News Releases

George Washington Middle School was recently named one of 10 national finalists in the KIND Schools Challenge, which invites middle- and high-school students nationwide to submit project ideas for making their school community kinder and more inclusive.

The team from Washington Middle School was selected as one of 10 finalists out of more than 190 applications from 28 states and Washington, DC.

Students on the Washington team aim to empower their peers to perform and spot small acts of kindness. As part of their project, they will hand out Kindness Cards to students who do a kind act along with an explanation on how and when to pass their cards on. The goal is to encourage students to think before speaking and acting in ways that are unkind.

The challenge is hosted by Making Caring Common, a project of the Harvard Graduate School of Education, and the KIND Foundation, a philanthropic entity started by KIND Healthy Snacks.

A recent gift from the Dubuque area chapters of the United States Bowling Congress Bowling Association and Women’s Bowling Association is helping make the sport of bowling accessible to elementary-school students in the Dubuque Community School District.

The classroom kit, which is used in elementary wellness classes across the district, includes six bowling carpet lanes, weighted pin sets, rubberized bowling balls and carrying bags, as well as scoring sheets and a bowler education curriculum.

In addition to this kit, the associations provided adaptive equipment to allow students of all abilities to participate – including a bowling ramp and adaptive bowling ball.

“Bowling is a sport that students across the district look forward to in wellness classes,” said Amy Hawkins, the district’s activities and athletics director. “We are happy to have the equipment to maintain bowling in our curriculum and we are thankful to the bowling associations for their support of students in Dubuque.”

The Dubuque Community School District and the Dubuque Area Swimmin’ Hurricanes (DASH) will join forces to expand the district’s newly planned competition pool while providing a new home to DASH swimmers. The intent to partner was announced at the September 11 meeting of the district’s Facilities and Support Services Committee of the Board of Education.

The proposed partnership would provide DASH with a 25-year rental of the pool during non-district times in exchange for $1 million to cover the cost of expanding the pool’s footprint to 75 feet. In order for the partnership to move forward, DASH intends to raise its funding commitment through philanthropic support from its members and swimming supporters in the community prior to construction bidding of the project. A formal agreement for the partnership will be presented to the Board of Education for approval at an upcoming meeting. The district’s new pool is currently in the design phase, with total project completion anticipated in fall 2019. Read More about “District and Dubuque Area Swimmin’ Hurricanes (DASH) Announce Planned Pool Partnership”

The Dubuque Community School District Teacher of the Year was named at the annual Educators’ Recognition Dinner on May 11, hosted by the Dubuque Education Association.

Chris Burke, a mathematics teacher at Eleanor Roosevelt Middle School, was selected for the honor. Burke has taught at Roosevelt since 2007. “Chris’ true gift as a teacher is his ability to connect with students,” said one of his nominators. “He continuously builds strong relationships with students, creating a learning environment second to none.” Burke holds a bachelor’s degree from Winona State University and a master’s degree from the University of Northern Iowa.

Other finalists for the Teacher of the Year Award were:

• Trica Brokus, a student needs facilitator at Dubuque Senior High School
• Michelle Demuth, a second-grade teacher at Eisenhower Elementary School
• Jennifer Donath, a fifth-grade teacher at Carver Elementary School
• Amanda Goranson, a mathematics teacher at Dubuque Senior High School
• Rich Hatcher, a student needs facilitator at Jefferson Middle School
• Sara Hilby, an art teacher at Hempstead High School
• Joel Miller, a social studies teacher at Hempstead High School
• Kelly Pfohl, a science teacher at Dubuque Senior High School
• Chris Sindt, a science teacher at Washington Middle School

At the dinner, two other special awards were presented. Ed Glaser, principal of Audubon Elementary School, received the TEAM (Together Educators and Administrators Make-it-happen) Award presented to an administrator for exemplary support of teacher success.

Mike Larkin, who taught social studies at Dubuque Senior High School from 1967 through 2001, received the Friend of Education Award. Since retiring, Larkin has continued to be a regular substitute teacher in the district.

The Dubuque Community School District Board of Education voted tonight to approve the appointment of Cindy Steffens as the district’s next director of elementary education and professional learning.

Steffens, who currently serves as principal of Carver Elementary School, will assume the position on July 1. Steffens will succeed Nancy Bradley, who is retiring at the end of the school year after 47 years of service to the district.

As director of elementary education, Steffens will be a member of the district’s senior leadership team and will provide administrative oversight of PreK-5 programming in the district’s 13 elementary schools. This work will include oversight of the district’s elementary curriculum and assessment efforts, as well as planning, coordination and supervision of a comprehensive professional learning program for staff.

Read More about “Carver Elementary School Principal Named District Director of Elementary Education”

An administrative rule change by the Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Bureau of Immunization, REQUIRES MENINGOCOCCAL (A, C, W, Y) VACCINE FOR STUDENTS ENROLLING IN 7TH AND 12TH GRADES STARTING IN THE 2017-2018 SCHOOL YEAR in addition to other vaccination requirements.

STUDENTS IN THESE GRADES MUST HAVE A VALID IMMUNIZATION CERTIFICATE ON FILE TO ATTEND SCHOOL.
Read More about “New 7th- and 12th-Grade Vaccination Requirement for 2017-2018”

The Dubuque Community School District will operate on a two-hour delay, Thursday, Jan. 26, due to icy conditions on roadways and black ice in the northern portions of the district.

All district-run morning pre-school is cancelled.

The Dubuque Community School District will operate on a two-hour delay, Wednesday, Jan. 25, due to icy conditions on roadways.

All district-run morning pre-school is cancelled.