U of I AirCare Team Shares Insights with Jefferson Students | |
The U of I AirCare team made a special visit to Jefferson High School on Wednesday to connect with students from the school's iJAG program. The crew shared valuable insights into the demanding yet rewarding careers of helicopter piloting and air ambulance nursing.
The 9th-12th grade students had the opportunity to ask questions and get an up-close look at the helicopter, with some even getting the chance to sit inside. They learned that becoming an air ambulance pilot requires over 2000 hours of flying time, a milestone many current AirCare pilots achieve through military service.
The students also gained insight into the AirCare team’s work schedule, which typically involves working 40-hour straight followed by several days off. During their shifts, they must be on standby, ready to respond to an accident within 10 minutes of receiving a call. The AirCare helicopter, they explained, functions as a mini ER room, equipped with all the necessary tools and equipment to treat and stabilize patients until they reach a hospital. Due to its speed and smoother ride compared to regular ambulances, air ambulances are often utilized for patients with severe injuries or spinal cord injuries.
Jefferson's iJAG (Iowa Jobs for America's Graduates) Program aims to equip students with leadership, job skills, and life skills, preparing them for the transition into the workforce. By exposing students to various career opportunities within the community, the program hopes to help them discover their passions and career pathways after graduation.
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History Day Students Advance to Nationals
Five CRCSD students clinched a spot to the National History Day National Contest after their outstanding performance in the Iowa National History Day Competition earlier this week. Among the winners was a Harding Middle School Team comprised of Hayden Christofferson, Sophia Douglas, and Sage Mersch, and Kennedy students Katie Hubbs and Allison Klosterman. These students will now travel to Washington, D.C., in June to compete against nearly 3,000 students from across the United States for top honors.
National History Day is an annual competition for middle and high school students. Participants are required to choose a topic and then conduct research, write papers, and present exhibits, documentaries, websites, and/or performances about their chosen topic. This year’s projects had to align with the theme: “Turning Points in History.” Through the program, students develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills, research and reading skills, as well as oral and written communication skills, and presentation skills.
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Thank an Educator
While we appreciate our educators all year, Teacher Appreciation Week (May 6-10) is a special time to honor the incredible teachers in our schools. Our teachers spend countless hours preparing lessons, grading papers, counseling students, and igniting passions. They are patient, hard-working, and dedicated to the success of every student.
In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, CRCSD invites you to join us in celebrating our amazing teachers. Use our Google Form, linked below, to send a note of gratitude and appreciation to our staff. Your messages will be shared with our teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week to remind them of the positive impact they have on our students and community. Students, staff, parents, alumni, and community members are all invited to submit a message to help us recognize the incredible work our educators do.
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School Board Appreciation Month
May is School Board Recognition Month, a time to celebrate the dedicated community volunteers who serve on our school board. Our current school board members have served our District for a combined 41 years. They devote their time to monthly meetings, reviewing board materials, communicating with staff, parents, and the community, exploring learning opportunities, and attending school functions and activities. They also oversee the District’s budget, policies, and strategic plan to help build a solid foundation for student achievement. Join us in saying thank you to our CRCSD board members.
- Cindy Garlock - President
- David Tominsky - Vice President
- Jennifer Borcherding
- Kaitlin Byers
- Nancy Humbles
- Jennifer Neumann
- Marcy Roundtree
- Ryan Rydstrom - Board Secretary
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Senior Walk
The Cedar Rapids Community Schools Foundation is excited to announce the 2024 series of Senior Walks. This annual tradition allows seniors to take a trip down memory lane before they walk across the stage to get their diplomas. During the designated times, the graduating seniors will wear their caps and gowns and return to the elementary school where they began their CRCSD education journey. They will then walk through the school halls greeting the elementary students and catching up with their former teachers. This year’s senior walks will take place between May 14 - 22.
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Arthur and Garfield Open Houses on Saturday
Don’t forget to stop by Arthur and Garfield Elementary Schools this Saturday, May 4th, from 10:00 AM to noon, for the Community Open House. This is your last chance to walk down memory lane, tour the buildings, and browse through over 100 years of memorabilia before the schools are closed. This is the last school year at these buildings as they will be merging and relocating to the new Trailside Elementary School in August.
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School Lunch Hero Day
Behind every nutritious meal served in our school cafeterias lies the dedication and hard work of our school and District food and nutrition professionals. They work tirelessly to prepare and serve over 16,000 healthy meals every day, ensuring our students are fed, fueled, and ready to learn. We invite you to join us in celebrating and thanking these unsung heroes on Friday, May 3rd, for National School Lunch Hero Day! This national celebration is just one way we can recognize the amazing food and nutrition employees we have in our schools and the difference they make in the lives of every child who comes through their cafeteria.
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AP Exams Coming
AP exams for high school students will take place May 6th through May 17th. All exams will be given at the District’s Educational Leadership and Support Center (ELSC) located at 2500 Edgewood Road NW. Students are to report by 7:15 AM for morning exams and 11:15 AM for afternoon exams. Students are responsible for their own transportation to and from the exams, and are encouraged to carpool with classmates if possible. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact your school's AP coordinator.
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Drake Relays
Several CRCSD high school athletes had the opportunity to compete in the 114th Drake Relays last weekend. We would like to congratulate all of our athletes on their amazing performances and for proudly representing CRCSD. As a team, the Kennedy boys placed 7th, and the girls placed 14th. Below is a list of the individuals and teams who took home some of the top honors this year (finished in the top 10).
Girls' Results:
- Girls 4x400 Meter Relay - Kennedy’s Emerson Blocker, Charley Lovell, Jovie Veach, Addison Swartzendruber placed 6th.
- Girls 400 Meter Dash - Kennedy’s Addison Swartzendruber took home 9th place.
Boys' Results:
- Boys 4x100 Meter Relay - Kennedy’s Dawson Dougherty, Jacob Doyle, Nick Woods, and Ryan Bartels took home 2nd place.
- Boys 4x800 Meter Relay - Kennedy’s Reece Murray, Jacob Bruns, Griffin Gerdes, and Henry McMahan placed 10th.
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Boys Long Jump - Kennedy’s Jacob Smetzer placed 4th, and Dawson Dougherty took home 6th.
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Glance Around The District | |
Metro STEAM students transplanted their 100+ pumpkin seedlings into the fields at local community partner GROW at Kazimour Farm and Orchard. The students have been growing the plants in the Metro Greenhouse since early April. | |
Kennedy High School’s Wind Symphony won the Don Marcouiller Best of Class 4A Division Trophy at the Adventureland Festival of Bands over the weekend. | |
The young learners at Kenwood Leadership Academy have been observing and learning about a butterfly's life cycle, and on Wednesday, they got to release their winged friends back into the wild. | |
Students at Garfield Elementary School got the opportunity to learn some golf skills from Mount Mercy students and coaches. | |
The students at Van Buren Elementary School celebrated Arbor day with some special guests from the City last week. While the rain moved the event inside, they still learned a lot about the importance of trees. | |
The 5th graders at Erskine Elementary school are diving into the world of violins in their music class! These future virtuosos are even learning how to play a few tunes. | |
In case you missed it, here are recent news items about or of interest to Cedar Rapids Community School District students, teachers, and parents.
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Non-Discrimination Policy
It is the policy of the Cedar Rapids Community School District not to discriminate in educational programs and/or activities on the basis of race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity, socioeconomic status, national origin, religion, disability, age (except for permitting/prohibiting students to engage in certain activities) or genetic information and in employment opportunities on the basis of age, race, creed, color, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, religion, disability or genetic information. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact Darius Ballard, Chief of Human Resources, Educational Leadership and Support Center, 2500 Edgewood Rd NW, Cedar Rapids, IA, (319) 558-2000.
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