Liberty Newsletter Volume 26
March 16, 2019
Liberty High School
Email: kibby.scott@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://www.iowacityschools.org/LibertyHS
Location: 1400 South Dubuque Street, North Liberty, IA, United States
Phone: 319-688-1350
Twitter: @LibertyHS_Kibby
Liberty's Smore Newsletter
During the Spring Smores I'm going to share more about our BOLTS matrix and our core values around what it means to be a BOLT. As a reminder B is for Belonging, O is for Ownership, L is for Leadership, T is for Teamwork and S is for Safety.
As always if you have suggestions for my twice monthly newsletter you may simply email me. I am open to feedback and am always looking to get better and grow our Liberty Experience.
Thank you
Scott
Scott Kibby
Principal
Liberty High School
Iowa City Community School District
The O in BOLTS is for Ownership
Today, I'd like to share what the O in Ownership means to us at Liberty. When we talk of Ownership it always revolves around Owning our Attitude, our Effort and our Actions. And this isn't just for students but for all of us at Liberty.
When I think of Attitude, I think of that common quote, "We may not be able to control every situation and its outcome, but we can control our attitude and how we deal with it". To me it speaks to bringing our best every day for kids.
When I think of Owning our Effort it simply signifies our Work Ethic. For some students this is a developing skill. And that's OK. We teach more than Shakespeare and slope-intercept line. And this skill is so critical for success outside of school. This is one of the coolest areas of growth that we see as educators of High School students. Often times we can see that work ethic developed and improved upon over time.
And Owning our Actions is simple for me. None of us are perfect, including me as your principal. Our actions or our words don't always represent our best. And when those things occur its our job to "own it" and "make it right". We humble ourselves to "restore relationships". I have seen kids really grow in this area in just the last year. High School is hard from a relationship stand point. From peer to peer interactions or students interacting with staff. Restoring relationships after difficulty is really important work that all staff try to work through with students.
I'm proud of the work Liberty has done with helping students know they BELONG at Liberty and the growth I've seen in OWNING our EFFORT, ATTITUDE and ACTIONS. We know that this work is a partnership with families as well and we thank you for the wonderful work you do in helping your students grow in OWNERSHIP.
Supporting Your Student
Did you know there is a PowerSchool App? It is called PowerSchool Moblie. You will need our district code: RKTH. Once you log in, you can access up to date attendance and grade information.
Once in your PowerSchool app, you can sign up for grade and attendance notifications. To do this, click on the THREE DOTS in the menu bar at the bottom of the screen. Click on ACCOUNT, select NOTIFICATIONS, turn ATTENDANCE and/or GRADE CHANGE on/off by sliding the button left/right.
If you need help with logging in, please contact our guidance department.
Staff Spotlight: Lyn Prelle-Activities Secretary
Lyn Prelle is Liberty's athletic secretary who assists the athletic director, coaches, and student athletes. Previous to working at Liberty she worked at West High as an office secretary and athletic secretary. She grew up in North Liberty and currently lives in North Liberty. Lyn is excited that her three children Luke (10th grade), Laney (8th grade), and Corbin (kindergarten) will all graduate from Liberty High School. Outside of school Lyn enjoys working out, travelling, baking, and spending time with her husband Jared, their kids, their dog Rogue, and their 23 year old cat China. Lyn is very thankful to be a part of the Liberty family and is thrilled and proud to see the positive growth and community that Liberty is creating.
Staff Spotlight: Anna Manternach-Athletic Trainer
Anna Manternach is Liberty’s athletic trainer serving all Liberty athletes (and sometimes the staff!). She works to prevent, evaluate, treat, and rehabilitate athletic injuries. Anna is also a clinical preceptor for the University of Iowa’s athletic training program, mentoring University students each semester. She has developed a quarterly Sports Medicine Education series (SportsMedEd), in an effort to provide parents, coaches, and athletes information on key sports medicine topics from local experts. Anna earned her undergraduate degree from Bethel University and will complete her Master’s degree through A.T. Still University this spring. Originally from MN, she worked with high school students in MN, KS, and AZ before returning to the Midwest. Outside of school, you will find Anna spending lots of time with her husband Jeremy and their daughter Nora (3.5). Nora likes to come to Liberty to “help the athletes,” too! Anna loves being a part of the Liberty family and is thankful for the opportunity to work with our student-athletes!
Important Dates
Spring Break: March 16-March 24
ICCSD College Fair: March 28
Iowa City Booster Pancake Day: March 30
ICR College and Career Fair: March 31
Dine Out for Education: April 4
ICAN College Planning Night: April 10
Musical: Legally Blonde: April 11 - 13
Iowa State Wide Assessment of Student Progress: April 16 and 17
Family/Teacher Conferences: April 17
Snow Make-up Day: April 26
Junior/Senior Prom: April 27
Recall, Liberty along with the schools of the MVC run all their activity schedules and calendars through a company called Rschool Today. You can look up game schedules for specific sports as well as performing arts performances. My favorite feature is "Notify Me". On the middle right hand portion of the page you can sign up to receive notifications for any changes that occur in YOUR child's activities. You will only get what you want. No season has more changes that Spring in Iowa. With the notify me feature you'll know before the media if a game is delayed, postponed or changes.
https://mississippivalleyiowa.org/public/genie/80/school/2671/
Counseling Office News
Iowa City College Fair at West High School on Thursday March 28, 2019 in the new south gym. The college fair is from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. There will be a presentation at 7:00 for those interested in selective colleges.
ICAN College Planning and Financial Aid Night for Juniors and Junior Parents on Wednesday, April 10 at 6:30 in the Liberty Cafe Commons.
To assist in getting information to college recruiters at the fair, please register at:
Grade Level Booklets
The following link connects families to the Senior Booklet for students and parents to better navigate through the necessary steps for college and career planning.
Junior Booklet is recently released.
It's contents cover:
- Junior year timeline (don't worry if you haven't done some of these things- there is still plenty of time!)
- Testing information- types of admission tests, how to register, etc
- Apprenticeship after high school
- Researching Colleges
- Campus Visits
- When and how to apply
- Helpful websites
Click here to view the Junior Booklet.
Sophomore Booklet is under construction and will be released soon
FreshmanBooklet can be found at
ACT Study Group
If you are planning to take the April or June ACT and want help studying, sign up for the ACT Tutoring Group led by a University of Iowa student that will take place on Wednesdays in the Library during Liberty Time. Sign up in the counseling office, now!
Who's My Counselor? (by students last name)
A-G Troy Bergmann, bergmann.troy@iowacityschools.org
H-N Jenni Naughton, naughton.jennifer@iowacityschools.org
O-Z Mayra DeVries, devries.mayra@iowacityschools.org
55th Annual Iowa City Schools Pancake Day
Mark your calendars to attend the 55th Annual Pancake Day!! The annual Pancake Day fundraiser supports the athletic programs at South East Junior High, Northwest Junior High, North Central Junior High, City High, Liberty High, and West High Schools is coming up Saturday, March 30 from 6:30am-2:00 pm.
Funds distributed to Liberty High School and North Central Junior High help purchase needed equipment and supplies for our teams. A significant percentage of our annual equipment budget comes from this single fundraiser.
You can support this important fundraiser in several ways:
· By a direct tax deductible donation. You can donate online at: http://www.iccsdfoundation.org/pancake-day/ .
· By purchasing and selling tickets for our event. Simply put, the more tickets we sell, the more money we make. Each student athlete should have received five tickets to sell. Tickets can also be purchased online: http://www.iccsdfoundation.org/pancake-day/ or can be purchased at the door.
· By providing a donation to the event of food or supplies, or by providing an item for the raffle. Please contact Carrie Watson (clwatson109@gmail.com) for information.
· Sign up to help at the event using the link below
Career and College Fair
Dine Out for Education
Plan on visiting one (or more) of the 43 Dine Out restaurant locations listed HERE! You can dine in or carry out all day long . . . breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks. Each of the restaurant partners listed will donate 10% of their daily sales back to benefit our schools and students!
Our Spring date for Dine Out is Thursday, April 4
Thank you for taking time to Dine Out for Education!
#gethungryforeducation
Legally Blonde The Musical
The online store for Legally Blonde apparel is now open.
The link is: https://pogo.undergroundshirts.com/collections/liberty-lightening-theatre-pogo)
The store will CLOSE at Midnight on Monday, March 18.
Clothing will be available for pick up on April 1st.
Show Dates:
Thursday, April 11th @ 7pm
Friday, April 12 @ 7pm
Saturday, April 13th @ 1pm and 7pm
Ticket Prices:
Adults- $15
Students (College, HS, MS, Elem) and Seniors- $10
ICCSD Staff & Children (Pre-Elem)- $5
*This show contains adult language and themes not suitable for all audiences. Viewer discretion advised.
Iowa Testing is coming soon
ISASP Iowa Statewide Assessments of Student Progress will be held on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 16th and 17th for grades 9 through 11
Student expectations on those days are:
- Students must bring Chromebooks fully charged on ISASP testing days.
- Students will need to leave cell phones turned off and in backpacks (not located in testing centers)
- Students should leave backpacks in their locker.
- Students are only allowed to bring a book to read on testing days.
Liinked is a district letter regarding the ISASP tests.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1N1dv5U2nFam_5NLAJTcgpSC3pOtINYDhikTEWJVYxP8/edit?usp=sharing
Prom
A Night With the Stars!! Liberty High School is excited to announce the 2019 PROM is almost here!!! Prom will be April 27th 8-11 PM and will be held at Liberty High School. Students will be strolling down the red carpet as our theme is "A Night With The Stars." Tickets will be sold starting with the first full week of April until the Friday before Prom. Liberty juniors and seniors are invited along with their guests. Students inviting non-Liberty students, please stop in the office to grab a "guest form" and check out the guidelines for bringing a guest.
Iowa City Boutique
IC Boutique is back and hoping for another successful year!
Last year, they were able to assist 20 deserving students with requests to make their prom experience great! Last year they raised $600 and are hoping to increase that to $1000 this year!
Monetary donations were used for meal gift cards, hair and makeup appointments, tux rentals, as well as other miscellaneous prom expenses. Dresses and accessories were also donated for students.
IC Boutique is excited to serve even more students this year. They are proud to be able to expand their reach and will be serving Liberty, West, and City high schools this year!
All monetary donations will be spread evenly between all three high schools.
In-kind donations are accepted as well.
Liberty's contact for more information is Counselor Mayra DeVries at devries.mayra@iowacityschools.org
Soccer
Softball
Baseball
Liberty Speech Team
Liberty's first year of competing in the Iowa High School Speech Association is in the books. We fielded an Individual Speech team of seven students who traveled to the district contest at Cedar Valley Christian High School on Saturday, February 23rd. Of the eleven speech entries at district contest, six made it to the state contest which was at North Scott High School on Saturday, March 9th. The Liberty Individual Speech Team scored three Division 1 ratings at the state contest!
Even though numbers were small, Mr. Borrison and Ms. Kouri were exceptionally proud of the hard work and time each team member put into their speeches this winter. It was a great first year for the speech program and we look forward to its continued growth.
Liberty PALS
PALS continue to have a positive impact on Liberty students and our culture. PALS students do outreach programs to elementary students. Additionally PALS students support our modified PE program and students. And PALS students support individual Liberty students in peer mentoring and support. PALS students learn empathy and compassion while providing support and service to their peers. I'm proud of staff leader Mayra DeVries and her team of caring kids. Attached is a photo from a recent class discussion. Well Done PALS
Thank you Difference Makers
Difference Makers (the club) mission is to serve and support families that have children facing life threatening illnesses. This year they raised over $43,000. WOW!
Thank you to science teacher Jen Secrist and her cast of numerous service minded students for all your amazing work.
ICCSD French Trip
French Teacher Ms. Wiesley and student Aubrey Dallner are traveling to France on the ICCSD French trip with West High and City High. They departed, Tuesday, March 12th, and will return Saturday, March 23rd.
In a year of firsts, we are very excited that Aubrey is the very first Liberty student participating on the French trip.
Jazz Band
Congrats to the Liberty Jazz Bands for an excellent season. The Jazz Ensemble participated in the Corridor Jazz Project concert at the Paramount Theater in Cedar Rapids. The performance was recorded and will be featured on Jazz 88.3 KCCK throughout the month.
At the SEIBA Jazz Festival the Lightning Jazz Band got 3rd Place out of 10 bands in the Class 4A Second Band class-a major achievement! Additionally, Freshmen guitarist Christian Montover received the outstanding soloist award.”
Thank you booster ball
Thank you everyone who organized and supported the Athletic Boosters and their Booster Ball!! There was a wonderful team of awesome committee members who put so much time into making the event a success! Thank you!!
The final numbers aren't in yet, but it appears the club raised over $35,000 for Liberty Athletics. The tentative plan is to have the next Booster Ball in Fall 2020.
Thank you to everyone for attending the event and for all of your support!
Workshop for students interested in the Military Academies
The Liberty Fund makes first grants!
The Liberty Fund has made its first grants to teachers.
Gaining financial support are Business Professionals of America, In Shoc, MLK Day, Storm Show Choir, Garden Club, The Math Team and the Art Club.
If you'd like to learn more about the Liberty fund, please enjoy the following article from the North Liberty Leader.
http://www.northlibertyleader.com/content/financial-boost-bolts
If you'd like to contribute to the Liberty Fund attached is a foundation link.
www.iowacityschools.org/TheLibertyFund
Thank you for your consideration
PSTO
PSTO meets at 4:45 on the third Wednesday of the month in the Liberty Library.
2018-19 dates and guest speakers
· April 17-guest speaker Marge Hartman on the North Liberty Summer Meals Program
· May 15-guest speakers Beth Long and Jenny Saylor with the Garden Club
The PSTO has done wonderful work to support the students and staff at Liberty. They'd love to have you join them for meetings. No signup is necessary If you'd like more information you can contact them at libertyhspsto@gmail.com
PSTO board members for 2018-2019:
· President: Sandy DeSchinckel
· President Elect: Marisa Keeney
· Secretary: Deb Wagner
· Treasurer: Shawn Eyestone
· Volunteer Coordinator: Lyse Strnad
Liberty Construction Phase 3
Phase 2 are the outdoor activity spaces that should be completed this spring.
Phase 3 will begin in late spring of 2019 and will include:
1) A satellite bus depot to serve the northern part of the district (on the east side of the campus)
2) A 21-classroom addition on the east side of the building
3) A fully secure "hard-scaped" courtyard and
4) an additional activity parking lot on the far western portion of campus.
It is exciting to see the continued growth of Liberty. #GoBolts