What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

The Dubuque Community School District and the Dubuque Esports League (DEL) are pleased to announce an innovative partnership that will establish a new esports program for students enrolled at Dubuque Senior High School and Hempstead High School.

One of the fastest growing activities in the world, esports is a form of competitive video gaming where players compete against each other in organized tournaments and leagues. Often connected to STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) learning, extracurricular esports programming helps students develop strong bonds with their school and classmates while developing critical mental and physical skills such as teamwork, strategy, communication, mental toughness, hand-eye coordination, technical skills, time management and more.

“Esports has skyrocketed in popularity across the world and it’s been a regularly requested addition to our extracurricular offerings,” said Coby Culbertson, the district’s chief technology officer. “This new partnership gives us the chance to connect our students up with the expertise and facilities of the Dubuque Esports League. It’s a true partnership with everyone dedicated to giving students outstanding opportunities to compete while developing them as individuals.”

Through this new partnership, the district will recruit students to participate in esports and provide a staff liaison to coordinate programming at the high schools. The Dubuque Esports League, which is a 501(c)3 charitable organization, will provide students participating with access to the organization’s state-of-the-art esports facility as well as coaching support and training opportunities for the esports teams. Funding the for the district’s initial year of programming was made possible through a generous grant from the DRA, a Dubuque-area philanthropic organization.

This is the first extracurricular offering in the Dubuque Community Schools that is facilitated through a partnership with an outside organization – and it’s a model that both groups believe could spark additional future innovation in activities programming.

“We’re excited to see this partnership come to life and offer Dubuque Community Schools students new esports opportunities,” said Shelby Wartick, DEL co-founder and co-executive director. “Our goal has always been to create a safe, welcoming community where students can thrive. We’re grateful to partner with a school district that innovates to engage students in their passions and help them grow through skills like teamwork and leadership through platforms like esports.”

“As college scholarships for esports continue to grow, this partnership offers students a pathway to compete and pursue educational opportunities through esports,” said Susie Quinn, DEL co-founder and co-executive director. “We’re excited to kick off our winter season with games like Overwatch 2 and Rocket League, both of which are also played at the collegiate level. The possibilities ahead are incredibly exciting!”

High school junior varsity and varsity teams will begin forming this fall and the district anticipates joining the Iowa High School Esports Association, which currently oversees esports competition between high schools in the state.

The Dubuque Community School District will host an open house and ribbon cutting for the district’s new Seedlings Preschool Center on Wednesday, Sept. 11. The event will begin with a short program at 4 p.m., followed by an opportunity to tour the facility. The community is invited to attend.

Seedlings Preschool Center is a newly remodeled, state-of-the-art facility located at 7810 Chavenelle Road on the Bright Minds Campus (formerly Medline facility at 7900 Chavenelle Road).

The 18,000-square-foot free preschool was designed entirely to support the community’s youngest learners. The center aims to meet the community demand for high-quality early childhood education with seamless access to wrap-around child care programming in the adjacent Dubuque Community Y Early Learning Center.

Seedlings Preschool Center features newly renovated classrooms, a fully accessible outdoor playground, specially designed sensory spaces, meal service and common spaces, and a dedicated team of preschool teachers and support staff.

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 2024-2025 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. 3, 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!

Tuesday, Aug. 6, 3-5 p.m.
Hempstead High School

Wednesday, Aug. 7, from 1-3 p.m.
Washington Middle School

Thursday, Aug. 8, from 1-3 p.m.
Roosevelt Middle School

Saturday, Aug. 10, from 7 a.m.-Noon
Dubuque Farmers Market

Tuesday, Aug. 13, from 1-3 p.m.
Irving Elementary School

We look forward to seeing you!

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

Saturday, Aug. 3
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

We are excited to celebrate the Class of 2024 one more time. Relive the memories from Dalzell Field in the photo albums linked below. All images are available to download.

CLICK HERE for the Hempstead High School graduation album.

CLICK HERE for the Dubuque Senior High School graduation album.

The Dubuque Community School District will participate in the USDA Summer Food Service Program to provide no-cost meals to students weekdays from July 8 through August 2, 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 will be 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/.”