Shared Superintendent
September was the first month of the sharing arrangement for a superintendent between Farragut and Hamburg. By doing this I have learned a lot about each district and myself. But the most amazing thing I have learned is the fact that these two school districts can work together and build a better educational program for their students.
The most common question I am asked has to do with the drive. My answer will probably change when the weather starts to get bad, but for right now I am enjoying the 18 mile drive. It gives me enough time to think about what I am going to do when I get there and allows time to process the day on the way home. Most days Denise Stevens, Business Manager for each district, joins me on the trip.
Board Elections
The board elections are over and the measure for eliminating districts and reducing the amount of board members from 7 to 5 passed. Due to current legislation, school board elections are every other year in the State of Iowa. In 2011 there will be four board members up for election but only three will be replaced. In 2013 there will be three board members and only two will be replaced. Anyone living in the district can vote at either election.
After School Education Help
Don’t forget, the state of Iowa pays for the best websites for students and parents to use at Iowa AEA Online (link below). This wonderful resource can help you with almost any homework assignment. Login: farragutes or farraguths Password: aea13
http://www.iowaaeaonline.org/
Corner Conference Music Festival
Due to the Corner Conference Music Festival, there will not be a late start on November 16th but students will be released at 1:30 p.m.
Security Cameras
Like most schools, we want our campus to be as safe as possible. Students should not fear coming to school. This summer the school board made the decision to install 13 cameras around the district. As you can imagine, this was quite the news to students. Now that they are installed, students have mentioned to Mr. Swenson that they like having the cameras installed. It is a comfort for this generation to know that we are looking out for their wellbeing. Remember, this is a generation that only knows shopping in Wal-Mart under camera. As an elementary student I would shop at Ben Franklin’s 10 cent shop and the owner’s mother would follow us around each aisle. There has always been security, but I would take cameras over a grandmother stalking me any day!
Your source for school news, calendars, grades, attendance, purchases, and much more!
www.farragutschools.org
Sunday, October 4, 2009
September News 09
Board Elections
Don’t forget to vote on September 8 at City Hall. In the past, voting was held at the Admiral Manor, but has changed for this event. District I, II, and VI are up for election. Please call the school if you are unsure if you live in one of these districts.
Resolution of Election
The Farragut Board of Education has approved a resolution that puts a simple yes or no question on the ballot for the school board election on September 8, 2009. The measure that will be on the ballot is listed below this article. This resolution allows reduction of board members and at-large director status to happen at the next general election that will take place in 2011. Due to state statutes, at that election in 2011, three of the four board positions will be open for election. In the 2013 two of the three board positions will be elected.
Shall the following public measure be adopted?
_____ Yes
_____ No
To change the number of directors on the Farragut Community School District Board of Directors from seven directors to five directors and to change the method of election of directors from director districts to at large.
PTO Meeting
Please try to attend the next PTO meeting on Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 p.m. A strong PTO helps our school!
New(ish) Scoreboard
The scoreboard purchased in the mid 70s has ended its reign at the football field. The board asked me to find a used scoreboard to meet our needs at the field. I was able to purchase it before some other district made an offer. Mr. Swenson spent a weekend getting a U-Haul, picking up the board, and delivering it back here to Farragut. I also want to thank the Goltz family for their forklift and labor helping us unload it!
Our next adventure was taking down the old scoreboard and putting the new one in place. A special thanks to Mr. Nelson for making the new brackets and the use of his torch and portable welding supplies! A huge thanks to Brent and Steve Lorimor for bringing in two tractors to accomplish this feat! Another big thanks goes out to Tom Stevenson for helping install, hook-up power and coax cable. Without all this help, we wouldn’t have a functional scoreboard
Your source for school news, calendars, grades, attendance, purchases, and much more!
www.farragutschools.org
Don’t forget to vote on September 8 at City Hall. In the past, voting was held at the Admiral Manor, but has changed for this event. District I, II, and VI are up for election. Please call the school if you are unsure if you live in one of these districts.
Resolution of Election
The Farragut Board of Education has approved a resolution that puts a simple yes or no question on the ballot for the school board election on September 8, 2009. The measure that will be on the ballot is listed below this article. This resolution allows reduction of board members and at-large director status to happen at the next general election that will take place in 2011. Due to state statutes, at that election in 2011, three of the four board positions will be open for election. In the 2013 two of the three board positions will be elected.
Shall the following public measure be adopted?
_____ Yes
_____ No
To change the number of directors on the Farragut Community School District Board of Directors from seven directors to five directors and to change the method of election of directors from director districts to at large.
PTO Meeting
Please try to attend the next PTO meeting on Thursday, September 3 at 6:30 p.m. A strong PTO helps our school!
New(ish) Scoreboard
The scoreboard purchased in the mid 70s has ended its reign at the football field. The board asked me to find a used scoreboard to meet our needs at the field. I was able to purchase it before some other district made an offer. Mr. Swenson spent a weekend getting a U-Haul, picking up the board, and delivering it back here to Farragut. I also want to thank the Goltz family for their forklift and labor helping us unload it!
Our next adventure was taking down the old scoreboard and putting the new one in place. A special thanks to Mr. Nelson for making the new brackets and the use of his torch and portable welding supplies! A huge thanks to Brent and Steve Lorimor for bringing in two tractors to accomplish this feat! Another big thanks goes out to Tom Stevenson for helping install, hook-up power and coax cable. Without all this help, we wouldn’t have a functional scoreboard
Your source for school news, calendars, grades, attendance, purchases, and much more!
www.farragutschools.org
August News 09
Exciting New Staff
Angela Halsten is the new secondary math teacher for the coming year. Angela has an Associate in Arts from Southwestern Community College, a Bachelor of Arts from Graceland University, and a master in Arts in Teaching from Drake University. A native of Creston, Angela wanted to take a job in southwest Iowa.
Matt Peters will be the new Junior High Mathematics and sixth grade teacher. Matt is currently on staff at Hamburg, but is loaned to Farragut for this school year. This is an exciting opportunity to have an experienced teacher on staff for our students.
Exciting New Programs
Virtual School
New this year is the South West Iowa Virtual Academy housed at Farragut CSD. Students from area schools will be able to take classes in a 3 period block or by class for credit recovery. Over 50 courses are housed online. This is the first kind of this type of school in our area.
Mobile Computer Lab
In the technical age we live in, teachers have asked for a mobile computer lab. This summer a “netbook” mobile computer lab has been purchased. K-12 teachers will be able to check out the lab for their room.
Business Room and Elementary Computer Lab
The business classroom and the elementary computer lab both have had major updates over the summer. Stop by anytime or during back to school night to see how they have been updated!
Promethean Boards
The SWI grant was used to install Promethean boards in all reading and math classrooms. As you may remember we started last year with two boards and had increased to four boards by January. With the addition of 8 more boards, students K-12 will be learning with a state of the art “smart board” in the classroom. Watch the newsletter for more information on Promethean boards!
Resolution of Election
The Farragut Board of Education has approved a resolution that puts a simple yes or no question on the ballot for the school board election on September 8, 2009. The measure that will be on the ballot is listed below this article. This resolution allows reduction of board members and at-large director status to happen at the next general election that will take place in 2011. Due to state statutes, at that election in 2011, three of the four board positions will be open for election. In the 2013 two of the three board positions will be elected.
Shall the following public measure be adopted?
_____ Yes
_____ No
To change the number of directors on the Farragut Community School District Board of Directors from seven directors to five directors and to change the method of election of directors from director districts to at large.
Exciting Goals Met!
Each year goals for reading, math, and science are developed and sent to the Iowa Department of Education. This year all three goals were met. Not only did students move from being non-proficient to proficient, but the percentage of students that moved from proficient to advance increased as well! Here is a summary of the goals based on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and Iowa Test of Educational Development
Reading Comprehension
The percent of students non-proficient in reading during the 07-08 school year in grades 6-7 that have been in school for a full academic year and their learning is not guided by an Individualized Education Plan will decrease by one percent non-proficient in the 08-09 school year in grades 7-8. GOAL MET! There was a fifteen percent decrease in students that were non-proficient and an increase of eight percent of students that are in the advanced category.
Math
The percent of students non-proficient in math during the 07-08 school year in grades 9-10 that have been in school for a full academic year and their learning is not guided by an Individualized Education Plan will decrease by one percent non-proficient in the 08-09 school year in grades 10-11. GOAL MET! There was a five percent decrease in students that were non-proficient and an increase of eight percent of students that are in the advanced category.
Science
The percent of students non-proficient in science during the 07-08 school year in grades 6-10 that have been in school for a full academic year, their learning is not guided by an Individualized Education Plan and do not receive free or reduced lunch will decrease by one percent non-proficient in the 08-09 school year in grades 7-11. GOAL MET! There was a one percent decrease in students that were non-proficient and an increase of eight percent of students that are in the advanced category.
What we learned in Preschool and Kindergarten: Share…Share…Share
Over the past six years we have shared many programs, teachers and students. In these dark economic times it only means we must share more to provide quality programs. Below I have included a list of what we are planning to share next year as of 4-27-09. Students are still registering for classes and more talks continue, so please watch the website to see any additions in the near future!
Hamburg
• Business Manager
• Superintendent
• Human Resources
• Transportation
• Director of the Physical Plant
• Guidance Counselor
• Librarian
• Family Consumer Science
• Industrial Arts and Agriculture
• Auto-Technologies
• CAD
• Upper-Level English and Math
• College Prep Writing
• Health Occupations (CNA Cert.)
• Technology Director (with Nishna-Valley)
Sidney
• Elementary and Secondary Music/Choir
• CAD
• Industrial Arts and Agriculture
• Auto-Technologies
• Upper-Level Science
• Spanish
• Junior High Football
Shenandoah
• Boys’ junior and high school wrestling, golf and Tennis
• Girls’ cross country, golf and tennis
• Auto-Technologies
Your source for school news, calendars, grades, attendance, purchases, and much more!
www.farragutschools.org
Back to School Night & 7th Grade Orientation
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for August 18th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for Back to School Night!
Elementary students are always excited to see their classrooms the night before school. This is a great chance to lower the anxiety of a new school year.
Speaking of anxiety, remember your first day of junior high school? Mr. Swenson will have orientation for 7th grade students and any junior or senior high school students new to the district. Parents are always welcome!
“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” – Eric Hoffer, Writer/Psychologist
Angela Halsten is the new secondary math teacher for the coming year. Angela has an Associate in Arts from Southwestern Community College, a Bachelor of Arts from Graceland University, and a master in Arts in Teaching from Drake University. A native of Creston, Angela wanted to take a job in southwest Iowa.
Matt Peters will be the new Junior High Mathematics and sixth grade teacher. Matt is currently on staff at Hamburg, but is loaned to Farragut for this school year. This is an exciting opportunity to have an experienced teacher on staff for our students.
Exciting New Programs
Virtual School
New this year is the South West Iowa Virtual Academy housed at Farragut CSD. Students from area schools will be able to take classes in a 3 period block or by class for credit recovery. Over 50 courses are housed online. This is the first kind of this type of school in our area.
Mobile Computer Lab
In the technical age we live in, teachers have asked for a mobile computer lab. This summer a “netbook” mobile computer lab has been purchased. K-12 teachers will be able to check out the lab for their room.
Business Room and Elementary Computer Lab
The business classroom and the elementary computer lab both have had major updates over the summer. Stop by anytime or during back to school night to see how they have been updated!
Promethean Boards
The SWI grant was used to install Promethean boards in all reading and math classrooms. As you may remember we started last year with two boards and had increased to four boards by January. With the addition of 8 more boards, students K-12 will be learning with a state of the art “smart board” in the classroom. Watch the newsletter for more information on Promethean boards!
Resolution of Election
The Farragut Board of Education has approved a resolution that puts a simple yes or no question on the ballot for the school board election on September 8, 2009. The measure that will be on the ballot is listed below this article. This resolution allows reduction of board members and at-large director status to happen at the next general election that will take place in 2011. Due to state statutes, at that election in 2011, three of the four board positions will be open for election. In the 2013 two of the three board positions will be elected.
Shall the following public measure be adopted?
_____ Yes
_____ No
To change the number of directors on the Farragut Community School District Board of Directors from seven directors to five directors and to change the method of election of directors from director districts to at large.
Exciting Goals Met!
Each year goals for reading, math, and science are developed and sent to the Iowa Department of Education. This year all three goals were met. Not only did students move from being non-proficient to proficient, but the percentage of students that moved from proficient to advance increased as well! Here is a summary of the goals based on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and Iowa Test of Educational Development
Reading Comprehension
The percent of students non-proficient in reading during the 07-08 school year in grades 6-7 that have been in school for a full academic year and their learning is not guided by an Individualized Education Plan will decrease by one percent non-proficient in the 08-09 school year in grades 7-8. GOAL MET! There was a fifteen percent decrease in students that were non-proficient and an increase of eight percent of students that are in the advanced category.
Math
The percent of students non-proficient in math during the 07-08 school year in grades 9-10 that have been in school for a full academic year and their learning is not guided by an Individualized Education Plan will decrease by one percent non-proficient in the 08-09 school year in grades 10-11. GOAL MET! There was a five percent decrease in students that were non-proficient and an increase of eight percent of students that are in the advanced category.
Science
The percent of students non-proficient in science during the 07-08 school year in grades 6-10 that have been in school for a full academic year, their learning is not guided by an Individualized Education Plan and do not receive free or reduced lunch will decrease by one percent non-proficient in the 08-09 school year in grades 7-11. GOAL MET! There was a one percent decrease in students that were non-proficient and an increase of eight percent of students that are in the advanced category.
What we learned in Preschool and Kindergarten: Share…Share…Share
Over the past six years we have shared many programs, teachers and students. In these dark economic times it only means we must share more to provide quality programs. Below I have included a list of what we are planning to share next year as of 4-27-09. Students are still registering for classes and more talks continue, so please watch the website to see any additions in the near future!
Hamburg
• Business Manager
• Superintendent
• Human Resources
• Transportation
• Director of the Physical Plant
• Guidance Counselor
• Librarian
• Family Consumer Science
• Industrial Arts and Agriculture
• Auto-Technologies
• CAD
• Upper-Level English and Math
• College Prep Writing
• Health Occupations (CNA Cert.)
• Technology Director (with Nishna-Valley)
Sidney
• Elementary and Secondary Music/Choir
• CAD
• Industrial Arts and Agriculture
• Auto-Technologies
• Upper-Level Science
• Spanish
• Junior High Football
Shenandoah
• Boys’ junior and high school wrestling, golf and Tennis
• Girls’ cross country, golf and tennis
• Auto-Technologies
Your source for school news, calendars, grades, attendance, purchases, and much more!
www.farragutschools.org
Back to School Night & 7th Grade Orientation
Don’t forget to mark your calendars for August 18th from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. for Back to School Night!
Elementary students are always excited to see their classrooms the night before school. This is a great chance to lower the anxiety of a new school year.
Speaking of anxiety, remember your first day of junior high school? Mr. Swenson will have orientation for 7th grade students and any junior or senior high school students new to the district. Parents are always welcome!
“In a time of drastic change it is the learners who inherit the future. The learned usually find themselves equipped to live in a world that no longer exists.” – Eric Hoffer, Writer/Psychologist
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