February, 2025

Community Connections

One of the aspects I most appreciate about Linn-Mar is the strong connection our students and staff have with our broader community. We collectively cheer on our students, and I know both the Linn-Mar and greater Marion communities play pivotal roles in helping us shape a learning environment that best serves our students.

As we look ahead, spring brings not only warmer days but also exciting events, opportunities to celebrate our student achievements, and new initiatives. This spring we will host several opportunities to further connect with our community. We appreciate the families who were able to come into our buildings for conferences this month. In this newsletter you can read more about the Lion Learning sessions we have scheduled in March and April. Next month we anticipate sharing details of when our community can attend a ribbon-cutting event at our new Educational Leadership Center. And it won't be long until we will be among family and friends as we celebrate the graduates of the Linn-Mar class of 2025.

Thank you for being an essential part of our school community. Your involvement makes all the difference!

Superintendent Amy Kortemeyer

A Note About Weather Decision-Making

We want to acknowledge our Feb. 17th decision on whether the district should keep schools open or to close due to the severe cold. These decisions are never easy, and we understand the impact they have on students, families, and staff.

The guidance posted on our website was intended to help provide some predictability for our families and staff as we make these decisions. We understand that some staff and families may have felt that our decision that day did not align with our existing guidance.

We will be updating the language in the general weather guidelines on our website so it provides our staff and families the predictability we originally intended.

Join Us: Lion Learning Sessions in March and April

We invite staff, families and members of our community to upcoming Lion Learning sessions to learn more about topics related to our district.

In March we will explain a mailer that the county will send to homes that includes the district's estimated tax rate.
Then, we'll take Lion Learning "On the Road' with repeated sessions in March and April to talk about indoor activity space needs.

>>Find the dates and times for these Lion Learning sessions here.

In Case You Missed It: Linn-Mar Highlights

Linn-Mar Students Earn the Seal of Biliteracy

For Linn-Mar High School student Kylie Rickels, earning the Seal of Biliteracy was a goal she set in eighth grade when she first began studying Spanish.

Student Highlight: Brynlie Peery

Learn about Linn-Mar Senior Brynlie Peery and her efforts to provide children a hands-on learning experience through instruments and storybooks.

>>Read more about Brynlie.

Linn-Mar Board Approves New Names

Linn-Mar's former Learning Resource Center (LRC) will now be known as the Academic Excellence Center, and the district's new administrative building will be called the Educational Leadership Center (ELC). In addition to these changes, the Board also approved the naming of a baseball concession stand as the Pete King Concession Stand.

>>Read more about the new names.

Excellence in the Arts Recognition

Student Emma Larson and teacher Trent Buglewicz will be honored at the The Gazette's Excellence in Arts awards ceremony March 9 at Theatre Cedar Rapids. Several other Linn-Mar students will also showcase their work at the event as part of the student-led gallery.

>>Read more about this event.

Bowman Named New Principal at Indian Creek Elementary

Current principal Kelly Kretschmar will retire from Linn-Mar on February 28, and Amy Bowman will join Indian Creek Elementary as the building's new principal.

Preschool Enrollment Underway!

Registration is open for Little Lions Preschool! Check out our Frequently Asked Questions about our preschool enrollment process.

Nominations Open for LIONS and Volunteer Awards!

Nominations are currently being accepted for the 2025 LIONS and Volunteer Awards!

The LIONS and Volunteer Awards are used to highlight excellence in all areas of our district by rewarding the accomplishments and achievements of our staff, community partners, and colleagues.

Visit the LIONS Awards page on the district website for more information on the awards and nomination process. Nomination paperwork is due at 4 .p.m. March 14, 2025.

ACHIEVE Family Portal Now Live

The Iowa Department of Education launched the ACHIEVE Family Portal this week. The Department of Education created this resource to allow families with learners with Individual Education Programs (IEPs) to create an account to access key documents related to their learner(s). For more information on the ACHIEVE Family Portal, please see the Iowa Department of Education Website- ACHIEVE Family Portal- Family Resources Website.

Tickets on Sale for

Linn-Mar School Foundation Mane Event

Join the Linn-Mar School Foundation as they celebrate 40 years of supporting Linn-Mar students and teachers!

The Mane Event will be held March 8, 2025, at the DoubleTree by Hilton. Guests will enjoy a formal dinner, inspiring stories, exciting auctions, and a fun-filled hypnosis performance by Doug Thompson. Proceeds benefit students, teachers, and programs in the Linn-Mar Community School District, supporting educational excellence for generations to come! Learn more about the event and purchase tickets from the Linn Mar School Foundation.

Linn-Mar 1963-1995 Class Photos Needed

Our high school has photos of our graduating classes going back to the inception of our district, but we're missing many classes between the years of 1963-1995. Do you have a class photo from those years? Let us know at info@linnmar.k12.ia.us.

Join the Pride!

We Are Hiring!

Are you motivated to create brighter futures for students, families and the Linn-Mar community? Joining the Linn-Mar Community School District team means becoming part of a community dedicated to fostering growth, inspiring innovation, and empowering success. Check out our openings!

Inspire Learning. Unlock Potential. Empower Achievement.