PANTHER PRESS
February 7, 2020
Panther Success Graduate
Alfonso Espinoza is the first student in 2020 to graduate from the Panther Success program. Alfonso moved to Knoxville first semester and needed only a few credits to earn his high school diploma; therefore, the Panther Success program was a great fit. Alfonso hopes to enter college and study to be a college professor in the area of technology.
Additionally, Panther Success students had a great first semester finishing a total of 59 classes, and graduating two students. Alfonso is the 3rd graduate this year, and the program anticipates more graduates second semester. Congratulations, Alfonso and the rest of the Panther Success students!
Politics and Play-Doh
In Mr. Gibbons's biology class are using Play-Doh to model molecules found in the human body and our diets to see how they transform when we eat food. The goal was to see if a person could survive on eating just sugar or starches.
Upcoming home events -
* Fri, Feb. 7: 7/8 Dance - 700 PM (@Knoxville Middle School)
* Sat, Feb. 8: Dance Team Showcase Night - 700 PM (@Knoxville High School)
* Tue, Feb. 11: 8 BBB (“B/C” games only) v. Pella - 430 PM (@Knoxville Middle School)
* Tue, Feb. 11: JV1/V GBB v. Fairfield - 615 PM (@Knoxville High School)
* Sat, Feb. 15: V WR - Districts - 1200 PM (@Knoxville High School)
State Competitions upcoming!
Wrestling competes at Sectionals in Albia on Saturday, February 8 at 1200 PM
We will host Districts in our high school gym on Saturday, February 15 at 1200 PM
Boys Swimming competes at Districts in Marshalltown on Saturday, February 8 at 1200 PM
Girls & Boys Bowling competes at the State Qualifying Meet in Pleasant Hill on Tuesday, February 18 at 100 PM
Our Girls Basketball team is currently 17-1 overall; 11-0 in the conference! Our girls are also ranked #15 in the latest Class 4A poll! Boys Basketball is 11-6 overall; also 8-3 in the conference! Postseason dates and opponents for our girls and boys basketball teams will be released next week!
Varsity Football 2020!
The Iowa High School Athletic Association just released some information on Varsity football scheduling for the 2020 season. In the past, Varsity football schedules were scheduled on a 2-year cycle. Scheduling for the 2020 season will be for 1-year only and then re-evaluated around this time next year. Our Class 3A district for 2020 includes: Bondurant-Farrar, Carlisle, Pella, Nevada, and North Polk. Our complete 2020 Varsity football schedule should be released sometime in mid to late March.
Logo Committee Update!
Our Logo Committee had our third and final meeting with Letterman Creative on Wednesday, February 5. At our December 18 meeting, they had presented us with options and based on our feedback - made some minor revisions to the logo system and fonts and then presented those to us at our February 5 meeting. We should have the final logo system product in the near future and will be presented to the school board in March for final approval.
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- All home events in the Knoxville High School gym and all school concerts in KPAC will be streamed LIVE on the NFHS Network! Go to www.nfhsnetwork.com for more details!
- Get schedules for all extra-curricular middle school and high school activities by going to www.knoxville.k12.ia.us and then clicking on "Activity Calendar". You can even sign-up for email notifications so whenever we make a change to a schedule - you can be notified immediately.
- Follow the Knoxville Activities Department on Instagram! @knoxvilleactivities
Seventh grade life skills we are talking about personal identity. Students are discovering strengths and weakness they have and how they can use them. We are moving on to friends, cliques, and bullies.
Eighth grade has just finished a unit on boundaries and personal space. We talked about what kind of boundaries they have and how big they are. Students also talked about how they let others know how big their personal space is and what to do when their space is invaded. The next unit they will be working on is cyberbullying.
Celebrating School Counselors
National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated February 3-7, 2020 to bring attention to the unique contribution of professional school counselors. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and graduate college and career ready.
School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; work in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world; focus on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development; and work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. Professional school counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master's degree in school counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.
Knoxville Community School District has a strong team of professional school counselors who work with students every day. Be sure to thank the school counselors for everything they do!
West Elementary: Ruthann Burkman
Northstar Elementary: Traci Lee
Middle School: Deb Ellerman & Corrie Sass
High School: Carolyn Jones & Doug Hatch
Hard Surface Routes
It’s time to think spring...and fall school health requirements! NOW is the time to schedule physicals, dental appointments, eye exams and immunization updates. Here are some highlights of various requirements for fall:
Will you have students in the following grades in the Fall 2020? If so, here’s what they’ll need:
- Pre-Kindergarten: immunizations, physical
- Kindergarten: immunizations, lead screening, physical, eye exam, dental exam
- 3rd graders: eye exam
- 7th graders: immunization update of Tdap and Meningococcal required
- 9th graders: dental exam
- 12th graders: immunization update of Meningococcal
Find forms and information on the School Nurse web page.
Need immunizations? Marion County Public Health can help: call 641-828-2238.
If you’d like help reviewing your child’s immunization record to determine what they need for the fall, call me and I’ll be glad to review it for you.
- Cell: 641-891-6016
- Ofc: 641-842-6551 ext 10
You've Got Mail!
Families of students in grades 4-12 will be receiving student results from the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP). The test was given last spring to all students in Iowa public schools. Student test results will be mailed with 1st semester report cards.
This guide can assist you in understanding how your child is learning in the areas of English Language Arts and math. Students who were in grades 5, 8, and 11, last school year will also have information about their learning in science.
If you have questions please contact your child's teacher, principal, or Allison Emery, Director of Teaching and Learning, 641.842.6551.
Driver Education Session Begins March 2
Driver Education will be offered at Knoxville High School through Triple ‘R’ Driving School again this spring, beginning on March 2, 2020.
- Mr. Tom Grimm and Ms. Paige Bolton will be the instructors for this session. Classes will run for three hours each class day. The dates and times are listed on this information and registration form.
- Knoxville students enrolling can mail registration forms to the address listed OR drop off registration form and deposit to the KHS office.
If you have any questions concerning the driver education program at Knoxville High School, please contact Ryan Rump at 319-470-6975, or e-mail triplerdrivingschool@gmail.com.
Subscribe or Update Your Notifications for Weather Alerts
Knoxville Schools utilizes GovDelivery to communicate weather cancellations, delays and/or changes to district activities. We recommend all parents/guardians sign up to receive email and/or text notifications. Anyone is welcome to subscribe, including community members interested in schedule changes for activities purposes.
If you signed up in the past for this service, you do not need to sign up again but you will need to adjust notifications if your child changed to a different school building this year.
Screenshots are pictured below of the subscription process. If you need assistance, please contact: Lisa.Willis@kcsd.k12.ia.usor 641-842-6551 opt 1.
Estimated property tax impact to fund key projects less than originally expected
The Knoxville Community School District Board of Education has approved a general bond referendum question that will appear on a special election ballot Tuesday, March 3, 2020.
The question will ask voters to approve the first phase of the district's facilities improvement plan, at a total cost of $26.25 million. If approved, the 20-year bond would have a net property tax impact of $8.79 per month on a $100,000 home, $18.53 per month on a $200,000 home and $28.08 per month on a $300,000 home.
These tax impact numbers are lower than the district and board previously expected. An approved bond would place KCSD's levy rates in the middle of comparable districts in the area—and still less than Carlisle, Melcher-Dallas, Pleasantville and Indianola.
"We are very pleased that we have found a potential solution to our facilities needs that will limit the property tax impact on our community members," said Cassi Pearson, KCSD Superintendent. "We look forward to continuing an open and transparent process that began with 20 community members on a taskforce that created the proposal to address the needs. Over 430 residents have signed the petition to call for the March 3 Referendum that could fund the necessary projects."
Phase I of the plan would include a new Knoxville Middle School building, along with air conditioning for Northstar Elementary and an HVAC system upgrade at Knoxville High School. Construction on these projects would take place between 2020 and 2022.
Phase II would be funded through the use of the one-penny sales tax (known as SAVE). It would
include an extensive renovation to Northstar Elementary and athletic facility improvements throughout the district. Construction on these projects would be scheduled for 2022 to 2024.
To learn more about KCSD's facility needs, five-year plan, and the March 3 bond referendum, please visit the Knoxville School’s website at www.knoxville.k12.ia.us.
KCSD VACANCIES
Please click the following link to apply for any of the following positions: http://www.knoxville.k12.ia.us/district/vacancies/
- FT Associate (Northstar Elementary)
- PT Associate (West Elementary)
- Special Education Teacher (West Elementary)
- HS Boys/Girls Tennis Asst. Coach (2019-20 school year)
- MS Baseball Coach (2019-20 school year)
- MS Softball Asst. Coach (2019-20 school year)
- 9th Baseball Coach (2019-20 school year)
- Substitutes (Teachers, Associates, Nutrition, Bus Drivers, Custodians)
- HS Special Education Teacher (2020-21 school year)
- HS Career and Technical/Vocational Coordinator (2020-21 school year)
HS Science Teacher (2020-21 school year)
- MS Vocal Music Teacher (2020-21 school year)
- 8th Grade Volleyball Assistant Coach (2020-21 school year)
- 9th Grade Football Coach (2020-21 school year)
Calendar Approved for Next School Year
2020-2021 ACADEMIC CALENDAR
The KCSD school board recently approved the academic calendar for the 2020-2021 school year. Please see below for your planning needs.
Knoxville CSD Board Information
The Knoxville CSD Board of Directors is committed to Ensuring a Culture of Excellence for Every Student. Community members and visitors are welcome to attend our meetings on the second and fourth Monday each month at 5:30 p.m.
The primary purpose of our board meetings is to conduct business. An official meeting is the only means by which we, as a board can carry out our legal duties or exercise our legal powers. These meetings provide an opportunity for decision-making and offer an opportunity for the public and school district staff to establish a formal dialogue with us. Postings of these meetings are placed on the district website, www.knoxville.k12.ia.us. Please visit often to be informed.
Choose Knoxville
Open Enrollment applications: if you do not live in the Knoxville district, you can still choose Knoxville for your child's education.
Deadlines for filing for open enrollment for the 2020-2021 school year:
- March 1, 2020 for 1st—12th grade
- September 1, 2020 for Kindergarten
Please call Lisa at the District Office for additional questions @ 641-842-6551, opt.1.
Neighbor Helping Neighbor
End of the Month Meals
The End of the Month Meal program or E.O.M.M. was started in 2002 and is a not-for-profit organization and can only continue as long as generous people are willing to donate their money, time, can food items, or grocery gift cards. Any of these donations may be dropped off at New Covenant Church at 1510 West Madison Knoxville, Iowa. If you send a check please make it out to New Covenant Church and put “E.O.M.M. program” in the memo section.
We send out our deliveries from New Covenant Church 1510 West Madison. If people would like to have their meals delivered to them please call the church office at 641-842-3176 preferably the week before we start serving meals so that we can have an idea of how much food we need to prepare. The only information we need to have is your name, address, a phone number where we can reach you, and the number of meals you would like to have.
If you prefer to dine out you are more than welcome to go to the Jenkins Center on Main Street. We provide the casserole and vegetable or salad, whichever is on the meal plan and the people from Living Word Fellowship provides the dessert, coffee, and excellent service. No questions asked.
Our meals typically consist of a casserole for the entrée, a dinner roll, a hot vegetable, or a cold “salad” (these are flip-flopped each meal) , and a dessert. I also like to have a sandwich meal at least twice during the season. This would consist of a Manwich burger, scalloped corn, cole slaw, and a dessert. Our meals are “comfort food” and are good sized portions because nobody should go hungry.
These are the dates for the 2019-2020 season:
- February: 17th-21st
- March: 23rd-27th
If anyone has questions or would like to have someone talk about our program please E-mail shiloh1971@hotmail.com.
Marion County Food Coalition Calendar & Information
Marion County General Assistance M-F 8-4:30pm, Located in the Marion County Courthouse
IMPACT Community Action - Food Cards to Fareway/Hy-Vee to be used every 6 months. *indicates food distribution day
Food Share Mobile Food Pantry: 3rd Wednesday of the month
Attica Mobile Pantry 10-10:30
Harvey 10-10:25
End of the Month Meals: New Covenant Church 315 E. Main St. Knoxville 5-545pm: Feb. 17-21
March 2020- 23rd-27th 641-842-3176- Delivered Meals
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Celebrate Community Church
P: 641-828-7603
Email: bruce@celebratechurch.com
Marion County General Assistance/
Veteran's Affairs
P: 641-828-2201
Email: mkuhn@co.marion.ia.us
Helping Hands
P: 641-842-6933
Email: finanhollinrake@yahoo.com
Marion County Senior Nutrition (MCSN)
P: 641-205-3811
Email: jiworthington@marionph.org
Knoxville Food Youth Initiative (KFYI)
Email: robemai@mchsi.com
Email: vgoodykvikesfan@gmail.com
Email: knoxvillelibr@yahoo.com
Invest Vote YES
KCSD ADMIN. OFFICE
The Panther Press is a weekly collective newsletter for parents & community members. If you have an article or flyer to share, please submit to Lisa.Willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us for consideration.
Stay connected by frequenting our website or following us on social media!
- High School: www.facebook.com/KHSPanthers/ & twitter.com/KHS_Panthers
- Middle School: www.facebook.com/PanthersKMS/ & twitter.com/Panthers_KMS
- Northstar: www.facebook.com/NorthstarElementary/ & twitter.com/MrKeitges
- West: www.facebook.com/knoxvillewestelementary/ & twitter.com/pantherswest
Rate us on greatschools.org!
Email: lisa.willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us
Website: www.knoxville.k12.ia.us
Location: 309 W Main St, Knoxville, IA, United States
Phone: 641-842-6551