December 2024
And to all.......
Dear Tigerhawk Families,
As we approach the much-anticipated winter break, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude and share some reflections. The holiday season is a time for rest, renewal, and reconnecting with loved ones. I encourage everyone—students, families, and staff—to prioritize self-care over the break. Rest up, recharge, and return ready to tackle the new year with energy and focus.
This time of year also highlights the incredible Tigerhawk spirit of giving and teamwork. From supporting one another to working hard in classrooms, on athletic fields, and in various activities, our community demonstrates what it means to come together for the greater good.
As part of our mission to foster excellence for all, I’m excited to share some updates on our district goals. We have seen a great increase in student participation in extracurricular activities, knowing the tremendous benefits these experiences bring to students’ personal and academic growth. Additionally, we are making strides in addressing chronic absenteeism, and we’ve already seen promising progress in ensuring more students are present and engaged in their learning.
None of these accomplishments would be possible without the dedication of our outstanding staff. Their tireless efforts to support and inspire our students do not go unnoticed. I encourage you to take a moment to thank a teacher, coach, or staff member for their hard work and commitment to making our schools a place of excellence.
Strong relationships between our families, community, and school remain at the heart of our success. Together, we are building a foundation where every student can thrive. With this in mind, I want to bring attention to an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Our TeamMates mentoring program continues to seek mentors for students in need. Currently, we have approximately 15 students eagerly awaiting a mentor. If you’ve ever considered mentoring, now is the perfect time to step forward and change a life. Your guidance and encouragement could make all the difference.
Thank you for your unwavering support and partnership. On behalf of our entire district, I wish you a joyful winter break. Let’s come back in the new year ready to embrace new challenges and opportunities, united by our Tigerhawk pride.
Tim Salmon, Superintendent
Colfax-Mingo, CSD
515.674.3646
We want to hear from you! If you have any upcoming events or activities that you’d like to share, please send the details to cmactivities@colfaxmingo.org. We’ll be happy to include them in our newsletter to keep everyone informed and engaged.
Thank you for helping us build our community!
Thursday, December 12
Elementary Fine Arts Night (Colfax-Mingo Elem Gym)
Thursday, December 19
7-12 Fine Arts Night (Colfax-Mingo Jr/Sr Cafeteria)
Elementary
Dear Family,
We are thankful for you being part of our school community! The world is changing quickly and we want to do everything we can to help students be successful in school and life.
We are excited to tell you that we will be using a program called PurposeFull People this year. This program teaches skills that will help students be successful in school and in life.
We believe that students should have safe, predictable places to learn where they feel included. Students should have healthy and helpful connections with teachers and classmates. They should also experience learning that will help them tackle challenges inside and outside of school.
PurposeFullPeople is more than a set of lessons - it is a partnership between schools and families to create a place where students feel like they belong and learn skills that will help them be the best they can be!
Purposefull People has three main goals for students: Be Kind, Be Strong, and Be Well.
- Be Kind: Social skills like listening, friendship, solving conflicts, and leadership. ○ These skills are taught alongside Empathy, Respect, & Cooperation
- Be Strong: Skills that help students focus, stay organized, and set goals. ○ These skills are taught alongside Responsibility, Courage, & Perseverance
- Be Well: Skills that help students handle their emotions and deal with stress. ○ These skills are taught alongside Gratitude, Honesty, & Creativity
This year, you’ll be invited to join the fun! We will send letters home about the skills and strengths being taught each month. Each letter will include some ways to build these skills at home, discussion starters, and fun challenges you can try with your family.
The path forward is full of growth! We cannot wait to partner with you in this work… ● To teach students how to build strong friendships
- To work together to solve problems, big and small
- To grow skills for life
- To become PurposeFull People
With Gratitude,
Ms. Terlouw
Our 2024 Colfax-Mingo CSD College and Career Fair on Friday (11/15) was a MASSIVE success! Thanks to our nearly 50 exhibitors, approximately 300 C-M 7-12th grade students, and our entire secondary staff for helping make this three-hour event such a tremendous experience for all involved.
Our students were able to meet with industry professionals in assorted agriculture careers, a wide array of skilled trades (including electrical, HVAC, plumbing, precision valve-making, construction, and heavy machinery operation), logistics and trucking, medical and outreach fields, various armed services, legal, law enforcement, fire & rescue, real estate, iJAG, banking/financial, retail grocery, and more than a dozen community colleges and universities.
I appreciate everyone's attendance and willingness to make this event so memorable and educational for our students! ~Mr. Barkalow #WeAreCM #TigerhawkNationTogetherWeRise
DMACC Foundation Scholarship Program Opening Soon
The DMACC Foundation Scholarship application will open soon for the 2025-2026 academic year. This includes Fall 2025, Spring 2026, and Summer 2026 terms.
The Program has two application cycles:
- Cycle 1: December 1, 2024 - March 1, 2025
- Cycle 2: May 1, 2025 - July 15, 2025
Please note: The early cutoff date for Cycle 1 ensures graduating high school scholarship recipients are recognized during their high school awards assemblies in May and June.
Each year, DMACC awards hundreds of student scholarships through our Foundation Scholarship Program. Scholarships range from $250-$1500 per year.
To qualify, students must:
- Earn a high school diploma or pass their high school equivalency test
- Apply and be admitted to DMACC
- Have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher
- Enroll in a minimum of six credit hours
All the details are available at DMACC Foundation Scholarships.
TEAMMATES
Tigerhawk Family,
Currently, we have far more elementary and secondary C-M students interested in being mentees than adult mentor matches from our communities for our Teammates mentoring program. If you can commit to merely 30-45 minutes per week, then you could become a Teammates Mentor and help positively change the life of one of our Tigerhawk students.
To be clear, these weekly mentoring sessions of 30-45 minutes must take place during the school day and on school grounds to protect everyone involved. (As long as it's when staff are in the building, either immediately before or after school would also be acceptable, as would lunches--as long as the meeting takes place at the school.)
Please consider this personally and ask your friends, neighbors, and family members to also see how easy it could be to make a huge impact in the life of one of our students. Email any questions to Matt Barkalow mbarkalow@colfaxmingo.org, Lindsay Porter lporter1@colfaxmingo.org, or Tara Surprenant tsurprenant@colfaxmingo.org.
Thank you for your time and consideration!
Cold & Flu Season is Here
- Please make sure you have indicated on Infinite Campus if your child can have over-the-counter medication. If you need help checking this, please email Nurse Lindsey at lcummins@colfaxmingo.org or Missy Daft at mdaft@colfaxmingo.org. Remember that students can only have five doses of pain-reducing medication per year. If your child has a chronic health condition like migraines, a doctor's note must be provided to receive more than five doses of pain-reducing medication per year.
- Check your child's head frequently for head lice. I suggest once weekly. Begin treatment promptly if your child has head lice. Remind children not to share hats, scarves, brushes, etc.
- If your child is in Kindergarten or 9th grade, please submit a certificate of dental screening. This form is located on the website or Nurse Lindsey can send home a copy with your child.
- Please remind your children to dress appropriately for the weather. At the elementary, we go outside for recess unless the "feels like temperature" is below 10 degrees. With that in mind, I am accepting any donations of gloves. If you have some that are no longer needed the nurse's office would appreciate them.
Lindsey Cummins BSN, RN
District Nurse
Colfax-Mingo Community School District
The Colfax-Mingo School Board is dedicated to ensuring the best educational experience for our students. We make decisions on school policies, budget allocations, and program development, all with the goal of enhancing the quality of education in our district. Your feedback and involvement are essential to our success!
🔷CLICK ON THE LOGO FOR BOARD AGENDAS AND MINUTES🔷
Upcoming Meetings:
Date: January 20, 2025
Time: 6:00 pm
Location: Central Office Building, 1000 N. Walnut St., Colfax, IA 50054 (south of Kum N Go)
We encourage all community members to attend and participate. Your voice matters, and together we can make a positive impact on our schools.
Thank you for your continued support!
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Team Achievement Award
Congratulations to the Colfax-Mingo School Board for being recognized at the annual Iowa Association of School Board Convention. IASB's Annual Board Awards Program honors members for their ongoing commitment to learning at and away from the board table.
Our board was recognized for reaching the requirements of the Team Achievement Award. In addition, board members Ashley VanderSchoor, Shannon Boehm, Patrick Utz and Mary Poulter received the Individual Achievement Award and Superintendent Tim Salmon received the Award of Honor.
*Photo includes: Ashley VanderSchoor, Tim Salmon, Kendra Perry, Kaylee Collins, Shannon Boehm, and Mary Poulter.
Happy Holidays from Colfax-Mingo Community Schools
As the year comes to a close, we want to take a moment to express our heartfelt gratitude to our students, staff, families, and community for all the dedication, hard work, and support that has made this year so special. Together, we’ve achieved great things, and we are excited for all the possibilities that the new year will bring.
May your holidays be filled with joy, peace, and time spent with loved ones. We look forward to continuing our shared journey in the coming year, committed to excellence, growth, and fostering a supportive, inclusive environment for all.
Warmest wishes for a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year!
