Hello, Bulldogs!
We are ready for another great school year! As many of you are aware, the Le Mars Community Board of Education hired ISG to conduct a facility study last school year. One of the main items identified as an infrastructure concern area for the Board was the condition and student capacity of the elementary buildings. A community input team was created with a wide variety of individuals from throughout our district communities. The purpose of this team was to learn about the current status of our infrastructure and then provide the Board input.
The Board also provided every resident within the school district the opportunity to provide input as to what should be done with the district’s infrastructure. Based on the feedback from district residents, a majority of residents stated they would like the Board of Education to consider the construction of a new, district-wide preschool through fifth grade elementary school building. A majority also stated they would financially support a bond issue of up to $49,970,000. This would equate to a property tax increase of approximately $2.42/$1,000 valuation. However, a new PK-5 elementary building preferred by a majority of the survey respondents will cost approximately $67,000,000. Therefore, the Board of Education decided to utilize the one-cent statewide sales tax money the district receives from the State of Iowa each year (called SAVE funds) to help pay for the $67,000,000 building. The Board of Education has committed the use of SAVE funds to pay for up to $27,000,000 toward a new elementary building, which will keep the property tax rate down and help the district achieve paying for a new $67,000,000 building.The board is committed to keeping property tax rates as low as possible. Note: Le Mars Community School District is in the lowest 8% of all of Iowa’s 331 school districts for tax rate. This doesn’t necessarily mean you are paying less taxes, but it is an indicator of the Board’s efforts to keep tax rates low. Also note, the district has no debt, at this time.
Recently, as required by Iowa law, a petition of 815 signatures was presented to the Board requesting they approve a resolution ordering an election on the issuance of $49,970,000 general obligation school bonds to provide funds to construct, build, furnish, and equip a new district-wide elementary building and improve the site. The board unanimously approved this resolution. Therefore, the citizens within the Le Mars Community School District will have the opportunity to vote on November 5, 2024, as to whether or not to approve the bonds in order to build a new elementary building. Additionally, the Board voted unanimously to approve a resolution to use up to $27,000,000 in one-cent statewide sales tax money (SAVE funds) that the school district receives from the State of Iowa each year to help keep property taxes down and assist in paying for a $67,000,000 building.
In the near future, the school district will provide informational documents and in-person learning sessions open to the public to learn more about the possibility of a new elementary building, as well as have the opportunity to ask questions.
Bulldogs, we have a great school district with great families, students, and staff. We are thankful for the support our community provides our students. This makes the anticipation of the new school year even more exciting. We are very much looking forward to the return of the students on August 23 for the first day of school! Enjoy the rest of your summer!
City Bus Routes
Updated city bus routes will be posted to the district website. You will be able to find this information by going to http://www.lemarscsd.org/?page_id=1402, clicking “Departments” at the top of the website, and click “Transportation”.
School board policy 702.2 states, “Elementary and middle school students living more than two miles from their designated attendance center and high school students living more than three miles from their designated attendance center are entitled to free transportation to and from school. The board may provide transportation for students not meeting these distance requirements, and may charge a fee for this service.” Please contact the Director of Transportation, Codie Kellen, at (712) 546-6801 if you have any questions.
NEW ELEMENTARY NURSE- We would like to introduce Rhonda Lassen as our new elementary nurse! You can reach Mrs. Lassen at rhonda.lassen@lemarscsd.org. Welcome, Mrs. Lassen!
IMMUNIZATIONS- Student immunization records must be up to date for all incoming students. Preschool and kindergarten students need to have their shots completed (including 4-year old booster shots for kindergarten students) before the first day of school. Students entering 7th grade must have a Tdap booster and Meningococcal vaccine before the first day of school. Students entering 12th grade must have a meningococcal vaccine before the first day of school per Iowa law. There are no grace periods or extensions for these requirements. A religious or medical exemption form may be submitted in place of these requirements.
DENTAL CERTIFICATES- All students entering kindergarten and 9th grade must have a dental certificate completed before the first day of school in August per Iowa law.
BLOOD TESTS FOR LEAD- This test is a state requirement for kindergarten. Many children have had lead testing completed by their physician or other early childhood programs. Please request the results and provide documentation to the school. If your child has not had a blood lead level checked in the past, this needs to be done at your doctor's office prior to the first day of the 2024-2025 school year.
VISION SCREENINGS - All students entering kindergarten and third grade now need a proof of a vision screening. This is just a screening and does not mean your child needs a full vision exam. The screening can be completed by your eye doctor, health care provider, or a community based organization. The certificate of vision screening form needs to be completed before the first day of the 2024-2025 school year.
SPORTS PHYSICALS (7th-12th grade) - Be sure to schedule your sports physicals now so you have them taken care of before fall practices begin. Any student planning to participate in sports, including cheerleading and dance, must turn in a completed physical report from a medical doctor, nurse practitioner, or chiropractor, with the parent’s signature on it, before they are allowed to participate in practice. These forms can be picked up from the high school guidance office for high school students or the middle school office for 7-8 grade students. You will also need to complete the athletic insurance waiver/parent or legal guardian permission form and the “Heads up” concussion form.
It is that time of year again, to the delight of many parents, when students will be coming back to school. The building custodial staff has spent the summer getting the building ready for another school year. We have several new teachers this year. Jade Pratt will be teaching Algebra and Modern Algebra, Casey Thomas will be the new school librarian, Jecenta Sargisson will be teaching Ag Science 1 and Biology, and John Peskey will be teaching Orchestra.
I would like to invite our freshmen along with their parents to a meeting on August 20 at 6:00 pm in the MS Auditorium. At this meeting, the high school staff will introduce themselves, the counselors will go over the high school credit system and how it progresses towards graduation, and the administration will talk about general guidelines at the high school. This meeting is very informative and may help answer questions you have about high school, especially if this is your first child coming to our building.
Homecoming this year is on September 27. All students will be dismissed after 4th period for homecoming activities. The pep rally will start at 1:00 pm with the parade to follow at 2:00 pm. The varsity football team will play Spencer at 7:00 pm, and the dance will follow the game and will last until midnight. New this year, the coronation will be held on Tuesday, September 24 at 7:30 pm.
If you have a student who needs to get a Special Minor’s Restricted License (SMRL) for driving, please contact the office to make an appointment. If your student took driver’s ed this summer, you only need to bring the SMRL Affidavit, which can be downloaded from the Iowa DOT website, and the driver’s permit. Please make sure your child looks over the rules for the SMRL prior to making your appointment. You will also need to fill out the Parental Consent for Special Minor’s Restricted License form. This form must be kept in the car that is being used to drive to school or work. The affidavit must be filled out prior to coming to the appointment.
In addition, I would like to encourage the parents to keep in contact with their child’s teachers. If you have any concerns about your child, please contact the teacher directly or feel free to contact Mr. Moss or myself at the high school office.
Jade Pratt
Jade Pratt will be teaching Mathematics at the high school. Jade earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education and Middle Level Education, with a minor in Mathematics, from the University of Northern Iowa. She has been substitute teaching for Le Mars Community Schools, Hinton Community Schools, and Sergeant Bluff-Luton Community Schools.
Jecenta Sargisson
Jecenta Sargisson joins the high school staff as a Science and Agricultural Science teacher and FFA Advisor. Jecenta, a LCHS alum, recently graduated from South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education. She completed her student teaching with Hinton Community Schools.
Melissa Hill
Email: melissa.hill@lemarscsd.org
Website: https://sites.google.com/lemarscsd.org/lchs-counseling/home
Twitter: @lemarsguidance
Judd Kopperud
7-12 Grade Students who want to participate in extracurricular activities, sports, and clubs will need to register with Varsity Bound. This is a different process than in past years. Read the PDF below to learn more.
Welcome back to the 2024-25 school year from LCMS! We are excited for the upcoming year and are looking forward to having students back in the building. The majority of staff has stayed the same over the past year, but we are happy to introduce our new 4-12 Orchestra Instructor, John Peskey. He is thrilled to get back to the Siouxland Area and get started.
Some changes are coming as to how we handle student behaviors this upcoming year. 6-12 grade staff will be following the Boys Town Education Model which is a school-based intervention strategy that focuses on managing behavior, building relationships, and teaching social skills. It emphasizes preventive and proactive practices rather than reactive responses to deal with student behavior. Students will have activities to complete in Homebase during the year to practice these skills.
Another major change is we will be allowing students to bring home their Chromebook laptop computers each night. Students will be responsible for charging their devices and bringing it back to school each day. We do have policies in place for students who may struggle to follow that expectation. Students will be able to complete homework at home with their devices and can stay caught up on missing assignments when they are absent. Staff have the vast majority of assignments online so this will help students stay on track.
We have two groups of teachers, Literacy and Science, who will be piloting some new curriculum throughout the year. Approximately one-half of students will be using the new curriculum in science and most literacy students will be using it. We will compare with our current practice to determine its effectiveness during the year. We guarantee your student will continue to receive a top-notch curriculum to meet the Iowa curriculum standards throughout this pilot.
We look forward to seeing all the students soon and getting this year started. Please reach out to Mr. Nikkel or myself if you ever have any questions or concerns.
Welcome to the middle school! Are you looking for an after school club or activity where you can learn a game that has been played and enjoyed for ages? Give Chess a try! We will meet Tuesdays after school until 4:15. If you have another activity, you can always join chess club later in the year! We spend the first part of the year learning the game and then play casual games with other friends from the club. There will be at least 2 tournaments this year with prizes for the top finishers. Sponsored by Mr. Zittritsch, the Club looks forward to having you join us this school year!
A Moped Safety class will be held for students in the Le Mars area at the Le Mars Middle School in room C15 (Mr. Fehringers' room) on September 7th from 8:00 am to 2:15 pm. Iowans 14 and 15 years of age are required by law to take the moped course before receiving a license to operate a moped on public highways. Minimum age for this course is 13 1/2. Students wishing to take this class should sign up and pay in the middle school office (Mrs. Bergquist or Mrs. Schuett) before the class. Students that aren't in the Le Mars Community school district can sign up and pay on the day the course is taken. If you have questions, please email bkdalton6@gmail.com. Cost is $50; checks can be made out to Bill Dalton or parents can pay with cash.
Ashley Hogendorn
Ashley Hogendorn will be a 1st grade teacher at Franklin Elementary. Ashley brings with her experience as a second grade teacher with the Bellevue Public Schools. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Elementary Education from the University of Nebraska-Omaha and is working towards her Masters of Science in Elementary Education with a concentration in Curriculum, Instruction & Assessment.
Josie Kelderman
Josie Kelderman joins the Kluckhohn Elementary staff as a Kindergarten teacher. Previously, Josie was a first grade teacher for Sioux Center Community Schools. She graduated from Northwestern College in Orange City with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education with a Reading endorsement.
Taylor Roosa
Taylor Roosa will be a Special Education teacher at Clark Elementary. Taylor was previously employed as a TK-5 Special Education teacher for Akron-Westfield Community Schools, and most recently, was a Special Education Strategist with the Northwest Area Education Agency. She holds a Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Elementary Education and Special Education from Morningside College.
Caitlin Schlesser
Caitlin Schlesser, a Le Mars Community alum, will be the new Elementary Title I teacher. Caitlin attended the University of Iowa where she was awarded her Bachelor of Arts degree in Elementary Education. She earned her Master of Science in Education from Drake University. Caitlin has previous teaching experience as a 4th grade teacher with Sioux City Schools and as a 3rd grade teacher with the Ankeny Community School District.
Students are not expected to dress in a uniform manner, but inappropriate or unkept dress and grooming that would bring discredit or disruption to the school is unacceptable.
Examples of inappropriate dress include clothing promoting alcohol, drugs, tobacco, gang activity, sex, cults, or satanic activities. This includes clothing with logos that are clearly identified as such or make blatant inferences.
Biking shorts and tube tops are not acceptable. Pants that are worn well below the normal waist or belt line are not permitted due to the distraction they cause which interrupts the educational process.
The State of Iowa Health Code does require that shoes be worn at all times.
Caps, hats, sunglasses are for outside wear unless approved in advance through the principal’s office.
Chains such as those attached to billfolds and belt loops are not allowed to be worn regardless of the length of the chain or where on the body they are worn.
Students not dressed appropriately will be required to change and may be counted unexcused in their absence from class while they find acceptable clothing.
Should a student need to ask if clothing is acceptable, it probably is not. USE COMMON SENSE AND GOOD JUDGMENT IN SELECTING CLOTHING FOR EACH SCHOOL MORNING.
MENuMASTERS Fundraiser
🥧Food 🎵Music 🎉Fun
📆 WHEN: Saturday, October 19, 2024
🗺️ Where: Plymouth County Fairgrounds -- Century Hall
⌚ Food Served: 5:00-7:30 p.m.
🕚Event: 5:00 - 10:00. pm
🎟️Tickets:
- $45/person
- Purchase at the local banks from October 1, 2024 - October 18, 2024.
- Tickets will also be available at all Le Mars Community Schools, the Education Service Center, and from any LEEP members beginning mid September
Dear Friends and Supporters of LEEP,
Plans are well underway for our 11th MENuMASTERS Fundraising event. Our success the past ten years have been huge, largely because of YOU, our chefs, and sponsors. The event will feature 25 local businessmen as our “chefs” for the evening. As in the past, each chef team will serve ample samples of various foods. New at this year’s event is Music Bingo with chances to win amazing prizes.
Tickets will be sold for $45.00/person at local banks beginning October 1, 2024 - October 18, 2024, also tickets will be available at all Le Mars Community Schools and the Education Service Center, and from any LEEP members beginning mid-September.
Business and Personal Sponsorships are available by contacting
Gayle Vonk, email: wall.elements@yahoo.com
Persons interested in being a chef should contact
Mike Jacobsma, email: mike.jacobsma@iowastatebank.net
Check out the LEEP FaceBook Page for upcoming details.
LEEP's Mission Statement
To enhance the value and meaning for education for our students, families, and communities. The funds raised will be used for expenditures above and beyond that provided for by the existing budget.
Le Mars Community Education Enhancement Project or LEEP is recognized as a tax exempt organization under 501c3 of the IRS code.