What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

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.

Students from both Dubuque Senior and Hempstead High Schools will compete in the Drake Relays at Drake Stadium in Des Moines, IA from April 25 – April 27th. 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 Run

• Jaden Arnold
• Garrett Schumacher

Girls 1500M Run

• Leah Klapatauskas

Girls 3000M Run

• Leah Klapatauskas

Girls High Jump

• Cambel Drapeau

Boys Team 4x100M Run

• Jaden Arnold
• John FitzPatrick
• Nick Lambe
• Andrew Theisen

Boys Team 4x200M Run

• Jaden Arnold
• John FitzPatrick
• Nick Lambe
• Garrett Schumacher

Boys Team 4x400M Run

• Jaden Arnold
• John FitzPatrick
• Zack Heiar
• Garrett Schumacher

Girls Team 4x800M Run

• Emma Chesterman
• Emily Gorton
• Nevaeh Kessler
• Leah Klapatauskas

Alternates

• Mahdi Al-Atabi
• Charlie Crow
• Marshawn Dukes
• Claire Hoyer
• Noah Roling

Hempstead High School

Co-ed 400M Wheelchair

• Ally Darter

Girls 800M Run

• Julia Gehl
• Keelee Leitzen

Girls 1500M Run

• Julia Gehl
• Keelee Leitzen

Girls 3000M Run

• Julia Gehl

Boys 3200M Run

• John Maloney

Girls Team 4x100M Relay

• Savannah Bailey
• Kassidy Buchenau
• Jillian Renne
• Mallory Tomkins

Boys Team 4x100M Relay

• Thomas Brashaw
• James Eichhorn
• Landon McKay
• Brendon Zheng

Girls Team 4x400M Relay

• Julia Gehl
• Keelee Leitzen
• Ayla Osterkamp
• Mallory Tomkins

Girls Team 4x800M Relay

• Mylee Lange
• Keelee Leitzen
• Natalie Leitzen
• Eva Stevenson

Boys Team 4x800M Relay

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

Girls Team Sprint Medley Relay

• Akeelah Anderson
• Madelyn Leeser
• Ayla Osterkamp
• Mallory Tomkins

Alternates

• Piper Birkenholz
• Mya Curry
• Matthew Hanselman
• Robert Ivy
• Jashawn McCarter
• Paige Pitz

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.

 

On Saturday, March 9, the Dubuque Senior Speech Team competed in the 2024 State Individual Event Speech Contest at Hampton-Dumont CAL High School in Hampton, Iowa. The team received overall Division I ratings in 46 performances.

The Hempstead High School Speech Team had a six students receive Division I ratings in seven 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 26 Outstanding Performance nominations to the 2024 Individual Event All-State Festival. The Festival was held Monday, March 25 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 twelfth consecutive year the Dubuque Senior Speech Team has won the Individual Events Sweepstakes Trophy.

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 (six times – 2024, 2023, 2019, 2018, 2016 and 2013). The group is coached by Hannah Burke, Aaron Dean, Greg Ernzen, Mike Grant, Maria LoBianco, 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:

Dubuque Senior High School

• Kelsey Ahlers – Expository Address
• Riley Beck – Solo Musical Theatre
• Peter Boenish – Prose & Review
• Delaney Carber – Storytelling
• Sam Cavanagh – Radio News Announcing
• Alex Dixon – Acting & After Dinner Speaking
• Peyton Dixon – Storytelling
• Liam Dostal – Solo Musical Theatre
• Anna Garret-Douillet – Public Address
• Jace Holz – Review
• Norah Homb – Storytelling
• Leah Klapatauskas – Spontaneous Speaking
• Chase Kreimeyer – After Dinner Speaking & Improvisational Acting
• Maura Lawler – Expository Address
• Kaitlyn Miller – Expository Address
• Soren Obermueller – After Dinner Speaking & Prose
• Madeline Oney – Poetry
• Reid Postma – Improvisational Acting
• Jack Rothert – After Dinner Speaking
• Jacob Schreiber – Review
• Sophia Thomas – Poetry
• Bella VandenBerge – Acting

State Division I (Excellent) Rated Recognition:

Dubuque Senior High School

• Ami Bellings – Solo Musical Theatre
• Peyton Dixon – Original Oratory
• Ella Donovan – Literary Program
• Roz Hoefflin – Literary Program
• Blair Kapp – After Dinner Speaking
• Avery Kane – Acting
• Natalee Killian – Prose
• Akiko Kono – Original Oratory
• Liam Kroger – Radio News Announcing
• Ella Meyer – Spontaneous Speaking
• Jameson Norton – Literary Program & Radio News Announcing
• Josie Norton – Poetry
• Izzibelle Pregler – Acting
• Kate Putnam – Poetry
• Maddie Rupp – Improvisational Acting
• Benjamin Schaefer – Spontaneous Speaking
• Charlotte Toskey – Public Address
• Morgan Weiland – Improvisational Acting
• David Witthoeft – Improvisational Acting

Hempstead High School

• Bruce Coakley – Spontaneous Speaking
• Hannah Davisdon – After Dinner Speaking
• Maggie Morrow – Interpretive Reading Prose
• Norah Morteo – Interpretive Reading  Poetry
• Aadi Patel – Spontaneous Speaking
• Brendon Zheng – Spontaneous Speaking and Expository Address

Twenty-one students from Hempstead High School and the Alta Vista Campus recently returned from an impressive showing at the 2024 iJAG Annual Career Development Conference in Des Moines, IA.

Congratulations to the following students on these honors:

STATE RUNNER-UP

Hempstead High School

LOVE Project | Lifting Our Voices for Equity
A plan to address a challenge within their community to create a more inclusive world

• Laila Saunders | 12th grade
• Ayiana Sandridge | 12th grade
• DaShawn Mays | 11th grade
• Wyleah Jaeger | 11th grade

 

Congratulations to our students on presenting in the following categories at the state-level conference:

STATE COMPETITORS

Hempstead High School

Business Plan
A 10-page written business plan and presentation

• Tobin Ludovissy | 11th grade
• Caleb Blackburn | 12th grade
• Taylor Pline | 11th grade

Creative Decision Making
A creative solution to a problem presented at the time of competition

• Anna Klein | 11th grade
• Jenaleigh Williams | 12th grade
• Megan Sawvel | 11th grade

Project Based Learning Showcase
A presentation how project based learning was used to instruct

• Olivia Skemp | 11th grade
• Ana Bermudez | 12th grade
• Mariano Jeban | 12th grade

Career Preparation
A powerpoint and presentation about their future career

• Kora Leslein | 11th grade

Financial Literacy
A computer test on financial literacy concepts

• Carter Kane | 11th grade

Alta Vista Campus Students

Business Plan
A 10-page written business plan and presentation

• Landon Dotson | 12th grade
• Mercedez Burgess | 11th grade
• Kemonte Pearson | 11th grade
• Ricky Woods | 11th grade

Career Preparation
A powerpoint and presentation about their future career

• Maxx Dunlap | 12th grade

Employability Skills
A completed resume, cover letter, and live interview

• Nora Hanselmann | 11th grade

 

You might say it has been another banner year for the Dubuque Senior High School speech team.

On Saturday, February 17th the Dubuque Senior Speech Team performed at the 2024 Iowa High School Speech Association Large Group All-State Festival at Iowa State University. The team of 84 Senior High students proudly represented and entertained audiences in performances ranging from Ensemble Acting to Musical Theatre. The Senior High Speech Team proudly closed the ceremony by claiming the Critic’s Choice Banner for outstanding performance of the day in the Category of One Act Play.

The Revolutionists claimed the Critic’s Choice Banner in the category of One Act Play. It is a moving story of art, feminism and changing the world through four very real women who lived boldly in France during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. It was written by Lauren Gunderson. The performance featured students Ami Bellings, Peter Boenish, Wyatt Branscomb, Peyton Dixon, Anna Garrett-Douillet, Avery Kane, and Isabella VandenBerge. It was directed by Mr. Aaron Dean. Critic was Connor Wang, Sound Designer and Video Engineer from Broadway’s How to Dance in Ohio.

Dubuque Senior was also awarded the E. Wayne Cooley Large Group Sweepstakes Trophy. The trophy is awarded to the school receiving the most All-State Nominations to the IHSSA Large Group Festival making Dubuque Senior the 2024 Large Group State Champions.

Iowa High School Speech Association Information:

• The Critic’s Choice Award is given by a theatre professional to the top performance of the day in each category.

• This is the fourth One Act Play Banner for Dubuque Senior, one of the original IHSSA categories from the first festival back in 1981. It was last awarded to Senior in 2016.

• The award is a traveling championship banner which Dubuque Senior will return to the All-State Festival next year

• This marks the 37th banner win in in IHSSA history for Dubuque Senior High School and the 18th in the last 12 years.

• This is Dubuque Senior’s eighth Large Groups Sweepstakes State Championship. (1984, 2001, 2013, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2023, 2024)

The Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council at the Iowa Department of Education is proud to announce Theressa Northouse, a technology coach at Marshall Elementary School, has been named as a recipient of the 2024 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, sponsored by Kemin Industries. The award is given to six educators each year who go above and beyond to inspire student interest in and awareness of science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

Now in its 10th year, the award is given annually to one full-time, licensed preK-12 teacher from each of the six STEM regions in Iowa. Each recipient is honored for their efforts to foster enthusiasm and inspire a passion for STEM that goes beyond the classroom and helps prepare students for future high-demand careers.

Northouse was recognized for her efforts in going above and beyond in providing STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, math) experiences at Marshall Elementary School. She has established several STEM clubs at her school, including a Coding Club, a Girls Who Code Club, and a Robot Club. Northouse’s work in the teaching of computer science is done with equity in mind, because she believes in the importance of students being able to see themselves in jobs that involve STEM.

Northouse has always collaborated with companies like John Deere and The National Inventors Hall of Fame to bring real-life, hands-on opportunities to the classroom. Her grant writing also produced Finch, Sphero, and DASH robots to ensure coding and robotics at all grade levels, while infusing creative challenges for the kids to keep them engaged. Northouse was described by her nominator for this award as “bringing tremendous energy to the classroom to keep kids engaged and wanting more STEAM.”

As a recipient of the 2024 Iowa STEM Teacher Award, Northouse will receive $1,500 to use for her classroom and $1,500 for personal use.

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About the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council

Established in July 2011 via Governor’s Executive Order, the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council leverages public-private partnerships of educators, companies and Iowa students and families to ensure that every Iowa student has access to world-class STEM education opportunities. The Council’s work supports strong college and career pathways for students and growth for state and local economies. The 44-member STEM Council is co-chaired by Governor Kim Reynolds and Foundation Analytical Laboratory Owner and Director of Technical Services Diane Young. For more information, visit https://iowastem.org.

About Kemin Industries

Kemin Industries (www.kemin.com) is a global ingredient manufacturer that strives to sustainably transform the quality of life every day for 80 percent of the world with its products and services. The company supplies over 500 specialty ingredients for human and animal health and nutrition, pet food, aquaculture, nutraceutical, food technologies, crop technologies, textile, biofuel and animal vaccine industries.

For over half a century, Kemin has been dedicated to using applied science to address industry challenges and offer product solutions to customers in more than 120 countries. Kemin provides ingredients to feed a growing population with its commitment to the quality, safety and efficacy of food, feed and health-related products.

Established in 1961, Kemin is a privately held, family-owned-and-operated company with more than 3,000 global employees and operations in 90 countries, including manufacturing facilities in Belgium, Brazil, China, Egypt, India, Italy, San Marino, Singapore, South Africa and the United States.

 

The Dubuque Community School District is pleased to announce the appointment of Renee Wagner as the new principal of Irving Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year, pending approval by the Board of Education at its March meeting. Wagner, who currently serves as an instructional coach at Drexler Middle School in Farley, Iowa, replaces Susan Meehan, who was recently named administrator of the district’s new Seedlings Preschool Center.

As principal of Irving, Wagner will be responsible for the strategic and day-to-day operations of the school, which serves approximately 410 students and has over 85 professional and support staff.

Wagner assumes this role after serving as an instructional coach at Drexler Middle School since 2020. Prior to that, she was an instructional coach at Western Dubuque High School from 2014-2020. Prior to her role in instructional leadership, she served as a teacher at Drexler Middle and Intermediate School from 2010-2014 and was a Title I reading teacher at Cascade Elementary School.

“Renee brings a students-first philosophy that is guided by her strong track record of building positive relationships and her expertise in proven instructional practices,” said Superintendent of Schools Amy Hawkins. “That, combined with her positive attitude and excitement for learning make her the right fit to lead Irving into the future.”

Wagner holds a bachelor of arts degree in elementary and middle level education from the University of Northern Iowa, a K-8 reading endorsement from Clarke University, and a master’s degree in education (educational administration) from Loras College.