards to Jennie Edmundson Patients
Members of the Kirn Junior High A.S.T.R.A. Club hold their hand-made Valentine Cards for patients at Jennie Edmundson Hospital. The cards will be distributed to every patient at Jennie Edmundson Hospital on Valentines Day and to heart patients visiting the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program. This is the third year that the A.S.T.R.A.Club has decorated Valentine's for Jennie Edmundson Hospital patients
Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson Students Make All-State Speech Contest
The State Speech Large Group Contest was held February 7, by the Iowa High School Speech Association (IHSSA), representing 487 member schools and 40,000 students. Among the select few to earn All-State nominations, the highest recognition the IHSSA awards, were student groups from both Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson.
These students will perform at the All-State Festival in Ames, Iowa on February 21st. Abraham Lincoln’s Radio Broadcasting, K-SIDE News, group was included in the groups making All-State and features students Ronda Long-Birdsall and Bailey Kinney. Their coaches are Dirk Waller and Connie Jo Podendorf. Thomas Jefferson had two groups earning the All-State title and included Radio Broadcasting and Group Improv. Thomas Jefferson’s Radio News Group, WAKE, features Meghan Boucher, Stephenie Bryen, Justina DeLong, David Kousgaard, Alejandra Martinez, Steve Ritenour, Ndzi Tante, Leah Wright. Thomas Jefferson’s Impov team features Nathan Kammrad and Ndzi Tante.
Rue Holds Family Literacy Night
"BINGO!" Shouts of bingo could be heard throughout Rue Elementary on Thursday, January 29th, during the family literacy night. 189 people attended the family event for grades PK-6. Teacher-made bingo cards featured book characters, titles and authors. Books and other fun prizes were awarded for each bingo and every family received a copy of Dinosaurs, a pop-up encyclopedia about dinosaurs, by Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart.
Abraham Lincoln Band Director Named One of "50 Directors Who Make a Difference"
Congratulations to Dr. Terry Hanzlik who was named one of School Band and Orchestra (SBO) Magazine's "50 Director's Who Make a Difference." There was a band director featured from each state in the article, which was published in December of 2008, and Dr. Hanzlik was chosen to represent the state of Iowa. Dr. Hanzlik has taught for 33 years and been at Abraham Lincoln for 10 years. In the article Dr. Hanzlik said that student success inspires him and that one of the keys to success is having a passion for what you do. To read more from the article please click here.
Longfellow Students Raise Money for School Defibrillator
The Longfellow Jr. Red Cross is holding two fund-raisers to continue raising money for a school defibrillator. On Friday, January 30th students had the option of paying 25 cents to wear a hat. Also, on February 13th students can pay 50 cents to wear their pajamas and slippers to school. All the proceeds will go towards money for the defibrillator. Longfellow is getting closer to their goal and hopes to have enough funds before the year ends.
Abraham Lincoln Jazz Band Receives 10th Consecutive Division I Rating
The Abraham Lincoln Jazz Band I began the competition season this week with the Iowa High School Music Association state contest in Sloan, Iowa. The band received a Division I from all three judges and a perfect score from the sight reading judge. This is ALHS's 10th Division I in 10 years. They played three songs which included the following Oh! Lady Be Good, featuring Krystin Albertus, Tyler Matuszeski, Luke Thallas and the Saxophone Section,
This Masquerade, featuring Wyatt Seals and Allison Goldapp, and Secret Love, featuring the trombone section, and Patrick Peters on the trombone
On February 14th ALHS will be hosting the Bluffs Jazz Festival which will involve 38 bands from Nebraska and Iowa. The jazz band festival will also have a guest performance by the Iowa Western Community College Jazz Ensemble.
Abraham Lincoln Students Honored at Career and Technical Student Organizations Recognition Event
On February 5, 2009 two Abraham Lincoln High School students, who also attend the Tucker Career and College Center, were honored in Des Moines at the "Career and Technical Student Organizations (CTSO) Recognition Event". CTSO students exhibit leadership in activities that positively affect their school, community, and country. Congratulations are extended Joelynn Davis and Tim Nelson. Joelynn is involved with the local DECA chapter and as a state officer. Her involvement has been instrumental in making all of her other activities successful. Tim is an active member of Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA) and placed second in the Medical Reading competition at the state spring leadership conference.
Action Teams Begin Work on Strategic Planning Process
More than 150 people have volunteered to participate in the District's Strategic Planning Process by serving on one of eight Action Teams. Most if the team members gathered last week for the first time and will meet regularly prior to presenting plans to the Steering Committee in March.
Thomas Jefferson Hosts Second Annual Speech Showcase Night
Thomas Jefferson hosted the second annual Council Bluffs Community Schools Speech Showcase Night on Thursday, February 5, at the TJHS Auditorium. Select groups from both Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson, who have qualified to compete at the state speech contest in Des Moines, performed.
Edison Students Raise Money for Pen Pals in Tanzania
Sixth graders at Edison have begun a pen pal relationship with students at Martin Luther Primary school in Tanzania. The first letters were just received from their new friends and they plan on continuing correspondence throughout the school year. When the students were first introduced to the idea of having pen pals in Tanzania they researched the conditions that the students there live in and how their educational experience is different from ours. When the children discovered the great needs their new friends in Africa faced, they were instantly compelled to help. They discussed how they do so many things at school to make their minds and bodies stronger, and one student quickly pointed out that helping students in Tanzania would make their hearts stronger. It was decided that they were going to raise money for the Tanzanian students. It is their hope that they are able to build a new school somewhere in Africa, as it costs approximately $1000 to build an entire school. The students from Edison have begun collecting "pennies for peace," and have currently raised $150. Through this experience the hope is that students will develop an awareness of different cultures, become interactive members of a global society, and increase awareness of the needs of students around the world. |
