The Hawkeye

The U.S. Census, which is conducted every 10 years, directly impacts federal funding every year for schools and communities in Iowa. This funding impacts special education, teacher training, technology, school lunch assistance, Head Start and after school programs. We are hoping to get a more accurate count of our young people so that the funding will match the needs of our community.

According to the Count All Kids Campaign, more than 2 million young children nationally were missed in the 2010 census. If we undercount young children in the 2020 census, we could miss out on funding for the programs our students depend on. Please help us by participating in the U.S. Census!

KEY DATES

· January 2020: The Census Bureau begins counting the population in remote areas of Alaska

· April 1: April 1 is Census Day—households can respond online, by mail or by phone

· June 2020 through July 2020: Census takers go door to door to count people who have not responded to the 2020 Census

· Dec. 31, 2020: The Census Bureau delivers the population count and the apportionment of seats in the U.S. House of Representatives by state to the president

· 2021: Initial 2020 Census data are made available to the public on census.gov

Additional information can be found on the U.S. Census Bureau’s website: 2020census.gov.

Email: jtrepa@w-harrison.k12.ia.us
Website: www.westharrison.school
Location: 410 Pine Street, Mondamin, IA, USA
Phone: 712-646-2231

Hello Hawkeye families! March seems to be coming in like a lamb, with this wonderful weather. I hope you are enjoying the sunshine and warm temperatures with your child! March will also mark the month in which our 3rd-11th graders take the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress--the ISASP. Below you will find a short Q and A regarding our current plan.

What will my student be tested on?

3rd - 11th graders are all tested in the areas of reading, writing, and math. 5th, 8th, and 10th graders will additionally be tested in science. These tests are not timed; students have ample time to complete the test at their own pace.

How will my student be tested?

The ISASP is an online, computerized assessment. We will be using our Chromebooks. A benefit of the online assessment is that there are a variety of questions asked: multiple choice, drag and drop, prioritize/order, among other questions where students are asked to show what they know by manipulating the choices in various ways. There are also short answer questions peppered throughout.

Another benefit of the computerized test is the universal features available to all students. These include answer-elimination, highlighter, calculator, line reader mask, a notepad, a glossary, and more.

Students will receive training on how to complete the ISASP online and to use the universal features available to them.

When will students take the ISASP?

March 24 - March 27 are the testing dates. All grades will begin testing in the morning, so please plan appointments and absences around this if possible. All students are required to complete the tests and so will have to miss additional instructional time if absent.

The middle and high school will test from 8 am - 10 am (any students still testing will be allowed to continue). There will be a 2-hour late schedule for the remainder of the day. Seniors can arrive at school for class at 10 am.

How can we prepare at home?

On this website, you can find more information. They have a Test Preparation link that includes Tutorials and Practice Tests to allow parents, students and teachers to gain familiarity with the computer-based testing platform. Teachers will start planning classroom activities to help our students be successful by reducing student stress and integrating preparation into our daily instruction.

• Make sure your child gets an ample, normal amount of sleep the night before a test
• Mark testing days on your calendar to help remind you and your child when testing will take place and plan your preparations
• The student should eat a nutritious and filling breakfast. Avoid high sugar cereals which can make a student unfocused.
• Make sure the student is on time on the day of testing
• If your child is sick please contact the school immediately so make-up testing can be scheduled.

Email: cring@w-harrison.k12.ia.us
Website: www.westharrison.school
Location: 410 Pine Street, Mondamin, IA, USA
Phone: 712-646-2231

Each month, students in K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 will be recognized for his/her achievements within the West Harrison community by being awarded the Golden Hawkeye Award. Written nominations are made by the faculty/staff. A committee of staff members selects the winners from the nominations made. This is a great opportunity to recognize our students who are doing good things!

The nominees for February were (back row): Erin Lewis, Colt Heisterkamp, Noah Rath, Jeff Perry, Laynie Michael, Emma Bridgeman and Noah Cox.

Front row: Logan Garcia. Congratulations to the February Golden Hawkeye winners: Ava Garcia, McKenna Waldron, Addison McIntosh, and Eli Bowman.

Amy Stolz and the Golden Hawkeye Committee

You are invited to attend the prom grand march on Saturday, April 4th at 6:30 pm in the west gym. The prom theme for this year is "A Night Under the City Lights". The juniors, seniors and their dates will begin their night in the west gym with pictures by Michelle Garside followed by the grand march. At 7:00 a meal will be enjoyed in the school commons catered by Lidderdale Catering from Lidderdale, Iowa. After the meal, everyone will go to the west gym for a fun night of dancing with James Cloyd from Talk About It Entertainment in Omaha. At 11:30 pm prom attendees will board a bus for the trip to Altitude Trampoline Park in Omaha for post prom, returning to the school around 5:30 am.

The Junior Class of 2020 would like to thank everyone who supported their fundraising throughout the year to help make this year's prom a success!

Annette Kuhlman

West Harrison Prom Sponsor

Child Fair for West Harrison CSD will be held Wednesday, April 8th, 2020. Times are 9:00 AM - 12:00 noon. You must have an appointment. Please contact Annette Kuhlman at 646-2016.

WHO: Children ages birth to 5 who live in the West Harrison School District and are not presently in kindergarten

WHAT: A developmental screening that will give you the opportunity to see if your child is playing, moving, thinking and talking at his/her age level. Screenings include vision, hearing, speech, language and overall development.

WHERE: West Harrison Elementary at 410 Pine Mondamin, Iowa.

COST: It's fun and free for all children while reassuring to parents!

WHY: Child Fairs can give your child a better educational start.

Participating agencies may include West Harrison Schools, Iowa State Extension, Harrison County Home and Public Health, Child Care Resource and Referral, Jeffrey L Walls, DDS., Lions Club for vision checks and Alegent Health. Additional agencies may be represented.

If you have concerns about your child's development but are unable to attend the Child Fair, you may contact Green Hills AEA to schedule an in-home screening at 1-800-886-4112 or 712-642-4112

March is National Nutrition Month

We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity & Nutrition) is a national education program designed to give parents and communities a way to help children learn to eat nutritious foods. As parents, you can do a lot to help your children learn healthy eating habits and maintain a healthy weight. Involving them in meal preparation and cooking can motivate them to try new foods – and is a good way to spend time together as a family.

What is a “healthy” diet?

· A healthy eating plan is one that:

· Emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat or fat-free milk products.

· Includes lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts.

· Is low in saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium/salt, and added sugars.

· Stays within your calorie needs.

Focus on Healthy Food Choices - Choose the GO, SLOW, and WHOA foods:

GO FOODS – are the lowest in fats and added sugar. They are nutrient dense with a better source of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients important to health. Examples of GO foods are fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fat-free and low-fat milk products, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, egg whites, or egg substitute.

SLOW FOODS - are higher in fat, added sugar, and calories. SLOW foods include vegetables with added fat, white refined bread flour, low- fat mayonnaise, 2% low fat milk products, peanut butter, pizza, baked chips, and mac and cheese. Have slow foods sometimes.

WHOA FOODS – are the highest in fat and sugar. They are calorie dense foods and low in vitamins, minerals, and other needed nutrients. Have WHOA foods once in a while, and when you do have them, have small portions. Examples of WHOA foods are whole-milk products, fried foods, bakery sweets, candy, soda, chips, sugary cereals, and creamy salad dressings.

Hungry for more? Visit the WE CAN! Web site at http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov Visit the Keep the Beat: Deliciously Healthy Eating web site at http://hin.nhlbi.nih.gov/healthyeating

Bon Appetite!

Deb Evans, RN West Harrison Community Schools 712-646-2231

• Current 9th-11th grade students and their parents/guardians will have an opportunity to come on March 16th during parent-teacher conferences at 6 pm and register for next year’s classes. This helps drive the master schedule. I recommend taking advantage of this. Students that can not make it will register during school time the same week.

• Grades 3-11 will be taking ISASP tests at the end of March. Here are some good ways to support your student taking these assessments.

• Tips for Parents & Students:

For the nights before:

• -Eat a well-balanced meal

• -Get everything ready for the next day, including tomorrow’s outfit

• -Visualize a positive outcome

• -Set the alarm

• -Get a Good Night’s sleep

The days of:

• -Eat a good breakfast (healthy)

• -Give yourself plenty of time to get to school

• -Think Positive

• -Try your best

The West Harrison Jr. EMS member’s latest training included skills for search and rescue. They first learned how to put on a full bunker gear set up- pants, coat, boots, Nomex face cover, gloves, and helmet. They then trained with an SCBA unit (self-contained breathing apparatus). After being geared up (with air tank flowing) and put with a partner, they were blindfolded and searched for a fake baby in an obstacle course set up in the commons room. They learned the importance of working together to complete a task. They also learned how hot and heavy it is to wear a full set up and then have to perform a task.

West Harrison Jr. EMS members are: Chantz Cleaver, Maren Evans, Hunter Hansen, Kayla Lynch, Brecken Pavlik, Beatriz Martin, Haleigh Rife, Chloe Green, Jeff Perry, Joslynn Thomas, Lanie Gustafson, Tyler Deppe, Sabrina Rife, and Parker Rife.

Hi, My name is Nicole Melby. I am the 7th-12th grade Special Education resource teacher. It is hard to believe how fast the year is going! Eighth graders are excited about going into high school, and seniors are excited to start the next chapter in their lives.

I work with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services. This service works closely with students and their transition team to assist in determining career goals and developing a plan of action to set the student’s future in motion. I start talking to students and their parents about transition services at age 14. We talk every year about their living, learning, and working goals. In the beginning, I talk to students about their future plans after high school and their interests. Once they are a junior or senior, the Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation case manager will attend a meeting to meet with parents and the student. Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services may assist with career assessments and contact local employers for tours and job shadowing experiences. Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services may make presentations to students on transition, career planning, and job-seeking skills. If a family chooses to sign up with these free services, Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services will work closely with the family as his or her child enters the workforce or attends college.

If you have questions about Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, visit their website at www.ivrs.iowa.gov.

I’m Katie Cooper, the sixth-grade teacher at West Harrison. This is my 20th year at West Harrison. I grew up in a small rural community, in south-central Iowa, much like West Harrison. When I began teaching at West Harrison, I taught sixth grade. My second year, West Harrison formed a middle school concept, and I taught 6th, 7th, and 8th-grade reading and social studies for many years. I then taught sixth grade with one 7th grade class for several years. I am now back to just teaching sixth grade. So, I guess you could say I’ve come full circle. My husband is a West Harrison graduate, my son is a third-grader, and my two daughters are sixth graders, with all three attending West Harrison.

I enjoy teaching sixth grade. You get to watch the kids mature into almost teenagers throughout the year. They become more independent and self-reliant, but still need some reassurance and direction sometimes. By the time the end of sixth grade rolls around, they are ready to be even more independent, move around to multiple classrooms, and time manage a busy schedule with extra-curricular activities. Some have already started to do this by participating in musical performances, playing basketball and soon baseball/softball, and by participating in the fall play and Lego League.

The sixth graders have been busy learning all year. In science, we have already covered engineering and technology concepts. One of their labs was to design an aluminum boat to hold as many pennies as possible. Then, they were to redesign it to try to hold even more. They are currently learning chemistry. This is one of the favorite units of sixth grade, even though it covers some tough concepts. We’ve had many labs working with chemical and physical changes and transfer of energy (like roasting marshmallows). Lab days are always the best days, as I’m sure the kids will tell you! Another fun unit for the kids coming up will be learning about cells and the human body, in which they will get to make a huge edible plant or animal cell.

In social studies, they have learned about ancient civilizations and how they have developed, grown, and contributed to modern societies with their government, religion, social levels and roles, and art and culture. We also study how the geography influences the people, way of life, and economy of that region. We compare and contrast how we live, where we live, and what we do to these ancient civilizations all of the time. Sixth-grade math is full of multiple-step problems in which they use and combine the many skills and concepts learned throughout their elementary math years. They are also introduced to new concepts that will continue in 7th math, like integers and algebra to name a few. In reading and language arts, we continue to build upon comprehension skills, vocabulary, and grammatically correct ways to write, while writing many types of papers. They have grown a lot in their writing!

I am looking forward to making more memories with the sixth graders in the few months that are left!

The fifth grade has been incredibly busy! We have had a lot of interesting experiences and met a ton of people from all over our world. Using technology we have ‘gone on’ many virtual field-trips during a global collaborative project that we took part in. The project focused on reducing plastic pollution in our world. We skyped with the Turtle Hospital in Marathon Florida, guest speaker, Jennifer Nolan, and the South Carolina Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital. We learned about how important it is to keep our waterways clean and recycle plastics. Our class is currently gathering dried up markers to send into the Crayola company so the plastics can be recycled.

We have been connecting with other classes and teachers during mystery Skypes. Mystery Skype is a classroom activity that lets students learn about different regions of the world including the climate, landforms, resources, economy, and people in those areas. Mystery Skype is a connected learning experience that allows student-driven learning, inquiry, and deductive reasoning to be at the forefront of instruction.

In a Mystery Skype session, a call is received by another class, but neither class knows the location of the other.using geography terms, students use maps and construct questions to ask. Students build teamwork and collaboration skills as they try to solve the ‘mystery’. The class works together to figure out the questions that will best narrow down the location of the other class. The students use the information they gain to find the other class first. We try to do one mystery Skype almost every week in order to continue to develop our skill sets. Each session we take part in helps us to learn more about others and about ourselves. We have Skyped with lots of different classrooms all over the world. We have also been invited to mystery Skype with many other teachers who have been speaking at educational conferences in the U.S.

One of the best projects we have been a part of so far was making t-shirt pouches with Harrison County Conservationist, Connie Betts. Ms. Betts taught the fourth and fifth graders about the Australian wildfires and then showed us how to turn our old t-shirts into no-sew pouches to be sent to Australia. We even made it onto the local news!

Fifth grade at West Harrison continues to be quite an adventure! We wouldn’t want it any other way! After all, it's the “Best Year Ever!”

The seniors would like to thank Fisher’s Petals and Posies and Zaiser Embroidery for the flowers they generously donated for the seniors on Parent’s Night. Please seek out these businesses and shop locally to give back. Since prom is approaching, if you need flowers or need some new West Harrison Hawkeye gear, check out Fisher’s Petals and Posies and Zaiser Embroidery in Missouri Valley.

The 2020 junior high wrestling season finished with six wrestlers and a lot of experience gained. This year’s wrestlers were: 8th Graders: James Kraft and Nelson Clark. 7th Graders: Louie Flint, Jamison Martin, Landon Carritt, and Abe Pavlik.

Louie Flint and Jamison Martin lead the team with 9 wins and 7 pins each. Flint and Martin lead the team in most statistics.

Tony Nunez, Coach

Direct Your Dollars is a receipt-based program, meaning that we can raise money simply by doing something we all do each week – going to the grocery store.

Every time you shop at your local Family Fare store, save your receipts – and encourage your friends and family to do the same. Once we’ve collected $150,000 in receipts from these stores, we can turn those slips of paper into a $1,000 check for West Harrison Community School!

To reach our goal of $150,000 in receipts, we’ll be collecting eligible receipts in our Direct Your Dollars box. The box has the DYD logo on it, and it’s located in both offices in our building. Please make sure you drop off the original receipt – that’s how we earn our $1,000 check.

If you aren’t able to drop your receipts off in person, you can also mail them to the school address 410 Pine Street, Mondamin, Iowa 51557

Through the Direct Your Dollars program, we can turn YOUR Family Fare receipts into cash.

We are looking for substitute bus drivers for things like field trips, sporting events, activities, and different routes that tend to pop up. We will pay for you to take the necessary classes. Please contact the school and/or Dave Kuhlman if you are interested!

The West Harrison School district is in its fifth year of their TeamMates mentoring program. We will be one of over 170 chapters in Nebraska and Iowa.

The program’s mission is to positively impact the world by inspiring youth to reach their full potential through mentoring.

We are looking for men and women of any career and experience to be mentors to West Harrison students. Our program will be focusing on the 4th through 9th graders and will expand from there. You can get information at teammates.org. If interested please contact me at school (712-646-2231) or email (anunez@westharrison.school or knunez@westharrison.school)

Tony Nunez, President

Kim Nunez, Program Coordinator