JANESVILLE VOLLEYBALL CLUB CONTINUED SUCCESS

The Janesville Volleyball Club ended its 2024 season on March 23rd when our 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade teams competed in the AAU State Tournaments. Our 6th and 8th grade teams also played in their respective State Tournaments on March 16th. These teams represented our Janesville Volleyball Club well at the statewide tournament sites and competed well against some very strong teams in all five classes.

The 6th grade team advanced to the Gold Bracket (top 24 of 60 teams competing) after going undefeated and getting first place in pool play. They won their first two matches in bracket play but then fell short to a very good Wolfpack team, finishing in a tie for 5th place.

The 8th grade team advanced to the Silver Bracket, after finishing 3rd in their pool, but lost a hard fought battle in the first match of bracket play.

Our 5th grade Black team finished 4th in pool play, advancing them to the Bronze Bracket, but they fell short to a LeMars team in their first match. Our 5th grade Gold team finished first in pool play advancing them to the Gold Bracket, putting them in the top 20 out of the 50 teams competing. However, they fell short in a very close match in the first round of bracket play.

Our 3rd and 4th grade teams faced some tough competition throughout the day, and ended up not advancing to bracket play, but they played hard and had fun!

Our 7th grade team did not participate in the State tournament due to scheduling conflicts, but they competed well in their tournaments this season where so much progress was made, as they improved throughout the entire AAU season and gained valuable experience.

Congratulations to all players and teams for all their success during the 2024 season. This wraps up the 33rd season of tournament play for the Janesville Volleyball Club. Coaches volunteer a lot of their time in order for these players to gain experience by playing in the AAU tournament season. High school coaches Shelly Sorensen, Dana Sorensen, and Katy Sweeney, along with Alexis Olson, Mike Zwanziger, Al Sweeney, Brittany Wegner, Destiny Christopher, Kamryn Umthum, and Allison Fisher coached our AAU teams this season. And a special thank you to Jayden Umthum for stepping in to help with a 5th grade team at State!

Much experience was gained and so much improvement and progress was seen during these tournaments where teams played up to six matches a day. These young ladies should be proud of themselves for all that they have accomplished. It was great to see the growth and improvement made by all players and all teams throughout the club season. Thanks to the parents and family members who must sacrifice a lot of their time in order to allow these young ladies to participate. Thanks to all of you who helped by transporting teams and coaches to tournaments, providing good lunches and snacks, line judging, scorekeeping, officiating and a huge thank you to all who helped clean up following our home tournaments. We cannot do this without you!. Thanks especially to all of the parents for your support of this program. Coaches truly appreciate all that you do and for being so supportive of all that we do. A very HUGE THANK YOU to all of the coaches who volunteered your time and efforts to help me in giving these girls the opportunity to participate in the Janesville volleyball club program. Thanks to all of you our program continues to be a success.

article written by Shelly Sorensen

"Chick" Out What's Happening in the JCSD Preschool (Copy)

Ms. Michels’ preschool class has been learning about the life cycle of a chicken, parts of an egg and a chicken. According to Adventures in the Schoolhouse, “The lifecycle of a chick is approximately 21 days. The mother hen usually sits on her eggs for 21 days straight, while turning her eggs approximately 50 times per day. She will talk to her baby chicks inside the eggs as they are growing, and the internal temperature for the egg must be 99.5°F.” The Skinner family graciously donated eggs for the preschool class to try and hatch along with an incubator.

According to Ms. Michels, “We have 13-15 days left to see if we will have any luck. We did have to talk about that we aren’t eating the chicks once we hatch them lol! The kiddos are super excited to count down the days as we talk all about a chicken life cycle, the parts of an egg and a chicken.”

The class is anxiously awaiting the arrival baby chicks.

"Chick" Out What's Happening in the JCSD Preschool

Ms. Michels’ preschool class has been learning about the life cycle of a chicken, parts of an egg and a chicken. According to Adventures in the Schoolhouse, “The lifecycle of a chick is approximately 21 days. The mother hen usually sits on her eggs for 21 days straight, while turning her eggs approximately 50 times per day. She will talk to her baby chicks inside the eggs as they are growing, and the internal temperature for the egg must be 99.5°F.” The Skinner family graciously donated eggs for the preschool class to try and hatch along with an incubator.

According to Ms. Michels, “We have 13-15 days left to see if we will have any luck. We did have to talk about that we aren’t eating the chicks once we hatch them lol! The kiddos are super excited to count down the days as we talk all about a chicken life cycle, the parts of an egg and a chicken.”

The class is anxiously awaiting the arrival baby chicks.

Holocaust Survivor Zooms with JCSD Students

Earlier in the year, the secondary literacy team agreed upon texts that will be studied in grades 6-8, and Marion Blumenthal's memoir Four Perfect Pebbles was chosen as a nonfiction pick for the 8th graders. Ms. Cavalier read the book when she was in middle school and enjoyed it. When asked about her reading experience, Cavalier shared, “It especially stuck out in my mind because Marion came to my middle school to deliver a talk about her experience surviving the Holocaust. Her story really stuck with me.”

As Ms. Cavalier was helping plan lessons for the Four Perfect Pebbles unit, she reached out to Marion to see if she was still hosting speaking events with students. Marion reported that she was no longer traveling out of her home state of New York, but that she would be happy to host a Zoom. Interestingly, she shared that many of the speaking events she has been invited to have been, like Cavalier, former students who read her work while they were in school. She has truly had an impact on many generations now.

She is especially passionate about ensuring that as many students attend her talks as possible, since there are very few Holocaust survivors left. As she has pointed out, this is the last generation of students that will be able to hear Holocaust survivors share their stories directly.

During the Zoom, Marion told her story to the audience, relaying the details of what she experienced during the Holocaust. She painted a vivid picture of what it was like living in the concentration camp Bergen-Belsen, noting the lack of food and filthy conditions. She also discussed the inspiration for her memoir, Four Perfect Pebbles, which was based on a game she developed in Bergen-Belsen at the age of nine. Every day, she would search the camp for four pebbles to represent her, her brother, her father, and her mother. In Marion's young mind, she believed that if she could find four pebbles every day, that every family member would make it out of the camp alive. At the conclusion of World War II, in 1945, all four members of her family did, in fact, make it out of the camp alive.

Marion then relayed to the audience her experience with coming to America, learning a new language, and assimilating to a new culture. Her message to students was one of hope and perseverance. Marion repeatedly advised students to be compassionate and kind to one another, and how her story sheds light on this important message. Marion also made time for several student questions. Students asked various questions, ranging from how she felt upon returning to Bergen-Belsen nearly 50 years later, and whether or not it was difficult to relive her experiences while writing the book.

Marion's book will be available for purchase, and she will be personally signing each book that is sent to Janesville. A sign-up link will be made available soon to purchase a copy.

(Blog information provided by Ms. Cavalier)

Children of All Ages Learn CPR

According to the American Heart Association, “kids as young as nine can learn basic steps of CPR. It can double the survival rate from out-of-hospital cardiac arrest.” By teaching students how to perform CPR, we are creating the next generation of responsible citizens who can provide life-saving measures in an emergency. This can help to make our communities safer and more prepared for emergencies.

This week, K-12 students at JCSD learned Hands-Only CPR during their physical education and health classes. Hands-Only CPR is CPR without mouth-to-mouth breaths. It is faster and easier to learn than traditional CPR. It's also less exhausting and less intimidating for people who may be hesitant to provide mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

CPR instructor, Chris Charley, taught each class how to administer compressions. K-2 students practiced with beanie babies first so the dummies weren’t so scary. Other safety protocols were covered as well. Topics include how to call 911, how to use the teacher’s key fob in order to enter the building, where the AEDs are located, and what an EpiPen is and how to use it.

Combining CPR training with an understanding of emergency situations equips students with the ability to critically evaluate emergencies and act decisively, potentially saving lives.

Math Art II

Math or art? How about both! JCSD Middle School math students used their creative talents as they studied composite area. According to Cuemath.com, “The area of composite shapes is defined as the area covered by any composite shape. A composite shape is made up of basic shapes put together. Thus, the area of the composite shape is found by individually adding all the basic shapes.”

The students in Ms. Sandlin’s 6th grade math class were tasked with the idea of using different colored Post-It notes in order to create a picture. Then, they had to find the area for each color used and the total composite area. These Post-It Note Picassos set the bar high. The images they created include a city, Spiderman, and a Siberian Tiger.

Not only did this activity tie into the curriculum, but it also allowed students to tap into their creative sides and take ownership of their work. This is the type of lesson that students will remember when they’re 90!

The Student Teaching Experience

Student teaching is a crucial component of the education process for aspiring teachers. It serves as a hands-on learning experience that takes place during the final year of college or as part of a teaching certification program. While student teaching, individuals intern in a classroom or educational setting, applying their knowledge and skills under the guidance of experienced educators. These engaging experiences provide key opportunities to gain practical teaching experience and prepare for a career in education.

JCSD currently has four student teachers in the building in various grades and curricular areas. 

Riley Kammeyer attends Wartburg College and is student teaching with Mrs. Miller in 2nd grade. She is originally from Tripoli, IA. Ideally, Riley would love to stay around the area as she lives in Waverly. Riley states, “I love spending my time in K-2 classrooms! I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be at Janesville and I'm loving every minute of it!”

Keli Potter is currently working alongside Mrs. Giraud as a high school science teacher. She is a senior at Wartburg College studying to become a secondary science teacher. Keli will graduate this coming May with a double major in biology and secondary education and will also receive an all-science endorsement. Keli grew up in Iowa City with one older sister. Throughout high school, she was involved in many different sports, orchestra, and extracurriculars. Keli loves watching movies, reading, being outdoors, and spending time with friends and family. Fun fact about Keli: she was stung by a Portuguese man o' war during a trip to Florida. Keli states, “I have always been fascinated with how the world works, and I am excited to incorporate my fascination into my future career as an educator. I am grateful for the opportunity to student teach here at Janesville, and I hope we all finish the year strong!”

Kaylee Kueker is student teaching in Mrs. Bishop’s first grade class. She grew up in Denver, IA and still lives there now. She loves being close to her family and is glad to be placed at Janesville so she is close to them too. Kaylee attends Wartburg College and will graduate in May. Her favorite things to do are mow the lawn, play board games, and hang out with family and friends. Kaylee’s Ideal teaching job would be to teach kindergarten or first grade in a small school in northeast Iowa. Kaylee states, “I love how Janesville is very collaborative and is so welcoming. The community and the environment of the school have been amazing and I am so happy I could have this experience!”

Michael Goodenbour is a third-year mathematics education student at Wartburg College. He is originally from Cedar Falls. Michael runs cross country and track for the Knights. He is also the manager of the math tutoring lab on campus and enjoys going golfing and disc golfing with friends. Michael is  currently placed with Mrs. Sandlin, working with students preparing them for their Math Counts competition, as well as working with sixth grade and precalculus classes. Michael’s ideal teaching job would be somewhere in the Cedar Valley, teaching 5th-8th grades, but he also believes he would enjoy teaching higher level high school courses, such as precalculus and calculus. 

Please welcome these student teachers to JCSD.

1,000th Day

When students are in 5th grade, they hit the big 1,000th day of school. On average, students spend 180 days per year in school. By the time they complete kindergarten through 4th grade, they have attended 900 days of school. This means, on the hundredth day of the school year, 5th graders get to celebrate quadruple digits, the big 1-0-0-0!

Just like the 100th day of school is a milestone for elementary grades, upper grades love to celebrate, too. With the help of our creative 5th grade teachers, the Janesville 5th graders spent last Thursday celebrating their 1,000th day of grade school. Throughout the day, students participated in the following activities to celebrate:

Game of Spoons to 1,000: Similar to the regular game of spoons, place in a small group to try to collect a sum from all 4 cards that equals 1,000 while racing to not being eliminated when someone else collects theirs and a spoon.

 Race to 1,000: With a partner, move around a gameboard following specific skip counting directions to reach the 1,000th square first.

1,000th Day Escape Room: Complete 6 separate tasks in a small group that include puzzles, math problems, and research to collect a code that will allow you to escape.

Place Value Treats: Create the number 1,000 by placing specific cookies into each place value.

1,000 Second Break: Celebrated their hard work over the past 1,000 days with a friendship snack mix and 1,000 seconds (16 2/3 minutes) of free choice.

Janesville JCSD  teachers helped make this day an occasion to remember!

Out of the Box Thinking

Shout out to JCSD middle school math teacher, Meridith Sandlin, for her out of the box thinking. Knowing the interests of her students, she created curriculum based on the results of the Detroit Lions vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers playoff football game. Mrs. Sandlin used the statistics from the game to appeal to her students. The students completed math problems and equations based on the game’s stats.

Sixth grade parent, Brenda Schmidtke states, “Mrs. Sandlin deserves to be recognized for her out of the box thinking. My son is in her 6th grace accelerated math class and has been thoroughly enjoying her class and the content available to him. My son’s favorite NFL team is the Lions and he is used to not seeing their apparel in stores and not being featured on prime time TV. We were blown away with the out of the box activity along with providing activities that would stimulate our son’t interest and possibly help him understand a whole new aspect of the game. It was definitely a special treat for him to have someone acknowledge what’s important to him in this moment as a 6th grader.”

As the growing shortages of teachers sweep across the nation, many teachers had to accept additional daily teaching responsibilities. Many of the teachers and support staffs took on both remote and classroom preparation/combination teaching during the recent years of the pandemic. This is a most important time for schools across the world to reach out and find ways to honor and ‘recognize’ their teachers. 

Thank you Mrs. Sandlin! Your efforts are greatly appreciated and making a difference in the lives of your students.

Let's Do Better

According to Dr. Karissa Niehoff of the National Federation of State High School Associations, “From time to time, everyone needs a wake-up call to get back on course, to regain focus and to get with the program. That time is at hand in high school sports as it relates to unsportsmanlike conduct.” When appropriate behavior occurs, competitive play is more enjoyable for everyone. And for some individuals recently, the games have not been enjoyable. Around the country, the following unfortunate incidents have occurred at the high school level: a mayor of a city was ejected for threatening a referee, a volleyball official was followed off the court by a coach who was shouting obscenities, a referee was assaulted and knocked unconscious, and youth basketball leagues were forced to end the season early due to poor parent behavior. The list could go on and on. 

It is painfully obvious why there is an officials’ shortage…unacceptable behavior on the part of the parents, coaches, and other spectators. Verbal and physical attacks against officials are incomprehensible and must be stopped. NFHS director of officiating services states, “Do you really think that these individuals who are volunteers are going to take a half-day off of work, get paid less than they’re probably making at their real job to go and be unfair in a game? It doesn’t make sense. They are there to give back. They are there to be community servants.” 

Official shortage is real. The pandemic led to accelerated retirement and many new officials quit within the first three years due to fan hostility. Following each contest, officials in the Iowa Star Conference are asked to fill out a ballot to evaluate sportsmanship. They rate the team, players and fans on a scale of 1 to 3. Here is a description of the rating scale: 1 being Expected (no noticeable disrespect), 2 being Fair (some unsportsmanslike conduct), and 3 being Poor (discourtesy/disrespect were evident in several occasions). Unfortunately, the spectators of Janesville Boys Basketball currently have the worst rating in our conference (1.55) and the girls have the best rating (1.0). 

Stop being an “armchair” official. If you are interested in becoming an official, instructions can be found at the link at the bottom of the article. Janesville CSD will be happy to pay for our fans to become officials.

Our behavior embarrasses our players and school. We are asking you to do better.

https://www.iahsaa.org/officials/become-one/

On To State

Large group District Speech contests were held Saturday, January 20. Janesville CSD speech team is coached by Ms. Katie Johnson and Ms. Kimberly Cavalier. This year, we had five events go. Each event performs in front of a IHSSAA certified judge. The judges critique the performance with a I, II, or III rating. Groups who receive a I rating advance to State Speech competition.

Talan Pletz, Charlize Lindaman, Addy Oldenburger, Blayne Porter, and Cael Coffman competed in Short Film with a film titled “Coach.” Jillian Anderson, Hailey Limkemann, Ashleigh Panning, Tarynn Shepherd, and Hayleigh Heiser competed in Readers Theatre with a play titled “The Committee.” Ashleigh Panning and Hailey Limkemann competed in Group Improvisation. Jayden Butler, Parker Opperman, Daniel Britt, and Marshall Davison competed in Group Improvisation and will advance to State Contest. Kole Haan, Carlie Rupe, Gabe Meaney, Hayden Pugh, Abi Foelske, Jayden Butler, Zoey Barnes, Daniel Britt, and Carson Foelske competed in Short Film with a film titled “The Nerderer” and will advance to State Contest.

Overall, the kids had a great time competing and Janesville will bring two events to the State Contest in Dubuque on February 3rd. Congratulations to students and coaches!

Elementary Winter Dance

Before winter break, Janesville CSD 4th grade elementary lighthouse members Morgan Domeyer, Ezra Muehling and Mozzie Reed planned a winter dance for elementary students.  Students in grades K-5 attended the dance where they enjoyed snacks, played limbo and danced with their friends.  The lighthouse members asked Mr. Monroe to be the DJ and Darla Litterer to make cupcakes.  Darla made 150 cupcakes for to reward the students whose class earned their LEADER letters in November. (Each month, classes earn each of the letters of LEADER by being recognized as a leader in the hallway, lunchroom, etc. by someone other than their classroom teacher.) The students had planned to pay Darla for the supplies to make the cupcakes, however Darla surprised them by donating the money back to the student lighthouse team. 

Wrestling Returns to the Ville

After not offering our own wrestling team for over 20 years, the Janesville School Board approved the return of the program at their monthly meeting on Monday, January 8, 2024. The program revival is set for the 2024-2025 school year.

Janesville has been in a shared program with Waverly- Shell Rock High school since the program ended in 2002. After a successful start to a youth wrestling program at JCSD, many dreamed of a bigger vision….the revival of a Janesville wrestling team.

In an interview with the Waverly Newspaper, Janesville Athletic Director, Micah Monroe states, “There’s been a lot of community support from the parents. We started the Cats Wrestling Club to secure a mat for the school and they’ve done their training here at the school and that’s really picked up the excitement about wrestling and getting it back. There’s been quite a few people coming to practices and participating in tournaments and they’ve had about 60 kids that have been coming to practice. We’ve been talking for a while trying to figure out if it was the right time to get wrestling back in Janesville and with the amount of support from the community members and in the school, we felt that it was the right time. Our school board is all with it and they decided that it was time to get that process going.”

With the popularity of girls wrestling in Iowa, the Wildcats will follow suit and they will offer a girls team as well.

“The talks started a couple of years ago,” Monroe said. “Last year we had seven junior varsity girls wrestle for Waverly and we’ve had a number of students express interest that if we had our own program, they play basketball and other sports for Janesville and they would like that as an option too. With girls programs starting, there are a lot of girls that are interested in wrestling.”

Although there is a possibility that offering a wrestling team might pull players from the basketball teams, the main focus for Janesville administration is being able to offer as many opportunities for students to succeed.

“That’s always a concern,” Monroe said. “I think the main thing though is that we want to provide our students with everything possible. With the popularity of wrestling in the area and the girls being sanctioned now, we just felt that it was a good time and the amount of support from the community, we thought it was a good time to get it started and provide another great program for our students to be a part of.”

Mrs. Pugh Receives High Award

Janesville CSD Elementary Principal, Krista Pugh, has been named the 2024 Leader in Me Educator of the Year!

Individuals nominated for the Leader in Me Educator Award may serve in any capacity in any of the Leader in Me Schools. The nominees are considered champions of Leader in Me, role models for living the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and consistently demonstrate the following Leader Valley values:

Servant Leadership: We believe leadership is for everyone. Through modeling leadership, focusing on strengths, and creating opportunities for others, we empower people who will empower others.

Human Connection: We believe in the power of diverse relationships. Through fostering trust and being a resource for others, we develop sustainable partnerships. 

Integrity: We believe authenticity is best and character matters. Through responsible use of community investments and leading by example, we build a reputation of positive impact. 

Lifelong Learning: We believe education is an ongoing journey. Through investing in individual and community development, we equip people to change their own lives.

Facilitate Change: We believe challenges are opportunities to improve. Through a flexible response to change, we create better results that ripple into the community. 

Mrs. Pugh will be honored at the Leader Valley Gala on January 19th in Cedar Falls.

Congratulations Mrs. Pugh, on this well-deserving award!!

The Art of Mathematics

Many of us might have had some problems with mathematics when we were in school. However, it is surprising to see how closely art and math are linked. There is a fascinating relationship. In fact, there are many famous artworks from artists such as Leonardo da Vinci and Wassily Kandinsky, that incorporated mathematical concepts in their artwork. 

Precalculus students in Mrs. Sandlin’s class at JCSD have combined the two academics. After a recent unit of study, students demonstrated their knowledge of Conics and Function Graph Transformations through an art project using the Desmos web site tools. Students from the class explained the project, how it relates to math, and what they liked best about it.

“I created a park scene using Desmos graphing calculator. I had to plot many different equations and inequalities in order to get my desired shapes and shading. I had to figure out how to move graphs based on equations and how to manipulate equations in order to create different shapes. I liked that it was creative and something other than taking a paper test. I've never used Desmos like that before.” - Hayden Pugh

“Basically what we did is we took different functions of math (for example, sin, cosine, rational function, parabolas, ellipses, etc) and changed x and y values to make a design of something of our choice. We also had to change the domain and range for some of them to fit into what we needed. It relates to math because we had to use what we knew from values of x and put them in to get the shape we wanted. Something I liked about it is that you could be creative and sort of make anything you want. It was a pretty open project that yes, had requirements, but we weren't told exactly what we had to make.” - Carlie Rupe

“I just wrote some equations until it looked like something. I sorta had an idea of what I wanted, but didn't really know how to get there, so I just experimented until I got it.”  Kole Haan

“I didn't really have anything particular in mind, but when we started messing around with the equations it just kind of came together.” Daniele Hughes

When asked “What did you like about it? What were your favorite parts?” Carson Foelske replied, “Being able to see how the equations we used changed in real time to create the pictures.”

These students have demonstrated the potential to be proficient in both math and art!

Parents and Pajamas

On Tuesday, December 19, the Janesville CSD Preschool held a Parents and Pajamas Party to celebrate the start of Winter Break. Each preschool class decorated Christmas cookies, ice skated using paper plates, made reindeer food, and sang a few Christmas songs for the parents. A fun time was had by all!!

Leader in Me Success Story

Janesville CSD has chosen to follow the Leader in Me program because we believe everyone has the ability to be a leader. Each person has unique strengths and can make a contribution in and out school by sharing those strengths. Being a leader is not about being popular or holding a position; it’s about using your strengths and encouraging others to use theirs.

The 7 Habits are the road map to become a leader. They are life skills you can use on the playground, in sports, with friends, at home, at school, and in the future. Each of the 7 Habits will help you grow, serve, and inspire today, tomorrow and as an adult.

Recently, Lennon, a 4th grade leader at Janesville CSD was highlighted by Leader Valley as part of their Stories of Success. Through Leader in Me, Lennon has overcome school-related anxiety and developed the confidence and resilience she needs to achieve her goals.

"Leader in Me has provided Lennon with opportunities to utilize and grow her leadership skills. It has developed a determination in her to become the best version of herself." - Heather Howland, Janesville Student Lighthouse Facilitator.

Click on the link below to hear more about Lennon’s Leader in Me journey.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1OQa8DyBym4

Ryken Takes Seat on School Board

The first JCSD school board meeting since the election is set to take place tonight and newly elected member, Christy Ryken will be sworn in. Christy is no stranger to the Janesville community but we wanted to take a moment to introduce her.

Christy’s connection to this community runs deep, as she is not only a former graduate of Janesville High, but also a proud parent of two students currently attending Janesville CSD. Over the years she has witnessed the unique strengths of our community, and she firmly believes that our school plays a pivotal role in nurturing the potential of our youth and preparing them to become responsible, informed citizens.

While serving as the President of the Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) for eight years, Christy has had the privilege of working closely with teachers, parents, and administrators to enhance the quality of education and extracurricular activities. This experience has allowed her to gain valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities that our school district faces. It has also reinforced her unwavering commitment to the well-being of our students and the continued improvement JSCD.

Christy’s vision for the school district is rooted in her deep-seated belief that every student deserves access to an excellent education that not only equips them with academic skills but also helps them develop into compassionate, responsible, and civic-minded individuals. She is dedicated to fostering a safe and engaging learning environment where each student can thrive and reach their full potential. By working collaboratively with parents, teachers, administrators, and the broader community, she believes the school can address the unique needs of our students and ensure they are well-prepared for the challenges of the future.

In addition to her commitment to educational excellence, Christy also places a high priority on continuing the good fiscal stewardship within our school district. Christy states, “My service in helping pass the last school bond vote helped me better understand that responsible financial management is not only about the present but also about securing a bright educational future for our community. As a school board candidate, I am dedicated to making prudent decisions that allocate resources efficiently while prioritizing the needs of our students and educators. I aim to uphold the trust that our community places in our school district, ensuring that every dollar is invested wisely and that our schools remain accessible to and sustainable for future generations of students.”

Christy also expressed her enthusiasm for the opportunity to serve on the school board in our community. She feels a deep sense of responsibility to contribute to the betterment of our educational system.

“Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our children and the prosperity of our community. I look forward to the opportunity to serve our community as a school board member and work collaboratively to create a brighter future for all,” remarks Ryken.

Friendsgiving: A New Tradition at Janesville

According to Merriam-Webster, the earliest use of the term Friendsgiving dates back to 2007. Friendsgiving is about celebrating existing friendships and making new ones. Traditionally, friends bring a variety of dishes, sides, and desserts to share while engaging in games and activities.

This year, several classes at JCSD participated in Friendsgiving. The kindergarten classes came together as a community and enjoyed their first Friendsgiving. Kindergarten teach Kaitlin Beaumont states, “It was just a community building activity that Molly and I wanted to do so that the two kindergartens could spend time together and eat a meal as a group.”

The students also made paper bag turkey costumes. The teachers would like to give a shoutout to Fareway for the donation of paper bags.

The students in Mr. Ludwig’s 3rd grade class also enjoyed a Friendsgiving. The array of food was prepared and brought in by Mr. Ludwig’s parents.

These Friendsgiving feasts are just another example of how teachers at JCSD are building community in their classrooms and providing opportunities to forge strong friendships.

Staff Shortages Plague JCSD

Like other schools across the state of Iowa, Janesville CSD is facing staff shortages. Data collected from School Administrators of Iowa (SAI) indicates several recurring issues and concerns within the education system. The SAI survey shared that there were over 500 open teaching positions in rural schools at the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year and additional 600 positions filled with not fully qualified teachers. The report goes on to state, “Schools are facing challenges in finding and retaining qualified teachers, leading to vacancies and understaffed classrooms. 

The shortage not only affects teaching positions but also extends to support staff, bus drivers, and substitute teachers.” Janesville CSD is no exception. It is not uncommon to have multiple teachers out of the building every day. According to Dean Wendy Paterson of SUNY Buffalo State, “Since the COVID-19 pandemic, substitute teacher shortages have increased to the level that 20 percent of the requests for substitutes are unfilled.” These unfilled teacher absences can cripple student achievement. Schools struggle to fill these teacher absences by moving students to other classes, pulling in other school personnel to cover for the absent teacher, or moving students to the gym, cafeteria, or library. These options are less than ideal. 

That is why we need you. If you have ever considered helping in the school, now is the time. There are many reasons to become a substitute teacher. Substitute teaching is a remarkably rewarding and worthwhile career path for people in many different walks of life. As a sub, you get to work with children, set your own schedule, and experience many different opportunities in education.

As one high school science teacher says, “These are kids that need extra preparation, extra care, extra attention, just because of the world that they’re facing, but also they’re our future leaders. They’re the future scientists, they’re the future nurses and doctors, they’re the future, everything. And we need to be really tender and cautious and careful and protective over education because not only does this shape their minds, it shapes who they’re going to be as people.” 

Fortunately, you can help. Anyone with an associate's degree or 60 semester hours or higher and the completion of an approved substitute authorization course can substitute teach. For more information on substitute teaching authorization and licensure, contact the Iowa Board of Educational Examiners at 515-281-3245.