Bloomer First Grader Contributes $800 to Juvenile Diabetes Research
Bloomer Teacher Receives Recognition Award
Elementary Students Named Outstanding Safety Patrol Crossing Guards
Franklin Holds Field Day
High School Students Place at State Track Meet
Lincoln Field Dedicated
Roosevelt Student Grand Marshal for Celebrate CB Parade
Staff Honored for Years of Service at Celebration of Service Ceremony
Teacher and Support Staff Member of the Year Honored at Board Meeting
Thomas Jefferson Students Named 2009 Council Bluffs Soccer Players of the Year
Thomas Jefferson Students Take 1st and 2nd Place in IWCC Public Speaking Tournament
Thomas Jefferson Students Named 2009 Council Bluffs Soccer Players of the Year
The Daily Nonpareil named Jamie Swotek, a senior at Thomas Jefferson, the 2009 girls soccer player of the year and Erick Estrada, a sophomore also from Thomas Jefferson the 2009 boys soccer player of the year. Jamie Swotek made 14 goals, 10 assists, helped her team remain unbeaten by all other schools in Council Bluffs, and helped her team to an 11-9 record this past season. Thomas Jefferson girls soccer coach Mark Royer was quoted in the Nonpareil saying, “She was the money player for us when we needed her. To get where we got, we wouldn’t have done that without her.” Swotek is a forward on the team and will be continuing her soccer career in college at Morningside College in Sioux City. Other activities that kept her involved during high school are volleyball, track, cheerleading, and dance. Erick Estrada netted 25 goals, helped his team finish with a 9-7 record, and helped his team also remain unbeaten against the other city schools this season. In addition to soccer at Thomas Jefferson Erick also played Omaha traveling club soccer last year.
Bloomer Teacher Receives Recognition Award
Gail Kenkel poses with Charles Land, Quartermaster who presented her with the award.
Gail Kenkel, a TAG social studies teacher for students in 2nd through 6th grade at Bloomer, received the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Citizenship Education Teacher Post Recognition Award. She was given this award in recognition for promoting citizenship education in her classroom and school. Gail was the 4th place winner for the state of Iowa.
Lincoln Field Dedicated
The new home of Lynx Baseball was dedicated on June 5th with a ceremonial first pitch and a gift from Abraham Lincoln graduate, booster and accomplished softballl Hall of Famer Ann Fatovich. She, along with Head Coach James Larsen, Activities Director Jeff Novotny, District construction project manager Neal Evans, Board of Education vice president and Lynx parent Mark McGee; and Dugout Booster Club president and parent Howard Hively threw the ceremonial pitch to Lynx seniors and coaches.
According to Mr. Novotny, Lincoln Field is much bigger than a new facility for the AL baseball program. "It is a sign of the dedication by the school district, Board of Education and Lynx Dugout Club members to make the facilities in the Council Bluffs Community School District second to none," he said. "Lincoln Field would not have been possible without all stakeholders working together for the sake of our students.This field is a perfect example of everyone working towards the one goal of giving our students the best."
Roosevelt Student Grand Marshal for Celebrate CB Parade
JadeLynn Townsend, a 6th grader at Roosevelt, was named one of the Grand Marshal's for the 2009 Celebrate CB parade which was held May 16. The selection committee picked four people as a way to note this year’s theme of “Past, Present and Future.” JadeLynn represents the future. “She is happy, friendly and very well spoken. Additionally, JadeLynn is a great peer role model,” Monica Osterhaus, said when she announced the Grand Marshals. The other three Grand Marshal's were Jordan Hoffs, Don Gross and Hazel Gammon.
High School Students Place at State Track Meet
Austin Ebertowski and Kyle Blue placed at the state track meet at Drake Stadium in Des Moines this previous weekend in Class 4A. Austin Ebertowski, a sophomore at Abraham Lincoln received 3rd place in the state for the 100 meter dash and 7th place for the 200 meter dash. Class 4A Kyle Blue, a recent graduate of Thomas Jefferson, placed 4th in the 3,200 meter run and 14th in the 1,600 meter run. Several others also qualified and ran in the State Track Meet and are listed below.
Boys
200 –Sam Row, A.L.
400 – Barry Hodapp, A.L.
400 hurdles – Justin Raes, T.J.
400 Relay -Sam Rowe, Devin Thomas, Cleo Harris, Austin Ebertowski, A.L.
800 -Barry Hodapp, A.L.
800 Relay- Sam Row, Luke Thallas, Cleo Harris, Austin Ebertowski, A.L.
3200 Relay- Jordan Robinson, Josh Hires, Alex Dixon, Barry Hodapp, A.L.
1600 Medley Relay- Cleo Harris, Luke Thallas, Pat Peters, Jordan Robinson, A.L.
High Jump- DJ Jefferson, A.L.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay- Devin Thomas, Mike Jones, Payton Mass, Tyler Johnson, A.L.;
Justin Raes, Alex Korner, Tanner belt, Bruce Turpen, T.J.
Girls
100 - Rachele Harrill, T.J., Lacey Wright, A.L.
200 - Lacey Wright, A.L.
3000 - Courtney Ruff, T.J.
Shuttle Hurdle Relay - Jamie Swotek, Charity Oswald, Jordan Mundt, Amanda Coffelt, T.J.
400 Relay - Taylor Thomas, Jamie Swotek, Rachele Harrill, Amanda Coffelt, T.J.
800 Relay - Jessica Flom, Morgan Hively, Amie Vorthmann, Lacey Wright, A.L., Taylor Thomas, Jamie Swotek, Rachele Harrill, Amanda Coffelt, T.J.
1600 Relay - Emma Murray, Emily Olsen, Lacey Wright, Dawn McKown, A.L.
3200 Relay - Emma Murray, Emily Olsen, Hannah Zimmerman, Morgan Deboer, A.L.
Sprint Medley - Amanda Coffelt, Jamie Swotek, Taylor Thomas, Rachele Harrill, T.J.
Distance Medley -Jessica Flom, Morgan Hively, Dawn McKown, Emma Murray, A.L.
High Jump - Emily Koontz, A.L.
Shot Put - Jordan Gillenwater, Amie Vorthmann, A.L.
Franklin Holds Field Day
Physical Education teacher Mike Phelan monitors the sack races
Franklin students participated in a field day on Friday, May 8th. P.E. teacher Mike Phelan took the 4th-6th grade students for a track and field day while the younger kids get a scaled down version at Franklin. Some activities included running events, sack races, and tug of war. Previous Franklin students who are now in 8th grade also participated by helping with the events.
Franklin Teachers vs. 8th Graders, former Franklin students, in a tug of war match
Teacher and Support Staff Member of the Year
Honored at Board Meeting
The Teacher of the Year and Support Staff Member of the Year for 2008-09 were honored at the Board Meeting last Tuesday. Trent Doerges, a 5th grade teacher from Carter Lake was named Teacher of the Year. Trent is student-centered and achievement-oriented. Trent’s presentation style is mesmerizing and students seem to hang on his every word. He is able to use real-world examples to strengthen instruction. He speaks of his lessons and reading intervention as a diagnostician, one who may be on the verge of a scientific breakthrough. Trent’s efforts in teaching go far beyond the classroom. He has participated in Carter Lake Clean Up and Preservation annually. He volunteers with the Carter Lake Community Resource Center and promotes healthy, drug-free living. He is providing life-long learning experiences that will guide his students into the future.
Melissa Gorman, a Special Education Paraprofessional at Hoover Elementary is the Support Staff Member of the Year.
Everyone knows Mrs. Gorman and her welcoming and loving smile as she greets them every morning. Melissa steps in at a moment’s notice to help wherever and whenever. She goes the extra mile many days helping to modify materials for her student as well as other special education students. Her current one-on-one assignment is with a visually impaired student, which required her to receive training on the technology and all the programs necessary for her to provide the proper learning environment for the student giving him the ability to learn. Her upbeat attitude is contagious and she is always trying to be a role model for others around her. Other associates in the building look to her for advice. Melissa Gorman is definitely an ambassador for Council Bluffs Schools.
Bloomer First Grader Contributes $800 to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Jacob James a first-grader at Bloomer decided to sell sneakers for Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) as part of a service project involving Bloomer's Student Council. He had told himself that everythning he raised he would match with his own money. He is a model and works nationally, so he has his own money. He raised $400 and matched that amount with his own money making his total contribution to JDRF $800. His total raised put Bloomer over their goal of $5000. They made a little over $6000 total after Kohls donated $500. The representative from the Omaha/Council Bluffs JDRF chapter recognized Jacob the day of the walk.
Thomas Jefferson students take 1st and 2nd place in IWCC Public Speaking Tournament
Pictured left from right: Cody Stites, Kylene Carlson, Ryan Mickey, and Meghan Boucher.
On April 30, eighteen dual-credit enrollment students from Thomas Jefferson competed in the Iowa Western Community College speech tournament. 37 students competed in 6 rounds of preliminary competition for first-place bids and the opportunity to advance to the evening’s final round of competition. The six speakers who advanced to the evening’s finals included TJ students: Meghan Boucher, Kylene Carlson, Ryan Mickey, and Cody Stites. Charity Oswald, was an alternate. At the conclusion of the final round of competition, Ryan Mickey and Meghan Boucher placed 1st and 2nd respectively, with Cody Stites taking home 5th place and Kylene Carlson receiving 6th place honors. Nicole Juranek, Iowa Western Communications dept. faculty member and event coordinator, remarked, “I was so impressed by the dual-credit students. Clearly, they were very worthy of the honors which they received. I would definitely say that the TJ students were extremely well-prepared, polished, and professional.”
Elementary Students Named Outstanding Safety Patrol Crossing Guards
The Westend Optimist Club named the outstanding Safety Patrol crossing guards from the Council Bluffs elementary schools for the 32nd year. Jim Binns, presented the awards to the students and Lyle Armstrong, a crossing guard at Rue who received an award as the city's outstanding adult crossing guard. The students who were honored include: Holly Vanderpool, Lewis and Clark; Macee Wise, Longfellow; Brianna Nowlin, Pusey; Carl Headlee, Pusey; Jayde Albers, Roosevelt; Caitlynn Chapman, Roosevelt; Jacob Swotek, Rue; Bianca Still, Rue; Amanda Bosch, Walnut Grove; Rani Athay, Washington; Eric Collins, Bloomer; Scoot Brown, Bloomer; Taylor Doble, Carter Lake; Madison Barrett, Crescent; Taylor Kinney, Crescent; Ashley Wilkins, Edison; Walter Stewart, Franklin; Jennifer Christensen, Franklin; Morgan Kinkade, Gunn; and Macee Perry, Gunn, Cierra Benak, Carter Lake; Elizabeth Peterson, Edison; Rachel Starkey, Longfellow; and Kodey Lee, Walnut Grove.
Ashley Wilkins also received the Bill Palmer Award for outstanding Safety Patrol crossing guard.
Jim Binns presents Ashley Wilkins, a 6th grader from Edison, the Bill Palmer Award for outstanding Safety Patrol crossing guard.
Staff Honored for Years of Service at Celebration of Service Ceremony
Over 130 people attended the Celebration of Service ceremony at the Council Bluffs Country Club honoring Council Bluffs School District staff who reached milestones in their years of service. Staff who reached 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years were honored along with those who are retiring in the 2008-09 school year. The ceremony included dinner and awards presented to the honorees by Superintendent Dr. Martha Bruckner. The following staff members are this year’s retirees who have given a combined total over 600 years of service.
Diana Bintz -7.5 years, Kirn
Connee Black- 34 years, A L
Tom Bond - 39 years, Kanesville
Mary Jane Brown -13 years, Kirn
Linda Bullock -11 years, Bloomer
Karen Coates -24 years, Lewis & Clark
Denise Cunningham -33 years, Kirn
Catherine Dickerson -39 years, Hoover
Mary Dickerson -38 years, ESC
Jane Gehringer -32 years, Walnut Grove
Cindy Goetzmann -32 years, Longfellow
Nancy Hale - 33 years, T J
Nora Herzberg -33 years, Washington
Darlene Jeppesen -22 years, Roosevelt
Mary Johnston -35 years, Wilson
Elody Kiser -30 years service, Kirn
Debbie McArthur -34 years, Washington
Patricia McKee -40 years, Rue
Connie Plunkett -34 years, FMCS
Billie Shelton -16 years, A L
Paulette Woellhof -13 years, Franklin
Harv Van Nordstrand -26 years, A L
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