Superintendent Search Update
With the new year upon us, we are approaching the final stages in the search for the next Superintendent of Ames Public Schools. As a…
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Calendar Adjustments for Second Semester 2021-2022
Starting the second semester (January 18, 2022), the Ames Community School District is adjusting the daily dismissal time at each of our levels. The action…
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Northwood Preschool Receives 2021-2022 STEM Scale-Up Award
The North Central Iowa Regional STEM Advisory Board of the Iowa Governor’s STEM Advisory Council recently awarded a STEM Scale-Up Program application for Storytime STEM-packs to Northwood Preschool Center. The application was for $6,000 and was submitted by Northwood teachers Annie Boldt, Jill Spencer, and Lindsey Wirth.
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Ames CSD Announces Membership in New League: The Iowa Alliance Conference
11 High Schools to Begin Competition in 2022-23 School Year Ames CSD is today announcing its membership in a new high school athletic league: the Iowa Alliance Conference. Eleven of Iowa’s largest high schools will begin competing in the new conference, developed to enhance competition and participation among schools with long-time rivalries, with the start of the 2022-23 school year. The Iowa Alliance Conference will be divided into two divisions and consist of the following high schools: North – Ames, Fort Dodge, Marshalltown, Mason City, and Waterloo East South – Des Moines East, Hoover, Lincoln, North, Ottumwa, and Roosevelt
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Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) 2021
The Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) is the state-wide assessment that replaced the former Iowa Assessments in the 2018-2019 school year. Developed by Iowa Testing Programs at the University of Iowa for the state of Iowa, “the ISASP includes individual assessments in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science intended for use within the last 12 weeks of the academic year. These summative assessments measure student achievement, growth and college and career readiness based on the Iowa Core Standards.” (ISASP Test Specification Guide, 2019).
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Enrollment in Ames Up for the 2021-2022 School Year
Across the state, October 1st marks the official “count day” for certified enrollment, which is the annual report of enrolled resident students used for the Iowa School Finance Formula calculation. After recent years of steep increases from 2016-2019, certified enrollment decreased last year in a trend that was seen across the state in primarily urban school districts. This year, certified count rebounded from last year’s dip in enrollment. Here is a snapshot of key statistics: Certified enrollment is 4,484.45 students. This is +133.38 from a year ago. The gain from open enrollment and whole grade sharing is +232.5 (down 61 from a year before). The actual number of students enrolled in a District program is 5,198 (+77 from a year ago). This year’s certified enrollment was 4,484.45 students, which is up 133.38 students from a year ago. The graph below shows the trends over the last 37 years.
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Translator Spotlight: Jingtao Wang
Over 20 dedicated translators and interpreters work with the Ames Community School District. Some work directly with written translations and others with interpreting in-person communication, such as parent-teacher conferences. One is taking on the challenging task of becoming a professional interpreter. Jingtao Wang, a Chinese and Japanese translator/interpreter for Ames CSD since 2010, completed the first two of a three-level training through Heartland AEA. The training is conducted by EveryStep, a non-profit health care and human services organization, delivering Community Interpreter Training since 2018.
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All-State Music 2021
Congratulations to the 27 Ames High musicians who were selected to participate in the Iowa All-State Music Festival. Auditions for the 278-piece All-State Band, 214-piece All-State Orchestra, and 602-member All-State Chorus were held on Saturday, October 23, 2021, at Indianola. Approximately 17% of the students who audition are selected for membership in the All-State ensembles. The Festival Concert will be presented to the public at 7:30 pm on Saturday, November 20, 2021, in Hilton Coliseum. The 2021 Festival will celebrate the 75th anniversary of this prestigious event.
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Steven Johns named Interim Principal of Ames High School
The Ames Community School District is excited to announce Steven Johns as the Interim Principal of Ames High School. This interim position will include the remainder of this school year as well as the 2022-2023 academic school year. Mr. Johns has been an educational leader for over 30 years and has extensive experience leading high schools in the state of Iowa.
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Data Days: A Look at How Data is used at Elementary Schools
Data days at our elementary schools allow teachers to investigate areas of instructional need using data and respond with reading interventions to close gaps. Grades K-1 use FAST benchmark data, and grades 2-5 use MAP data as it relates to school and individual students. The purpose of these structured meetings is to assess data, analyze grade-level trends, and identify students for additional instruction.
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