Announcements

The Ankeny Community School District would like to recognize all that assistant and associate principals that have persevered amid the pandemic and considered what their ever-expanding and evolving role might look like moving forward. Through it all, our AP’s have demonstrated unwavering leadership—becoming a source of strength and inspiration for us all. If ever there was a time to express how much your AP means to you and your school community, this is it. Visit our Thank You page, add your message, and hit submit to deliver to their inbox—it’s that easy!

Ankeny Centennial High School – Adam Busch, JD Hunter

Ankeny High School – Kelsie Goodman, Wade Grinhaug

Northview Middle School (8-9) – Caleb Hales, Cameron Wendt

Southview Middle School (8-9) – Nicole Kuhns, Chris Novak

Prairie Ridge Middle School (6-7) – Andrea Bruns, Kathleen Steffen

Parkview Middle School (6-7) – Ben Huebsch, Emily Rash

Today we would like to say we appreciate our paraprofessionals! This day is celebrated the first Wednesday every April in order to raise awareness about the important work of paraprofessionals in our schools. This includes teaching associates, special education associates, media center associates, and classroom assistants. Thank you to our multi-tasking rockstars for working with our students and making a difference in their lives!

Ankeny Centennial Drama is producing CHICAGO: High School Edition! In roaring twenties Chicago, chorine Roxie Hart murders a faithless lover and convinces her hapless husband, Amos, to take the rap… until he finds out he’s been duped and turns on Roxie. Convicted and sent to death row, Roxie and another “Merry Murderess” Velma Kelly vie for the spotlight and the headlines, ultimately joining forces in search of the “American Dream”: fame, fortune, and acquittal!

Performance dates are April 22 & 23 at 7:00 p.m. and April 24 at 2:00 p.m. at the ACHS auditorium. Adult are $15 and student tickets (K-12) are $10. Tickets can be purchased in advance at achsdrama.ludus.com or at the door an hour prior to show time.

Follow us on Twitter and Instagram @achsdramadept for updates and future show promotions!

The Abdelkader Education Project (AEP) is pleased to announce the results from our annual Abdelkader Student Prize competition. This competition is presented by AEP in partnership with Iowa National History Day and is open to middle and high school students across the U.S.

Students were asked to do one of the following:

1. Write an essay discussing how Emir Abd el-Kader’s life and values influenced his actions and how those values apply to modern day challenges.
2. Create a graphic story (comic) based on one vignette from the Abdelkader Stage Project (middle school or high school).

Middle School Winner

Emmarie Becker
Northview Middle School, Ankeny, IA (Grade 8)
Essay

“From the start of Emir Abdelkader’s life, he was preparing how to be a great leader and how to overcome challenges. Learning about Abdelkader can show you how to meet your own challenges as well.”

HS Honorable Mentions

Kayla Clark
Northview Middle School, Ankeny, IA (Grade 9)
Art Book

View a panel from their work

The 2022-2023 competition will open this fall. Entry guidelines are subject to change. Please check back in the fall for updated requirements and prompts.

We want to send a big thank you to everyone who participated in our contest and helped make it a success! Special thanks to the following teachers: Kathy Cooper, Steph Schares, Maria LoBianco, and Alexa Long.

A prescribed (controlled) burn of the District’s prairie grasses will be executed this spring. The DNR recommends a burn every three years to maintain prairie grasses. District staff conducting burns have been trained and certified in prescribed burns.

March: In Like A Lamb, Out Like A …?

As we are enjoying this unseasonable balmy first day of March here are some important dates to remember.

• February 28 – March 3rd: Parent/Teacher Conferences
• March 11th: No School
• March 14-18: No School/Spring Break

View our parent calendar for more.

What: Meet Rachelle Chase the author of Buxton: Creating the Black Utopia via zoom
Why: Learn about Buxton, Iowa, and a chance to win $2000 Scholarship
When: Wednesday, Feb. 23,  3:50 to 4:50 p.m.
Where: ACHS Media Center

We are excited to launch the process of re-imagining our graduate profile! This document will work together with our strategic plan and equity framework to help chart a path for the district’s future. Please view this short survey to provide feedback on our graduate profile.

Several students from the Ankeny Community School District were recognized by the Scholastic Art and Writing contest during the month of January. Their work was blindly adjudicated by a panel of creative professionals and recognized as the most outstanding work submitted among their peers.

Scholastic Art and Writing is the nation’s longest-running, most prestigious recognition program for creative teens in grades 7-12. Our students will be honored at an online celebration in March sponsored by Belin-Blank at the University of Iowa.

Our two students with Gold Key honors are automatically considered for national awards.

L to R: Vivian Powell, Celeste Rieder and Kalyani Bhat

L to R: Olivia Lammers, Brenna Coleman, Lillie Hamlin, Ella DeHaan.