Wildcat Wire

The 2022 Riceville Veterans Program was a meaningful morning with breakfast being served to over 100 people!

More than 600 people were attendance for the program. Nathan Thorson, US Army Veteran, was the guest speaker. He served in the US Navy from 1958-1962 and US Army from 1962-1978. He served in Korea and Vietnam. His skill was US Army bomb disposal. He was a part of the Presidential support teams as a bomb disposal specialist for the US Secret Service. The Riceville High School band and choir provided music for the program with Mr. Ebert's third grade class providing special music.

Sam Fair and Harlyn Conway read "What the Flag Means to Me" essays that placed 1st and 2nd in the 5th grade contest.

Sandy Thorson, Diane Joens, and Anna Mae Roethler represented the Quilts of Valor and presented several veterans with their quilts.

The Riceville High School Student Council and Advisor Kelly Houser organized and facilitated the event.

Hello! I would like to take this opportunity to introduce myself to you. My name is Mrs. Andrea Fair, and I am so excited to be a part of the 2022-23 Riceville Staff! I am currently serving as a K-5 Title I teacher in the areas of reading and math. The goal for Title I students is the same for all other students. All students should strive to be proficient or above proficient for their grade level in all areas. If a student is not proficient in the areas of reading or math, the goal is to provide extra help in the Title I program.

My key role is to provide supplementary interventions in small group and individualized settings. I also work with classroom teachers to identify areas of need. In addition, I strive to create a nurturing and stimulating learning environment to keep students motivated and engaged! As your child’s support teacher, I will be focusing on these 6 components: phonemic awareness, phonics, vocabulary, fluency, comprehension, and writing.

Ongoing communication between home and school enhances your child’s educational experience and promotes learning to the highest level. Therefore, I encourage parental involvement and would love to hear from you  If you have any questions feel free to email me at andrea.fair@riceville.k12.ia.us or call me at the school. I look forward to watching your child grow! Thanks for your support.

It’s that time of year…. for colds, flu and the “ stomach bug”!!

So just a few friendly reminders:

Please DO NOT send your child to school if he/she has or has had:

1. A temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher within the last 24 hours (your student must be fever free without medication for 24 hours before they can return to school).

2. Vomiting or diarrhea within the last 24 hours. They must be free of these symptoms for 24 hours without any medication before returning to school. A student who was sent home from school with vomiting and/or diarrhea is not to return to school until 24 hours after the last episode. If your student comes back to school before the 24 hour time frame, you will be called and asked to come pick up your student.

3. Continuous coughing that is not relieved with the use of medicine, cough drops or water.

Riceville Community School District does not allow any school personnel, including the school nurse, to administer any prescription medication without a District Medical Form signed by the parent/guardian. Please refer to the Medication policy on our school website. This includes over the counter medications as well. Some over the counter medications, ie: Acetaminophen, Tums, Ibuprofen, antibiotic ointment, hydrocortisone cream, etc. may be administered if permission was given in the JMC health section by the parent/guardian via online registration.

DO NOT send medication to school with your student. All medication must be brought to the school by an adult. If medication is sent with a student, an adult will be notified and they will be required to come and pick up the medication as it will not be sent back home with the student. Please refer to the Medication Policy on the school website.

Please help us teach your students good health habits to protect themselves as well as others:

1. Get plenty of rest and healthy, nutritional foods. Keep well hydrated. Please make sure your student has a water bottle at school. We are not handing any more out this year.

2. Do not eat or drink from the same utensils or containers as others.

3. When coughing or sneezing, cover the nose and mouth with a tissue or cough/sneeze into a bent elbow.

4. MOST IMPORTANTLY: Practice frequent hand washing with soap and water or a hand sanitizer, as this is one of the best ways to prevent the spread of germs.

5. Keep your student home if they are ill.

Thank you in advance for working with us to keep your students and staff healthy and in school.

Michelle Berentsen, RN, School Nurse

"Riceville 7th, 8th, and 9th grade students had the privilege of joining 6 other Iowa Star North schools to hear Ethan Miller speak at Tripoli on Monday November 7th. Ethan spoke with an abundance of energy and compassion and many great messages were heard including making today count, developing habits of greatness, believing in yourself, and becoming comfortable in your own skin. It was a great experience for them and we encourage you to ask your child about the speaker."

The Agriculture Sales class has been studying how to go through a proper sales situation as a salesperson. Materials from the Iowa FFA Individual Ag Sales Contest were used to grade students on their presentation. Students chose what product they wanted to sell as long as the products were agriculture based. Cory Greiman acted as the customer and after students were finished presenting, he gave them tricks and tips to help make their sales presentations more successful.

Below, Brian Grimm sold Mr. Greiman a cordless drill, 3 toolboxes and several other tools. Lyndon Dohlman was successful in selling Mr. Greiman a boat.

Sixth grade science students have been learning about molds and bacteria. They went all around the school looking for samples they could grow on their agar plates.

Seventh-Graders just finished up learning about populations and ecosystems. They completed an eco-scenario project highlighting the plants, animals, and services that their chosen ecosystem provides to humans.

Students in 8th grade have been learning about weather. They have been keeping a daily record of the weather in a chosen destination. They have been learning about different types of severe storms and what causes them.

Thank you to the Deb and Jeff Hansen Foundation along with Iowa Select farms the 900 Power Snack coupons and the meat stick snacks!!

Heather Suckow PK-12 Principal

Marcia Grimm Associate Principal

Barb Schwamman Superintendent

Email: heather.suckow@riceville.k12.ia.us
Website: riceville.k12.ia.us
Location: 912 Woodland Avenue, Riceville, IA, USA
Phone: 641-985-2288