West Des Moines Elementary Schools

Thank you to the West Des Moines Rotary Club for their generous donation of dictionaries to all of the third- and fourth-graders at Clive Elementary. The dictionary not only contains definitions of a large number of words, but also has a large reference section containing other valuable information such as a weights and measures conversion chart, biographies of U.S. presidents, a guide to each of the 50 states, information about other countries and even information about other planets. The Rotary Club passed these dictionaries out in person Oct. 9 and guided the students through looking up a word to ensure that each dictionary worked properly.

Crestview Elementary School sixth-grader Nicole Nucaro read and reported on all 24 2009-10 Iowa Children’s Choice books. Reading all 24 books takes a lot of time and commitment. So far this year, only one other Crestview student has completed this challenge.

Students have been creating some wonderful pieces of art that are currently on display at Crossroads Park. Be sure and check out the art work next time you come to school. Crossroads Park students also have artwork hanging at Farm Bureau and the Learning Resource Center. Several fourth-graders had art on display during the Day of the Dead celebration at the Des Moines Art Center.

Congratulations to these students. Works were on display at Farm Bureau by second-graders Anna Rader, Summer DeCamp, Emily Collins, Mary Thomas, Noah Deutmeyer, Caitlin Kelley, Ryan Stewart, Alexandra Douglas, Jailyn Brewer, Emily Spears and Rachel Hendel and by third-graders Emily Anders, Hannah Ross, Gavin Beaumont, Maddie Pautvein, Deaven Nguyen, Liz Dunagon, Riley Heil, Kate Anderson, Paula Palacios and Julia Tighe. Projects were on display at the LRC by fifth-graders Jordan Aquirre, Jack House, Emma Hayes, Michael Hieb, Grace Erickson, Tate Smith, Brooke Roe, Taylor Young and Haiden Johnson and sixth-graders Angie Mullican, Rylie Combs, Madison Stegman, Malorie Caldwell, Olivia McDermott, Hailey McKinney, Alec Irlmeier, Jake Dollinar, Devonte Veasley, Maty Doll, Katie Czepowski, Luke Rustin, Joey Gilber, Jacob Heeren, Livie Brock, Ellie Cohrs, Bree Barker, Annie Utter, Lexie Pautvein, Connor Robey, Marc Little, Gabe McGuire, Caroline Stump, Jenna Hanson, Shianne Ray, Diana Park, Ally Tasler, Briana Andrew, Sophia Farrell, Olympia Manning, Sidney Shafer-Allen, Claudia Stewart, Matthew Ewald, Sean Parris, Brandon Luong, Brady Wulf and Brendan Miller. Finally, artwork at the Des Moines Art Center was by Marcos Villanueva, Bree Cole, Dylan O’Hollearn, Britney Nguyen, David McCabe, Emily Johnson, Samantha Auer, Mitchell O’Meara, Ally Spencer, Marisa Sullivan and Luke Sueppel.

Crossroads Park students did a fantastic job performing for the Day of Dead celebration at the Des Moines Art Center Nov. 1. Fourth-graders Ann Thomas, Preston Hayes, Emily Johnson, Mitchell O’Meara, Ally Spencer, Marisa Sullivan, Sam Worlie and Maddy Penick read information they researched in Spanish and performed La Danza de los Viejitos (The Dance of the Little Old Men/Women). Spanish teacher Shanon DeJoode heard many positive comments about their performance.

The Crossroads Park Striders will continue to meet as the weather and temperatures permit. Once it gets too cold, Striders will stop meeting until spring because there is not a place for the large number of participants to meet through the winter. So far, the Striders have logged 1,398 miles and students can still log miles through the winter using their home tracking sheets available in the school office. Students who walk or run 26 miles by spring will be eligible to run a victory lap at the Drake Relays in April.

Crossroads Park’s Red Ribbon Week essay winners were recognized at an awards assembly Nov. 5. Comic and essay winners were: sixth-graders Samantha Auer and Isaiah Brock, third-graders Lucas Bryant and Sean Kons, second-graders Jake Auer and Jailyn Brewer, first-grader Ashley Czipar and kindergartners Sully Waldrop, Emma Diamond and Quinci Chapman.

Fairmeadows Elementary School third-graders performed the play “Pirates” Oct. 26-27. The production featured stowaways Annie Grob and Parker Lee as they attempted to become pirates. The Queens of the High Cs, played by Skylar Vanden Bosch and Sidney Mays, developed laryngitis, so the stowaways, with their impressive singing abilities, were rescued from the brig to help win the pirate singing contest. Each student had lines as well as another task such as playing an instrument or dancing. Director Debra Augspurger would like to thank all the Fairmeadows families for their support and congratulate the students on their great performances.

Students from Fairmeadows Elementary presented a skit in Spanish for the Day of the Dead event at the Des Moines Art Center Nov. 1. Day of the Dead is a holiday celebrated in Mexico where they honor their ancestors. Students who participated in the performance were Lauren Anderson, Elizabeth Day, Vivian Alba, Viridiana Alba, Jarred Gaudineer, Verona Victoria, Moureen Maina, Mia Klaric, Kayla Kinney, Marqui Craddock, Julius Imafidon, Samantha Kobberdahl, Hanna Bush, Chelsea Sapp, Angelica Soto, Katie Lewis, Rebecca White and Amanda Mackey.

Hillside Elementary sixth-graders attended JA Biztown Oct. 30, a curriculum program sponsored by Junior Achievement. Students spent a month and a half getting ready for this one day, learning about economics, free enterprise, taxes, business management, work-readiness skills, citizenship and government. The social studies and Biztown curriculum is taught using reading, writing, and math skills throughout the unit. At JA Biztown, each student had a different job in one of the following businesses: city hall, bank, radio, magazine, financial center, utility/realty office, sports shop, restaurant, agriculture, book store, technology center, insurance agency and distribution center.

Jordan Creek Principal Nancy Moorhead and her dog, Wrigley, helped get fifth-graders in the fall spirit by reading the book “Hallo-Weener.” Not only was it a fun story, but it taught a great lesson on bullying and being yourself.

As a culminating activity and reward for their hard work during the unit on American Indian culture areas, fifth-graders in Andrea Peters’ social studies class took part in a Culture Areas Craft Day. Students took a tour of the four culture areas by creating a different craft at four stations. They created totem poles in the Northwest Coast, teepees in the Plains, birch bark baskets in the Eastern Woodlands and did sand paintings with cornmeal in the Southwest. The students had a great time and learned even more about life in each of the culture areas.

Seven Phenix Elementary School third-graders performed for the Day of the Dead Celebration at the Des Moines Art Center Nov. 1. The students shared a story in Spanish about the holiday to an audience of family, friends and patrons. They also displayed toy skeletons called calacas, which they posed doing everyday activities. The students made the calacas during their weekly Spanish classes with teacher Allyson Day. Participants were Brianna Faulkner, Blake Wheeler, Vanessa Juarez, Cody Nelson, Tamijha Wilson, Andy Cordova and Rachelle Smith.

Picture kids in sleeping bags listening to music, having a snack and reading, reading, reading. Each month the second-graders receive a new Book and Bag card that shows the books they will be reading at home for the Book and Bag home reading program. The authors and subjects featured each month are related to the curriculum. For November, the Book and Bag card lists books by the authors Charlotte Zolotow or Judith Viorst, a book about November and several books of choice. At the end of the month, to celebrate reading all their books at home, the students get to bring a sleeping bag, books and a snack and have a Book and Bag party.

Nicole Miller and Kyra Casper auditioned with 180 other girls and were selected to be part of the cast in the upcoming production of “Annie” presented by the Des Moines Playhouse. Congrats to these Westridge school play alumni. Break a leg.

Stop by Westridge Nov. 14 for a special pancake breakfast with a Mad Science demonstration as well as a wonderful Scholastic BookFair. The book fair will be open throughout the week of Nov. 14-19. Check the Westridge Web site at wdmcs.org/westridge for times.

Fifth- and sixth-graders at Westridge are training with PE teacher Rob Chapman for upcoming volleyball tournaments. Sixth-graders will participate in the Steve France tournament Nov. 24 from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., while fifth-graders will host their own tournament at Westridge. Other PE events this year at Westridge include hockey in December, basketball in January, rhythms and Jump Rope for Heart in February, softplay in March, fitness testing in April and field day activities in May.

West Des Moines Junior High Schools

Indian Hills Junior High

Haley Melz and Grant Schrof were selected to attend the annual Youth Appreciation Week Luncheon Nov. 4 hosted by the local Optimist Clubs of Des Moines. The luncheon recognizes accomplishments and contributions of youth in our community and expresses appreciation to the local schools for their efforts to benefit the youth of the Des Moines area. Sally Mason, president of the University of Iowa, was the guest speaker. Students are selected for special recognition by their contribution of time, talent and enthusiasm in making their schools and communities better places.

Congratulations to Indian Hills eighth-grader Jeff Swegle for winning the 11-13 year old division of the Notre Dame golf tournament Oct. 31. We’re proud of him.

The cast and crew of Stilwell’s fall play, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow,” traveled to Sleepy Hollow Sports Park Oct. 25 to celebrate their upcoming play. Cast and crew toured haunted houses, went on walks and roasted marshmallows. The 190 students will perform The Legend of Sleepy Hollow Nov. 13-14 at 7 p.m. in the Stilwell auditorium. Tickets are $5 each. Contact Stilwell at 633-6000 for tickets.

Stilwell Junior High will be participating in the 2009-10 Junior High Attendance Rewards Program sponsored by the Drake University athletics department. At the end of first semester, schools will report a final number of perfect attendance qualifiers to Drake. Those students will receive special vouchers good for admittance to a Drake men’s or women’s basketball game this winter. It is Drake’s hope that these rewards will reinforce the positives that come with caring about education.

Stilwell’s magazine campaign is an annual fundraiser that supports a variety of activities at the school. Contests were held to see which team could sell the most magazines, with Peter Bissinger’s team taking the crown with more than $3,000 in sales. Each team could earn a battery-operated pig by raising at least $1,800 or by being the top selling team of the day. Pig relays were held and each team had to carry their pig across the gym eight times. Leslie Nedved’s seventh-graders and Nicole Crawford’s eighth-graders received $50 for being the winning teams. Students also dressed their pig in costume, with Marilee Westergaard’s team receiving $50 and a pizza party for winning that contest.

On Oct. 23, Stilwell had a recognition/pep assembly to celebrate the end of the first quarter. Several groups and individuals were recognized for their achievements, including the Stilwell football teams for both having undefeated seasons. In a friendly competition, the seventh-grade team beat the eighth-grade team in a football throwing contest.

Valley Southwoods’ general science students are investigating what it means to study science. Students have been involved in hands-on activities based on problem solving and the characteristics of science. In upcoming astronomy and weather units they will investigate why seasons change, the problems in traveling outside our solar system, what causes weather to change and what happens during severe weather. Biology students will also experience some hands-on science when they look at life through a microscope and discover the makeup of a cell in plants and animals. They will also investigate the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats. Their studies will also teach them how cells reproduce and how they get their energy. No matter what your students are learning, be sure to keep asking questions to keep them thinking, because science is all around us.

West Des Moines High Schools

Valley orchestra had 12 students named to the 2009 Iowa High School Music Association All-State Orchestra. Congratulations to Meredith Lockin, Dorrie Bruggemann, Deborah Yu, Chelsea Wang, Kaitlyn Chase and Tricia Shi on violin; Claudia Malchow and Catherine Coult on viola; Nicole Peterson, Christine Kim and Mathew Marcus on cello; and David Merriman on bass. Two students, Yale Zhu and Samantha Greer, were named alternates on violin.

Dollars for Scholars is seeking any individual or business interested in sponsoring a Tiger basketball game this winter. Sponsors donate money for each 3-point shot made by the Tiger basketball teams and have their names announced as sponsors at the games. All donations to Dollars for Scholars are tax deductible. For more information or a sponsorship form, please call 633-4000.

The holidays are fast approaching and now is the time to order a beautiful holiday wreath from your favorite show choir member. Wreaths are fully decorated, fresh from the Minnesota north woods and available in 18 inches for $18 or 24 inches for $24. Wreath delivery will be the week of Nov. 30. To place your order, see your favorite show choir member or call 225-8151.

The Valley Booster Club has teamed up with Proforma to launch a new online retail store, The Shop, which can be found at proforma.com/wdmvalley. The Shop offers one-stop shopping for Valley Tiger enthusiasts nationwide. Visitors will have the ability to purchase their favorite fan-based apparel, including hats, jerseys and accessories.

Walnut Creek Campus’ Leading with Horses Program at Jester Park Equestrian Center has completed another year of learning leadership skills, mentoring skills as well as riding and horsemanship skills. Walnut Creek partnered with Hillside Elementary sixth-graders and guidance counselor Kim Darr. During the first session, the Walnut Creek students each buddied up with a sixth-grader, were sent into the horse pen to catch their horse and together lead the horse through exercises. At the second meeting, the kids learned to brush saddles and ride in the indoor arena at Jester Park. For the third session, the Des Moines Mounted Police came and gave a demonstration of how they do their jobs and helped the students learn more riding skills. The fourth and final session was celebrated with pizza and a trail ride through Jester Park. This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to develop and learn new leadership skills and how to work with younger students.

Waukee Schools

The district’s next two-hour early dismissal is Nov. 18.

After a year in hiatus, the Waukee Trombone Ensemble is back. This year marks the third year for the Waukee Trombone Ensemble to be up and running. Sixth- through 12th-grade trombone players in the Waukee Band Program assemble for a handful of large group rehearsals in preparation for the seventh-grade band’s first semester concert. The Trombone Ensemble will perform on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. in the middle school gymnasium. “Our trombone ensemble is approximately 30 players strong this year – our largest number yet. Each student comes to the rehearsals they can make work into their schedules. This is an awesome opportunity for our trombone players to play in a group of this size, not to mention, that a lot of our trombone players may never have the opportunity to play in a large trombone ensemble like this. We have a ton of laughs and practice some fun music. It is truly awesome to see the camaraderie between the young players and the older players. This is a very unique musical setting. Deb Dunn and Janice Cunningham are joining in on the trombone fun this year, too,” said director Mary Crandell-Garrels.

Once again, Brookview’s Brian Pierce and Brenda Beardsley are sponsoring Brooktech. Brooktech is a technology club for fifth-grade students. The students meet every Tuesday morning before school. Brooktech gives students the opportunity to learn about technologies that aren’t generally a part of the normal lessons in the tech lab. Topics covered include using digital cameras, scanning, and creating a project using the Apple iLife suite. Brooktech students will also make a series of videos to help teachers and students better understand what “Four to the Core” looks and sounds like at our school.

Brookview Elementary helped the Waukee Dollars for Scholars during its annual food drive. The group is tried to collect 17,000 pounds of food. Brookview collected donations of baking items, pudding and crackers. Friday is the last day to donate.

The Scholastic Book Fair will be at Brookview during upcoming elementary parent-student-conferences. The book fair will be open Nov. 17-19. All proceeds from this sale will benefit Brookview’s media center.

Congratulations to Brookview art teacher Traci Kresser. Kresser recently ran in the Bass Pro Shop Marathon in Springfield, Mo., and finished first in the women’s division and fifth overall with a time of 2 hours 56 minutes; 318 runners ran the marathon.

Eason students are getting prepared to Read Around the World during the PTO sponsored Scholastic Book Fair. Families are invited to stop by the library during conference week to view a great selection of quality books at affordable prices. This is an excellent time to shop for the holidays, birthdays and other special occasions. The Book Fair will be open the following dates and times: Nov. 17 from 8:35 a.m. to 8 p.m., Nov. 18 from 8:35 a.m. to 6 p.m., Nov. 19 from 8:35 a.m. to 8 p.m. Families can also help your child’s teachers add to their classroom libraries with the Classroom Wish List Program. As always, Eason’s Scholastic Book Fair promises to be an exciting event for readers of all ages. All proceeds from the book fair will benefit Eason’s library.

Eason students will participate in a special assembly Friday to celebrate making their fundraising goal for the school year. Students who met individual fundraising goals will take part in duct taping Principal Peg Erke to the gym wall. This year’s fundraiser proceeds will go toward document cameras and projectors for upper level classrooms as well as various technology needs for the lower level classrooms.

Report cards will be sent home with students on Nov. 13.

Student Involved Conferences will be held Nov. 16-19 at Eason Elementary.

Report cards will go home with students on Nov. 13.

A book fair will be held in the Maple Grove media center on the following dates and times: Nov. 16 from 4-6 p.m.; Nov. 17 from 4-8 p.m.; Nov. 18 from 2-6 p.m.; Nov. 19 from 4-8 p.m.

In social studies, second-graders at Walnut Hills Elementary learned about important American symbols. One of the most important symbols is our country’s flag. After learning about each part of the flag, students constructed their own. Students learned that there are 13 stripes for the 13 original colonies, 50 stars for each state and what each color of the flag stands for. Red stands for courage, white for innocence and blue for loyalty.

Walnut Hills Elementary will participate in the Dollars For Scholars annual food drive through Nov. 13. Students and their families are encouraged to bring in non-perishable food items with a specific emphasis on canned meat, beans, and vegetables (including tomatoes). All donations may be brought to the office.

Fifth-grade students in Matt Spreacker’s class joined the Waukee’s Winter Warmth Drive. They were partnering with Hope Ministries, Iowa Homeless Youth Center, Home Connection and Hawthorne Hill and Central Iowa Shelter and Services to provide warm clothing for those in need. The students handed out flyers, made posters, encouraged others to donate, and sorted the items that were donated. Spreacker’s students felt it would be better to donate our time and efforts to those in need instead of playing games and eating unhealthy treats during the Fall Harvest parties.

Fifth-graders at Waukee Elementary traveled to Kuehn Conservation Area in October to learn more about American Indians. Students were able to work with fire starter kits, practice using spears, and hike to a mound burial ground. The field trip is an extension of the fifth-grade social studies curriculum.

Russ Goerend’s language arts and social studies classroom blog has a weekly open discussion that gets started on Fridays. We invite students, parents, and community members to discuss with us: tr.im/DiscussWithUs.

Holiday Giving Tree: As a way of showing our PBS Caring Key, WMS will be having a Holiday Giving Tree to help families in need be able to put gifts under their tree. These will include clothing, shoes, toys, and household needs for every member of the family. There will be a tag (ornament) on the tree with one item on the back. The tree will be on display and filled with ornaments. Anyone can take a tag and return the item of need along with the tag to us. We will then deliver to the families before Holiday Break. Please contact WMS Counselors, Angie Jilek or Kristen Walker with questions.

Four seventh-grade band students were selected and represented Waukee Middle School at the annual South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association, District Honor Band Festival on Nov. 3 in Johnston.

Waukee’s eighth grade would like to congratulate some of its band members. After weeks of practice, hard work, and headaches, students auditioned at Simpson College in Indianola to attempt making the eighth-grade South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band. The concert was performed Nov. 3 at Johnston Middle School. Nine students made the cut: Riley Gallagher on clarinet, Dustin Eubanks and Rachel Boothroyd on bari sax, Nathan DeGraaf on percussion, Robby Cortes on bassoon, Maddie Baccam on flute, and Emily DeBoer, Tim Scheve, and Byron Sleugh on trombone.

Several eighth-grade students participated in the MathCounts school competition at Prairieview on Nov. 6. Participants were: Mohad Aziz Azmat Awan, Brielle Buck, Ross Clowser, Emily DeBoer, Nathan De Graaf, Sally Diehl, Dustin Eubanks, Riley Gallagher, Claudia Hernandez, Carter Kemmet, Allison Kidd, Jake Knudtson, Sydney Kroska, Alex Sturm, Taylor Wingert, Audrey Wood, and Ashley Young. MathCounts is a national competition program that promotes middle school mathematics achievement across the U.S. The top scorers from this competition will be coached by George De Graaf and will represent Prairieview at Drake University in February.

Ninth-grade science students at Prairieview built mouse trap-powered catapults to study how forces relate to motion. Students had a contest to see who could launch a marshmallow pumpkin peep the farthest. Winners launched their peeps nearly 10 meters.

A team of six eighth-grade students: Spencer Griffith, Damian LemVan, Sami Babb, Levi Schreiner, Meghan Jackson, and Emily Settle accompanied the eighth-grade health teacher Traci Havlik to the Super Power Summit, which was held downtown at the Polk County Convention Center. Students from middle schools across the state learned how to eat healthier and to engage in daily physical activity so they can unleash the super powers inside them. They heard from inspirational speakers who have reached incredible heights because they eat right – choosing foods from each of the four food groups as recommended by U.S. dietary guidelines, and by getting at least one hour of physical activity every day. A few of these speakers included Tim Dwight, former Iowa and NFL football player and Charlie Wittmack, who climbed Mount Everest at the age of 26. They learned how to incorporate wellness into their daily lives and how to inspire their friends and classmates to do the same.

Prairieview School had its first cold weather clothing drive from Oct. 26-30. It was a big success and we collected many children’s and adult clothing items for winter. We collected hats, scarves, mittens, coats and snowpants. The Prairieview School eighth-grade student ambassadors organized the collected items on Oct. 30 and they were delivered to a volunteer leader at Principal Financial Group.

The Waukee High School is collecting food for the Waukee Food Pantry. The items we are collecting are boxed meals, potatoes, stuffing, and rice/pasta sides. Please bring these items or anything for the food pantry by Friday to Waukee High School.

Other Schools

“Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?” offers a great opportunity to introduce a variety of skills connected to both literature and math for students. Chosen as one class’ favorite story thus far, the book gave young students many opportunities to find or match color, animal names and animal sounds. The children use voice output devices to identify color and animal names, creating literacy boxes of stick puppets of the animals from the book, colored paper for the students to make personal books, and textured materials to be glued onto drawings of each animal. The literacy box will also contain picture cards to match each picture in the book.

Every week students practice different social skills or expectations school wide. Classrooms that demonstrate this skill successfully will be awarded the Smouse Traveling Trophy, announced over the intercom and their picture posted on the Smouse Knights of the Week wall for all to see. For the week of Oct. 26, practicing playground and blacktop expectations, the award went to the early childhood classroom for demonstrating safety behaviors on the playground.

Des Moines’s Central Academy has some of the best high-school mathematicians in the country, as demonstrated by their fifth-place finish in the 2009 Fall Startup Event, a national mathematics contest administered by National Assessment & Testing, natassessment.com. Coach Mike Marcketti prepared students for the first major competition of the academic year, in which students worked furiously for 30 minutes, racing to answer one hundred problems in a variety of mathematical topics. With so many questions and so little time, competitors must not only have strong mathematical skills, but also be able to quickly decide which problems to solve and which to skip. After results from students across the nation were processed, several Central Academy students received individual awards. In the ninth-grade division, Tricia Shi placed ninth and Eric Chen was 14th. Luchang Wang placed third in the 10th-grade division, while Joel Schneider placed 18th in the 11th-grade division. Central Academy will be participating in all five of National Assessment and Testing’s contests this year, including the 2009 Team Scramble and the 2009 Ciphering Time Trials on Dec. 10. National Assessment and Testing administers high-quality mathematics competitions that high schools can participate in through the mail. Their contests cover a variety of formats, including individual and team tests, as well as a variety of difficulties, from 100 easy problems in 30 minutes to 15 complex problems in one week.

Three Central Campus broadcasting and film entries were selected to be shown at the opening night of the 2009 Wild Rose Film Festival. The event will take place at the State Historical Building. The selected films were entered in the “student short” category. The creators of the films were all 2nd year students in the broadcasting and film program instructed by Kirk Johnson and Tim Coleman. The student producers are Aly Merschman, Jessie Hixenbaugh, Lucas Baty, Jack Bequeaith.

Fifty-two Central Campus students competed in the 18th annual Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) Automotive Skills Contest recently at the DMACC Ankeny Campus. The Central students competed against nearly 300 students representing 18 high schools from across Iowa in the written portion of the contest. Eight two-member teams of Iowa high school automotive students qualified for the hands-on portion of the Automotive Skills Contest by having the highest average scores on the written test. Central Campus won the Automotive Skills Contest last year. DMACC Automotive Technology Program chairman Jeff Calkin said the winning teams of students will receive tools and equipment donated by the Iowa Automobile Dealers Association and their respective schools will receive automotive components to be used for training purposes. The DMACC Foundation will also be providing scholarships for each member of the winning team.

On Oct. 29, 13 students along with several staff members went to the Des Moines Civic Center to watch one of their Applause series plays. We viewed a one-woman play titled “Voices from the Resistance.” Pippa White, the playwright and actress, took stories of real women that participated in the resistance movement during World War II. The students will need to research the resistance movement during WWII, as well as any other resistance movements they identify. The students will be working on projects that address the essential question “When does the end justify the means?” We look forward to the great projects that will come out of this great opportunity.

Science students took a field trip to Gray’s Lake to learn about water quality testing. DNR employee Lisa Fascher shared information on water quality in Iowa. Students had the opportunity to conduct different tests of water quality and to compare results.

Students in the elementary classroom of Sandy Stevens and Linda Amis braved their fears by concocting and drinking ‘pond water’ as part of a science activity. The recipe for ‘pond water’ included various gummy worms, sour fish (candies), and tapioca that had been colored green and blue as fish eggs, all in a mixture of Sprite and lemonade. The students amazed adults and students from other classes as they fearlessly drank the ‘pond water’ before their explanations of its contents. Students are learning about the environmental interdependence of the many plants and animals in various ecosystems.

The students of Adam Nordaker’s homeroom, Team Awesome, competed in the homeroom volleyball tournament the week of Oct. 26. They were cheered on by students from Meredith Middle School. We also participated in the Room 203 Halloween party where students constructed crafts, carved pumpkins, read stories, got tattoos, made pies and played games. The Halloween party gave the class an opportunity to work on community skills that we have been learning during our instructional time with other classes throughout the school. We got to practice things like appropriate peer interactions, sharing and asking permission, as well as developing independence while completing activities.

Many students participated in the regional Special Olympics bowling competition with many students winning first place. The first place winners get to go on to the state competition on Nov. 21. The students going on to state include: Connor O’Hern, Jason Alex Tyndall, Cheryl Mongar, Colby Wheeler, Ian Baker, Jeffrey Sargent and Ashley Stewart.

The math department is now offering math classes on Apex, an online program that offers math classes from conceptual algebra through calculus. Students will do a combination of computer activities and in class activities to earn a math credit. We are currently in the process of selecting students and trying to update some of our technology to support the program. We would like to increase the use of technology into our classrooms as funds become available.

On Oct. 30 the students and staff showed their school spirit for the Spirit Week Finale by wearing everything from masks and make-up to full on costumes with special teeth and contacts. We saw roller derby girls, war heros, bunnies, tigers and zombies walking (and skating) our halls that day.

Private Schools

Congratulations to Coach Paige Thiner and the DMC Knowledge Bowl team members Mark Dadisman, Keegan Shay, Adri Zonnefeld, Josh Cooper and Garrett Adamson. DMC came from behind to take the lead over Pella Christian in the finals to capture the Division II trophy on Oct. 29. The competition took place in the middle of Merle Hay Mall, so team members battled the distractions of passers-by to answer difficult questions.

Congratulations to Gabi Wilson for placing 43rd out of 116 Class 4-A runners at the state cross country meet on Oct. 31. Gabi finished third for Urbandale, and the UHS team placed sixth out of 12 teams.

The following junior high students played in SCIBA Honor Band on Nov. 3 at Johnston Middle School: Oren Hills, Anna Erickson, Emily Erickson, Lynae Dadisman, Nick Bedford and MaeAnn Dunker.

DMC held its first-ever Safety Week on Nov. 2-6. The school and Urbandale Police Department cooperated to simulate an intruder drill and lock-down on Nov. 3, and the students experienced an actual bus evacuation from the campus to an off-site location on Nov. 5.

The DMCS board of directors will meet on Nov. 16.

The standing committees of the board will meet on Nov. 16.

On Nov. 16, the eighth-grade girls’ basketball team will compete against Perry at home, and the eighth-grade boys’ basketball team will compete at Perry.

DMC students will turn in their Operation Christmas Child boxes on Nov. 17.

The junior high boys’ basketball teams will play at Van Meter on Nov. 17, and the junior high girls’ teams will play at home against Van Meter.

The West Central Valley Conference Instrumental Ensemble and Concert will take place on Nov. 17 at Guthrie Center High School.

There is a change in the date of the PLAN test that will be given to DMC sophomores. The test will be given Nov. 18 from 8:30 a.m. until noon.

The All-State Music Festival will be held Nov. 19-21.

On Nov. 19, the junior varsity and varsity girls’ basketball teams will compete against Pella Christian in Pella.

The pick-up day for holiday greenery ordered from the Music Parent Association’s greenery sale will be Nov. 20.

Students and their families can meet teachers, administrators, activity moderators and coaches and learn about financial aid opportunities at this year’s annual open house, Nov. 15 from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. at Dowling Catholic High School. For more information, contact Katie Petersen at 222-1025 or kpeterse@dowlingcatholic.org.

Dowling graduate Emily VanderLinden currently attends Princeton University in Princeton, N.J., and visited Dowling recently to talk about her experiences at the university. She graduated in 2009.

Congratulations to the girls’ cross country team on their third-consecutive state championship led by Sarah Spellman, Allie Vaughan, Emily Merfeld, Vanessa Miler, Heather Tobias, Diane Hubbell, Ashlie Decker and Katie Flood.

Congratulations to the boys’ cross country team for placing 12th in the state meet recently. Congratulations to Cole Decker, Josh Maguire, Jake Zenk, Trevor Lund, Patrick Kinley, Lukas Sfeffensmeier, Jason Thomas, Beau Schmitz, Jacob Heddinger and J.R. Snyder.

Students and staff from Ruby Van Meter visited Dowling Catholic recently as part of the Best Buddies program. The students took a tour of DCHS, had lunch with their Dowling friends and visited classrooms. The Best Buddies mission is to establish a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment and leadership opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The art club’s sixth annual ofrenda was unveiled on Oct. 18. The 2009 honoree is 2007 DCHS graduate Lauren Brue. The ofrenda will be on display in the DCHS visual arts hallway showcase through Thanksgiving weekend.

Junior Matt Pick and sophomores Hannah Wheeler and Ryan Emily Delahunt represented DCHS at the ACE Mentor Program recently while learning about architecture, engineering, and construction management.

A total of eight instrumental music students were accepted into the 2009 All-State Band/Orchestra: sophomore Elliott Lawrence; juniors Maggie Barsetti, Michael Meyer, Breanne Riesberg, Jordan Thomas, and Stephanie Tigges; and seniors Courtney Duff and Ryan Hays. Another 12 students were selected for All-State Chorus (the highest number accepted since 1994): sophomores Ryan Battani and Kersten Tipping; juniors Tanelle Berard, Isaac Akers, Matt Smith and John Carey; and seniors Emily Solo, Mary Craven, Claire Palmer, Carlee Konz, Adam Tell and Evan Beacom.

Iowa Christian Academy

The ICA High School Knowledge Bowl team finished sixth in the final team competition. The team, consisting of Michael Creighton, Kristina Dunker, Ian Fleming and Lorin Harvey, had the highest written score of all teams competing. This is the first year ICA participated.

Three ICA junior high students participated in South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association Honor Band on Nov. 3: Bekah Hall, eighth-grader, placed in the top ensemble for clarinet, 16th overall. Seventh-graders Alexis Cole, saxophone, and Nathan McLaughlin, trumpet, were selected based on merit for the festival. The SCIBA Honor Band is made up of the top students of the district which stretches from Ames to the southern Iowa border.

Congratulations to Amanda Jacobson and Jessica Rude, winners of the Van Vleet and Judy Kleckner scholarships. These scholarships are awarded to seniors who have achieved excellence in academics, biblical worldview and character development. Jacobson is the daughter of Paul and Janet Jacobson of Waukee and Rude is the daughter of Pastor Tim and Nancy Rude of Johnston.

ICA released its first-quarter A-B honor roll for its elementary students in third through sixth grades, with 50 out of 73 possible students making the grade. Congratulations to these students for achieving this high academic honor, considering ICA’s rigorous academic standards.

A prospective family open house will be held Nov. 17 from 7-8:30 p.m. Anyone interested in learning more about Iowa Christian Academy is encouraged to attend.

Montessori Children’s House

The full day early preschool room serves children between the ages of 18 months to 3 years. We have spent the past few weeks exploring pumpkins and other gourds. We cut open a pumpkin to discover all of the seeds and squishy things inside.

We are now beginning a new unit on fruits and vegetables. Each day we have introduced a new fruit or vegetable. We explore the color, texture and shape of each new food before we cut it open to expose the inside. We have learned that seeds can come in many shapes and sizes. We have also learned that we love to sample new foods. We will end our fruit and vegetable unit by cutting up vegetables and making our own vegetable soup.

There will be no school on Nov. 13 because of parent-teacher conferences the previous two days.

On Nov. 16, the students in grades three through sixth will travel to the Science Center of Iowa to learn more about inventions. They will continue on to the Civic Center to watch a performance of “Thomas Edison: Inventor, Lecturer and Prankster.”

School picture day is Nov. 17 and 18.

The third- and fourth-graders enjoyed a visit from Junior Achievement. They’ve learned about how a city is planned. They even made a zone of their classroom.

Thanksgiving break begins when school dismisses at 1:15 p.m. on Nov. 25. School resumes on Nov. 30.

The kindergarten through second-grade Christmas program will be held Dec. 6 at 4 p.m. The grades three through eight program will be held Dec. 13 at 4 p.m.

Cindy Haselby’s first-grade class has been increasing its vocabulary as well as feeding the hungry. The class began its Free Rice campaign where students visit freerice.com and play vocabulary games. The first-graders keep a vocabulary words journal in which students write new vocabulary words, definitions, sentences and draw pictures. The goal is to increase student vocabulary, reading confidence and speaking skills. This activity increases awareness about world hunger and helps the class practice our stewardship skills. Students are already incorporating their new words into their speech and writing assignments.

The eighth-grade confirmation class was part of the opening procession at Masses during the Rite of Acceptance which was held at Masses on Nov. 7 and Nov. 8 at Sacred Heart Church. Confirmation candidates were welcomed by all members of the parish and will be included in daily parish of the Sacred Heart parish family. The candidates will spend much of the month of November researching saints of the church and then selecting their confirmation names, which are saints’ names.

Nov. 18 will be an out of uniform day to raise money for the Mercy Child Life Program.

Unleash your inner rock star at the annual school fundraiser, Rock the Auction, sponsored by the Home and School Association. Rock the Auction will be held Nov. 14 from 6-11 p.m. In addition to hundreds of fixed, silent and live auctions, attendees can also play PS3 Guitar Hero World Tour and enjoy music provided by a DJ. Unleash your inner rock star at the auction. Purchase tickets online via the Sacred Heart School Web site.

Students in grades four through eight are busy preparing for the National Geography Bee. Classroom competitions will take place in November and the school championship will be held in December.

On Nov. 6, students collected food and monetary donations for the Des Moines Area Religious Food Pantry.

Since All Saints Daty is celebrated on Nov. 1 of every year, the third-grade classes are completing a unit of student on saints. Each student has selected a different saint and after researching and learning about the saint the students will write a paper, make a poster or construct a diorama to share their information. They will also make oral presentations to the class.

On Oct. 30, the third grade class had a Place Value Party. Students rotated through seven stations which reinforced the following math concepts: rounding, estimation, place value and writing numbers in expanded, word and standard forms. The stations featured computers, board games, dice games, bingo, playing cards, books and posters to help teach students about place value.

St. Francis of Assisi School is bustling with student and academic activities. This week, our school greeted speakers and students participated in many different activities.

Kindergarten was entertained by Louis Major, a spider expert. He graciously agreed to speak with them to conclude their unit on arachnids. He taught them a dance to help them remember the body parts of a spider. Major showed them a preserved tarantula, the largest spider in the world.

Second grade is celebrating Columban Missions Week. They learned about how to build a peaceful community. They were also able to finish their “How To” unit by creating masks.

Fourth grade finished its plate tectonics unit. During this unit they made picture dictionaries to help them remember the different geological structures. They made tin foil volcanoes that erupted in the parking lot to demonstrate how volcanoes erupt.

Seventh grade is finishing up its reading requirements for first trimester. Their requirements this trimester were reading 2,000 minutes and completing three projects. On Oct. 30 they were able to have a Halloween party. During this party they read mysteries and snacked on popcorn. In language arts, they are interviewing their grandparents and writing papers on the interesting and historical stories they heard.

First and sixth grade participated in making an ofrenda in memory of Norman Borlaug. This altar-type display is from the Mexican culture that remembers a member of the family who has recently died. They show their life and accomplishments in photos and items related to the family member. Borlaug was chosen as being a part of the world family through his work to feed the world. First-graders made flowers and sixth-graders designed skulls.

Congratulations to eighth-graders Zach O’Hollearn and Christine Haag, who have been chosen by their teachers to represent St. Pius X School at the Youth Appreciation Week Luncheon sponsored by the Optimist Clubs. They were chosen because of their contribution of time, talent, and enthusiasm that made St. Pius X School a better community. They will be honored at a luncheon in November.

The fifth-grade band had visitors at rehearsal on Oct. 28. Parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents and siblings were invited to attend an open rehearsal. During the rehearsal, the young musicians played many different songs and demonstrated how they learn a new piece together. Beth Haag, band instructor, informed the visitors that the students are off to a good start on their instruments.

The first-graders each get a turn to be the Scientist of the Week. Students have a week to prepare and present a science experiment for their class. This is a fun way to present science principles and topics such as making observations, investigating matter, and creating a chemical reaction.

The preschoolers at St. Pius X had an awesome adventure to Howell’s Pumpkin Patch on Oct. 26. After their first exciting bus ride, they enjoyed taking a hayride out to the pumpkin patch and picked their very own pumpkin right off the vine. The favorite part of the trip was the playground with tractor trikes, tire swings, wiggle cars, a super slippery slide, the corn barn, and the huge hay bales to climb on.

Denise Zimmerman’s reading class recently had a very special visitor. In their Basal reader, the students read the story, “Champions of the World,” about a Toms River, N.J., Little League baseball team that won the Little League World Series in 1998. They began to wonder if a team from the United States has won the title since then. Well, who better to ask than St. Pius X’s own baseball celebrity, Robbie VanderLinden. Robbie came to Zimmerman’s class and filled them in on his team’s path to this year’s World Series. The badge he had to wear, for security reasons, to allow him to enter the baseball stadium each day, intrigued the third-graders. He did tell the students that U.S.A. teams have won the World Series in the recent years of 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Middle school social studies classes are working on a variety of units. In eighth-grade social studies, the students have been learning about the beginnings of our country. They have studied the events that led to the American Revolution and are now focusing on the Constitution. They have discussed how the founding fathers developed our government and learned about the three branches of government and the Bill of Rights. The seventh-grade classes have been studying Asia, with a focus on China, Japan, Korea, India and Vietnam. The students have learned about the geography, history and culture of these countries. They have studied Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism. The sixth-graders have begun a unit on Ancient Egypt. The students are looking forward to learning more about the pyramids and Egyptian mummies.