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JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT OF EASTERN IOWA SEEKS QUALIFIED MENTORS FOR WATERLOO SCHOOLS STUDENTS

WATERLOO, IOWA — Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is seeking qualified businessmen and women to serve as classroom mentors for 126 classes in the Waterloo Community School District. The organization still needs over 100 mentors to help mentor students in kindergarten through 3rd, and 6th through 7th. Students learn from these JA volunteers how money works, how education leads to career success, and how to start and run a business. 

Classroom volunteers can make a life-long difference in the lives of students in as little as an hour a week for five to seven weeks.

“Junior Achievement (JA) takes an ‘everyone matters’ approach in teaching skills to youth. This is important because showing kids that they have value, that their circumstance in life does not define who they are or who they can be is invaluable,” said Jacob Christenson, CEO of Covenant Family Solutions and JA Board Member. “How much better would the world be — would our community be — if we gave everyone a fair shot at success? It may seem small, but What JA does to equalize the playing field has a lifelong impact on the children in our community. Support systems are critical to our community, and I am proud to be a part of Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa, an organization taking the lead in setting our next generation of community leaders up for success in life — regardless of circumstance. I strongly urge you to volunteer for these programs to ensure our kids know they matter.”

The volunteer does not have to have teaching experience and is not alone in the classroom with students. They utilize a prepared curriculum, developed by Junior Achievement USA ®, and are supported by the classroom instructor. Each lesson within the program comes with a lesson guide that provides the volunteer with what to say, when to incorporate personal experiences or examples to help students connect the content to the real world, when to hand out worksheets, watch videos, and play games. This makes the program materials turnkey, easy to use, and relevant to students. 

Junior Achievement staff members will meet with volunteers prior to the start of their program to go over classroom expectations and address any questions the volunteer may have.

“Waterloo Schools is a leader with Junior Achievement and our partnership is invaluable,” said Dr. Jared Smith, Superintendent of Waterloo Schools. “Our staff and students have benefited greatly from having real-life business representatives visit their classrooms, teaching valuable career lessons and sharing secrets for success.”

In addition to the in-class programs, Junior Achievement has three single-day, experiential learning events that will take place this spring. Volunteers are essential in making these events a success.

  1. Careers on Wheels will take place outside of every Waterloo Elementary School in May for grades kindergarten through 2nd. Junior Achievement is looking for 10 volunteers whose careers have wheels that represent construction (road or building) jobs within the community. Students will rotate to interact with the vehicles and learn about the careers. In the past, the event has included USPS trucks, boom trucks, garbage trucks, and first responders including fire, police, and EMTs.
  2. The Virtual Health Sciences Career Fair will be implemented for 3rd to 5th-grade students within the district. Junior Achievement is searching for community members in the field of health sciences to help the organization collect a video catalog of various careers within those industries. These volunteers will be asked to share their work-related responsibilities, as well as the education path that led them to success. We are excited to share opportunities and get students thinking about how their education can lead them to jobs like these.
  3. The JA Financial Literacy Fairs round out the student experiences for the school year. This is a real-life simulation for 7th-grade students to experience making impactful financial decisions to help them prepare for future financial success. Volunteers will assist at several stations where students will choose their future home, education, car, etc., and add that cost information to a budget worksheet. Finally, students visit a financial advisor who will go through their worksheets and talk through their choices. It is a great interactive event for students to learn about career/life choices and the impact it has on their financial health. The organization is looking for a minimum of 15 volunteers to serve at each event, with a total need of 60 volunteers.

To sign up to volunteer, individuals can view available classes by visiting: https://engage.ja.org/?site=JAEICedarValley

Individuals that have questions or are interested in learning more about volunteering for the single-day student experiences, please contact Amy Fossum at (319) 862-1100, or by email at [email protected].

About Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa (JAEI)

Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is dedicated to inspiring and preparing young people to succeed in the global economy through work readiness, entrepreneurship, and financial literacy educational programs. JAEI’s programs are delivered by over 1,000 local volunteers that can provide students with real-world examples of how obstacles can be overcome and success achieved. JAEI provides its programs to about 40,000 students throughout Eastern Iowa which includes Benton, Black Hawk, Bremer, Buchanan, Delaware, Grundy, Iowa, Johnson, Jones, and Linn counties.

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.

 

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12th ANNUAL BATTLE OF WATERLOO WRESTLING TOURNAMENT AND HALL OF FAME RECEPTION

The 12th annual “Battle of Waterloo” wrestling tournament will take place Friday and Saturday, December 16 and 17 at Young Arena, 125 Commercial Street in Waterloo. East and West high schools are hosting the event with the support of Experience Waterloo, Waterloo hotel/motel tax, Waterloo Sports and Leisure Commission, and the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Dan Gable Museum.

The Battle of Waterloo Dual meet wrestling tournament features 32 boys’ teams and 16 girls’ teams from across the state and is considered the premier dual meet wrestling tournament in Iowa. The tournament also provides a financial boost to the local economy bringing athletes and fans to Waterloo’s hotels, restaurants, shops, and other businesses.

There are two sessions on Friday and two sessions on Saturday. The cost is $10 per session at the door or purchase online for $8 plus handling of approximately $1.

On Friday, December 16, the boys’ teams will be seeded and placed in one of four standard eight-team brackets and the girls’ teams will be seeded and placed in one of two standard eight- team brackets. Two of the boys’ brackets and one of the girls’ brackets will compete in the morning session with matches at 9am, 11am, and 1pm. The other two boys’ brackets and the other girls’ bracket will compete during the afternoon session with matches at 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm. The three matches will determine each team’s place in the second day’s round-robin championship brackets.

On Saturday, December 17, each of the four boys’ qualifying teams will compete in a round-robin Division I group to determine first-fourth tournament positions. The four runner-up teams from the qualification tournament will compete in Division 2 for 5th through 8th positions and so on. The 5th through 8th place bracket finishers will compete during the morning session of matches at 9am, 11am and 1pm. The 1st through 4th place bracket finishers will compete during the afternoon session of matches at 4pm, 6pm, and 8pm. The girls’ teams will be placed in four teams with the 7th and 8th pools, the 5th and 6th pools, and the 3rd and 4th place pools competing in the morning sessions at 9am and 11am. The 1st and 2nd pools will compete in the Saturday afternoon sessions at 4pm and 6pm to determine the overall girls champion.

Each year the Battle of Waterloo inducts a new class of former coaches, wrestlers, officials, or community supporters into the Battle of Waterloo Hall of Fame. The Hall of Fame reception and ceremony will take place on Thursday, December 15 from 5-7pm (Social Hour at 5:00pm and Program/Recognition at 6:00pm) at the National Wrestling Hall of Fame – Dan Gable Museum, 303 Jefferson Street in Waterloo. The persons being inducted this year are Rich Binek (West High); Quinten Haynes (East High); Steve Gillen (BOW Community); Cassy Herkelman Jakoubek (BOW Competitor); 1964 Waterloo East High State Championship Team; 1977 Waterloo West High State Championship Team; Morkel Family (BOW Wrestling Family); East High Individual State Champions, 1933-1959; and West High Individual State Champions, 1933-1959. The reception is open to the public.

Boys’ teams competing in the 2022 Battle of Waterloo: Alburnett, Ankeny, Assumption- Davenport, Bishop Heelan-Sioux City, Cedar Falls, Charles City, Clarion-Goldfield-Dows, Clear Lake, Columbus Catholic-Waterloo, Crestwood-Cresco, Denver, Don Bosco, Epworth-Western Dubuque, Independence, Indianola, Iowa City-City High, Lake Mills, Linn-Mar, Lisbon, Nashua-Plainfield, New Hampton-Turkey Valley, North Scott-Eldridge, Osage, Pleasant Valley, Prairie-Cedar Rapids, Union-LaPorte City, Wapsie Valley, Waterloo East, Waterloo West, Waverly-Shell Rock, West Delaware, and West Des Moines Valley.

Girls’ teams competing in the 2022 Battle of Waterloo: Bettendorf, Cedar Falls, Charles City, Crestwood-Cresco, Dallas Center-Grimes, Dubuque Senior, East Buchanan, Independence, Linn- Mar, North Scott-Eldridge, Norwalk, Osage, Waterloo East, Waterloo West, Waverly-Shell Rock, and West Des Moines Valley.

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.

Learning About Library Resources at Waterloo Schools

One-on-one learning at West High's library aka The Space

Whether students are looking to relax with a good book or dive into an assignment, the library is full of resources to help Waterloo Schools students succeed. 

East High’s Technology Integration Specialist, Meghan Sullivan, and West High’s IMC Integrationist, Alyssa Bruecken, were full of helpful information about the high schools’ student programs, technology, and winter book recommendations. 

“Reading over winter break can give teens an important outlet from everyday stressors and keep their imaginations turning while school is out,” said Sullivan. 

Thankfully, all Waterloo Schools students have access to the online resource Discover Destiny which connects them with their school’s library catalog and downloadable e-books and audiobooks through MackinVIA. Sullivan says the system continues operating over winter break for students who are looking for digital reading material while school is out of session. 

Throughout the school year, teachers and students rely on several other applications found within Discover Destiny to research academic topics and learn from high-quality online research databases such as JSTOR, Britannica, The New York Times, and more. 

Bruecken says the opportunity to learn this research methodology helps students to prepare for their future academic pursuits and enables them to decipher the credibility of various sources. 

“Research helps students to develop inquiry skills and seek out answers in a variety of situations using a variety of sources,” said Bruecken. 

Additionally, for students who are looking to supplement their online research, Waterloo Schools partners with the Waterloo Public Library to assist students in obtaining local library cards. This partnership opens students up to a wide range of physical materials, as well as a much larger database of e-books and audiobooks through the app, Libby. 

This winter is full of exciting new books for students to dive into. For high school students, Sullivan, Bruecken, and their teams recommend the following books: 

E-Books 

  • Dear Evan Hansen, by Val Emmich
  • (Don’t) Call Me Crazy: 33 Voices Start the Conversation about Mental Health, by Kelly Jensen
  • Hey Kiddo, by Jarrett Krosoczka

Audio Books

  • All American Boys, by Jason Reynolds
  • All This Time, by Mikki Daughtry
  • The 57 Bus, by Dashka Slater

Physical Books for Check-Out 

  • A Thousand Pieces of You, by Claudia Gray 
  • Ace of Spades, by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé
  • And We Rise, by Erica Martin 
  • Attention Hijacked: Using Mindfulness to Reclaim Your Brain, by Erica B. Marcus
  • Charm, by Tracy Wolff (book #5 in the Crave series) 
  • She Came to Slay: the life and times of Harriet Tubman, by Erica Armstrong Dunbar

DR. WALTER CUNNINGHAM SCHOOL OF EXCELLENCE CELEBRATES 20 YEARS OF COMMUNITY

Hattie Graves and Brad Cross celebrate 20 years at Dr. Walter Cunningham School of Excellence
Hattie Graves and Brad Cross celebrate 20 years at Dr. Walter Cunningham School of Excellence

Waterloo’s Dr. Walter Cunningham School of Excellence, celebrates its 20th year in 2022, recognizing its staff members, community, and continued passion for innovation. 

The school was started in 2002, and named after Dr. Walter Cunningham, East High School’s first Black principal. When he passed away in 2000, the Waterloo Community School District decided to honor his legacy in education, naming the new elementary school in his memory. 

Originally, the school operated on a year-round schedule, with three week breaks in October and March, along with six weeks in the summer. Some classrooms were also segmented by gender to help optimize the students different learning preferences. These practices along with the district’s first school dress code helped Cunningham stand out early on.

Today, Cunningham operates on the same district schedule as the rest of the elementary schools, while keeping students of all genders together in their assigned classroom. However, their dedication to innovation continues to thrive as they work to create ideal learning environments for each of their students. 

According to Neldrekka Whitaker, head principal of the school, the constant integration of community and innovation within the building was a key factor in her desire to work there.

“Prior to working at Cunningham, it was well known throughout Waterloo Schools that Cunningham was an innovative school that piloted research-based education practices ahead of other schools in the district and the state,” said Whitaker. “In the last five years that I have been here, we have tried to reconnect to the foundation and traditions that originated here at Cunningham.” 

Thankfully, Whitaker works alongside a group of staff members who have been with the school since day one. Skip Abbas, Brad Cross, Hattie Graves, Lissa Meeks, and Willastine Parker joined Cunningham’s staff in 2002 for its inaugural school year, and have stayed with the building ever since. 

Willastine Parker is excited to celebrate her 20th year with Cunningham elementary.
Willastine Parker is excited to celebrate her 20th year with Cunningham elementary.

According to Parker, teachers who worked for McKinstry elementary school in 2002 were given the option of transferring to Cunningham after construction was completed. She decided to volunteer and start a new adventure alongside the blossoming legacy of the elementary school. 

 “I was one of the teachers who decided to volunteer to be transferred, thinking about a brand new school and the fact that I could choose the grade that I would love to teach.” said Parker. “As of today, I love being here as a part of this family, making a difference in the lives of so many young people.” 

Lissa Meeks, office secretary at Cunningham, says that she has made countless connections with students over the past two decades. 

“Although I’m not directly in the classroom, I can still help children with their academic needs,” said Meeks. “I am sometimes used as an intervention when a child has chosen me as their preferred adult. I’m able to comfort and give the child a sense of security during their visit as I assist them with their school work.” 

Lissa Meeks enjoys working with students at Cunningham elementary in Waterloo, Iowa.
Lissa Meeks enjoys working with students at Cunningham Elementary in Waterloo, Iowa.

Over the years, many Cunningham staff members have felt an increase in support and recognition from their surrounding community regarding students’ academic achievement and behavioral growth. 

“In the beginning the school was not looked upon as being a great place, but now we have the community looking at us in a positive light,” said Cross. 

“I enjoy working here now because of the support from administrators, respect from parents, and how the staff works well together,” said Graves. “I love to see the growth in my students from year to year and it makes me so proud.”

Assistant principal, Mikayla Montgomery joined the Cunningham team in 2012, and now enjoys walking the same halls as her daughter who is in first grade at the school. 

“From the time I started one of the biggest changes I have seen is the focus on living on our school name and how we demonstrate pride and excellence in everything that we do,” said assistant principal Mikayla Montgomery.  

According to Neldrekka, Montgomery, and the rest of the Cunningham team, their 20 year legacy is only the beginning. 

Mikayla Montgomery and Neldrekka Whitaker celebrate Cunningham's 20 year legacy.
Mikayla Montgomery and Neldrekka Whitaker celebrate Cunningham’s 20 year legacy.

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. 

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Do you need a hug?

When hard times come in life, it’s our communities and our people who hold us together. 

The staff at Lincoln Elementary school is stepping up to support one another and their students this fall, as they move through the high’s and low’s of life in Waterloo, Iowa. Be it tragedy or celebration, Principal Tamera Phillips leads with heart and courageous vulnerability, encouraging her team to do the same.

Hillary Stewart, fourth grade teacher at Lincoln, says there are many students who find comfort within the walls of the school, finding friends and support throughout the building.

“Students know that the community supports them,” said Stewart. “It is important to remember that students are people too! When talking about struggles sometimes they just want someone to listen. I try to make an environment where they feel comfortable and know that they are loved.”

Fifth grader Olivia Wilson says the support from her teachers help to make school days more fun. While math may be her favorite subject, getting hugs from her teacher is what makes her feel most cared for at Lincoln Elementary.

“I feel cared about when I get a hug,” said Wilson. “When you get to know people and build a bond with someone, that bond is unbreakable. When you make that bond, then school becomes your second home.”

Phillips says there are countless staff members who go above and beyond to make Lincoln a place where people feel seen and heard exactly as they are.

“Our school counselor, Rebecca Renze,” said Phillips. “I think she does a really good job of identifying students who may need some extra support, and gives them a safe place to talk.”

Renze says that her own third grade teacher created a sense of belonging within her classroom which made herself and her classmates feel genuinely cared about. As a counselor, Renze works to showcase the same genuine care with her students, offering them space to share the depth of their feelings in a place that makes them feel encouraged and cared for.

“When kids come to Lincoln, they are coming to their second family,” said Renze. “We expect great things from them; and, yet, we also understand that life can be really hard at times. We are here for them in all seasons in life, and I believe our kids can know and sense that from us through our words and actions.”

Earlier in her career, Renze was given the advice of ‘be the container.’ She says that often people attempt to fix situations that are out of their control. Instead of approaching kids or adults with the mindset of remedying a situation, sometimes it can be more helpful to simply help the individuals hold onto their hurt for a few moments, knowing they have the support to carry it.

“I will often ask what they are doing to take care of themselves in those situations,” said Renze. “And if they don’t know, we may work on that piece together.”

“I think that when kids know that you care, they’re more apt to think about the choices that they make,” said Phillips. “We don’t know every kid’s story, and it’s not necessary that we know all the details, but sometimes just knowing that when they’re in our care, we have to do the best we can for them.”

Third grader Dorielle Tuluenga says using her classroom’s calming corner is helpful for students as they’re working through big feelings. If students find themselves further upset while in the classroom, teachers often put on calm music, encouraging them to practice self-regulation with group breathing exercises.

“I feel like I can talk to my teacher. She’s a person I can share my problems with,” said Tuluenga. “If my teacher hugs me, she calls us over to talk about it and she gives you a hug, and it makes you feel better. I like hugs!”

Phillips returned this fall for her second year as principal at Lincoln Elementary, greeting children by name, and asking kindly if they would like a hug before going on their way.

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