School news: Ankeny and Saydel
ANKENY
Ashland Ridge
Several students from Ashland Ridge Elementary received recognition for their writing abilities in the 2015 Letters About Literature writing contest, sponsored by the Iowa Center for the Book. To enter this contest, students submit reflective writing about a book that has changed their view of the world or of themselves. Students respond to the work they have read by exploring the personal relationship between themselves, the author, and the book's characters or themes.
In the fourth through sixth grade Level One, 715 students entered with six winners, 24 finalists, and 39 semi-finalists. Ashland Ridge Elementary also had one fourth grade finalist in Level One, Tyson Meiners, as well as three fifth grade semi-finalists: Samantha Huynh, Julianne Stevens, and Nicholas Wallestad.
Northeast
Fifth-graders at Northeast Elementary participated in this year’s Track and Field Day events held at Ankeny High School on May 12th. Some of the events that Northeast students participated in include the 50, 75, 100, 200, and 400 meter dash. Shuttle relay, distance medley, 4 x 100 relay, shot put, and long jump. Students who placed in each event were awarded ribbons.
Prairie Trail
The Ankeny Art Center granted each elementary in the school district a $50 gift certificate to be used toward one of the art camps they offer. Prairie Trail student, Erin Pina was the lucky winner of this award. Erin is a third-grader and loves to draw. Congratulations Erin!
Jaden Brown, a fifth-grader from Prairie Trail Elementary, recently participated in the Central Iowa Technology Fair at Iowa State University. Jaden received a blue ribbon for his How to Code Tutorial Website.
Southeast
Several students from Southeast Elementary received recognition for their writing abilities in the 2015 Letters About Literature writing contest, sponsored by the Iowa Center for the Book. To enter this contest, students submit reflective writing about a book that has changed their view of the world or of themselves. Students respond to the work they have read by exploring the personal relationship between themselves, the author, and the book's characters or themes.
In the fourth through sixth grade Level 1, 715 students entered with six winners, 24 finalists, and 39 semi-finalists. Southeast fifth grader Brenna Coleman was named the first place winner in Level 1 and was recognized at the May 2, 2015 celebration in Des Moines. In addition, Southeast also had three fifth grade finalists in Level 1: Delaney Sondgeroth, Mackenzie Slump, and Jocelyn Riley.
Westwood
Second-graders in Kim Rohlf’s classroom collected data on the color of everyone’s shoe strings and then represented the data with a bar graph. Once they completed their graph they had to write and solve (put-together, take-apart, and compare) problems using the information presented in the bar graph. Second-graders have also been learning about animals and their life cycles. They observed the metamorphosis from larva (caterpillar) to adult butterfly.
The students and teachers of Westwood Elementary believe that reading is one of the most important activities you can do. To show our love for reading, the entire school participated in a D.E.A.R. (Drop Everything and Read) read in. All 600 Students, teachers, and staff dropped whatever they were doing, gathered in the hallway, and picked up a favorite book.
Third- through fifth-grade students were challenged to read as many books from the Iowa Children’s Choice Award List as possible. Thirty two students exceeded that challenge by reading 10 or more books from the list. These students celebrated their achievement by having a pizza lunch and awards ceremony. The students who read over ten books from the list are: Mayci Rasmus, Brooklyn Conger, Carli Gladson, Kambria Leazer, Brendan Owens, Lily Bauch, Quinn Leone, Colin Littlefield, Olivia Burkhart, Cassie Swartz, Adeline Brooks, Cavan Jones, Dylan Bybee, Jake Gossett, Noah Schafer, Parker Lundberg, Evan Bryan, Maya France, Mackenzie Gruhlke, Madison Hunter, Madisyn Lauwagie, Mackenzie Gilmour, Tanre Ray, Cassidy Jenison, Adaryn Whipple, Sara Farlow, Erica Peters, Jamie Culver, Broden Haley, Alexis Jansen, Brian Iturria, and Courtney Kovacs. Great job Westwood readers!
Northview
Students in Marissa Bauer’s Intro to Foods classes at Northview Middle School have been learning about quick breads and about the function of ingredients when baking. In the spirit of the TV show “Cupcake Wars”, the students were presented with different baking challenges. Some classes had to create appealing cupcakes using no egg or egg substitute, while other class periods could not use fats. The students had one day to research the cupcakes they wanted to prepare, 40 minutes to make the cupcakes and frosting, and 15 minutes to decorate before the judging began. Each group of students then presented their cupcakes to a panel of judges. At the end of the competition a winning group was chosen.
Prairie Ridge
Several members from the Polk Soil and Water Conservation District came and talked to Prairie Ridge Middle School sixth grade science classes about watersheds, pollution and native Iowa plants. The students were also able to work in small groups to problem solve limiting run off in watersheds.
Nine seventh grade students from Prairie Ridge placed in the Polk County Bar Association 2015 Law Day Competition. The theme of the 2015 contest was “Magna Carta: Symbol of Freedom Under Law.” Perhaps more than any other document in human history, Magna Carta has come to embody a simple but enduring truth: No one, no matter how powerful, is above the law. In the eight centuries that have elapsed since Magna Carta was sealed in 1215, it has taken root as an international symbol of the rule of law and as an inspiration for many basic rights Americans hold dear today, including due process, habeas corpus, trial by jury, and the right to travel.
Forty-seven students from Prairie Ridge researched the Magna Carta and produced original work that was submitted in the following categories: visual arts, music and performing arts, essay, and poetry. The following nine students were selected for awards, which were presented at an awards luncheon sponsored by the Polk County Bar Association on May 12th at the Downtown Marriott Hotel.
Congratulations to all the students that earned awards and participated in this competition.
Middle School Music and Performing Arts: second place Trevor Smith, and third place Sophie Bergan.
Middle School Visual Arts: first place Madeline Gillette, second place Kate Hoogensen, and third place Jeanne Peters.
Middle School Essay: first place Taylor Runchey, second place Sydney Jorgensen, and third place Quincey Bauman.
Middle School Poetry: first place Mallory Logsdon, second place Creighton Ferree, honorable mention Conor Wilson.
Southview
At Southview Middle School Mr. Dave Sharp’s ninth grade Health classes are researching STI (transmitted Infections). Students work to get the information needed to complete this unit.