Jaguar Journal

Hello Jaguar Families!

Next week we celebrate our teachers and nurse! May 6-10 is Teacher Appreciation Week, and, Wednesday, May 8, is School Nurse Appreciation Day. Please take a few moments to send an email or note of appreciation to someone in the education field who has made a difference in your life. The two minutes it takes to send a heart-felt message of gratitude will make their day!

As someone who gets a behind-the-scenes view of the passion and commitment of our Centennial staff everyday, I could not be more thankful to serve in the roles of principal and parent in this building. I’m surrounded by people who are smarter than me, and they inspire me at every turn given their student-centered hearts.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jill Urich

Principal

Student School Board Rep Application Process Now Open!

Ankeny Community School District is pleased to offer 10th through 12th grade students the opportunity to serve as representatives for their respective schools on the school board! These students have the opportunity to attend open school board meetings as non-voting members throughout the year and provide student voice in matters related to the district’s educational plan, per policy 202.5. This opportunity was originated by a team of Orbis Innovators who partnered with school board members to create this leadership opportunity. Centennial High School is proud of and thankful for the leadership of our Jaguar student school board representatives since this service opportunity began three years ago:

• Charlotte Brink, 2021-22

• Taylor Bennett, 2022-23

• Kalyani Bhat, 2023-24

All current 9th, 10th, and 11th grade students and families were sent this information via email on April 29, 2024, explaining the application process. Apply now if you are interested; the window is open from April 29 - May 13.

Senior Breakfasts

• Ashland Ridge - Monday, May 6th 9:30-10:30am in the Media Center (Students only due to limited space)

• Northeast - Monday, May 6th 8:30am in the Media Center (Students & Parents)

• Northwest - Monday, May 6th 7:30 - 8:30am

• Rock Creek - Monday, May 6th 8:00-8:45 am (Students & Parents)

• Terrace - Monday, May 6th 7:30 - 8:30 am

• Westwood - Monday, May 6th 8:00-8:45am (Students & Parents)

Senior Calendar

Career Exploration Opportunities - make sure to visit this website for job shadows, career related events, and panels as well as job opportunities. Check back often as this website is updated with opportunities as we receive them. Event information and registration links are on the website.

Senior Spotlight Night will take place Tuesday, May 21st, at 7:00 p.m., at the Ankeny Centennial High School gymnasium. The following awards will be recognized along with any Scholarships seniors self-reported which were due April 26th.

1. Principal's Scholar Award

2. Principal’s Rigor Award

3. Principal’s Academic Excellence

4. Silver Cord

5. Ankeny Dollars for Scholars

6. Department Awards

Any seniors who missed this deadline to self report please stop by the counseling office. Seniors who are invited will be receiving a letter in the mail which will be sent out May 10th.

Final Transcript Requests for Seniors

• All final high school transcripts are sent through Naviance

• In Naviance select “Colleges” at the top, then select “Colleges I’m Applying To.” On the next page select “Request Transcript” in the upper right hand corner and make sure you select “Final Transcript.”

• DMACC Transcripts must be requested with DMACC. Paper forms were distributed in Advisory on April 15th. It is important that students are able to login to their MyDMACC account so they can access an unofficial copy of their transcript for post-secondary orientations. If a student doesn’t know their DMACC username or password it can be recovered by calling the DMACC tech line at (515) 965-7300

Juniors → Seniors! Be on the lookout for your Senior Letter

• This summer, students in the graduating class of 2025 will receive a Senior Credit Letter in the mail. The letter will identify the courses and the number of credits your senior student will need to meet graduation requirements. As a reminder, students need to meet graduation requirements as well as be enrolled as a full time student. Full time students are enrolled in 6 credits plus a PE each semester. We are excited to help your student have a successful senior year!

PSAT Registration

• Parents/Guardians of students who will be sophomores and juniors during the 24-25 school year, this information is for you. Please be on the lookout for a letter this summer detailing information regarding the October 2024 PSAT test. Registration will take place this summer with a late registration deadline in August. As a reminder, the PSAT is not a required test for students. Junior scores are used to identify National Merit Scholarship Semi-Finalists.

2024 Seniors: Your official Iowa Department of Public Health Certificate of Immunization will be distributed with your diploma. This is a very important document that may be required in the future for college enrollment or employment purposes, and should be permanently maintained.

I recommend making several copies of this document and storing them in a safe place.

There will be no record of immunizations kept at Centennial High School.

2025 Seniors: Students who are 16 years old are eligible to receive the Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine. Students typically receive the first dose of this vaccine upon entering 7th grade. The second dose is required after turning 16 and is an Iowa Immunization requirement for students entering 12th grade (Meningitis B does not fulfill this requirement). Your student will not need a second dose of the vaccine if the first dose was administered after they were sixteen. Please talk to your student's health care provider and prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Contact our school nurse, Krystal Stanford, at krystal.stanford@ankenyschools.org with any questions.

If you received notification within the coming weeks, I do not have an updated record of this immunization.

End of Year Medication Pick-Up: In preparation for the closing of the school year, arrangements need to be made for the safe return of any medications that were sent to school for your student. A parent/guardian needs to pick up the medication(s) between the hours of 8am-3:30pm. Please notify the school nurse if you would like the medication(s) sent home with your student on their last day of school. Per board policy 504.32, all medications not picked up by the last day of school (May 24) will be disposed of in accordance with disposal procedures.

If your student will need medication(s) next school year, visit our website and complete the Request for Giving Medication at School form. Please return the completed form along with any necessary medications in their original labeled container in August.

It was a pleasure caring for your children this year and I look forward to seeing them again in the fall. Best wishes for our graduating seniors! Have a great summer!

Asthma/Severe Allergies: In preparation for next school year, if your student has asthma, we request that their healthcare provider complete an asthma action plan and an asthma medication consent form (if they have an inhaler). Please indicate on the consent form if your student will carry and self-administer their inhaler at school. If your student has a severe allergy and/or may require the use of an EpiPen, please have their healthcare provider complete the food allergy and anaphylaxis care plan. These documents can be emailed to the school nurse at Krystal.stanford@ankenyschools.org .

Library Materials

May means thinking about the end of the year. Student textbooks, library books and other materials will need to be returned to the library. An exception to this is the student Chromebook. This stays with the student over the summer. We also have some AP students with summer reading who are exempt from this.

Open Mic’ Night - We had our last show for the year that included performers from both AHS and CHS along with three staff members. We try to host these 4 times a year. All high school students are welcome and admission is free! See you next year!

Student Council applications are due on April 24th. Click here for more info on Student Council!

Summer Sports Camp Registrations are open! Click HERE to see all of our offerings and get your kids registered today!

On Wednesday, May 15th at 6:30pm in the ACHS Gym, we will be hosting our annual Senior Student-Athlete College Signing and Awards Night! If you are continuing on to play or compete at the collegiate level, please RSVP with the AD Office. Families are invited to attend as well.

Spring sports seasons are starting their final leg of their seasons over the next few weeks. Watch Twitter and Facebook for postseason assignments and brackets. www.cimlcentral.org as well.

Baseball and Softball seasons kick off their official start of practices Monday, April 29th. First games will start in mid May.

Registration for Fall 2024 Online DMACC classes is open. Students who are interested in registering for a class should log into their graduating class canvas page and follow the steps in the DMACC Online Career Academy module. The deadline to sign up for an online class is May 24th at 3:45.

The Student Council Induction Ceremony is May 15 at 6:00 in the auditorium.

The 2023-24 CHS yearbook is now available to order. You may order your copy by clicking this link.

Commencement Ceremony June 2nd at Wells Fargo at 3:00 12.00 parking or may ride the bus that will be provided.

• The 2023-24 CHS yearbook is now available to order. You may order your copy by clicking this link.
• Silver Cord info can be found by clicking here.

• Seminar Career Connections - Are you uncertain about your postsecondary plans? Attend Seminar Career Connections to learn about different career pathways! Click the link to sign up for 1 or MORE events!
  

  • Who: Any ACHS Student
  • What: Seminar Career Connection Pathway Panels. Professionals from each career pathway will share their knowledge & Expertise.
  • When: Seminar 1:37 - 2:06 PM
  • Where: High School Career Center

  
  

• Student Fines, Fees, and Meal Balances - Parents and students, please be sure to have all fines and fees paid by the end of the school year. Reach out to Leeanna Vigor at leeanna.vigor@ankenyschools.org with any questions

  
  

Club Calendar

Monday

• Unity Club - after school in room 1107
• Tabletop Club - after school in room 2407

Tuesday

• Service Club - after school in the Media Center
• Robotics - 4pm at Northview Middle School - Door S15

Wednesday

• PRISM - after school in room 2409
• Five Nights at Freddy's - after school in the Media Center; contact Holden Smith to be added to GroupMe communications

Thursday

• Robotics - 4pm at Northview Middle School - Door S15
• Content Warning - 4pm in room 1107

Friday

• Garden Club/Green Club - 8am every Friday at the garden
• Bible Study hosted by FCA - 7:45am every Friday in the auditorium
• Books & Bagels Book Club - Last Friday over every month, before school, in the media center

Unity Club meets every Monday after school in room 1107. The purpose of the club is to learn about different cultures in order to create an inclusive school environment. Everyone is welcome to attend. See Mrs. Lofgren or Mx. Bode with questions.

Ankeny Centennial Service Club meets every Tuesday from 3:45-5:00 in the Media Center. Our club is student-led and is looking for more ideas. Our goal is to help our school and community through various service projects. Please feel free to join anytime!

Tabletop Club meets every Monday after school in room 2407. No experience needed, come in and have a good time with us!

PRISM meets Wednesdays after school in room 2409. Contact Mr. Aldape for questions or more information.

Content Warning: Are you someone who loves art, poetry, or storytelling? Content Warning is an art and literary club with a warm, welcoming environment that meets every Thursday after school from 4-4:45 in room 1107. If you cannot make it to the meetings, feel free to submit your work by emailing Mx. Bode at erin.bode@ankenyschools.org.

Garden Club/Green Club meets at 8:00 am every Friday at the garden. Join the Remind by texting @3bg94 to the number 81010. Contact Mr. Fickbohm with questions.

Friday morning Bible Study hosted by FCA - Come join us as we take a look into the book of John. All are welcome. Each Friday we will dive into one chapter. Bring your own Bible or borrow one of ours, Bibles are always provided. The Bible study is in the auditorium and starts at 7:45am before school on Friday

Rick Van Roekel was recognized and awarded as the “Volunteer of the Year”. A number of show choir volunteer parents showed up to recognize him. What a celebratory moment! :)

Cody Cameron was recognized and awarded the "Support Staff of the Year" and Caroline Edgeton was recognized and awarded the our "Educator of the Year".

A student from Ankeny Centennial High School, Addison Tullis, engaged with the Iowa Communications Network (ICN) leadership team, talked with subject matter experts regarding cybersecurity and coding, and explored the Iowa State Capitol on April 9. The student participant is part of the 2023-2024 Statewide Youth Broadband Advisory Council (SYBAC) sponsored by the ICN.

See the attached press release for additional information and photos from the visit.

Visit the Iowa Communications Network's website for more information.

https://icn.iowa.gov/news/2024-04-12/high-school-students-visit-icn

https://icn.iowa.gov/outreach/sybac

Thank you,

Lori Larsen

Ankeny Centennial High School held their induction ceremonies for the National French and Spanish Honor Societies in April. These chapters have been active since 2017. The French and Spanish Honor Societies are national organizations that promote interest in the language and culture and recognize students’ outstanding effort and dedication to the study of the language during high school. French and Spanish Honor Society students must maintain an average GPA of A- or higher for three consecutive semesters in the language and an overall minimum GPA of 3.2. Students organize and lead club activities, volunteer their time to tutor others, and participate in various service projects at school and within the community. Students also demonstrate good character and leadership skills throughout the year. We would like to recognize the outstanding achievements of these individuals this academic school year. La Société Honoraire de français & Sociedad Honoraria Hispánica are sponsored by Madame Lund and Señorita Smith.

French National Honor Society inductees for 2024:

(Seniors)

Chloe Bredice ✤❂ Anna Burkle ✤ Mary Faidley ✤❂ Abby Fickbohm ✤❂ Avery Gavin✤

Ara Lofgren ✤❂ Sophie Miller ✤ Josie Minnis ✤ Mayci Rasmus Logan Sobaski ✤❂

Ruby Sprecher ✤ Roz Sterling ✤ Addie Tullis Lana Walker ✤ Addie White ❂

Chrissi Zachariades ✤❂

(Juniors)

Ava Adams Sophia Bohnenkamp ✤ Millie Brooks ✤ Paige Brown ✤ Benjamin Gabrielsson Kate Geiselhart ✤ Ashley Green Alexis Metzger ✤ Abigail Samson ✤ Kaylee Sprecher

Hannah Wahman Angelina Meyers ✤ (italian)

In addition, the French students also took the National French Test (Le Grand Concours) in March. The following students ranked highly both in the state of Iowa and nationally. Congratulations to the following students who ranked in the top 10 in the state of Iowa and to those who earned medals nationally!

French Level 4:

Paige Brown - also Bronze Medal winner, nationally ranked

Angelina Meyers - also Bronze Medal winner, nationally ranked

Sophie Bohnenkamp, Alexis Metzger, Millie Brooks, Hannah Wayman

French Level 5:

Logan Sobaski - also Silver Medal winner, nationally ranked

Chloe Bredice, Chrissi Zachariades, Ruby Sprecher, Addison Tullis, Anna Burkle, Mary Faidley

Rosalyn Sterling, Lana Walker, Ara Lofgren

Spanish National Honor Society inductees for 2023:

Seniors

Anna Bradford✤❂, Alana Crawford✤, Brooklyn Conger✤❂, Nicholas De la Cuba✤❂

Lizzie Deng✤, Tommy Gilbert**✤❂, Ava Lowe**✤❂, Lauren Meredith**✤❂

Gabrielle Mixdorf✤❂, Lucas Muta✤, Madilyn Nelson❂, Addie Pollock✤❂, Anna Sash✤❂

Corinne Swalve**✤❂

Juniors

Paige Brown✤, Kayla Clark✤, Daria Haynie✤, Nicole Huang, Alexis Metzger✤

Cadence Phillips✤, Marissa Pries✤, Katelyn Thierry✤, Tyson Woerdehoff✤,

** officer

✤ earned the Seal of Biliteracy

❂ 2nd year member

CHS students, Jacob Mundt and Lane Jensen, recently received the Iowa FFA Degree at the FFA State Convention at Iowa State University's Hilton Coliseum. The Iowa FFA Degree is the highest degree that can be bestowed upon an FFA member by the Iowa FFA Association. Only 5% of the FFA members in Iowa receive the degree each year. This is a really big honor! Jacob and Lane are members of the North Polk FFA Chapter.

Recently, many Centennial students were recognized at the Ankeny Youth Symposium hosted by the Ankeny’s Mayor Youth Council. The Symposium provided the opportunity to recognize the volunteer work the youth of Ankeny engages in throughout the year. The following Centennial student organizations were nominated to receive the Club of the Year Award.

-ACHS FCA

-ACHS French Honor Society

-ACHS Green Club

-ACHS Operation Sanitation

-ACHS PRISM

-ACHS Spanish Honors Society

-ACHS Unified Leadership Team

Centennial’s Unified Leadership Team was awarded Ankeny Youth Club of the Year. This organization includes students who plan Circle of Friends events, engage in Special Olympics events, plan an inclusive track meet for all schools in Ankeny among many other activities. Congrats to them!

Ankeny’s Youth of the Year was also awarded at the Youth Symposium. This award is given to an individual who has given back to the community and shown leadership skills throughout the community. Many Centennial students were nominated for the award. Mara Blevins was selected as Ankeny’s Youth of the Year.

Just wanted to share what our amazing team accomplished I. 1.5 hours of painting at the show! We also had several earn awards:

Mia Valle: 3rd Place Graphite & 2nd Place Analog Photography Unaltered

Veronica Frey: Honorable Mention Mixed Media

Logan Sobaski: 3rd Place Analog Photography Altered

Abby Smith: 1st Place Analog Photography Unaltered

Abby Geiken & Peyton Kjos: Honorable Mention Analog Photography Unaltered

Blake Cheeseman: 3rd Place Digital Photography Unaltered

April 24-25 was the BURBS Conference Art Show, hosted this year by Urbandale High School at Merle Hay Mall. The districts involved in the art show were: Urbandale, Ankeny Centennial, Waukee Northwest, Dowling Catholic, Johnston, Ankeny, Waukee, and Valley. Each school had three hours to complete a 7ftx7ft mural that will now be displayed at Merle Hay Mall.

Centennial High School Director, Scott Hook, has been chosen to present at the 2024 Iowa Bandmasters Association Conference on Thursday, May 9th. Mr. Hook will be presenting a clinic entitled “Creating and Keeping Culture in Your Band Program”. This clinic is focused on creating and fostering a positive and long lasting culture of excellence and teamwork in a high school band program.

Mr. Hook is in his 11th year as Director of Bands at Ankeny Centennial High School and 21st year of teaching. His responsibilities include directing the Centennial Wind Symphony, Centennial Marching Band, Jazz Studio, Pep Band, and 6th-12th Grade Woodwind lessons. He serves as the Fine Arts Department Chair for Centennial High School and is the “Lead Learner” for the Ankeny Schools 5th-12th Grade Instrumental Department.

It is the policy of the Ankeny Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its 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 Ken Morris, Jr., Equity Director at 306 SW School Street, Ankeny, IA 50023, 515/965-9600 or kenneth.morris@ankenyschools.org. The grievance will then be directed to the appropriate administrator charged with managing the program or department specified in the grievance.