April is National Internship Awareness Month! By providing real-world experience and a chance to develop skills, internships can help students stand out in a competitive job market.
Speak with a guidance counselor to learn more about these opportunities!
The state Future Problem Solving Competition was held on Friday, April 14, in Pella. Congratulations to all place winners:
Skits
3rd place - High School Team 1
2nd place tie - 7th Grade Teams 1 & 2
State Champions - 8th Grade Team - Jack Benner, Austin Fogarty, Carson Morrison and Caden Weber
Community Problem Solvers
State Champions - High School Team
Scenario Writing
6th Place - Aida Ward
5th Place - Abigail Hand
4th Place - Audrey Hand
2nd Place - Austin Fogarty
State Champion - Maren Robbins
Global Issues Packet Writing
2nd Place - 6th Grade Team
Football schedules have been released for the 2023 season. Go Hawks! 🎉🏈
The Central Lee School District would like to express our gratitude to OCI Nitrogen Iowa for their donation of $2,000 to help offset school lunch deficits for our students.
In the picture, OCI is represented by two Central Lee alumni, Chris Cantonwine and Darci Uhlmeyer. Accepting the check on behalf of our school district is Amy Fogarty, Nutrition Director.
Thank you, OCI Nitrogen Iowa for being great partners to the area public schools!
April is Counseling Awareness Month! A huge thank you goes to Angie Moore, the incredible counselor at Central Lee High School. We also want to recognize K-8 counselor Beth Wells and Atari, the therapy dog, at Central Lee Elementary and Middle School.
You all make such a huge impact on our students’ lives!
The 4th, 5th and 6th grade Hawk's Place students worked together to prepare, cook and enjoy a meal for a special guest. These students were excited to prepare recipes from their Test Kitchen cookbook as a surprise meal for Kumar Wickramasingha, the guest of honor. Recipes prepared were Pasta Bolognese served with garlic cheese bread, Mandarin Orange Green Salad and Snicker Apple Salad followed by Strawberry Shortcake for dessert. Students were introduced to these foods at the Test kitchen. If anyone would like a cookbook with these recipes and more please contact a Hawk's Place student. Elliott Test Kitchen, now YMCA Test Kitchen, has been a great fun learning experience for the students and one they look forward to and enjoy immensely. Many take what they learn home to their own kitchen table. Good job kids! Thank you Kumar and Test Kitchen for the experience!
Our 5th grade students did a great job on the ISASP for Science today! Please keep in mind that all students in grades 3-5 and 6-8 will officially begin testing tomorrow.
Please encourage your student to get a good night’s sleep, eat a nutritious breakfast, and bring a positive attitude to the assessments. Thank you for putting forth such a great effort! View our ISASP testing schedule for more details: https://tinyurl.com/mspwaur7
Reminder: ISASP Assessments begin this week for students in grades 3-11!
Please ensure students receive a healthy breakfast. If students are absent or tardy during any of the scheduled test times, they will be required to make up the tests the following week.
View our ISASP testing schedule for more details: https://tinyurl.com/mspwaur7. Best of luck to our students!
Hawk Place students enjoyed the weather yesterday with a field trip to Donnellson. Our career event this week was "Touch a Truck & More". Besides visiting with the operators, many were allowed to sit in the driver's seat of state trucks, a firetruck and police and sheriff vehicles. It was also a new fun experience to get in the back of an ambulance or climb in a bucket of the electric company vehicle. Besides the trucks, the kids visited the bank and the Proeneke cabin at the library. The students are alway ready for the after school snack so there was a stop at Grandma's Kitchen for a homemade treat. A refreshing slushy from Green Acres satisfied thirst on our warm spring day. We thank all the businesses and vehicle operators that participated in this week's career event.
Central Lee submitted writing pieces to the Future Problem Solving (FPS) Scenario Writing Competition. Three students placed in the top 10!
2nd: Austin Fogarty
5th: Abby Hand
6th: Aida Ward
Congratulations! Way to represent Central Lee! #Proud2bCL
Looking for something fun this weekend? Join us for a production of “Murder Mystery at the Murder Mystery!”
Performances are Saturday, April 15 at 7:30pm, and Sunday, April 16 at 2pm at Central Lee High School. It’s sure to be a fantastic show!
See the attached flyer for many resources in our area ranging from counseling to housing. So many great resources in one location!
Here are several great online workshops for parents offered by Iowa State Extension and Outreach!
This workshop would be a great resource for any child 8-15 years old to help navigate a loss in their life. It also gives them a great chance to connect with peers who have also gone through something similar.
Friendly Reminder: The Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) testing for students in grades 3-11 will take place April 17-27. See the schedule for each building below:
Students will be assessed in reading, math, and language/writing. Students in grades 5,8 and 11 will also be tested in Science. Testing will be in person and take place in the mornings.
The purpose of the ISASP is to allow students to demonstrate what they have learned and how they are progressing. The data it provides represents one way we measure student success. As a district, we will closely examine the results as we make key decisions and ensure we are setting high expectations for student progress and achievement.
Below are some tips to help ensure your student is prepared:
✅ Make sure your student gets enough sleep the night before each test.
✅ Make sure your student has a healthy breakfast.
✅ Remind your student of the importance of taking the test seriously.
✅ Encourage your student to do their best and have a positive attitude.
✅ Explain that even though questions will be difficult and they may not know all the answers, it is important for students not to leave an answer blank.
✅ Being on time and in attendance is important for all testing.
Thank you for your partnership and encouraging students to put forth a strong effort on these assessments!
We are delighted to share the extraordinary achievements of three Central Lee High School alumni, who recently claimed national championships in their respective college sports!
Mya Merschman (Class of 2021) showcased her tremendous basketball skills at Clarke University in Dubuque and played a pivotal role in her team's victory at the 2023 NAIA Women's Basketball Championship on March 18! Her dedication and commitment to the sport have undoubtedly contributed to this monumental accomplishment. Mya averaged 8.1 points per game this year for Clarke University.
Similarly, Tiahnna Bryant (Class of 2019) and Ellie Herdrich (Class of 2022) have brought immense pride to Central Lee as they led the Central College Dance Team to its first-ever National title last weekend in Daytona, Florida. Their exceptional performance and teamwork were instrumental in this historic achievement.
Mark your calendars: April 15 is the Central Lee High School Music Boosters Mattress Fundraiser!
Stop by CLHS between 10am and 5pm to purchase a quality name-brand mattress below retail price. All proceeds go to the Music Boosters.
Support the fine arts and get a good night’s rest!
This Thursday, April 13th, Hawk Place will travel to the Lee County Fairgrounds in Donnellson for a " "Touch a Truck and More" event from 3:45 - 5:15. This is part of our career day Thursdays. The public is welcome bring children to join us and see the various vehicles up close and talk to the operators.
It’s Financial Literacy Month! Now’s a good time to highlight the importance of budgeting, money management, and financial planning. By starting at an early age, you can set yourself on a path to long-term financial success!
Here’s a resource to get the conversation started: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/younginvestors/08/eight-tips.asp
Weekly Activities April 9th - April 15th
On March 30th-31st, Central Lee Middle School had 36 projects with 47 students competing at the State Science and Engineering Fair in Ames, IA. There were approximately 390 students exhibiting 300 projects from 50 different schools across the state of Iowa. Due to weather, the awards ceremony was held via Zoom on April 5.
In seminar presentations, Central Lee Middle School had 18 projects that received honorable mention, 4 projects third place, 7 projects second place, and 2 projects received first place.
In category placings, there were 8 projects who received honorable mention, 4 projects received third place, 5 projects received second place, and 9 received first place. Allison Gruntmeir, Micah Ashmore, and Caedon Newton all received Best in Category. Caedon Newton received Junior High Reserved Champion!
33 special awards and prizes, along with over $5,725, were given to Central Lee Middle School projects!
Central Lee Middle School took home the Clay Groff Traveling Trophy for the most outstanding school!
Congratulations to ALL of the students who participated in science fair in 2023!
