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What's New at Dubuque Community Schools

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Suicide Prevention Event, Nov. 2

Join us for a
Dubuque Community School District
Family Education Series Event

SUICIDE PREVENTION:
A Message of Hope and Recovery

Thursday, November 2
6-7:30 p.m.
Roosevelt Middle School Lass Auditorium

ADMISSION IS FREE AND NO RSVP IS NECESSARY

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) suicide is the second leading cause of death for youth aged 14-18. In addition, 1 in 5 youth have reported they are seriously considering suicide.

At this presentation, you’ll hear from guest speaker Kristen who will share her story of how she was able to cope and recover from the impact of significant trauma in her childhood. The presentation is sponsored by the Duck Cup Memorial Fund.

The presentation will be followed by a panel of local experts and a question-and-answer session, including:

  • Ann Butzier, Parent and UnityPoint Health Nurse
  • Kristen Nolen, Dubuque Senior High School Brain Health Retreat Room Liaison
  • Dr. Michael Peroski, Medical Associates Psychiatrist
  • Dan Powers, Alta Vista Campus Administrator and Former School Counselor

Local agencies will also be present before and after the event to talk with families and offer resources.

Jefferson and Washington to Host 100th Anniversary Open Houses, Oct. 1

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.

Dubuque Community Schools to Host Bond Referendum Information Sessions

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.

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2023 Mobile Registration + Employment Fair, Aug. 5-10

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!

Dubuque Community School District Adds Competitive Dance to Extracurricular Offerings, Dance Clinic Scheduled for July 20

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.

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Crescent Community Health Center to Host Mobile Summer Vaccine Clinics

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

District Receives Excellence in Financial Reporting Award

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.

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Back-to-School Bash 2023, August 5

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

Music notes

District Recognized Among 2023 ‘Best Communities for Music Education’

The Dubuque Community School District has been honored with the Best Communities for Music Education designation from The NAMM Foundation for its outstanding commitment to music education.

2023 Best Communities for Music Education (logo)This is the seventh consecutive year the district has received the honor.

Now in its 24th year, the Best Communities for Music Education designation is awarded to districts that demonstrate outstanding achievement in efforts to provide music access and education to all students.

To qualify for the Best Communities designation, the district answered detailed questions about funding, graduation requirements, music class participation, instruction time, facilities, support for the music program and community music-making programs. Responses were verified with school officials and reviewed by The Music Research Institute at the University of Kansas.

Music teachers in the district are congratulated by representatives of West Music on the Best Communities for Music Education Award from the NAMM Foundation

Music teachers in the district are congratulated on the Best Communities for Music Education Award from the NAMM Foundation

Research into music education continues to demonstrate educational/cognitive and social skill benefits for children who make music: After two years of music education, researchers found that participants showed more substantial improvements in how the brain processes speech and reading scores than their less-involved peers and that students who are involved in music are not only more likely to graduate high school but also to attend college as well.

In addition, everyday listening skills are stronger in musically trained children than in those without music training. Significantly, listening skills are closely tied to the ability to: perceive speech in a noisy background, pay attention, and keep sounds in memory. Later in life, individuals who took music lessons as children show stronger neural processing of sound: young adults and even older adults who have not played an instrument for up to 50 years show enhanced neural processing compared to their peers. Not to mention, social benefits include conflict resolution, teamwork skills, and how to give and receive constructive criticism.

About The NAMM Foundation
The NAMM Foundation is a nonprofit supported in part by the National Association of Music Merchants and its approximately 15,000 member companies and individual professionals. The foundation advances active participation in music making across the lifespan by supporting scientific research, philanthropic giving and public service programs.

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Summer 2023 No-Cost Meal Options

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/.”