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DES MOINES, IA PERMIT NO. 5107
NOV/DEC 2022
Opportunities Abound Exciting improvements and invested leaders taking action!
Also CITY OF WAUKEE
RESCUING RAINFALL
WAUKEE LIBRARY
READ A LATTE!
SCHOOL DISTRICT
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE!
FROM The Publisher GIVING BACK Just a few weeks back, one of our teammates at work reached out wondering if I’m still involved in girls’ softball. Her daughter had taken up an interest in playing just this fall and wanted to see about getting some basic pitching instruction. After 35 messages back and forth, we’d covered a fair number of things “softball,” and had made plans to meet up and see if we could be of some help…anything to direct another family down a path that’s provided such fun and enjoyment for me, my wife, and our kids. Both of my girls have played softball since they were 5-6 years old. They made a lot of friends and memories playing weekend tournaments and going to the park on an off-day as a family to hit a few balls and work on things – along with the fringe benefits of getting some fresh air, and some good time spent with mom and dad. I’d mentioned to my girls that I’d made this commitment and asked if they may be able to go along and give a few tips once Saturday came, and they kind of nodded their heads “sure.” They’re both pretty busy with school and activities and don’t get a lot of days off, so I would not have blamed them if they weren’t the most excited to give up a couple of hours on the weekend. I took their responses as a solid “maybe” and figured if they changed their minds, I’d do my best on my own.
NOV / DEC 2022
Publisher & Partner Jason McArtor
Creative Director Taylor Eckstrom
Photographer Patrick Flemming
Content
The day came, and I yelled up the stairs at 8 AM to see if they were still up to the task. They popped right up, grabbed sweatshirts, and we headed out the door for the ball field a few minutes later with barely a yawn. I hadn’t even planned for my wife to go along with us, but she hopped in and went along too – couldn’t hurt to have a little extra guidance from mom.
Photos / Creative / Layout
Once we introduced everyone, it was cool to see the excitement in the young player’s eyes – she was familiar with a few of the warmup drills. My eldest daughter jumped onto the bucket to catch her, and took the lead showing her a few new things. This was definitely a proud parent moment with both girls helping a younger player and giving back.
Renée Watkins
Renée Watkins
FARMBOY Marketing & Web Development
Copy Editor Advertising 515-314-1321
Jason McArtor
Distributor Goldfinch Media
P u bli she r & Partne r j a s o n@ mytow nm a g azine s .c o m / 5 1 5-3 1 4 -1 3 21
CONTENTS Nov/Dec 2022
Address 8527 University Blvd Suite 7 Clive, Iowa 50325
HIG H L IGH TS
04 CITY OF WAUKEE
06 A CHAMBER OF PERSONALITY
Drip, drop. The city highlights a new water program designed to help rescue rainwater and improve the area.
An inside scoop into the life of one of the friendly faces behind the Waukee Chamber.
12 SCHOOL DISTRICT
14 WAUKEE PUBLIC LIBRARY
Preparing For The Future! The school unveils a new work-based learning program for students.
Warm up this winter with a cup of coffe and a good list of books with a reading challenge from the Waukee Library.
SE C T I ON S
03 From the Publisher 04 Your City of Waukee 06 A Chamber of Personality 12 Your Waukee School District 14 Your Waukee Library
Email info@myTownMagazines.com
myWaukee Magazine is published bimonthly, six times annually, by myTown Magazines, a division of Goldfinch Media. For subscription and advertising information, go to myTownMagazines.com. ©2022 Goldfinch Media
ON THE COVER Waukee Chamber CEO Michael Bartos Photo By: Renée Watkins
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CITY OF WAUKEE By Heather Behrens
Rescuing Rainfall:
Enhancing water quality through the Stormwater Grant Program The City of Waukee offers a Stormwater Grant Program that helps cover costs on projects that will improve stormwater quality and reduce run-off into storm sewers. These projects not only benefit the individual property owners but the broader community. Implementing ‘rainscaping’ practices and other stormwater projects at home can engage natural processes to filter pollutants, reduce localized flash flooding and lessen the burden on the sewer system. “I was meeting with people who had wet backyards, drainage concerns and streambank erosion on their private property,” said Sara Kappos, Assistant Director of Engineering, Public Works. “Starting the Stormwater Grant Program gave the City a way to help property owners solve those problems.”
“The cost to take on a project of this size is astonishing. The pond had just gone through a dredging project, reducing the reserve fund drastically,” said Lisa Logsdon, Association Manager.
Kappos had seen a grant program in action in other metro communities, which served as a model to replicate in Waukee. At Waukee.org, information on stormwater management practices gives property owners a starting point.
The HOA received a $20,000 grant for the more than $60,000 project. They engaged Thiel Construction to install the rip-rap along the pond, which collects rainfall runoff to help with flood control and pollutant removal.
They can apply for funds to help them enhance drainage, improve stormwater quality, or repair stormwater facilities such as swales, streambanks and drain tile. “I much prefer being able to offer help. Plus, these improvements have a broader benefit to the community as well as the individual property,” Kappos said. This year, the program made two of its largest grants to date.
Rip-rap combines function and beauty In response to erosion along their retention pond, the Willow Brook Townhomes HOA board landed on riprap as the best solution to stabilize the bank. Rip-rap is large stones placed along a shoreline or slope to reduce erosion. Left unchecked, erosion would increase the frequency of expensive dredging of the pond to maintain storage capacity. 4
November / December 2022
“Thanks to the City of Waukee Stormwater Grant we were able to accomplish this project.”
Collaboration creates downstream impact In Painted Woods, the program awarded $15,000 toward a $30,000 streambank stabilization project. Three neighbors worked together on the stabilization project that also benefits property owners downstream. Kappos noted that erosion along the stream in their backyards was already concerning. Without correction, sediment would continue traveling downstream. As sediment builds up, it can change the path of the stream over time or reduce storage capacity in retention ponds downstream. It would also leave the slope unstable, which could wear away at the residents’ backyards or even cause safety hazards. Photos of the rip-rap rocks along the Willow Brook Townhomes
About the City of Waukee Stormwater Grant Program
Before: signs of erosion along the Willow Brook pond
The City of Waukee Stormwater Grant Program assists with stormwater management on private property. Grants can assist property owners with improving drainage, refining stormwater quality, or repairing stormwater facilities, such as swales, streambanks and drain tile. Recipients can be reimbursed for 50% of the qualifying expenses up to the maximum for that project type for a total of $5,000 per single family property, or $20,000 per HOA. Grants must be approved and awarded prior to the commencement of work. Examples of qualifying projects: - Installation of a drain tile in a wet yard - Measures to prevent erosion, including expenses for a contractor to place bank reinforcement - Professional engineering services for the design of a stormwater best management practice - Application of best management practices (BMPs): • Bioretention Cell – excavated area filled with a specialized soil media and plants to temporarily hold and filter stormwater
After: rip-rap (large stones) reinforces the bank along the pond.
• Soil Quality Restoration – reduce soil compaction and increase soil organic matter by adding compost • Rain Gardens – landscaped depressional area with plants that don’t mind getting their feet wet for a short amount of time • Native Landscaping – replacing turf grass with grasses and plants native to Iowa, which can reduce or eliminate the need to fertilize, mow or water your lawn • Permeable Pavement – asphalt, concrete and brick pavers constructed on top of a rock base that allows rain to soak into the rock below and infiltrate into the ground
- Rain barrels to collect rain for watering gardens and lawns
After: rip-rap stabilizes the Painted Wood streambank
Find more information and the grant application at Waukee.org/RainCampaign.
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BARTOS STORY By Renée Watkins
A Chamber of Personality It’s something special to meet someone whose career is so perfectly aligned with their personality. Anyone who meets Michael Bartos would agree that he’s one of those people. Bartos moved to Waukee from Vermillion, S.D., in 2019. He began as the Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce president and CEO in June 2021, and quickly began implementing positive changes that kept pace with the surge in growth that the area has experienced. With an average of eight people per day moving to Waukee, Bartos noted the growth is “a testament to the city having the foresight for proper development of infrastructure and the ability to accommodate plenty of new business.” Although he holds a degree in kinesiology from the University of South Dakota, Bartos couldn’t help but let his general nature and love of networking take the reins of his career plans. As a true social butterfly, Bartos’s ability to navigate—and go above and beyond—in his role with the Chamber is apparent. His enthusiastic, go-getter attitude makes it no surprise that all Waukee Area Chamber members have his personal cell phone number.
“[I’m] Constantly on it. The job never ends, and I want it to stay that way! I don’t want memberships to ever be this thing where the fees are paid and once a year we say ‘thanks for being a member,’ We want to be in conversation year round to know how best to serve our members and provide value” Bartos said.
“We take pride in serving as the guide, connector, and cheerleader for the Waukee area business community.” - Michael Bartos, Waukee Area Chamber
Although much of what the Waukee Area Chamber does is for its members, they also partner heavily with the school district, local nonprofits, and the City of Waukee. Bartos was excited to give a special shoutout to Waukee Mayor, Courtney Clarke. “It’s rare when you have the mayor of a community who takes the time to show up to and speak at every ribbon-cutting event,” Bartos said. “The Chamber has a really strong relationship with the City of Waukee and its council members. It is not always the norm to have such a relationship, so we really appreciate it.”
New Chamber Colleague Drives Online Presence Now, as the growth of the Chamber’s activities stays in lockstep with the growth of Waukee, Bartos is thrilled to be joined in his efforts. His new colleague, Kelly Troxel, the Chamber’s marketing and communications coordinator, has been an integral part of upscaling the Chamber’s reach. When asked if he has a “dream project” in mind for the Chamber, Bartos said his dream project isn’t necessarily a project, but a continued effort to
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“Add great people to our team to serve our business community.” Kelly has been an instant help in serving our mission and promoting our membership’s events, accomplishments, and news,” he said. “Further, our Board of Directors does such an amazing job of setting our course each year. They are always thinking outside of the box on how we can continue to improve and add new benefits for our members.” One such effort is Troxel’s management of the Chamber’s online presence. The Waukee Area Chamber of Commerce now boasts a robust website, built as a user-friendly space for members to post their events, job openings, and feature announcements. Additionally, the Chamber has its own, exclusive online community, Mighty Networks. This members-only platform serves as a niche social network of sorts, where members can post calendar events, start live discussions, and share experiences. The website is a one-stop location for reliable information concerning Chamber activities, and a support network for fellow business owners. Outside of managing the Chamber’s burgeoning online presence, Troxel saved the Chamber office’s dying plant, which is now alive and well!
Regular Chamber Events Grow Chamber & Community Outreach Just as alive and well is the impressive list of events that Bartos managed to rattle off from memory in a matter of a few minutes. Waukee Wake Up is a morning event hosted by the Waukee Young Professionals group from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month. It’s open to everyone, and occurs at a different location each month. The event sometimes draws in a crowd of more than 30 people — and new additions to the Chamber’s membership pool.
The Waukee Young Professional group has also coordinated two big events in the realm of local philanthropy. They hosted a clothing drive in partnership with Waukee Area Christian Services earlier this year. Coming up in December, they’ve got a “Bowling for Blank” charity event with 100 percent of proceeds to be given to Blank Children’s Hospital. In an exciting members-only event on October 26th, the Chamber is hosting a forum for legislative candidates in the races in House District 27 and Senate District 14. The forum is a private event for Members of the Chamber, and offers a great opportunity to meet the candidates and get up to speed on local political topics. The Annual First Responders Appreciation Breakfast is a fun and free breakfast for all first responders in the Waukee area, and takes place at Independence Village on October 28th. There is a small admission fee for non-first responders who attend. This is the first year of the event’s return since it was paused due to COVID safety measures. It’s clear that the Waukee Chamber of Commerce is in good hands with Mike and Kelly, who bring outgoing and positive attitudes to their roles in the Chamber. This refreshing approach strengthens the Chamber’s role in the community of Waukee. There is no doubt that the Waukee Area Chamber will continue to attract new members, strengthen existing relationships, and leave plenty of room for all the growth that is sure to continue.
4 Questions With Michael Bartos
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My favorite thing is helping businesses, from small to large, become connected within the community. As someone who loves serving my community, I am very fortunate to be able to do this full-time. We have seen tremendous growth over the past year and really amped up our programming for our membership. We're looking forward to continuing to better serve our members for 2023.
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How Or Why Did You Start In The Chamber Industry? After graduating from South Dakota State University and the University of South Dakota, I took an internship with the Vermillion Area Chamber and Development Company. My position was focused on event planning and marketing but I was able to gain experience in all three arms of the organization: Economic Development, Tourism, and the Chamber. I fell in love with promoting my community and building relationships. Advice For Anyone Interested In The Same Career, Or Wanting To Work With The Chamber? I think it goes for any industry, but don’t overlook opportunities because you have a specific path you see for yourself. I didn’t see myself working for a Chamber, but after learning about their mission and the opportunities available in the Chamber world, it really opened my eyes. Whatever you are passionate about, there is likely a spot for you at a Chamber of Commerce. If you are slightly interested, I suggest attending a Chamber event or reaching out to the Chamber on ways to be involved. What Are You Looking Forward To This Holiday Season? I love the holiday season, besides the cold. There is such a kind energy in the air with everyone focused on family and community. At the Chamber, we are looking forward to promoting our members and reminding our community to shop local, as well as the always exciting Winterfest put on by the City of Waukee. But most of all I'm looking forward to spending time with my wife and our little zoo.
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7 CENTRAL BANK MY WAUKEE AD_4.1815X9.5.indd 1
9/27/21 1:45 PM
FACES OF City Hall
Heather Behrens,
Marketing & Communications Director How Long Have You Been With The City? I started in July [2022], so just a few months!
What Is Your Favorite Part About The Job? The best part of my job is having free reign to ask a lot of questions about the city I live in. It fuels my love for learning new things and understanding how things work. Even better, I get to share what I’m learning with my fellow residents. City governments do so much that makes our daily life possible. The water in our homes, the roads we drive on, the community events we attend and the parks our kids play in wouldn’t be there without city government. Our government also invests time in planning for the future to ensure Waukee is a well-rounded, wonderful place to live, work and visit for decades to come.
How Or Why Did You Start In The Marketing & Communications Industry? Communication can make or break so many situations, projects, or relationships. When it’s really good, people feel invested, heard, informed, and engaged. It’s satisfying and rewarding when I finish a campaign or project and hear that people had all the information they needed and were able to take action to satisfy a need. Marketing and communications is a fascinating field that’s constantly evolving because people, society, and the way we communicate are always evolving. The challenges that come with it are a fun puzzle to piece together. It’s also a discipline that flexes across every field, every industry, every type of organization, and blends creativity with strategic thinking and analytical approaches. I love that you can form and grow into roles that suit your unique blend of experiences, interests and skills.
Advice For Anyone Interested In The Same Career Or Wanting To Work With The City? Ask to job shadow or have coffee with someone in a role you’re interested in. It’s a fantastic way to get a real perspective on what a job entails and what skills or areas of expertise you’ll need to develop. Even better, connect with a few people in that role to understand how the same title might differ in the day-to-day responsibilities for different organizations. I think that applies to any job, but marketing and communications roles vary so widely, it could be especially helpful if you’re thinking of that career path. If you’re just starting out, you can request an internship in the department you’re interested in or look for seasonal roles to get a feel for some jobs. We post open roles for the City of Waukee at governmentjobs. com, so you could set up notifications to be alerted for new openings. 8
November / December 2022
What Are You Looking Forward To This Holiday Season?
Nick Osborne,
wanted to be a physical therapist, but I took a few college classes and recognized that wasn’t for me. After considering a lot of other different majors, I took a public administration class and realized that it fit well with my strengths: debating, writing, and project management. The director of my graduate school told us, “As graduates of our program, we expect you to do well, but also to do good.” It may sound corny, but public service has been the perfect way to leverage my strengths and my passion for helping people and improving my community.
How Long Have You Been With The City?
Advice For Anyone Interested In The Same Career Or Wanting To Work With The City?
Watching my daughter enjoy the season. She’s four years old and gets so much joy from lights and decorations. It has renewed the magic of the season for me. I’m also pretty proud of the ugly holiday sweater I found in a thrift shop, so I’ll enjoy finding opportunities to show it off.
Assistant City Administrator About four months.
What’s Your Favorite Part About The Job? I love that there’s always something new to learn and the small things we do every day help to improve the community we live in.
What’s Your Dream Project For The City? I don’t know if I have a dream project for Waukee yet, but I’m excited about some big initiatives that I’m working on now that will have a lot of positive impact on our community. We’re in the very early stages of planning for a new civic campus to serve our growing city. It will enable us to centralize more departments and services but also hopefully will offer community amenities for residents to enjoy. I’m researching and visiting other cities’ campuses to learn from their successes. I’m also developing an environmental sustainability plan for the City and working to get our new Public Art Advisory Commission off the ground.
How Or Why Did You Start A Career In Local Government?
I like to say that I stumbled into it backward. I originally
If you’re thinking about working in government, I encourage you to do it! It can be very challenging and the reward of helping your community is satisfying. If you are interested in working with or partnering with the City of Waukee, I would urge you to reach out and share your ideas. The City is always looking to be a good partner and tackle problems cooperatively.
What Are You Looking Forward To This Holiday Season? I’ll be traveling back to my hometown in Central Wisconsin for the holidays. I’m most looking forward to catching up with friends and family, and my mom’s cooking, especially her pecan pie!
BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT TAB Central Iowa Everything You Need to Know About
Quiet Quitting
Quiet quitting. It’s the latest business buzz, and a sizzling hot topic on social media and throughout employment and HR sectors. Depending on who you ask, quiet quitting either refers to workers establishing healthy boundaries within their employment dynamic, or setting the perfunctory job bar as low as possible. Quiet quitting is not really about quitting altogether, but rather performing one’s duties to a bare minimum standard. Weary business owners, still reeling from the Great Resignation and other post-pandemic labor issues, have been trying like gangbusters to increase employee retention. But retention might not be a good thing if those employees are unenthusiastic and furtively not producing what they should or could be.
THE PSYCHOLOGY BEHIND QUIET QUITTING While there are certainly other factors at play, the increase in quiet quitting seems to be directly related to the rise of the modern employment dynamic. Today’s employees, particularly the younger ones, tend to consider their work engagements as both transitory and strictly transactional, thus they lack the above-and-beyond mentality associated with a desire to climb the company ladder. Mostly gone are the days of those plucky kids starting their careers in the mailroom and working their way up to suite C. While apathy related to performance and personal career growth is arguably indicative of a limiting employee mindset, perhaps more importantly, it may also be a strong telltale of an unsatisfactory company culture.
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HOW DOES COMPANY CULTURE PLAY INTO QUIET QUITTING? Businesses that hire and reward workers who possess a positive personal growth mindset tend to avoid the pitfalls of quiet quitting. Furthermore, businesses with mentorship and career development programs are better able to hire and retain growth-minded talent. It’s about creating and fostering a company culture that embraces and incentivizes growth, training, and advancement—and that starts in the job interview. To prevent hiring quiet quitters, business owners and HR directors should vet job candidates for past promotions, industriousness, and other factors that tend to represent conscientiousness, diligence, and drive—then hire those people and reward them well for exceeding performance expectations. It’s about creating a company culture of growth and excellence from the ground up.
WAYS TO IDENTIFY QUIET QUITTING Quiet quitters tend to be chronically and almost overtly disengaged. While quiet quitters likely consider meeting attendance as a basic requirement, they don’t actively participate in discussions or group activities. Their productivity and performance, while generally fine at face value, never surpass minimum expectations. Another indication that an employee is quiet quitting is when other team members complain of taking up the quiet quitter’s extra workload.
ARE QUIET QUITTERS WORTH SALVAGING? The sad but true answer is maybe, maybe not. Accepting underperformers or just-goodenough producers can disincentivize your entire team, stymie innovation, and dramatically decrease profitability. But don’t give those quiet quitters their walking papers just yet. Once you suspect an employee is a quiet quitter, consider scheduling a meeting with them during their standard workday. Keep in mind that this conversation can be a little tricky, as these employees are technically not doing anything wrong. Discuss their expectations, how they rate their performance, where they see themselves in the future, and ideas they might have for the business. From there, you will likely have a better read of whether this employee brings value to your business now and for the long-term. If the answer to that question is no, then begin the recruitment and hiring process with a much better understanding of the drive and performance you expect of your next great hire.
CORY HARSTAD Owner of TAB
Certif ied Facilitator, Executive Business Coach, Success Strategist, Accountability Partner
CALL TODAY
51 5.735. 3585 Scan the QR code
and follow TAB Central Iowa on Facebook to check out content, articles, and case studies from the TAB Team!
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HOME IMPROVEMENT Home Solutions of Iowa
Enjoy a warm & cozy home this winter with hsi Our home has two goals: to provide a roof over our heads, and provide a comfortable space for us to live in. When winter hits, we all feel the cold creeping in. The reality is that cold homes can have a significant impact on our health, and could lead to serious, if not fatal health complications over time. Cold temperatures tend to affect homes that have structural deficiencies, lack proper insulation and air sealing, or have inadequate heating systems. Due to the way homes are built, many have open gaps and cracks that air travels through, such as: • Natural settlement cracks in concrete • Nail holes • Penetrations around plumbing and electrical wiring • Vented crawl spaces • Vented attics
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Eliminating a cold home is a crucial task that should be completed before winter sets in. Start by calling Home Solutions of Iowa to perform an energy evaluation. This will identify areas allowing air to leak out, and will provide us with an idea of which insulation services are needed. Next, we’ll remove the old insulation and start with a blank slate. This helps us to seal up every inch of heat loss in the home. Then, any nooks and cracks are air sealed to eliminate the possibility of air leakage. The second to last step is blowing in a nice blanket of cellulose insulation. This provides the ideal R-value for your Waukee home. Finally, enjoy perfect home comfort all year long. Our complete attic insulation system provides perfect home comfort and eliminates the possibility of having a cold home. Start winter off feeling cozy in your Waukee home — contact us to get set up with a free heat map evaluation.
JOSEPH SMITH Home Solutions of Iowa Owner 515-954-3555
Home Solutions of Iowa has established itself as a trustworthy and reliable source for homeowners looking for all sorts of exterior remodeling solutions. We’re a full-service exterior remodeling company specializing in LeafGuard® gutter protection, seamless gutter systems, rain barrels, roofing, insulation, windows, doors, siding, and decking. We started as a one-man show at the Iowa State Fair in 2003 and have since grown to have more than 50 employees serving the entire state of Iowa.
Healthy Doesn’t Have To Be Seasonal Fe e l g ood a ll se a son lon g w ith a healt h and wellness d e sti n ati on d e d ic ate d to he l ping you be at you r best ! The holiday season — filled with friends, family, and tempting foods — is also stacked with "too-many-things-on-my-to-do-list," which can play havoc with healthy eating. A simple solution? Serve up more satisfying soups! As a Hy-Vee Registered Dietitian, I’m a SOUPer duper fan of soup! Why? Soup is an easy way to sneak in more vegetables you need every day. Currently, 90 percent of Americans don’t consume enough fruits and vegetables daily. Creating a nutrient-dense meal in minutes is possible when making large batches of homemade soup and having ample leftovers. Or, you can make canned soups more nutritious by adding in extra vegetables and beans. Starting soup from scratch? Use reduced-sodium or no-salt-added broth, stocks and canned vegetables to reduce your sodium intake and support heart health. Dietitian tip: substitute chicken or beef broth with bone broth for added protein and collagen.
Ravioli & Vegetable Soup (s erves 4) A l l You Ne e d : • 1 Tbsp Gustare Vita extra-virgin olive oil • 1 cup diced bell pepper • 1 cup chopped onion • 2 cloves garlic, minced • ¼ teaspoon Hy-Vee crushed red pepper, or to taste (optional) • 1 can (28-oz) Hy-Vee crushed tomatoes, preferably fire-roasted • 1 carton (16.9-ounce) Smart Chicken organic classic chicken bone broth • 1½ cups water
All You D o: 1. Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add peppers, onion, garlic, and crushed red pepper, stirring for 1 minute. 2. Add tomatoes, broth, water, and basil; bring to a rolling boil over high heat. 3. Add ravioli and cook for 3 minutes less than the package directions. Add zucchini; return to a boil. Cook until the zucchini is crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Season with pepper and enjoy! FOLLOW YOUR FAVORITE HY-VEE DIETITIANS,
• 1 tsp dried basil • 1 package (6- to 9-ounces) fresh or frozen cheese (or meat) ravioli
now on Instagram AND Facebook! @HyVeeDietitians
• 2 cups diced zucchini (about 2 medium)
Hungry for more? Follow Erin on Hy-Vee’s YouTube Channel – Hy-Vee Healthy You – for weekly meal and snack inspiration.
• Freshly ground pepper to taste
HEALTHY EMPLOYEES = HAPPY EMPLOYEES
Erin Good, RD, LD Hy-Vee Inc., Registered Dietitian egood@hy-vee.com (515) 216-2770
Make healthy fun with a nutrition presentation or hands-on cooking class! Book an interactive nutrition presentation, or “Lunch ‘n’ Learn,” to help keep your employees healthy and happy. Topics include Effortless Ways to Eat Better, Using Nutrition to Tackle Stress & Mental Health Issues, and more. Contact Erin for details.
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WAUKEE SCHOOL DISTRICT Kelly Jellings, WCSD
Preparing for the Future: Jared C .
Work-Based Learning at Waukee CSD
Our eye is on the future at Waukee Community School District (CSD). With a core value of developing our people, growing our work-based learning program is a priority. While some courses have been around for years, our program leaders constantly evaluate the career fields to identify gaps and opportunities to create possibilities for students. What Is Worked-Based Learning? There are several different programs students can get involved with to kick-start their careers while in high school. Seventy percent of last year’s senior class — Northwest and Waukee high schools combined — participated in at least one work-based learning opportunity. Work-based learning aims to help students understand what career paths they do and don’t like. That way they can avoid wasting time and tuition on those discoveries after leaving high school.
APEX Program Students can engage in work-based learning in several ways, including the APEX (Aspiring Professional Experience) Program. The program’s courses draw on the expertise of community business partners to bring real-world experiences to our classrooms. The program offers dozens of APEX courses, including two stand-outs: Introduction to Education and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). Students who participate in select courses also earn college credit. Next year, the APEX Program will start a new automotive course in partnership with Stivers Ford Lincoln in Waukee.
Intro To Education The Intro to Education class charts a course for students to become teachers. Participants complete two practicum experiences — one placement of their choice, the other outside of their preferred area. These classroom exposures give students an advantage over other students in a college-level teaching program. This class also opens the door for students to come back and teach in Waukee once they’ve finished their education. Currently, about a dozen teachers who took Intro to Education are serving as teachers for the district. 12
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Intro to Education students discuss in-classroom teaching experiences.
Emergency Medical Technicians This class brings the district together with Des Moines Area Community College and the Waukee Fire Department. EMT students experience hours in an emergency room and an ambulance. After the course, the students can take the National Registry Exam to become certified EMTs. Many students who take this course express interest in a medical career.
School-to-Work Internship Program The school-to-work internship program is another perk for Waukee students. Two district coordinators assist students in finding opportunities across our community to explore careers of their choice through real-world work experience.
Para-to-Educator Program: Teach Waukee It’s not just students benefiting from the district’s effort to help shape the future. With the support of a state grant, this is the first year for Teach Waukee. This program helps special education associates complete a two-year degree program to become certified teachers. Forty WCSD associates embarked on the Teach Waukee journey this year. The grant pays for their education, which they can complete online and at their own pace.
The Future Looks Bright Our instructors say the best thing about work-based learning is how excited and energetic students are about their studies. When they see challenges, it doesn’t deter them — it entices them to master the obstacles. The future is bright in Waukee, and we’re excited to watch career dreams become reality.
EMT students learn about the ambulance and CPR.
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WAUKEE LIBRARY By Sam Bedford
Read A Latte This Winter With The Library What better way to avoid the frigid temps of winter than with a warm drink and a good book? The Waukee Public Library is kicking off this year’s Winter Challenge for all ages on Tuesday, Nov. 15. You can register online or at the Library to complete as many activities as you can by Jan. 31! Complete five activities in a row for a bingo,
Upcoming Holiday Closures:
and your name will be entered into the grand prize drawing. Keep going and finish all 25 activities to collect a special Winter Bingo Black Out stainless steel tumbler while supplies last! Your name will also be entered a second time into the grand prize drawing. All ages are invited to participate in the Winter Challenge. There is a grand prize for each reading group — children, teens, and adults.
Friday, Nov. 11
Sunday, Dec. 25
Wednesday, Nov. 23 (Closing at 5 p.m.)
Monday, Dec. 26
Visit waukeepubliclibrary.org/winter to learn more, check out the prizes, and register!
Friday, Nov. 25
Thursday, Nov. 24 Friday, Dec. 23
NOVEMBER EVENTS
Saturday, Dec. 24
Most programs and events require advanced registration. Visit waukeepubliclibrary.org/calendar for more information and to register. Teen Short Story Writing Competition: Nov. 1-27 Come Write In: NaNoWriMo Drop-in Writing Sessions: Tuesday, Nov. 1, 8, 22 & 29 | 6-7:45 p.m.
Movie Matinee: Where the Crawdads Sing: Thursday, Nov. 10 | 10 a.m. Elementary Ag Adventures: Saturday, Nov. 12 | 10 a.m.
DECEMBER EVENTS The majority of events require advanced registration. Visit waukeepubliclibrary.org/calendar for more information and to register. Afternoon Book Club: Thursday, Dec. 1 | 2:30 p.m. On Exhibit: “Naturally Iowa”: Dec. 2-30
On Exhibit: “Scandinavia in Bright Colors”: Nov. 2-29
Pet Portrait Workshop: Sunday, Nov. 13 | 1:30 p.m.
Bricks & Beads: Wednesday, Nov. 2 & 30 | 2 p.m.
Books on Tap: Tuesday, Nov. 15 | 6 p.m.
Afternoon Book Club: Thursday, Nov. 3 | 2:30 p.m.
Elementary Early Out: Wednesday, Nov. 16, | 2:30 p.m.
The Great British Baking Tour: Holiday Edition (Online): Sunday, Dec. 4 | 1 p.m.
Snacks & Facts: Growing Up Country & Memoir Writing: Friday, Nov. 4 | 11 a.m.
Café Learn & Play: Friday, Nov. 18 | 10 a.m.
Babytime: Mondays | 10 a.m.
Elementary Food & Games: Friday, Nov. 4 | 4 p.m.
Elementary Craft Lab: Friday, Nov. 18 | 4 p.m.
Stories & Stretches: Saturday, Nov. 5 | 10 a.m.
CultureALL Journeys: Native American Heritage Month: Saturday, Nov. 19 | 10 a.m.
Teen Advisory Board: Mondays | 3:30 p.m.
Teen Life-Sized Games: Sunday, Nov. 20 | 1:30 p.m.
Teen DIY Neon Sign: Monday Nov. 7 | 6:30 p.m. 14
To find out more about the Waukee Public Library go to waukeepubliclibrary.org or contact us at askme@waukee.org or (515) 978-7944.
November / December 2022
Kids Craft Gifts: Dec. 2 | 4 p.m. & Dec. 3 | 10:30 a.m. & 1 p.m.
Teen Advisory Board: Mondays | 3:30 p.m. Pajama Storytime: Mondays | 6:15 p.m. Toddler Time: Tuesdays | 10 & 11 a.m.; Wednesdays | 10 a.m.
Preschool Storytime: Tuesdays | 10 & 11 a.m.; Wednesdays | 10 a.m. Movie Matinee: Thursday, Dec. 8 | 10 a.m. Café Learn & Play: Friday, Dec. 9 | 10 a.m. Teen DIY Imitation Stained Glass: Saturday, Dec. 10 | 10 a.m. Teen DIY Sugar Scrub: Monday, Dec. 12 | 6:30 p.m. Elementary Early Out: Wednesday, Dec. 14 | 2:30 p.m. Life-Sized Candyland: Dec. 27-30, Various times
(515 ) 348-8098
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