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September 7, 2023

New! Absence Request Feature on Infinite Campus

Offthebus

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.

August 15, 2023

NEW! Security Practices – Please Read

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.

Securityvest

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.

August 4, 2023

Voluntary student accident insurance

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

July 24, 2023

Open House Events

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.

July 14, 2023

Centennial Service Club to receive honorable mention at Iowa Character Awards banquet

Planting tree

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.

July 7, 2023

Kindergarten Jumpstart in Early August

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!

June 30, 2023

Free Summer Meal Locations

Take a break from prepping lunch and bring your kids to our free summer meal sites! No cost or enrollment required. Open to all children 18 and younger. Enjoy a tasty meal at two locations. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to give your kids a nutritious lunch this summer. Visit us today!

No service Monday, July 3rd through Tuesday, July 4th.

Autumn Ridge Estates
11:15 am – 12:00 pm

Crestbruck Park
11:30 am – 12:30 pm

View more information and menus here

May 18, 2023

CHS Theater Department to participate in the Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase

IHSMTA Full Cast Photo IHSMTA Distinguished Scene Photo

Ankeny Centennial High School’s theater department will participate in the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school’s achievements for its April production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Produced by Des Moines Performing Arts as the culmination of a year-long education initiative, the Showcase will be held at the Des Moines Civic Center on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 94 schools from across the entire state.

Ryan Henzi and Abby Fickbohm each earned Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role Awards and are eligible to participate in the Triple Threat Award program with other advanced performing students. In addition to a special performance at the showcase, students will audition for theater camp scholarships and the opportunity to represent Iowa at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this summer.

Ryan Henzi will perform an excerpt from his award-winning role in The 25 th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee as William Barfée.

Additionally, select students will represent Ankeny Centennial High School by performing in a collaborative inter-school medley led by a guest Broadway music director and choreographer.

Ankeny Centennial will also be recognized with the following awards and honors:

  • Distinguished Scene – “The I Love You Song”
  • Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Rai San Martin as “Chip Tolentino”
  • Special Recognition for Achievement in Choreography – Kenzie Halbach,
  • Kaitlin Like, Rai San Martin, Drew Carter, & Caroline Trout

Tickets to the Showcase, which start at $15, will go on sale on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 10 AM at DMPA.org, the Des Moines Civic Center Ticket Office, and by phone at 515-246-2300.

The Awards Showcase will be live-streamed at IowaPBS.org as part of a collaboration with Iowa PBS. Iowa PBS will also broadcast a highlights special of the event on Friday, July 14 at 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m.

April 24, 2023

Register Now for Summer Enrichment Camps and Activities

Explore a wide range of summer enrichment camps and activities by visiting any of the Summer Enrichment links below. Whether it’s a cooking class, learning about horses, arts, reading, or sports, there are a variety of options for children of different ages and interests.

Activity Description Contact
Career Exploration Opportunities We have a wide range of career exploration opportunities to help you find your passion and prepare for your dream job. Our career exploration programs include internships, job shadowing, mentorship programs, informational interviews with professionals in various fields, career fairs, and networking events. Whether you’re a high school student or in middle school, we have programs and resources to help you explore different careers, gain valuable experience, and connect with industry professionals. Let us help you take the first step towards a fulfilling and rewarding career. Career Exploration website
Reading Activities to help prevent Summer Slide Suggestions to encourage children to open books even after school doors close. Have some fun and avoid the summer reading slide. 10 Weeks of Summer Reading Adventures

2023 Summer Library Program for all ages – Find Your Voice

Kirkendall Library

Scholastic Article: KIDS & FAMILY READING REPORT THE SUMMER READING IMPERATIVE

Three Ways to Prevent Summer Slide

ACSD Summer Classes Ankeny Community Engagement is proud to offer quality continuing education courses for students and adults in the Ankeny community and surrounding areas. Whether it’s an adult fitness class, evening or weekend enrichment for kids, or a class to keep your finances in check, you’ll find a wide variety of courses. View our Summer Course Catalog.

 

 

Kristopher Koehler

 

DMACC Kids College Youth Camps Youth Tech Inc. in cooperation with Des Moines Area Community College West Campus’s Celebrate! Innovation program is an interactive computer camp that focuses on providing enrichment opportunities to students in the world of computers. Classes offered at DMACC’s West Des Moines Campus or virtually. Various courses offered. Age range: 6-17. Registration fee. DMACC Kids College website
Blank Park Zoo Summer Safari Camps Explore the world of animals and nature. Week-long half-day or full day camp options that consist of hands-on lessons, games, art, zoo explorations and live animal encounters. Age range: 3 years through 7th grade. Registration discount for zoo members. Registration fee. Blank Park Zoo Safari Camps website
Climb Iowa Summer Youth Camps Climb Iowa camps introduce young adventurers to climbing. Children will learn about trust, teamwork and problem solving while developing their rock climbing skills through interactive games and activities. Ages 8-12. Registration fee. Climb Iowa Youth Camps website
Jester Park Equestrian Camps Four fun-filled mornings of summer camp at Jester Park Equestrian Center. Enjoy learning all about horses and spending plenty of time riding, along with participating in other fun camp activities like games and crafts. Ages 5-12. Registration fee. Jester Park Equestrian website
Living History Farms Day Camps Half-day and full day camps offered for children entering kindergarten through eighth grade. Registration fee. Living History Farms Camps website
Polk County Conservation Day Camps Variety of day camps offered for ages 6+. These day camps are designed to encourage hands-on learning through outdoor explorations, activities, games, crafts, and more. Camps will be led by naturalists. Campers are asked to bring a water bottle and sack lunch for day long camps. Prepackaged snacks will be provided. Registration fee. Polk Country Conservation Camps website
Love Lunches Love Lunches is served every weekday all summer long to kids and families in Ankeny that have need. Hot and cold lunches served daily at Ankeny Presbyterian Church, 317 SE Trilein Drive in Ankeny from 11:30 am-12:30 pm. Monday-Friday and at Sunset Park, 1320 SW 3rd Street in Ankeny, 11:30 am – 12:30 pm, Monday-Thursday. Love Lunches facebook page

Mary Kohlsdorf, 515-965-1737, ext. 224. 

holly.szcodronski@gmail.com (Sunset Park location – Holy Trinity Lutheran Church)

Ankeny Park & Recreation Department The Parks and Recreation Department offers a variety of leagues and activities for children ages toddler to 18. Click link for full listing of leagues, camps and courses. Ankeny Parks and Recreation Activity website
Des Moines Performing Arts Summer Camps Young people sharpen their skills, stretch their imaginations, and create unique memories through a variety of Des Moines Performing Arts education opportunities. With theater professionals as the instructors, students gain a deeper understanding of the process, build confidence, and benefit from a fresh jolt of creative energy. Grades 3-12. Des Moines Performing Arts Summer Camps website
Des Moines Community Playhouse Summer Camps Variety of Camps held for grades K-12. Des Moines Community Playhouse Summer Camps website
Real Food 4 Kids Hands on cooking camp for kids and teens, ages 6+. Three options offered for 4 –day sessions. Cooking Class website
Elementary Math Activities and Games Have fun this summer incorporating math into each day.  You and your child can play dice and card games, engage in conversations about a picture, or solve a problem together.  You will find FREE resources to help you and your child develop a love of mathematics. Math Summer Resources
Des Moines Y Camps Overnight and day camp options for ages 6-13 (daycamp) and ages 9-12 (overnight camp). What better place for your child to spend their summer days than at the Des Moines Y Camp located in Boone?

Under the supervision of trained staff your child will spend their summer enjoying the outdoors through various program activities all while building new friendships and growing in the four Y values of caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Daily traditional activities may include: climbing, hiking, archery, fishing, canoeing, field games, Imagineering, crafts, swimming, gaga ball, horseback riding (additional fee), and so much more!

VIP Program for ages 14 – 17
As a VIP, campers take the first step in becoming a Y Camp Leader. This two-week program teaches campers about service to others. Their primary function is working in Cownie Dining Hall, where they will do dishes after each meal, clean the dining hall and help provide a great environment for the other campers on camp. When they aren’t serving others, they will take opportunities to enjoy camp and will go through several team-building exercises with their peers throughout the week. This program is a great first step into the Leadership Development Program and lays the foundation for good leadership: service.

Des Moines Y Camps website
December 1, 2022

68 Students Selected for Opus Honor Choir Festival

This fall, sixty-eight Ankeny Community School District students, grades sixth through ninth, were selected for the 36th Annual Opus Honor Choir Festival hosted by the Iowa Choral Directors Association, more than any other school district in the state. Nearly three thousand students were nominated by their directors for one hundred-eighty positions in each of the four OPUS Honor Choirs.  Judges made their selections by scoring a recorded audition from each nominated student.  The 2022 Opus Honor Choirs performed on Thursday, November 17th, in CY Stephens Auditorium in Ames.  

Opus Opus director

Congratulations to the hundreds of Ankeny students who submitted recordings, especially to our outstanding selected musicians (below) and their directors: Emma Feldhans and David Sponder, Parkview; Emily Battani and Lisa Rehms, Prairie Ridge; Riley Anderson and Caroline Edgeton, Northview; and Jill Bjorklund and Nick Oswald, Southview.  Additionally, Nick Oswald had the distinguished honor of serving as the guest director for the 7th/8th Bass Clef Choir this year.  JJ Menke, Logan Peterson, Jackson Robie, Brannen Shanahan, and Landry Wagner performed as featured soloists or small group members at the concert as well!  Congrats to all!

5th/6th Choir
Chatham Beck (PR)
Roman Bockes (PV)
Natalie Hall (PR)
Nora Huebsch (PR)
Sebastian Rivera-Alvarez (PR)
Zoe Saunders (PV)
Elisabeth Skog (PR)
Katharine Yoder (PV)

7th/8th Treble Clef Choir
Elin Alber (PV)
Calista Beck (NV)
Krista Bogers (PR)
Gwenyth Carl (PV)
Emily Doubleday (SV)
Natalie Ford (SV)
Carla Foster (NV)
Maylin Gustafson (SV)
Savannah Hulse (SV)
Delphine Johnson (SV)
Whitney Lee (NV)
Jaleigh Moen (SV)
Sara Phillips (SV)
Rhonda Rullestad (SV)
#Landry Wagner (SV)

7th/8th Bass Clef Choir
Austin Albaugh (SV)
Cael Austin (SV)
Lincoln Blessing (SV)
Seth Buxton (SV)
*Caleb Crouse (SV)
Keegan Elliott (NV)
Jack Kent (SV)
Andrew Langholz (NV)
Lennox McCracken (SV)
#JJ Menke (SV)
Adrian Morales (PV)
#Logan Peterson (SV)
Derek Pross (PV)
Gus Ringholz (NV)
#Jack Robie (SV)
Blake Sauer (SV)
Ezekiel Scroggs (NV)
Berritt Sipes (SV)
Jaxon Speer (SV)
*Zane Wickencamp (SV)

9th Mixed Choir
Jonas Adams (SV)
Mya Backstrom (SV)
Connor Behrens (SV)
Ella Breuer (SV)
Sareena Casady (SV)
Caitlyn Chance (SV)
^Ben Colby (SV)
Nathan Gerth (SV)
Abe Groen (NV)
Jayden Huegel (SV)
*Harrison Jansen (NV)
Jasira Jones (SV)
Kaii Jones (NV)
Oliver Klein (SV)
Erik Kleve (SV)
Zach Kragel (SV)
Addy Lehman (SV)
~Lilian Monthei (SV)
Allison Muehr (SV)
Brendan Perry (SV)
Ethan Quinn (NV)
Anders Repp (SV)
Ella Schulz (SV)
#Brannen Shanahan (SV)
Kyra Swenson (SV)
Abby Willardson (NV)

^Alternate
*Solo Finalists
#Selected Solo/Small Ensemble
~Selected for All-State Choir

PV=Parkview
PR=Prairie Ridge
SV=Southview
NV=Northview