Good News

October-November 2009

A Newsletter from the Mount Ayr Community School District

“. . . caring and working together to create excellence in a dynamic educational process for the global citizen.”

Construction big news for district

Construction work is continuing at the two project sites in the Mount Ayr Commu-
nity school district with a lot of work to do on the elementary project to meet the
mid-December deadline and work much closer to completion at the high school,
where the work is to be completed in October. At the elementary school this week,
concrete floors were being poured in the multipurpose room and for the band room.
Roofing was being done over several areas of the new construction. Several pieces
of exterior wall still are to be placed at the elementary site and windows are begin-
ning to be placed. Above: this was the site this week as a concrete pour was being
done at the elementary school in this shot from the south. At left: this is a view of
the elementary construction from the west. Below, left: This is the new addition at
the high school with the middle school gymnasium taken from the north. Below:
this is the new addition at the high school taken from the south.

Notes From The Elementary Principal’s Desk

BY LYNNE WALLACE
MAC Elementary Principal
All kindergarten and first grade stu-
dents have been given the Phonological
Awareness Test. Teachers are using the
results of this test to determine which
skills require extra instruction for your
child.
Students in second through sixth
grade have been given the Basic Read-
ing Inventory. The results of this test
are used to determine if your child
needs extra instruction on fluency and/
or comprehension.
We have a new computer program
called Read Naturally. This program
provides practice in fluency and com-
prehension. We also have a new math
program called Aleks that provides for
additional practice in a large variety of
math skills.
Students who need improvement
in these areas will work on these pro-
grams until they reach proficiency. We
recently hired Nancy Roe as a Title 1
associate to monitor Read Naturally
and Aleks and to work with small
groups of children.
Conferences coming
Parent-teacher conferences will be
on November 3 and from 3 to 7 p.m.
Please make every effort to attend con-
ferences. It is very important that you
and your child’s teacher work together
to provide your child with the best pos-
sible education.
There will be an early dismissal at
1:05 on October 14 for professional de-
velopment. There will be no school on
November 6 due to conferences.
Fifth graders visit museum

Mount Ayr Elementary fifth grade
participated in an Iowa History field
trip on Wednesday, September 23.
They toured the Ellston Pioneer
Museum and the Ringgold County
Courthouse. Students brought raw
vegetables to combine and simmer all
morning with beef stock in a commu-
nity pot to eat with their sack lunches.
Docents presented educational in-
formation in a variety of stations at
the Ellston Pioneer Museum complex.
Volunteers included Linda and Bob
Swanson, Connie Huff, Hester Dersc-
heid, Bill and Angie Hynek, Esther and
Eugene McAlexander, John Campbell,
John and Mary Overholtzer, Margaret
Bishop, Theola Weeda, Rita Friehage,
Marj Perry, Arlene Sobotka, Jan John-
ston, Camille Jackson and Rick Hawk-
ins.
In the afternoon students traveled
back to Mount Ayr for a tour of the
Ringgold County Courthouse. They
visited offices of the audior, clerk, trea-
surer, recorder, and sheriff. Students
also viewed the county’s assembly
room and courtroom.

School Nurse Notes

Students pictured left to right are: First row: Brad Phelps, Mercadez Birkenholz,
Abbey Schaefer, Bailey Anderson, Hallie Still, Craven Martin, Bradley Wurster
and Zach Murphy. Second row: Tessa Shields, Blair Glendenning, Cheyenne
Haveman, Macy Larsen, Heath Andresen, Devin Russo, Mitchell Jennett and
Mike James. Third row: Travis Purdy, Taylor Wilson, Laura Davison, Rhett
Murphy, Josh Groves and Shadow Briner.
Elementary student council busy
The votes are in and once again we
have several capable students who will
be participating in the elementary Stu-
dent Council.
There will be two teams of students.
One team will serve during the fall
semester and the other team will serve
during the spring semester.
`The Student Council is a service or-
ganization and works on projects that
Students communicate with soldier
Mount Ayr Elementary fifth graders
in Mrs. Hawkins homeroom have been
communicating with Marine Cpl. For-
rest Hawkins, who is currently serving
in Afghanistan.
The students ask questions and re-
ceive his responses through e-mail.
Inquiries have included topics such
benefit both school and community.
Some of their work includes pro-
moting events such as Red Ribbon
Week, the school Book Fair, Toys for
Tots, and Raider Readers.
“As always, it is a pleasure to work
with such enthusiastic, helpful, caring
students,” said elementary guidance
counselor Joan Moore.
as sandstorms and weather, building a
base, eating and sleeping conditions,
his job as tech controller, facing dan-
gers and reading.
In honor of Hawkins’s 27th birth-
day, the students planted 27 flowers in
the north entry planter and sent him a
colorful picture to brighten his day.
BY STACY ANDRESEN 24 hours before he or she can return to
MAC School Nurse school.
Just a note to let you know what’s If you have concerns about your
going on in the nurse’s office! child’s health, call 464-0546 or
All children entering kindergarten 464-0510.
and ninth grade as well as any new stu-
dents from out of state need to have re-
cord of a dental exam. If this exam has
taken place within the past 12 months,
please ask your dentist to complete the
form. Thanks to those of you who have
already submitted dental forms.
I will be sending forms home at
parent-teacher conferences for those
who still need to provide proof of den-
tal care. Heights and weights and vi-
sion screenings of elementary students
will be completed by parent-teacher
conferences and results will be avail-
able during the conference.
Cold and flu season is upon us. Flu
shots are available and recommended
for children ages six months and older.
Contact your doctor or the local pub-
lic health department about the shot.
Ringgold County Public Health nurses
were here September 24-25 to vacci-
nate those junior kindergarten through
second grade students with permission
with the flu mist. This was due to a
grant the public health department re-
ceived.
Remind your child to cover his
mouth and nose when coughing or
sneezing. Good hand washing will
help protect against the spread of dis-
ease.
Also, continue to read the paper
about recommendations for H1N1 vac-
Irwin sings
cinations. They are NOT available at
this time, but the public health office Kendall Irwin, third grader at
Mount Ayr Community elementary
or your doctor office will be your most
accurate source of information regard- school in the class of Angie Dodge,
sang the National Anthem at the
ing local vaccine programs when avail-
able. varsity volleyball match Tues.,
Sept. 22. She is living with Robin
Remember, your child must be free
from fever, vomiting or diarrhea for and Deric Drake of Mount Ayr.
Supt. of Transportation Bus K-6 K-6 Elementary 7-12 High School 7-12 Special Ed. Press
Schools Director Garage Principal Nurse Counselor Principal Counselor Nurse Coordinator Box
464-0500 464-0502 464-0534 464-0539 464-0546 464-0541 464-0510 464-0532 464-0533 464-0554 464-0535