School News

The following are the Mid-Prairie Middle School fourth quarter honor roll. Students must have a 3.0 grade point average or above to be on the honor roll.

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By Mary Zielinski
The Mid-Prairie Board of Education Monday granted Wellman’s request to extend M-P’s lease at Parkside for an additional year and a half to June 30, 2016. Total cost for the extension is $10,000 payable July 23. However, approval was granted contingent upon the state continuing its preschool funding to the district.
Mid-Prairie entered into a lease for the Parkside space last year, with a lease to run through January 17, 2015. The district commitment to Parkside aided in obtaining an $800,000 Vision Iowa grant for the project.
Monday, it was noted that when the lease was first signed, the district had planned on using the space for a half-day. Now, the district will have morning and afternoon sessions for the foreseeable future. Funding has been and will continue to be from the state funds.
During the meeting the district received a detailed report from Exultant Energy about the energy audit done on four of the district’s attendance center, including the high school. No action was taken.

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The following is the 2009-2010 second semester honor roll for Iowa Mennnonite School students. The asteriks (*) denotes those with a 4.0 grade point average.
Seniors: First Honor Roll (3.5-4.0) - Caleb Gingerich, *Nicole Hershberger, Kerri Hostetler, Brian Miller, Stephan Peters, *Drew Powell, Sean Prihoda, *Vince Rhodes, Anndra Ropp, Linnea Slabaugh, *Ben Wyse, David Yoder, and Jacob Yoder.
Seniors: Second Honor Roll (3.2 - 3.499) - Will Dehogues, Harlan Gingerich, Megan Martens, Ainsley Miller, Kara Ropp, Lincoln Schrock, Nathan Stoddard, Jarron Stutzman and Joshua Yoder.
Juniors: First Honor Roll (3.5 - 4.0) - *Meridyth Bates, Mollie Ferguson, Taylor Fulton, *Gretchen Geyer, *Aliese Gingerich, Elana Gingeric, Julie Kim, *Enxhi Larni, Kyle Miller, Mylie Miller, Seth Miller, John Nicholson, *Katelyn Nisly, Ulbosyn Saktaganova, Jacob Schaver, *Kara Schlabaugh, Ida Short, William Spencer III, *Marija Topalovic, *Tamari Tsverikmazashvill, Carly Unruh, *Emma Yoder, *Michael Yoder, *Nicole Yoder and Emma Yutzy.
Juniors: Second Honor Roll (3.2 - 3.499) - Blake Albright, Malachi Bontrager, Cameron Cook, Megan Haifley, Riley Hochstedler and Alisha Miller.
Sophomores: First Honor Roll (3.5 - 4.0) - *Hannah Altmaier, Amanda Dartei, Shawna Borntrager, Ting Davidson, Jacey Dehogues, Mallory Martens, Jessica Miller, *Madeline Miller, Quinlan Schrock, Rachel Schrock, Sam Swartzendruber and *Jesse Wenger.
Sophomores: Second Honor Roll (3.2 - 3.499) - Kyle Brinning, Christopher Perez and Levi Schrock.
Freshmen: First Honor Roll (3.5 - 4.0) - Keilah Brokaw, Cameron Gingerich, *Laura Hochstetler, Samantha Messer, Cody Miller, Naomi Miller, Britni Piegors, Thomas Rhodes, Anya Slabaugh and Nicholas Yoder.
Freshmen: Second Honor Roll (3.2 - 3.499) - Justin Boller and Nikhil Thacker.

The following Iowa Mennonite students were named to the Southeast Iowa Super Conference All-Academic list for the 2009-2010 winter sports season. These students had to be a junior or senior athletic team member or support person earning a 3.25 GPA by the most recent grading period.
Students included were Mollie Ferguson, Aliese Gingerich, Nichole Hershberger, Kerri Hostetler, Kylie MIller, Linnea Slabaugh, Marija Topalovic, Carly Unruh, Nicole Yoder, Emma Yutzy, Carlie Bender, Ida Short, Blake Albright, Malachi Bontrager, Brant Kapple, John Nicholson, Stephan Peters, Sean Prihoda, Jacob Schaver, David Yoder, Jacob Yoder and Michael Yoder.

Classes for the 2010-11 academic year will start August 24, by which time the district should have made up all the snow days. The calendar was approved by the board at its meeting Monday. As of Tuesday, February 9, the district was looking at seven make-up days, if there are no more cancellations.
“But, with the weather, we don’t know if it will stay at seven,” said Superintendent Mark Schneider. Presently, the district is trying to conclude the 2009-10 academic year by June 4 at the latest.
“We have a few options,” said Schneider, referring to in-service days and possible extended hours.
Classes were cancelled Tuesday when the snow that started Monday continued well into Tuesday. Schneider, who with transportation director, Dick Durst, regularly checks the roads by 5 a.m., found roads not only slippery but in the case of one graveled road “I was not sure I would get out.”
Schneider is also the superintendent for the Keota School District and has found conditions for the two districts tend to be similar when it comes to the roads. The difference, though, depends on the county. Mid-Prairie is in three counties, Keota in two “and each county has different priorities in clearing roads.” Which is why at one point Keota ran buses on all roads and Mid-Prairie only on hard-surfaced.
In other business Monday, the board approved Schneider’s request to freeze his salary and benefits at the present level. Schneider cited economic conditions which have seen major state cuts in school funding for his move. It was a move he had noted last year when his position became a shared one with the Keota district.

Seven Mid-Prairie High School vocal students attended the University of Iowa Honor Choir in Iowa City Sunday, January 31 and Monday, February 1.

Mid-Prairie vocal students attended the UI Honor Choir. In front, from left: Jude Scotto, Brodie Johnson, Dr. Timothy Stalter and Hanna Wilson. In back, from left: Ashley Hawley, Amanda Miller, Madeline Stutzman, and Ryan Shellady. (Photo submitted)

This two-day event was held in the Main Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union due to the flooding of the music building in 2008. During the two days, students were able to work with Dr. Timothy Stalter, Director of Choral Activities at the U of I. They were also treated to a performance of U of I students from freshmen to doctoral students. The honor choir students performed six pieces at the Monday night concert, ranging from Renaissance music to 20th century music.
They greatly enjoyed the time to sing and wish to thank the Mid-Prairie Music Boosters for their financial support of this event, and for the administration for allowing them the opportunity to have a great cultural experience.

by Nanci Young, Workplace Learning Connection
A small group of Mid-Prairie High Schoolers posed a question … what would it be like to be a professional photographer? Kelsie Berg, Nicole Adams, Candice Henrichson, Shelby Gordon and Destiny Bell answered this question January 22, by spending part of their day on a group job shadow coordinated by the Workplace Learning Connection at Spotlight Photography in Washington.   
The Mid-Prairie juniors and seniors not only learned some of the trade secrets of how to be a successful commercial photographer on a budget, but were able to see Spotlight owner Jamie Hollingworth in action during two photo shoots. Jamie gave the students advice on how to proceed with their interest in photography after high school and explained that making a career out of an artistic perspective requires passion and hard work.
Kelsie, Nicole, Candice, Shelby and Destiny discovered this job shadow opportunity through Mid-Prairie High School and its partnership with the Workplace Learning Connection.  To find out about a job shadow in this or any other career field, log on to www.workplace-learning.org or go to the high school guidance office.

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education Monday dealt with two major items that directly benefit students: buying two new buses and touring the new preschool facility.
The board approved the total bid of $159,178 from School Bus Sales of Waterloo for two new buses, prices at $80,939 each. The trade-in allowance for dropped the price to $159,178 from $161,878. The buses will be equipped with video cameras as are other units. Although there was lower bid from Hoglund Bus Sales, that would have totaled $151,050, there was an additional cost of $4,100 per bus to upgrade the engines to the required specs.
The preschool tour, which came at the end of the session, was at the new Parkside Activities Center which officially opens to the public January 18. The Mid-Prairie District arranged to rent space for its preschool program as part of support for the Parkside project last year. The preschool program, currently in Kalona, will move to Parkside Tuesday.
In other business, the board:

• held a second reading of board policies involving classified staff early separation, student honors (with board members Jim Hussey and George Schaefer opposed to having valedictorian and salutation awards)a and a first reading for graduation requirements;
• approved a Memorandum of Understanding to support the Race to the Top application. The Race to the Top is a federal competitive grant program that focuses on competency-based system for teacher and administrator preparation by making some $60,000 available over a four-year period. However, the state has to be approved for the grant before local districts are eligible;
• approved joining the Iowa School finance Information Service for $1,515;
• discussed and agreed to continue matching PPEL funds; and
• tabled a discussion of budget cuts criteria to the January 25 meeting.

The home side bleachers at the Doc Sattler field at the Mid-Prairie High School were demolished Friday, November 20. The bleachers will be replaced with support from the Mid-Prairie Athletic Boosters, the Washington County Riverboat Foundation, Schwan’s and Nike.
Two opportunities exist to help support this project. Mid-Prairie students and the community may participate in the Schwan’s Truck Load Fundraiser Saturday, December 19. Schwan’s will have trucks at the Mid-Prairie High School and will donate up to 20 percent of all pre-sale items ordered before December 14. Information and order forms are available at all Mid-Prairie attendance center offices and on the district’s website).
Nike will add to the $2,500 they have already donated to the project by giving the district $5 for everyone who purchases a “Back Your Block” gift card at the Nike Store in Williamsburg. There is no additional charge on the gift cards, and they are available in any denomination with no expiration date. Consider Nike “Back Your Block” gift cards for holiday gifts. They come in a miniature shoebox, perfect for wrapping or stuffing in a stocking.
Questions about either fundraiser may be directed to Suzanne Yoder at syoder@mid-prairie.k12.ia.us or 319-656-2705.

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education was honored November 19 by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB). From left, back, are Jack Hill, IASB president; Maxine Kilcrease, IASB excecutive director, M-P board members Randy Billups, Jeremy Pickard, Rob Stout, and Superintendent Mark Schneider, Front, from left, George Schaefer, Jim Hussey, M-P president, Jack Dillon, M-P vice-president and Stacia Bontrager. (Photo submitted)

The Mid-Prairie Board of Education is one of three honored by the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) during the 64th annual ISAB convention November 19 in Des Moines. The Making a Difference award also carries a $1,000 grant.
Mid-Prairie was honored for taking “sometimes unpopular but necessary risks to improve (student) achievement and those risks have paid off,” noted the ISAB.
One thing that stood out about Mid-Prairie during the selection process was the board’s push for a 4-3-3-3 graduation standards put forward by the Institute for Tomorrow’s Workforce and ACT, Inc. In addition to the unique graduation standard, M-P students are required to self-select if they think they will go to a four-year college, two-year college or join the workforce directly after high school. Their curriculum is then adjusted around that decision, with students taking AP courses and two years of a foreign language, six hours of community college credit or two 90-hour internships respectively.
“My reaction when I read this was: ‘Can we beg, borrow and steal?’” said Amy Jurrens, ISAB board member and of the George/Little rock School board who helped select award recipients. “What a great idea to prepare students for their individual paths. It makes students feel that no matter what path they choose, it’s valued, value for all skills and interests.”
Other achievements that weighed in for M-P:

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Hannah Altmaier and Hoi Ting Davidson

Hannah Altmaier and Hoi Ting Davidson were accepted as first violinists into the All-State Chamber Orchestra. The Chamber Orchestra is made up of the best players from the All-State Orchestra auditions. Ting and Hannah take lessons from Christie Felsing at the Preucil School of Music in Iowa City and both attend Iowa Mennonite School as tenth graders. The Orchestra performed in Hilton Coliseum Saturday, November 21, in Ames.

Rachel Halder, a graduate of Iowa Mennonite School, is serving in a key student communication post at Goshen College for the 2009-2010 school year.
Halder, a senior communication major and the daughter of John and Nancy Halder of Parnell, is serving as student station manager for WGCS-91.1 FM, The Globe for the 2009-2010 school year. She is a 2005 graduate of Iowa Mennonite School and attends West Union Mennonite Church.
The Globe, 91.1 FM, broadcasts contemporary music featuring an eclectic blend of Americana, world, folk and bluegrass. Student and community volunteers provide on-air talent while members of the college’s communication department staff the station, broadcasting since 1958. Assistant Professor of Communication Jason Samuel is the station’s general manager.