Central Lee Community School District

Today is Book Lovers’ Day! To celebrate, we encourage our students and families to visit our local library, dive into a new book or re-read an old favorite. Are you reading any great books this summer? If so, SHARE them below!

We'd like to remind you that all students in the Central Lee Community School District will continue to have access to free breakfast and lunch during the 2021-22 school year! The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has extended the National School Lunch Program through June 2022. This program provides children 18 years of age or younger with a free school breakfast and free school lunch on school days, regardless of their Free or Reduced status. Students may continue to purchase a la carte items, seconds, and milk, which will be charged to the family's account. #Proud2bCL

Victor Spohnheimer is a 2021 inductee into the Central Lee Academic Hall of Fame! Spohnheimer is a 1933 Donnellson High School graduate. He began his education in the one-room country school, No. 2, north of Donnellson. He contracted polio while attending Parson’s College, but was able to make up his missed coursework to graduate on time, magna cum laude, with a bachelor’s degree in math and science. He then earned a master’s degree in botany from the University of Iowa and embarked on a 42-year teaching career while also farming and raising a family. Spohnheimer spent 19 years at Central Lee High School, where he taught algebra, geometry, trigonometry, analytical geometry and calculus. We’re honoring this legendary educator to our Academic Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021!

We’re thrilled to welcome Justin Lightfoot as a 2021 Academic Hall of Fame inductee! Lightfoot is a 1999 Central Lee graduate who serves as a district judge for the state of Iowa, appointed by Governor Kim Reynolds in March 2021. Prior to his appointment, he was a federal prosecutor with the U.S. Department of Justice, where he was chief of the Criminal Prosecution Division for the Northern District of Iowa. After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in Political Science and Criminal Justice Studies, Lightfoot attended the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating in the top 10 percent of his class. While at Central Lee, he played several sports and placed at state academic competitions for Science Fair, Invention Convention and Future Problem Solving. Lightfoot now lives in Cedar Rapids with his wife and two children. Please join us in welcoming him to the Academic Hall of Fame!

We invite families to attend our All-Parents Meeting focused on Central Lee athletics for the upcoming school year! The meeting will take place Monday, August 16 at 6:30 p.m. in the high school gym. All parents whose students will participate in sports are encouraged to attend. Learn about the requirements for your student-athlete and have your questions answered. We hope to see you there!

We are proud to induct the 1966 girls’ cross-country team into our Athletic Hall of Fame this year! The team won the state championship in just the first year of the program’s existence. Runners included Marg Winstead (née Benjamin), Sandy Schaff (née Boecker), Rose Crossan (née Rider), Barb McVeigh (née Millmier), Becky Reynolds (née Mullen) and Karen Sojka (née Reuther). Coach Bruce Knott led the team—and also transported them to meets in his side-paneled station wagon! We’re honoring this legendary team to our Athletic Hall of Fame as part of the class of 2021!

Please use caution as you enter and exit our district campus the rest of the week. We are replacing the concrete in front of the high school. Vehicles will be diverted through the grass temporarily.

We're excited to start a new school year! If you missed our registration day, you can still register your student(s) by contacting the appropriate building office between 9am-3pm, August 9th-12th. In the meantime, if you haven't already, please complete the online portion of registration in the Power School Parent Portal -> https://centrallee.powerschool.com

George F. Allen is a 2021 inductee into the Central Lee Athletic Hall of Fame! Allen served as a teacher, athletic director and coach of multiple sports in Central Lee for 45 years. Over his career, he coached boys’ and girls’ basketball, baseball, softball, golf and football. He played a critical role in starting many of the district’s athletic programs, along with the Central Lee Athletic Booster Club. We are thrilled to honor George Allen and his many accomplishments and service to the Central Lee community.

We’re thrilled to welcome Sara Newton (née Weirather) as a 2021 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee! Newton is a 2003 graduate who was one of the most prolific multi-sport athletes in Central Lee High School history, earning 18 varsity letters. She claimed all-state recognition in three sports and was named to the Academic All-State team in volleyball. Newton was also a five-year varsity starter in softball and was instrumental in leading the Central Lee basketball team to a second-place finish at the 2000 state tournament as a freshman. Please join us in congratulating Sara and the rest of our 2021 inductees!

Marge Lightfoot will serve as coordinator of our new Hawk’s Place after-school program! She previously served as a librarian at our K-8 building. She will continue to support the library as she leverages her years of experience working with Central Lee students in this new role. Hosted at Central Lee Elementary School, Hawk’s Place provides after-school academic support, physical activities and enrichment opportunities. We’re also asking Hawk’s Place families to complete a survey by August 2 to help guide our after-school program planning. To take the brief survey, please visit https://forms.gle/ppAKQohZLtYUnseTA. Thank you!

HAPPENING NEXT WEEK: We're excited to announce the next class of Central Lee Hall of Fame inductees! Be watching on Monday as we begin to reveal the newest members of the Central Lee Academic, Athletic and Fine Arts Halls of Fame. #Proud2bCL

Central Lee Fall Sports Apparel is available online! Football - https://www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/bPThKEy5GQ Volleyball - https://www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/tVRvmcBbN4 Cross Country - https://www.bsnteamsports.com/shop/cmhP4ja4BS Support the team in style with hoodies, t-shirts, pullovers, polos and more! Order now! (FB store closes on 8/2/21 - VB/CC stores close on 8/5/21)

Lee County Health Department will be hosting a COVID-19 vaccine clinic at Central Lee PK-8 building on August 2 during registration from 8am-4pm for 12-18 year olds. LCHD will be stationed in the nurse office and will have forms ready on site.

Please read this important district update from Dr. Crozier concerning registration, COVID-19, and construction. https://www.smore.com/n3ag8

Only a few spots remain for our 2021 Central Lee golf outing on August 15! Tee time is 10 a.m. Contact Tina Cale (tcale@centrallee.org) to register. Come join us at Green Acres Golf Course for a fun day!

Reminder! Football Camp begins August 2nd. Contact Coach Banks at cbanks@centrallee.org to sign up. 2nd-6th Grades: August 2nd-5th, 10-11:30 AM 9th-12th Grades: August 2nd-5th, Monday/Tuesday/Friday 7:30-10:00 AM, Wednesday 5:00-8:30 PM and Thursday 3:00-7:00 PM 7/8th Grades: August 2nd-6th, 7:30-10:00 AM

Several members from the Central Lee Agricultural Education/FFA program exhibited at the 2021 Lee County Fair. Students are required to conduct a Supervised Agricultural Experience program. Shanna Buford(right) and Grace Hulsebus(left) conduct a Beef Entrepreneurship project. All agriculture students connect skills learned in the classroom to their projects which are conducted at home, school labs or the workplace. #CTEworksforCL

The 2021-2022 school year is almost here! Registration will be held on August 2nd from 8 am - 8 pm at the Elementary School Multi-Purpose room. Online enrollment is available in the PowerSchool Parent Portal to be completed before coming for registration day.

Come out tomorrow evening and get a sneak peek of 21-22 Central Lee Hawk Football! Concessions will be sold and free-will gate donations will be accepted. All proceeds will help Central Lee football purchase new training equipment. Go Hawks!