Articles from December 2025

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools will compete in the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from April 24 – April 26th. Known as America’s Athletic Classic, this event is considered one of the top track and field events in the United States.

Congratulations to the following student qualifiers:

Dubuque Senior High School

Boys 400M Hurdles

• Garrett Schumacher

Girls 3000M Run

• Emily Gorton

Boys 4x100M Relay

• Josh Schwab
• Marshawn Dukes
• Mahdi Al-Atabi
• Meek Hall

Boys 4x200M Relay

• Zachary Heiar
• Kael Stickley
• Garrett Schumacher
• Charlie Crow

Boys 4x400M Relay

• Zachary Heiar
• Charlie Crow
• Kael Stickley
• Garrett Schumacher

Girls 4x800M Relay

• Naveah Kessler
• Claire Hoyer
• Emma Chesterman
• Emily Gorton

Alternates

• Mason Birch
• Matthew Haug
• Lisa Hoyer
• Jack Kirman
• Daylin Moore

Hempstead High School

Co-ed 400M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter

Boys 4x100M Relay

• Hayden Harper
• Avery Keehner
• Brendon Zheng
• Jaden Montgomery

Girls 4x100M Relay

• Kassidy Buchenau
• Mallory Tomkins
• Kaylee Carley
• Ayla Osterkamp

Boys 4x400M Relay

• Micah Fern
• Hayden Harper
• Avery Keehner
• Thomas Brashaw

Girls 4x400M Relay

• Mallory Tomkins
• Piper Kirkenholz
• Evie Henneberry
• Ayla Osterkamp

Boys 1600M Distance Medley

• Jaden Montgomery
• Avery Keehner
• Thomas Brashaw
• Micah Fern

Alternates

• Sydney Feldhacker
• Mylee Lange
• Natalie Leitzen
• Owen Leitzen
• Paige Pitz
• Jordan Plummer
• Jillian Renner
• Jan Roller
• Autumn Sanchez
• Addi Wright

Every five years, the Dubuque Community School District updates its Special Education Service Delivery Plan, which outlines how the district implements services for students eligible for an Individualized Education Program (IEP).

As part of this process, public comment is sought on the draft version of then plan.

View the Draft Special Education Service Delivery Plan (PDF)

Comments on this draft are being accepted through Friday, May 2, using the form below.

We can’t wait to welcome your student and family – and the rest of the Class of 2038 – to our Kindergarten Welcome Event on Thursday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m.!

We are ready for you!

WHAT TO EXPECT
When you attend the Kindergarten Welcome Event at your home school, you will have the opportunity to meet our school staff and see the building where your student will begin their educational journey.

To allow us to maximize the space, and focus fully on our kindergarten students, we ask that only parents and new kindergarten students attend the Welcome Event if possible.

During the event, our staff will deliver presentations for families on a variety of topics such as staff introductions, annual verification process, and get all the must-know information about our school. There will also be an opportunity to ask questions.

Most importantly, we are excited to show you all the things that make our school community so special.

Students will have the chance to participate in short, fund activities with our kindergarten team. This gives us a chance to get to know your student better and gives your student a chance to get a taste of their soon-to-be new school!

We look forward to welcoming you on April 24 and working with you and your student as you make the transition to kindergarten! Please feel free to contact our school office with any questions in advance.

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On Saturday, March 15, the Dubuque Senior Speech Team competed in the 2025 State Individual Event Speech Contest at Starmont High School in Arlington, Iowa. The team received overall Division I (Excellent) ratings in 47 performances.

The Hempstead High School Speech Team had a two students receive Division I ratings in four performances. The students were coached by Harmony Roe and Don Stanner. The contest is sponsored by the Iowa High School Speech Association.

The Dubuque Senior Speech Team also received 21 total Outstanding Performance nominations to the 2025 Individual Event All-State Festival which will be held Monday, March 31st at the University of Northern Iowa. The Dubuque Senior Varsity team also earned the I.H.S.S.A. Individual Event
Sweepstakes Trophy, given to the school with the most nominations to the Festival. This marks the thirteenth consecutive year the Dubuque Senior Speech Team has won the Individual Events Sweepstakes Trophy making them 2025 Individual Events State Champion.

Dubuque Senior’s varsity honors include four double All-State nominees – Peyton Dixon, Avery Kane, Chase Kreimeyer, and Ella Meyer. The group is coached by Hannah Burke, Aaron Dean, Greg Ernzen, Natalie Ervolino, Mike Grant, Maria LoBianco, Megan Schumacher, Chad Thomas and Matt Tompkins. The Festival is sponsored by the Iowa High School Speech Association, which is an affiliate of the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.

Dubuque Senior High School

• Riley Beck – Solo Musical Theatre
• Ami Bellings – Solo Musical Theatre
• Julien Derks – Literary Program
• Peyton Dixon – Original Oratory & Storytelling
• Millie Eikamp – Expository Address
• Norah Homb – Storytelling
• Avery Kane – Acting & Literary Program
• Blair Kapp – After Dinner Speaking
• Chase Kreimeyer – After Dinner Speaking & Improvisational Acting
• Iris Lammer-Heindel – Public Address
• Liam Kroger – Radio News Announcing
• Ella Meyer – Prose & Spontaneous Speaking
• Jameson Norton – Acting
• Izzy Pregler – Prose
• Kate Putnam – Poetry
• Jack Rothert – After Dinner Speaking
• Adrianna Smith – Poetry

State Division I (Excellent) Rated Recognition:

Dubuque Senior High School

• Kelsey Ahlers – Storytelling
• Cassidy Bandy – Expository Address
• Evangeline Blaine – Poetry
• Seattle Bontemps – Original Oratory
• Wyatt Branscomb – Spontaneous Speaking
• Lela Bryant-Henry – Prose
• Sam Cavanagh – Radio News Announcing
• Matthew Denham – Original Oratory
• Liam Dostal – Solo Musical Theatre
• Anna Garrett-Douillet – Public Address
• Olivia Gennings – Prose
• Sam Haug – Review
• Amelia Hoffman – Literary Program
• Finn Kinkaid – Review
• Maura Lawler – Review
• Camilla Moeller – Radio News Announcing
• Josie Norton – Poetry
• Madeline Oney – Poetry
• Reid Postma – Improvisational Acting
• Ellieah Routley – Expository Address
• Benjamin Schaefer – Spontaneous Speaking
• Audrey Schuster – Expository Address
• Alaina Smith – Storytelling
• Bella VandenBerge – Acting & Public Address
• Morgan Weiland – Improvisational Acting

Hempstead High School

• Keegan Quam – Storytelling
• Maggie Morrow – Storytelling

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior represented the district well at the 2025 Bowling 3A State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

PLACE WINNERS

Dubuque Senior High School

TEAM – 5TH PLACE

• Madyson Arrington
• Zoie Bettcher
• Alison Hedrick
• Alexys Hirsch
• Sophie Jasper
• Ava Pregler

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL 

• Sophie Jasper – 4th Place

Hempstead High School

BOYS INDIVIDUAL 

• Gavin Wardle – 8th

STATE QUALIFIERS

Dubuque Senior High School

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL 

• Madyson Arrington
• Zoie Bettcher
• Alison Hedrick

BOYS INDIVIDUAL 

• Joey Simpson
• Zach Wlochal

Hempstead High School

GIRLS INDIVIDUAL 

• Chloe Hansen
• Ava Kennedy

High school students from Hempstead High School recently returned from a strong showing at the 2025 IHSAA Boys Wrestling 3A State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

PLACE FINISHERS

• Abe Heysinger (wt. 106) | 3rd Place
• Mitchell Pins (wt. 120) | 5th Place
• Cam Smith (wt. 215) | 7th Place
• Mitchell Murphy (wt. 132) | 8th Place

STATE QUALIFIERS

• Garren Christiansen (wt. 144)
• Ike Heysinger (wt. 113)
• Elijah Hyet (wt. 126)
• Peyce McCoy (wt. 175)

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2025 IHSAA Boys State Swimming Championship.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

State Finishers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL – 2025 SWIMMING STATE CHAMPION

50-Yard Freestyle

• Owen Leitzen | 3rd Place
• Kyle Powers | 4th Place

100-Yard Breaststroke

• Abd Ul-Haq | 6th Place

100-Yard Butterfly

• Logan Westhoff | 8th Place

100-Yard Freestyle

• Owen Leitzen | 4th Place
• Kyle Powers | 3rd Place

200-Yard Freestyle

• Logan Westhoff | 4th Place

200-Yard Freestyle Relay – STATE CHAMPIONS

• Owen Leitzen
• Mason Lemm
• Kyle Powers
• Logan Westhoff

200-Yard Individual Medley 

• Abd Ul-Haq | 7th Place

400-Yard Freestyle Relay – STATE CHAMPIONS

• Jake Dolphin
• Owen Leitzen
• Kyle Powers
• Logan Westhoff

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

100-Yard Backstroke 

• Zachary Heiar | 4th Place

100-Yard Butterfly

• Zachary Heiar | 4th Place

200-Yard Medley Relay – 4th Place

• Duncan Freund
• Jonah Fry
• William Fry
• Zachary Heiar

State Qualifiers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL

50-Yard Freestyle

• Mason Lemm

100-Yard Breaststroke

• Caden Stickney
• Braden Wenger

100-Yard Butterfly

• Mason Lemm
• Caden Stickney

100-Yard Freestyle

• Henry Gilbertson

200-Yard Individual Medley

• Jake Dolphin
• Braden Wenger

200-Yard Medley Relay – TEAM

• Jake Dolphin
• Mason Lemmm
• Caden Stickney
• Abd Ul-Haq

500-Yard Freestyle

• Jake Dolphin
• Nolan Page

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

50-Yard Freestyle

• Walter Freund

100-Yard Backstroke

• Jonah Fry
• William Fry

100-Yard Breaststroke

• Duncan Freund

100-Yard Butterfly

• Jonah Fry
• William Fry

100-Yard Freestyle

• Duncan Freund

200-Yard Freestyle Relay – TEAM

• Duncan Freund
• Walter Freund
• Zachary Heiar
• Cole Marshall

400-Yard Freestyle Relay – TEAM

• Walter Freund
• Jonah Fry
• Rowan Fry
• William Fry

We are pleased to present the Fall/Winter 2024 K-12 Virtual Student Art Gallery, highlighting the amazing artwork of our students.

The exhibit features the ability to virtually walk through a curated gallery of work — and we hope you’ll enjoy immersing yourself in the exhibit as the vision of these talented student artists comes to life.

VIEW THE VIRTUAL STUDENT ART EXHIBITION