Jaguar Journal
Ankeny Centennial High School April 2024
Notes from our Principal - Dr. Jill Urich
Greetings, Jaguar Families!
Next week is a BIG week at Centennial with ISASP, guest speakers, and prom. I’m resharing specific communication that went out to each grade level:
Please take a few moments to review this important information. Our schedule is unique every day next week.
Go Jags!
Sincerely,
Dr. Jill Urich
Principal
PROM
The Ankeny Centennial Prom will be held on Saturday, April 6 from 8:00 - 11:00 p.m. at the Elwell Family Food Center in The Iowa State Fairgrounds. Tickets will be sold online through the District Touchbase system. At the end of this informational letter are instructions on how to access the Touchbase system. If you have trouble accessing Touchbase, please contact Connie Richard or DeAnn Bennien, ACHS Building Secretaries, at 965-9610 for assistance. Tickets sales have been live since 8:00 am on Monday, March 4 and are available through midnight Monday, April 1. This is the ONLY time tickets may be purchased. They will NOT be sold at school or at the door. Tickets are only allowed to be purchased by parents/guardians of junior or senior CHS students. A maximum of two tickets may be purchased per student. If a student is purchasing ACHS Prom Tickets x2, please be prepared to include the guest name and the school they attend. Students will need to pick up purchased tickets during the lunches on Wednesday, April 3 and Thursday, April 4. Students will NOT be able to pick up tickets other than these times. To pick up their ticket students will need to present their current school ID. If a student is bringing a guest, their guest request form must be approved before they pick up their tickets.
Students must have their ticket AND their current school ID to enter the event.
After Prom Information
ACHS Junior & Seniors/Parents:
Here is some important information you'll want to know. Even if you are not going to Prom, you can attend After Prom. After Prom is FREE for all.
After Prom Date Reminders:
Senior Yard Signs sale ends 3/20, link below
Senior Wall Photos due by March 22
After Prom T-Shirts last date to order March 25
*Pickup T-Shirts April 3 at Strawberry Patch
After Prom: April 6 (need volunteers- link below)
Tropical Smoothie Fundraiser April 10
-Please watch for other fundraisers/specials on our social media (possible Nail Salon fundraiser) Skeffington's & Bridal Connection
New Hours of After Prom for 2024
11:30pm- Ends at 4am
We will let students into After Prom at 11:30pm on April 6. Some of the events won’t start until midnight, but this allows anyone who gets there early to enjoy activities like Food, Casino, Inflatables.
All Students must be through registration by 1am or they will not be able to enter. Students are not allowed to re-enter once they leave (or if asked to leave). There will be security as usual.
After Prom is ending at 4/4:15am this year. This means that if there is a concern with your student driving at that time, you can complete a Waiver of Intermediate Driver’s License Hour Restriction Form. We will not check for this form, just giving you the information: (Form 431170) https://iowadot.seamlessdocs.com/f/WaiverofIntermedDriveLicHRRestrictions
What to Expect at After Prom:
Theme: Centennial Carnival
At registration, you will receive tickets for large prizes, Seniors will be given an entry for the Car drawing, any ACHS student who arrives wearing their AfterProm t-shirts will also get a ticket for a raffle of $200 CASH.
Small Prizes through the night, Food is available throughout the night. The Hypnotist will perform in the cafeteria area from 1am-2am with a Movie to follow. There is a coat check (bags are not allowed in event). Check out the new SILENT DISCO upstairs across from the wrestling room. Inflatables: Knockerball, Mechanical Bull, Human Foosball, VR LaserTag, Wipeout and the DJ will be in the main gym. We have a New 360 Video Photo Booth this year! Casino in the back gym with a Cash Cube (catch the flying cash), Airbrush Tattoos are past the movie theater area. Special Treats: Fresh popcorn and cotton candy along with many other treats. Large Prizes will be drawn in the gym just after 3:30 with the final grand prize: A Car donated from Karl Chevrolet!
Purchase your 2024 After Prom T-Shirts, Students could win $200!
(Parents are encouraged to join in the fun & wear one too)
Order by Monday March 25!
LINK:https://achsafterprom24.itemorder.com/shop/product/38995984
Students: Show up to AP wearing your 2024 AP T-Shirt and get a ticket for a drawing to win $200 CASH! This drawing is done early in the night.
Sign-up to Volunteer at the After Prom Event on Sign-up Genius.
All Volunteers check-in at the Atrium Entrance Area (in front of the main office)
There are some new volunteer spots needed this year. We have had to move our items to a local storage unit this year. This means we need help loading large items at the storage unit onto a truck on Friday afternoon, then removing them at the school about 4pm. We also need to reload the truck Sunday around 4am and drive to storage to unload when they open at 6am. We had previously relied on the custodian staff for this, so this is a new process. There is the opportunity to volunteer for multiple time slots such as Decorating on Friday and again at the event on Saturday.
Volunteer LINK: https://m.signupgenius.com/?#!/showSignUp/30E0D4FACAA2CABFA7-48506918-2024
HELP & Donations
*We need DONATIONS- Parents, Families, Friends & Neighbors are encouraged to donate. We do not charge an entrance fee to make it accessible for everyone, so we rely on donations. We are about 50% behind in donations this year. We recommend a $35 donation, but any amount will help. Please donate by
Venmo: AnkenyAfterProm or send checks to: PO Box 1181, Ankeny IA 50021
*Business Donations: If you have a business or know someone who would be interested in sponsoring or donating a financial donation or food or prizes, please let us know asap. We can add your company name or company logo to ACHS & AHS t-shirts (we must know of donation by March 25 for tshirt) for details contact: AfterProm4ACHS@gmail.com We also will give social media attention as we can’t do it without local businesses supporting our students to Stay Safe on Prom night.This is a great way to sponsor not just ACHS but also AHS with one single donation! This is the only opportunity to do so other than Boosters.
Help: *If we want After Prom to continue next year & in the future, we Need Current Soph & Jr parents to get involved now & learn what is involved to put this event together. You can start shadowing us now to learn. Please email: afterprom4achs@gmail.com.
We need you- NO EXPERIENCE NECESSARY. Every committee every year is made up of people who had never done this before.
Senior Wall Pictures:
Please send in 2 pictures that are small enough to fit both on an 8x11 paper, by March 22
One picture should be a baby/young child pic, the other should be a Senior pic. Mark the back of both photos with your student’s first & last name. Drop them off in an envelope in the office or send to Ankeny After Prom: PO Box: 1181 Ankeny 50021
Senior Sign Order ends Wed 3/20: Link to Order: https://hawkjagseniorsigns2024.itemorder.com/shop/home/
Please follow us on social media for all updates, info and links.
Facebook: Ankeny Centennial High School After Prom
Instagram: hawksandjagsafterprom
Please support all the businesses that are supporting After Prom! We absolutely can’t do it without the help of our community and these small businesses. Since we are not affiliated with Ankeny Schools, all our money comes from fundraising and donations. You will find them posted on our social media, posted at the AP event and larger donors are also listed on the back of the After Prom t-shirts.
We look forward to a fun, successful night, but it takes a village. We need your volunteer time, donations and joining in on the fundraising.
Thank you!
Ankeny After Prom Committee
Stay connected - Follow Us!
Email: afterprom4achs@gmail.com
Facebook: @AnkenyCentennialHighSchoolAfterProm
Commencement UPDATE for 2025
Iowa State has our 2025 commencement held on May 31, 2025.
Our project manager said because we are an annual event with them (except in construction years), we don't need to have a contract to hold the date. We are on all their facility calendars, and the facility is ours, so we can move forward with communicating the commencement date for next year.
Seniors
Nurses Notes
2025 Seniors: Students who are 16 years old are eligible to receive the Meningococcal (MenACWY) vaccine. Students typically receive the first dose of this vaccine upon entering 7th grade. The second dose is required after turning 16 and is an Iowa Immunization requirement for students entering 12th grade (Meningitis B does not fulfill this requirement). Your student will not need a second dose of the vaccine if the first dose was administered after they were sixteen. Please talk to your student's health care provider and prepare for the 2024-2025 school year. Contact our school nurse, Krystal Stanford, at krystal.stanford@ankenyschools.org with any questions.
Councilor's Corner
DMACC Online Course Registration
Fall 2024 Online DMACC course registration is open. Students interested in taking an online college course next fall will need to register before May 24th. Linked is an important document for students and guardians to review before making the decision to take an online course. Reach out to your student’s counselor if you have any questions.
Media Center News
Open Mic’ Night - We have set a date for our next Open Mic’ Night! April 28th at 5pm in the CHS Media Center. Any high school student is welcome to perform! Please contact Mr. Honz or Mrs. Wirtz to sign up! Books and Bagels Book Club - We meet the last Friday of each month before school in the library. Stop in to check out new books and meet with Ms. Bellis from Kirkendall. Here is the March Calendar!
Activities Corner
The Northview and Centennial Mock Trial teams competed in the regional competition and both teams advanced to state: Congratulations to the following students: Kalyani Bhat, Maia Bredice, Anna Bruns, Gabriel Conzemius, Cathy Owusu-Anokye, Vivian Powell, Quinn Robinson.
Speech IE competed at state with 20 students participating in 27 events and earned 26 "One" ratings, and 18 of the "One" ratings were straight ones meaning all three judges in the room gave the performance a "One." The best part--all 20 students earned at least one "One" rating! The students who earned "One" ratings are listed below. In addition, it was announced that four students were nominated to perform at All-State on March 25 at UNI: Bryce Brayer-Acting; Charlie Thomsen-Oral interpretation of Prose; Ty Walker-Spontaneous Speaking; and Zach Johnson-Storytelling. Congratulations to all our speech students and sponsors, Kelcy Lofgren and Holland Evermore.
IE State Performers: Savannah Potts, Zach Johnson, Lucy Frost, Anna Burkle, Charlie Stevens, Ilo Dryoel, Meryn Smith, Diana Wilhelm, Kylee Hofmeyer, Allie Richter, Jenna Benkufsky, Aubrey Todsen, Ty Walker, Lauren Harmon, Kennedy O’Connell, Cadence Phillips, Bryce Brayer, Charlie Thomsen, Reese Mitchell, Austin Hook.
The ACHS Dance Team competed in Nationals In Orlando. The Jags advanced to the Finals in all 3 routines!! Finishing 3rd in Kick, 12th in Pom, and 14th in Jazz! Congratulations to the team and dance coach, Alayna Clark.
The Centennial boys track team won the Class A division and the overall title at the Steve Roth Relays in Washington. The Jaguars won 6 events: 4x100 relay with Elijah Porter, Connor Welsch, Lawson Langford and Max Snyder; Robert McGhee in the 200 meters; Jackson Reed 400 meters; AJ Schermerhorn 3200 meters; Cael Woods 400 hurdles; Blaine Sandquist first in discus.
The Centennial girls track team competed indoors at the IATC meet on March 9 with several top finishes including Kam Leazer first in the long jump; Anika Mohrhauser 5th in the 1500; Anna Woods 2nd and Kam Leazer 4th in the high jump.
Please consider volunteering at our two High School track meets on 4/18 and 4/23 at Northview Stadium. Please email the AD office at nathan.lingren@ankenyschools.org if you can assist.
Schedules are located at www.cimlcentral.org stop out and support the Jags this Spring!
Announcing People of the Year Winners
Caroline Edgeton for Educator Professional of the Year Award
Rick VanRoekel for Volunteer of the Year Award
Cody Cameron for Support Staff Member of the Year Award
FBLA SLC CHS and AHS
Ankeny and Centennial Future Business Leader of America students attended the Iowa FBLA State Leadership Conference from Sunday March 24th to Tuesday March 26th. 23 of our students performed in competitions, completed tests, ran for leadership roles and more. We are very proud of the dedication and effort put forth by this group from both high schools. Three years ago AHS took our first group of three to SLC. Since then, Tyler Brown of AHS was a regional district VP last year then the Iowa FBLA state president this year. Isabel Crabbs of AHS was a District VP this year and was just elected as the Iowa FBLA State President for the 24-25 year, effective immediately. This year, between AHS and CHS we had 23 students compete and earn several top finishes in many events. See the list below.
FBLA SLC 2024 Awards
◦ Retail Management - CHS Kaitlyn Willis 4th CHS and Nicole Huang 6th
◦ Accounting I - AHS Cameron Overbaugh 4th
◦ Banking and Financial Systems - CHS Elisha Mwesigwa 3rd
◦ Business Law - CHS Elisha Mwesigwa 10th and AHS Carson Upenieks 6th
◦ Business Management - CHS Tommy Gilbert 4th and AHS Team Tyler Brown and Cameron Overbaugh 6th
◦ Computer Applications - AHS Conner Hallengren 5th
◦ Entrepreneurship - AHS Team Gabe Brannon and Gabe Vesperman 10th
◦ Graphic Design - AHS Team Darren Green, Brooklyn Stember, Cameron Overbaugh 10th
◦ Healthcare Administration - AHS Raegan Behrens 5th , CHS Elizabeth Mahama 7th
◦ Spelling Bee - CHS Team Elisha Mwesigwa, Aleah Maritim, Elizabeth Mahama 9th
◦ Human Resource Management - CHS Kaitlyn Willis 2nd
◦ Impromptu Speaking - AHS Carson Upenieks 8th, AHS Isabel Crabbs 5th
◦ International Business - CHS Team Tommy Gilbert and Elisha Mwesigwa 2nd
◦ Insurance and Risk Management- AHS Tyler Brown 5th, AHS Darren Green 3rd
◦ Job Interview - CHS Ella Harris 4th
◦ Management Information Systems - AHS Darren Green 4th
◦ Marketing - CHS Kaitlyn Willis 4th, CHS Team Aleah Maritim, Ella Harris, and Elizabeth Mahama 6th
◦ Network Design - AHS Team Gabe and Gabe Brannon 4th
◦ Public Service Announcement- AHS Team Isabel Crabbs, Eden Schuchart, Carson Upenieks 2nd
◦ Sports and Entertainment Management- CHS Team Elizabeth Mahama and Aleah Maritim 8th, AHS Team Raegan Behrens and Eden Schuchart 1st
◦ UX Design - AHS Eden Schuchart 4th
◦ Visual Design - AHS Team Raegan Behrens and Brooklyn Stember 5th
◦ Website Coding and Design - AHS Conner Hallengren 4th
◦ Newly Elected Iowa FBLA State President 24-25 from AHS Isabel Crabbs (Tyler Brown of AHS fulfilled his year of State President and past the baton to Isabel) Iowa FBLA is in good hands!
Ankeny Community School District
It is the policy of the Ankeny Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, 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 Ken Morris, Jr., Equity Director at 306 SW School Street, Ankeny, IA 50023, 515/965-9600 or kenneth.morris@ankenyschools.org. The grievance will then be directed to the appropriate administrator charged with managing the program or department specified in the grievance.