What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

The Dubuque Community School District was recently 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 2022.

This is the 14th consecutive year the district has received this honor.

“The COE’s mission is to promote and recognize excellence in financial reporting,” said ASBO International Chief Operations Officer/Interim Executive Director Siobhan McMahon. “The Annual Comprehensive Financial Report informs stakeholders about the financial and economic state of the district, making it an important communications tool for building trust and engaging with the school community.”

“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.”

Each year, the Dubuque Community School District manages an overall budget of approximately $190 million. 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.

The recognition program is presented by the Association of School Business Officials International and is sponsored by American Fidelity, provider of cost-savings solutions and supplemental insurance benefits.

The Association of School Business Officials International is a non-profit that, through its members and affiliates, represents approximately 30,000 school business professionals worldwide. It provides programs and services to promote the highest standards in school business. Its members support student achievement through effective resource management in various areas ranging from finance and operations to food services and transportation.

Don’t miss this year’s Back-to-School Bash: Impacting Our Community!

Saturday, Aug. 5
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Audubon Elementary School
605 Lincoln Ave.

BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH FEATURES:

• sign-up for school supplies from the St. Mark’s Apples For Students program (Learn how to contribute supplies to the program)
• Dubuque Community School District registration assistance
• vaccinations and school physicals
• free Back-to-School Bash t-shirt
• booths by a variety of community organizations
• and more!

NEED A RIDE? WE’VE GOT YOU COVERED!

Hop on or off a school bus shuttle at one of the following locations/times:

LOCATION	PICK-UP / DROP-OFF TIMES
Penn Place Apartments (West entrance)	10 a.m.	11:15 a.m.	12:30 p.m.	1:45 p.m.
Irving Elementary School (crosswalk)	10:05 a.m.	11:20 a.m.	12:35 p.m.	1:50 p.m.
Lincoln Elementary School (bus lane)	10:10 a.m.	11:25 a.m.	12:40 p.m.	1:55 p.m.
Prescott Elementary School (White Street side)	10:15 a.m.	11:30 a.m.	12:45 p.m.	2 p.m.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH! (Audubon Elementary School)	10:20 a.m.	11:35 a.m.	12:50 p.m.	2:05 p.m.
Marshall Elementary School (crosswalk)	10:30 a.m.	11:45 a.m.	1 p.m.	2:15 p.m.
Casey’s (Peru Road)	10:40 a.m.	11:55 a.m.	1:10 p.m.	2:25 p.m.
Terrace Heights (Tanzenite Ave East entrance)	10:45 a.m.	Noon	1:15 p.m.	2:30 p.m.
Fulton Elementary School (White Street side)	10:50 a.m.	12:05 p.m.	1:20 p.m.	2:35 p.m.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH! (Audubon Elementary School)	11 a.m.	12:15 p.m.	1:30 p.m.	2:45 p.m.

Thank you to the AMAZING community organizations that make the Back-to-School Bash possible:

• Black Men Coalition
• City of Dubuque
• Community Foundation of Greater Dubuque
• Dubuque Community Schools
• Kendall Hunt Publishing Company
• Multicultural Family Center
• RH Prints Co.
• Resources Unite!
• St. Mark Youth Enrichment
• Women United | United Way of Dubuque Area Tri-States
• and many more!

QUESTIONS?

Contact Anderson Sainci!
563/589-6054 or
asainci@cityofdubuque.org

The Dubuque Community School District will participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program to provide no-cost meals to students weekdays from July 5-28, coinciding with the district’s Summer Academy Program.

The district will provide no-cost breakfast and lunch to any child 18 years old or under, with no enrollment necessary. No infant formula or infant food will be served. Meals served on site.

Summer Academy meal locations and times are as follows:

Audubon Elementary School
Prescott Elementary School
Table Mound Elementary School
Breakfast: 7:30-8 a.m.
Lunch: 11-11:30 a.m.

Meals will also be offered throughout the summer by community agencies at a variety of locations.

VIEW THE FLYER OF ALL COMMUNITY MEAL SITES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS

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USDA Non-Discrimination Statement

Acceptance and participation requirements for the Program and all activities are the same for all regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, age or disability, and there will be no discrimination in the course of the meal service.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination
Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at:

http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html

and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866)632 – 9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

1. Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250-9410

2. Fax: (202)690-7442; OR
3. Email: program.intake@usda.gov

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.

Iowa Non-Discrimination Statement:

“It is the policy of this CNP provider not to discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or religion in its programs, activities, or employment practices as required by the Iowa Code section 216.6, 216.7, and 216.9. If you have questions or grievances related to compliance with this policy by this CNP Provider, please contact the Iowa Civil Rights Commission, Grimes State Office building, 400 E. 14th St. Des Moines, IA 50319-1004; phone number 515-281-4121, 800-457-4416; website: https://icrc.iowa.gov/.”

Washington Middle School students competed in the International Geography Bee’s Online Regional Online Competition on Sunday, May 7th with students from across the country. Participants competed by their grade level in a series of buzzer-style question rounds to earn points to qualify for the finals.

Three students qualified as finalists in the Regional Bee and four students qualified for the National Bee as a result of their final score being in the top percentage of their regional bee’s participants. Three of the four students accepted their invitation to the 2023 Middle School National Championships and will be competing in Arlington, Virginia from June 1-3.

Congratulations to the following students on these achievements:

Regional Bee Participants

6th Grade

• Anita Powers
• Preesha Rock

7th Grade

• Khloey Birch
• Ian Breitsprecker
• Jackson Burke
• Zach Chesterman
• Foster Del Toro
• Lauren Krasnodemski
• Landon Marting
• Blake Meyer
• Dominic Mills
• Ethan Montes
• Mallory Schaefer
• Bentley Scholtes
• Audrey Schuster
• Lucas Smith

8th Grade

• Grant Arling
• Harper Canon
• Nolan Farber
• Jayme Miller
• Izzy Pregler
• Sitanshu Rock
• Ian Sindt
• Aaron Scheirer

Regional Bee Finalists

6th Grade

• Preesha Rock | 4th place (tied) out of 40 participants

7th Grade

• Zach Chesterman | 3rd place out of 53 participants

8th Grade

• Nolan Farber | 3rd place out of 20 participants

National Bee Qualifiers

6th Grade

• Preesha Rock | Declined invitation to the National Bee

7th Grade

• Zach Chesterman | Accepted invitation to the National Bee

8th Grade

• Nolan Farber | Accepted invitation to the National Bee
• Ian Sindt | Accepted invitation to the National Bee 

 

We are pleased to live stream the 2023 graduation ceremonies on Saturday, May 27.

Live stream links will be posted on this page prior to the event.

VIEW THE HEMPSTEAD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION:

VIEW THE DUBUQUE SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION:

We are pleased to present the Spring 2022-2023 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

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 18 – May 20th.

Congratulations to the following student qualifiers in the Class 4A categories:

Dubuque Senior High School

GIRLS

High Jump

• Cambel Drapeau

1500M Run 

• Leah Klapatauskas

3000M Run

• Emma Chesterman
• Leah Klapatauskas

4x800M Relay

• Emily Gorton, Claire Hoyer, Neveah Kessler, and Leah Klapatauskas

Alternates

• Kaitlyn Miller
• Julia Kilgore

BOYS

Shot Put

• Cohen Pfohl

100M Dash

• Nick Lambe
• Deyon Moore

110M Hurdles 

• Nate Obbink

400M Hurdles 

• Nate Obbink

Shuttle Hurdle Relay

• Nate Obbink, Tyler McDonald, Ethan Rader, and Dylan Thul

4x100M Relay

• Jaden Arnold, Benjamin Francis, Nick Lambe, and Deyon Moore

4x200M Relay

• Jaden Arnold, Benjamin Francis, Nick Lambe, and Deyon Moore

800M Sprint Medley Relay

• Jaden Arnold, Benjamin Francis, Nick Lambe, and Deyon Moore

4x400M Relay

• Jaden Arnold
• Charles Crow
• Dustin Foht
• Benjamin Francis

Alternates

• Marshawn Dukes
• Isaac Gooch
• Zack Heiar
• Montrel Jones
• Landon Kelly
• Jackson Kieffer
• Daylin Moore

Hempstead High School

GIRLS

Discus

• Gabbi Frederick

Shot Put Wheelchair

• Ally Darter

100M, 200M, and 400M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter

400M Dash

• Camdyn Kay

800M Run

• Keelee Leitzen
• Brooke O’Brien

1500M Run

• Sophia Dallal
• Keelee Letizen

3000M Run

• Evie Henneberry

4x400M Relay

• Isabel Brauhn, Camdyn Kay, Mylee Lange, and Maddie Leeser
  • Alternates: Piper Birkenholz, Sophia Dallal, Brooke O’Brien, and Mallory Tomkins

4x800M Relay

• Sophia Dallal, Camdyn Kay, Keelee Leitzen, and Brooke O’Brien
  • Alternates: Isabel Brauhn, Julia Gehl, Evie Henneberry, and Mylee Lange

Distance Medley Relay

• Keelee Leitzen, Brooke O’Brien, Ayla Osterkamp, and Mallory Tomkins
  • Alternates: Akeelah Anderson, Evie Henneberry, Camdyn Kay, and Jillian Renne 

Sprint Medley Relay

• Akeelah Anderson, Brooke O’Brien, Ayla Osterkamp, and Mallory Tomkins
  • Alternates: Isabel Brauhn, Camdyn Kay, Maddie Leeser, and Jillian Renne

BOYS

High Jump

• Will Pitz

1600M Run

• Caleb Kass
• John Maloney

3200M Run

• Caleb Kass
• John Maloney

4x400M Relay

• Charlie Driscoll, Will Pitz, Devin Spahn, and Joe Vize
  • Alternates: Matt Hanselman, Zack Johnson, Avery Keehner, and Jordan Plummer 

4x800M Relay 

• Charlie Driscoll, Micah Fern, Zack Johnson, and Joe Vize
  • Alternates: Brandon Kass, Caleb Kass, Matt Hanselman, and Owen Leitzen 

Pioneer Cup Runner-Up (Top 5 Internationally)

• Charlie Ramos
• Ben Valentine

Pioneer Cup Invitational Round Competitors

Team 2

• Will Kelley
• Ian Wagner

Team 3

• Neal Patel
• Owen Wagener

Team 4

• Beckett Kraus
• Winston Richardson 

Team 5

• Landon Brimeyer
• Max VanderPloeg 

Team 9

• Alyssa Blum
• Charlotte Kelley

Team 12

• Aliyah Blum
• Lauren Hunold
• Aubrey Scardino

Pioneer Cup First Round Competitors

Team 6

• Levi James
• Jordan Noel

Team 7 

• Angel Parra
• Justus Riley

Team 8

• Jackson Bartley
• Bryce Hentges
• Layne Massingham

Team 10

• Jocelyn Ervolino
• Jordyn Martin

Team 11

• Tanner Brimeyer
• Alaina Sutter

Team 13

• Wesley Bobis
• Owen Williams

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.