WCSD HOME

Press Releases

WATERLOO SCHOOLS PARTNER WITH WESTERN HOME COMMUNITIES TO OFFER STUDENTS NEW APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES

WATERLOO, IA— Waterloo Schools is hosting a signing event on June 9, 2023, at 3 p.m. at the Waterloo Career Center (WCC) to celebrate Western Home Communities as an official Partner in Education. 

“We are excited to have Western Home Communities join our ever-growing list of partners helping us grow our award-winning work-based learning program, and help students grow as professionals in this ‘earn and learn’ model,” said Jeff Frost, Waterloo Schools executive director of professional technical education.

Through this partnership, Western Home Communities will be working with the WCC to create student apprenticeships where students can work within Western Home Communities as registered apprenticeship-certified nursing assistants (CNAs.) In addition to the CNA apprenticeships, WCC culinary students will be able to apply for paid internships in Western Home Communities’ culinary and hospitality departments as well. 

“This is a win-win partnership since we’ll be able to expose more students to the opportunities available in senior living, which is a growing field due to high demand,” said Kris Hansen, CEO of Western Home Communities.  “From the outset, we can help further their training by introducing them to high standards of care and providing jobs with a respected employer.”

Waterloo Schools Mission

The Waterloo Schools community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path, and contributing to a community. 

###

WATERLOO SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES GINA WEEKLEY AS NEW DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING

Graphic Header - Waterloo Schools News

May 12, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Akwi Nji at 319-433-1803

[email protected]

WATERLOO SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES GINA WEEKLEY AS NEW DIRECTOR OF EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND BELONGING

WATERLOO, IA— Waterloo Schools announces Gina Weekley as the new director of equity, inclusion, and belonging, pending approval by the Waterloo Schools Board of Directors. She begins in this role effective July 1, 2023.

The new position was created to enhance the Waterloo Schools’ initiatives to support and enhance equity and inclusion for students and staff.

“I am incredibly honored and deeply grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Director of DEIB in the community and district where I grew up,” said Weekley. “My unwavering commitment is to serve in a way that creates a welcoming space for all, fosters equity, enhances inclusion and enables everyone to thrive as students, staff, and community members.”

Weekley was named to the Courier’s 20 Under 40 list in 2017 for her work as the senior director of youth services at the Family YMCA of Black Hawk County. She holds a master’s degree in philanthropy and nonprofit development and a bachelor’s degree in liberal arts, both from the University of Northern Iowa.

“We are thrilled to add Gina to our district leadership team as the director of equity, inclusion, and belonging,” said Dr. Jared Smith, Waterloo Schools superintendent. “As a Waterloo Schools graduate and longtime citizen, Gina has a deep understanding of our community and has the skills needed to ensure equity is at the forefront of everything we do as an organization.”

In her current position, Weekley works as the coordinator of diversity, equity, and inclusion at the Central Rivers Area Education Agency.

“As we embark on this journey together, I am confident that by embracing and celebrating our unique differences, we can build a community where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued,” said Weekley. “When we do this work intentionally and strategically, our community will not only flourish, but it will also leave a lasting legacy of inclusion and belonging for generations to come.”

Photo of Gina Weekley

Waterloo Schools Mission

The Waterloo Schools community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path, and contributing to a community.

###

WATERLOO SCHOOLS JOINS STATE OF IOWA IN ANNOUNCING SAFE + SOUND THREAT REPORTING PROGRAM

April 20, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact:  Akwi Nji at 319-433-1803

[email protected]

WATERLOO, IA—The State of Iowa has launched the Safe+Sound anonymous reporting tool that provides students, staff, parents, and community members an avenue through which they can report threatening behavior and other safety issues.

This program is designed for threats to be reported anonymously via a phone app, a website, or a 1-800 number. The reports entered through Safe+Sound will be screened by trained dispatchers who then will assess the threat and contact local law enforcement and the designated building administrator. Reports of bullying or other non-threatening behavior that are submitted through Safe+Sound will be handled with an email, if warranted, rather than an urgent call to designated school personnel.

To learn more about the Safe + Sound program, please visit the State of Iowa’s Safe+Sound website at https://dps.iowa.gov/SafeandSoundIowa.

Waterloo Schools Mission

The Waterloo Schools community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path, and contributing to a community. 

###

WATERLOO CAREER CENTER’S CULINARY PROGRAM HOSTS CEDAR VALLEY SOUP COMPETITION

The Waterloo Career Center’s (WCC) culinary and hospitality programs are hosting their Best Soup in the Cedar Valley Competition on March 7, 2023 at 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the WCC. They are currently looking for local chefs who are eager to compete and astound their judges. Chefs have the option to be reimbursed up to $50 for their ingredients contingent upon their receipts from purchase. If interested in participating or for further questions about the competition, please contact Tracey Hulme at 319-404-8572 or Talia Nieman at 319-215-9808.

Competing chefs will make a minimum of two gallons of soup on-site in accordance with the competition’s rules. As they cook, the WCC culinary and hospitality students will be able to view the chef’s technique and approach, converse with participants, and study their processes. 

Once the cooking portion of the competition has been completed, chefs may distribute information about employment opportunities and potential career paths to students. The district also offers paid apprenticeships for our student professionals, so businesses may inquire with students and their instructors about potential learning opportunities/employment for the summer. 

Two industry professionals will be present to judge the soup competition entries and ensure compliance with the competition rules and regulations. The winner of the competition will be announced at 10:30 a.m. and presented with a trophy and congratulatory photo. 

All of the cooked soup will be served from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to staff and community members for an all-you-can-eat soup luncheon for $15.00 cash per person, which includes all-you-can-eat soup, assorted crackers, a drink, and cookies/bars.

Hulmes says this opportunity helps the community connect with potential student employees who want to work in the culinary and hospitality fields while also giving the students valuable experience learning from chefs right here in the Cedar Valley. 

“Spending time with local professionals gives our students time to pair what they have been learning with what would be expected of them on the job,” said Hulmes. “It gives them a chance to see how talented our local industry partners are and who they would like to work for in the future.”

 

Rules and Information

Chef Unload/Set up. 7:00 -7:50 a.m. in the culinary kitchen, Room 105, at the WCC. Please pull up to the steps near door 18 on the Northeast side of WCC between 7:00-7:15 a.m. and someone will meet you there with a cart to haul your equipment and food into the building. Your car may be parked in the lot out front, no permit or additional permission is needed. 

Please bring all of your ingredients and utensils with you to make a minimum of 2 gallons of soup (more would be better, but is not required.) Your soup should be garnished, plated and ready for judging at 9:30 am. Bring your own plates and bowls for this as the school’s are limited. Additionally, please let Tracey Hulme know if you will need a Sterno BTU burner to use. 

Permitted Ingredients:

  • Prepared stocks 
  • Prepared clarified butter 
  • Pre-measured staple dry goods: flour, sugar, salt, pepper, baking powder, baking soda, cream of tartar 
  • Pre-measured butter and oil 
  • Pre-washed produce, but no peeling or knife work done prior to start time
  • Commercially manufactured food items such as jams, bread crumbs, bases and mayonnaise in the original container  

Prohibited Ingredients:

  • Pre-chopped, pre-sliced, or prepared food not commercially manufactured and in original packaging
  • Reductions, finished sauces, and clarified broths
  • Anything pre-cooked

7:00-7:50 a.m.  Chef Set up

7:50-8:00 a.m. Ingredient Check-In – please review the ingredients above

8:00 a.m. Cooking Starts

9:30 a.m. Soup must be plated for judging

9:30-10:00 a.m. Recruit students and hand out job applications

10:30 a.m. Winner Announced

10:30-11:00 a.m. Kirkwood recruiting

11:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m Soup served to Community/Staff – $15 ticket price includes 

Waterloo Schools Mission

The Waterloo Schools community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path, and contributing to a community. 

###

WATERLOO SCHOOLS ANNOUNCES KELLY MARTIN AS NEW STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP COORDINATOR

Kelly Martin, Strategic Partnership Coordinator

Kelly Martin, Waterloo Schools’ new Strategic Partnership Coordinator started at the Education Service Center on January 3, 2023. In this role, he will be working to connect local businesses to partnership and volunteer opportunities within Waterloo schools, in addition to opening up lines of communication between businesses and students.

According to Jeff Frost, Executive Director of Professional Technical Education, Martin is the ideal person for the job, with a very outgoing personality and an impeccable community impact here in the Waterloo area. 

“We’ve received so much positive feedback, our community is very excited to have him in this position,” said Frost. “He’ll be working to help Waterloo Schools maintain our local business relationships, ensuring our community partners feel valued and heard.” 

Martin says he’s excited to get started and is proud to be serving his hometown in this capacity. 

“I describe this role as a liaison between our students and our business partners in the community,” said Martin. “I choose this position because it will allow me to help bridge the gaps currently in our community.” 

Waterloo Schools Mission

The Waterloo Schools community commits to a comprehensive system of education and support to assure that each and every student will graduate prepared for college, career, and citizenship as evidenced by continuing education, pursuing a career path, and contributing to a community. 

###

Translate »
STUDENT REGISTRATIONCLICK HERE