Central DeWitt School District -

REMINDER! Tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. CDHS will host Senior Decision Day to celebrate the plans our seniors have made regarding their futures. Parents are invited to attend and we will also be live streaming the event here: https://youtube.com/live/BdBV0X5hfGs?feature=share We're excited to celebrate the future plans of our graduating class! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #seniordecisionday2024 #classof2024

UPDATED DATE AND TIME! Friday, May 3rd the DeWitt Youth Soccer participants will be recognized at the conclusion of the varsity boys soccer game at 5:30 p.m. The game begins at 4 p.m. followed by the girls varsity game at 5:30 p.m. after the youth recognition. Youth participants should line up on the soccer practice field at 5:15 p.m. We're looking forward to helping recognize all of the youth soccer players! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #sabersoccer #youthrecognitionnight

💜💛 Congratulations to our April 2024 District Student of the Month Alice Sechrest! She is featured in today's edition of The Observer thanks to our friends at First Central State Bank. For Agricultural Science Teacher Amy Grantz, having a reliable and proactive teaching aide like senior Alice Sechrest has been an invaluable asset and the reason she nominated Alice for Student of the Month. As a teacher’s aide, Alice helps Mrs. Grantz with a variety of tasks from making copies of assignments to helping care for plants in the greenhouse to cleaning in the workshop. Alice not only fulfills her assigned tasks with efficiency but also takes the initiative to tackle additional responsibilities, ensuring that every aspect of the ag classroom runs as smoothly as possible. “Her initiative is second to none,” Mrs. Grantz said. ”When I have a sub, she always asked the sub if they need anything or if she can help in any way. She has even gone to the level of creating material for my sub that was useful to the class.” For Alice, being Mrs. Grantz's aide is not just a responsibility; it's a perfect fit that aligns with her deepest passions. With a love for plants and a genuine enjoyment of caring for and learning about animals, it's an opportunity to immerse herself in a world that fuels her curiosity and ignites her sense of purpose. She plans to become a veterinary technician after graduation and then follow in Mrs. Grantz’s footsteps by becoming an ag teacher. Alice attributes much of her inspiration and drive to Mrs. Grantz, whose classes and mentorship have played a pivotal role in shaping her aspirations. She envisions herself as a teacher one day so she can offer future students the same enriching experiences and invaluable lessons that she herself has received. What truly sets Alice apart is her compassion and unwavering commitment to helping others. Every school day she chooses to spend her open blocks helping Mrs. Burbach with physical education classes rather than leaving for the day. When asked why she volunteers her time, she said it gives her an opportunity to work directly with students which she enjoys and will help her in future endeavors. Alice is a shining example of what it means to be a SABER. She is a dedicated student, a compassionate individual, and a true asset to Central DeWitt. #gosabers #cdcsdstudentofthemonth #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #firstcentralstatebank #saberssucceeding

Happy School Principal’s Day to these remarkable individuals! Today, we celebrate Mr. Miller, Mr. Lueders, Mr. Petsche, and Mr. Pickup who not only lead with wisdom and compassion but also serve as exemplary role models for students. They continually offer support, encouragement and a guiding hand through every challenge. Thank you for your unwavering commitment to education and dedication to creating a positive school environment! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #happyprincipalsday #nationalprincipalsday #schoolprincipalday #saberleadership #weloveourprincipals

After navigating a few obstacles and waiting on the Iowa legislature, we are excited to finally share the 2024-2025 Central DeWitt School Calendar. The calendar can also be found anytime on our website under “Calendar” in the menu. As determined by the state, the earliest we can start the school year is Aug. 23, 2024. That will make our last day of the 2024-2025 school year June 4th. As you know, Iowa weather can be unpredictable and while the last day of school is planned for June 4th, there may be days we need to make up at the end of the year. Please take that into consideration when making plans for next summer. If you have any questions please contact Superintendent Dan Peterson at dan.peterson@cd-csd.org or (563) 659-4705. #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #schoolcalendar #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary

💜🎉💛 Congratulations to Assistant Superintendent Jen Vance who was selected as the 2024 Central Office Administrator of the Year by the School Administrators of Iowa! Throughout her years at CDCSD, Mrs. Vance has demonstrated exemplary leadership qualities, inspiring both educators and students to strive for excellence. She has been instrumental in implementing innovative programs, fostering a positive school culture, and ensuring the success and well-being of our entire school community. They could not have picked a more deserving person to receive this award. We are so proud of you, Mrs. Vance! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #jenvance #2024centralofficeadministratoroftheyear #sai #saberssucceeding #saberpride #congratulationsmrsvance

At Central DeWitt we believe every student should have the opportunity to explore post-secondary options before graduation. Last Thursday, sophomores had that chance. Each student was able to visit two of the following locations: Millwrights/Carpenters Union, Black Hawk Community College, Scott Community College, Blong Technology Center, St. Ambrose University, or Western Illinois University-Moline Campus. It was a great experience for our sophomores who learned more about these campuses and all they have to offer! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #sophomores #postsecondaryoptions #planningforthefuture #careerandcollegevisits #saberssucceeding

It’s National Therapy Animal Day! Join us in celebrating our amazing therapy dogs and the dedicated Central DeWitt employees who care for them! National Therapy Animal Day recognizes the positive role therapy dogs play in offering emotional support, reducing stress, contributing to cognitive development, improving socialization, and enhancing overall well-being, contributing to a positive and supportive learning environment. It’s also safe to say that Malibu, Hershey, Digit and Otis are some of the most popular staff members at Central DeWitt! Thank you for all you do for our students and staff! Pictured: Technology STEM Teacher Terri Smith and Digit, Ekstrand Elementary School Counselor Tanya Glennon and Malibu, 5th Grade Teacher Christina Walls and Hershey, and Special Education Teacher Tara Michel and Ottis #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #therapydogs #nationaltherapyanimalday #thanksforhelpingourstudents

‼️ Beginning tomorrow ALL Central DeWitt morning transportation route times will be moved forward by five minutes for the remainder of the school year due to the closure of 6th Avenue and 11th Street. This will allow extra time to navigate detours and traffic congestion caused by the construction and ensure we are getting our students to school on time. For more information about the street closure please visit the City of DeWitt Facebook page or their website https://www.cityofdewittiowa.org/ If you have questions regarding school transportation routes, please contact the CDCSD Transportation and Operations Department at (563) 659-0706. Thank you for your cooperation and understanding! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #busroutes #transportationroutes #timechange #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary

Help our students reach their fundraising goal! This Wednesday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. Central DeWitt will participate in the Cool School Polar Plunge. The polar plunge is a fundraiser to benefit our Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners as well as the 9,100 other Special Olympic athletes and Unified partners throughout the state. Every 4th-12th grade student who raised $25 or more will leap into the icy waters of a portable plunge pool provided by Special Olympics Iowa. Central DeWitt High School Principal George Pickup, Central DeWitt Intermediate Principal Spencer Lueders and the Central DeWitt Middle School therapy dog, “Digit,” will be taking the plunge because their respective schools have met their fundraising goals for this year. Homerooms that have raised at least $250 will be choosing a staff member to plunge as well! In 2022, Central DeWitt raised over $10,000 and was the first school district in Iowa to have the Cool School Polar Plunge. You can help is reach out goal this year by donating here: https://www.classy.org/campaign/2024-central-dewitt-cool-school-plunge/c548745 or by contacting any 4th-12th grade Central DeWitt student! The Cool School Polar Plunge will take place in the parking lot behind the middle school by the tennis courts. We hope you can come out and celebrate our students' fundraising efforts! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #coolschoolpolarplunge #centraldewittspecialolympics #specialolympicsiowa #saberpride #sabersucceeding #taketheplunge

Fifth graders are getting ready to read the "The Case of a Missing Fossil," where they will act as detectives gathering clues and evidence as the plot unfolds. In the end, they will write a police report to present to the sheriff (teacher). They are doing all of this while also exploring how matter can be transformed by physical and chemical changes which connects to the matter unit in science they learned earlier this year. To prepare them for this assignment, Clinton County Sheriff's Detective Scott Wainwright spoke to the students about how detectives solve crimes. He showed them how to secure a crime scene, how to look for and gather evidence and even fingerprinted a few students! He ended his time at CDIS answering a lot of questions about all of the fascinating cases he has worked on over the years. Good luck to our Saber sleuths and thank you to Detective Wainwright for taking the time to teach our students how to be great detectives! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdis #fifthgrade #5thgrade #thecaseofthemissingfossil #sabersleuths #saberdetectives #handsonlearning

ATTENTION STUDENTS AND PARENTS: The end of the year is fast-approaching and that means all K-12 school library books MUST be returned by FRIDAY, MAY 17TH. Thank you for your cooperation! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #librarybooksduemay17 #returnyourbooks #mediacenter

CDHS Horticulture students have been working hard to get ready for the grand opening of the FFA Greenhouse happening Wednesday, May 1st from 1:30-5 p.m.! An assortment of hanging baskets, potted arrangements, petunias, geraniums and vegetables will be available for purchase on a first come, first served basis. For questions please contact Amy Grantz at amy.grantz@cd-csd.org or (563) 659-4732. We look forward to seeing you there! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #horticulturestudents #ffa #ffagreenhouse #ffagreenhousegrandopening #saberpride #saberssucceeding

Thank you everyone who took the time to participate in the Central DeWitt Stakeholder Survey. Your insights have helped the Central DeWitt Community School Board identify key priorities in the search for a new superintendent. If you have additional thoughts, please reach out to a school board member. Their contact information can be found here: https://www.cd-csd.org/page/board-of-education-members To see the survey results visit: https://bit.ly/3xQXPbz

On Thursday, May 2nd at 10:30 a.m. CDHS will host Senior Decision Day to celebrate the plans our seniors have made regarding their futures. Each senior will be recognized for their postsecondary plans whether it be attending a university, college, or trade school, joining the military, starting an apprenticeship, entering the work force or still deciding. We are inviting parents of the seniors to join us for this event at the Central DeWitt Performing Arts Center. If you cannot attend, we encourage you to watch the live stream here: https://youtube.com/live/BdBV0X5hfGs?feature=share We're looking forward to this special event! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #seniordecisionday2024 #classof2024

🎓 Meet senior Tyler Ritz who has great advice for younger students! Way to go, Tyler! The Senior Spotlight is created by CDHS AmeriCorps Student Leaders Aubrey Vance and Tori Rheingans. In this role, Aubrey and Tori 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 #americorpsstudentleaders #careerandcollegeready #postsecondaryoptions #saberssucceeding

Third graders had an experience this morning that was out of this world! They spoke with former astronaut and Central DeWitt graduate David Hilmers through a video call. Students learned all about being in space as well as things about Dr. Hilmers including that one of his favorite foods to eat while in space was shrimp cocktail. He also shared that it was a tradition for astronauts to take a sandwich with them on each flight. Hilmers flew on several missions including the first flight of Atlantis in 1985 and the 1988 mission which was the first flight to follow the Challenger tragedy. He logged over 493 hours in space. During his 12 years with NASA, he also worked as a capsule communicator, helped develop and test space suits, developed flight software and more. Hilmers was selected as an astronaut in 1980 but before that he attended Cornell College and served in the Marine Corps becoming a colonel and earning a master’s degree in electrical engineering. After retiring from NASA and the Marin Corps in 1992, he went to medical school and became a doctor which had always been his dream. Dr. Hilmers has five degrees making him the second most educated astronaut in history. And, this is a very abbreviated version of the incredible work Dr. Hilmers has done in his lifetime and continues to do today. What an inspiring story to share with our students! Thank you, Dr. Hilmers, for answering all of our students’ questions (and staying up late since it was 11:15 p.m. in Sydney, Australia where he currently lives)! You are truly a hero and we are beyond proud to call you a fellow SABER! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #ekstrandelementary #thirdgrade #formerastronaut #davidhilmers #centraldewittgraduate #hero #nasa #learningisfun #outofthisworld #centraldewittalumni #saberssucceeding

We encourage you to join us Monday, April 29th at 5 p.m. for our Community Conversation event in the CDMS Media Center. Superintendent Dr. Dan Peterson, CFO Sarah Johnston, and two school board members will be available to listen to your thoughts and answer questions. Then join us for the Central DeWitt School Board Meeting that begins at 6 p.m. in the CDMS Media Center. You can also attend the school board meeting via Zoom: https://cd-csd.zoom.us/j/83191015724?pwd=aEw3bzg2bXdXdWxLRThnV1A1cHJlZz09 To view the agenda for Monday night’s meeting, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/ia/central/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D33RLN6E856C Community Conversation will take place before all regularly scheduled board meetings (not work sessions). We look forward to seeing you! #gosabers #centrldewittcsd #schoolboard #communityconversation #centraldewittcommunityconversation #centraldewittschoolboard #schoolboardmeeting

Yesterday Central DeWitt’s National Honor Society (NHS) hosted the EmpowerHer Leadership Summit to promote leadership in young women. The event was attended by young women in NHS from Central Dewitt, Calamus Wheatland and Northeast High Schools. During the event, 13 area women shared their stories of how they haven broken barriers to become leaders in their community and work. After the they shared their stories, members of NHS had a roundtable discussion to get to know more about each leader's story. It was a great experience for the students to hear the different paths these women took and the different ways women can be leaders in all facets of life. Thank you to all of the speakers who shared their inspiring stories: • Jen Vance, Central DeWitt Assistant Superintendent • D’Anne Kroemer, Pleasant Valley Athletic Director • Julie Higgs, Interim Pastor at Zion Evangelical Luthern Church in Clinton • Andrea Howard, Calamus Wheatland 7-12 Principal • Pam Duncan, Retired Physical Education Teacher and Coach who brought women’s sports to • Central DeWitt • Karla Watters, Director of Global Internal Audit at John Deere • Kathryn Ehrke, Civil Engineer/Manager of Program, Data, Quality Management at John Deere • Katherine Wilcox, EICC Welding Instructor • Sarah Johnston – Central DeWitt Chief Financial Officer • Sarah Watson – Quad City Times Journalist • Sarah Jurgens – Vice President Commercial Ag Lending / Credit Administration Manager at DeWitt Bank & Trust • Elaine Franck – Program Technician at USDA Farm Service Agency • Angela Rheingans – DeWitt Chamber & Development Company President & CEO, Vice President Central. DeWitt School Board #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdhsnationalhonorsociety #nhs #calamuswheatlandhighschool #northeasthighschool #empowerherleadershipsummit #womeninleadership #saberssucceeding

🎓 Meet senior Isaac DeHaven who has a bright future ahead of him! Way to go, Isaac! The Senior Spotlight is created by CDHS AmeriCorps Student Leaders Aubrey Vance and Tori Rheingans. In this role, Aubrey and Tori 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 #americorpsstudentleaders #careerandcollegeready #postsecondaryoptions #saberssucceeding