Grant Awarded

Over $14.8M to enhance magnet schools

The Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD) is excited to announce that it has been awarded the Magnet Schools Assistance Program (MSAP) grant.

CRCSD is the first district in Iowa to be awarded MSAP funding and will receive a total of $14,843,658 which will be distributed over the course of five years - the first disbursement will be $6,489,965 for the first two years.

The grant project titled Future Ready Magnet Schools will support the enhancement of four existing magnet schools and the addition of one new magnet high school.

Learn more here

Interested in learning a trade?

Career Technical Education (CTE) is a pathway for success

As the sound of an air nailer “pop” echoes from the jobsite at the 50th constructed student built house, it's just another physical piece of evidence that Careers in Technical Education are still a very vital path for today’s CRCSD students.

“It gives me so many different opportunities to figure things out in the trades, to see what I want to do and if I enjoy it or not,” says Owen Hutchison, a junior at Kennedy High School.

What was once called “vo-tech” or vocational-technical education has ebbed and flowed over the years. But the flow is stronger with the immediate demand for students, who pick up valuable skills learned in what are now called Career Technical Education or (CTE).

Two crew members of the student built house use an air nailer to frame a wall.

Join us for Arthur/Garfield Input Sessions happening next week!

With a new elementary school coming,

CRCSD wants your input on what school

design elements are important to you.

Tuesday, October 11th - 4-8pm

School Conference

Arthur Elementary School- Gym

2630 B Avenue NE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

Tuesday, October 18th - 4-8pm

School Conference

Garfield Elementary School- Gym

1201 Maplewood Drive NE

Cedar Rapids, IA 52402

Join us for Maple Grove Elementary's Open House

Save the date as CRCSD's newest elementary school will open its doors to the community.

On Thursday, October 27th, from 4:30 - 6:30pm we invite the community to see what is inside of our newest elementary school, Maple Grove. The official ribbon cutting program will take place at 4:30pm.

"Maple Grove is an impressive building to enter, with a gorgeous, park-like setting," said Nick Duffy, principal at Maple Grove. "I am so excited for our community to see the newest CRCSD building and see how effective design for collaboration drives instruction and student connection forward."

Students will be leading tours of the new structure and giving a personal account for how the new space is helping them become Future Ready learners.

Golf Conference honors

As the Boy's Golf season is coming to a close, CRCSD would like to congratulate members of the high school teams being honored by the 2022 Mississippi Valley Conference honors.

Check out the list below and good luck to the golfers competing at State today and Saturday at Elmcrest Golf Course.

Check out the honors

Online registration is now open for the 25th annual America Reads: Reading is Contagious literacy celebration.

The program is designed to shine a spotlight on the importance of reading to young children to improve literacy and demonstrate the joy of reading through collective citizen involvement.

In the Cedar Rapids metro area, it has become an annual fall tradition, bringing hundreds of volunteers into area schools to share a favorite book with students. This year's event is on Friday, October 21st.

Learn more and registration sign up

We want to hear from you

As we shared with you in last week's newsletter, a survey was sent to you earlier this week. We want to hear from you, as we greatly value your feedback!

Have you taken the time to share your thoughts in our survey? Please tell us about your experiences with Cedar Rapids Community School District. Your opinions help ensure CRCSD continues to provide high quality, rigorous learning that encompasses the needs of our learners and prepares them for college and career.

CRCSD would like to thank families, in advance, for your thoughtful responses.

Take the Survey

CRCSD High School Coach Spotlight

Jessica Hinke

Jefferson Women's Swimming Coach

Jessica is in her 4th year of coaching at her alma mater, where she was a 2007 graduate. She previously worked at Taft, helping coach the Taft and Wilson swim teams. "I love hanging out with the girls. I love watching them grow and improve. I love sharing a sport with them that I love," Jessica says, about what she enjoys most with coaching.

Cheer on the Jefferson Women's Swimming team at their next meet vs. Cedar Fall on Tuesday, October 11, at 6:00 pm at Holmes Junior High School.

Mike Green

Kennedy Men's Golf Coach

Mike has been coaching for more than 30 years! He was a four-sport athlete at Oskaloosa High School, graduating in 1984. He first coached boys basketball at his alma mater Oskaloosa from 1989-1992, then coached in Moline and Bettendorf before settling at Kennedy.

At Kennedy, he coached boys basketball from 2000- 2018, then boys golf from 2001 to now. As for Mike's favorite thing about coaching, he says, "I enjoy working with kids and seeing them grow over time." By day, you can find him teaching Special Education at Kennedy.

Photo Galleries

Student builders in action at the student built house. Our photographer captured the action as the student crew was placing an exterior wall. Check out the setting of the wall.

This year marks the 50th house built by students in the 51 years of the program.

Check out images from the play "Puffs" going on this weekend at Kennedy High School. Images provided by Emma Beachner, Kennedy Torch photographer.

There are still show times available. One show, Friday, Oct. 7 at 7:00 pm and two shows on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 2:00 pm and 7:00 pm. Tickets for students are $6 and $10 for adults. Tickets can be bought at the ticket office before the performance.

Important Reminders