Ankeny Schools Snapshot
A monthly district newsletter
December 2020
Advancing the Vision
The winter holiday season represents many things to each of us. One of those things for parents, students and educators is that it tends to represent a midpoint in the school year. As we reflect on the first “half” of this year, as much as we might like, we can’t avoid the central focus of the role the pandemic has played in the school year up to this point. We have struggled to meet changing guidelines from the medical community and the state department of education as well as grappled with the challenge of weaving those ever-changing guidelines into our educational practices and teaching modalities. Those efforts have resulted in what seemed to result in a variety of attendance patterns as well as varying opinions about what is the best way for schools to operate in the time of this particular pandemic.
I remain confident that we all want what is the best and safest education possible for our students. And while we don’t always agree on the best way to accomplish that, we have managed to maintain civil dialogue as we explore the various thoughts about how to achieve that goal. Emotions and thoughts have ranged from resignation to anger as we have addressed change after change resulting from COVID. But here we are at a mid-point in the school year and while we would have all chosen a different path had we a choice, we have arrived with the promise of a future in which the pandemic may be tamed, at least to some degree. Our students are resilient, our teachers have gone the extra mile and then some to provide the best they can under the circumstances, and families have struggled to put the best face on the difficult and unfamiliar situations brought on by the virus.
Maybe the best gift of the season is the promise that the vaccines hold. Vaccines that will allow us to return to our more “normal” way of life, when we can once again go out for a meal and join in activities that allow us to mingle with friends without worrying if we are six feet apart and go to a school concert or an athletic event. When we will be able to leave our homes without double-checking to be sure we didn’t forget our mask. Occasions when we will return to a more “normal” educational program that will have all students in school without the worry of the next recommended change in mitigation strategies or the impact of positivity rates. A time when we can once again focus on the fundamentals of schools and the full spectrum of the education components for our students.
I wish you the best at this holiday season and look forward to the hope that comes with a new year.
COVID-19 Success Story: Heritage Elementary Construction
The construction project for Heritage Elementary was unlike that of any other project for Ankeny Schools. Not only was the project completed in the midst of a pandemic, but its timely completion was a crucial component of the district’s ability to start school for all elementary students.
At the onset of the pandemic, the district’s construction management company, Stahl Construction, had to get creative to continue construction under the evolving conditions. Leveraging technology was key to making progress. The project team would FaceTime their morning site walkthroughs, so key team members were able to engage in the process. To help limit physical interactions, the construction superintendent visited the site after hours and walked the jobsite between 2:00am – 5:00am, generating a to-do list based on his assessment. This initiative became a major routine for the Stahl project team, and one that allowed the project to stay on track.
Furthermore, the project team took a number of precautions to keep the jobsite clean and safe. They disinfected doors, added hand-washing stations, increased the number of toilet cleanings, required everyone on site wear a mask, and social distanced as much as possible. To maintain these precautions, Stahl purchased a karaoke speaker and microphone to use while hosting the outdoor meetings, so everyone could hear while remaining socially distanced. Health screenings also became a part of the rhythm of the work on site with the parking lot serving as the testing station before people entered the site.
The team talked through a scenario of shutting down for a month and what that might look like. They proactively created a plan, which included building temporary walls and doors to lock up the jobsite for safety and security. Thankfully, the emergency plan was not needed, the overall schedule was not impacted, and the targeted date for substantial completion was achieved.
Through these efforts to promote health and safety, Heritage Elementary was able to open in time for the fall semester to begin. Heritage Elementary is the district’s newest building, opening its doors to more than 500 students this year. It is also the first elementary in the district that was originally built as a five-section building.
Required Continuous Learning
Mrs. Hook's Band Class
Dress Up Days
Mrs. Angus' World Cultures Class
"Tropical Tuesday" in World Cultures.
Ankeny Schools' Garners Top Spots
Niche.com has released their 2021 rankings for the Best Schools in the Des Moines Area. Ankeny Schools received a number of honors, including:
- #1 Best School Districts in Polk County
- #1 Safest School Districts in Polk County
- #1 Best School Districts for Athletes in Iowa
- #1 Best Public High Schools in Des Moines Area: Ankeny Centennial High School
- #1 Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area: Prairie Ridge Middle School
- #2 Best Public Elementary Schools in Des Moines Area: Prairie Trail Elementary
The Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users.
Ankeny Schools is excited to share with our community the launch of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership Team (DEILT), a core group of District employees who come together to support the District in making thoughtful, but urgent, progress toward our mission to prepare every learner for a lifetime of personal success.
The DEILT’s purpose is to promote opportunities for the District to deepen its commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), and to provide support across the district related to the integration of DEI into all aspects of the Ankeny Community School District.
The DEILT will focus on strategies to eliminate racism, sexism, ableism, classism, homophobia and other systemic oppressions. Furthermore, this team will help advise other departments on DEI and help them progress towards their DEI goals.
December vBackpack
- Volunteering, Drives, and Giveaways: Courage League Sports Buddies, Ankeny Service Center's Holiday Assistance Program, and 2020 Desk Giveaway
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.
Website: www.ankenyschools.org
Location: 306 SW School St, Ankeny, IA, USA
Phone: 515-965-9600
Facebook: Facebook.com/AnkenySchools
Twitter: @AnkenySchools