East In Action – May Newsletter
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Spring Musical: Centennial Presents Disney’s The Little Mermaid
This spring, the Ankeny Centennial high school drama and music departments are producing Disney’s The Little Mermaid! Based on one of Hans Christian Andersen’s most beloved stories and the classic animated film, Ariel wishes to pursue the human Prince Eric in the world above, bargaining with the evil sea witch, Ursula, to trade her tail for legs. But the bargain is not what it seems, and Ariel needs the help of her colorful friends, Flounder the fish, Scuttle the seagull, and Sebastian the crab to restore order under the sea. This fishy fable will capture your heart with its irresistible and familiar songs!
Adult tickets are $15 and child/student tickets are $10; they can be purchased online here or at the door with cash/check. All seating is general admission.
East and Ankeny High: A Collaborative Journey in Sound and Light
The 1st-grade teachers at East Elementary teamed up with the talented students from the Ankeny High School theatre department for an exciting project on sound and light! Together, they explored the question: “How do light and sound help tell a story?”
Check out the amazing video created by the high schoolers, demonstrating how they use light and sound to enhance their productions!
In the 1st grade literacy sessions, they delved into three classic fairytales: Goldilocks and the Three Bears, The Three Little Pigs, and The Ugly Duckling. Using story maps, we retold these tales and discussed how sound and light play crucial roles in storytelling.
Each student had the chance to choose one fairytale and bring it to life through a video production, incorporating the techniques they learned from their high school partners. The elementary students were thrilled to showcase their creativity by designing their own displays based on what they learned!
People of the Year Awards: Nominations are Open!
Students, parents, and community members are invited to participate in the nomination process for the ACSD People of the Year awards, an event that recognizes outstanding contributions to our educational community. Nomination forms are open for the following awards:
- Education Professional of the Year Nomination Form
- Support Staff Member of the Year Nomination Form
- Volunteer of the Year Nomination Form
Your nominations will help us recognize and celebrate the outstanding people that make our school district a great place to be! Please take a moment to consider individuals who have made a positive impact and submit your nominations by March 1, 2024.
Parent Resource: Tips to Prepare for Assessments
During this time of year, many of our students will be preparing to take assessments. Whether you’re helping an elementary or secondary student prepare for testing, listed below are a few resources to help:
Notice of School Property Prescribed Burns
The ACSD maintenance team will be conducting prescribed burns periodically in Ankeny as weather conditions allow, continuing until June 1, 2024. Weather conditions and safety considerations will determine the exact date and time of the fires.
Why do we perform prescribed burns?
Central Iowa’s landscape was once dominated by tall grass prairies. These ecosystems have an abundance of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The native grasses and forbs (flowers) also provide seed and nectar for insects, butterflies, birds, and small mammals. In nature, fire is essential to maintain the integrity of the native prairie plant species located in our parks. Fire is a natural occurrence that helps the plant and animal communities in a park and controlled burning offers a safer way to use fire in a helpful manner. The benefits of prescribed burns include the following:
- Aid in reducing the undesirable plants from invading our native prairie areas
- Help to maintain a rich diversity of wildflowers and grasses
- Decreases the threat of wildfires by decreasing the accumulation of combustibles
- Benefits water quality by aiding in the establishment of deep-rooted natives
- Improves the natural beauty and enjoyment of our parks
Thank you for understanding.
Transitional Kindergarten Program
Ankeny Schools is excited to announce the opening of a transitional kindergarten (TK) program for the 2024-2025 school year. This new level is designed to provide students with the time needed to develop essential social and academic skills, acting as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten.
Registration for Transitional Kindergarten will be integrated into the general registration process, commencing on February 2, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Similar to preschool, available space is limited, and acceptance is determined by the time and date of the submitted complete registration. Class sizes will be capped at 20 students per class, and the total number of classrooms will be finalized by the district later in the spring.
For more information please visit the Transitional Kindergarten website page within the Register section. Applicants can expect to receive an email confirmation of classroom placement or waitlist status by the end of March.
Let’s Talk About…Core Skills, Soft Skills, and Mental Health
Listen to these experts as they explore the creation of a culture of belonging. Discover our commitment to equipping educators with the tools to help students develop essential soft skills. Learn strategies for guiding students through the high school to college transition, emphasizing the importance of early connections and proactive support. They also mention how it is important to focus on student well-being, encouraging self-care practices during study sessions, including water breaks, physical movement, and brain breaks. Uncover how Ankeny fosters these skills from pre-kindergarten, aligning with Ankeny’s graduate profile.
Join Kayla Bell-Consolver, Director of the Counseling Center at Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake University, Shawn Beirman, Social-Emotional Learning Specialist at Ankeny Schools, and Al Neppl, Director of Professional and Leadership Development at Ankeny Schools, in a conversation highlighting the significance of adaptability, empathy, and collaboration for students.
Click here to listen or find us on your favorite podcast app!
All buildings and district office closed Friday, January 12
Due to inclement weather, tomorrow Friday, January 12, school buildings & district office will be closed.
- No Before and After School Program
- Certified staff will work virtually
- Paraprofessional and secretary professional development is canceled
All other employee groups will operate under closure guidance. Please connect with your supervisor if you have questions about your reporting requirements.