What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently qualified to compete at the 2023 IGHSAU Girls Swimming and Diving State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students:

State Qualifiers

Hempstead High School

50-Yard Freestyle

• Kenzie Tomkins
• Rebecca Roling

Para 50-Yard Freestyle

• Ally Darter

100-Yard Freestyle

• Kenzie Tomkins

100-Yard Breaststroke

• Maisey Duehr

Para 100-Yard Breaststroke 

• Ally Darter

500-Yard Freestyle

• Kate Duehr

200-Yard Medley Relay

• Nora Davis | Callie Dolphin | Emma Oberhoffer | Kenzie Tomkins

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Nora Davis | Callie Dolphin | Maisey Duehr | Rebecca Roling

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Nora Davis | Kate Duehr | Rebecca Roling | Kenzie Tomkins

Dubuque Senior High School

50-Yard Freestyle

• Annie Gilligan

100-Yard Backstroke

• Annie Gilligan
• Kaitlyn Vantiger

100-Yard Freestyle

• Molly Gilligan

100-Yard Butterfly

• Evie Hall
• Savanna Koch

200-Yard Medley Relay

• Annie Gilligan | Molly Gilligan | Savanna Koch | Kaitlyn Vantiger

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Molly Gilligan | Evie Hall | Savanna Koch | Kaitlyn Vantiger

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Annie Gilligan | Molly Gilligan | Savanna Koch | Kaitlyn Vantiger

The Dubuque League of Women Voters held the 2023 School Board Candidate Forum on Wednesday, Oct. 25, at 6:30 p.m.

Members of the public were invited to attend the forum in person, which was held at the Dubuque Community School District Office at 2300 Chaney Road.

WATCH THE VIDEO:

The forum can also be viewed live on Mediacom Channel 16 or 117-6.

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools competed in the Iowa High School State Cross Country qualifying meet to determine their eligibility to compete at the State Championship at Kennedy Park in Fort Dodge on Friday, October 27th.

Congratulations to the following Class 4A student qualifiers:

Dubuque Senior High School

GIRLS

Team Qualifiers

• Leah Klapatauskas | Grade 12
• Claire Hoyer | Grade 11
• Emily Gorton | Grade 11
• Emma Chesterman | Grade 10
• Neveah Kessler | Grade 10
• Briel Bechen | Grade 10
• Lise Hoyer | Grade 9

BOYS

Individual Qualifiers 

• Jack Kirman | Grade 10

Hempstead High School

GIRLS

Team Qualifiers 

• Keelee Leitzen | Grade 12
• Julia Gehl | Grade 12
• Evie Henneberry | Grade 11
• Maggie Henneberry | Grade 9
• Mylee Lange | Grade 11
• Natalie Leitzen | Grade 9
• Ellie Hermiston | Grade 12

BOYS

Team Qualifiers

• John Maloney | Grade 12
• Charlie Driscoll | Grade 12
• Owen Leitzen | Grade 11
• Brandon Kass | Grade 11
• Micah Fern | Grade 10
• Zack Johnson | Grade 12
• Matt Hanselman | Grade 12

Join us for a
Dubuque Community School District
Family Education Series Event

SUICIDE PREVENTION:
A Message of Hope and Recovery

Thursday, November 2
6-7:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Middle School Lass Auditorium

ADMISSION IS FREE AND NO RSVP IS NECESSARY

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 14-18. In addition, 1 in 5 youth have reported they are seriously considering suicide.

At this presentation, you’ll hear from guest speaker Kristen who will share her story of how she was able to cope and recover from the impact of significant trauma in her childhood. The presentation is sponsored by the Duck Cup Memorial Fund.

The presentation will be followed by a panel of local experts and a question-and-answer session, including:

• Ann Butzier, Parent and UnityPoint Health Nurse
• Kristen Nolen, Dubuque Senior High School Brain Health Retreat Room Liaison
• Dr. Michael Peroski, Medical Associates Psychiatrist
• Dan Powers, Alta Vista Campus Administrator and Former School Counselor

Local agencies will also be present before and after the event to talk with families and offer resources.

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of each school, Jefferson Middle School and Washington Middle School will host community open houses on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at each school. The community is invited to attend.

During the open houses, community members will have the chance to tour areas of the school, interact with student representatives and school staff, and view historical memorabilia. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to sign a commemorative item recognizing the anniversary.

In 1921, the Dubuque Community School District Board of Education called for construction of two new junior high schools – ultimately becoming Washington and Jefferson. The schools were both constructed during 1922 and opened in 1923.

Today, Jefferson serves approximately 460 students and Washington serves approximately 630 students, all in grades six through eight.

The Dubuque Community School District will host a series of upcoming community information meetings on the $150 million school bond referendum that will be on the November election ballot.

Sessions will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at Bryant Elementary School; Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Eisenhower Elementary School; and Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Marshall Elementary School. Each meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

VISIT THE BOND WEBPAGE TO LEARN MORE

The meeting will feature information on projects included in the bond referendum, which include:

• Construction of a new, modern middle school on the Washington Middle School site to replace the more than 100-year-old Washington and Jefferson buildings while ensuring access to similar, high-quality facilities for all middle school students in the district.
• Addition of air conditioning (and other HVAC mechanical improvements) to all schools in the district currently without it.
• Construction of a gymnasium addition to Eisenhower Elementary School to eliminate space constraints due to not having a separate gymnasium and lunch/multipurpose room.
• Construction of a baseball and softball complex with lights, restrooms, and concessions.
• Land acquisition for a potential future elementary school aligned with geographic population shifts.

At the meeting, the team from INVISION Architecture leading the bond facility project planning will provide an overview of the projects. They will also discuss the financial impacts of the bond, which will not cause the district’s overall tax levy rate to change.

Need help registering your student?
Looking for a job in an amazing school district?
We are hitting the road and bringing the district to you!

Visit our registration and human resources teams at one of our Mobile Registration and Employment Fair stops throughout the community.

At each stop:

• Our registration team will be on hand to assist families in completing online registration for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.
• Our human resources team will take applications and conduct on-the-spot interviews for a variety of district jobs, including paraprofessional, transportation and food/nutrition positions.
• Computers with internet access will be provided – and we even have a few treats in store!

Join us at one of the following times:

Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m.- 2p.m.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH: Audubon Elementary School
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH, including the shuttle schedule to get there!

Monday, Aug. 7, 1-3 p.m.
Allison-Henderson Park

Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 3-5 p.m.
Hempstead High School

Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Murphy Park

Thursday, Aug. 10, from 1-3 p.m.
Roosevelt Middle School

We look forward to seeing you!

The Dubuque Community School District has added competitive dance to its high school extracurricular offerings for the 2023-2024 school year, with teams taking shape at Dubuque Senior High School and Hempstead High School.

As part of the launch of these new teams, a Dance Clinic will be held for students entering grades 9-12 at Dubuque Senior and Hempstead on Thursday, July 20, from 9 a.m.-noon at Dubuque Senior’s Nora Gymnasium.

Cost for the camp is $25 per person and reservations can be made at www.dbqschoolscamps.com.

With the addition of this new activity also comes the appointment of inaugural head coaches for these teams. The district is pleased to announce the appointment of Kylie Goedken as the head coach of the Dubuque Senior High School dance team and Angie Olson as head coach of the Hempstead High School program.

Goedken, a graduate of Dubuque Senior, is owner/studio head director at Xtreme Dance in Dubuque. Olson is a German teacher at Hempstead who brings a variety of competitive dance experience to the role. Both schools will begin competition in the upcoming school year.

Crescent Community Health Center in Dubuque will offer a mobile vaccine / sports physical clinic at four Dubuque Community School District schools during the month of July.

Dubuque Community School District Students are able to attend one of these clinics for school year vaccinations and/or sports physicals. Students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian in order to receive services.

Clinic dates and locations are:

Thursday, July 6
1-4 p.m.
Audubon Elementary School, 605 Lincoln Avenue
CLINIC FOR: Ages 6 to 8 | SERVICES: Vaccines only

Thursday, July 13
1-4 p.m.
Prescott Elementary School, 1151 White Street
CLINIC FOR: Ages 6 to 8 | SERVICES: Vaccines only

Thursday, July 20
1-4 p.m.
Table Mound Elementary School, 100 Tower Drive
CLINIC FOR: Ages 6 to 8 | SERVICES: Vaccines, physicals, vision

Thursday, July 27
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kennedy Elementary School, 2135 Woodland Drive
CLINIC FOR: Ages 4 (PreK) to 11 | SERVICES: Vaccines, physicals, vision