Announcements

This year marked a historic milestone for OPUS, as it stands out as the most successful in our district’s history. This fall, a remarkable eighty-one students from Ankeny Community School District, spanning grades sixth through ninth, earned the privilege of participating in the esteemed 37th Annual Opus Honor Choir Festival hosted by the Iowa Choral Directors Association. This achievement not only surpassed the representation of any other school district in the state but also set a new record in Ankeny’s own history.

Out of a pool of over twenty-four hundred nominated students, spanning the specified grades, the diligent efforts of Ankeny students resulted in securing one hundred-eighty coveted positions across the four OPUS Honor Choirs. The selection process involved judges evaluating recorded auditions from each nominated student. The grand culmination of this achievement took place on Thursday, November 16, when the 2023 Opus Honor Choirs delivered a stellar performance at CY Stephens Auditorium in Ames.

Heartfelt congratulations are extended to the numerous Ankeny students who dedicated themselves to this endeavor, with special recognition to the exceptional talents of the following selected musicians and their directors: Emma Feldhans and David Sponder from Parkview; Emily Battani and Lisa Rehms from Prairie Ridge; Riley Anderson and Samantha Thomas from Northview; and Jill Bjorklund and Nick Oswald from Southview. Notably, Sebastian Rivera-Alvarez from Prairie Ridge, along with Evan Bahr, Will Heldt, and Ty Porter from Northview, and William Peterson, William Peverill, and Luke Vesperman from Southview, earned the distinguished honor of being selected as solo finalists for the festival, with Ty Porter additionally earning the prestigious distinction of being chosen as a soloist.

A resounding congratulations to all for this outstanding achievement!

2023-2024 Winter Athletic Information

Athletic Participation REQUIRED information

• Parents, please complete our online registration process ASAP if you have a winter student/athlete.
• Your student must have an updated physical and completed online registration to participate. Here is the link to complete the registration: https://ankenycentennial-ar.rschooltoday.com

The winter season offers 8th grade athletes a split-season structure in the CIML conference that offers Girls’ Basketball, Girls’ Wrestling & Boys’ Wrestling in the early season (mid October – late December) and Boys’ Basketball in the late winter season (late December – late February). Please see the details below. 

Click here to view any of our CIML sports team schedules. 

8th Boys Wrestling

Practice begins Monday, October 16th at NVMS after school (3:45-5:30 pm)

• 8th Wrestling Meeting – 8:00 am East Gym; Friday, Oct. 6th
• There will be an 8th Wrestling Parent Meeting – 6:30-7:00 pm – NV Room 1103 (Please use Main Entrance); Wednesday, October 11th

 Contact Coach Nathan Smith with questions: nathan.smith@ankenyschools.org 

8th Girls Wrestling

Practice starts October 16th in the gym at Orbis (Northview).

• There will be an 8-12 informational parent meeting Sunday, October 15th 5pm (Northview MS Small Gym). Enter through doors S-10

Contact one of the coaches with questions. Mykel Carlson, Olivia Willers, or Dustin Roland
mykel.carlson@ankneyschools.org                                                                                                 olivia.willers@ankenyschools.org
dustin.roland@ankenyschools.org

9-12th Boys Wrestling

Informational meeting is October 25th after school at Northview Wrestling Room.  Mandatory body fat testing is on Thursday, October 26th at 7am at Northview. 9th wrestling practice begins on November 13th at ACHS.  You can ride the ACHS shuttle after school to get to ACHS.

For more information- Contact Coach Jay Groth: jay.groth@ankenyschools.org

9-12 Girls Wrestling

Practice starts October 30th in the gym at Orbis (Northview).

Informational meeting will be held at NV on Friday, October 6th at 8:00am in the East gym OR at ACHS on Tuesday, October 10th @ 8am in the small gym.

Contact Dustin Roland, Olivia Willers, or Mykel Carlson for more information:
dustin.roland@ankenyschools.org
olivia.willers@ankenyschools.org
mykel.carlson@ankneyschools.org

8th Girls’ Basketball

Informational meeting will be held on Thursday, September 21st  from 7:45-8:00 AM in the Northview East Gym. You can also sign up in the front office and get handouts there.

Practice begins Wednesday, October 11th after school at Northview Middle School.  

Contact Coach Tony Klein with questions: tony.klein@ankenyschools.org 

JV1/JV2 Girls Basketball

There will be an informational player meeting on Thursday, October 19 at 7:45AM in the East Gym for 9th graders only.  

The first practice will be held after school on Monday, November 6th at the high school.

We will host a scrimmage on Saturday, November 11, 2023 from 8-10AM at NV.

If you missed the meeting or have any questions, contact Coach Andy Fehn or Liz Bruns.

 andy.fehn@ankenyschools.org, , liz.bruns@ankenyschools.org

8th Boys’ Basketball

There will be a players only informational meeting on Tuesday December 5th at 3:45pm in the cafeteria for students interested. Official start date will be Wednesday January 3rd , but there will be optional practices on Monday, Dec. 18th & Tuesday, Dec. 19th after school from 4-5:30 at Prairie Ridge.  

Contact Coach Paul Evans with questions: paul.evans@ankenyschools.org 

9th Boys Basketball

The 9th Grade Boys Basketball season officially begins on Monday, November 13th. Practices are held after school from 4:00-5:30 pm in the Northview Main Gym.  The “A” Team typically plays games on Tuesdays and Fridays.  The “B” team typically plays games on Mondays.  The “C” Team schedule does not include a typical day on which they play. There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, November 8th @ 3:45 at Northview. 

Contact Coach Tyler McDonald  with questions: tyler.mcdonald@ankenyschools.org 

To keep up to date on information and announcements download the Remind App on your phone and use the Remind Code: cen9bball

9-12th Boys Swimming

There will be an informational meeting for all boys in 9th grade who are interested in swimming on Wednesday October 11th, 2023 at Ankeny Centennial High School at 4:00pm.  This meeting is open to any boy interested in swimming during the 2023-24 season. 

 We will be discussing the upcoming season and apparel and suit orders! 

Contact Coach Dustin Rhoads if you have any questions: dustin.rhoads@ankenyschools.org

8th Grade Boys’ /Girls’ Swimming

Practice will begin in February  and the season will end the week before spring break. We practice every school day from 4:00-5:30 at NV Middle School Pool . Boys and girls from both Northview and Southview can participate. Coach Rhoads  will meet with interested students after Winter break. Watch the school TV for announcements. 

Contact Coach Dustin Rhoads if you have any questions: dustin.rhoads@ankenyschools.org

9th Grade Boys’ / Girls’ Bowling

Anyone interested in  9-12 Girls or Boys Bowling please report to Ankeny High School on 10/12/23 at 6pm in the Upstairs Career Center for a preseason meeting with Coach Nick Payton.

Contact Coach Nick Payton with questions:   nicholas.payton@ankenyschools.org

What:  Future Ready Night & Career Showcase 

The night will include learning sessions aimed at helping students navigate high school and post-secondary opportunities as well as a Career Showcase featuring over 30 different careers!

When: Monday, October 16th   5:30-8:15 PM 

Where: 

DMACC Building 5 / Student Center

2006 S. Ankeny Blvd.

Ankeny, IA 50023

Purpose: 

This event is designed for both students and parents

• Students will have the opportunity to explore and engage with various careers at the Career Showcase through hands-on experiences with business professionals.
• Parents, guardians, and students are invited to attend four 25 minute sessions to learn more about opportunities students can take advantage of during and after high school.

Linked you will find a copy of the program for the night. 

Fall Parent/Teacher Conferences:  October 12, 2023 from 4:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.  More info. to come.

Picture Retake Day–October 12, 2023

We are excited to introduce a convenient new way to report student absences to your school! The Absence Request tool in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows you to report your student’s absence online with just a few clicks. This can be done using your desktop computer or the Parent Portal app on your mobile device.

Entering an absence request is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
2. Select your child’s profile.
3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.
4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
5. Submit your request.

Visit this Absence Request Guide for detailed information on how to report absences.

Per the student handbook, students who know they will be absent for a reason other than a school-sponsored trip or school-sponsored activity must have a parent notify the school’s office in advance of the absence. This notification can be provided using the Absence Request tool outlined above, or by phone call, e-mail, or written note.

One of the great things about Ankeny Schools is the community’s support of our athletics and activities. These events bring thousands of people together to celebrate the achievement of students. Because security is of utmost importance, the district continues to review its practices and identify areas of improvement at such events. As a result, we will be implementing some new security measures this Fall for our activities and events.

Security practices that will continue:

• Grades 6-12 must wear school ID while at the game
• Footballs are not allowed
• No baby powder, confetti, signs, noisemakers
• No weapons (real or look-alike)
• The North gate will remain secured at all times unless a team, band, or emergency personnel need access to the stadium

New security practices:

• Families will be encouraged to ensure that students in grades K-5 be accompanied by an adult
• Entrance to the stadium before an event will not be allowed
• There will be no re-entry after leaving the stadium
• Spectators will not be allowed to bring backpacks and large handbags into the stadium; Diaper bags or medical bags are allowed, but are subject to search
• No outside food or drink
• No access without a ticket or pass, including after halftime

These recommendations are the result of numerous conversations with security experts and a review of our current practices. Security can often be at odds with convenience. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for our students and spectators. We look forward to cheering on the Hawks and Jaguars with you this Fall.

As we gear up for the new school year, we would like to remind all families (PK-12) about Student Assurance Services student accident coverage.

The Ankeny Community School District is not responsible for any accidental injuries that occur to students while under the school’s supervision or participating in interscholastic sports. Our school district has partnered with Student Assurance Services to give families the opportunity to purchase accident insurance for their student(s). When enrolled, this coverage provides financial assistance with your out-of-pocket medical expenses should your student sustain an accidental bodily injury.

Reasons to consider coverage for your student:
1. Your primary health insurance has a high deductible – copay – coinsurance.
2. No other insurance on your student.
3. Your student participates in a sport where unexpected injuries commonly occur.

This coverage provides an added layer of protection for students, especially for those with high deductible health insurance or those who are currently uninsured. In the unfortunate event of a student injury occurring under the school’s supervision, this coverage can be a crucial asset for your family.

While we hope that none of our students will face any accidents or injuries, it is vital to be prepared and have the necessary safeguards in place.

If you have any questions regarding this voluntary student accident insurance program, please contact Student Assurance Services at (800) 328-2739. You will speak with a live person who can assist you with your questions.

Thank you for your attention to this matter, and we look forward to a safe and successful academic year ahead.

Voluntary Online Enrollment Form – English

Voluntary Online Enrollment Form – Spanish

Attention all Northview Middle School students, parents, and guardians.  We are thrilled to announce two exciting Open House events that will kickstart the upcoming school year with enthusiasm and preparation.

Date: August 15, 2023 from 8:00 am – 1:00 pm OR Date: August 17, 2023 from 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Event: Open House & Fall Pictures

We extend a warm invitation to all students and their families to join us for a special  Open House event as the new academic year approaches.  We invite you to participate in a variety of activities, including:

Walk-Through: Get acquainted with the school campus, classrooms, and facilities to ensure a smooth start to the year.

View Schedules: Review your school year schedules, so you can plan ahead and stay organized.

Fall Pictures: Capture the excitement of a new school year with individual photos.

This is an excellent opportunity for students and parents alike to familiarize themselves with Northview Middle School, meet fellow classmates, and interact with our friendly staff.

Engage with Educators: On August 17th you will have the opportunity to meet your teachers for the upcoming academic year.

Ask Questions: Have any queries or concerns? This event will be the perfect time to ask questions and gain valuable insights to ensure a successful school year.

We believe that these Open House events will set the stage for a fantastic and productive school year at Northview Middle School.

CHARACTER COUNTS! is awarding the Centennial Service Club with an honorable mention at their 2023 Iowa Character Awards banquet for their efforts in the Ankeny community. The banquet will be held Friday, July 28th, at the Prairie Meadows Event Center in Altoona. The Centennial Service Club will be gifted 10 complimentary tickets so that members’ friends and family can participate in celebrating their achievement. Out of the many groups that are nominated, only one winner and two honorable mentions are chosen for each award category. 

The Centennial Service Club was also awarded Ankeny Youth Club of the Year by the Mayor’s youth council in April. The club has organized and participated in many charitable events this year such as two food drives, a winter clothing drive, a book drive, and a sock drive. They also organized a parking lot cleanup project, planted 28 trees at Northview Middle School, and made and donated 60 tie blankets. 

CHARACTER COUNTS! is a non-profit organization housed at Drake University’s Robert D. and Billie Ray Center. The organization was founded in 1997 and has been active in the Des Moines area since. Their mission is to, “…recognize, enhance and sustain the positive qualities of Iowans in order to promote civility through character development.” They have been hosting the Iowa Character Awards since 2005.

If you have a child preparing to start kindergarten in the fall remember to sign up for Kindergarten Jumpstart, an early August program designed to prepare new kindergartners for the upcoming school year. The program offers incoming students the chance to explore their school, tour their new classroom, and get excited to start learning. If you haven’t already signed up your child for Kindergarten Jumpstart, now is the time to do so!