JCSD E-Connection
Board updates, news, and events from the around the district
Week of October 22, 2018
All attempts are made to be as accurate as possible at the time of publication. Questions, comments, or concerns can be emailed to Laura Sprague, JCSD Director of Communications.
Selby Honored with “Please Pass the Love” Award
Johnston Middle School counselor Kayla Selby was recently honored with the Please Pass the Love award at the Iowa School Mental Health Conference, Oct. 16, in Des Moines. Congratulations, Kayla, and thank you for your dedication to our students! Read more here.
Five BCE Students Advance to State Bowling
Hennes Honored with Golden Plaque Award
Johnston girls cross country coach Patrick Hennes is the 2018 IGHSAU cross country recipient of the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union’s Golden Plaque of Distinction Award.
The IGHSAU’s Golden Plaque of Distinction honors the Iowa coach who has demonstrated a successful career while making notable contributions toward school, community and the coaching profession. Way to go, coach! Read more here.
District News & Announcements
Upcoming Noteable Dates
Mark your calendars for these note-worthy dates and events.
- Wednesday, October 31: NO EARLY DISMISSAL - school will dismiss at the normal time
- Friday, November 2: NO SCHOOL - staff professional learning day
- Wednesday, November 7: NO EARLY DISMISSAL - school will dismiss at the normal time
- Thursday, November 8: THREE HOUR EARLY DISMISSAL at all schools; Grades PreK-12 parent-teacher conferences from 1:30 - 5 and 5:30 -8 p.m.
- Tuesday, November 13: Grades 6-12 parent-teacher conferences from 4:30 - 8 p.m.
- Thursday, November 15: Grades PreK-5 parent-teacher conferences from 4:30-8 p.m.
- November 21-23: NO SCHOOL - Thanksgiving Break
"Training Table" program addresses food insecurity for student athletes
The JCSD Athletic-Activities Department, in conjunction with JCSD Student Support Services, are pleased to announce Johnston High School will begin participating in the Training Table Program aimed at helping to feed student athletes who do not always have easy access to food.
Donated food from HyVee will be dropped off to JHS on Fridays. The food will be discreetly available to student athletes on an as needed basis. It is important to note the food will need to be consumed within 48 hours after delivery to JHS, therefore the food will only be available on Fridays at school and any extra can be sent home for consumption over the weekend.
If you feel your student athlete could benefit from participation in the Training Table Program, please contact Melanie Steffen, Student Outreach Facilitator, at 515-321-4802, Joe Nelson, Athletic Director, at 515-278-2407, or Josh Tobey, Assistant Athletic Director, at 515-278-0476.
Johnston Legislative Action Committee
The Johnston Legislative Action Committee (JLAC) would like to invite all members of the Johnston community to their open house on Sunday, November 11 from 4:30-5:30 p.m. at the Summit Middle School Library.
There will be a brief introduction of our elected officials and school board members. We would then invite you to visit with those in attendance. Treats and drinks will be served. We hope you can join us to give parents the opportunity to meet our elected officials in a causal atmosphere. The Johnston Legislative Action Committee is a board-approved group of volunteers/parents in the district who act as a liaison between the district and our elected officials, with the goal to educate all about the need for improvements to school funding to best support the high quality education all students deserve.
Questions can be directed to Shanda Carstens, JLAC co-chair.
Sunday, Nov 11, 2018, 04:30 PM
Summit Middle School, Windsor Parkway, Johnston, IA, USA
Sign Up for the Johnston Wrestling Club
Sign up for the Johnston Wrestling Club today! Any K-8th Johnston student interested in joining the Johnston Wrestling Club can sign up at www.johnstonwrestlingclub.com
Practices are set up for both beginner and advanced sessions. Practices begin in mid November. Times, dates, and locations of practices will be determined by mid October (after the next JWC Board Meeting). Please consider joining the club today! If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to email Coach Aaron Tecklenburg at aaron.tecklenburg@johnston.k12.ia.us.
Annual Dragon Scholarship Phone-A-Thon is Coming Up
Dragon Scholarship Fund (formerly known as Johnston Dollars for Scholars) annually raises funds to provide some scholarship money to each and every graduating student going on to further their education.
Johnston High School National Honor Society students will conduct our annual phone-a-thon on the following evenings: November 4, 5, 11 and 12 - between the hours of 6 and 8.00 p.m. The students will be phoning to ask for pledges from DuPont Pioneer Hi-Bred – who generously permit the Dragon Scholarship Fund to utilize their phone-bank for this phone-a-thon. As many families now have Caller ID and are curious about unexpected calls coming in from a Pioneer number on one of those nights, please take the time to answer the call. If you do not want to be on the calling list in future, please use that opportunity to ask that your name be removed from the list.
For more information, go to our website at www.dragonsf.org.
Johnston Booster Club Fall Membership Drive
The Johnston Booster Club is an all-volunteer group of over 150 parents and community members working together to raise money and coordinate support for athletics, activities and the arts in Johnston schools. Be part of the team by joining the booster club during the fall membership drive. Find out more and sign up at https://www.johnstonboosterclub.org.
Board Highlights from October 22
REPORTS
Request for a new club - Johnston HOSA
Request for a new club - Secular Student Alliance
ACT Report
Enrollment Report
Approval for 2019-20 Calendar Committee
Approval of JCSD Online Apparel Store
Approval of the New Club - Women's Liberation
Approval of Summit Pool Heater
Approval of Johnston Baseball and Softball Complex Change Orders
Resolution setting Hearing on Sanitary Sewer Easement
Resolution Setting Hearing on Disposition of Real Property
SUPERINTENDENT'S REPORT
Construction Update: Joy Palmer (JELA) and David Dominguez (Stahl Construction) provided an update on the delay of playground surface in the JELA play areas and what the next steps would be to get play surface installed.
David also gave an update on the baseball and softball complex, sharing that the dry weather has moved construction along. The baseball field is now entirely graded and passed tests, which means crews can move ahead with pouring concrete in some areas. Overall, the project still remains delayed by a couple of weeks.
Superintendent Goals: Laura gave a brief overview of Goal #1: Data Driven Work and the new Tableau system that is being developed as a part of that; she also discussed the work of the administrative group's professional learning agenda as part of her Goal #2; Professional Learning Alignment.
Other: Mid-American Energy presented a check to the district in the amount of $198,680.99 for rebates from the past fiscal year. Over the past year, buildings & grounds personnel completed LED lighting in all of the schools, helping the district save money and energy.
UPCOMING MEETINGS
The November board meetings will be held on November 5 and 19 at 6 p.m. at the Johnston Administrative Resource Center, 5608 Merle Hay Rd., Johnston IA.
CONTACT THE BOARD
Persons are encourages to send questions, comments and suggestions to our board members. Each board member can be reached by email: Greg Dockum; Jill Morrill; Justin Allen; Deb Henry; Steven Hopper; Dr. Jeanie Kerber; and Matt Stahr.
Johnston Community School District
JCSD Non-Discrimination Statement
It is the policy of the Johnston Community School District not to illegally discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, 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 the district’s Associate Superintendent, Dr. Bruce Amendt, 5608 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, Iowa 50131, (515) 278-0470, bamendt@johnston.k12.ia.us.
Email: laura.sprague@johnston.k12.ia.us
Website: johnstoncsd.org
Location: 5608 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA, USA
Phone: 515-278-0470
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnstonSchools/
Twitter: @johnstoncsd