Sharpening minds
Partners in Education, 2015-2016
May 1, 2016
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Reforms build a vibrant future for students O n behalf of Waterloo Schools, we want to take this opportunity to thank all our businesses, organizations, churches and families for partnering with us. We are thrilled to start new partnerships and cultivate existing ones. I am passionate about our students, staff, families and community DR. JANE LINDAMAN and optimistic about partnering with you! As many of you know, Waterloo Schools is on a mission to improve teaching and student learning. Our staff works tirelessly to personalize learning for students. We believe in Global Thinking and Limitless
Choices for each young person we serve. We are in our second year of the International Baccalaureate Program at both East and West High Schools. The IB Program is a highly challenging, two-year program for juniors and seniors. This program 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 students! Our work in the area of 21st century high school reform continues. Technical program-
ming is a way to make learning more relevant for our students by connecting content to careers. We want to ensure students have the chance to explore career options while in high school. We are pursuing 30 career pathways for our students, pathways like nursing, automotive, technology, teaching, construction, science and energy, manufacturing, horticulture, media and marketing, and public safety. Unfortunately, our February bond vote was not successful, but we remain committed to expanding our career and technical offerings in Waterloo and will adjust the pace with which we move forward. Career and technical education builds a bridge between high school and post-secondary life, but
also makes learning more relevant. We know this type of programming is engaging to students, keeps them in school and sends them on to college at greater levels! It helps answer the age-old question, “Why do we have to learn this?” Be sure to check out our district website and our local cable channel for more information about career and technical education in Waterloo. We know that the future of the Cedar Valley and global economy depends on preparing our young people for careers that are either currently unfilled 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. As we move forward with our
21st century high school initiative, involvement and support from our partners will be critical. These groups bring both time and talent to our entire district. The support we receive goes far beyond anything we could provide within our usual resources. We truly are grateful and appreciative of everything our partners do. Now in our 29th 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!
Irving ‘thankful’ partners share strong commitment Our Dedicated Experienced Staff Provides Post Acute Medicare Certified Rehabilitation and Skilled Care 2651 St. Francis Drive Waterloo, IA 5070 319-232-6808 EOE/AAP
Irving Elementary School Principal Amy Schmidt is thankful to have Partners in Education who support the school. “They support the academic and personal growth of our students, and we are so thankful for their commitment to our Irving students,” she says. The school is partnered with Church Row Historical Neighborhood Association, CUNA Mutual Group, First Baptist Church, First United Methodist Church, Ocwen, First Presbyterian Church, Ravenwood Nursing & Rehab Center, StruXture Architects, Trinity American Lutheran Church, Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier and Wells Fargo Bank. During the school year, partners participate in the Adopt-a–
Family holiday project. They also donated items for 100-day celebrations, volunteered at Falcon Fest and participated in the Leap Into Learning Reading Event. In addition, partners are paired with students as pen pals and provide support for students to individually receive the Scholastic magazine and making donations and helping raise funds at school events. T-shirts for students and staff were provided by Ocwen, as well as playground and gymnasium supplies. Waterloo/Cedar Falls Courier and CUNA Mutual donated more than 175 winter coats for students in need. “When you get to watch as a student is able to walk into class with the supplies they need, or walk out into the cold in their
warm winter coat and hat/glove, there is nothing better. Our partners are true supporters of education, but more than that they are the village that is helping our children grow,” says Adriane Carlson, Family Support. Partners also provided hats and mittens, snacks for Iowa Assessment testing and funding for mentor meeting sites. Newspapers also were provide to third-, fourth- and fifth-grade students. “I greatly appreciated the money we received for PE. That money reaches out not only to just one grade, one student, but all of our students. It impacts each student to be able to learn not only about physical education, but also evolves into many different levels of learning,” says PE teacher Cory Arensdorf.
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Reading buddies at Becker.
has been part of our Leader in Me effort in creating leaders that want to make an impact in different ways,” says lead teacher Alex Hansen. Partners are Friendship Village, Century Link, Letter Carriers/AMVETS, University of Northern Iowa, wcfsymphony, Dupaco, Newaldaya Lifescapes and Department of Correctional Services. Pen pals are popular with Becker students. Third-graders
were pen pals with partners and met for cookies and ice cream. Partners participated in the Adopt-A-Family Project, Backto-School Night, Diversity Celebration and Carnival Night, donated winter gear for students, and supported the school activities fund. More than 100 UNI students worked with teachers and students, and the wcfsymphony made a presentation for fourthand fifth-grade students.
Partners help build life skills for Kingsley students Kingsley fifth-grader Kaden McConnell praised her experience on the school’s the Partners in Education committee. “ I need to begin with the end in mind by thinking of what to say before saying it,” she says. Partners are Manor Care, Vanderloo Chiropractic, Cedar
Valley Vein Clinic, KWWL-TV, Hy-Vee Food Store on Ansborough Avenue, University of Iowa Credit Union and Westminster Presbyterian Church. “I appreciate ManorCare because they help people in need that are sick and can’t move around as much,” says fifth-
grader Ava Anderson. Partners help with Meet the Teacher Night, Adopt-a-Family at Christmas, holiday caroling, holiday luncheon for staff, snacks for Iowa Assessment testing, field trip opportunities, pen-pal opportunities and more.
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Service projects, with assistance from their Partners in Education, have made an impact on Becker Elmentary School students, including making transition bags for temporarily homeless families and a canned food drive for the Salvation Army. “These service projects really made an impact on our students’ understanding of working together (synergizing) and making an impact for someone else (creating empathy). This
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Becker kids benefit from pen pals, partner support
EXPIRES 6/30/16
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Pre-K-8th grade education building foundation for future DR. CHARLES MCNULTY Associate Superidendent for Educational Services Waterloo Schools
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ver the last year and a half, the Waterloo Community School District has refocused our instructional programming for pre-K through 8th grade students to ensure all students receive an education that expands their life opportunities. Educational DR. research is clear CHARLES MCNULTY that the biggest impact on a child’s opportunity to learn rests with the teacher, but what is interesting is that the second largest effect
on learning is the professional leadership within a school’s staff. Therefore, to leverage what we know positively impacts student achievement, we have created Core Instruction Teams at the district and school levels that put our professionals (support staff, teachers, and administrators) at the heart of what we do to serve our students. Educators within our pre-k, elementary, and middle schools are aggressively addressing as a school system the needs of our students. The District Core Instructional Committees (Literacy, Math, and Science) made up of teachers and administrators, have developed a system-wide approach for our educators and students to access the 21st-century skills
Building Stronger Connections We’re Proud to Support the Partners in Education Program
CUNA Mutual Group 2000 Heritage Way Waverly, IA 50677 www.cunamutual.com
needed today and in the future. Not only have we enhanced access for all students to deepen their knowledge in mathematics and literacy, we continue to place our students at the center of classroom activities. This year we also introduced a district-wide approach to writing across content areas, and by the end of the 2016-17 school year we should see an increase our students’ ability to utilize multiple modes of communication and speak with a confident voice. Our Science Committee is working hard to integrate the Next Generation Science Standards into our curriculum and instructional practices, so that science is infused into the other core subjects, and not experienced in isolation. Finally, we have done all this while increasing the numbers of students participating in music and the arts to ensure that the whole child is addressed within our educational system. As we establish high expec-
tations for our students and ourselves to build a Waterloo educational experience with limitless choices, we have also continued to support innovation in schools through refining our teacher work teams (Professional Learning Communities — PLCs) to ensure that our instruction is guided by the creativity of our staff. The focus of our PLCs is reviewing and adjusting instruction based on students’ daily performance in the classroom. Testing over the last 15 years has deservedly received criticism based upon the high stakes tests’ lack of relevance to the classroom and real world student needs. However, assessments can be key to student achievement beyond the walls of the classroom when it is used to change instruction to reach beyond the moment to tap the potential of our students. To that end, we have developed Common Formative Assessments across our district that are being created by teachers, refined by teachers, and
used to enhance student learning in an authentic and relevant manner. The Waterloo Community School District is committed to fostering intrinsic motivation in our teachers and students by engaging educators and students in continuous improvement of instruction and learning. We ask our educators to inspire our students through team work and ensure that what we do affects all stakeholders in a manner that is equitable to all members of our diverse community. It is critically apparent that we can no longer have 19 schools left to fend for themselves, nor can we expect an individual teacher to work alone to address not just our children’s academic concerns, but difficulties that come from outside of the school walls that so often impact their learning. We must come together as a community to co-create an education that promotes the health of Waterloo’s diverse and robust community.
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Cunningham partners make things happen East feels impact artners make things happen at the Dr. Walter Cunningham P School for Excellence. “We have amazing Partners in Education, because of them we able to do so many great things for the students of Dr. Walter Cunningham for Excellence,” says literacy coach Mary Peterson. The school’s partners are Community Bank & Trust, St. Timothy’s Methodist Church, the city of Waterloo, HGS, Waterloo Public Library, Hellman Associates, KBBG Public Radio, Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Association and Mount Carmel Missionary Baptist Church. Partners sponsor and make pancakes every month in honor of students nominated as shining stars that consistently demonstrated safety, trustworthiness, A+ attitude and respect. Partners also participate in the Adopt-A-Family program during the holiday season. Hellman and City of Waterloo made donations of gift cards to reward teachers for perfect attendance. The Journal Buddy program matches students with PIE representatives and written entries are made to their journals on a regular basis. They also meet for lunch with journal buddies. “The partners are really helpful because they come to our school every month and make pancakes. Also, I like journaling with my journal buddy because I am learning about new people,” says fifth-grader Pausha Reichenbacker. Hellman donated funds so that each staff member could have
from partners
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Dr. Walter Cunningham School for Excellence Talent Development Group. a new Cunningham T-shirt. Selected fourth- and fifth-graders visited various partners and sang a variety of Christmas carols. Mr. and Mrs. Capps from St. Tim’s donated time every week to organize and count Milk Moola, box tops, printer cartridges, and Hy-Vee receipts. HGS took up a book drive from their staff members and donated the books to the students.
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Partners in Education at Waterloo’s East High School help students make a positive impact, says Maggie Mnayer, the school’s PIE representative. Partners are Elks Lodge No. 290, Regions Bank, Bethany Bible Chapel, John Deere Drivetrain and Prairie Lakes Church-Waterloo Campus Elks Lodge donates funds and facility for student of the month lunches. Prairie Lakes Church, Bethany Bible Church and Regions Bank donated gifts to the lunch, along with classroom supplies and volunteered and served refreshments at the Swing Show. Bethany Bible Church and Regions bank provided fleece for students. John Deere donated funds for the PBDA picnic and awards, gift cards to student of the month recipients and funded the Academic Awards ceremony, PBDA group picture and mentors for the robotics team. They also offset the cost of adding a second team.
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to Celebrate.
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Who doesn’t like seeing their photo in Celebrations? Now you can upload and share your celebrations online in a snap. Go to www.WCFCourier.com/celebrations.
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Kids at Orange Elementary School.
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Partners fill vital role at Orange Elementary School Fourth-grade teacher Kendall LaFontaine says their Partners in Education at Orange Elementary School “help our beacon shine brighter. Without them, our light would be dim.” Partners are Cedar Valley Arboretum & Botanical Garden, Harmony House Health Care Center, Hawkeye Community College, South Waterloo Church of the Brethren, Sam’s Club, Pepsi, UNI-KDP Honor Society, Amy Wienands Real Estate and Kimball Avenue United Methodist Church. This year, partners helped support a visit by Nicaraguan dancers, participated in Adopt-A-Family at Christmas, provided families with Thanksgiving food baskets and other projects. KDP students volunteer at the school, taught basketball to third through fifth graders and fulfilled a wishlist for teachers. Chorus students sang at the KDP initiation. Hawkeye students do field experience at Orange, as well as
work-study tutoring and offering child-care assistance for conferences. Second-graders made care boxes for the South Waterloo Church of the Brethren to distribute to Guatemala, and students helped decorate Christmas trees at the church. They also wrote letters to veterans for the church’s Veterans Day observance. The church donated mittens, scarves and school supplies to students for winter warmth. Kimball Avenue United Methodist Church helped with cookies for Leadership day, and Mike Henning from the church started a walking moai inside the school during the winter months. Volunteers from the church serve as weekly Reading Buddies for students, and each student was given a new book. The Fifth Grade Chorus went Christmas caroling at the Partners. Student Speaker leaders visited Partners to share the Leader in
Me story. Pesi provided water for Leadership Day and bags for the Wellness Night giveaway items. Sam’s Club provided water for Wellness Night. “Our partners say “yes” every time we ask for something. They are the best,” says media specialist Susie Lantz. Amy Wienands Real Estate employees visit and do a dance for an advertisement with students, and the real estate firm purchased flashlights for students, staff and families to celebrate the school’s lighthouse status. Anna Caughron of Amy Wienands Real Estate says, “We absolutely love partnering with Orange Elementary School. The students and the staff are beyond impressive. Our office so enjoys the student speaker leaders and winter chorus tour that visits our office each year. We jump at any opportunity to collaborate with Orange; they are first class all the way,” Caughron explains.
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Students at George Washington Carver Academy students participate in the Green Thumb club.
Partners create team pride for Carver Academy classes At George Washington Carver Academy, Partners in Education is one of the key components to the school’s success. “At Carver we have a wonderful team of adults who are committed to kids and are committed to the continued relationship, partnership, and success of our Partners in Education Program,” says Principal Mike Landers. Their partners are: Hope City Church, Waterloo Writing Proj-
ect, Hy-Vee Logan Avenue, Allen Hospital and College, Antioch Baptist Church, Craft Cochren, Wartburg College, Gates Park Neighborhood Association, Tri City Clothing, St. Vincent DePaul and Advantage Screening and Embroidery. “We are building community partnerships that support student growth and create a sense of pride in our school and community,” says CIS Ras Smith.
Partners have joined with Carver Academy students to participate in the My Waterloo Days Parade, Black History Month program, Pastries with Parents and supported musical concerts, events and Carver Empower for after-school programming and clubs. In addition, partnes provide supplies and incentives for Iowa Assessment testing and staff lunch and dinners during conferences.
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Partners are great addition to Bunger Bunger Middle School eighthgrader Sandra Torres remembers when she was honored as a student of the month and was treated to lunch by one of the school’s Partners in Education. “It was amazing. I loved the food at the Other Place in Evansdale. The food and people were great there,” she says.
Other partners are Peters Construction, First Congregational United Church of Christ and The Kinder Agency (Farmers Insurance). “Our Partners in Education are a great addition to our school. They are willing to help out when it is needed and the students enjoy having opportunities to work
with them,” says counselor Ryan Topliff. Partners provide transportation to different sponsored events for students, as well as lunch for the student of the month, support in the annual canned food drive and assist with the school’s Adopt-A-Family program and Meals on Wheels program.
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Partners help Hoover students succeed “Hoover has been honored and blessed to have such fine relationships with our Partners in Education. Their support for our students and staff continues to be outstanding and greatly contributes to Hoover’s
rich and diverse educational environment,” says PIE chair and seventh-grade counselor Leina’ala Clark. The school’s Partners in Education are: Wheaten Franciscan Health Care; ReMax Realtors;
Tyson Foods is proud to partner with Poyner Elementary.
League of Women Voters; Fareway Stores; Craft-Cochran; Hansen’s Farm Fresh Dairy; 93.5 The Mix; and Friendship Village. As a Leader in Me school, Hoover strives to build community partnerships to enhance student employability and 21st-century skills. Partners and the Hoover team meet monthly to discuss needs, events and special activities. The school strives to practice the “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” and find leadership roles for students. Covenant made arrangements for student Medical Leaders and
will participate in the spring writer’s conference. “Hands on, minds on, I was able to be part of the Medical Leaders group. It helped explore what I may do in a field. It was an interactive learning experience,” explains eighth-grader Jalen Webster. Fareway contributes cookies for student of the month celebrations, and ReMax keeps students well-stocked with No. 2 pencils for the Iowa Assessments tests. The League of Women Voters chooses essay contest winners, and with the addition of Friendship Village as a partner, a sixth-grade class
has made new friends with composition books called Pen Pals. Partners are involved in Red Ribbon Week, display student artwork, adopt-a-family project, the community leadership lunch, pen pals and coat and glove drive. “We are so blessed to have such an incredible mix of diverse partners at Hoover Middle School. From community events and opportunities, to education such as Medical Leaders, we have been able to synergize and enrich the work of Hoover Middle School,” says Principal Mike Fisher.
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Hoover students participate in Medical Leaders at Covenant.
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Partners in Ed involved numerous ways at Lowell Lowell Elementary School shares a number of partnerships that provide materials, funds and support throughout the school year. Partners in Education include Hometown Foods, Witham Auto, Grainger, Country View, Black Hawk County Court House, Grace Fellowship Church, Greenwood Pharmacy, Nestle USA, Judy Thorson (special projects), Horace Mann Insurance, Cadillac Bowling Lanes, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., First Wesleyan Church, Lincoln Savings Bank, Waterloo Bucks, Cornerstone Fellowship Church and Image Pointe (special projects). Many partners participate in monthly journaling with first through fifth-grade students, as well as providing treats and special goodies to classrooms for holidays. Also, many partners provide volunteers help to read with students and in classrooms. Through PIE, the PTO is given opportunities to sell candy at Partners’ business locations to raise money for the school, and partners decorate pumpkins to auction at the Fall Festival. Grace Fellowship Church provided staff with a salad and dessert lunch and bags with desk and teaching supplies to get teachers off to a good start at the beginning of the school year. Grace Fellowship Church also prepared, served and helped arrange for the Annual Lowell Thanksgiving Dinner, and other partners participated in donating food for the food drive. All partners helped Lowell get 83 families adopted during the Christmas Adopt-A-Family Project. Partners have donated items to give to Lowell students who are making good choices and following the STARS mantra: Stay Safe, Take Responsibility, Accept Others, Respect Each Other, Success Will Follow. Lincoln Savings Bank provided a staff supper during conferences, and Northeast Iowa Family Practice and AMVETS Post 49 provide volunteers help to distribute Food Bags to students every Friday.
All our Partners will help to provide seed money and clothing items to purchase and maintain a supply of uniform items at school for those students’ families who cannot afford to purchase these items. Cadillac Bowling Center pro-
vides a thank-you event for students who participate in Lowell’s Safety Patrol. Partners also help Lowell raise money by collecting Hy-Vee receipts, Box-Tops for Education, Kwik Trip rebates, Subway and Target card purchase rebates.
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Lowell students on Socktober. Partners helped to provide table decorations and deserts for the Shining Stars Luncheon which recognizes students who had perfect attendance. Horace Mann will provide two new bicycles to be given to students at the end of the school year who have had perfect bell-to-bell attendance. Hometown Foods, Witham Auto, Waterloo Bucks have provided incentive gifts for parents to thank them for getting their children to school, on time and ready to learn. Grainger, Lincoln Savings Bank and Black Hawk County Courthouse provide opportunities for students to tour facilities to make connections between the worlds of education and work. Black Hawk County provides fifth-grade students the opportunity to participate in a mock trial at the Black Hawk County
Court House, along with a tour of the County Jail and Juvenile Court Services. The Black Hawk County Election Office provided students with opportunities to get involved in mock elections and gain insights into political and election processes. Many partners provide mentors for third- through fifth-graders. Grace Fellowship, First Wesleyan and Cornerstone Fellowship Churches, Lincoln Savings Bank and Nestle provide needed items such as coats, hats, gloves, backpacks, pencil boxes and other school supplies for students. Nestle USA will provide two new bicycles to students who have read a certain number of minutes during each month. With each month’s eligibility, students have their name put into a drawing.
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Twice-exceptional program assists gifted, at-risk students SHERICE ORTMAN International Baccalaureate and Advanced Programs Coordinator
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Lincoln School prepare their Thanksgiving dinner.
Lincoln shares dedicated partners At Lincoln Elementary School in Waterloo, Partners in Education go above and beyond each year to support students, staff and families. “They are always willing to help out with the needs that we bring to them. They host us each month for our student of the month lunch and they always make that activity memorable for our students. I really appreciate the support they provide our school and feel lucky to have such dedicated partners,” says Adam Ahrendsen, assistant principal. Participants are VGM, CBE Group, River’s Edge Christian Church, Waterloo Blackhawks, Greater Cedar Valley Alliance and Chamber, Principal Financial Group, US Bank, KBBG, International Paper Company, Waterloo Fire and Rescue. Partners host monthly student of the month luncheons at their business, including a tour. They pair with fourthand fifth-graders for pen pals, volunteered to help serve at the community Thanksgiving dinner, as well as providing food.
They displayed artwork in their businesses and adopted Lincoln families at holiday time. They donate staff supplies, funding for teacher needs and special school events, volunteer at the end-of-the-year carnival and fund prizes for the event, read with students, fund several grade levels opportunity to attend a play and help label and organize classroom libraries, as well as provide support for the school float for the My Waterloo Days parade. “It’s nice that they help us out so much. It was fun going to lunch with them because we got to do a lot of fun activities,” says fourth-grader Reagan Cole. Third-grader Jaylin May was amazed by a magic show at lunch. “They made us really good spider cupcakes, too,” May says. Fifth-grader Christian Quinn adds, “It’s great having partners help us out with things. They give us things that motivate students to do their best. It is fun having a pen pal also because I like to hear about things they have been doing.”
wice-exceptional (2e) education is a term that is becoming more prevalent in education. The term refers to students who are intellectually gifted in one area (math, verbal communication, drawing, etc.) but who may also have a significant gap in their overall performance, either through learning or attention issues. Oftentimes the performance skill set that is lacking is discovered and sometimes reSHERICE quires a special ORTMAN education intervention. According to experts in the area of twice-exceptional education, gifted students with disabilities can be at-risk because their educational and social/emotional needs often go undetected. The inconsistent academic performance can lead educators to believe twice-exceptional students are not putting forth adequate effort. Hidden disabilities may prevent students with advanced cognitive abilities from achieving their full potential. The frustrations related to unidentified strengths and disabilities can result in behavioral and social/emotional issues. Identifying and creating a personal education plan for twice-exceptional students is not yet a common practice in education. Because of the misunderstanding many twice-exceptional students take one of three emotional routes: Twice-exceptional students use their giftedness to mask their attention or learn-
ing disability and therefore they don’t receive the help in areas where they would need additional support. While the student may be identified as gifted they often struggle to fully participate in a gifted program. The students use the disability to mask their giftedness and therefore they receive special education assistance but are not challenged and end up causing behavior disruptions due to boredom. The final emotional route some students take is to use both their disability and giftedness to cancel each other which makes the student appear “normal”. Therefore the child receives no additional support. Recently the Waterloo Schools has started work in the area of identifying and supporting twice-exceptional students and established a collaborative team to learn more about this programming.
Through training, model school visits and professional development this team will work on developing an action plan with the guidance of the advanced programming and special education departments to elevate and align the current practice of identifying gifted and special needs students. The end goal will result in a collaborative effort between classroom teachers, special educators, gifted educators, and parents to identify twice-exceptional students and develop strategies to meet their diverse needs. It is the focus of the Waterloo Schools and our advanced programming and special education teachers to work together to develop personal education plans (PEPs) that support both gifted and special needs of twice-exceptional learners.
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CTE offers students variety of options Career and technology education is not your old wood shop. It’s not your grandma’s kitchen, and it’s not just teachust like business and indus- ing young ladies to take good try, education uses many ac- notes for entry level secretary ronyms. CTE stands for Ca- positions. Career and technical education is hands-on, pracreer and Technical Education. Many people are still confused tical learning experiences that help students better underabout what career and technical education is, stand the workforce demands and what it isn’t. they will encounter when they For many adults, are ready to be fully-employed. The goal of career and techcareer and technical education is to help stunical education dents understand how their can start with core classes (math, English, what they may science and social studies) fit remember as CRYSTAL into their everyday work life as high school BUZZA an adult. If I’m an architect do courses called I need to understand math? Of shop or home course! It is critically importeconomics. ant that I can understand not I’m a child of the 1980’s, only the plans I create but the and when I was in high school detailed plans a construction there were two educational manager presents to me. Might tracks for students. You either I also be a better architect if took courses like shop and I have actually experienced home economics, or you took pre-college courses. The divide building something? We see that answered positively unfortunately existed because classes like shop were intended throughout a variety of careers. All businesses in the Cedar for “those kids” — the students who were seen as children who didn’t have a lot of promise. What a horrible belief and an awful way to characterize students! At the same time, from the ‘80s, ‘90s and even early 2000’s, high schools moved to what many refer to as four-year post-secondary manufacturing businesses. The sole purpose was to prepare students only for a four-year liberal arts experience so they could be become a “well-rounded” individual. Even though that philosophy worked well for many students, me included, it did not serve the needs of all students. It also did not address current workforce needs. That focus meant that career-focused education was put on the back burner, students were not successfully completing college, careers that require a four-year degree were not always available and many great paying, high-skilled careers have gone unfilled.
CRYSTAL BUZZA Executive Director of Professional Technical Education Waterloo Schools
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They can be better at what they do by understanding how their job impacts other areas of the business. If I am a chef of a restaurant, Automotive and I’m updating my menu Business it’s not always as easy as find Computer Aided Drafting & ing the latest trend. I need to Design (CADD) understand how ingredient Construction choices and availability can Culinary impact the restaurant’s bottom Early Childhood Education line; how time- and labor-in Graphic Communications tensive are particular dishes; Manufacturing the caloric impact for my clien Mdia and Marketing tele and more. Project Lead The Way — Waterloo Schools offers stuEngineering dents 11 different career and technical education options. Valley have a variety of jobs that We want to expand options encompass career and technical within those areas and add education. One business is not new career pathways, allowing just made up of one exact set of students the opportunity to exjobs. Career and technical edu- plore new career areas. We firmly believe that all cation stresses the importance in each class to not only be en- students need something more gaging hands-on with projects, than just a high school education, but it doesn’t only have to but also makes sure students be a four-year degree. Career understand the importance of and technical education is understanding all aspects of proven to help students become industry. We want students to better prepared for life after know that their decisions impact more than just themselves. high school.
11 career pathways
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Partners honor West students of month West High School are Partners in Education relationships with Kaplan University, Kaplan University, The Other Place and John Deere Engine Works. Partners assisted in honoring students of the month, providing lunch, information, tours and incentives. Partners support activities such as blood drives, canned food drives, clothing drives, dance supervision and multiple fundraisers. Senior Sklyer Stocks, chosen as March student of the month, says she appreciates the recognition. “Students that were notified of their nomination for student of the month in March were really excited about the honor, and the April students that we delivered goodies to without prior notice were even more thrilled,” says counselor Marsha Watters.
Poyner Elementary
John Deere Foundry Operations
Highland Elementary
John Deere Tractor Cab Assembly Operations
Central Middle School
John Deere Product Engineering Center
Waterloo East High School
John Deere Drivetrain Operations
Waterloo West High School John Deere Engine Works
12 | Sunday, May 1, 2016
PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
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Hansen shares rich partnership tradition CEDAR FALLS – Hansen Elementary School has a rich tradition of excellent partnerships with the community. “We have been fortunate to have great Partners in Education over the years and their contributions to our school, staff, and mostly our students have been outstanding. We wholeheartedly thank our Partners in Education for their support and commitment to Hansen Elementary,” says Principal Tara Estep. Hansen shares long-term partnerships Sartori Hospital, First National Bank, 93.5 The Mix and Martin Brothers. Caribou Coffee became a partner in 2015. First National Bank donates practice checks to sixth-graders, to each them about money and
decimals in an interactive way. First-graders carol through hospital halls during the holidays, and fifth and sixth grade choir and band/orchestra students perform for staff. Each partner sponsors a Hansen family in need and provides gifts, food, and baskets of goodies for them. “Every year Hansen’s Partners in Education generously help provide holiday gifts for our families who might be struggling. Their generosity takes burden away from parents who are not able to provide holiday gifts for their children and thus allows the parents to fully enjoy the season,” says first-grade teacher Jennifer Anderson. Student artwork is displayed at both Sartori and First Na-
tional Bank, and all grade levels create tray favors for the hospital. With the help of the art teacher, students decorate a tree for the annual Sartori Festival of Trees. In conjunction with the counselor’s unit on careers, a career fair sponsored by First National Bank and 93.5 the Mix and is held at the school for sixth graders. Speakers represent various careers. In addition, sixth graders and their teachers are bussed to Sartori for a Career Fair in health care. Sixth-grade teacher Jared Pirkl is impressed. “Our sixth graders are exposed to additional adult role models that many other students of this age level don’t have the opportunity to experience,” he says.
Students learn about “career opportunities and choices firsthand from people in those particular fields. Many of our students have started developing beginning ideas on what they want to do in their future by having access to Sartori and other places within the community.” PIE supports both academics as well as helping to prepare our youth to be productive citizens while also providing opportunities for students to have fun. “Our second grade students love having the opportunity to tour the hospital and trick-ortreat at the same time. The staff there is so generous to put this on for our second graders. The hospital staff works really hard to make it a memorable experi-
ence, says Luke Wagner, a second-grade teacher. “More importantly, by having the opportunity to tour the hospital and see all of the doctors, nurses and staff, they show the students that hospitals don’t have to be scary places, they are there to help us and keep us safe.” On the last day of school assembly, First National Bank gives a good citizenship award, 93.5 The Mix gives a communication award, and Martin Bros has donated a gift certificate to a parent or parents who have made a deserving contribution to Hansen School. All partners donate to various Hansen activities, such as PTA Carnival, Science Fair and other special events.
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Partnerships are growing at CF Lincoln School CEDAR FALLS — Lincoln Elementary School is proud to have partnerships with First United Methodist Church, Oakridge Realtors, iTech and various departments from the city of Cedar Falls. The relationship with First United Methodist Church has grown in the past school year, including providing classroom volunteers and hosting an Angel Tree to support students and families in need. Last summer, the Bishop of the First United Methodist
Church challenged congregations to participate in “Change A Child’s Story.” Sixteen volunteers spend time reading with kindergarten, first- and second-grade students. They raised money so each student will have a book to take home, as well as additions made possible through donations and a matching grant. Oakridge Realtors support Parents and Lincoln School (PALS) annual Wacky Winterfest fundraiser, and iTech has provided
learning opportunities for staff to support use of technology with students. Several city of Cedar Falls’ departments support work with students. Police and Fire departments visit kindergarten and first-grade classes. The Cedar Falls Public Library supports second-grade classes, and thirdgrade students visit the Hearst Center. The Reclamation Department supports fourth-grade students.
North Cedar Partners donate supplies CEDAR FALLS — North Ce- Pump, Peters Construction, Partners donate school supdar Elementary School is part- Cedar Falls AMVETS and Dick plies and calendars throughout the year for students and staff. ners with four firms: Viking Robert Real Estate.
MAY 1, 2016 |
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Marcos Pizza earns Peet’s thank-yous CEDAR FALLS — Throughout the school year, Peet Junior High School receives donations from dozens of businesses at many different levels of support, says Principal Bill Boevers. Peet Junior High students are particularly thankful for support from Marcos Pizza during the annual March Madness fundraiser. At this year’s basketball-themed event, teams of one student and parent competed in a free throw contest. There was also a trivia contest for students,
there's No WroNG Way
to Celebrate.
teachers and parents, as well as a silent auction basket and raffle prizes. Marcos Pizza “really does a lot to make our fundraiser succeed,” Boevers says. Pizza was served at the event, and two lucky students won a free pizza for each month for a year from Marcos. The event raised $3,500 which will be used to purchase new AV equipment, specifically cameras and green screens, as well as athletic equipment and uniforms and science microscopes.
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PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
14 | Sunday, May 1, 2016
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Partners provide funds, support Southdale CEDAR FALLS — Southdale Elementary School has partnerships with Texas Roadhouse, the Olive Garden, The Other Place and Hy-Vee Collage Square Mall. “We appreciate all of the
wonderful support our Partners in Education give us for our students and staff alike,” says Principal Kim Cross. Hy-Vee provides items at reduced costs for special events, donated a gift certificate for
Proud sponsor of bright ideas.
outstanding citizen of the year, served full breakfast during American Education Week for the staff, district administrators and retired Cedar Falls Community Schools employees. HyVee also provides water and apples for October’s Healthy Kids Walk. “We love it that Hy-Vee supports us on such a wonderful state initiative,” says fifthgrade teacher and PIE coordinator Denise Aalderks. The Other Place on University provides items at reduced costs for special events, donates
a gift certificate and provides empty pizza boxes for school activities. The Olive Garden provides awards (free kids meal) for incentives from the office. During conferences they provided a meal to teachers during the dinner break. They also provided salad and bread sticks for teachers’ back-to-school lunch and donated salad dressing for Student Council to sell during March Conferences. Texas Roadhouse provides awards (free kids meal) for stu-
dents and awards for Teacher of the Month Awards (free adult meal). During conferences they treated the staff to a meal. All partners provide additional support through the donation of funds and merchandise to help with educational activities in the classroom and support Southdale Night, where a portion of the profits is donated to the parent group, IMPACT. Southdale students are grateful for the support offered from their Partners in Education.
Poyner attendance leaders COURTESY PHOTO
Poyner partners are supportive, encouraging Bertch is honored to partner with I.C./St. Joe’s in Gilbertville & Raymond
EVANSDALE – Lead teacher Jill Barta at Poyner Elementary School describes their Partners in Education as “supportive, encouraging and thoughtful.” Partners are Tyson Fresh Meats, Tyson Prepared Foods, Barnes and Noble Waterloo, First Security State Bank, Prince of Peace Church, Hy-Vee Cross-
roads, Service Roofing and Elk Run City Hall. Student Ambassadors helped create each month’s agenda and led all meetings, providing students the opportunity experience the components of a committee. “Leading our Partners in Ed meetings has helped us understand our community more,” says
fifth-grader Faith B. Partners participated in or provided for Thanksgiving food baskets, Adopt-a-Family. Iowa Assessment snacks, school supplies and May Day baskets. Barnes and Noble assisted the book fair, and Hy-Vee Crossroads donated pumpkins and hay bales for the Halloween Runway Show.
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PARTNERS IN EDUCATION
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Lou Henry students SOAR with partner support Lou Henry Elementary School’s Partners in Education have provided valuable support throughout the school year as students work to mirror the seven habits of leadership: Be proactive, begin with the end in mind, put first things first, think win-win, seek first to understand, then to be understood, synergize and sharpen the saw. Being a Leader in Me school means students are held accountable every day to SOAR (be safe, on task, act responsibly and be respectful). Lou Henry partners include: ADI, Cedar Valley Community Church, Cedar Valley Hospice, Central Christian Church, Den Herder Veterinary Hospital, Farmers State Bank, Oakridge Realtors and Short’s Travel Management. Throughout the school year,
partners are involved in many activities, including a school supply drive, pumpkin contest that supports the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, Warm Wishes and math night. Each month partners attend Little Hawk assemblies that are run by the students and recognize those who have shown good character and leadership. Leader of the Month luncheons are hosted by a different partner each month. Den Herder Veterinary Hospital has been a partner with Lou Henry for several years. Dr. Tom Taylor, DVM, said the student of the month luncheons are just as much fun for them as it is for the students. “I love seeing their faces when we bring one of our dogs to the school and talk with them about pets. Their favorite topics seem to be looking at unusual radio-
graphs and seeing bottles of all the odd bugs, worms, and other parasites pets can get,” said Dr. Taylor. “I like getting them grossed out right before lunch.” Student leaders also had the opportunity to visit partners to see what leadership looks like in the work place. This was a great way to show the students what partners do every day and why learning and practicing the seven leadership habits is so important. “It’s always a pleasure to hang out with these students and to see the fruits of the school’s dedication to the Leader in Me program,” said Dr. Taylor. In March, Lou Henry hosted their first-ever Leadership Day to show the community how hard they have worked this year. Partners, parents and community members were able to see
first-hand what Leader in Me is all about. Carly Pollock from Cedar Valley Hospice has enjoyed playing an active role at Lou Henry. “From the moment you walk through the doors at Lou Henry, it is obvious there is something
special happening there. The staff is so supportive of the students and really encourage them to be the best they can be,” said Pollock. “I’m always impressed by how polite, helpful and kind the students are when I am there.”
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The 7 Habits help you to be responsible and reliable. They also help you to have understanding and reasonableness. When I am an adult, I will have a job and I will need to understand my boss.Todothis,IcanuseHabit 5: Seek First To Understand, Then To Be Understood. — Ella
5th Grade Writer Leader, Southdale Elementary
Read leadership essays by Ella and other students at LeaderValley.org
DEVELOPING ESSENTIAL EMPLOYABILITY SKILLS
Based on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, The Leader in Me™ is giving Cedar Valley students tools to be more effective in the classroom today and the workplace tomorrow. Students like Ella are developing empathy, creativity, and problem solving skills. Strengthen the Cedar Valley and invest in your future employees by supporting The Leader in Me™.
Learn more at www.LeaderValley.org Leader in Me™ is a talent development initiative sponsored by Leader Valley, a division of the Greater Cedar Valley Alliance & Chamber.