Central DeWitt School District -

The Saber Speech Team wrapped up their contest season just before spring break with more fantastic results! Competing at the State Individual Events Contest on March 11 at North Scott were 11 team members in 17 events, and every single one of them came away with at least one "I" rating from judges. Seven performances netted straight "I" ratings, which is a perfect score! To top it off, two Saber Speech members earned top honors by the Iowa High School Speech Association by receiving All State nominations! Big congratulations to Sabine Housenga and Elyce Burzlaff, who will showcase their talents at the IHSSA Individual Events All State Festival at UNI on Monday, March 27th! Sabine will perform the song, "I'll Be Here" from the musical Ordinary Days, for her Solo Musical Theatre. Elyce will perform her original After Dinner Speaking piece, "The Karen Conference." They will be recognized amongst the best of the best in the state this year! There will be a send-off for them on Friday, March 24th at 7:45 a.m. in CDHS atrium. STATE INDIVIDUAL EVENTS RESULTS STRAIGHT "I" RATINGS: Adri Kerr - Poetry, Public Address Elyce Burzlaff - After Dinner Speaking Caleb Govert - Spontaneous Speaking Rachel Spicer - Prose Sabine Housenga - Solo Musical Theatre Lacey Stoker - Reviewing OVERALL "I" RATINGS (TWO "I" RATINGS, ONE "II" RATING): Hannah Moore - Public Address Amelia House - Literary Program, Poetry Rachel Spicer - Storytelling Molly Burken - Original Oratory Jack Butler - After Dinner Speaking Caleb Govert - Improvisation OVERALL "II" RATINGS (TWO "II" RATINGS, ONE "I" RATING): Eliza Petersen - Literary Program, Improvisation Molly Burken – Poetry #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #saberspeech #saberssucceeding

We hope you had a great spring break! Freshman orientation is 6:30 p.m. tonight at the CDPAC. The CDHS Chorus Pops Concert is on Thursday at 7:30 p.m. Good luck to all those participating in the IHSMA State Solo and Ensemble Festival on Saturday! Don’t forget that tomorrow night is the FBLA Student vs. Teacher basketball game. Let’s make it a great week! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #saberactivityupdate

If you’re looking for a highly-competitive, fun time, this is the event for you! Mark your calendars to watch the student vs. teacher basketball game and 3-point contest on March 21st at the CDHS competition gym. Thank you for supporting @centraldewittfbla! #gosabers #fbla

Our Nutrition Services Department constructed a fun week of activities to celebrate National School Breakfast! Thank you to everyone who chose to “Dig into Breakfast” last week! We hope our students continue eating breakfast at school to start their day off right! EKSTRAND GRAND-PRIZE WINNERS: Carter Smith, Kenneth Eagle, Keiara Tanner, Baylie Rehr, Lukka Raymond, Amelianna Barnes, Raymond Willey and Jaylynne Short Not pictured: Natalie Creason and Abraham Cazares CDIS GRAND PRIZE WINNERS 6TH GRADE: Makinley Rock, Ashton Leibold 5TH GRADE: Veronica Santos, Charlie Feeler 4TH GRADE: Lincoln Hey, Claira Williams #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #nsbw #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #nationalschoolbreakfastweek #digintobreakfast #centraldewittnutritionservices

In real life, the infamous John Wilkes Booth never got his day in court for his role in the plot to assassinate President Abraham Lincoln. But at CDIS last week, sixth grade students held a mock trial to present the facts of the case. After deliberating, the jurors found Wilkes Booth not guilty because witnesses never saw John Wilkes Booth with a gun. Great job, Sabers! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdis #cdismocktrial #johnwilkesboothmocktrial #sixthgrademocktrial #saberssucceeding

Recently, junior Isaac DeHaven took a personalized tour of Western Illinois University to learn about all the programs available at their Moline campus. Perks of the visit for Isaac were learning WIU offers a flat tuition rate for all students (no out of state tuition), has phenomenal majors and activities, and has therapy dogs visit campus! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #westernillinoisuniversity #wiu #collegeandcareerready #saberssucceeding

Congratulations to senior Fayeth Henningsen who was chosen as the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens Award and Scholarship Contest winner for the Lawrence Van Hook chapter! Not only was Fayeth the local chapter winner, she was also selected as the ISDAR Northeast District winner! She will be recognized at the Iowa State Society DAR Annual Conference Awards Banquet on March 31st in Des Moines and at the Lawrence Van Hook Chapter Good Citizen Tea on April 15th. #goasabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs#saberssucceeding #daughtersoftheamericanrevolution #goodcitizenaward #saberpride

Last week, Central DeWitt celebrated Inclusion Week by highlighting the importance of 𝗜𝗡𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡 and honoring students of ALL ABILITIES. As a National Unified Champion School, we are dedicated to creating a welcoming environment where students of all abilities will succeed. We are so proud of our Special Olympic athletes and Best Buddies who work hard to build a more inclusive community for all. We hope you #ChooseToInclude! https://youtu.be/FXJQFCyWKIk #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrand #specialolympics #bestbuddies #inclusionweek2023 #choosetoinclude #saberpride #nationalunifiedchampionschool #saberssucceeding #choosetoinclude

Don't forget spring break is next week! There is no school March 13-17, but we look forward to seeing you again on Monday, March 20th! Enjoy your break! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #springbreak

Saber community, I want to thank everyone that voted in Tuesday's special election. I am thrilled to report that both of the votes our school district had on the ballot passed! A brief review... The Revenue Purpose Statement vote, which passed by 63.1%, allows the school district to use our SAVE (Secure and Advanced Vision for Education) or "State Penny Sales Tax" funds as we've used them in the past. Since the legislature extended the timeline of these funds, we needed to ask our voters for that approval before using the funds. The Physical Plant & Equipment Levy vote, which passed by 56.3%, allows the school district to levy up to $1.34 per taxable thousand in property tax for this fund. Our current level is $.67 per taxable thousand for this school year and the 2023-2024 school year. We voted well ahead of the expiration of our current to ensure that we could continue to have the funds. As the PPEL levy increases, our school board and I have been very clear that we have no interest in the PPEL increase causing the overall school property tax rate to increase. We are committed to offsetting any PPEL increase with our Management and Cash Reserve Levies. These funds are going to benefit our schools, community and students in so many ways! Whether it's purchasing and repairing school vehicles, maintaining facilities, updating technology, or so many other things we use these funds for, they will benefit many for years to come! Thank you! Sincerely, Dr. Dan Peterson Superintendent

Congratulations to Brooklyn Walls who won the Sixth Grade Geography Bee on Thursday! Other finalists were: Maddie Thole (runner-up), Kaleb Crandall, Greyson Grell, Lane Johnston, and John Boelens. Students demonstrated their geographic knowledge by answering questions about states, countries, capitals, monuments and bodies of water. The event was organized and hosted by sixth graders Liam Rilea and Cody Viel. Great job by everyone who participated! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdis #geographybee #sixthgrade #saberssucceeding

Today 28 local professionals attended the Success Roundtable event to meet with juniors and share their personal journey to finding career success. This event is hosted by CDHS and the DeWitt Chamber and Development Co. Thank you to the DCDC and everyone who participated for investing in the success of our students! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdhsjuniors #dcdc #successroundtableevent #dewittchamberanddevelopmentcompany #dcdcsuccessroundtable

Due to weather, Night of the Notables at Ekstrand Elementary has been cancelled. At this time, we are working to reschedule the event but do not have a new date yet. We will share that information as soon as it's available. Thank you for understanding and please stay safe!

This morning started with a send-off for our Special Olympic athletes and Unified partners who are headed to the Spring Classic state competition in Iowa City this weekend. Our dance and basketball teams will be competing. Also, Grace McCaulley and Jess Shockey were chosen to carry the Special Olympics Iowa flag during opening ceremonies! What an honor! Good luck, Sabers! We’re cheering for you!

🎳 Congratulations to our Saber bowlers who made the MAC 2022-2023 All Conference Bowling teams! What a great achievement! ▪️ GIRLS 2ND TEAM: Jena Edwards, Kaylie Cargill ▪️ GIRLS HONORABLE MENTION: Mairead Willimack ▪️ BOYS 2nd TEAM: Eli Haack ▪️ BOYS HONORABLE MENTION: Rylan Edwards #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #saberbbowling #sabergirlsbowling #saberboysbowling #saberssucceeding #saberpride

CDIS and CDMS students spent Tuesday afternoon playing a variety of arcade games created by Ms. Smith’s STEM 8 students. Visitors to the “Saber Arcade” were given tokens to play games like pinball, foosball, basketball, and even a claw machine. STEM 8 put a lot of work into their games and by the fun students were having, we’d say it was worth it! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdms #cdis #STEM8 #centraldewittSTEM #saberssucceeding #saberarcade

Fifth grade students performed their version of the comedy “Mixed Up Fairy Tales” for classmates and family members on Tuesday. It was a great performance that told classic fairy tales in a unique and fun way. Well done, Sabers! The play was directed by 6th graders Cael Green and Liam Rilea. CAST Wiked Stepmother: Talia Stroud Frog Prince: Gavin Birt Cinderella: Joci Higgins Rumpelstiltskin: Henry Dollar Little Red Riding Hood: Shupriya Karki Magic Mirror: Nile Steward Little Bo Peep: Tegan Spain Narrator: Fysher Martin Sheep: Isaiah Sunday, Maddox Grell Cat: Tarynne Carney #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdis #fifthgradeplay #mixedupfairytales #saberssucceeding #centraldewittintermediateschool

We are excited to share that six Sabers were chosen for the 2022-2023 MAC Varsity Basketball All Conference teams. Congratulations to our athletes on this accomplishment! 🏀GIRLS BASKETBALL ▪️1ST TEAM: Lauren Walker ▪️2ND TEAM: Reagan Hofer ▪️HONORABLE MENTION: Emma Grace Hartman 🏀BOYS BASKETBALL ▪️HONORABLE MENTION: Gus Pickup, Matthew Watters, Ryan Watters #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #saberbasketball #sabergirlsbasketball #saberboysbasketball #saberssucceeding #saberpride

Our 6th, 7th, and 8th grade bands all earned Superior (1) ratings at the recent NEIBA Large Group Band Festival! The judges were very complimentary of our students for their performances and professional behavior on stage, as well as how well they accepted constructive feedback. Awesome job, Sabers! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdms #cdis #sixthgradeband #seventhgradeband #eigthgradeband #neiba #saberssucceeding #saberpride

Check out what’s happening at CDIS in the latest edition of the CDIS Minute created by 6th grader Maddie Thole! Way to go, Maddie! https://bit.ly/3Zt5Jky