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FIRST Robotics Competition
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The public is invited to the regional FIRST Robotics Competition Friday and Saturday at the McLeod Center. Qualification matches are 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 5:45 p.m. Friday, and 9 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Saturday. Final playoff rounds will be 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. Saturday followed by an awards ceremony. The event is free and open to the public. More information is available at
www.uni.edu/robotics.
Come out to cheer on the
The match schedule includes (keep in mind that the times are approximate and they may get ahead or behind the actual schedule):
Friday, Match 1,
9 a.m.
Friday, Match 11,
10:17 a.m.
Friday, Match 19,
11:19 a.m.
Friday, Match 32,
1:54 p.m.
Friday, Match 37,
2:29 p.m.
Friday, Match 49,
4:01 p.m.
Friday, Match 55,
4:45 p.m.
Saturday, Match 69,
9:35 a.m.
Saturday, Match 79,
10:55 a.m.
Saturday, Match 89,
12:07 p.m.
If you can't make it to the McLeod Center follow the Swartdogs
from the FRC Spyder app.
The webcast is available online
http://www.thebluealliance.com;
click Events, select Week 4 and find the Iowa Regional option.
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Community Meetings
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The District will host community meetings to present information on the April 5 bond vote and offer tours of the facilities that would receive renovations and additions. There will be a presentation, time for questions and then tours will offered of the buildings. Building principals, board of education members and administrators will be in attendance.
The meetings will be held:
Tuesday, March 29 at Orchard Hill, 3909 Rownd Street, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, March 31 at North Cedar, 2419 Fern Avenue, 6:30 p.m.
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Currents: Up Close Episode on Bond Vote
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Watch this Currents: Up Close
episode
on the upcoming bond vote.
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Bond Vote April 5
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The basics of the bond vote includes:
Funding three projects:
- North Cedar Elementary; additions and renovations
- Orchard Hill Elementary; additions and renovations, including eliminating portable trailers
- Building a new elementary school located off Erik Road in southwest Cedar Falls, to alleviate overcrowding at Lincoln Elementary and Southdale Elementary
The three projects will address two critical issues in our District: overcrowded buildings and inequities among our elementary buildings. Ten-year projections show elementary enrollment at 3,413 students, while schools only have space for 3,000. The new elementary would be designed for 525 students and an expanded Orchard Hill would add space for another 125, allowing for district capacity to accommodate growth in years ahead. The renovations and upgrades are focused on creating equitable facilities in each elementary school, including collaborative spaces, hands-on learning spaces, separate cafeteria and gym areas, safe rooms, as well as, eliminating the portable classrooms at Orchard Hill. It would also allow Lincoln Elementary to get back its collaborative spaces that have all been made into classrooms because they are over capacity.
The bond vote will be for $32,000,000. Total cost of the projects will be $40,000,000. The additional money will come from cash reserves, 1-cent sales tax and cost savings from current expenditures.
The property tax increases breakdown to:
$100,000 assessed property value = estimated increase $68.42 per year = $5.70 per month = $0.19 per day
$200,000 assessed property value = estimated increase $136.84 per year = $11.40 per month = $0.38 per day
$300,000 assessed property value = estimated increase $205.26 per year = $17.11 per month = $0.56 per day
According to the Black Hawk County Assessor's Office, the average assessed residential home value in Cedar Falls (for land and dwelling) is $156,333, which equals to $8 a month for the average homeowner. The tax impact will not automatically increase to the maximum amount. The levy will increase slightly the first year. It is estimated that by the 6th year the levy rate will start to decrease due to the overall increase in taxable valuation throughout Cedar Falls, which lowers the amount of the overall tax levy rate per household.
This calculator will provide you with an estimate of the tax increases you will see if the bond issue should pass. If approved, the bond will allow the School District to levy a maximum of $1.23 per $1,000 of taxable value of your property.
For more information visit
http://bond.cfschools.org, there is
full cost breakdown, preliminary designs for North Cedar, Orchard Hill and the new elementary, as well as Frequently Asked Questions and information on voting and where to vote.
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Peet Meeting Date Changes
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Peet Junior High has rescheduled the 6th-7th grade student/parent night from
April 5 to
April 4.
The student/parent meeting will begin at
7 p.m
.
Also, the Peet PATT Meeting has been moved to
Monday, April 4, 6-7 p.m. in the Peet Media Center.
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Tiger Trot
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Register online at:
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Iowa STEM Teacher Award
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Congratulations to Dirk Homewood, teacher at CFHS
for receiving the
Northeast IOWA STEM Teacher Award!
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Conservation Teacher of the Year
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Maria Hoekstra, teacher at Holmes Junior High, has been named Conservation Teacher of the Year. Maria teaches Earth Science at Holmes Junior High. From her award presentation: In her classroom she strives to help shape the minds of young individuals and integrates sustainability and environmental awareness into her curriculum. Utilizing emerging technologies and incorporating STEM education, Maria keeps students active, engaged, and motivated for greatness. Given the proximity of Holmes within the Dry Run Creek watershed, Maria invited Josh Balk, Dry Run Creek Project Coordinator, for an all-day class presentation to educate students on the water cycle, water quality within our community and the beneficial impacts they can have at addressing these issues.
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1st Annual Cedar Falls Schools Special Education Awesome Awards
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Perseverance Award went to Susan Clubine from Lincoln Elementary
Positivity Award went to Christy Manfull at North Cedar Elementary
Breakthrough Award went to Brittany Davis at Lincoln Elementary
Flexibility Award went to Hailey Fredericksen at Orchard Hill Elementary
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Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee
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The 2016 Knights of Columbus Spelling Bee was held at St. Cecilia Church in Ames on Sunday, March 6.
State Youth Director Richard Jacoby, Jr. was present to congratulate the participants and award a check to the state champion of each grade.
Abby Glascock, Cedar Heights Elementary 5th grader, won the state competition; and Alexandra Somodi, Southdale Elementary 6th grader, came in second.
5th Grade
1st Place - Abby Glascock, Cedar Falls
6th Grade
2nd Place - Alexandra Somodi, Cedar Falls
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Youth Art Month
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Congratulations to these
Lincoln Elementary students,
whose works of art were selected for the
K-12 student State Art Show in Des Moines:
Lauren Matthews, 2nd grade
Harmony Shannon, 3rd grade
Gabrielle Bamford, 4th grade
Shanze Karimi, 5th grade
Brooklyn Danielson, 5th grade
Kaitlyn Rodgers, 6th grade
Abbi Zaugg, 6th grade -
Governor's Show
A reception was held at the State Historical Building on March 5. Art will remain on display through the month of March.
Abbi Zaugg and her parents had a
Governor
's show tour on March 21.
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Future of Education Breakfast - April 27
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Save the Date!
The Cedar Falls Community Schools Foundation is pleased to announce its Future of Education Breakfast on Wednesday, April 27. This year the event will be held at the Beaver Hill Country Club starting at 7:30 a.m. with presentations by Dr. Linda Allen, President of Hawkeye Community College and Dr. Andy Pattee, Superintendent.
They are seeking sponsors for the event at two lev
els: event sponsors at $100 and table sponsors at $250. The sponsorships will defray costs for the breakfast and provide an opportunity for community business members to attend and learn more about the Cedar Falls Schools and Foundation.
Please contact the office at 319.268.7007 for additional information.
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Cedar Valley Children's Literature Festival
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Calendar
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Interested in knowing when events are?
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2016-2017 School Calendar
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Board Brief
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Watch the March 21st
Board of Education meeting.
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The next Cedar Falls Schools Board of Education meeting will be April 11, 7 p.m.
Agendas, documents and materials for all board of education meetings can be found on the Cedar Falls Schools
website
. Watch previous meetings on the District's YouTube Channel.
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Open Positions
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The District is in need of substitute bus drivers,
substitute para-educators and food service workers.
The School District is looking for bus drivers.
Join our team and be a part of the driving force behind education!
Cedar Falls Schools is looking for candidates who possess a good driving record and who have or the ability to obtain their Commercial Drivers License (CDL). Candidates will be required to obtain their CDL, but District will assist in process. District will provide required State of Iowa School Bus training for candidates who have successfully obtained their CDL.
For more information please call 319-553-2443.
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District's Social Media & Blog
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Did you know Cedar Falls Schools are on social media and has a blog? See all the social media channels under 'Stay Connected' at the bottom of this email.
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| Cedar Falls Schools District Overview |
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1002 W. First Street
Cedar Falls, IA 50613
319-553-3000
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