Monthly Newsletter

I hope all of our students, families, and staff had a relaxing and refreshing holiday break. Happy New Year to you all! As we move forward into 2025, I am excited to share several important updates and accomplishments happening in our district.

Elementary Building Project Update

We will begin tours of regional elementary schools in order to view architecture and engineering characteristics that would be beneficial in designing a state-of-the-art elementary building. Additionally, new facility planning will begin in late winter and will most likely take place through late fall 2025 or winter of 2026. Given this timeline, it looks promising to break ground on the new elementary building in the spring of 2026. Once construction begins, it could take up to two years to complete the construction project. We will keep you informed every step of the way. Exciting times are ahead for the future of LCSD!

School Bus Stop Violations Update

While we celebrate progress, there is a pressing concern that should not be overlooked. Since August, our school buses have experienced 43 bus stop violations where members of the public failed to stop for extended stop signs and flashing lights. This dangerous behavior puts our students' safety at risk every single time. Since keeping track of these violations in 2017, we have recorded 611 total violations in our district. I cannot stress enough: please stop when school buses are loading or unloading students. Our children’s lives depend on it.

School Board Update

I am incredibly proud to share that the Le Mars Community School Board of Education earned the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) Better Boardsmanship Award at the annual IASB Convention in November! Our Board has received this award more than any other school board in the state of Iowa and has the longest-running recipient streak with 24 consecutive years. What a remarkable testament to their leadership and dedication! The 2023-2024 board members included Zach Lancaster, Makenzie Lang, Kyle Plathe, Jill Feuerhelm, Zach Davis, Lorraine DeJong, and Aaron Tolzin. Your commitment to excellence sets a high standard for districts across the state—congratulations!

School Safety Update

Ensuring the safety of our students and staff remains a top priority. Through a $300,000 grant from the Iowa Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, we have completed several critical security enhancements across the district. These include secure front entrances, key fob access, additional security cameras viewable by public safety officials, and improved fencing. A special thank you to the Le Mars Police Department for their valuable input throughout this process.

We are making strides to ensure a safer, more innovative, and high-achieving future for our district. Thank you for your continued support of the Le Mars CSD. Let’s continue to work together for the success and safety of all students.

• January 22: 2-Hour Early Out (Teacher In-Service)
• February 12: 2-Hour Early Out (Teacher In-Service)
• February 17: No School (President's Day)
• February 26: 2-Hour Early Out (Teacher In-Service)

Stay informed about school closings, delays, and other weather-related updates by signing up for alerts through School Messenger. School Messenger is our most reliable source for timely notifications and will also provide emergency alerts, security updates, and communication from your child’s teacher.

If you haven’t signed up yet, it’s quick and easy!

• Visit www.lemarscsd.org/school-messenger
• Follow the step-by-step instructions.

With the second semester officially beginning on January 2, report cards will be sent out this week. Each report card will include the total credits your child has earned. As a reminder, students need to earn 12.5 credits per year to stay on track for a 4-year graduation, with at least 6.25 credits this semester.

As the second semester gets underway, I encourage you to look at your child's class schedule for the semester. Students with fewer than 4 absences, 5 or fewer tardies, and grades no lower than a C- will be exempt from second semester exams. Note that some concurrent (college credit) classes may still require exams to receive college credit, per Western Iowa Tech’s guidelines.

We are also beginning the registration process for the 2025-26 school year.

• January 15: 8th-grade students will explore CTE courses during the school day, learning about courses offered and careers in fields like manufacturing, hospitality, agriculture, welding, automotive, and business.
• January 27: 8th-Grade Registration Night will begin at 6:30 p.m. at the Middle School Auditorium. Administrators and counselors will go over course requirements and assist students with completing course requests. Counselors will also discuss 4-year plans with students, which are state-mandated to help align courses with career interests and can be updated each year, especially if interests change.

Students in all grades will register during school, with counselors reviewing their 4-year plan and courses and ensuring graduation requirements are on track.

If you have any concerns about your child or their progress, please don’t hesitate to contact their teacher to arrange a meeting. We’re here to help every student succeed.

Have a great January!

Test Date: February 8

• January 3 - Regular Registration Deadline (Late Fee Applies after this date)
• January 20 - Late Registration Deadline
• January 31 - Photo Upload & Standby Deadline

Test Date: April 5

• February 28 - Regular Registration Deadline (Late Fee Applies after this date)
• March 16 - Late Registration Deadline
• March 28 - Photo Upload & Standby Deadline

Test Date: June 14

• May 9 - Regular Registration Deadline (Late Fee Applies after this date)
• May 26 - Late Registration Deadline
• June 6 - Photo Upload & Standby Deadline

Test Date: July 12

• June 6 - Regular Registration Deadline (Late Fee Applies after this date)
• June 20 - Late Registration Deadline
• July 4 - Photo Upload & Standby Deadline

Register at https://www.act.org/

• Le Mars School Code: 162-475

Log onto CollegeWeekLive.com for free ACT, SAT, and Toefl practice and test taking tips.

• Saturday, January 11, 2025 --- 1:00 - 4:00 pm
• Saturday, February 1, 2025 --- 1:00 - 4:00 pm
• Saturday, April 19, 2025 --- 1:00 - 4:00 pm
• Saturday, May 17, 2025 --- 1:00 - 4:00 pm

All meetings we will be in Room 101 with Mr. Bahr at the high school.

Email: jason.martin@lemarscsd.org

Email: abby.johnson@lemarscsd.org

Middle School counselor news here.....

The middle school hallways buzzed with excitement as students eagerly participated in the much-anticipated Penny Wars from December 2-6. This fundraiser brought together the entire school community for a great cause while adding an energetic twist to the school day.

What Are Penny Wars?

Penny Wars is a school-wide competition where grade levels (and staff) face off to collect the most pennies (money) for charity. But there’s a twist! Students (and staff) can sabotage other teams by adding silver coins and donating to their jars. Here’s how it works:

• Pennies add points: for every penny collected, the team earns one point.
• Silver coins and bills subtract points: a nickel deducts five points, a dime deducts ten, and so on.

The playful competition challenges students to think strategically while contributing to a good cause.

How It Works

Each grade level had their own collection bucket displayed in the office. Students dropped their change into their grade-level bucket (or their opponents buckets) throughout the day. At the end of each day, all money donated was taken to a local bank and counted. A running total of points for each grade level (and staff) was determined by the office, and that information was then relayed to the students before they went home. This helped motivate students to bring in more change the following day so that their class would win the grand prize.

By the end of the week, students were counting every penny (literally!) to see who would emerge victorious. Teachers and other staff joined the fun too, encouraging the students and keeping the energy high.

The Impact

While the competition was fierce, the true winner was the charity benefiting from the fundraiser. All proceeds from the event were donated to Josh’s Ride, an organization that provides children with special needs a new tricycle specially designed to help meet those needs. Together, we raised $1,006.23—an incredible achievement that showcased the power of teamwork and generosity.

It should also be noted that the staff won the competition; however, the grand prize was generously donated back to the students with a chance to dunk our principals, Mr. Nikkel and Mr. Formanek, via a dunk tank. Please enjoy photos from the event and visit the Josh’s Ride website to learn more about this great cause!

One way to think about perseverance is “pushing yourself through challenges and obstacles.” We all experience challenges in our lives. We all have moments when we feel like we can’t do it or that we want to give up on a big task. It is important to develop tools that help us work through those challenges in order to grow in those moments instead of giving up.

How might you practice perseverance as a family this month?

Perseverance is 1 of 3 traits we will focus on throughout the year that helps students be strong. Across grade levels, students will be developing skills like focusing, organizing, and goal-setting.

Conversation Starters

• Can you share or show what it means to have perseverance?
• When working towards goals, how does perseverance help us to reach them?

PurposeFull Pursuits

Have some fun connecting as a family this month while practicing perseverance. Here are two “PurposeFull Pursuits” you can complete together!

1. Consistency is hard. Have each person in the family commit to 1 thing they will do each day this week. Maybe it is flossing, drinking a certain amount of water, getting to bed at a certain time, limiting screen time, or exercising. Create a place where each person can tally their progress and see who can keep their streak going the longest!
2. Review perseverance as a family! Remember that perseverance is pushing yourself to work through challenges and obstacles.

Here’s a fun challenge: Can you fit your whole body through an index card? While it sounds impossible, with the correct folding and cutting technique, you can make it happen! Give each family member a 4x6 index card and a pair of scissors. Ready for the answer? You can find the directions and solution online by searching: “Fit Your Body Through an Index Card.”

Kind regards,

In December, the PTO treated our amazing teachers to a hot chocolate bar! A special thank you goes to Collective & Co. for generously donating containers for the hot chocolate bar and gift cards for a teacher drawing. Additionally, Piece of Cake provided delicious trays of goodies for teachers at each elementary school to enjoy. Thank you both for making this event extra special!

Birthday Breakfast was also held in December at all three elementary schools in December! Thank you American Bank for being this quarter's sponsor and serving during the event.

Don’t forget to join us for our meetings on the first Monday of each month, and stay connected by following us on Facebook at LeMars PTO!

Driver Education for 2025 will only offer one classroom instruction session for the year. This session will meet on Saturdays beginning on March 1, 2025. Each classroom session will run from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the following Saturdays:

• March 1, 8, 15, 22 & 29
• April 12 & 26
• May 3, 10 & 17
• Make-up day: May 24

Driving times will be scheduled separately and may start as early as March or as late as July depending on enrollment and weather conditions.

Cost

• $375.00 for students who are residents of the Le Mars CSD
• $500.00 for students who live outside the Le Mars CSD

Registration

Registration forms must be completed and returned on or before Friday, January 31, 2025, with the proper fee attached.

You can pick up a form from the High School or Middle School Principal’s office or click the button below to download a form.

The Le Mars Community Alumni Association and Foundation are now accepting nominations for the 2025 Distinguished Alumni Award. This marks the 12th year of this prestigious honor.

This non-monetary award recognizes an exceptional Le Mars Community Schools graduate who has been out of school for at least 15 years. A committee of Association and Foundation board members will select the recipient, who will be celebrated at the annual Foundation Banquet in April.

Nomination forms are available on the Alumni Association website (lemarsalumni.org) in the top-right corner or can be picked up at the Superintendent’s Office or Alumni Association Office in the Plymouth County Museum.

The form outlines the criteria and must be submitted by the deadline of February 14, 2025. Don’t miss this opportunity to honor an outstanding graduate!

Past Recipients:

2013: Norm Barker, class of 1939

2014: Gladys Reichert Koerselman, class of 1947, & Dr. Paul Summerside, class of 1976

2015: Dr. Tom Starzl, class of 1944

2016: Mary Lou Schulz Fisher, class of 1962

2017: Keith Renken, class of 1953

2018: Kevin Petersen, class of 1969, & Dr. Gary Warnock, class of 1963

2019: Richard Schultz, class of 1946

2020: Dr. Steve Collins, class of 1969, & Gayle Albert Vonk, class of 1973

2021: Alan Marty, class of 1974

2022: Kevin Westhoff, class of 1982

2023: David Lorenzen, class of 1975

2024: Richard Ziettlow, class of 1967

Parents/guardians are hereby given notice of the following deadlines pertaining to open

enrollment opportunities:

• March 1, 2025: Last date for Open Enrollment requests for students in grades 1-12 for the 2025-2026 school year.
• Parents of children who will begin kindergarten in 2025-2026 must file for Open Enrollment no later than September 1, 2025.

Open enrollment students whose family income meets eligibility requirements are eligible for

transportation assistance. Assistance may be in the form of actual transportation being

provided or a stipend paid to parents/guardians.

Parents should be aware that Open Enrollment may result in loss of athletic eligibility. Open

enrollment information and application can be found at the Iowa Department of Education

website.

Questions should be directed to the Superintendent’s Office.

• 940 Lincoln St SW, LeMars, IA 51031
• 712-546-4155

A Moped Safety class will be held for students in the LeMars area on Saturday, March 8, at LeMars Middle School, Room C15 (Mr. Fehringer’s room). The class will run from 8:00 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.

Per Iowa law, students aged 14 and 15 must complete this course to obtain a license to operate a moped on public highways. The minimum age to enroll is 13.

Registration:

• LeMars Community Students: Sign up and pay in the Middle School office (Amy Bergquist or Keri Schuett) before March 8.
• Non-LeMars Community Students: Register and pay on the day of the class.

Cost:

• Pre-registration: $50 (checks payable to Bill Dalton or cash accepted)
• Same-day registration: $55

If you have questions, please email bkdalton6@gmail.com.

Le Mars CSD offers healthy meals every school day. Students may qualify for free or reduced priced meals. If your child is currently not receiving free or reduced price meal benefits, an application must be completed and submitted to determine their eligibility.

An application and instructions on how to apply are available on our district website at www.lemarscsd.org/food-service.

As the new year begins, LEEP board members want to thank the amazing communities within the LeMars CSD for the continued support. The financial donation and volunteer hours directed to LEEP are appreciated to purchase resources and supplemental curriculum to enhance the education of students.

During LEEP's December meeting, board members were presented with a request to purchase Promethean Boards for all 4th and 5th grade homeroom classrooms in the district. These interactive Promethean Boards include a multitude of digital tools that support learning. Teachers and students are able to use these tools to practice skills, access digital information, and model and demonstrate learning. Students can use the apps on the Promethean Boards on both the touchscreen board and their personal devices. The Promethean Boards are movable, so they can be located anywhere in the classroom/school.

We are excited to announce LEEP will purchase the Promethean Boards for the 4th and 5th grade classes in the amount of $36,638. Currently, boards are in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade classrooms. The district has funds to purchase boards for all kindergarten classrooms. By adding these boards for the 4th and 5th grade classrooms, all grades will have equitable access. This purchase will be funded by the over $24,000 raised at the 2024 MENuMASERS event. Thank you for donating and attending events such as MENuMASTERS.

The next regular LEEP meeting will be held Monday, January 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. in the Middle School library. Enter through door C. Meetings are open to the public.