Month: December 2023

Three Decorah Middle School teams competed at the state mock trial competition in Des Moines on November 27 and 28.  All finished in the top 15 at the state competition.

Two teams placed in the top ten, earning state trophies. The team of Poppy Bellrichard, Isaac Bentley, Maxwell Goodner, Oscar Grimstad, Kaya Johnson, Sophia McGee, Raelyn Newhouse, Oak Pasche, Nils Peterson, and Davis Walter won the eighth-place trophy. The team of Austin Bohner, Isaiah Bonnet, Rosella Burkholder, Charly Courtney, Nathaniel Crose, Robert Davis, June Fassbinder, Lula McAbee, Kelbi Schuman, and Veda Shimek placed ninth. The team of Matthew Burkholder, Pranav Caton, Brody Darling, Leah Garcia-Prats, Eva Hurley, Addisyn Ivy, Breyden McCain, Shree Patel, Kate Pattison, and Bristol Parker finished 14th. 

Several DMS students earned individual awards. Davis Walter was recognized as an outstanding attorney of the competition. Matthew Burkholder and Kaya Johnson earned outstanding witness awards.

DMS students ready to compete at state competition.

DMS Mock Trial students show off their awards after the state competition.

High school coaches (l-r): Grace Blikre, Lily Sandhorst, and Myla Leitz.

Every year 7th graders at Decorah Middle School immerse themselves in a cross-curricular project aimed to sharpen their skills while also experiencing the benefits of philanthropy.  Students in Mrs. Carrie Reed’s Global Studies class examine how water can create inequalities in societies by impacting health, education, hunger, and poverty. These same students read and analyze the novel “A Long Walk to Water” by Linda Sue Park in Mrs. Pamela Dambek’s language class. The project culminates in students walking from the middle school to the Upper Iowa River to collect water to carry through town on their way back to school. 

Two years ago the 7th graders raised over $5000 from donations from family and community members and other fundraisers: enough to build one well through the nonprofit organization Water to Thrive.

Recently the class of 2027–who are now 9th graders at Decorah High School–received information about how their donation became a reality: a well that benefits over 600 people in Uganda. 

Jennifer Kondelis, Programs Assistant, and Susanne Wilson, Executive Director of Water to Thrive communicated this to the teachers and students: “In addition to providing clean, safe water to hundreds of people, your well has significantly reduced the amount of time women and children spend collecting water. Women have gained the time they need to take better care of their families and engage in income-generating activities. Children now have more time to go to school and be absent less often as water-related diseases become a thing of the past.”

They added, “Included in the cost of these projects is hygiene and sanitation training for the community. Training is also provided to a local water committee (half women) that is responsible for keeping the water project in good working order, as well as establishing a maintenance fund for on-going sustainability.”

“We are grateful to have you as a partner as we commit to bring clean water to those who so desperately need it,” they concluded.

According to their website www.watertothrive.org, “Water to Thrive transforms lives in rural Africa by bringing the sustainable blessing of clean, safe water to communities in need by connecting them to social investors, congregations, schools, individuals, and community groups with a heart to make a difference.”

Plaque in Uganda showing DMS contribution to well.

Children in Uganda collecting water from the well that DMS students sponsored.

Ugandan women collect water at the well DMS students sponsored.

The Decorah FFA and Community Club members once again joined forces to organize a school-wide “food” drive to help others in their community. Students and staff donated money for this cause, knowing that a financial contribution would afford more buying power for items truly needed.

The high school students and staff donated over $2,345to the Decorah Community Food Pantry. “We always appreciate the generosity of students, staff, and even family members during this annual event,” shared Liz Fox, Community Club advisor. 

“I think it’s amazing we can come together as a school to raise the buying power of 23,453 for the food pantry.  It’s a wonderful tradition that I hope can be carried on throughout the years,” commented Braunwyn Darrington, FFA Food Drive Committee member.

More information about the Decorah Community Food Pantry can be found at https://www.decorahpantry.org/

Photo ID (l-r): Abbeke Jensen, Grace Stockman, Braunwyn Darrington, Camren Darling, Brooke Anfinson, Abby Northup, and Asmere Jensen

On Saturday, October 21 at Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo, sixteen Decorah High School and Decorah Middle School Special Olympians competed in the Northeast Iowa Regional Bowling event. First place winners for Decorah High School include Klaressa Miller, Jude Ryan, Wyatt Pleggenkuhle, Haley Stinson, Kamryn Leuenberger, Paxton Remick, and Peyton Rentschler. Placing 2^nd for the Vikings were Donnie Hrdlicka, John Lippe, and Braden Ramstad; and placing 3^rd was Brandon Thomas.

Placing 1^st for Decorah Middle School in the Regional Bowling include Aiden Farley, Sky Pasche, Zoey Lollar, and Johnathan Bean. Daniel Bean placed 3^rd for DMS. Also making the trip and not competing was Luke Thompson.

On November 18^th, the first-place finishers from DHS once again traveled to Cadillac Lanes in Waterloo to compete in the State Bowling competition. Winning Gold for Decorah were Kamryn Leuenberger and Paxton Remick. Winning Silver was Peyton Rentschler, winning Bronze were Wyatt Pleggenkuhle and Haley Stinson, and placing 4^th was Klaressa Miller.

The Decorah Special Olympics team would like to thank the Decorah High School and Middle School administrators, the All Sports Booster Club, and King Pin Entertainment Center for their continued support and encouragement for a successful season.

The Special Olympics team will be in competition again on March 3^rd for the Northeast Iowa Regional Track and Field Competition held in the UNI Dome in Cedar Falls.

DHS Senior Brandon Thomas carries the Special Olympics torch for the Opening Ceremony of the Regional event.

Group Photo – Front Row (l-r): Peyton Rentschler, Theo Green, Paxton Remick, Kamryn Leuenberger

Middle Row (l-r): John Lippe, Donnie Hrdlicka, Carly Mann

Back Row (l-r): Essa Miller, Haley Stinson, Brandon Thomas, Jude Ryan, Wyatt Pleggenkuhle, Braden Ramstad

DMS Special Olympic Bowlers (l-r): Daniel Bean, Johnathan Bean, Aiden Farley, Sky Pasche, and Zoey Lollar. (not pictured Luke Thompson)

Decorah Middle School’s four Mock Trial teams swept the Regional Competition at Waterloo earning first through fourth place among 12 teams. Three Decorah teams advanced to the State Tournament in Des Moines November 27-29.

All four Decorah teams were undefeated against their opponents at Regionals. 

This year’s competition is based on the fictional criminal case set in Manassas, Iowa.   In the case, a referee made some bad calls in a Battle Ball game and was murdered that evening.  The defendant in the case was a huge supporter of the team who lost the game due to the bad calls. The referee also had connections with the Albanian mob who may have played a role in the murder.

The team that won first place consists of Matthew Burkholder, Pranav Caton, Brody Darling, Leah Garcia-Prats, Eva Hurley, Addisyn Ivy, Breyden McCain, Shree Patel, Kate Pattison, and Bristol Parker. Second place winners include the team consisting of Poppy Bellrichard, Isaac Bentley, Maxwell Goodner, Oscar Grimstad, Kaya Johnson, Sophia McGee, Raelyn Newhouse, Oak Pasche, Nils Peterson, and Davis Walter.  The team of Austin Bohner, Isaiah Bonnet, Rosella Burkholder, Charly Courtney, Nathaniel Crose, Robert Davis, June Fassbinder, Lula McAbee, Kelbi Schuman, and Veda Shimek took third place.  Fourth place winners include the team consisting of Crosby Butler, Sofia Hageman, Ruth Kueny, Edith Marable, Harper Menke, Simon Potvin, Abigail Stevens, Ellis Thompson, and Kylie Zoulek.

A large number of Decorah students earned outstanding witness and attorney nominations from judges. While the final results have not been released, the following students were nominated as outstanding witness: Pranav Caton, Bristol Parker, Leah Garcia-Prats, Matthew Burkholder, Davis Walter, Maxwell Goodner, Nils Peterson, Kaya Johnson, Harper Menke, Crosby Butler, Edith Marable, Abigail Stevens, Sofia Hageman, Charly Courtney, Lula McAbee, Rosella Burkholder, and Nathaniel Crose.

Outstanding attorneys were also nominated by judges during the competition.  While the final results have not been released, the following students were nominated as outstanding attorneys: Leah Garcia-Prats, Kate Pattison, Pranav Caton, Addisyn Ivy, Eva Hurley, Nils Peterson, Maxwell Goodner, Sophia McGee, Davis Walter, Poppy Bellrichard, Nils Peterson, Oak Pasche, Isaac Bentley, Sofia Hageman, Harper Menke, Simon Potvin, Ellis Thompson, Rosella Burkholder, Kelbi Schumann, Charly Courtney, Robert Davis, Veda Shimek, and Lula McAbee.

Many mentors and experts assisted the DMS students in preparing for Mock Trial competition including Attorney Jacob Stock, Attorney Jeremy Thompson, and Attorney Andrew Casper. Carole Sand and Sarah Zbornik shared their mock trial expertise with students through the season. Numerous high school students also volunteered as mentors to assist students with writing and delivery. Teams are coached by Dana Hogan with the help of Scott Boylen. Mock Trial is part of the DMS Extended Learning Program.

First Place Team: Row One (l-r): Eva Hurley, Leah Garcia-Prats, Addisyn Ivy, Kate Pattison, Bristol Parker 

Row Two (l-r): Pranav Caton, Breyden McCain, Brody Darling, Matthew Burkholder, Shree Patel

Second Place Team: Row One (l-r): Nils Peterson, Isaac Bentley, Oak Pasche, Oscar Grimstad, Davis Walter 

Row Two (l-r): High school mentor Spencer Christensen, Maxwell Goodner, Sophia McGee, Raelyn Newhouse, Poppy Bellrichard, Kaya Johnson, high school mentor Myla Leitz

Third Place Team: Row One (l-r): June Fassbinder, Veda Shimek, Charly Courtney, Lula McAbee Row Two (l-r): Robert Davis, Kelbi Schuman, Rosella Burkholder, Isaiah Bonnet, Nathaniel Crose, Austin Bohner

Fourth Place Team: Row One (l-r): Sofia Hageman, Abigail Stevens, Harper Menke, Edith Marable

Row Two (l-r): Kylie Zoulek, Ellis Thompson, Ruth Kueny, Simon Potvin, Crosby Butler

The Decorah Community School District will seek the community’s engagement as it examines and addresses the facility needs at John Cline Elementary School and West Side Early Childhood Center.

Among the most pressing and expensive challenges at the schools are infrastructure and maintenance issues. Specifically, sanitary sewer systems must be replaced up to the city’s main. The current systems create plumbing problems that include toilet leaks and sewer backups. In addition, heating systems, which are more than 30 years old, have limited climate control capabilities and are approaching the end of their life expectancy. 

Leaking roofs need to be replaced and some floors show signs of settling. Asbestos can be found onsite. Additionally, playground drainage issues cause damp, decaying leaves to collect annually in the fall, creating a foul smell.

“Both John Cline and West Side have served the Decorah community well in the past,” said Dr. Tim Cronin, superintendent. “However, as is the case at many schools throughout the state, these facilities have aged to the point that providing students with a modern learning environment has become a daily challenge for the district at both sites. In the months ahead, we will be engaging our community into these needs as we work to find potential solutions.”

The two schools have architectural challenges that create limitations for students, teachers, and staff. Many classrooms have limited setup options due to size, shape, and outlet locations. There is inadequate closet space for students to store their winter gear, and there exists an insufficient number of sinks in classrooms and stalls in restrooms.  Additionally, the sharing of the gymnasium as a lunch room impacts scheduling and staff throughout the district. Moreover, previous construction to an existing building’s core structure created multiple rooms which lack windows as well as areas with poor ventilation.

Both schools lack needed space–ranging from community rooms capable of hosting meetings and conferences to shared gymnasium and lunchroom space that will not interfere with indoor activities and recess. Limited storage space in classrooms and common areas also creates challenges, and insufficient space exists for students as they engage in many activities at the playgrounds.

District administrators and officials continue to monitor the challenges presented at John Cline and West Side and work towards potential solutions.

Please direct inquiries to Dr. Tim Cronin, (563) 382-4208 or at  tim.cronin@decorah.school.