What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

Dubuque Community School District Teacher of the Year Cassie McDonald (right) from Dubuque Senior High School is congratulated by Dubuque Senior Assistant Principal/Registrar Joan Schueller.

The Dubuque Community School District Teacher of the Year was named at the annual Educators’ Recognition Reception on May 11, hosted by the Dubuque Education Association.

Cassie McDonald, an English language learners (ELL) teacher at Dubuque Senior High School, was selected for the honor.

McDonald joined the district as a Spanish teacher at Dubuque Senior High School in 2005-2010. From 2019-2022 she also served in that role until 2022 when she taught in a dual ELL teaching role at Dubuque Senior and at the district’s Alta Vista Campus. This school year, she returned to teaching ELL full-time at Dubuque Senior.

Outside of the district, she is an English Speaker of Other Languages (ESOL) instructor at Northeast Iowa Community College, an English instructor in the online VIPKid English Program, and an independent contractor language training tutor for John Deere. She also served as a high school English teacher in Delavan, Wisconsin, from 2002-2005.

McDonald holds a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish and English: Language and Secondary Education from Loras College and a master of education degree in English Language Learning from the University of North Dakota – Grand Forks.

“Cassie McDonald has built a community of caring and learning for her students that helps them gain confidence, find success and feel at home at Senior High School,” said one of McDonald’s nominators. “When most teachers are packing up and heading home for the day, Cassie can be found conducting an after-school study hall/support group for her students to give them extra care and connectedness to ensure they stay on track. She’s a hero for her students, and they would tell you as much.”

Other finalists for the Teacher of the Year Award were:

• Ann Arnold, Alta Vista Campus
• Emilie Foust, Table Mound Elementary School
• Amy Freiburger, Sageville Elementary School
• Andrea Runde, Hempstead High School
• Lorlie Ryan, Lincoln Elementary School
• Kristal Schaul, Kennedy Elementary School
• Alli Steepleton, Jefferson Middle School
• Dan Tringale, Jefferson Middle School
• Karla Weber, Hempstead High School

Also at the event:

Project Rooted received the Friend of Education Award, presented for the organization’s efforts to provide students with access to and education about nutritious foods and fresh, local produce. This happens though the group’s Rooted Boxes, created once a month for first-graders in the district’s elementary schools. The boxes are themed and include a journal; fresh, local ingredients; and a utensil (such as a mini cutting board or portable fork and spoon). The boxes also include Rooted Buck, which are vouchers that can be redeemed at Dubuque’s Farmer’s Market, giving children the opportunity to choose healthy foods while making a connection with local community members who grow/produce it.

At the May 8 School Board meeting, the Board was joined by members of the Marshallese community, who will celebrate Marshallese Constitution Day over the Memorial Day weekend.

The Board adopted a proclamation officially recognizing the Marshallese holiday (see full proclamation text below)

Following the reading of the proclamation, representatives from the Marshallese community performed traditional songs and bestowed Board members with traditional flower crowns and shell necklaces. They also presented the district with a decorative wall hanging hand-woven from coconut.

View the proclamation (PDF)

THE PROCLAMATION READS:

WHEREAS, the citizens of the Republic of the Marshall Islands celebrate their Constitution Day on May 1 each year to commemorate the day 44 years ago when a new Constitution was adopted and status as an independent republic was achieved; and

WHEREAS, the Dubuque Community School District and our greater community benefit from a very vibrant Marshallese community that is rich with tradition; and

WHEREAS, celebration of Marshallese Constitution Day in the Marshall Islands would traditionally be focused on island culture, with games of tug-o-war, husking a coconut, and canoe racing; and in the United States is celebrated with basketball, softball and volleyball tournaments; and

WHEREAS, the observance of Marshallese Constitution Day in the United States is held on the three-day Memorial Day weekend, and the Marshallese community will recognize it with a celebration open to all members of the Dubuque community.

NOW THEREFORE, I, Kate Parks, on behalf of the Dubuque Community School District Board of Education, do hereby proclaim May 1 and Memorial Day Weekend as:

A Celebration of Marshallese Constitution Day

Signed this 8th Day of May, 2023.

With student health and safety at the forefront, the Dubuque Community School District and Medical Associates have formalized a partnership to provide sports medicine services to high school student athletes.

Dr. Adam Susmarski works with a Hempstead High School student athlete.

Through a memorandum of understanding officially signed by both organizations in January, Medical Associates will provide team medical coverage during Dubuque Community School District sporting events. The partnership began this year with high school wrestling and will include football in the fall, with an option to expand the coverage to additional sports in the future.

“The safety of our student athletes is priority and the district has long been at the leading edge of safety protocols in our athletic programs,” said Joe Maloney, director of activities and athletics for the district. “This partnership moves us forward in our work to ensure the highest quality care available to our student athletes by having a team physician available at our events.”

Dr. Adam Susmarski (center) works with a student athlete along with district athletic trainer Brian Regan, ATC.

Medical Associates sports medicine provider Dr. Adam Susmarski, DO, FACSM, currently assumes the lead athlete physician role for the

district along with his partner, Dr. Steve Rock, MD. They also provide medical counsel to the district’s licensed athletic trainers as they work with student-athletes.

“Medical Associates is excited to have this opportunity to bring our expertise to work with the student-athletes and athletic trainers in the Dubuque Community School District,” said Susmarski, a sports, spine, and rehabilitation physician. “Our comprehensive team of sports medicine specialists are dedicated to providing the highest quality medical care, where we focus on the safety and wellness of our area’s athletes and the communities we serve.”

The Dubuque Community School District will host a Career Hiring Event for members of the Class of 2023 who are seeking full-time employment after high school on Wednesday, May 10, from 5:30-7 p.m. in the Dubuque Senior High School Cafeteria. 

The event is open to all graduating seniors. Registration is requested, but not required.

REGISTER NOW!

The event will give graduates looking to move directly into the area workforce after graduation the chance to visit with employers about job opportunities, pay, benefits and more.

There will also be the opportunity for on-the-spot interviews and immediate offers are possible.

Over 30 area employers will be in attendance, including:

• AccessDubuqueJobs.com
• AY McDonald
• BEAMS LLC (multiple companies)
• Bodine Electric Company
• Brown NationaLease
• Carpenters Local 678
• Cottingham & Butler
• Cummer Masonry Inc.
• Dixon Tug Service
• Dupaco Community Credit Union
• DuTrac Community Credit Union
• Express Employment Professionals
• FedEx Ground
• Giese Sheet Metal Co Inc
• Grand River Medical Group
• Hawkeye Care Center
• Hills & Dales
• Kloeckner Metals
• Kwik Stop / Dairy Queen
• Laborers Local 43
• Lime Rock Springs Co
• Lime Rock Springs Co/Pepsi Dubuque
• McCoy Group
• Mediacom
• Medical Associates
• MercyOne Medical Center
• Mi-T-M Corporation
• NICC
• Paramount Ambulance
• Progressive Processing (Hormel)
• Sedgwick
• Stonehill Communities
• Sunnycrest Manor
• Truck Country
• UnityPoint Health – Finley Hospital
• Universal Tank & Fabrication

THIS EVENT IS AN
EXPLORATION + APPLICATION
OPPORTUNITY

Learn more about the
VERTEX Initiative at
www.dbqschools.org/vertex.

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce plans to establish a preschool center in Dubuque’s industrial center that will provide access to the district’s high-quality preschool programming while offering streamlined access to wraparound childcare services.

Pending School Board approval, plans call for the District to begin offering preschool programming in the new center in fall 2024, while also retaining preschool classrooms in each of its elementary schools.

The project, to be developed on the site of the former Medline facility at 7900 Chavenelle Road, is a partnership between the Dubuque Community Schools, Dubuque Initiatives and the Dubuque Community Y, which will offer wraparound childcare on site. The building was purchased in December by Dubuque Initiatives.

“Development of this center is truly an example of community partnership at work,” said Superintendent Amy Hawkins. “Partners came around the table with a goal of addressing Dubuque’s childcare needs and aligning them with strong early childhood education. The result will be a combination of services that gives families a new kind of flexibility with preschool and wraparound care seamlessly integrated in one state-of-the-art location.”

As part of the plan, the District would renovate an 18,000-square-foot portion of the facility into a preschool center with space for up to 10 preschool classrooms, as well as student common areas, sensory areas, meal preparation and services spaces, student support spaces and administrative offices. The facility will also include a dedicated preschool playground outdoors and a dedicated entryway.

This new preschool center will be adjacent to a full-service childcare center operated by the Dubuque Community Y, allowing for a seamless transition for preschool students moving from or into wraparound care before and after preschool.
Read More about “District to Create Preschool Center to Expand Early Childhood Options”

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools will compete in the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from April 26 – April 29th. 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

Girls 1500M Run

• Leah Klapatauskas

Boys Shot Put

• Cohen Pfohl

Boys Team 4x100M Run

• Jaden Arnold
• Ben Francis
• Nick Lambe
• Deyon Moore

Alternates

• Marshawn Dukes
• Noah Roling

Hempstead High School

Co-ed 400M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter

Girls 800M Run

• Keelee Leitzen

Girls 1500M Run

• Keelee Leitzen

Boys 1600M Run

• John Maloney

Boys 3200M Run

• John Maloney

Girls Team 4x100M Relay

• Akeelah Anderson
• Ayla Osterkamp
• Jillian Renne
• Mallory Tomkins

Girls Team 4x400M Relay

• Camdyn Kay
• Keele Leitzen
• Brooke O’Brien
• Ayla Osterkamp

Girls Team 4x800M Relay

• Evie Henneberry
• Camdyn Kay
• Keelee Leitzen
• Brooke O’Brien

Girls Team 800M Sprint Medley Relay

• Akeelah Anderson
• Brooke O’Brien
• Ayla Osterkamp
• Mallory Tomkins

Alternates

• Isabel Brauhn
• Maddie Digman
• Julia Gehl
• Zach Johnson
• Maddie Leeser
• Aubrey Schlichte

The Dubuque Community School District was recently recognized for its communication efforts in the 2023 Iowa School Public Relations Association (ISPRA) Communication Contest, honoring outstanding school communication throughout the state.

The district received 9 awards in the contest, with each entry evaluated and scored independently by school communication professionals in other state chapters of the National School Public Relations Association. Based on a scoring rubric, winning entries can receive (from lowest to highest honors) an Award of Merit, an Award of Excellence, or a Blue and Gold Award, given to entries recognized as best in the state for receiving the top overall score of 5 out of 5.

The district was honored with the following:

BLUE AND GOLD AWARDS

• • Photography: Dubuque Senior High School Madrigal Dinner
  • Video (Long): Say Something
  • Social Media: Goals for the Year Campaign (12 post campaign)
    • Post 1, Post 2, Post 3, Post 4, Post 5, Post 6, Post 7, Post 8, Post 9, Post 10, Post 11, and Post 12

AWARD OF EXCELLENCE

• • Video Series: Teacher of the Year Finalists
  • Video Series: Sign Language Instructional Series
  • Video (Short): Fulton Elementary Farewell 
  • Video (Long): Together, We Can Achieve Anything
  • Excellence in Writing: Superintendent Farewell Editorial
  • Special Purpose: Kindergarten Sign-Up

“As a district, we believe that having outstanding schools relies on having an engaged, informed community,” said Mike Cyze, chief communication officer. “We work hard to proactively and transparently communicate to those we serve and we are pleased to be recognized for our work in doing so.”

High school students from the Hempstead High School Physics Team recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2022-23 State Physics Competition at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI) on Tuesday, April 11th.

The competition included a series of five physics events that stressed creativity and ingenuity as well as an understanding of physics related principles. Over 230 students were present with 24 schools representing Iowa. The top eight scorers in each category added to the team points which helped the Hempstead High School Physics Team earn first place out of twenty teams.

As a result, ten $1,000 scholarships will be gifted to ten students that choose to go into a STEM related field at UNI. The team also had two students earn individual medals as place winners for being one of the top three teams in their categories.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

State Team Championship

Hempstead High School Physics Team

Hempstead High School Physics Team with team trophy

Individual Medal Winners

Measurement Team #1 – 2nd Place

• Jett Didelot | 10th grade
• John D’Souza | 10th grade

Bridge Team #1 – 3rd Place

• Jett Didelot | 10th grade
• John D’Souza | 10th grade

From L-R individual medal winners John D’Souza and Jett Didelot

Top 8 Place Finishers

Catapult Team #1

• William Houselog | 10th grade
• William Scott | 11th grade

Mousetrap Team #1

• Brett Tomkins | 11th grade
• Rylan Mours | 10th grade

Mousetrap Team #2

• Paul Mueller | 11th grade
• Andrew Chipperfield | 10th grade

Soda Straw Team #1

• Brett Tomkins | 11th grade
• Ryan Mullen | 11th grade

Soda Straw Team #2

• Dawson Fish | 11th grade
• Charlie Driscoll | 11th grade

Bridge Team #2

• William Scott | 11th grade
• John Maloney | 11th grade

Bridge Team #3

• Hannah Davisdon | 11th grade
• Ryan Mullen | 11th grade

Measurement Team #2

• Hannah Davisdon | 11th grade
• Ryan Mullen | 11th grade

Measurement Team #3

• Rylan Mours | 10th grade
• Aiden Quam | 11th grade

State Competitors

Catapult Team #2

• Hannah Davisdon | 11th grade
• Rylan Mours | 10th grade

Catapult Team #3

• Paul Mueller | 11th grade
• Andrew Chipperfield | 10th grade

Mousetrap Team #3

• John Maloney | 11th grade
• Dawson Fish | 11th grade

Soda Straw Team #3

• Aiden Quam | 11th grade
• Rian Velde* | 10th grade

*Denotes student that attends Dubuque Senior High School

Hempstead High School Physics Team ready for competition

On Saturday, March 11, the Dubuque Senior Speech Team competed in the 2023 State Individual Event Speech Contest at Starmont High School in Arlington, Iowa.  The team received overall Division I ratings in 45 performances. The contest is sponsored by the Iowa High School Speech Association.

The Dubuque Senior Speech Team also received 24 Outstanding Performance nominations to the 2023 Individual Event All-State Festival. The Festival was held Monday, March 27 at the University of Northern Iowa. The Dubuque Senior varsity team earned the Iowa High School Speech Association Individual Event Sweepstakes Trophy, given to the school with the most nominations to the Festival. This marks the eleventh consecutive year the Dubuque Senior Speech Team has won the Individual Events Sweepstakes Trophy.

Hempstead High School had a single student advance to the 2023 State Individual Event Speech Contest in two separate categories and receive an Outstanding Performance nomination to the 2023 Individual Event All-State Festival. The individual student was coached by Harmony Roe and Don Stanner.

The Dubuque Senior Speech team is only the second team in IHSSA history to win both the Large Group and IE Sweepstakes Trophy in the same year, and the only school to do it more than once (five times – 2023, 2019, 2018, 2016 and 2013). The group is coached by Aaron Dean, Greg Ernzen, Maria LoBianco, James Riley, Megan Schumacher, Matt Tompkins and Maryjo Williams.

The Festival is sponsored by the Iowa High School Speech Association, which is an affiliate of the Iowa High School Girls Athletic Union.

Congratulations to the following students on their achievements:

Individual Events Sweepstakes Trophy

• Dubuque Senior High School

Dubuque Senior High School Individual Event Sweepstakes Trophy

All-State Recognition:

Dubuque Senior High School

• Riley Beck – Solo Musical Theatre
• Peter Boenish – Prose
• Seattle Bontemps – Original Oratory
• Sam Cavanagh – Radio News Announcing
• Alex Dixon – After Dinner Speaking & Expository Address
• Peyton Dixon – Storytelling
• Avery Kane – Acting
• Leah Klapatauskas – Spontaneous Speaking
• Chase Kreimeyer – After Dinner Speaking
• Lucia Kuehn – Acting & Public Address
• Scout Kuehn – Storytelling
• Evelyn Maddux – Acting & Solo Musical Theatre
• Kaitlyn Miller – Expository Address
• Soren Obermueller – After Dinner Speaking & Improvisational Acting
• Paige Putnam – Acting & Poetry
• Jacob Schreiber – Review
• Aidan Seville – Improvisational Acting & Solo Musical Theatre
• Emma Ward – Original Oratory

Hempstead High School

• Hannah Davisdon – Radio News

State Division I (Excellent) Rated Recognition:

Dubuque Senior High School

• Mira Brock – Original Oratory
• Delaney Carber – Storytelling
• Ella Donovan – Literary Program
• Kalea Dostal – Poetry
• Conner Frederick – Radio News Announcing
• Anna Garrett-Douillet – Public Address
• Roz Hoefflin – Public Address
• Norah Homb – Storytelling
• Natalee Killian – Prose
• Leah Klapatauskas – Literary Program
• Scout Kuehn – Solo Musical Theatre
• Iris Lammer-Heindel – Literary Program
• Maura Lawler – Public Address
• Ella Meyer – Original Oratory & Spontaneous Speaking
• Josie Norton – Poetry
• Anna O’Connor – Literary Program
• Henry Raber – After Dinner Speaking
• Maddie Rupp – Expository Address
• Teddy Ruppel – Prose
• Isaiah Schlimm – Spontaneous Speaking

Hempstead High School

• Hannah Davisdon – Review