Announcements

Elizabeth Deng and Madison Carleton of Ankeny Centennial and Kalyani Bhat of Northview Middle School are finalists in The Iowa State Bar Association’s Young Lawyers Division “Know Your Constitution” Project. 76 finalists were selected from the more than 500 students across the State of Iowa who participated in the “Know Your Constitution” Project. These finalists will be honored at a Virtual Awards Program over Zoom on February 15, 2022.

From the finalists, five students and their teachers will be chosen by a random drawing to receive scholarship grants and honoraria in recognition of their efforts.

The “Know Your Constitution” Project is designed to enrich students’ understanding and appreciation of the Constitution. The students participating in the project were required to familiarize themselves with Constitution related issues. A quiz was completed by each participating student. An essay question accompanied the quiz. This year’s essay topic involved Constitutional questions concerning qualifications for Social Security payments and the restriction that recipients must not leave the United States for more than 30 days. The question is modelled after a current case before the United State Supreme Court. “Best Essay” finalists will be posted to the ISBA website, with an overall winner announced during the Zoom program.

The Know Your Constitution program is sponsored by The Iowa State Bar Association, with additional funding from the Iowa State Bar Foundation and IOLTA.

On April 21, 2021, the U.S. Department of Education (USED) released its American Rescue Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ARP ESSER or ESSER III) interim final requirements related to district ESSER III plans and district plans for a safe return to in-person instruction and continuity of services. (ESSER III State and Local Plan Requirements)

As part of this plan, each district must assure that it will: 

• Review its Return to Learn plan at least every six months until September 30, 2023, including seeking and considering public input regarding whether to revise its plan, and
• Revise its Return to Learn plan (when necessary) at least every six months to ensure it remains relevant and meets statutory and regulatory requirements, including seeking public input on any revisions to its plan

Ankeny’s existing state-approved Return to Learn plan and updated guidance can be viewed here. The plan was last formally reviewed and public input was last formally sought in August 2021. As a result, we are once again seeking public input on the Return to Learn plan. 

Iowa Law currently requires schools to provide fully in-person learning. The other components of the district’s Return to Learn plan will only be used as directed by State of Iowa and/or Iowa Department of Education

Therefore, the district is proposing the following ACSD Return to Learn Addendum as an update to the existing plan.

The public is invited to provide feedback on the addendum utilizing the form below through January 17, 2022. The Ankeny Board of Education will then review the addendum at the January 18, 2022 board meeting. 

Niche.com has released their 2022 rankings for the Best Schools in the Des Moines Area. Ankeny Schools received a number of honors, including:

• #1  in Best Places to Teach in Des Moines Area
• #1 in Districts with the Best Teachers in Des Moines Area
• #2 in Best School Districts in Polk County
• #2 in Safest School Districts in Polk County
• #2 in Best School Districts for Athletes in Iowa
• #1 in Best Public High Schools in Des Moines Area: Ankeny Centennial High School
• #1 in Best Public Middle Schools in Des Moines Area: Prairie Ridge Middle School
• #1 in Best Public Elementary Schools in Des Moines Area: Northeast Elementary

The Best Public High Schools ranking is based on rigorous analysis of academic and student life data from the U.S. Department of Education along with test scores, college data, and ratings collected from millions of Niche users.

Holly Anderson, Activities Director at Northview Middle School, has been chosen as the 2022 Middle School Athletic Director of the Year by the Iowa High School Athletic Directors Association. Holly was chosen for her outstanding dedication and leadership of young student-athletes.

“We are excited that Holly is receiving this much deserved recognition,” said Dr. Erick Pruitt, Superintendent of Ankeny Schools. “She is great leader, to both her students and also to her fellow staff members.”

Holly has been with the Ankeny Community School District for 16 years. Her previous roles for the district include P.E. teacher and girl’s basketball coach before beginning her current role in administration in 2013.

Honorees chosen as Athletic Director of the Year must have a minimum of five years’ experience and show qualities of achievement, excellence and character. Holly will be recognized at the annual IHSADA State Convention in March.

VIEW ON THE IHSADA WEBSITE

Congratulations to the Ankeny Centennial Winterguard! On Friday, December 4th they competed in the ISDTA State Championships at Wells Fargo Arena where they were named the State Champion in Color Guard Class III. This is their third state championship in the last 8 years.

“I am so proud of this group’s hard work and dedication. It has been a lot of fun seeing them progress through the season and really own their performance. They performed their hearts out on Friday and it was incredible to see!”
– Janelle Hook, director

The Centennial Winterguard’s production is entitled “Alice”, featuring music by Danny Elfman from the movie “Alice in Wonderland”.

The Centennial Winterguard consists of 24 students in grades 9-12 and is directed by Janelle Hook and Olivia Klaas.

We have another online auction running now until Tuesday, December 14, 2021. The auction features equipment and furnishings no longer needed in our schools and offices. The inventory includes tools, landscaping materials, chairs, cabinets, office furniture and more.

The district is contracted with Purple Wave Auction, an online auction service, for the sale. Holding an online auction allows more people to see and study what is available, says Jeff Johnson, our district purchasing agent. All available auction items may be viewed here.

We have several open positions including district office manager, human resource manager, associates, substitute teachers, coaches, food service, before and after school, and more. View job descriptions and apply here.

Left to Right: Kyle Melcher, Max Vernon, Carson Ferree, Abby Fickbohm, Maria West, Taylor Lehman, Brynna Whitney, Mason Wisecup, Jordyn Jumper, Eric Hou.

Fifteen Ankeny Centennial musicians have attained the highest individual honor available to Iowa high school musicians by being selected as members of the 2021 All State Band, Choir, and Orchestra.

On Saturday, November 20th the 2021 All State Festival celebrated its 75th anniversary with a concert in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University.  Auditions were held on Saturday, October 23rd across the state and out of all students auditioning, only 17% were chosen to participate. They truly represent the best of the best!

2021 All State Choir

Carson Ferree, Abby Fickbohm, Taylor Lehman, Rai San Martin (alternate), Kyle Melcher, Max Vernon, Marie West, and Mason Wisecup

2021 All-State Band

Teagan Boeckmann (alternate), Evan Gruenwald (alternate), Eric Hou, Jordyn Jumper, Nathan Neppl (alternate), and Brynna Whitney

2021 All-State Orchestra

Devon Tsia-Olson

Iowa Public Television coverage of the concert can be found at the following link- https://www.iowapbs.org/video/story/39616/2021-all-state-music-festival

In early November, the Ankeny Community School District received concerns around four books that can be found in some of our media centers. We immediately reviewed the board policy on objection to library materials:, the Reconsideration Request Form, and student handbook, where the reconsideration process is outlined on page 20.  Additionally, we reviewed the process used by our teacher librarians to determine titles to add to school library collections.

The building principal and teacher librarians met with the stakeholders that expressed concerns about the books, discussed the issue, and reviewed the library material selection process. From those meetings, it was decided that the district’s teacher librarians would review the books and determine next steps. Receiving support from the director of curriculum and innovation all four of the books have been reviewed, and recaps of their  recommendations can be found later in this document along with links to the full reviews. 

Review Criteria and Considerations

When books are being reviewed several things are considered including:

• ALA’s Library Bill of Rights 
• Freedom to Read Statement
• Controversial Materials
  • Serve every single student; does not promote one point of view over another
  • Cannot reject and remove a resource because an individual or a group has found the material objectionable
  • Provide access to material that may be controversial to some patrons, while also providing a process to request reconsideration
• Selection Quality Criteria (School Library Selection Policy/Procedures)
  • Support and enrich the curriculum and/or students’ personal interests, extracurricular activities, and learning
  • Meet high standards in literary, artistic, and aesthetic quality; technical aspects; and physical format
  • Be appropriate for the subject area and for the age, emotional development, ability level, learning styles, and social, emotional, and intellectual development of the students for whom the materials are selected
  • Incorporate accurate and authentic factual content from authoritative source
  • Earn favorable reviews in standard reviewing sources and/or favorable recommendations based on preview and examination of materials by professional personnel
  • Nominated and/or received awards and honorable mentions
  • Represent differing viewpoints on controversial issues*
  • Demonstrate physical format, appearance, and durability suitable to their intended use
  • Balance gaps in the collection utilizing collection analysis data 
  • Balance cost with need

  Book Reconsideration Recommendations

  Gender Queer by Maia Kobabe
  After careful and thoughtful review and discussion of this title in its entirety, the committee decided to remove the book from all collections. The recommendation comes after review and discussion of several selection criteria.  This title represents different viewpoints on controversial issues in a format that allows a variety of reading levels to access the information.

  Although this book meets criteria of the selection policy, this particular book takes some different considerations. First, while in no way pornographic, the explicit visual and graphic nature of the graphic novel overshadowed the message to the reader, thus reducing the literary value as a whole. Often in books, people can skip sections or create their own images within their personal maturity level. In this case, however, the graphic images are already provided for the reader by the author and may not match a student’s personal maturity level.  Additionally, the images are impossible to skip for self-moderation.  Finally, this particular book was written for and reviewed professionally for adults. Read the full review.

  All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson
  After careful and thoughtful review and discussion of this title in its entirety, the committee decided to retain the book in the collections at the 10-12 grade level.
  

  It is important to remember that as a part of the reconsideration process, the entirety of the work must be considered, not just an excerpt pulled from the whole. While the parts objected to (the sexual abuse and first sexual experience) are explicit, they do not reach the level of obscenity as defined by the Iowa Code 728.1 and upheld in U.S. Supreme Court case of Miller vs. California. Furthermore, the objectionable part(s) comprise less than 5% of the total work. In the memoir, the author shares their life story, experiences, and overcoming adversity, as well as their own experiences with abuse and sex. In its entirety, All Boys Aren’t Blue has both literary and artistic value, having earned high and/or starred reviews from multiple professional review sources. Read the full review.

  Me, Earl, and the Dying Girl by Jesse Andrews
  After careful and thoughtful review and discussion of this title in its entirety, the committee decided to retain the book in the collections at the 8-12 grade level.

  Me and Earl and the Dying Girl deals with cancer, loss, and grief in a manner distinct from other books. The unique format of the multi-genre writing mirrors the main character’s personality and interests. The novel portrays both realistic and dysfunctional family relationships and shows how teenagers do not always know how to handle their emotions, and, in fact, that they do not have the maturity and/or skill set to handle difficult emotions like grief. Read the full review. 

  The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian by Sherman Alexie
  After careful and thoughtful review and discussion of this title in its entirety, the committee decided to retain the book in the collections at the 8-12 level. This multi-award winning novel meets every single criteria of the selection policy for inclusion in the public school library, and most professional reviews indicate it as appropriate for grades 7+. Read the full review.

  If you have questions about the review process or selection criteria, please contact Dr. Jen Lindaman at jen.lindaman@ankenyschools.org.

SCIBA Members: Top Row Left to Right: Luke Miller – Blue Band – Trumpet 10th chair Irisa McCracken – Blue Band – Flute 1st chair Sareena Casady – Blue Band – Clarinet 7th chair Kyra Swenson – Blue Band – Flute 6th chair Bryant Warren – Blue Band – Trumpet 9th chair Bottom Row Left to Right: Logan Rolling – White band – Trombone 3rd chair Allison Muehr – Blue Band – French Horn – 1st chair Gabe Vesperman – Blue Band – Tuba 3rd chair Anders Repp – Blue Band – Euphonium 1st chair Jonah Nye – White Band – Alto Sax – 3rd chair

On Tuesday, October 5, Southview Middle School had (10) 8th grade students audition, which is the maximum amount of students allowed to audition for district honor band. Out of those 10 students to audition for the South Central Iowa Bandmasters Association (SCIBA) District Honor Band, all 10 students were selected to participate in the SCIBA District Honor Band Festival!

8 of the 10 students were selected to participate in the SCIBA Blue Band, which is comprised of the best quality 8th grade auditioned students, and 2 students were selected for the White band, which is comprised of high quality 8th grade auditioned students and top nominated 7th graders.

The event will be held on Tuesday, November 2 at Ankeny Centennial High School. Southview is one of only two school districts out of the South Central Iowa district to have all 10 students.

Left to Right: Irisa McCracken – Flute Allison Muehr – French Horn Anders Repp

All-Iowa 8th Grade Honor Band Members:

Additionally, Southview had three students selected to participate in the All-Iowa 8th Grade Honor Band in May 2022. These three students were selected as 1st chair in the Blue Band over all the students who auditioned on the same instrument. Our 3 All-Iowa 8th Grade Band Members will represent Southview Middle School and SCIBA as the top 8th grade musicians on their instrument in the whole state of Iowa, alongside the other top 8th grade musicians across the state from the other 5 district honor bands!