Posted: March 28, 2024

April 2024

New Bus Camera and Ridership System

The buses at Maquoketa Valley have just been equipped with new cameras and ridership software. These cameras allow footage to be viewed live and also be easily downloadable if necessary. The old cameras required us to pull a hard drive and search for footage. Sometimes the old hard drives worked and sometimes they did not resulting in a system we could not depend upon.

There are 3 cameras inside the bus and two additional cameras near the stop arm. One of these stop arm cameras looks forward and the other looks to the rear which should provide us good coverage if vehicles should run the stop sign. It is very dangerous for vehicles to pass a bus when the stop arm is out but unfortunately the number of incidents of this happening has been increasing. If a bus driver sees a vehicle pass the bus when the stop arm is out, they can hit a button and mark the footage on the camera which can then be viewed and downloaded by administrators.

The ridership software will allow us to know which students have entered or exited the bus and also provide drivers step-by-step directions for their routes. This will provide us valuable information in the event of an accident or delay due to a mechanical issue on a bus. We will be implementing the ridership software over the next few months. We must build each bus route in the software program so this will take much of the spring and summer to complete. More information will be coming when we implement this system.

The cameras and ridership programs will significantly increase our ability to support our bus drivers and know which students we are transporting each day. Our goal is to have complete implementation by next fall.

New Music Room

In our elementary wing at Delhi, we currently have two fifth grade classrooms. Next year, we will have three sections due to a larger number of students moving through the elementary. We will have three sections of third, fourth, and fifth grade. This leaves us short of a classroom. The classroom we want to use for the new fifth grade class is currently used as our music room.

Being short a classroom because we have a larger number of students moving through our elementary is a good problem to have. Our solution is to take part of the room across from the elementary kitchen that is currently used for storage and turn it into a music room. In this photo, we will construct a wall and use the right side as the classroom and the remainder of the space for a storage area for our lifts and other items. We will start constructing this room in early April and will have it ready for our students next fall. Mr. Dreessen, the elementary music teacher, has been involved in the planning of the new space and we should have a great new room for the students to use next year.

Character Strong Trait for April

We are excited to focus on Courage this month! One way to think about Courage is “choosing what is helpful, right, and kind even when it is hard or scary.”

Here are some ways you can talk about courage at home with your children:

What’s something that you’ve been afraid to discuss with your child/ren?
Discuss as a family ways they can practice Courage.
Can you describe how flexible thinking helps you to make Kind choices?
Share with me how you use flexible thinking to help show Courage.

From the desk of Ms. Imler

From the desk of Mrs. Wright

The 4th graders worked extremely hard during our American Revolution module in literacy by exploring different texts on colonial perspectives during the Revolutionary War. Students then applied what they learned about the American Revolution and opinion writing to write their own broadside persuading someone to either be a Patriot or a Loyalist. The students then showcased all of their hard work by presenting their broadsides and dressing up as someone living in the colonial times. This was such a fun day in 4th Grade!

From the desk of Ms. Gibbs

From the desk of Mrs. Krapfl

Our class had excellent participation during the “Coin Wars.” We raised over $300 to buy books from the Scholastic Book Fair for our classroom. I can’t thank the parents and students enough for their support. The students are so excited for these books to be ready to check out.

The students wrote narratives about discovering a fossil of their own. They shared these paleontology stories with the first graders.

Our new topic of study in literacy is pollination. The students are learning about the process of pollination, as well as different pollinators and their importance. They are learning how to use text features to help them efficiently gather information.

In science we have started a study on plants and insects. We are currently learning about plants. Our mealworms, milkweed bugs, and caterpillars will be arriving soon. We will be studying these throughout the entire 4th quarter. This is such a fun way to end the school year.

In math we are currently learning how to add and subtract two and three digit numbers with and without regrouping. The students are learning a variety of strategies that can be used to solve these problems

From the desk of Mrs. Besler

Time is flying and we have been busy in Science class!

Earth science recently finished learning about the rock cycle, as well as how glaciers shaped our landscape in Iowa. They created model glaciers with slime, and saw how glaciers can pick up and move sediment (glitter). They also practiced writing a scientific claim, and backing it up with evidence from the lab.

Physical science has been learning all about force and motion. They learned how Newton’s laws affect the motion of objects, and different representations of force. They had a challenge of applying their knowledge of forces to protect a raw egg dropped from the ceiling of the classroom. The only supplies they were allowed to use were 5 sheets of printer paper, and a meter of tape to protect the egg. If the egg “survived” the fall, we tested it out from the top of the bleachers! It was a lot of fun!

AP Physics also applied their knowledge to an egg, but in a different way. They have been learning about momentum and impulse, and how safety features like seatbelts and helmets are designed around these concepts. They built airbags to protect an egg passenger, and then talked about why airbags work from a physics perspective.

From the desk of Mrs. Jaeger

We have great news!!

Nami is coming to the Maquoketa Valley community on April 24th. Keep this date open!!! This is such a great opportunity for our community to learn more about youth mental health, and how to support our kids. Keep an eye out for more information, in your emails, on facebook and in your students backpacks. We are hoping for a good turn out.

The Learning Continues for Middle School & High School Teachers

During our Wednesday professional development time, teachers engage in various activities to support student learning. Teachers work on their self-initiated career development plan, meet in building teams to discuss the needs of the students in regards to attendance, behavior, and academic performance, and participate in professional learning communities with their content areas. Each team has shared an update on their Content Team learning thus far in the school year.

The ELA Content Team has been working together to review novels for grades 7-12. Our time together allows us to look at reading levels, age-appropriateness, and content for current novels being taught as well as possible novel additions. The middle school teachers are adding new and exciting titles to their historical fiction, dystopian, suspense, and adventure novel units. The high school teachers are reviewing novels/dramas for English 1, Intro to Literature, and English 2. Our team is also incorporating authentic learning “quick wins,” social-emotional learning, and employability skills into our unit plans.
In the fall of 2022, the CTE Team purchased an Epson poster printer using funds allocated from the Carl D. Perkins Federal Grant program. The goal of this purchase was to allow students to bring their graphic designs to life, while also starting a school-based enterprise for students to run. During the 2023-2024 school year, our team has dedicated their time to learning the functions of the printer, while also laying the groundwork for the students to be able to operate the CTE business.
The Social Studies and World Language Team uses its Wednesday collaboration time in multiple ways. We support each other with feedback about new lesson ideas, analysis of assessment data, and general instruction management. We have been researching the role Artificial Intelligence can play in our classrooms while also examining the “pitfalls” of AI. Additionally, we spend time researching socio-cultural learning.
The Music, Art, and PE Team have been working on offering more student choice into our rehearsals, projects, and activities. As a team, we have spent our content team time brainstorming ways to include the students and allow them to have a voice in their education. This has included deciding on rules for a game, choosing music for an upcoming concert, and picking materials and subjects for art projects.
The Science Team has been exploring incorporating the Open-Sci Ed curriculum into our current curriculum. Open-Sci Ed focuses on phenomenon-led exploration. We are piquing student curiosity while increasing science literacy.
The K-12 Special Education Content Team has engaged in collaborative learning during our monthly meetings. Each month, one or two special education teachers have been sharing information with other team members on various educational topics such as differentiated instruction, autism spectrum disorder, augmentative communication, people-first language, student support plans, and Phelan McDermid Syndrome. Additionally, the Special Education Content Team continues to work with our Keystone AEA consultants, who provide updates and answer any questions related to the ACHIEVE IEP system.
The Math Team has been looking at Artificial Intelligence (AI) resources for our classrooms. We wanted to get a better understanding of how AI works and how we can use it in a positive way. We have found many great uses and will be looking at how to implement these ideas into our classes.

Volunteer Opportunities Wanted

If you have an opportunity for students to volunteer their time, please contact Diane Temple at dianetemple@maquoketa-v.k12.ia.us and she will share the information with students. Please include a description of what help is needed and contact info for someone students can reach out to.

Food Service Need to Know

Check your current lunch account balance: Log into your online account or call/email Morgan Nefzger to get your current lunch account balance. You can make deposits at any time.

Free/Reduced Applications: These forms must be filled out as soon as possible so we have enough time to process your application and correct your registration fees. Free/Reduced applications can be found online, or there are copies in the Delhi Middle School/Elementary Office.

Salad Bar: This year, there will be a salad bar offered to 7th-12th grade students and all adult employees Monday-Friday. The salad bar will be an alternate meal choice. You will not be able to get the salad bar in addition to the main meal being offered. The salad bar will be located in the High School cafeteria area.

Snack Items: Students in Junior Kindergarten-Fourth Grade have the option of taking a snack item each day. Depending on the week Junior Kindergarten-second grade will have the option of cheese stick, goldfish crackers, single serve honey nut cheerios, nature valley oats and honey granola bar, teddy grahams, or single serve kix Cereal. Third-fourth grade can choose between a granola bar or a cheese stick. Regardless if you qualify for Free/Reduced benefits, you will still be charged the full $0.35 per snack item. Snack items are charged to your account every Friday for the entire week.

Meal Pricing for the 23/24 school year:

Student breakfast: $1.85

Earlville & Johnston & Delhi Elementary Student Lunch: $2.55

Middle School & High School Student Lunch $2.80

Snack Item: $0.35

Extra Entree: $2.00

Extra Milk: $0.65

Extra Juice: $0.70

Charging on negative Accounts: Be sure to watch your lunch account balance. If your family lunch account reaches an amount of Negative $50.00 or more, students will be given an alternate meal until the account balance is improved. An alternate meal due to low account balance will still be a full meal however the entree will be a deli sandwich with and no additional seconds or ala carte items. Starting on September 6th invoices will be sent out to families with negative balances and your student(s) will receive a deli sandwich until your account has been replenished. Invoices will be sent out every Tuesday via email.

Alternate main course meal option: This year, we will have an alternate main course substitute at each meal. This substitute will consist of, a deli sandwich. Students may choose this instead of the main course any given day.

How and where to deposit lunch money: You can always send lunch money with your students to turn in to the secretary at their building, or you can go online and make deposits into your account.

Link to useful forms:

Food Service Information

Free & Reduced Meal Program Information

RevTrak Online Payments

Total Access Lunch

August Lunch Menu

If you have any questions pertaining to the Free and Reduced Meals, you can contact Morgan Nefzger at morgannefzger@maquoketa-v.k12.ia.us

Maquoketa Valley Activity Calendar

This can be found on the website. Please check that for all activities.

Cancellations will be updated on the Maquoketa Valley Website.

Text Alert System

We will be using your information in Power School to alert you. It is important to have your current phone number and email updated. If you have any questions or issues, please call Sarah Lown in the high school office at 563-922-2091.

Maquoketa Valley 2023-2024 School Calendar

Annual Notice of Nondiscrimination

The Maquoketa Valley High School offers career and technical programs in the following areas of study:

Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources

Applied Sciences, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing

Business, Finance, Marketing and Management

Human Services

It is the policy of the Maquoketa Valley Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy please contact Dave Hoeger, 107 South Street, Delhi, Iowa 52223; 563-922-2091; davehoeger@maquoketa-v.k12.ia.us