People of the Year Awards: Nominations are Open!
Students, parents, and community members are invited to participate in the nomination process for the ACSD People of the Year awards, an event that recognizes outstanding contributions to our educational community. Nomination forms are open for the following awards:
- Education Professional of the Year Nomination Form
- Support Staff Member of the Year Nomination Form
- Volunteer of the Year Nomination Form
Your nominations will help us recognize and celebrate the outstanding people that make our school district a great place to be! Please take a moment to consider individuals who have made a positive impact and submit your nominations by March 1, 2024.
Parent Resource: Tips to Prepare for Assessments
During this time of year, many of our students will be preparing to take assessments. Whether you’re helping an elementary or secondary student prepare for testing, listed below are a few resources to help:
Notice of School Property Prescribed Burns
The ACSD maintenance team will be conducting prescribed burns periodically in Ankeny as weather conditions allow, continuing until June 1, 2024. Weather conditions and safety considerations will determine the exact date and time of the fires.
Why do we perform prescribed burns?
Central Iowa’s landscape was once dominated by tall grass prairies. These ecosystems have an abundance of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The native grasses and forbs (flowers) also provide seed and nectar for insects, butterflies, birds, and small mammals. In nature, fire is essential to maintain the integrity of the native prairie plant species located in our parks. Fire is a natural occurrence that helps the plant and animal communities in a park and controlled burning offers a safer way to use fire in a helpful manner. The benefits of prescribed burns include the following:
- Aid in reducing the undesirable plants from invading our native prairie areas
- Help to maintain a rich diversity of wildflowers and grasses
- Decreases the threat of wildfires by decreasing the accumulation of combustibles
- Benefits water quality by aiding in the establishment of deep-rooted natives
- Improves the natural beauty and enjoyment of our parks
Thank you for understanding.
Spring Lifetouch Pictures
Spring LIfetouch Picture Day will be Monday, March 4, 2024.
Picture Day envelopes will be sent home with students soon. If you would like to order online, visit mylifetouch.com and use Picture Day ID: EVTMRRHBP.
February Crocker Chronicles
Check out the February Crocker Chronicles!
Transitional Kindergarten Program
Ankeny Schools is excited to announce the opening of a transitional kindergarten (TK) program for the 2024-2025 school year. This new level is designed to provide students with the time needed to develop essential social and academic skills, acting as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten.
Registration for Transitional Kindergarten will be integrated into the general registration process, commencing on February 2, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Similar to preschool, available space is limited, and acceptance is determined by the time and date of the submitted complete registration. Class sizes will be capped at 20 students per class, and the total number of classrooms will be finalized by the district later in the spring.
For more information please visit the Transitional Kindergarten website page within the Register section. Applicants can expect to receive an email confirmation of classroom placement or waitlist status by the end of March.
Winter Dance Kids Clinic
The 2024 AHSDT Winter Clinic will be held on Friday, February 9th from 6:00-7:30pm at Southview Middle School. Check in will be from 5:30-6:00pm on February 9th, and the clinic will start promptly at 6:00pm. At the clinic, dancers will be learning a short dance routine that they will then get to perform on the court with the AHSDT dancers at halftime of the February 12th varsity boys basketball game. The basketball game is scheduled to start at 7:45pm which would put halftime at about 8:15 or 8:30pm.
All students currently in kindergarten through 8th grade are welcome. The price for this year’s winter clinic will be $45 per dancer (this includes a t-shirt and free admission for the dancer into the varsity boys basketball game on February 12th).
Link to Register:
https://register.ryzer.com/camp.cfm?id=260722
Note registration ends 1-31-24.
Please help spread the word to your friends and dance families! Thank you again for your support of AHSDT! We can’t wait to dance with you all again soon!
Please email Coach Courtney (courtney.dankert@ankenyschools.org) if you have any questions.
Let’s Talk About…Core Skills, Soft Skills, and Mental Health
Listen to these experts as they explore the creation of a culture of belonging. Discover our commitment to equipping educators with the tools to help students develop essential soft skills. Learn strategies for guiding students through the high school to college transition, emphasizing the importance of early connections and proactive support. They also mention how it is important to focus on student well-being, encouraging self-care practices during study sessions, including water breaks, physical movement, and brain breaks. Uncover how Ankeny fosters these skills from pre-kindergarten, aligning with Ankeny’s graduate profile.
Join Kayla Bell-Consolver, Director of the Counseling Center at Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake University, Shawn Beirman, Social-Emotional Learning Specialist at Ankeny Schools, and Al Neppl, Director of Professional and Leadership Development at Ankeny Schools, in a conversation highlighting the significance of adaptability, empathy, and collaboration for students.
Click here to listen or find us on your favorite podcast app!
All buildings and district office closed Friday, January 12
Due to inclement weather, tomorrow Friday, January 12, school buildings & district office will be closed.
- No Before and After School Program
- Certified staff will work virtually
- Paraprofessional and secretary professional development is canceled
All other employee groups will operate under closure guidance. Please connect with your supervisor if you have questions about your reporting requirements.
Mark Your Calendars – Upcoming Events
Mark your calendars for 2 important events coming in February: 2024-2025 Registration and Kindergarten Information Night!
Registration for the 2024-2025 school year will open on Friday, February 2nd at 8:00 am. Follow this link to the Ankeny Schools Registration page.
Who needs to complete enrollment? Everyone!
All existing families are required to complete the annual update for each student in their household using the Infinite Campus portal. This is also where existing families can add a child who is new to the district, such as incoming preschool or kindergarten students.
Preschool and Kindergarten families – don’t wait to register!
For your student to be placed in their home building, it’s crucial that you register as soon as possible. Waiting to register may result in your student being assigned to a different building. This is because some buildings fill up very quickly. Don’t wait!
Kindergarten Information Night
All elementary schools will host a kindergarten information night on Thursday, February 8 from 6:00-7:00 p.m. for families who are considering enrolling their child for the upcoming 2024-2025 school year. Registration opens to all families on Friday, February 2. This meeting will provide an opportunity for families to learn more about kindergarten at their child’s home building before registration opens. Parents will also turn in their child’s kindergarten checklist, learn more about Kindergarten Jumpstart, and meet other families at the school. You can find more information about registering for Kindergarten on our website.