Central DeWitt School District -

Congratulations to our National School Breakfast Week prize winners from Ekstrand Elementary and CDIS! These students know the importance of starting the day with a healthy breakfast to stay energized, focused, and ready to succeed! 👏

Thank you to our amazing nutrition team for making mornings extra fun while helping students fuel up for a great day of learning! 💜💛

EKSTRAND WINNERS
EJ Willey, Hadley Gronewold, Rey Gayman, Maverick York, Adam Sharkey, Archer Klever, Vivian Ferguson

CDIS WINNERS
Jayde Chambers, Benjamin Nicholas, Paisley Lange, Erik Duncan, Violet Lampe, Marc Anderson, Rae Beise, Teegan Nawa, Baylie Rehr, Mario Anderson, Lois Vincent, Trazelle Treffry, Carolann Fisher, Marcus Killean

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #CDMS #CDIS #EkstrandElementary #NationalSchoolBreakfastWeek #NSBW2026 #TheQuestForSchoolBreakfast #StartTheDayRight #EatSchoolBreakfast #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

🎭 Good luck to our Saber Speech team members competing at the Individual State Contest today at Vinton-Shellsburg! After an outstanding performance at District Speech—where 15 of 19 events earned Division I ratings and qualified for state—these talented performers are ready to take the stage once again.

Your hard work, preparation, and confidence have already made us proud. Now it’s time to shine at State! We’ll be cheering you on! 💜💛

Break a leg, Sabers! 👏

Graphic created by senior Olivia Weber who is the CDCSD Marketing Intern this semester.

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #SaberSpeech #StateBound #StateIEContest #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

The CDPAC stage came alive with creativity on Thursday as Mrs. Hahn’s 4th, 5th, and 6th grade WIN students hosted a poetry slam. Students took turns performing a variety of poems, including both published pieces and their own original work.

The event provided a wonderful opportunity for students to share their voices, celebrate poetry, and gain experience speaking in front of an audience. Congratulations to all of the participants on a fantastic performance! 👏📚✨

#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdis #cdisannualpoetryslam #cdispoetryslam #sabertalent #saberpride #saberssucceeding

⚽ Soccer Fans — It’s Time to Gear Up! ⚽ The Central DeWitt Girls Soccer and Central DeWitt Boys Soccer online apparel stores are now open! Show your Saber pride this season with a variety of fan gear and team apparel.

🟣 Girls Soccer Store: https://adcraftwebstores.com/cdgse26/
🟡 Boys Soccer Store: https://adcraftwebstores.com/cdtbs26/

🗓 Both stores close March 18, so be sure to place your order before the deadline!

Be sure to check out the options and grab your gear to support our Sabers this season! 💜💛
#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #CDHSSoccer #GirlsSoccer #BoysSoccer #OnlineStores #SupportOurSabers #SabersSoccer

Central DeWitt FFA members had an outstanding showing at the District FFA Convention held at Cedar Rapids Prairie High School on March 7, sweeping the competition in multiple Leadership Development Events!

🏅 Individual Results:
• Adam Wilke – Ag Broadcasting: 1st Gold, advancing to State
• Kamryn Keester – Ag Sales: 1st Gold, advancing to State
• Taylor Houser – Public Speaking: 1st Gold, advancing to State
• Carlee Garrity – Chapter Website: 1st Gold, advancing to State

In addition, Ruth Whitman and Dalani Beuthien served as voting delegates, helping elect the 2026–2027 District Officer team. Several FFA members also took the discovery, greenhand and chapter knowledge tests!

Congratulations to all of our FFA members for representing Central DeWitt so well! 🎉

These students will compete next at the State FFA Convention in Ames, April 19–21. Best of luck as you prepare for the next level! 💙💛

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #FFA #CentralDeWittFFA #DistrictFFAConvention #FirstGold #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

🎉 The total is in! Thanks to the generosity of all who donated or attended the CDHS Student Council Royal Ball last Friday, just over $2,800 was raised for the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

Last Friday, Ekstrand Elementary’s gym was transformed into an enchanting castle as guests enjoyed music, dancing, games, and creative activities such as crown making, castle building, face painting, and a royal photo booth. With the help of 30 dedicated volunteers, the event created a memorable night for everyone who attended!

Great job to the Student Council members, Mrs. Jory, and volunteers who worked so hard to plan and host the event! The Royal Ball was a wonderful success, bringing our community together for a meaningful cause. CDHS Student Council is already looking ahead and making big plans for another great Royal Ball next year! 👑✨

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #EkstrandElementary #RoyalBall #DanceMarathon #SaberService #SaberPride

Our CDMS STEM 7 students recently wrapped up an exciting project—designing and building their very own arcade games! 🎮

Through this hands-on project, students applied STEM skills like engineering design, problem-solving, creativity, and collaboration as they planned, built, tested, and improved their games.

Yesterday, intermediate students stopped by to play the games, giving our middle school designers a real audience for their work and a chance to see their ideas come to life. What a fun way to showcase learning in action!

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDMS #7thGrade #STEM #ArcadeGames #LearningInAction #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

It’s Work With Us Wednesday! Check out this great job opportunity available at Central DeWitt. To apply, visit https://phlaptweb36.applitrack.com/CDCSD/onlineapp/

#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #workwithuswednesday #joinoursaberfamily #jobopportunities

Parent-Teacher Conferences are here! It’s a great time to connect with your child’s teachers and celebrate the learning and growth happening in our classrooms.

As a reminder, there are a few schedule changes this week:
📅 Thursday, March 12: Early dismissal and no preschool
📅 Friday, March 13: No school

Next week students will head into Spring Break—a well-deserved chance to rest, recharge, and enjoy some time with family and friends. 🌷

We’ll see everyone back at school on Monday, March 23, ready for a strong finish to the school year!

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #CDMS #CDIS #EkstrandElementary #ParentTeacherConferences #EarlyOut #NoSchool #HaveAGreatSpringBreak #S

On Feb.19th, Mrs. Barnes and Mrs. Grantz traveled bright and early to Des Moines with six Central DeWitt students for CTE Day at the Capitol. This important event is where students, educators, and industry partners showcase high-quality Career and Technical Education programs to legislators, highlighting how CTE prepares students for in-demand careers and advocating for continued support.

While at the Capitol, our students were introduced on the Senate floor by Senator Mike Zimmer and received a standing ovation. They also had the opportunity to meet with State Representatives Tom Determan and Norlin Mommsen.

Throughout the day, students explored CTE booths in the Rotunda and networked with other FFA and FCCLA Chapters. They also sat in on a legislative subcommittee meeting, giving them a firsthand look at how a bill moves through the legislative process.

One FCCLA member even had the opportunity to register to vote in front of the Iowa Constitution — a memorable moment highlighting the importance of civic engagement and participating in the democratic process.

What a great a great experience for our students!

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #CTE #CareerAndTechnicalEducation #FFA #FCCLA #IowaWorkforce #CTEDay #IowaCapitol #DesMoines #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

🎉 What an incredible week we had celebrating Inclusion Week! Our students and staff truly showed what it means to Choose to Include.

The week kicked off with energetic assemblies across the district. At Ekstrand Elementary, the Unified Special Olympics basketball team faced off against the Ekstrand Buddy Leaders in a fun and spirited game. At Central DeWitt Intermediate School, the team took on teachers and staff, bringing plenty of laughs and cheers from the crowd. The excitement continued with a combined Central DeWitt Middle School and High School assembly where the Unified team matched up against the girls JV basketball team.

A highlight at each assembly were the incredible performances by the Unified Special Olympics Dance Teams, who wowed the crowd with their routines. These talented dancers will soon be heading to the Special Olympics State competition, and we wish them the very best!

Midweek, students across the district signed a banner pledging to “Choose to Include,” reinforcing the importance of kindness, acceptance, and belonging for everyone.

Throughout the week, students also participated in dress-up days, coloring contests, and poster contests, all centered around celebrating inclusion.

The week concluded with a parade honoring our athletes and Unified partners, a wonderful way for the school community to recognize the dedication, teamwork, and spirit these students bring to our schools every day.

Thank you to everyone who helped make Inclusion Week such a meaningful celebration. Together, we continue to build a school community where everyone belongs. 💜💛

Check out all the fun: https://youtu.be/5d30T2mX5EU

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #EkstrandElementary #CDIS #CDMS #CDHS #InclusionWeek2026 #ChooseToInclude #InclusionMatters #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding #NationalUnifiedChampionSchools #SpecialOlympics #UnifiedPartners

🏆 Congratulations to our February 2026 #SaberSpotlight students! #SaberSpotlight recognizes Central DeWitt students who stand out in the classroom and represent what it means to be a SABER!

#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #SaberSpotlight #studentssucceeding #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary

The Central DeWitt Archery State online store is now open! This is a great opportunity for everyone to grab Central DeWitt Archery gear and show support for the Sabers’ archers as they prepare to compete at the state tournament.

Congratulations to the 66 Central DeWitt archers who will be attending the Iowa NASP State Tournament at the end of March! This is an incredible achievement for the program and a true testament to the hard work and dedication these students have shown throughout the season. We’re proud of you, Sabers! 💜💛

🛒 Order here:
https://stores.teamelitesports.com/central_dewitt_archery/shop/home
⏰ The store closes on March 12.
📦 Order Pickup:
Central DeWitt Intermediate School
March 23 from 6–8 p.m.

Thank you to for supporting the Central DeWitt Archery Club. Your support means so much as these students represent Central DeWitt at the state tournament! 🎯🏹

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #CDMS #CDIS #CentralDeWittArcheryClub #StateTournament #StateBound #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

🎓 Meet Anna Prosise, one of our seniors who has a bright future ahead of her! Way to go, Anna!

The Senior Spotlight is created by CDHS AmeriCorps Student Leaders Niya Miller and Zoey Fuglsang. In this role, they serve as a resource for their peers in planning and preparing for post-secondary options. They help with scholarships, college applications, FAFSA, work-based learning opportunities, and more.

#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #seniorspotlight #ClassOf2026 #americorpsstudentleaders #careerandcollegeready #postsecondaryoptions #saberssucceeding

🩸 Sign Up to Donate at the NHS Blood Drive! The Central DeWitt High School National Honor Society is hosting a Blood Drive on March 12, 2026, from 2:30–6:30 p.m., and they are looking for donors to help make a life-saving difference.

Every donation helps patients in need, and this is a great way to support a meaningful cause right here in our community. Please consider signing up for a time to donate and help our students make this event a success.

📍 Please note: The location has changed. The blood drive will now be held in the Aux Gym at the high school rather than the cafeteria.

Thank you for supporting our National Honor Society students and helping save lives!

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #NationalHonorSociety #NHS #BloodDrive #SaveLives #SignUpToday #DonateBlood #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

🍩💜 Treat yourself and support a great cause! 💛🍩 The Central DeWitt After Prom Hurts Donut Fundraiser is back! Every Hurts Dozen for $25 you order helps create a safe, fun, and FREE After Prom night for our juniors and seniors.

📅 Order by March 12 here: https://bit.ly/47dsUVL
📦 Pick up: April 2

Sweet donuts + supporting students = a win-win. Thanks for helping make After Prom unforgettable! ✨

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #CentralDeWittAfterProm #Fundraiser #SupportOurStudents #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

🇺🇸 We are proud to recognize Central DeWitt Middle School ELA Teacher Diana Van Hal, who was honored by the DeWitt American Legion and Auxiliary of Post 238 for her outstanding commitment to patriotism in the classroom.

This meaningful project began when Mrs. Van Hal’s friend reached out asking for letters to be written to members of the Iowa National Guard following the tragic loss of two Iowa soldiers in Syria. Mrs. Van Hal saw this as a great opportunity to teach students the importance of letter writing in ELA, even in an age when technology is relied on so heavily.

After hearing another CDMS teacher, Mr. Machovec, share his positive experience of receiving letters from students while serving in the National Guard, the 8th graders wrote a total of 126 letters to service members. Students worked through the full writing process—drafting, editing, and revising—before hand-writing final copies on decorative paper. Some of the most reluctant writers found the project especially meaningful, knowing their words could make a real difference in a soldier’s life.

The letters were delivered to the Blue Star Mothers of Iowa and included in care packages sent to service members across all branches serving in the Middle East, including members of the Iowa National Guard stationed in Syria.

We are proud of Mrs. Van Hal for creating an authentic learning experience that connected classroom instruction with real-world impact, and proud of our students for showing empathy, patriotism, and a genuine desire to support those serving our country.

What a powerful reminder that classrooms can build both confident learners and compassionate citizens! 💜💛

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDMS #AmericanLegionAuxiliary #Post238 #Patriotism #LetterWriting #LettersForSoldiers #SaberPride #SabersSucceeding

‼️ IMPORTANT UPDATES BELOW: The CDHS Student Council invites young princes and princesses to a magical Royal Ball this Friday, March 6, from 5–8 p.m. in the Ekstrand Elementary Gym. This Dance Marathon fundraiser benefits University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital and is especially perfect for Ekstrand students—though all are welcome!

🔔 Before attending, please note these important updates:
➡️ All guests must enter through Door #3
➡️ Parents/guardians must accompany their child for the duration of the event

The castle will come alive with royal fun, including a special appearance by Miss Iowa Teen Fiona Treiber, along with:

👑 Crown making & castle building
🎨 Face painting & glittery hair braiding
🎯 Games, coloring, and more
📸 A royal photo booth
🍿 Snacks fit for royalty
💃 Plenty of dancing

🎟 Admission is $5 and will be PAID AT THE DOOR, with most activities costing $1–$2. Every dollar raised supports children and families served by the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital.

✨ Please note: While this event is located at Ekstrand Elementary, it is a CDHS Student Council event. For questions, contact CDHS Student Council Advisor Jana Jory at jana.jory@cd-csd.org.

Thank you for supporting this meaningful event that brings students, families, and the school community together for a wonderful cause.

#GoSabers #CentralDeWittCSD #CDHS #EkstrandElementary #RoyalBall #DanceMarathon #SaberService #SaberPride

It’s Work With Us Wednesday! Be part of a team that champions academic excellence, outstanding opportunities and an exceptional experience for every student! To apply, visit https://phlaptweb36.applitrack.com/CDCSD/onlineapp/

#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #workwithuswednesday #joinoursaberfamily #jobopportunities #preschoolteacher #chidlcaredirector #sabercubscare