Articles from December 2023

In celebration of the 100th anniversary of each school, Jefferson Middle School and Washington Middle School will host community open houses on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at each school. The community is invited to attend.

During the open houses, community members will have the chance to tour areas of the school, interact with student representatives and school staff, and view historical memorabilia. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to sign a commemorative item recognizing the anniversary.

In 1921, the Dubuque Community School District Board of Education called for construction of two new junior high schools – ultimately becoming Washington and Jefferson. The schools were both constructed during 1922 and opened in 1923.

Today, Jefferson serves approximately 460 students and Washington serves approximately 630 students, all in grades six through eight.

The Dubuque Community School District will host a series of upcoming community information meetings on the $150 million school bond referendum that will be on the November election ballot.

Sessions will be held on Wednesday, Aug. 30, at Bryant Elementary School; Wednesday, Sept. 27, at Eisenhower Elementary School; and Wednesday, Oct. 18, at Marshall Elementary School. Each meeting will be held from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

VISIT THE BOND WEBPAGE TO LEARN MORE

The meeting will feature information on projects included in the bond referendum, which include:

• Construction of a new, modern middle school on the Washington Middle School site to replace the more than 100-year-old Washington and Jefferson buildings while ensuring access to similar, high-quality facilities for all middle school students in the district.
• Addition of air conditioning (and other HVAC mechanical improvements) to all schools in the district currently without it.
• Construction of a gymnasium addition to Eisenhower Elementary School to eliminate space constraints due to not having a separate gymnasium and lunch/multipurpose room.
• Construction of a baseball and softball complex with lights, restrooms, and concessions.
• Land acquisition for a potential future elementary school aligned with geographic population shifts.

At the meeting, the team from INVISION Architecture leading the bond facility project planning will provide an overview of the projects. They will also discuss the financial impacts of the bond, which will not cause the district’s overall tax levy rate to change.

Need help registering your student?
Looking for a job in an amazing school district?
We are hitting the road and bringing the district to you!

Visit our registration and human resources teams at one of our Mobile Registration and Employment Fair stops throughout the community.

At each stop:

• Our registration team will be on hand to assist families in completing online registration for the upcoming 2023-2024 school year.
• Our human resources team will take applications and conduct on-the-spot interviews for a variety of district jobs, including paraprofessional, transportation and food/nutrition positions.
• Computers with internet access will be provided – and we even have a few treats in store!

Join us at one of the following times:

Saturday, Aug. 5, 11 a.m.- 2p.m.
BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH: Audubon Elementary School
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BACK-TO-SCHOOL BASH, including the shuttle schedule to get there!

Monday, Aug. 7, 1-3 p.m.
Allison-Henderson Park

Tuesday, Aug. 8, from 3-5 p.m.
Hempstead High School

Wednesday, Aug. 9, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
Murphy Park

Thursday, Aug. 10, from 1-3 p.m.
Roosevelt Middle School

We look forward to seeing you!

The Dubuque Community School District has added competitive dance to its high school extracurricular offerings for the 2023-2024 school year, with teams taking shape at Dubuque Senior High School and Hempstead High School.

As part of the launch of these new teams, a Dance Clinic will be held for students entering grades 9-12 at Dubuque Senior and Hempstead on Thursday, July 20, from 9 a.m.-noon at Dubuque Senior’s Nora Gymnasium.

Cost for the camp is $25 per person and reservations can be made at www.dbqschoolscamps.com.

With the addition of this new activity also comes the appointment of inaugural head coaches for these teams. The district is pleased to announce the appointment of Kylie Goedken as the head coach of the Dubuque Senior High School dance team and Angie Olson as head coach of the Hempstead High School program.

Goedken, a graduate of Dubuque Senior, is owner/studio head director at Xtreme Dance in Dubuque. Olson is a German teacher at Hempstead who brings a variety of competitive dance experience to the role. Both schools will begin competition in the upcoming school year.

Crescent Community Health Center in Dubuque will offer a mobile vaccine / sports physical clinic at four Dubuque Community School District schools during the month of July.

Dubuque Community School District Students are able to attend one of these clinics for school year vaccinations and/or sports physicals. Students must be accompanied by a parent/guardian in order to receive services.

Clinic dates and locations are:

Thursday, July 6
1-4 p.m.
Audubon Elementary School, 605 Lincoln Avenue
CLINIC FOR: Ages 6 to 8 | SERVICES: Vaccines only

Thursday, July 13
1-4 p.m.
Prescott Elementary School, 1151 White Street
CLINIC FOR: Ages 6 to 8 | SERVICES: Vaccines only

Thursday, July 20
1-4 p.m.
Table Mound Elementary School, 100 Tower Drive
CLINIC FOR: Ages 6 to 8 | SERVICES: Vaccines, physicals, vision

Thursday, July 27
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Kennedy Elementary School, 2135 Woodland Drive
CLINIC FOR: Ages 4 (PreK) to 11 | SERVICES: Vaccines, physicals, vision

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:

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

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