Achieve Winter Edition

rofessionals One ser to Career Goals Area Banks Partner to Teach Financial Literacy Sneak Peek: Early Learning Center Design Taking Shape

Editor’s Note

Welcome to the eighth issue of the award-winning Achieve magazine! We are excited to share the story of our District’s amazing students, teachers, staff and our generous community with you. We would appreciate any feedback you have on this publication, or suggestions for a future story. Please email us at communications@cb-schools.org.

This publication would not be possible without the generous support of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and community donors. We extend our most sincere appreciation for their continued support of our mission.

Council Bluffs Board of Education The Council Bluffs Board of Education meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of September, October, November, January, February, March, April and May. Meetings are held one Tuesday per month in June, July, August and December.

Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. in the Educational Service Center, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, and they are aired live on Cox Channel 18 and the District’s YouTube channel, youtube.com/c/ CouncilBluffsCommunitySchoolDistrict.

Chris LaFerla Board President

Message from Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo We are pleased to present this Winter 2022 issue of our “Achieve” Magazine for our school district neighbors in Carter Lake, Council Bluffs and Crescent! We appreciate your investment in students and their education, and want to share our story with you.

Thanks to our Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and their support, we publish this news magazine to connect with you and to provide insight into school district initiatives that are making a positive impact on students and our community’s future.

Inside this Winter magazine, I hope you will be inspired by our students who are earning their second credential before graduation and who are on their way to a meaningful career in the medical field. I hope you enjoy the feature on our student banking partnerships and how they are helping students become leaders and savers. You will find plenty of photos of students in action, learn more about our plans to build an innovative Early Learning Center, and read about our students, staff members and alumni who make us proud.

Even though we have much left to accomplish this school year, we are already planning for next year. All parents with children who will be at least 5 by September 1, 2022, are invited to participate in the Kindergarten Roundup open house on March 24th at their elementary school. Please share this date with your friends, family members and neighbors with soon-to-be kindergarteners.

Thanks, in advance, for reading this magazine, and for your interest in our schools!

Sincerely,

Dr. Vickie Murillo, Superintendent 2

Winter 2022

Jill Shudak Board Vice President

Troy Arthur Board Member

David Coziahr Board Member

Lauren Myers Board Member

Patrick Peters Board Member

Jared Tripp Board Member

COVER PHOTO: Thomas Jefferson senior Erin Exley and Abraham Lincoln senior Abby Evers practice patient vitals during their CNA class as part of the Certificate Advancement Program.

ABOUT: Achieve Magazine is proudly published by the Council Bluffs Community School District, with generous funding from the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation and advertisers. A digital version of this publication can be accessed online at www.cb-schools.org.

The content of this publication can be accessed through Google translate online.

To request another copy of this publication, submit story suggestions, or place an advertisement, please call 712-328-6514 or email communications@cb-schools.org.

MISSION STATEMENT: The mission of the Council Bluffs Community School District is to guarantee that every student graduates with the knowledge, skills and character to become a responsible citizen and to succeed in a changing world by creating a leading-edge, inclusive educational system, which provides challenging expectations, diverse experiences, engaging curriculum and innovative teaching within a collaborative, caring community.

NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT: It is the policy of the Council Bluffs Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, (for employment), national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, (for programs), socioeconomic status (for programs), physical or mental disability, religion, creed, genetic information, ancestry, geographic location, citizenship, political party preference or belief, familial status or any other protected attribute, in its educational programs, activities or employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact the district’s Equity Coordinator, Tim Hamilton, 712328-6423, thamilton2@cb-schools.org, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, Council Bluffs, IA 51503.

COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT, 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600, Council Bluffs, IA 51503 Achieve Magazine | Issue 8 | Winter 2022

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

CAREER READY

Nursing Program Prepares Students for the Future

Careers in the medical field are in high demand throughout the country and in our community. The Council Bluffs Community School District is proud to provide a high-quality pathway that prepares interested high school students to earn their Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) credential, a requirement for admission to most postsecondary nursing degree programs. The program includes 30 hours of classroom learning, 15 hours of lab training and 30 hours of supervised clinical experience gained by providing direct care to patients in a health care facility during the school day.

In this program, students earn free Iowa Western Community College credit along with their high school credit. The rigorous training and experience in 30 skill areas also prepares students for the 100-question competency exam as well as the hands-on demonstration of CNA skills required as part of the exam.

During the first semester course this school year, every student who took the exam earned their State-Certified CNA credential by passing their state exam.

“I wasn’t taking this class to pass a test. I took this class in order to care for real humans who needed it,” Thomas Jefferson High School senior, Erin Exley, said. “When taking your state test, you need to do each step identical to the instructions. I believe I grew to be really good at these steps because I did them almost daily at Clinicals.”

“Before starting the program, I was worried about the tests, going to clinical, and seeing or helping with things that I was not ready for,” Abraham Lincoln High School senior Abby Evers, said. “Our instructor, Mrs. Parrot pushed us by giving us only a couple of days to get our book work done and by practicing every day on manikins.

She made sure that we were going to be successful, and that she did.”

The course is in its third year at Iowa Western where students are able to use the college’s medical lab, equipped by Council Bluffs Schools. WIth access to the lab, students are able to increase their confidence in skills such as taking vital signs, performing emergency procedures, and meeting patient care needs.

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

“I was nervous about the test,” Exley said. “Clinical was very helpful because we could see everything we were learning firsthand, and the pieces started coming together.”started coming together.”

Evers said she wants to help others feel good about themselves and to be comfortable — which means using proper skills and techniques.

“I feel like every student who took the CNA course would agree a complete bed bath was the most difficult,” Evers said. As the state exam approached, I made sure this was a skill we went over every day. Studying the order, practicing on a manikin, and checking with classmates was the way to get it down.”

In addition to the nursing program, Council Bluffs Schools students can also earn college credit and postsecondary credentials in the culinary arts and early childhood education.

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SAVING FOR THE FUTURE

Students Learn Financial Literacy, Leadership Skills

Through meaningful partnerships with area banks, Council Bluffs Community School District students in kindergarten are gaining valuable financial literacy and leadership skills … and learning how to save.

Banking Partners The first banking partnership in the metro area began in 2011 at Bloomer Elementary School, when U.S. Bank collaborated with the University of Nebraska’s Center for Economic Education to open the first bank in a school. This created a hands-on economics and financial literacy experience for students. It was clear from the start that students would enjoy the opportunity to bring their coins and bills to school each week to deposit into their savings accounts and earn prizes. The experience also develops meaningful life skills.

With the success of the school bank at Bloomer, principals at other schools were eager to form partnerships. In the winter of 2013, the second U.S. Bank school branch opened within Hoover Elementary School. The next fall, a new partnership was formed with a new partner, TS Bank, at Rue Elementary School. TS Bank had launched TS Institute® several years earlier to help families with personal finances.

Their partnership with the Council Bluffs Schools soon grew to include student branches at Franklin and College View Elementary Schools.

In 2015, TS Bank and the CB Schools were proud to launch the first K-12 student branch network in the state of Iowa, and only the second one in the nation. The school banks at Wilson Middle School and Thomas Jefferson High School have since transitioned to career exploration posts. Several employees have been hired from the career exploration, including two employees who are now TS Bank lead bankers.

“These banks are designed to introduce the economic concept of saving money at an early age,” TS Institute® Director of Financial Literacy Kyle Osborne said. “All three of these banks are supplemented with classroom lessons K-5 that highlight the concepts of saving, spending and sharing. These student banks and classroom lessons are designed to demonstrate why saving money should be part of a student’s future financial plan.”

According to Jennifer C McCord, Assistant Vice President with U.S. Bank Private Wealth Management, the bank matches the student’s first deposit of up to $5.00 to help them get started. They then provide incentives, such as piggy banks, coloring books and other fun items when students reach savings goals.

American National Bank has partnered with Council Bluffs Schools

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ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

since 2016 with the opening of the in-school branch within Carter Lake Elementary. In 2018, a second branch opened within Lewis & Clark Elementary.

“Banking in the school is such a fun opportunity for the students to learn basic life skills at an early age which will carry them through the rest of their lives,” Anne Snodgrass, American National Bank Branch Manager, School Bank Coordinator, said.

“We here at American National Bank look forward each week to being in the schools and working with the students.”

Snodgrass shared that about two-thirds of the students at both Carter Lake and Lewis & Clark participate in the savings program.

At Carter Lake, the average saving’s balance among participants is $52.15. She said one past ‘Savvy Saver’ left elementary school with a payout of $1,265 from their school bank savings account.

Fifth Grade Tellers At the end of each year, all 4th-grade students have the opportunity to apply to be among the small number of student tellers for the following year. Bank representatives then interview, select and train the students for their leadership roles. Through the experience and with coaching from representatives of the banks, the students practice customer service, and have the opportunity to demonstrate their self-motivation, organization,and accountability, all skills that translate into even more success in the classroom.

They set up the teller station each week under the supervision of bank representatives, visit with students, collect the deposit, fill out a deposit slip for each transaction, enter the deposit into the student’s savings log, and calculate the new balance.

“Student banking develops and enhances financial literacy skills, time management, responsibility, collaboration, people skills, and leadership skills,” Elementary Enrichment Strategist/Talented and Gifted Teacher

Heather Meierstein said.

All of the student banks are open once per week during the school year for savings deposits by students who have.parent permission to participate. Upon completion of their fifth grade year, or if they transfer out of the school, the students who have saved money over the years will receive a check in the amount of their savings, which they can then deposit into an account at the bank of their choice. Each of the banking partners has also taken the savings lessons to the classroom, including discussion of the differences between needs and wants.

ROUND ‘EM UP: Reaching Out to the Class of 2035!

We are excited to meet all of our new students who will be in the Council Bluffs Class of 2035!

All parents or guardians of children who will be at least 5 years old by September 15, 2022, are invited to enroll their child in Kindergarten for the 2022-23 school year.

Kindergarten Roundup Open House Thursday, March 24th 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.

All 11 elementary schools will host an open house to welcome our future kindergartners and their parents to the school for a tour, to meet the teachers and principal and to complete registration paperwork.

In advance of the open house event, parents are ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

invited to register their child, using the QR code to the right using a smartphone or similar device.

Here’s a helpful hint: Consider following the school’s social media so you can learn more about the school and start getting involved.

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SNEAK PEEK

Early Learning Center: Plans, Partnerships, Progress

The Council Bluffs Community School District is taking strategic steps to make the dream of an Early Learning Center a reality. The June announcement by Iowa Governor Reynolds of a $7 million investment in a Childcare and Early Learning Exploratory Project in the Council Bluffs Schools launched a 24-month project to bring the vision to life through thoughtful curriculum planning, center design and partner outreach.

The center will serve nearly 200 children annually, with three classrooms designated for infants and toddlers, to meet a growing need for high-quality childcare in the community.

An active fundraising outreach effort, through a partnership with Southwest Iowa Nonprofit for Collective Impact (SINC) and the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, was launched to secure the funds needed for the $20 million center. An anonymous lead gift of $4 million sparked other private donations, including the Iowa West Foundation, Dr. Behrouz and Christiane Rassekh, American National Bank, other foundations, businesses and individuals. The district will also utilize $5 million of the state grant, $5 million from the school district’s Secure an Advanced Vision for Education and Physical Plant and Equipment Levy revenue.

The total amount raised toward the project construction and furnishing is $16,380,000, according to Chris LaFerla, Executive Director of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation. Additional fundraising will create an endowment to sustain the center to prepare children under age five for success for many decades to come.

According the Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo, the Council Bluffs Schools is eager to partner with the Iowa Department of Education and the consultant from the Juniper Garden Children’s Project at the University of Kansas to serve as a model to demonstrate the impact and scalability of a public school district early learning center that serves infants, toddlers and preschoolers.

“We are excited to fulfill a need in our community while also developing best practices in school-based childcare,” Dr. Murillo said. “We look forward to seeing how this will ultimately allow other Iowa school districts to successfully serve young learners in their communities as well.”

The building design and construction documents are being finalized and will be released for construction company bids.

By May of 2022, construction will begin on a now vacant corner in the heart of Council Bluffs at Avenue G and 8th Street, and students will be welcomed into the center in August of 2023.

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ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

LASTING LEGACY

Thomas Jefferson Inducts Five Alumni to Hall of Fame

Thomas Jefferson High School welcomed the latest inductees to the Jacket Hall of Fame in a ceremony held last November.

Martin Brooks Class of 1977 Martin Brooks is a lifelong resident of Council Bluffs. While at TJ, he was a three-year member of the National Honor Society and co-editor-in-chief of the school newspaper.

He also participated in baseball, basketball and tennis, and graduated in the top 10% of his class.

While at UNO, Brooks worked for United Press International, covering the Baseball College World Series.

Brooks began his career in banking in Council Bluffs in 1978. He worked extensively in community bank management, overseeing multiple branches in Council Bluffs, southwest Iowa and the Omaha region. Brooks retired this past spring from his full-time job as first vice president at American National Bank.

Brooks is a founding member of the COBRA Optimist Club, a local service organization dedicated to serving youth sports, and still remains an active community volunteer.

Holly Wagner Howe Class of 1995 Holly Wagner Howe is a third generation graduate of TJ, where she was on the dance team, the school newspaper and National Honor Society.

She found her love for the news in Ms. Deb Goodman’s journalism class. After graduating in 1995, she went to UNO to learn broadcasting landed an internship at WOWT Channel 6. She later became a producer for WOWT and a reporter for 10/11 News in Lincoln. She went on to southwest Florida in hurricane season. “Yes I was one of those ridiculous looking reporters standing out in torrential rain and wind”, she said. She won a Southwest Regional Emmy while there.

Wagner Howe moved to Minneapolis and worked as a reporter for WCCO, where she had the opportunity to do a few live reports for “CBS This Morning. “ She is now a freelance reporter and substitute teacher at her children’s elementary school.

Brandon McDaniel Class of 2002 Brandon McDaniel was a member of the TJ football, track, Ironman and baseball teams, as well as basketball for his first two years, the marching and jazz bands, and the newspaper.

After graduating, he attended the

Five new members of the 2021 Thomas Jefferson High School Hall of Fame — Bob Wahl (‘74), Michael Patten (‘90), Brandon McDaniel (‘02), Holly Wagner Howe (‘95) and Marty Brooks (‘77) — were inducted in November.

University of South Dakota for two years and later transfered to Wayne State College.

McDaniel’s love for baseball did not stop after college. He did an internship with the Pittsburgh Pirates and worked as a coach in the minor leagues before becoming strength and conditioning coach for the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was promoted to director of athletic development and performance science in 2018 and to director of player performance in 2020, and recently to the vice president of player performance.

McDaniel has been a part of nine Dodger playoff teams, including the 2020 World Series Champion team, and trained multiple MVP, Cy Young and future Hall of Famers.

Michael Patten Class of 1990 Michael Patten was born and raised in Council Bluffs. He played multiple sports at TJ: one year of football, three years of cross country, and four years of basketball and track. He was involved in many other activities including band, jazz band, chamber choir, Jefferson Edition, orchestra, Kid Chem, theater and National Honor Society —lettered many times and graduating third in his class.

Michael majored in chemical engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, and has worked for The Dow Chemical Company for 27 years in several

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

locations and many different units. One of his projects was building the most complex solution polyethylene production unit in the world.

Over the course of his career at Dow, he has managed hundreds of projects worth and has had accountability exceeding $5 billion in value in projects.

Bob Wahl Class of 1974 Bob Wahl played football all three years at TJ. Upon graduating, he went to work for the Chicago-Northwestern Railroad.

His father suggested that he enter the family business, and he has been sole owner of Wahl Optical since 1990.

Wahl’s main passion has been and still is softball. He’s sponsored men’s women’s and coed teams for the last four decades, and he played for both the men’s and coed teams.

His teams have won more than 2,800 games and 45 state championships in Iowa and Nebraska, as well as a second-place finish in a world tournament for one of his women’s teams.

No other sponsor in either state has had as many state championships as Wahl Optical.

He attributes his success in business and athletics to his competitive personality. He was inducted into the Omaha Softball Hall of Fame twice — as a coach and a player.

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM

Jackets, Lynx Show Off in Winter Athletics, Activities

Featured TJ students, from top left: Drake Miller • TJ Dance • Landon Smith • Alysa Arthur • Timothy Wilkenson • Nehirin Lemus • Lexi Smith • Faith Christensen • Katie Anderson

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ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

Featured AL students, from top left: JROTC Drill Team • Megan Elam • James Oliver • Alexis Tichota • AL Choir • Caden McDowell • Hanna Merit • Bella Pilger • Tyler Costello • AL Dance Team

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

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ALUMNI SPOTLIGHT

Meet 1955 Graduate Arlene Lytle-Richards

Meet Arlene Lytle-Richards!

Arlene graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1955. During her high school years, Arlene took singing lessons from Mrs. Suzan Menz, a former Metropolitan Opera singer. While receiving her singing lessons, Arlene would often help Mrs. Menz’s younger daughter with her homework.

“Mrs. Menz said that I would make a wonderful teacher,” commented Arlene fondly, “I never forgot her encouragement.”

Arlene continues to use music in her creative process, always remembering Mrs. Menz’s fond words.

After graduation, Arlene moved to Los Angeles to live with her older sister. Arlene attended Los Angeles City College and then Los Angeles State College where she received a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

She later earned her master’s degree from California Lutheran University.

Arlene taught in the Los Angeles Unified Schools district for 50 years in education.

During those five decades, she held a variety of positions — classroom teacher, teacher librarian, Title I coordinator — and taught an original program she created to help kids learn basic English skills.

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which she called a “wonderful experience” as she reflected on her career.

“I never knew there were so many kids who were sick and could not attend school,” she said. “Most of my kids had cancer. I have fond memories of their courage and perseverance.

I gained a lot of knowledge from working with those wonderful kids.”

Arlene has also developed numerous educational materials to help aid students in their learning. She has developed a multiplication app called “1 2 3 Gotcha!” to help students memorize multiplication facts.

Her multiplication app now comes preloaded onto the Tanoshi Computer for Kids.

Arlene is currently in the process of developing a phonetic typing app and aims to help younger students write short stories. This technology could potentially help students begin writing earlier and more effectively. Arlene is also currently writing a set of holiday short stories for kids.

Arlene spent her last ten years teaching as a home teacher for the Los Angeles Unified Schools district. She also taught kids who were sick and unable to attend in-person school,

Do you know a Council Bluffs Community School District graduate with a compelling personal story? Let the Council Bluffs Alumni & Friends Network know. Email Bridgette Watson at bwatson@cbsf.org.

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

ONBOARD

Meet the New Council Bluffs School Board Members

Lauren Myers is a third generation Council Bluffs resident and Abraham Lincoln High School alumna. She has a bachelor’s degree in philosophy and a master’s degree in integrative health and wellness as well as a lifestyles medicine certificate from Creighton University.

Ms. Myers works full-time as a victim advocate. She is an member of Impact CB and volunteers as a MICAH House BUDDY. As a student, she was a member of The Echoes, DECA, IncluCity, National Honor Society, Talented and Gifted, and Tucker Center Public Speaking. She was a part of the first graduating class of the College Access Program and Google Android Academy. She founded “Project Beautiful” and created a promotional video on “Fostering Community Pride in CB Residents of All Ages”.

Patrick Peters graduated from Abraham Lincoln High School in 2009, and he received a bachelor’s degree in music from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2013.

Peters pivoted from music education to a technology career. He is a software developer at Gallup and is finishing a master’s degree in cybersecurity at UNO. Peters has continued his passion of music and tech education through teaching and mentoring as an artist instructor at the 402 Arts Collective in Omaha, where he has taught private music lessons and has led technology summer camps for eight years.

Peters firmly believes that the strength of our community is directly tied with public education. He encourages students to step outside of their comfort zones and take advantage of the many opportunities offered.

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

Jared Tripp grew up in Treynor, graduating from Treynor High School. He attended Iowa Western, where he completed an associates degree. He went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology through Buena Vista University and a master’s in management from Bellevue University. He also holds an Associate in Claims (AIC) and Senior Claims Law Associate (SCLA) designation.

He is employed by Berkley Risk as a senior claims specialist. His role has provided a great amount of insight into risk management for schools as well as liability and the law.

Tripp is a volunteer with the Council Bluffs Noon Rotary Club, 712 Initiative, Girl Scouts of Greater Iowa, Boy Scouts of America, YMCA sports, Council Bluffs Soccer Club, Council Bluffs Chamber of Commerce, Impact CB and the Council Bluffs Library Board of Trustees.

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COMMUNITY SERVICE

T.J. Dance Team Recognized for Volunteer Efforts

The Iowa State Dance and Drill Team Association selected our Council Bluffs Thomas Jefferson Jacket Dance Team as one of only three teams out of 200 teams in the state for the Outstanding Community Service Award, presented at the Iowa State Dance Team Championships in December.

Coach Michaela Patterson said that dance team members are required to organize a community service event for the team.

These events included a Veterans Day recognition for school staff members who have served in the military; picking up trash on school grounds at community events; hosting food, toiletry and diaper drives; coordinating games at the Franklin Elementary School carnival; hosting a Trunk or Treat event with candy and games for children in the T.J. parking lot; and coordinating a free Back to School mask giveaway event. The team raised more than $500 for the Alzheimer’s Association by selling T-shirts at a basketball game and also cheered on the participants in the area’s Walk to End Alzheimers.

Jazlynn Sanders, one of the senior leaders of Jacket Dance, shared her excitement about the award and what it means for the team.

“It was very exciting for all of us to hear our name get called out to accept this award at the Iowa State Dance Competition,” Sanders said. “It was a good memory for us for sure.”

Community service is an important part of the Jacket Dance experience.

“Jacket Dance is so much more than just a dance team,” Sanders said. “We are a representation of ourselves, our school, our

community, and our state. We value giving back to our community and helping those in need. We care about making this community and surrounding communities better places.

We know that one small action can make the biggest difference.”

Sanders added that it makes her proud to know all of the good the team does for others.

“Volunteering has sort of just become part of the norm for us, and we actually enjoy it very much,” Sanders said. “We always make whatever we are doing a blast and just have

fun with it. There is nothing better than that warm feeling we get inside by knowing that we are doing something good for others.”

Coach Patterson said the award is special because it reflects upon the team’s efforts as a whole, not just on dancing.

“We are ambassadors for our community, role models to our peers, and as coaches our focus is making sure our dancers are great people and these kids definitely are! We are so proud of them for all of their hard work on and off the dance floor,” Patterson said.

STAFF SPOTLIGHT: A.L.’s Matuszeski Earns Award If you watched the 2022 Tournament of Roses Parade on January 1, you saw a familiar Council Bluffs face playing the trumpet! Abraham Lincoln High School Director of Bands Taylor Matuszeski joined four Iowa band directors and 265 others from throughout the country in the “Saluting America’s Band Directors Band” entry.

The band provided the live marching soundtrack to the float with the motto “We teach music. We teach life.” Sponsored by the Michael D. Sewell Foundation, the entry was designed to recognize the outstanding work of music educators, and to honor them for the profound impact they have on their students.

“Being able to represent band directors across the country on a national stage was extremely humbling,” Matuszeski said. “Very

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few directors get the opportunity to bring their high school bands to the Rose Parade because of it’s very difficult qualifications.

To be able to personally march and play in honor of so many others that dedicate their careers to teaching life through music was an unexpected dream come true.”

Matuszeski also was honored during the annual high school honor band festival on January 17 with the Southwest Iowa Bandmasters Association awarded him its Young Band Director Award! This award recognizes directors in their first 10 years of teaching “for demonstrating by example the basic principles and characteristics of an outstanding music educator and a promise for sustaining contributions to the field of music education.”

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

STUDENT STARS

Recognizing Students Who Go Above and Beyond

Thanks to the sponsorship of the Council Bluffs Schools Foundation, outstanding students receive Student Star Awards, and are recognized

by Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo and the Board of Education.

One of our 2021 graduates, Molly Higgins, earned the designation of AP Scholar with Distinction last year, but built on it with scores of 4 or better on 7 total exams. She is attending the University of Iowa.

All-State Music

State Swimming

Accomplished student musicians represented the Council Bluffs Schools at the 75th annual All-State Musical Festival.

Five outstanding student athletes represented our Council Bluffs Girls Swim Team at the Iowa State Swim Tournament in November.

Claire Crilly (Underwood) 2020 400 Freestyle Relay and 2021 Medley Relay

Kayley Coffey (9th grade), Cooper Haddix (9th grade), George Garst (8th grade) All-State Orchestra members included:

Hailey Carlson (12th grade), Alvaro Peraza (12th grade), Megan Wilson (12th grade)

Lillian Lefeber (Woodbine) 2021 Medley Relay

All-State Chorus members included: Gwyneth Sudario (10th grade)

Aurora Miller (Harlan) 2020 400 Freestyle Relay, 2021 Medley Relay and 25th place in the Individual 100 Breaststroke Jocelyn Miller (Council Bluffs Abraham 2020 400 Freestyle Relay and 2021 Medley Relay

Iowa Junior Honors Orchestra members included:

Lincoln)

Elaina Vrchoticky (Harlan) 2020 400 Freestyle Relay, 2021 Medley Relay and 24th in the Individual 100 Freestyle

AP Scholars

Six students achieved the designation of AP Scholar, receiving scores of 3 out of 5 or higher on 3 AP Exams.

Benjamin Banta, Tyler Powers, Grace Schoening Meredith Struebing, Abigail Franks, Eleana Lemus Three students earned the designation of AP Scholar with Honors, receiving scores of 3 out of 5 or higher on at least 4 AP Exams.

Thomas Jefferson High School senior Wynter Jade Churchill earned a prestigious spot at the Jobs of America’s Graduates’ National Student Leadership Academy.

Wynter participated in the National Student Leadership Academy in Washington, D.C., November 30 through December 2, 2021. The program is designed to build individual and team leadership skills. The agenda for the academy included learning about responsibility and professionalism, mastering meetings, positive impressions, navigating change, building an environment of trust, acting with integrity, building success, work-life balance, taking responsibility for actions, time and workload management, and setting personal goals.

Wynter is the 11th/12th grade president of the Iowa chapter of Jobs of American (iJAG) and also represented Council Bluffs at the iJAG Celebration in Des Moines. T.J.’s iJAG group is the state chapter of the national Jobs for America’s Graduates, which is a nonprofit organization connecting business and education to provide the most cost-effective dropout prevention and school to career solutions.

Jocelyn Miller, Jennifer Rangel Mendoza, Mia Richardson ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

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GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Recognizing Educators, Staff Who Live the Mission

September: Brenda Peatrowsky, Longfellow Elementary Mentor/Coach

September: Denver Holeton, Hoover Elementary Paraeducator

October: Caleb Skou, Thomas Jefferson High School ELA Teacher

October: Larry Sward and Joy Chambers, Carter Lake Elementary Custodians

November: Louis Elbert, Hoover Elementary Special Education Teacher

November: Hailey Hiers, Longfellow Elementary Paraeducator (second from left) shown with Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo (left), Longfellow Principal Brittany Hettrick (second from right) and Board of Education President Chris LaFerla (right)

TECH COMMUNITY: BLink Nets Statewide Award

Council Bluffs has been recognized as the Technology Community of the Year. The 2021 Prometheus Awards acknowledged individuals, companies and communities that impact Iowa’s technology industry.

“We are honored to receive this prestigious award,” said Council Bluffs Mayor Matt Walsh. “The BLink Wi-Fi project continues to demonstrate the effectiveness and value of public/private partnerships.

Thanks to the relationships with Google, Council Bluffs Community School District and Iowa West Foundation, BLink is possible.”

BLink is a free Wi-Fi network that will reach more than 20 square miles at project completion, covering more than 40,000 people In the spring of 2014, the Council Bluffs Schools approved a strategic plan that extended its Wi-Fi network for students into the community. The city and school district formed a 28-E organization to develop free network, and BLink launched in 2015.

“Our school district is fortunate to be part of an innovative, cando community that collaborates to meet community needs,” said 14

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Displaying the Prometheus Award are members of the BLink team, from left, John Stile of the Council Bluffs Schools, Mark Howard of the City of Council Bluffs, David Fringer of Green Hills AEA and Jon McGreevy of the Council Bluffs Schools.

Superintendent Dr. Vickie Murillo. “When the pandemic hit, this group answered the call to rapidly expand the network to more areas of our school community to help ensure connectivity for students.”

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

FUN FACTS Starting in the 2022-23 school year, Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union will begin offering girls wrestling as its 11th officially sanctioned sport.

There is a new Diploma +1 credential for students in Air Force Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps. Beginning with this year’s seniors, cadets can earn a Leadership and Employability Skills certification from the AFJROTC Headquarters.

The Council Bluffs Community School District Virtual Academy, an official Iowa-approved online school, is now open for enrollment for the 2022-23 school year.

IMPORTANT DATES

Please check the official calendar at cb-schools.org

Spring Break: April 15-18, 2022 Abraham Lincoln Graduation: May 20, 2022 at 7 p.m. at Mid-America Center Thomas Jefferson Graduation: May 21, 2022 at 10 a.m. at Mid-America Center Last Day of School: May 27, 2022

PRIORITIES FOR 2022 IOWA LEGISLATIVE SESSION

The Board of Education approves Legislative Priorities related to education. These areas of focus for the 2022 session were shared with Iowa House and Senate legislators who represent our school district and community.

Timely, Equitable and Adequate School Funding: Establish timely and adequate School Supplemental Assistance. Ensure that all schools receive the same base SSA support. Develop methods to provide additional support for children from poverty.

Mental Health Services for Students: As a proactive step to promote school safety and student success, provide increased access to mental health services for students, and clarify funding sources and responsibilities, which must necessarily include critical partners

and provision of wraparound services. Fund mental health student supports through the school foundation formula (student weighting, shared obligation across districts or AEAs provisions) and/or early childhood, human services and juvenile justice appropriations. Allow Medicaid and private insurance to cover telehealth counseling provided virtually to students while at school.

Student Opportunity Equity: Resources necessary to close achievement gaps Full Funding-Universal Statewide Voluntary Preschool: Increase the weighted funding from .5 to 1.0 to provide more preschool opportunities and cover the actual costs of providing full-day preschool services to four-year-olds.

District Authority and Control: One

ACHIEVE: The Magazine of the Council Bluffs Community School District

size does not fit all. Strengthen local Board of Education’s decision-making authority/ home rule authority regarding methods to accomplish desired educational outcomes.

Remove overly restrictive or inefficient limitations which inhibit innovation, efficiency and the ability of school boards to meet local needs.

Winter 2022

15

COUNCIL BLUFFS COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 300 W. Broadway, Suite 1600 Council Bluffs, IA 51503

NON-PROFIT Non-Profit ORG. Organization U.S. POSTAGE US Postage PAID PAID PERMITBluffs, NO. 262 Council IA OMAHA, 51503 NE Permit No. 561

Council Bluffs Community School District challenges learners at every level to achieve more by delivering more choices, more opportunities and more ways to succeed.

www.cb-schools.org Download the district’s free mobile app available for Apple and Android devices

712-328-6446

communications@cb-schools.org

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