General

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools competed in the Iowa High School State Track and Field Championship at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from May 16 – May 18th.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

4A State Medalists

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

Distance Medley – 1st Place

• Akeelah Anderson, Mallory Tomkins, Alya Osterkamp, Keelee Leitzen

800M Run

• Keelee Leitzen – 1st Place
• Julia Gehl – 4th Place

3000M Run

• Julia Gehl – 2nd Place

1500M Run

• Julia Gehl – 2nd Place
• Keelee Leitzen – 4th Place

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

High Jump

• Cambel Drapeau – 7th Place

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

4x800M Relay – 5th Place

• Micah Fern, Zack Johnson, Owen Leitzen, Charlie Driscoll

3200M Run

• John Maloney – 8th Place

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

4x100M Relay – 7th Place

• John FitzPatrick, Mekyael Hall, Jaden Arnold, Nicholas Lambe

4x400M Relay – 7th Place

• John FitzPatrick, Zachary Heiar, Garrett Schumacher, Jaden Arnold

400M Dash

• Jaden Arnold – 6th Place

100M Dash

• Nick Lambe – 8th Place

Girls Para Medalists

200M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter – 1st Place

400M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter – 1st Place

800M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter – 1st Place

Shot Put Wheelchair

• Ally Darter – 1st Place

4A State Qualifiers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

400M Dash

• Isabel Brauhn
• Ayla Osterkamp

400M Hurdles

• Mya Curry

4x100M Shuttle Hurdle Relay

• Mya Curry, Rebecca Roling, Savannah Bailey, Sydney Feldhacker

4x100M Relay

• Akeelah Anderson, Savannah Bailey, Jillian Renne, Kassidy Buchenau

4x200M Relay

• Akeelah Anderson, Kassidy Buchenau, Jillian Renne, Mallory Tomkins

4x400M Relay

• Mallory Tomkins, Piper Birkenholz, Mya Curry, Ayla Osterkamp

4x800M Relay

• Mylee Lange, Paige Pitz, Julia Gehl, Keelee Leitzen

800M Sprint Medley

• Akeelah Anderson, Mallory Tomkins, Ayla Osterkamp, Kassidy Buchenau

Alternates

• Natalie Leitzen
• Eva Stevenson
• Paige Howeison
• Madalyn Morrison
• Kaylee Carley

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS

800M Run 

• Nevaeh Kessler

1500M Run 

• Leah Klapatauskas

3000M Run

• Leah Klapatauskas

4x800M Relay

• Emma Chesterman, Neveah Kessler, Emily Gorton, Leah Klapatauskas

Distance Medley Relay

• Olivia Brimeyer, Khloe Sweet, Sophie Link, Emma Chesterman

Alternates

• Claire Hoyer

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

200M Dash

• Landon McKay

800M Run

• Charlie Driscoll
• Zack Johnson

1600M Run

• John Maloney
• Micah Fern

400M Hurdles

• Owen Leitzen

4x400M Relay

• Avery Keehner, Matt Hanselman, Thomas Brashaw, Owen Leitzen

800M Sprint Medley

• Brendon Zhen, James Eichhorn, Landon McKay, Thomas Brashaw

Distance Medley

• Landon McKay, Avery Keehner, Matt Hanselman, Micah Fern

Alternates

• Kyle Duehr
• Jashawn McCarter

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL BOYS

Shot Put

• Thomas Lynn

400M Dash

• Charlie Crow

4x200M Relay

• John FitzPatrick, Andrew Theisen, Garrett Schumacher, Nicholas Lambe

800M Sprint Medley

• John FitzPatrick, Mekyael Hall, Nicholas Lambe, Jaden Arnold

Distance Medley

• Mahdi Al-Atabi, Noah Roling, Zachary Heiar, Calvin Lueken

Alternates

• Josh Schwab
• Sam Kook
• Marshawn Dukes
• Dylan Thul
• Kael Stickley
• Mekhi Marsh
• Jacob Haug
• Daylin Moore

 

 

The Dubuque Community School District was awarded a Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting (COE) from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) for having met the program’s high standards for financial reporting and transparency. The award is for the district’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) for the fiscal year ending in 2023.

This is the 15th consecutive year the district has received this honor.

“For over half a century, ASBO International’s Certificate of Excellence in Financial Reporting has been the gold standard in promoting and recognizing excellence in financial reporting,” said ASBO International Executive Director Jim Rowan, CAE, SFO. “Communicating the financial and economic state of a district is so important when engaging with the school community and building their trust. Districts that receive the COE Award have demonstrated their ability to do that at the highest level.”

“We are committed to responsibly using and reporting on the financial resources that we are entrusted with,” said Kevin Kelleher, chief financial officer for the Dubuque Community Schools. “Our annual financial report is one tool in doing so and we hope our Certificate of Excellence helps assure taxpayers of our commitment to the highest standards of financial management.”

By participating in the Certificate of Excellence Program, school districts submit their ACFR for review by a team of financial professionals who provide feedback to improve future documents. According to ASBO, recognition in the Certificate of Excellence program can facilitate bond rating and continuing bond disclosure processes.

Two Hempstead High School students and one Dubuque Senior High School student have been named among more than 5,000 candidates in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Scholars Program. The candidates were selected from nearly 3.6 million students expected to graduate from U.S. high schools in the year 2024. Graduating seniors Hannah Davisdon (Hempstead), Charlie Driscoll (Hempstead) and Caitlyn Kono (Dubuque Senior) were recognized with the honor.

Inclusion in the U.S. Presidential Scholars Program is one of the highest honors bestowed upon graduating high school seniors. Scholars are selected on the basis of superior academic and artistic achievements, leadership qualities, strong character and involvement in community and school activities.

A distinguished panel of educators reviewed these submissions and the semifinalists were narrowed down from a field of 91 selected candidates from Iowa. Caitlyn Kono was named as one of seven Iowa semifinalists and one of over 600 across the United States.

The Commission on Presidential Scholars, a group of up to 32 eminent citizens, appointed by the President, will select the finalists, and the U.S. Department of Education will announce the Scholars in May. All scholars are honored for their accomplishments during the online National Recognition Program. U.S Presidential Scholars are awarded the U.S. Presidential Scholars medallion each June.

The U.S. Presidential Scholars Program was established in 1964 by Executive Order of the President to recognize some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors for their accomplishments in many areas: academic success, leadership, and service to school and community. It was expanded in 1979 to recognize students demonstrating exceptional scholarship and talent in the visual, creative, and performing arts. In 2015, the program was expanded once again to recognize students who demonstrate ability and accomplishment in career and technical fields.

Annually, up to 161 U.S. Presidential Scholars are chosen from among that year’s senior class, representing excellence in education and the promise of greatness in America’s youth. For more than 59 years, this unique federal program has honored over 8,000 U.S. Presidential Scholars, who have demonstrated leadership, scholarship, and contribution to school and community. The work of the Commission on Presidential Scholars reaffirms, on behalf of the President, the Nation’s commitment to education.

 

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2024 Bowling 3A State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

3A State Girls Championship

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL – 4th Place

Individual 3A Girls State Qualifiers

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Zoie Bettcher
Alison Hedrick
Mackenzie Lang
Clara Pregler

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL
Chloe Hansen

Individual 3A Boys State Qualifiers

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
Zach Wlochal

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL
Alec Bowman

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2024 IHSAA Boys State Swimming Championship.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

State Finishers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL

200-Yard Freestyle Relay – 2nd Place

• Brandon Decker
• Owen Leitzen
• Kyle Powers
• Logan Westhoff

100-Yard Freestyle 

• Kyle Powers – 10th Place
• Owen Leitzen – 12th Place

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

200-Yard Medley Relay – 9th Place

• Walter Freund
• William Fry
• Zack Heiar
• Jarrett Herber

100-Yard Breaststroke – 11th Place

• Zack Heiar

100-Yard Butterfly – 12th Place

• Zack Heiar

State Qualifiers

HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL

50-Yard Freestyle

• Brandon Decker
• Mason Lemm
• Kyle Powers

100-Yard Backstroke

• Jake Dolphin

100-Yard Breaststroke

• Brandon Decker

100-Yard Butterfly

• Mason Lemm
• Logan Westhoff

100-Yard Freestyle

• Owen Leitzen
• Kyle Powers

200-Yard Freestyle

• Michael Rhett Gilbertson
• Owen Leitzen
• Logan Westhoff

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Brandon Decker
• Michael Rhett Gilbertson
• Owen Leitzen
• Kyle Powers

200-Yard Individual Medley

• Jake Dolphin
• Zach Wenger

200-Yard Medley Relay

• Brandon Decker
• Jake Dolphin
• Henry Gilbertson
• Mason Lemm

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Henry Gilbertson
• Michael Rhett Gilbertson
• Owen Leitzen
• Kyle Powers

500-Yard Freestyle

• Dustin Coyle
• Michael Rhett Gilbertson
• Zach Wenger

DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

50-Yard Freestyle

• Jarrett Herber

100-Yard Backstroke

• William Fry

100-Yard Breaststroke

• Zack Heiar

100-Yard Butterfly

• William Fry
• Zack Heiar
• Jarrett Herber

200-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Duncan Freund
• Walter Freund
• Zack Heiar
• Cole Marshall

200-Yard Medley Relay

• Duncan Freund
• Walter Freund
• William Fry
• Jarrett Herber

400-Yard Freestyle Relay

• Duncan Freund
• William Fry
• Zack Heiar
• Jarrett Herber

High school students from Hempstead and Dubuque Senior recently qualified to compete at the 2024 IGHSAU Wrestling State Championship.

Congratulations to the following students:

State Qualifiers

Hempstead High School

130 Weight Class

• Ayla Osterkamp

140 Weight Class

• Annabel Blanchard

155 Weight Class

• Paige Howieson

235 Weight Class

• Katelyn Brokus

Dubuque Senior High School

130 Weight Class

• Alyssa Seippel

135 Weight Class

• Karise Benson

140 Weight Class

• Jolee Strohmeyer

At its January 8, 2024 meeting, the Dubuque Community School District Board of Education approved and presented a proclamation declaring January 14 and 15 as Days of Great Celebration in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.

READ THE PROCLAMATION

Enrollment and registration for FREE four-year-old preschool in the Dubuque Community School District will begin on Monday, Jan. 8.

This includes all 12 Dubuque public elementary schools as well as the district’s new preschool center on Chavenelle Road offering preschool through the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program.

NEW THIS YEAR, parents and guardians may enroll students ONLINE beginning at NOON on Monday, January 8, at www.dbqschools.org/preschool.

All district elementary schools and the district’s main office will have computers and staff assistance available beginning January 8 for families needing internet access to complete preschool enrollment and registration.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

Free four-year-old preschool is open to students residing in Iowa who are four by September 15. Proof of age (preferably a birth certificate) and proof of residency are required to enroll a student and may be uploaded during the enrollment application process or provided in hard copy to the district enrollment office at 2300 Chaney Road.

Your student’s enrollment application will not be considered complete until these documents have been received.

For the enrollment and registration process, families should have the student’s main household and health information readily available.

PRESCHOOL SITE OPTIONS

Space may be limited in some facilities and enrollment applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Enrollment for preschool is not based on geography and all sites are open to Iowa residents. Applications will be time-stamped and families will be able to select up to three locations and time slots in order of preference.

Applications completed by January 12 (including submission of proof of age and proof of residency) will be considered in the first round of placement notifications beginning on January 19.

In addition to spots in Dubuque’s public schools, a variety of community preschool partners also offer free four-year-old preschool.

QUESTIONS?

For additional enrollment questions, individuals should contact the district early childhood office at earlychildhood@dbqschools.org.

The Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program for Four-Year-Old Children is funded by the State of Iowa and facilitated locally by the Dubuque Community School District.

On Monday, Dec. 11, 2023, the Dubuque Community School District Board of Education approved the school calendars for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.

View the approved calendars