January 2014

This email list is open to parents, staff and community members interested in receiving information about the Waukee Community School District. Your preferences can be managed by clicking this link: update subscription preferences

Focus On Excellence – Waukee Schools: The next ten years…

David J. Wilkerson, Ph.D., Superintendent of Schools

David Wilkerson

If you’ve lived in the Waukee Community School District for any period of time, you know that we must pay a great deal of attention to the growth in student enrollment that has been occurring over the past 20+ years. The district updates its own projections annually and also contracts with an outside vendor for statistical modeling and projections. We also are provided annual projections from the Iowa Department of Education. Between those three data sources we’ve had very reliable information that has helped us stay in front of the growth with facilities and staffing. We use the projections to predict when new facilities need to be added…and we are at that point once again.

On December 9 the board of education took action to place a school bond referendum before the voters. The election on the bond issue is scheduled for February 4
Read More...

Vote February 4 at Waukee District Office or Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church

On February 4 a special election is being held at Waukee District Office, 560 SE University Ave., Waukee and St. Francis of Assisi Church, 7075 Ashworth Rd., West Des Moines for the sale of $18.9 million in general obligation bonds to fund construction of a new elementary school at the intersection of Dartmoor and Douglas Parkway in the city of Waukee and HVAC upgrades at Brookview Elementary School. Polling hours on February 4 will be 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

About the Referendum

Classroom space must be created to accommodate our rapid growth.
Approval of this referendum will NOT raise taxes. The school levy portion of property taxes would remain unchanged at $16.58. (The school district does not set any other tax rates.)
This bond referendum requires a 60 percent super-majority “YES” vote to pass.
If approved, construction on the new elementary school would begin in 2014 with completion estimated for 2016.

Waukee Foundation Dinner & Auction Feb. 8

The Waukee Community School Foundation’s primary fundraiser is an annual dinner and auction. This year the date has been set for February 8 at Shottenkirk Chevrolet, 755 Hickman Rd., Waukee, IA.

Ticket Information

More than 400 community members attend this event each year. Anyone interested in supporting the Waukee Community School District is invited.

Waukee School Staff: $30 per person
Community Members: $50 per person

Tickets can be purchased online, or RSVPs and payment can be mailed to Waukee District Office, Attention Foundation Dinner, 560 SE University Ave., Waukee, IA.

Students Open Warrior Coffee Shop

Students showed up prepared and ready to do business at the grand opening of Warrior Coffee Shop on January 22. The student-run coffee shop is open on early-out Wednesdays in the main level teachers lounge at Waukee High School. Parents and staff lined up with their dollars in hand to show their support by ordering coffee, tea or hot chocolate for one dollar.
Read More...

"Remembering the Fallen" Exhibit to Visit Waukee High School

A very emotional exhibit, “Remembering Our Fallen,” will be open for viewing in Waukee High School’s foyer and cafeteria February 17-21. This exhibit pays tribute to the sacrifices made by more than 80 Iowans who lost their lives fighting the war against terror in Afghanistan and Iraq. The exhibit is open to the public and students Monday-Thursday from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. Visitors to the building should come to the main office to sign in during the school day.
Read More...

Waukee Ultimate Mileage Vehicle Club Looks for Support

As the Waukee Ultimate Mileage Vehicle Club prepares for another award winning season, they are asking for assistance from the community. On February 8, from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m., the Ultimate Mileage Vehicle club will be collecting pop cans door to door in Waukee as a fundraiser to help sustain their level of competition. This season they will build and push a vehicle to the limits as they strive to travel more than 350 miles on a single gallon of gas. The club brought home a second place finish at the 2013 State of Iowa competition with an astounding 264 miles per gallon.

If you would like a planned pick-up on that day, please call Joe Bormann at 515-987-5163 ext. 2089 or send an e-mail request at kstrack@waukeeschools.org

WHS Show Choirs Finish First at Showzam

Congratulations to Waukee High School show choirs! Waukee Millennium won first place in daytime 4A competition, Grand Champions in the finals and earned Best Vocals and Best Choreography at Johnston Showzam this past weekend. Waukee Spirit won first place in the daytime prep division and third runner-up in the finals. Senior Taylor Else was awarded Best Female Soloist. This is the second big win of the season as, earlier in January at Cedar Rapids Prairie Show Choir Invitational, Millennium earned Grand Champions, Best Vocals and Best Ballad and Spirit won second place in the prep division.

Certified Enrollment Numbers Show District Growth of 568 Students

On January 22, the Iowa Department of Education released statewide student enrollment figures for 2013-14. Waukee Community School District (WCSD) continues to be the fastest growing school district in the state gaining 2,040 new students over the last five years. For the 2013-14 school year WCSD enrollment increased by 568 students bringing the certified enrollment for Waukee Schools to 8,289 students.

Waukee Schools is the 11th largest school district in the state of Iowa falling under Council Bluffs, West Des Moines and Ankeny. Des Moines is the largest school district in Iowa now serving 32,413 students.
Read More...

Community Education Update

Waukee = Growth! As many school district staff, parents, and students will tell you, Waukee Schools are continually growing and changing. The growth process has its challenges, but is also exciting and rewarding. The growth affects every school district department and certainly trickles down to the Community Education department as well.
Read More...

2014-15 Kindergarten Enrollment Begins Feb. 3

Timeline

February 3 – Begin submitting required paper documents to District Office
February 18 – District Office will be open 4 to 8 p.m. for an optional Q&A session
March 11 – Online enrollment portal opens

The Iowa Chinese New Year Celebrations

The Chinese Association of Iowa Waukee High School International Club cordially invites you to The Iowa Chinese New Year Celebrations and The Iowa Chinese Achievement Awards Ceremony proudly co-hosted by Chinese Association of Iowa Waukee High School International Club at Waukee Middle School 905 Warrior Lane, Waukee, Iowa 50263 on Saturday, Feb. 1.

11 a.m.-3 p.m. Festival-type Celebrations (Free Admission) China Visa Application
5-6:30 p.m. Reception and Dinner ($25)
6:30-8 p.m. Award Ceremony, Music, and Dancing (Free Admission)

Contact:Swallow Yan, 515-988-0901 or iowachinese@yahoo.com

2014 Daddy Daughter Dance Feb. 22

The After-Prom Committee will hold a Daddy Daughter Dance to help raise funds to support the 2014 party. Dads or Dad-like friends are invited to bring their favorite valentine (ages 2-22) on February 22.

The dance is being held at Prairieview School which is located at 655 SE University, Waukee, IA. The event, which will start at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7 p.m., will feature a DJ, cupcakes, punch, wrist corsages and glow necklaces. At 6:15 p.m. the DJ will announce “lights out” and the glow necklaces will light up the dance floor. There will also be popcorn, water, soda and professional photos available for purchase at the event.
Read More...

Technology Committee Presents Recommendations to the Board

The board of education, as a part of the superintendent’s evaluation last spring, established the following goal: Conduct a district-wide review of technology to study the current status in the district and to develop a more technology-rich learning environment. Waukee High School principal, Kirk Johnson and Waukee Middle language arts teacher Russ Goerend co-chaired a committee of district staff to address the goal.
Read More...

January construction Update. Read More..