PARTNERS IN EDUCATION 2019-2020
Sunday, April 26, 2020
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Partners in Education continues to
GROW AND THRIVE DR. JANE LINDAMAN
Superintendent Waterloo Community Schools
O
n behalf of Waterloo Schools, we want to take this opportunity to thank all the businesses, organizations, churches and families who partner with us. We continue to start new partnerships and grow existing ones. Now in my sixth year as superintendent, I have been with Waterloo Schools for 15 years. I came to Waterloo Schools in 2005 as a principal at Bunger Middle School and later moved to the district office as a director and associate superintendent. I am passionate about our students, staff, families and community. As many of you know, Waterloo Schools is on a mission to improve student learning and our school system. Our staff works very hard to personalize learning for each and every student. We are “Unfolding Futures” for all the students we serve. We are proud to be the only district in the state of Iowa offering the International Baccalaureate program, and do so at both East and West High School. The IB Program is a highly challenging, two-year program for juniors and seniors, which extends students’ perspectives, deepens their knowledge and allows them to broaden their understanding of national and international studies. The IB program encourages students to become an active part of change in their community through the creative-action service requirement. This program has been an excellent addition for our high school students. We know that the future of the Cedar Valley and global economy depend on preparing our young people for careers that are either currently unfilled
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Poyner Elementary School students WATERLOO SCHOOLS PHOTO
Supt. Jane Lindaman with students or have yet to be created. Waterloo Schools is truly blessed to work with some of the best businesses and organizations in the Cedar Valley. Our career and technical programming continues to expand at the Waterloo Career Center, making learning more relevant for students by connecting content to careers. We want to ensure students have the chance to explore career options while in high school. This builds a bridge between high school and post-secondary life, but also makes learning more relevant. It helps answer the age-old question, “Why do we have to learn this?” The Waterloo Career Center currently offers 18 career pathways with continually growing student enrollment. Involvement and support from our partners is critical to the expansion of CTE, bringing both time and talent to our entire district.
The support we receive goes far beyond anything we could provide within our usual resources. We are truly grateful and appreciative of everything our partners do. Now in our 31st year of the Partners-In-Education program, we know continuing to grow a network in the community is beneficial for the entire Cedar Valley. While better preparing our young people for their own career preparation, it also helps to provide highly skilled employees for the Cedar Valley. Together we are building a more vibrant future!
Poyner appreciates support from Partners EVANSDALE — Poyner Elementary School counts on support from their Partners in Education to support activities and provide supplies for various school activities. Partners are Tyson Fresh Meats, Tyson Prepared Foods, Barnes and Noble Waterloo, First Security State Bank, Prince of Peace Church, Crossroads Hy-Vee, Elk Run City Hall, St. Marks Church and Raymond Volunteer Fire Dept. They participate in Thanksgiving food baskets for families, Adopt a Family for the holidays, providing snacks for Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress, school supplies and May Day baskets for each grade level and Barnes and Noble book Fair. First Security State Bank provides and serves cookies and juice for all six evening music performances. Hy-Vee donated walking taco ingredients to the Par-
ent Teacher Organization’s bingo night. Poyner students also decorated brown paper grocery bags during Christmas time for Hy-Vee customers. “Crossroads Hy-Vee made a big impact on our kindergarten students. We took our classes to Hy-Vee for a field trip as part of our Grocery Store unit. Kim Garner gave us a tour of all the departments. Our students had a blast and were able to make real-world connections to the classroom unit we studied and vocabulary learned,” said Wendy Lee, kindergarten teacher. Tyson Fresh Meats donated taco meat for various school activities. Poyner students have made monthly seasonal decorations for Tyson and First Security State Bank. Prince of Peace Church provided a staff meal and school supplies to welcome students, teachers and staff back to the new school year.
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Hoover Partners ‘good about getting things done’ Phoebe Yoder, an eighth grader at Hoover Middle School is clear about the importance of their Partners in Education to school and community. “Without them, what we do wouldn’t be possible,” she said. The school is partnered with Wildwood Ranch, Hampton Inn, Fareway Store (Waterloo), Friendship Village, the Black Hawk and Bremer Counties League of Women Voters, Mercy One Waterloo Medical Center and RE/ MAX Home Group. “Our Partners have enhanced and enriched our school and community immensely through their continued support of Hoover’s various activities throughout the year,” said counselor Leina’ala Clark. “They do an outstanding job of providing for and assisting with special events. There have been so many times that our Partners have committed their time, energy, ideas and materials to make every day a rich environment for our students and staff. We at Hoover would like to sincerely say a heartfelt ‘thank you.’” RE/MAX supplied several gift cards for drawings at February’s dance marathon. More than
plies cookies for the celebration. Sixth graders are pen pals with several Friendship Village residents, writing monthly and hosting a meet-and-greet where students provide a tour and eat lunch with their pen pals. Friendship Village I cus-
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Hoover Middle School students $4,571 was raised for donation to the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital in Iowa City. Student leaders and the dance marathon committee will present the check to the hospital in the coming months. Partners request a family or two to adopt for the holidays, presenting the families with gifts of clothing, household products and gift cards. RE/MAX hosts a shadowing career day for several students at their location. Students spend a day with a real estate agent to learn about their careers. Each year our students participate in a 500-word essay contest sponsored by the League of Women
Voters (Black Hawk County). Prize winners will receive a certificate and check: $50 for 1st place; $30 for second; and $20 for third for each grade level in sixth, seventh and eighth grades. “Our Partners in Education are very good about taking care of our future generations,” said eighth-grader Jenna Hogle. Fellow eighth-grader Andy Grimm said Partners are “good about getting things together. I have helped host Lou Henry Students of the Month, and the Partners are very helpful.” Each month students nominated by their teachers are honored as students of the month. Fareway Store in Waterloo sup-
tomarily hosts a picnic for sixth graders at the end of the school year. In May, Mercy One Waterloo Medical Center provides a Writer’s Workshop, and students participate in programs and raise funds for Wildwood Ranch.
Standing by our teachers and students
Waterloo Center for the Arts
Phelps Youth Pavillion
West High Partners provide aid throughout year WATERLOO – West High School is partnered with Hope City, John Deere and The Other Place on Ridgeway. Partners in Education participated in the fall kick-off and judged the annual pumpkin decorating contest, as well as assisted with Student of the Month recognition. “Being a Wahawk myself, I really value our partnership with West High. I am passionate about investing in our youth and community, and truly enjoy working with the other PIE contacts to develop ideas on how we can best support the students and faculty,” said Lindsey Dicken from John Deere.
RiverLoop Amphitheatre
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West High School students John Deere donated supplies for the West High’s Christmas wrapping fundraiser at the Crossroads Mall. The OP on Ridgeway assisted with feeding the staff during Parent Teacher
Conferences. Partners provide snacks and supplies for students during ISASP testing. Partners in Education Night took place Feb. 7 at the boys basketball game.
RiverLoop Expo Plaza
More information at www.waterloocenterforthearts.org
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PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
WHAT IS PARTNERS IN EDUCATION? ls, Schoo ity o o l r e t In Wa and commun perative o school ships are co en r e partne ments betw ses, e s arrang and busine bs, etc., s u l l o c scho s, service e haring i s c agen purpose of rtner a for the es to meet p c resour needs.
Lincoln Elementary School, Waterloo
Becker Elementary School Kittrell Elementary School Early Education
Lou Henry Elementary School
Kingsley Elementary School
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Aldrich feels impact of Partners’ acts of kindness WATERLOO – Partners in Education provide support for various activities and events at Bess Streeter Aldrich Elementary School. They are partnered with Oakridge Realtors, Ann Lyons, Skogman Builders, Jen Plummer, Panther Builders, Brent Dahlstrom, Western Home Communities, Carolyn Martin and Texas Roadhouse. Panther Builders donated faculty meals during Parent/ Teacher Conferences, and Oakridge Realtors and Skogman Builders donated prizes for the school’s Literacy Night. Skogman Builders also donated ice cream for an ice cream social at the Backpack Night to kick off the school year. The school chorus, conducted by music teacher Katie Kaddatz, sang at Western Home Communities during the holidays.
potential to make an impact,” said fifth-grade teacher and PIE coordinator Denisa Aalderks. Second-grade teacher and PIE coordinator Meghan Meyer said second graders were excited to relive a thank-you letter for the hearts. “This made the gift
more ‘real.’” Students also decorated placemats for Texas Roadhouse for Veterans’ Day. The restaurant donated free meal coupons for student prizes and donated a free meal to staff during Parent/ Teacher conferences.
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Students at Bess Streeter Aldrich School Students decorate hallways and doors at Western Home with hearts decorated by fifth graders with their second grade buddies. “Reading a letter that was received from a resident of the Western Home to the second
and fifth graders was rewarding for my students as they learned how their act of kindness brought happiness and made a difference in someone’s day. Too often we underestimate the power of a small act of caring or how kind words have the
Carver Partners in Education provide resources for students WATERLOO – At George Washington Carver Academy, Partners in Education provide a variety of resources for students, their families and school staff. Partners are St. Paul United Methodist Church, Logan Avenue Hy-Vee, Allen Hospital-UnityPoint, Allen College-UnityPoint Health, Wartburg College and Hope City Church. Allen Hospital-UnityPoint participate in the Adopt-aFamily program, and Allen College-UnityPoint Health sponsors a “Day in the Life” career exploration day. Logan Avenue Hy-Vee provides food donations throughout the school year, and Partners provide financial support for the PBIS store. Carver’s Project Leads the Way WATERLOO SCHOOLS PHOTO
Proud to be Partners in Education! Hoover Middle School, Waterloo Hansen Elementary School, Cedar Falls
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Cunningham Partners are ‘willing helpers’ for students, staff WATERLOO – Principal Neldrekka Whitaker at Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence praised their Partners in Education for going out of their way “to impact our students’ academic success. They are willing helpers and do whatever they can to be of support to our teachers and staff. Words cannot express how grateful we are.” The school is partnered with Community Bank & Trust, St. Timothy’s United Methodist Church, Waterloo Public Library, KBBG, First Presbyterian Church, Delta Sorority, Hope City (Grandmas in Prayer) and the city of Waterloo. “We value and appreciate our Partners in Education. They partner along with us and par-
ticipate by providing support to our students throughout the school year. We are very thankful for all the time and resources given to help our students and staff be successful,” said Chrys Hulton, literacy coach. Partners help with supplies and serving STAR Breakfast, volunteer and provide candy for Trick-or-Treat Night, provide donations for Carnival Night, participate in fundraisers for fifth-grade field trip, support teacher appreciation, as well as supporting families and students in need through programs like Adopt-a-Family. They are journal buddies with fifth grade students, help collect and count Hy-Vee receipts, collect ink cartridges, donations for students’ goodies bags and
assists with the pennies war and more. “We are incredibly grateful for how much our Partners in Education contribute to the success of our students. By witnessing the students’ faces light up when participating in STAR Breakfast, or getting to meet their journal buddies in the community, their work truly contributes an added layer of love and support for each and every one of our Cunningham Stars,” said fifth-grade teacher Bridget Brandt. Tiffany Ross, instructional strategist, said the monthly Star Breakfasts are a “wonderful opportunity to celebrate individual students and includes their families, which makes it such a meaningful event.”
Partners provide Irving students with support, supplies WATERLOO – Principal Zach Zimmerman at Irving Elementary School said “we truly value our partnerships with our Partners in Education members. They are committed to our students, and they have a hand in preparing our students for a more promising future.” The school is partnered with First Presbyterian Church, Church Row Historical Neighborhood, CUNA Mutual, First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, ISG ( former StruXture Architects), Wells Fargo Bank, DuPaco Community Credit Union and the Waterloo Exchange Club Throughout the school year, Partners support school projects, including providing incentives for staff, social-emo-
tional learning materials and ISASP snacks. Partners are involved in family nights, as well as assisting with the Adopt-aFamily program, donate school supplies and support with Falcon Fest school carnival. “It’s a great feeling to have such active involvement from community members that care about our Irving family. We are thankful for the commitment, time, and resources that our partners provide to our staff and students,” said Second Grade Teacher Chrissy Kugler. First Grade Teacher Chelsea Cole said, “I am really grateful to all of our Partners in Education for their dedication to Irving Elementary. They really make a difference in our school by supporting students and staff members in a variety of ways.”
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Partners’ support makes Highland ‘a better place to be’ WATERLOO — Highland Elementary School’s Partners in Education make students, families and staffs “feel cared for and welcome at Highland. They try hard to meet all our needs and make our school a better place to be,” said Elaine Brown, kindergarten teacher. The school shares partnerships with ReaLife Church, Nazareth Lutheran Church, Petersen &Tietz Florist and Greenhouse, Lincoln Savings Bank, John Deere (Tractor Cab and Assembly Operations on E. Donald St. , VGM and Omega Cabinets. Partners in Education activities include Back to School Night Meal for families, Fall Festival, Lasagna Dinners provided for teachers during conferences, holiday book give-
licly honored with bouquet and gift card), collecting Hy-Vee receipts and supporting the carnation sale fundraiser. Partners provide money for classroom needs and school dress code clothing items for students, purchase bikes for
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Highland school students away with guest readers, Adopt a Family at Christmas, Students of the Month honored monthly with lunch and activities at
Partner sites, PAWS awards for nominated staff monthly (one certified and one non-certified staff member per month pub-
Partners receive thanks from Bunger students WATERLOO – Seventh-grader Anna Werning, a Bunger Middle School student, is thankful for the Partners in Education program at the school. “We appreciate you all very much, and thank you for what you have done for us,” she said. The school’s Partners are The Other Place in Evansdale, Peters Construction, First Congregational Church, John Deere Waterloo Foundry and New Hope Missionary Baptist Church. LaShaundra Williams, administrative secretary said she is excited with New Hope Missionary Baptist Church joining the Partners program, praising their ability to “break down the normal barriers of Partners in Education and go above and beyond what it means to be a light in the community. Their youth team will definitely encourage academic success,” she explained. Here are some of the ways Partners assist the school: First Congregational Church transports students of
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Bunger Middle School student the month to their luncheon. The Other Place hosts the student of the month lunch. Peters Construction provides $20 each month for the waiter’s tip at the luncheon. Peters and First Congrega-
tional adopted several families for the Christmas holiday. First Congregational Church prepared and served food for students and their parents at high school planning night and culture night.
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testing incentives and participate in the pen pal project with the second-grade class and Nazareth staff members. They also provide volunteer support for events like the Hispanic Heritage Festival and Black History Night.
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SHARING PIE
Central Middle School
Through the Partners in Education program, any elementary, middle or high school may be partnered with an area business or community agency. These Partners help support and meet the needs of students, as well as participate in such activities as Pen Pals and educational opportunities.
Expo High School
East High Cheerleaders
Lowell Elementary School
Orange Elementary School WATERLOO SCHOOLS PHOTO S
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Hansen students appreciate Partners support learning at CF Lincoln School Partner connections CEDAR FALLS – Partners in Education creates a special connection between staff students and the community, says Leah Franklin, a first grade teacher at Hansen Elementary School. The school is partnered with Mercy One Cedar Falls Medical Center, First National Bank, Martin Brothers, Sidecar Coffee and Amy Wienands Real Estate. First-graders especially enjoy caroling during the holiday season at Mercy One Cedar Falls Medical Center. In addition, the fifth- and sixth-grade choir and band/orchestra students perform for staff. “This experience brings a smile to everyone’s face, seeing the interactions between the students and patients. It is great to be a part of an amazing community that offers these impactful opportunities with our local partners,” said Franklin. In addition, all grade levels create tray favors for the hospital, and with the help of the art teacher, students decorate a tree for the annual Festival of Trees. In conjunction with the
counselor’s unit on careers, the hospital hosts a career fair for sixth graders. First National Bank donates practice checks to students in sixth grade, teaching children about decimals and money in a fun, interactive way. Student artwork is displayed at both Mercy One Cedar Falls Medical Center and First National Bank. At the last day of school assembly, First National Bank gives a good citizenship award; 93.5 The Mix presents a communication award; and Martin Bros has donated a gift certificate to a parent or parents who have made a deserving contribution to the school. Each partner sponsors a Hansen family in need and provides gifts, food and baskets of goodies for them during the holiday season. Hansen students also illustrated Sidecar Coffee sleeves during art class, which were used to serve customers at the First Street shop. Partners also donate to various Hansen activities, such as the PTA Carnival and other special events.
Holmes shares valuable partnership with CF Community Credit Union CEDAR FALLS — Holmes Junior High School is partnered with Cedar Falls Community Credit Union. During the year, the school and the credit union participate in activities such as Canes for a Cause – Adopt a Family Holmes Fundraiser, Children’s Miracle Network CFCCU Fundraiser and the Annual Holmes Veterans Day Assembly. With the generous support of the Cedar Falls Community Credit Union we are able to provide learning opportunities for
our students and valuable services to our community each school year, said Principal Jeremy Jones. “Our annual Veterans Day Assembly is attended by numerous veterans of the Cedar Valley and is always a highlight for students, staff and the community. Additionally, for the past several years we have raised thousands of dollars to support families during the holiday season, and every spring we partner with CFCCU to raise funds to support the Children’s Miracle Network.”
CEDAR FALLS — Lincoln Elementary School is proud to have many partners to support learning. “Lincoln Elementary School is proud to have many partners to support learning. We are pleased to share that we share relationships with First United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, Oakridge Realtors and various departments from the city of Cedar Falls. Thanks to each group for supporting our school,” said Principal Ralph Bryant. The relationship with First United Methodist Church continues to grow. Volunteers support kinder, first, second and thirdgrade classrooms each week. The school partners with the church on the “Change a Child’s Story” program designed to provide reading assistance and donations to our school. The church has donated both time and monetary donations to our school through this partnership. Through their donations, we will be able to provide a book for each child at Lincoln to take home over the last five school years. First United Methodist Church also requests gifts through the Mitten Tree. “Cedar Falls First United Methodist Church has enjoyed partnering with Lincoln Elementary over the past several years. We especially like seeing our Reading Buddies in grades kindergarten through third grade. Literacy is integral to academic success, so we raise funds yearlong to purchase a book for every student at Lincoln, from preschool through 6th grade. We also provide funds for classroom libraries,” said Lisa Congdon of the First United Methodist Church. Church members are encouraged to volunteer in other ways at Lincoln throughout the year. We even help organize worksheets and classroom materials for teachers prior to the beginning of the school year. This allows the teachers to concentrate on lesson plans or learning new methods to help the students reach their highest potential. Oakridge Realtors supports the Parents and Lincoln School
(PALS) group during the annual Wacky Winterfest. The Police and Fire Departments visit kindergarten and first-grade classes. The Cedar
Falls Public Library second-grade classes and third graders visit the Hearst Center. The Reclamation Department supports fourthgrade students.
PARTNERS FOR SUCCESS Our mission is to positively impact the learning of children in our home communities by supporting programs that will ensure children are successful in school, work, and life. John Deere understands the importance of working with our future generations to help make the world a better place.
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Waterloo Career Center offers students
REAL-WORLD TRAINING JEFF FROST
Executive Director Professional Technical Education Waterloo Schools
H
oused in Central Middle School, the Waterloo Career Center is alive with hands-on, real-world training for high school students. After several years of study, a task force of students, parents, staff and community/business members recommended the Waterloo Schools expand our career and technical education offerings so students can explore career interest areas while in high school. These courses are proven to greatly engage students in content, while allowing them to work toward an area of certification and better prepare them for life after high school. The committee studied many different programs nationwide but quickly focused on technical education as being right for our students. It effectively engages high school students along with increasing graduation rates and the percentage of students who attend post-secondary schools. It also keeps students in school and reduces dropouts. With such a broad base of business and industry in the Cedar Valley, technical education will build a strong partnership between schools and businesses. From this, grew the Waterloo Career Center. Opened on the campus of Central Middle School at the beginning of the 2016-17 school year, the center housed two programs initially, Nursing and Digital Graphics. For the 2017-18 school year, three new programs were added; Advanced Manufacturing, Early Childhood Education and Information Technology- Net-
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Nursing students at Waterloo Career Center working. During the 2018-2019 school year, we added four new programs; Information Technology- Web and Mobile, Interactive Digital Media, Marketing and Sustainable Construction. This year we added five new programs, including Culinary, Electrical, Finance, Hospitality, and Plumbing. Next school year we are bringing four more programs; BioMedical Lab Technician, Emergency Management,
K-12 Teacher Preparation, and Physical Therapy. An extensive renovation was completed before the beginning of this year at a cost of approximately $17.5 million. All of this is being funded with one-percent sales tax proceeds. This 80,000 square foot renovation has transformed the Waterloo Career Center into a modern, 21st century learning environment, with a collegiate and
workplace feel. The goal is to provide the best education for our students and ensure each student is equipped with the skills necessary to be a productive citizen and have a promising and fulfilling future in the fast-changing world of career opportunities. Knowing that Career and Technical Education provides a chance for students to learn content through real-world
career applications, the Waterloo Career Center mission is to accomplish the following, including: 1. Explore a career area of interest including but not limited to: health fields, manufacturing, informational technology, education, construction, or STEM; including all 16 identified career pathways and 79 career clusters. 2. Increase the high school graduation rate of students in
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even dropout, the cost to parents, community and society is great. How will we know that we have accomplished this mission? Well, some indicators we will be looking at include: District Graduation Rate Increases District Dropout Rate Decreases Enrollment increase in both numbers and percentage of class capacity Retention from Year 1 to Year 2, Year 2 to Year 3 Attendance Rates for Career Center students at their respective high school Number of Industry Certificates earned Number of concurrent College Credit Hours earned by WCC students Another key component of the Waterloo Career Center has been the amazing number of businesses that have either stepped up as collaborative sponsors of our programs, or have expressed interest how to become a partner. These partnerships are giving our students multiple opportunities to explore the specific WATERLOO SCHOOLS PHOTO career fields available within the program they are in. A student learns masonry at the Waterloo Career Center. the Waterloo Career Center above the national average of 81% to the 93% graduation rate for students that attend technical high schools, all while increasing a student’s overall attendance rate. 3. Assure that 75% of students graduating from a pathway within the Waterloo Career Center go onto a post-secondary institutions or career field tied to the pathway. 4. Increase student engagement for all. Many students are passively engaged and do not see the relevance of what they are learning, while others are disengaged to the point of dropping out. This program provides a proven instructional alternative. 5. Improve the way we educate all students. When students underperform, drift aimlessly in college, disengage in school or
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These partners have allowed our students to tour their businesses, do internships and provided us with critical curriculum insight and re-purposed equipment for use at the Waterloo Career Center. They have also given of their time as guest speakers and mentors, allowing our students receive first-hand knowledge about that specific career. Lastly, our teachers are
also doing externships at these businesses, allowing them to stay up to date on what is current best practice in the industry. There are a lot of amazing things happening at the Waterloo Career Center. We would invite anyone that wants a tour or to discuss what is occurring out there to contact the Waterloo Schools, and we will get set you up.
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Our Panther community is resilient. Supportive. Committed. We’re together, even when we’re apart.