Decorah High School has named Peter Essa as the recipient of the Norman C. Bradish
Scholarship for the 2023-2024 school year. He is the son of Jared and Tracy Essa. He will
attend Washington University in St. Louis and will study engineering.

Throughout high school Essa has been active in band, large group speech, National
Honor Society, robotics, soccer and cross country.

Norman Bradish created a scholarship to be awarded to a graduate of Decorah High
School who possesses high academic ability and curiosity, is liked by peers and adults,
and displays high standards of character. The recipient must agree to attend a non-
religious college outside the state of Iowa. In addition, the student must remain unmarried
until finishing his or her studies.

Decorah High School was well represented at the regional Envirothon competition: 45 DHS students–nine teams of five–recently took the regional test to qualify for the state competition. Two teams will represent Decorah at state, including last year’s defending state champions Team DNR: Lucas Arendt, Connor Evelsizer, Gabriel Hiner, Anders Lovstuen, and Aiden Nalean-Carlson. The other team to represent Decorah at state will be Team Skabush: Riley Berns, Carson Bohner, Alex McGohan, Nathan Swarbrick, and Henry Weis.

Five of the nine teams who competed should have qualified for the state competition, but the “Decorah Rule” has been in effect since 2007 after four Decorah teams qualified to compete in the state contest in 2006. Until that time, no one school had ever qualified more than two teams in the top 15. Now only the two top finishing teams from the same school are allowed to move on to state competition.

Other teams who represented Decorah are as follows:

7th place Leaf Me A Loam: Phuong Doan, Reid Kuehner, Emily Myers, Mason Myers, and Kellen Roffman

8th place Blundstone Babes: Hannah Arendt, Caden Branum, Eily Hegdahl, Lily Sandhorst, and Amelia Wadsworth

12th place The Eco Warriors: Elliot Berland, Lawrence Christman, Kathleen Delphey, Beau Newhouse, and Clarence Nimrod

Team Oh Scotland, My Scotland: Mara Branum, Elsa Christman, Mikayla Hiner, Nora Lesmeister, and Kaylie Wemark

Team Fun Run 5: Spencer Christensen, Margaret Hahn, William Hahn, Nina Sessions, and Myla Leitz

Team Squirrel Friends: Grace Blikre, Natalie Goodner, Chloe Sheffield, Ava Steine, and Kamryn Steines

Team Toni: Thatcher Brown, Thomas Davis, Jack Hammell, Owen Rix, and Oskar Swanson

The Envirothon is designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources among high school students. Envirothon challenges students to hone critical thinking skills and create inventive solutions to the complex local and global environmental and natural resource issues facing the world today, whether in the field or in the classroom. Teams of five work together while increasing their knowledge and critical thinking skills to conduct hands-on investigations, solve real-life scenarios, and answer written questions covering five categories: Aquatics, Forestry, Soils, Wildlife, and a Current Environmental Issue. Each team is tested of their knowledge of each of these categories at the regional level.

The state competition will be held at Jasper Nature Center in Granger, Iowa on April 29th. The team finishing with the top score at this year’s state competition will represent Iowa at the International Envirothon contest to be held July 28 through August 3 at Hobart and William Smith College, located in Geneva, New York.

Envirothon advisor Larry Berland remarked, “I am so proud of all of the students that participate in our school’s Envirothon program. They have stepped forward to accept the challenge that our troubled environment presents to everyone. They have and will continue to leave a positive footprint!”

The Envirothon competition, North American’s largest high school environmental education competition, is sponsored by the conservation districts of Iowa.

Team DNR (l-r): Aiden Nalean-Carlson, Lucas Arendt, Anders Lovstuen, Connor Evelsizer, and Gabriel Hiner

Team Skabush (l-r): Alex McGohan, Henry Weis, Nathan Swarbrick, Riley Berns, and Carson Bohner

When Jack Sovern, a junior at Decorah High School, noticed some of his family members owned laptops that were gathering dust, he had an idea to put them in the hands of people who could use them, starting with his classmates. Sovern is advocating for digital inclusion in the community by his initiative he calls “Laptops without Borders.” He shared, “Having grown up surrounded by technology, I believe in equal access to the internet, a sentiment shared by the United Nations in 2016 when it recognized internet access as a human right.”

Sovern continued, “While many in our town take this right for granted, some, especially recent immigrants, face barriers, particularly during the summer when school-provided computers become unavailable. To bridge this digital divide, I have launched a project to refurbish old, unused laptops.”

Community members who have laptops they are no longer using can donate them and their chargers. Sovern will securely wipe all data from them; clean, repair, and refurbish them; then donate them to people in need in Decorah and the surrounding areas. These computers will be loaded with educational software, productivity apps, a web browser, and many other tools, including a user-friendly software installer.

To coordinate donations, anyone can contact Sovern at 563-419-1114 or decorahlaptops@gmail.com.  More information can be found at qrco.de/decorah-laptop.

decorahlaptops@gmail.com.  More information can be found at qrco.de/decorah-laptop.

Jack Sovern gives computers to classmates.

DHS students Agustina, Guisela, Jack, and Fatima

Mrs. Katie Casterton’s second grade class at John Cline Elementary School recently published their own animal book. This was made possible by the McElroy Excellence in Education Enrichment Grant through Keystone AEA. Mrs. Casterton applied for the grant and received enough money for each student to have their own hardcover book published by School Mate Publishing.

The students spent time researching an animal of their choice, creating a rough draft, revising with a peer and adult, and then turning their polished writing into a page of the book. Casterton remarked, “The students enjoyed learning more about an animal of their choice and seeing their work turned into a real book!”

The purpose of the McElroy grant is to provide funding for a small but important idea a teacher has to provide enrichment to the curriculum. It includes innovative, educational experiences for students and demonstrates excellence in education.

Mrs. Casterton’s class shows off the book they collectively wrote. 

Marshall Delaney shows off his page of the class book.

The Decorah High School Music Department participated in the Iowa High School Music Association State Solo and Small Ensemble Music Festival on Saturday, March 23, at Clear Lake High School. Other schools participating include Algona High School, Charles City High School, Clear Lake High School, Crestwood High School, Forest City High School, Hampton-Dumont High School, Humboldt High School, and Waverly-Shell Rock High School.

This is an adjudicated festival in which students receive one of five division ratings for their performance: Division I “Superior” rating, Division II “Excellent” rating, Division III “Good” rating, Division IV “Fair” rating, or Division V “Poor” rating. The ratings are based on a point scale. It was a successful day for the DHS Music Department. Each judge is allowed to present one “Outstanding Performance” award for the performance they deem to be the most superior of the day. There were eleven judges overall in the vocal, orchestra, and band categories, with five of them awarding it to DHS musicians.

Students were accompanied on piano by Dean Beckman, Mary Beth Bouska, Mike Ellingsen, Cathy Evelsizer, Chris Hadley, Miko Kominami, Julia Severtson, Gabriel Hiner, Linda Martin, Kayla Scholl, David Severtson, and Nicholas Shaneyfelt.

Receiving “Outstanding Performance” awards include Libby Phillips, Vocal Solo;Claiborne Treble Singers; Grant Zilka, Baritone Saxophone Solo; Alex McGohan, Marimba Solo; and Simon Kutz, Cello Solo. 

Receiving a Perfect Score were the following: Libby Phillips, Vocal Solo; Grant Zilka, Baritone Saxophone Solo and Alto Saxophone Solo; Alex McGohan, Marimba Solo, Timpani Solo, and Xylophone Solo; Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Timpani Solo; Natalie Goodner, Marimba Solo and Piano Solo; Percussion Quintet: Alex McGohan, Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Natalie Goodner, Kealy Hines, and Liam Chamberlain; Percussion Choir; and Simon Kutz, Cello Solo. 

Division I – Superior Ratings:

Solos

Flute: Jay Hawthorn; Oboe: Ansel Kowitz; Bassoon: Noah Potvin; Alto Saxophone: Brenna Parker and Grant Zilka; Tenor Saxophone: Brenna Parker and Grant Zilka; Baritone Saxophone: Grant Zilka; Trumpet: Aitor Cuevas; Trombone: Evan Madsen; Piano; Natalie Goodner, Julia Severtson; Mallet: Natalie Goodner, Kealy Hines, Alex McGohan (2), Aidan Nalean-Carlson, Julia Severtson; Timpani: Alex McGohan, Aidan Nalean-Carlson; Violin: Spencer Christensen, Gabriel Hiner, Liam Huang, Naomi Kutz, Lauren Severtson, Gwenyth Thompson; Viola: Lucas Arendt; Cello: Simon Kutz; String Bass: Ezra Vorvick; Soprano: Mikayla Hiner, Elayna Hook, Sydney Kipp, Brynn Storhoff, Gwen Thompson; Alto: Elliana Brodbeck, Bethany Hanson, Greta Jones, Kealy Hines, Kamryn Steines, Hayley Stowe, Abbie Valkosky; Tenor: Spencer Christensen, Lucas Hanson, Libby Phillips; and Bass: Oliver Brummel, Liam Chamberlain, Ezra Harman-Wood, Gabriel Hiner, Caleb Krieg, Tyler Shaw, Joseph Stammeyer, Colin Thompson, and Ezra Vorvick.

Ensembles

Flute Choir, Woodwind Choir, Saxophone Choir,Brass Choir, Percussion Choir, Woodwind Quintet (Wemark, Kowitz, K. Walter, Wadsworth, & Potvin), Trumpet Duet (Cuevas & Kruger), Mallet Duet (McGohan & A. Nalean-Carlson), Percussion Quintet (McGohan, Goodner, Hines, Chamberlain, & A. Nalean-Carlson); String Duet: L. Severtson & N. Kutz, G. Hiner & G. Thompson; String Quartet (G. Hiner, Monreal, L. Arendt & S. Kutz); String Group (Huang, S. Christensen, C. Riley, Franzen, Kuennen & Vorvick); Piano Trio of Violin, Cello + Piano (G. Hiner, S. Kutz & J. Severtson); Piano Duet: G. Hiner & J. Severtson; Vocal Duet: E. Hook & Evelsizer, M. Hiner & G. Thompson, Brummel & Kruger; Madrigal Singers, CC Chamber Singers, CC Chamber Choir, Claiborne Treble Singers, 9th Gr. Bass Clef 10 (S. Christensen, Irwin, Nimrod, L. Christman, Courtney, Potvin, Shaw, Berland, C. Riley, C. Thompson), 9th Gr. Treble Clef 7 (Lundtvedt, Severtson, Volz, Searcy, Stockman, Cline, Rissman), VC Treble Clef 7 (M. Hiner, E. Christman, Klara Kelly, Albert, Lesmeister, Wemark), VC Bass Clef 9 (Malanaphy, J. LaBelle, Duder, Kuennen, McElree, Milburn, Harman-Wood, C. Johnson, Sassaman), CC Bass Clef 7 (L. Hanson, Newhouse, Phillips, Coppola, G. Hiner, Krieg, Sovern), CC Bass Clef 9 (Evelsizer, Kruger, Roberts, Brummel, Chamberlain, L. Hook, Stammeyer, Vorvick, Weis), Vocal Quartet (M. Hiner, G. Thompson, C. Thompson, G. Hiner).

Division II – Excellent Ratings:

Solos

Flute: Mikayla Hiner, Olivia Volkmann; Clarinet: Mikelle Havens; French Horn: Lily Sandhorst; Trombone: Colin Thompson; Mallet Percussion: Ariana Albert, Olivia Rissman, Grace Stockman; Snare Drum: Beau Newhouse; Timpani: Jackson Irwin; Drumset: Liam Chamberlain; Piano: Tyler Shaw, Olivia Volkmann; Violin: Jayden Lundtvedt, Lydia Monreal, Spencer Rix, Haylee Stravers, Kinsey White; Viola: Thatcher Brown, Madysen Lippe; Cello: Lulu Bellrichard, Grace Blikre; String Bass: Nina Sessions; Soprano: Jayden Lundtvedt, Stella Pole, Julia Severtson, Jillian Volz; Alto: Ariana Albert, Grace Blikre, Emma Cline, Olivia Rissman, Vivian Searcy, Grace Stockman, Amelia Wadsworth; Tenor: Lawrence Christman, Connor Evelsizer, Andy Kruger, Beau Newhouse, Nat Roberts; Bass: Caleb Johnson, Alex McGohan, Noah Potvin, Jack Sovern.

Ensembles

Brass Quintet (Cuevas, Pritchard, Sandhorst, N. Simon, & Brummel); French Horn Quartet (Sandhorst, Wadsworth, Kamryn Steines, & Volz); String Duet: Brown & O. Rix, Sessions & Vorvick, Stravers & Lippe; String Quartet (Sabin, Q. LaBelle, Gegax & B. Christensen); Chamber Orchestra, Cello Choir; Vocal Duet: L. Suhr & R. Suhr; 9th Grade Chamber Choir, VC Chamber Choir, CC Treble Clef 10 (Bakken, Downing, Pritchard, C. Sheffield, L. Suhr, B. Bentley, Brodbeck, Delphey, Holland, Wemark).

The Week of the Young Child occurs nationally from April 6-12 to recognize the needs
of young children and their families while advocating for and celebrating early learning
and early childhood education.
The Decorah Community is extremely fortunate to have six collaborative preschool
centers who provide high quality four-year-old preschool programming–at no cost
through Statewide Iowa Quality Preschool Program funding–and a Head Start Preschool
Program licensed by the Department of Human Services. These programs provide a
foundation for lifelong learning across all development areas, including literacy, math,
science, social emotional, and fine and gross motor development while also inspiring
creativity, imagination, perseverance, and kindness.
Shanna Putnam Dibble, Decorah Preschool Director, remarked, “Read on to learn more
about the many wonderful preschool programs in Decorah and join us to celebrate young
children and early childhood educators at our Week of the Young Child.”
For more information on any of these preschool centers, check out the preschool
websites, call the centers to schedule a tour, or contact Decorah Preschool Director
Dibble at shanna.putnamdibble@decorah.school.
Head Start
Head Start embraces learning through play. They utilize the Creative Curriculum and
Positive Behaviors Supports (PBIS). Head Start is housed at West Side Early Childhood

76

Center. They offer free before and after care for families who qualify as well as the
potential for summer programming. Phone: 564-382-4451
Kinderhaus
Kinderhaus is a Waldorf-inspired, outdoor preschool and kindergarten for 3-6 year-olds
that provides a warm and nurturing environment for young children in the community to
learn. Kinderhaus strives to develop the whole child: emotionally, socially, artistically,
and cognitively. Their goal is simple: To create an oasis in which children find the
security and the opportunity to develop into creative, imaginative, cooperative, self-
motivated learners for the future. Phone: 563-379-7303
Montessori
For 19 years, Northeast Iowa Montessori has been serving children as an independent
school, diversifying the educational choices of our vibrant community. Many families
choose NEIM for the Montessori curriculum, mixed-age classrooms, individualized
attention, and after-school childcare program. Montessori strives to create a peaceful
environment for nurturing resilient explorers, confident learners, and empathetic citizens.
Phone: 563-382-6491
Nisse Preschool
Nisse Preschool has a decades-long, rich history serving the families of Decorah. Since
their opening in 1968, they have maintained their mission to provide a safe and
developmentally appropriate learning environment, which fosters a child’s natural desire
to explore, discover, create, and become a lifelong learner. Nisse is located on College
Drive and offers programming for three- and four-year-olds. Phone: 563-382-4794
St. Benedict School
The preschool is a part of St. Benedict School, which has programming for students from
preschool through eighth grade and is accredited by the State of Iowa Department of
Education. The goal of St. Ben’s Preschool is to promote the development of each child’s
fullest potential as they develop emotionally, intellectually, physically, and
socially. Phone: 563-382-4668
Sunflower Child Development Center
Sunflower Child Development Center is excited to welcome the Preschool class of 2024-
2025 to their brand-new center. Along with Creative Curriculum units of study, they offer
Farm to School programming as well as the new Discovery Center set to open Fall 2024.
Children will have the opportunity to learn through play and interactions with others in a
safe and nurturing environment. Phone: 563-382-5717
West Side Early Childhood Center
West Side Early Childhood Center houses the Decorah Community School District’s
preschool classrooms. Preschool classes are taught by teachers who are certified in Early
Childhood and Early Childhood Special Education. Their curriculum is based on the
Creative Curriculum Model which focuses on all areas of development including social
emotional learning, physical, cognitive and language development. At West Side
educators believe that all children learn best through play and hands on experiences,
which is the basis of their instructional approach for teaching pre-academic skills. These

skills are infused into inquiry-based studies focused on student interests. The West Side
4-year-old program serves children in an integrated preschool setting. Classrooms include
some children with special needs and others who do not require special education
services, with all children benefiting from the many opportunities this environment has to
offer. Phone: 564-382-4451

Kinderhaus

Kinderhaus

Nisse

Sunflower Child Care Center

St. Benedict’s School

Head Start

West Side Early Childhood Center

West Side Early Childhood Center

On March 19th, several 8th grade Decorah Middle School students participated in the regional National History Day (NHD) competition held at NICC. Twelve DMS students were recognized as finalists in the competition and will participate at the NHD state meet in Des Moines on April 29th. This year’s theme is Turning Points in History.

Iowa History Award: Kate Pattison and Camryn Quandahl: Title IX

State Qualifiers and their projects include the following:

Individual Performance

Kaya Johnson: Virginia Hall: One Women’s Impact on WWII

Individual Documentary

Max Goodner: Navajo Code Talkers: A Turning Point in WWII and Native Culture Acceptance

Charlotte LaBelle: Katherine Dunham: A Turning Point in Dance History

Group Documentary

Leah Garcia-Pratts and Poppy Bellrichard: Triangle Shirtwaist Factory Fire

Individual Websites:

Matthew Burkholder: The Superbomb: Rising Tensions and Stakes

Stella Witt:Stonewall Riots

Group Exhibit

Evelyn Opheim and Liv Anderson: WASP: A Turning Point in Women’s Aviation

Group Website:

Frankie Kollasch and Raelyn Newhouse: Sergeant Stubby: A Turning Point in Police Dogs

Individual Paper:

Sophia McGee:Helen Taussig

All 8th graders who participated in the regional National History Day contest

Iowa History Awards winners (l-r): Kate Pattison and Kate Pattison and Camryn Quandahl for their project Title IX

Front row (l-r): Liv Anderson, Evelyn Opheim, Leah Garcia-Prats, Poppy Bellrichard, Sophia McGee, Frankie Kollasch, Raelyn Newhouse

Back row (l-r): Stella Witt, Kaya Johnson, Matthew Burkholder, Max Goodner, Charlotte LaBelle

Two events to promote literacy intersected recently in Decorah schools.

In February, Kelly Yang, the popular author of 11 middle-grade books, joined Decorah students in grades 4-6 on Zoom to answer questions about her book Finally Seen.Dragonfly Books donated copies of the book to teachers in each grade. They read aloud the book to their students to help prepare them to ask questions during the Zoom experience. Students were particularly excited about the next book in the series, Finally Heard, inspired by Yang’s daughter begging for a phone and the author’s desire to raise concerns related to social media. 

In March, the annual Reading Games was held for third and fourth graders at Carrie Lee Elementary and for fifth and sixth graders at Decorah Middle School. Organized by teacher librarians Michaela Seeman and Shannon Horton, the games involved 136 students and 29 parent and teacher coaches. Students were assigned a team and worked collectively to read all of the books on the list to prepare for a quiz at the final after-school event. Oneota Valley Literary Foundation donated 55 copies of Finally Heard to award as prizes at the Reading Games events. The Family, Educator, and Community Organization (FEC) donated the funds for pizza, and Pizza Ranch provided discounted pricing. 

Horton and Seeman remarked, “We appreciate the community’s support in helping to make reading fun and engaging.”

Members of a winning 5th-grade team with copies of Finally Heard

Students in grades 4-6 asking questions in a Zoom meeting with author Kelly Yang

Author Kelly Yang and the cover of her latest book

Students who read all 10 books at DMS were recognized

Students at Carrie Lee Elementary taking the final quiz on the books they read

Students at Carrie Lee Elementary taking the final quiz on the books they read

Three Decorah Home School Assistance Program (HSAP) students participated in the National History Day (NHD) district competition at NICC in Calmar on March 19. Two of these students qualified for the National History Day state competition which will take place in Des Moines on April 29th. 

This year’s theme is Turning Points in History: Events, Ideas, and Actions. Representing the HSAP program, state qualifiers and their projects include Eva Kriemelmeyer for her first-place performance titled “Amanda Theodosia Jones’s Vacuum Sealing Method: A Turning Point in Food Preservation,” and Dominic Wheeler’s “Kings, Cavalry, and Golden Apples: Jan Sobieski and the 1863 Siege of Vienna,” which received second place in the paper category.  Also participating in the district competition was Lucas Fankhauser with a documentary entitled “New Balance Trackster: Revolutionary Shoe that Opened the Door for Casual Fitness.” 

National History Day challenges students to research, develop, and present papers, exhibits, documentaries, websites, and performances about historical topics related to an annual theme.

Photo ID (l-r):  Dominic Wheeler, Eva Kriemelmeyer, and Lucas Fankhauser

During the month of December 2023, Decorah Middle School students initiated a fundraiser for the Decorah Community Food Pantry. They worked hard selling as many restaurant coupon cards as they could. A portion of all proceeds then went to the Decorah Community Food Pantry: the total amount donated was over $4,500. The 8th grade Decorah Defenders leadership group recently presented the check to the food pantry directors.

Photo ID (l-r): 

Pantry Director Matt Tapscott, Anna Knaack, Kate Pattison, Leah Garcia-Prats, Matthew Burkholder, Derek Hrdlicka, Oak Pasche, and Pantry Assistant Director Lance Wood