JANUARY 2014
SPARTAN SCOOP
GRUNDY CENTER ELEMENTARY
903 9th Street
319.825.5461
LISA MILLER, PRINCIPAL
[email protected]
CARRIE DIEKEN, ELEMENTARY COUNSELOR
[email protected]
DORINDA NEDERHOFF,
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
[email protected]
GRUNDY CENTER
MIDDLE SCHOOL & HIGH SCHOOL
1006 M Avenue
319.825.5464 – MS
319.825.5449 - HS
STEVE VANDERPOL, PRINCIPAL
[email protected]
ROLLIE ACKERMAN, ACTIVITIES DIRECTOR
[email protected]
ANN LEBO, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL
[email protected]
MARY HINDERHOFER, COUNSELOR
[email protected]
BRENT THOREN, AT-RISK COORDINATOR
[email protected]
STACY KELLEY, MIDDLE SCHOOL/ACTIVITY
DIRECTOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
[email protected]
SHAWNA KUIPER, HIGH SCHOOL
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
[email protected]
ADMINISTRATION BUILDING
1301 12th Street
319.825.5418
CASSANDRA MURRA, SUPERINTENDENT
[email protected]
CHAD WAGNER, BUSINESS MANAGER
[email protected]
CHRISTEL KELLAR, ADMINISTRATIVE
ASSISTANT / BOARD SECRETARY
[email protected]
KIM LUBBERT, ACCOUNTS PAYABLE CLERK
[email protected]
Happy 2014! It is the time of year when we reflect on the past
and look forward to the future. 2013 was a very prosperous
year for the Grundy Center School District. We enjoyed
watching our students learn, lead, and succeed. After much
planning, new opportunities were realized that included
expanding our elementary class sections, securing a Tornado
Safe Room grant and completing our first year of Cedar Valley
West job shadowing and internships for our high school
students. We welcomed new members to our Spartan Family
and feel we have an incredible team that works together every
day to make great things happen for the children and families
in Grundy Center. Thank you to the community for their
wonderful support and partnerships~together we are “Living
the Good Life”.
There are many areas in which we set goals for the upcoming
year. In the area of academics our teachers will continue to
implement the Iowa Core Curriculum utilizing research-based
strategies and best instructional practices. We will specifically
target literacy skills in elementary and middle school. The high
school focus is on college and career readiness. The work
with the other Cedar Valley West Schools will continue as
well. This collaboration allows teachers to challenge each
other at the same time as providing new learning opportunities
for our students. The use of technology makes this easier and
more efficient.
Financially the district is strong, and the goal will be to
maintain our level of funds while providing the best
educational opportunities for all of our students and the
community as a whole. We will continue to look for ways to be
fiscally conservative but want to assure you that our decisions
revolve around what is best for kids. Their learning needs and
safety are always taken into consideration first.
As far as facilities, we anticipate the completion of five new
classrooms in August that also will serve as a tornado safe
shelter. These classrooms will be occupied by three sections
of fifth grade and space for both TAG and special education
programming. We will also be recommending improvements
and renovations to our middle and high school science rooms.
As always, we will continue to look for ways to enhance
education.
I encourage you to be involved with our district and our
students this year. There are many ways to volunteer and
contribute. It is very rewarding! Contact the building principals
or myself if you are interested or ever want to share
suggestions or concerns. I look forward to seeing you as we
strive to make 2014 the best year ever for Grundy Center
Schools!
With Spartan Pride~
Ms. Murra
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 2
A Note from the Principal…
by Lisa Miller
Emergency planning has become an even higher priority for school districts, due to the
violence seen in schools across the country. We continue to have conversations about
safety and about being prepared for different types of emergencies.
All K-12 classrooms were recently equipped with supplies that would be useful if staff
and students were confined to classrooms during an emergency. We have trained staff
members in how to share information quickly during emergencies. Elementary students
whose classrooms are on the first floor have practiced evacuating through their
classroom window, which could be done in the event of an in-house emergency.
Lockdown drills of the past had a very prescriptive procedure: lock your door, gather
students in a corner, and sit quietly. That procedure has been shown to cost lives, not
save them. Procedures today are more about making smart decisions. Every staff
member is empowered to make choices based on the situation at hand. Should we get
out through a window, stay in our room, run for the nearest exit, etc.?
Elementary students and staff had a lockdown drill on December 10, 2013. At that time,
teachers locked their doors as in the past, took students to a corner out of sight in the
classroom, and then had a conversation. Teachers explained to students that,
depending on what we know about the problem, we might stay in the room or we might
get out as quickly as we can. How would we get out? What exits or windows could we
use? Where could we go? We are doing our best to teach students that in some
emergencies, we have to use our head and make smart decisions. We are also
assuring students that the teacher will usually be there to make that decision. We are
not trying to create any anxiety for elementary-age students, but to involve them in the
“thinking” process and to give them the tools they might need.
If, for example, an intruder were to enter the building during lunchtime, we want our
students to know that they have choices: they can run, they can hide, they can go out
the front door or the back, etc. In school incidents studied, lives were saved by students
and teachers who thought about their options and acted accordingly. We want to think
about these things before we’re in crisis mode, so we can think through our options
clearly.
I encourage parents to have conversations with your child(ren) about these same
issues. It’s not an easy thing to discuss, but your children need to hear from you that
they have permission to act quickly and to do what they need to in order to be safe.
I hope that 2014 will be a safer New Year, one in which school violence is rare or
disappears altogether. I’ll continue to hope for that, but in the meantime we’ll do our
best to be prepared and to keep everyone safe.
SPARTANSCOOP
SCOOP
SPARTAN
PAGE 34
Measuring Up in the Kindergarten Classroom
The Kindergarten students just finished up a math unit on measurement. We were
very busy during this time. We spent a lot of time doing many hands on activities to
really get the feel for what measurement it and how you do measure things. We
now are able to describe items that are shorter, longer, taller, and we can even
describe items in terms of their weight. WOW! We were busy! We used many non
standard units to measure objects and even got out a balance to use. The students
loved using the balance and trying to figure out how much objects in the classroom
weighed using unifix cubes. We still have it out in our room and they still are busy!
Ask your Kindergarten student to compare two objects by length, size, or weight
and be ready to be impressed. Now we will be moving on to geometry. So get
ready to hear about our fun with shapes!!
Here we spent some time looking at our names and putting them in order from the
shortest to the longest! What fun we had!!
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 4
LEARNING ABOUT HOLIDAYS
First Grade
The first graders spent the month of December learning about
three different holidays that take place during that month.
They are: Hanukkah, Christmas, and Kwanzaa.
Here they are learning how to play a dreidel game.
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PAGE 5
Looking for a Good Book?
Second Grade
As the weather gets colder it is fun to cuddle up with a good book. If you
are looking for a good book, then the second graders have some ideas
for you. Each second grader turned in ideas of their top 3 books that
they would recommend to others. Here is a list of the top 25 titles that
they came up with:
1. Football books
3. This is Not My Hat
5. If You Give a Dog a Doughnut
7. Buck Wilder books
9. Matilda
11. Skippy Jon Jones
13. Scaredy Squirrel
15. The Big Game From the Black Lagoon
17. Hot Wheels Thrill Ride
19. Heidi Heckelbeck Has a Secret
21. The Cat on the Mat is Flat
23. Black Lagoon books
25. Dinosaur Books
Happy Reading!!!!
2. Magic Tree House Books
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
6. Bad Kitty
8. No David
10. Horse books
12. Dog in Charge
14. The Scrambled States of America
16. Splat the Cat
18. Big Mean Dust Bunny
20. Fly Guy
22. The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow
24. Sharks
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 6
Third Graders
Meter
fEet
cApacity
Scale
oUnces
gRams
cEntimeter
Third graders have spent the past few weeks developing an understanding of
measurement. They have studied both customary (standard) and metric units. They
measured length, mass, and volume. The students learned to use rulers, meter and
yard sticks, scales and balances, syringes, graduated cylinders, and thermometers.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 7
Fourth Grader Goals for 2014
By the Fourth Graders
It is that time of year again! Thinking about New Year’s Resolutions and what
we want to achieve in the next year. The fourth graders have been thinking about
this also, and have written some short term goals for next year. They worked on both
academic goals and nonacademic goals. Here are some of their goals for the
upcoming year.
Dylan Oltman - One of my academic goals is to learn how to use iMovie and make a movie.
One of my other personal goals is to make a big Lego cargo ship.
Hailey McMullen - My two academic goals are to become a Varsity Reader by the end of the
year and also to get my plane on the map. My two other goals are I want to get better at
reading and work hard to not get distracted when I am working.
Bailey Reding - My academic goals for this year are to become a Star reader and to reach my
reading goal of 140 points.. My other goals are to score a three pointer in basketball this
year and to get a home run in softball.
Brooke Liston - One of my academic goals is to become an Honor reader before the end of
the year. I also want to become a writer.
Maggie Thompson - My academic goals are to master long division and to make a project on
iMovie this year. I also want to get really good at reading and at playing the piano.
Brayden Sawyer - My first academic goal is to get to two hundred thousand points on Kahn
Academy. My second academic goal is to be on the Battle of the Books Team. My other
personal goals are to be a pitcher in baseball and a leader in basketball.
Jessica Saak - My academic goals for this year are to get 100% on my social studies and to
get 100% on my math timed tests. My other goals are to get better at basketball and to be
play the piano better.
Bailey Newton - My two academic goals are to get two 100% on math tests and to do a
history report on two people. My other personal goals are to read three books on my Nook
that I want for Christmas, and to do my best in volleyball when I play.
Sam Bingman - My academic goals for 2014 are I want to become a Classic reader in AR and
to get far in IXL math. My other personal goals for 2014 are to be a good piano player and to
learn some cooking recipes.
Dayne Zinkula - One of my academic goals is to become an Honors reader. Another goal is to
know how to do double digit division. My other personal goal is to get first at every wrestling
tournament I go to this year. My second goal is to score 30 baskets in basketball all year.
Jeffrey Harris - My academic goals are to stay focused when I read and to learn how to
attach pictures to my letters that I write. My other goals are to finish Xbox Rose Bowl Game
and to make the Atlantic Falcon’s schedule done on Xbox one.
Trent Greiner - My academic goals are to get my reading goal for January and to reach my
reading goal for the year. My other personal goals are to get a guitar for Christmas and to
learn how to play two songs on it.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 8
Leo Kellar - My academic goals are to become a Star reader this year and to get 100 points by
the end of the year. My other personal goals are to get good grades and to do good in gym!
Autum Clark - My two academic goals are to get 100% on my Midwest Region test and to get
to Pro on the Genius Ladder by the end of the year. My other personal goals are to play six
songs on the piano by spring and to be able to buy a Christmas present for my family with
my own money.
Ashton Martens - My goal for math is to learn how to do really hard math problems, and my
other goal is to do better in social studies. I need to do more with soccer and work on my
basketball skills for my personal goals.
Jayden Bowles - I would like to get way better at my reading. I would also like to do better at
math because it is really fun! For my other goals I want to go to as many wrestling meets as I
can go to and I want to practice wrestling every day. I want to win as many meets as I can.
Jasmine Kanagy - My two academic goals are to become a Classic reader and to be on the
Battle of the Books team. My two other personal goals are to be really good at playing
basketball and reading all the Battle of the Books books.
Donny Pruisner - My academic goals are doing three digit times three digit multiplication
problems and to be an Honors reader by the end of the year. My other goals are to go to a
WWE wrestling match and to go on a flight to Japan.
Carter Mackie - My academic goals are to reach my AR goal for the year, get 20 Dojo points,
and do well on Iowa Tests. My personal goal is to do well at sports.
Cade Weber - My academic goal is to keep climbing the AR ladder and do well on the Iowa
Tests. My personal goals are to save $100 by the end of the year and score 20 3-pointers.
Emma Beck - My goals are to read all the Geronimo Stilton books in the IMC and reach
Legend on the Super Improver Wall. I also want to save enough money for a mini iPad and
become a better softball player.
Cassie Christie - My academic goals are to finish all the Humphrey books and master all my
math facts. My personal goals are to clean my room and get all the stuffed animals.
Landen Decker - My two academic goals are to learn more about history and reach my AR
goal. For my personal goals, I would like to save $150 toward a car and to get better at
football.
Carter Jacobsen - My two academic goals are to get better AR and timed test scores. My two
personal goals are to make 33 points at my football game and do better at all sports.
Paige Strohbehn - My academic goals are to reach Legend on the Super Improver Wall and
get 10 Dojo points. My personal goals are to score more than 10 points in a basketball game
and save up my money until I have $100.
Ella Barragy - I want to get to my AR goal, reach Legend, get 10 Dojo points, read the whole
Berenstein Bears chapter book series, get 50 facts on one section of the timed test, and know
about JFK’s life and assassination. I also want to win one basketball and volleyball
tournament, win a medal, and make one more friend.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 9
Soren Cleveland - I want to reach my AR goal, read all 40 Battle of the Books books, and do
well on the Iowa Tests. I also want to get $100 in egg money.
Paiton Wallis - My first academic goal is to reach Legend on the Super Improver’s Wall. My
second academic goal is to reach Honors on our AR ladder. My first personal goal is to win
all of our tournaments and games in basketball. And my second personal goal is to be
undefeated in soccer.
Bella Dole - I want to get to 200 points and Honors on the AR ladder. I also want to get to
Legend on the Super Improver Wall. My personal goals are to beat a boy in anything and
play the piano.
Sloan Klar - My goal is to do well on the Iowa Tests and get 100% on a Calendar Math test. I
also want to get a Chevy Silverado Truck and get 20 sacks in my whole career.
Eli Lane - My goals are to do more pushups in PE get 90% or 100% on math sheets. I also
want to be faster than my dad and brother and be better than my sister. I hope to be
successful!
Taylor Stahl - My goal is to beat my old Iowa Test score, get 100% on my AR tests, be a better
point guard, and read all the Who Was books.
Cole Richtsmeier - My goals are to pass all my timed tests and read all the books in a series. I
also want to get 15 sacks in my career and make 10 goals in soccer in one game.
Saban Boquet - I want to make it to Genius on the Super Improver Wall. I also want to read
all through the invention book. My personal goals are to eat a whole pizza and call my owl a
penguin for the rest of year.
Tanner Hoeg - My academic goals are to be a master in history and make it to Legend on the
Super Improver Wall. My personal goals are to save a lot of money and meet the whole
Steelers team.
Dylan VanHauen - I want to try to get my car on the map, get to honors on the AR ladder, get
100% on my math facts, and save up $35 for Christmas.
Logan Knaack - My academic goal is to reach my reading goal and get 100% on a calendar
math test. My personal goals are to win Hershey’s Track and Field and get to champion on
Clash of the Clans.
Alli Beenken- My academic goals are to get 100% on Midwest Region and to get a higher
range like 5.0. My personal goals are to get better at basketball and volleyball.
Shae Boudreau- One of my academic goals is by the end of the school year to make it across
the U.S. My other goal is to do better on my region tests. My personal goals are I want to
jump off the diving board during this year and I want to be able to do the splits by the end of
the year.
Aaron Brost- My first academic goal is to to get across the USA for AR. My second goal is to
get to classic reader by the end of the year. My personal goals are to do a triathlon and to do
a 10k.
Levi Buchanan- i hope I get 100% on my next AR test. I hope I get to classic on reading. I
hope I get xbox for Christmas and I hope I get a good birthday.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 10
Reece Gordon- My academic goal is to make my 3rd of the way goal across the map. I also
want to get to classic reader by the end of the year. I also want to get better at my basketball
skills and I want to score 10 goals in one soccer game.
Bryce Greiner- my academic goals are to get to varsity and to get my car on the map. My
personal goals are to win a game at the 3 on 3 basketball game and to snowboard at the
school hill.
Camerin King- My academic goal is to have read 40 books by the end of the year and to get
100 points by the end of the year. My personal goal is to beat call of duty black ops 2.
Connor Koch- My academic goal is to get 100% on a test and to get 50 on a math test. My
personal goal is to get the football in football and to get to genyes.
Cole Lehr- My academic goal is to reach my ⅔ of my goal and to get a 100% on the Midwest
region. I want to get better at soccer and I want to get better at shooting a three point shot.
Isaiah Martinez- My academic goal is to improve homework and to improve reading. My
personal goal is oo improve at basketball and at a long shot in basketball.
Anna Meester- I want to improve on my math skills, especially division. want to reach a star
reader by the end of the school year. I want to help children in need. I want to help others.
Gabrielle Patrick- I want to get better at typing faster this year and I want to do better in
math. I want to writ ten more song then I did last year and I want to have my first solo this
year in choir.
Ethan Sadler- My academic goal is to reach my AR goal and to do better in science. My
personal goal is to score a goal in Soccer and to read more Battle of the Books books.
Jadyn Sawyer-My academic goal is to reach my 3rd trimester reading goal and to improve on
my AR range. My personal goal is to get onto to another level for my piano and to play
softball
Theone Thompson- My goal is to improve in the subject math. My second goal is to do the
best I can in school. My personal goal is to run every day. My second goal is to get better at
basketball.
Lainy Thoren- First, my goal is to shoot a free throw and swish it in the basket. Next, my goal
is to get all my AR test with 100%. Then, my goal is to 15 push-ups every morning. Finally,
my goal is to run a 5 mile race ( with Miss. Meyer )
Parker Ticknor- My academic goals are to get my reading range to 7.9 and get a 100% on my
Midwest region test. My personal goals are to hit 100 miles per hour in hockey on my slap
shot and to be able to throw a football 50 yards.
Dexter Whitehill- My academic goal is to get to 150 AR points and to get to my third of the
way goal on the map. I want to do 50 push-ups every day. To get ten goals in a soccer season.
Get signed up for piano lessons and try and run 3 5k’s.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 11
News from 5th Grade
Humdingers: The 5th Graders' engineering challenge. Success! Ours works, so we are recording our design.
We're working hard to create our "hum" and "ding."
Engaged minds, collaboration & problem solving lead to
unique solutions for creating humdingers.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 12
NEWS FROM THE ART ROOM
Mrs. Leverton
Kindergarten students have just started learning about the warm and
cool colors. Students were read the story, “The Mitten” by Jan Brett and
talked about the main ideas in the story. Kindergarten has started to make
their own pair of paper mittens and will be coloring one mitten in using the
warm colors and the other mitten with the cool colors.
1st graders have been learning a little bit about penguins; what they
eat, where they live, what they look like, and the names of the largest and
smallest penguins. Students have been working on creating a penguin collage
using a variety of colored paper and shapes. Key terms for this lesson
include: collage, overlapping, shapes, and layering.
2nd graders have just started working on their royal self-portraits.
Students have seen several images of royalty and have talked about royal
clothing and how it differs from our clothing. 2nd graders have started to
learn how to draw the proportions of the face. Students are almost
finished drawing the parts of the eyes and will be moving onto the nose and
mouth features soon.
3rd graders are working on a winter landscape scene. Students will
be making a collage using only black, white, and gray shades of construction
paper. 3rd graders will be making a snowman and tree scene that
incorporates the concept of reflections.
4th graders are continuing to work on their Frank Lloyd Wright
project. Many students have gotten their designs mapped out and are
starting to add the colored tissue paper to their stained glass designs.
5th graders are finishing up on their footwear project. Several
students have started the next project. Students are creating a drawing
that looks similar to that of a checkerboard. 5th graders will first draw
vertical and horizontal lines, but have the option of drawing them more at
an angle. 5th graders are to then draw 3-4 geometric or abstract shapes
anywhere on the paper. They will then select 2 different colors to
alternate in the spaces created.
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PAGE 13
The Fifth Grade Vocal/Band Concert was held on Thursday, December 12.
Below are a few photos from that concert.
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PAGE 14
PE 2-5
Mr. Schupbach
LIVE HEALTHY GRUNDY COUNTY STARTING SOON
The American obesity crisis and healthrelated problems associated with obesity
and inactivity are issues that demand each
community take action! 2/3 of adult Iowans,
50% of K-12 Iowa students and 1/3 of Iowa
children age 2-5 are currently overweight to
obese. The Live Healthy Iowa 10 Week
Challenge offers hope through increased
physical activity and healthier nutrition
choices.
The 10 Week Challenge in Grundy County
will be called “Live Healthy Grundy
County.” Businesses, city and county
employees, churches and civic organizations will soon be forming teams and taking part in
the statewide challenge that is designed to encourage each person in Iowa to make healthy
choices. School staff and students will also be invited to participate. “The ultimate goal is for
Grundy County to be regarded as the healthiest county in Iowa!”
Over the course of the 10 weeks (January 27th-April 4th) teams (2-10 people) will track their
“activity” minutes and/or “pounds” lost. It is simple, fun and effective!
To join a team or for more information about teams in your community
Contact Live Healthy Grundy County at 319-825-6210.
It is possible to “Change your Choices and Change Your Life!”
In Your Health,
Mr. Schupbach
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 15
FINANCIAL AID NIGHT
Juniors, seniors and their parents are invited to attend an
informational meeting about the college financial aid process on
Monday, January 9 at 6:30pm. The meeting will take place in the high
school IMC. The financial aid process, deadlines, and application
procedures will be presented. Families need to apply for financial aid
as soon after January 1, 2014 as possible as some schools have a
March 1 deadline.
8th grade Registration
All 8th grade students and parents are invited to
register for the 2014-2015 school year on Monday,
January 27 @ 7:00pm in the Commons. I will share
high school graduation requirements, course
descriptions, and the scheduling process. Students
should bring their laptops so they can access their
Course Plans on the I Have a Plan website.
UNCOMMON STUDENT AWARD
Any junior interested in a $5,000 scholarship should
contact Mr. Osterhaus or myself. The scholarship involves
writing a community service proposal to the Herbert Hoover
Association and then carrying out the project if selected.
Grade point average and financial need are not
considerations for this scholarship. For more information,
go to www.hooverassociation.org and click on the
Uncommon Student Award link.
DOLLARS FOR SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The local chapter of Dollars for Scholars will be handing out their scholarship
application during Mr. Ackerman’s government class on Monday, January 20.
This committee administers the distribution of around 35 scholarships to our
seniors. Because of their efforts, your student has to complete just one general
application. There are 3-4 scholarships that require additional information. See
the Seniors class on Canvas or Mrs. Hinderhofer for more information.
Applications are due to Mrs. Hinderhofer by 3:30pm on February 5, 2014
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PAGE 16
Secondary Teachers Give Back!
Grundy Center Secondary teachers gave back
to the community this Christmas by adopting
families in need. Staff members donated time
and money to purchase, wrap gifts and deliver
gifts to students and their families before the
holidays.
NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Friday, December 20, 2013, the Grundy Center National Honor Society students
filled sixty boxes with food as their Christmas service project for the Grundy Center
Kiwanis Food project. Twenty families will benefit from this great Christmas
tradition. This is always one of our favorite service projects of the year.
Pictured are GC seniors: Emily Robinson, Jessica Ackerson, Kennedy Buss, Hillary Samo, Espen
Cleveland, Andrew Sternhagen, and Dan Hall (Family Foods Manager)
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PAGE 17
The Grundy Center Dance Team had another
successful trip to the Iowa State Drill Team
Association 2014 State Championships Thursday,
December 5 at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.
The girls competed in both Class IV Pom
receiving first place and in Small School Military,
they tied for third place.
An expert panel of judges from across the United
States critiques the teams based on appearance,
choreography, execution, technique, and general
showmanship. Four judges view the entire class’s
performances and assess on a scale of 70 points.
The scores are totaled and those receiving a
Division I (60 points or higher) are eligible for a trophy. Categories with 10 or more competing squads
are awarded five places and those with fewer receive three.
GCDT earned an average score of 66.88 in Class IV pom pushing them to the front by one point.
Rounding out the top five include North Linn, Mount Ayr, Pleasantville, and Woodbury Central.
In Small School Military, Grundy Center Dance Team scored a 65.7 tying with Clayton Ridge. First
place in the category went to Iowa Falls-Alden and second to South Hamilton.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 18
On Friday, December 13, thirteen members of the Grundy Center Speech Team
traveled to Dike-New Hartford High School for the annual NICL Speech Festival. While
at the festival, participants learned about techniques for enhancing performances in
musical theatre, improvisational acting, acting, mime, public speaking, spontaneous
speaking, poetry, and literary programs. All are categories students from Grundy Center
High School compete in the Iowa High School Large Group and Individual Speech
competitions. The Speech Team was represented admirably by Emily Robinson in the
opening and closing ceremonies. On the whole, the day was extremely educational
and helped to kick off the Speech Team’s season in an inspirational way.
The Language Arts 9 class is currently reading William Shakespeare’s Romeo and
Juliet. Although Shakespeare’s writing is like a foreign language to many readers, the
LA 9 class is reading the play aloud as a large group and truly decoding the trickiest of
Shakespeare’s speech. The students have read through Act III and will finish the play
after the holidays. In conjunction with reading the text, the class is watching the 1968
Franco Zeffirelli version of the movie Romeo and Juliet. This text will also lead to the
classes first five paragraph, literary analysis essay. Although the most famous of the
Shakespearean tragedies, the students are bringing Shakespeare’s dramatic theatrical
world to their own modern ideas of love, pride and difficult choices this trimester.
SPARTAN SCOOP
PAGE 19
Notes from the Nurses
Choose Wellness for the New Year
According to the National Wellness Institute, wellness requires active choice. People
decide what they will do to be healthy. Also, wellness is ongoing so there is continuous
opportunity to improve towards our full potential.
Types of Wellness
• Physical wellness recognizes the importance of regular physical activity and diet.
• Emotional wellness enhances one’s ability to form meaningful relationships.
• Intellectual wellness helps people better understand the world around them.
• Occupational wellness acknowledges personal satisfaction in life through work
and other activities.
• Spiritual wellness recognizes the search for meaning and purpose in life.
• Social wellness supports better communication and improved relationships with
others, making healthy choices and helping the community.
All aspects of life interact — diet, exercise, relationships, jobs, knowledge and sense of
purpose – so it’s important to seek activities in each of these areas.
Wellness Fair
Attend the Wellness Fair January 11 anytime between 7:00-10:00 a.m. at the Grundy
County Memorial Hospital in Grundy Center.
You will be able to:
• obtain low cost blood screenings including cholesterol, blood sugar (diabetes),
TSH (thyroid disease), & PSA (prostate cancer)
• choose from a variety of free screenings including bone density, blood pressure,
body fat percentage, hearing, and many others
• attend seminars & interactive demonstrations
• collect health & wellness information and visit with health professionals
• enjoy a healthy breakfast at the hospital cafe
Live Healthy Iowa
Join the Live Healthy Iowa 10 week challenge that begins Jan. 27. This team-based
weight loss and physical activity program helps Iowans make positive changes that lead
to a healthier lifestyle. For more information or to register visit
www.LiveHealthyIowa.org. Live Healthy Iowa is a partnership of the Iowa Department
of Public Health, Iowa Sports Foundation and Iowa State University Extension.
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Notes from the Nurses
Habits Worth Forming
“Habit is either the best of servants or the worst of masters.” - Nathaniel Emmons
It’s the time of year that we think about starting new, often healthy habits. Habits can
be formed or broken. Either process doesn’t happen overnight. They start out as very thin
cobwebs, and with each decision in the right direction; become more like cables, very
difficult to break. It has to be a conscious effort at first, but soon you’ll be replacing one
habit with a better one.
What new healthy habits would you or your family like to start this year?
-Healthy food choices?
-More physical activity?
-Healthy beverage choices?
-Healthy screen time?
-Positive thinking?
We are partnering with Grundy County Memorial Hospital to provide Grundy Center
Elementary students a once a month 20 minute session on different health related topics.
As school nurses, our goal is to keep students in the classroom. If students have healthy
habits, they are more likely to be actively engaged in learning. These sessions will give them
information to use to keep them healthy throughout their lives. Healthy children are better
learners. What are some things you can do at home to start these habits?
-Switch out sugary/starchy snacks for fresh fruit or vegetables, or cheese.
-Have your child help with meal preparation, even if it is setting the table.
-Make a point to eat breakfast or supper together.
-Provide and drink water or milk instead of pop or sports drinks.
-Keep recreational screen time (TV, gaming, social media) to 2 hours or less a day.
-Encourage physical activity, by walking instead of driving a few blocks.
-Play outside with your children, build and decorate snow people.
-Try to find something positive in everything.
There are many things we can think of. They all don’t have to happen at once, either. In
fact, many times it’s easier to make 1 small change at a time. When that becomes a second
nature, then move on to another. With small steps in a positive direction, before you know
it-you’ll have created a few healthy habits in 2014.
Have a Happy Healthy New Year! Julie Grunklee, RN & Gloria Dielschneider, RN
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PAGE 21
Physical Education
Ms. Hasken
Mr. Lindeman
In our sophomore Health class we have been in our Violence Prevention unit. We
have discussed bullying, conflict resolution, and dating violence. The students have
participated in many discussions over the characteristics of healthy and unhealthy
relationships. They made presentations and videos over situations that might come
about during a physically and emotionally stable and healthy relationship, as well as
a physically and emotionally unstable relationship. The movies that the students
created were excellent! Many of the groups really got creative and fancy when
formulating their scenarios and editing their work, which made their final project
enjoyable to watch. When we return from Christmas break we will dive head first
into our Healthy Eating Unit.
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PAGE 22
Bowling Club is a new program the YMCA is offering for our Winter Session! This
program is open to all kids in Grades 2-5 and will be held from 3:45-4:45 on Mondays.
The kids will meet at the Upper Elementary and will be bussed out to Crystal Bowl
Bowling Alley. This new program will allow the kids to learn the skills involved with this
lifelong recreational activity, including how to manually score! Space is limited to 12
kids, so be sure to sign up soon! If you need more information, please visit our website
at www.blackhawkymca.org or contact Audrey at (319) 825-6210.
Grundy Family YMCA Fitness Center now open to 5th grade students
The Grundy Family YMCA Board of Directors has voted to allow 5th grade students to use the
Fitness Center during YMCA operating hours. A family member who is 18 years of age or older (and
a paying member at the YMCA) needs to be in the Fitness Center while the 5th grade student is
exercising. The 5th grade student will receive a free membership just like 6th-12th grade students.
YMCA Community Open Gym offerings
Sundays 1:00-3:00pm in the High School Gym (offered October-March)
- Free for Y members, $1 admission for non-members
Professional Development Early Out Wednesdays 1:00-3:00pm
- Open to 5th-12th grade students. Located in the Upper Elementary gymnasium. Free.
Wednesdays 6:00-8:00pm in the High School Gym
- Free for all community members. Adult pick up basketball games.
YMCA Winter 2014 Adult programs begin the week of January 13th.
Adult Dance lessons with Faythe Kubik New dances!
- Fox Trot/Two Step - 4 Mondays starting Jan. 20th - 6:00-7:25pm
- Swing dancing - 4 Mondays starting Jan. 20th - 7:30-8:55pm
Adult Co-Ed Volleyball League New!
- Sundays in the HS Gym 6:00-9:00pm. 6-on-6 game play, 3 female minimum.
Hip Hop Fitness - M/W 7:30-8:15pm (Kara Heinrich) New!
Zumba - T/Th 6:30-7:15pm (Kara Heinrich)
Mid-morning Indoor Cycling - M/W/Th 10:15am-11:00am (Meghan Lynch)
**Childcare available for infants-5 year olds in partnership with GCP&CC
Mid-morning Boot Camp - M/W/Th 11:15am-12:00pm (Meghan Lynch)
**Childcare available for infants-5 year olds in partnership with GCP&CC
Boot Camp - T/Th 6:00-6:45pm (Meghan Lynch) New!
Kickboxing (New 2 time offerings!) - M/W/F 5:15am-6:00am (Andrew Peters) & M/W/F 5:306:15pm (Janet Buhrow)
Indoor Cycling - M/W/F 5:30am-6:15am & M/Th 6:30pm-7:15pm (John Gordon)
Yoga - M/Th 3:45-4:30pm (Sandy Stevens) & T/Th 6:00pm-7:00pm (Jessica Larsen)
Stretching - M/W 5:30-6:00pm (Jocilyn Onnen) New!
Ultimate Core - T/Th 5:30-6:00pm (Jocilyn Onnen) New!
Senior Fitness - M/W/F 10:30am-11:15am and 3:30pm-4:15pm (Andrew Peters) & T/Th 6:45am7:30am (Sandi Beem)
Water Aerobics - M/W/F 8:00am-8:45am (Sandi Beem)
Weigh-In Wednesday - Wednesdays 6:30am-7:30am or 5:30-6:30pm - Measure your body fat %,
weight, fat mass, fat free mass. New!
Go to www.blackhawkymca.org to view our full program guide. Click on the Grundy Center tab!
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PAGE 23
Grundy Center
Community
School
Elementary
Phone:
319.825.5461
Fax:
319.825.6817
Middle School
Phone:
319.825.5464
Fax:
319.825.6415
High School
Phone:
319.825.5449
Fax:
319.825.6415
Administration
Phone:
319.825.5418
Fax:
319.825.5419
Dates to Remember:
January 2:
Classes Resume
January 20-31:
Iowa Basic Skills Testing Grades 3-11
January 18:
Early Dismissal
January 22:
Early Dismissal