Author: Decorah Community School District

On March 14th, eight individual speech participants were selected as All-State performers. The All-State Festival will take place on the UNI campus on Monday, March 28th. The following students’ performances were selected as receiving All-State honors:

Acting: Alex Kane – directed by Gabe Twedt

Original Oratory: Nat Roberts – directed by Molly Holkesvik

Improvisation: Jake Magner – directed by Lyra McKnight

Public Address (9th): Grace Blikre – directed by Lyra McKnight

Radio News Announcing: Simon Kutz – directed by Gabe Twedt

Solo Musical Theater: Ella Grouws – directed by Gabe Twedt and Carrie Kauffman

Spontaneous Speaking: Landan Folkedahl – directed by Carrie Kauffman

Storytelling: Ramsey Zilka – directed by Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks

Decorah High School’s individual speech participants—coached by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, Carrie Kauffman, Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks, and Lyra McKnight—competed Saturday, March 12, at Clear Lake High School. Around 45 students participated in the contest.  Out of Decorah’s 49 performances, 41 received I (excellent) ratings.

The directors shared, “We are always so pleased with the personal growth we get to witness through the course of the individual speech season. Our students brought a lot of professionalism, heart, and talent to this contest.”

All-State nomination results will be posted after 4 pm on Monday, March 14.

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grades 10-12 Receiving a I (excellent) rating:

Original Oratory: Nat Roberts, Nadia Johnson

Public Address: Jenna Hartz, Anya Lovstuen, Kathryn Kelly

Expository Address: Ellen Rooney, Annika Franzen, Gabriel Hiner

Storytelling: Nadia Johnson, Ramsey Zilka

Prose: Danielle Rix, Sophia Christman

Poetry: Kathryn Kelly

Review: Braunwyn Darrington

Literary Program: Alex McGohan, Grace Bachelder

Solo Musical: Dylan Muhlbauer, Ella Grouws, Mikiah Krieg

Acting: Ada Lovelace, Ellen Rooney, Alex Kane

After Dinner Speaking: Joe Stammeyer, Landan Folkedahl

Spontaneous Speaking: Anya Lovstuen, Landan Folkedahl

Radio News: Simon Kutz

Individual Improv: Jake Magner, Cori Timm

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grades 10-12 Receiving a II (good) rating:

Storytelling: Hayley Stowe

Prose: Wyatt Hackman

Poetry: Koryn Bakken

Spontaneous Speaking: Michael Njus

Individual Improv: Nat Roberts

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grade 9 Receiving a I (excellent) rating:

Original Oratory: Natalie Goodner, Gwen Thompson

After Dinner: Davis Coppola

Prose: Evynne Downing, Margret Zook

Literary Program: Alex McGohan

Improvisational Acting: Jack Sovern

Radio: Karmyn Bakken

Public Address: Grace Blikre, Andy Kruger

Poetry: Elsa Johnson

Expository Address: Elliana Brodbeck

Storytelling: Margret Zook

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grade 9 Receiving a II (good) rating:

After Dinner: Ezra Vorvick

Solo Musical: Gwen Thompson

Review: Grace Blikre

District COVID-19 Active Positive Cases

• Total number of students and staff in isolation (currently positive) for COVID-19: one (1)
• Current district facilities with known positive cases: Carrie Lee Elementary

DCSD reports COVID-19 data in alignment with the direction of the Iowa Department of Public Health. The full guidance can be found at the link below.

IDPH Information Sharing Guidance for Schools and Local Public Health

DHS Principal Search Stakeholder Survey

The application window for the DHS Principal position is currently open. The District will receive applications from interested applicants through March 20. As applications are collected, the District would like to gather feedback from stakeholders that will help inform the process. 

DHS parents and students are encouraged to use the link below to provide responses to the following question:

What might be the most essential attributes, knowledge, and skills needed to be an effective principal of Decorah High School?

Responses will be reviewed to build key themes. Those key themes will be used to develop interview questions and assessment tools designed to help the interview teams identify the best candidate to serve as the next DHS Principal.

DHS Stakeholder Survey Link

2022-2023 Academic Calendar

On Monday evening at 5:30 pm, the Board of Directors will hold a public hearing regarding the proposed 2022-2023 Academic Calendar. Like the past two years, the proposed calendar is an hours of instruction-based calendar and is similar in structure to the past two years. The draft of the 2022-2023 academic calendar can be reviewed at the link below.

DRAFT 2022-2023 Academic Calendar

Thirteen Decorah Schools orchestra students from grades 7-9 were selected to participate in the Kennedy Honors Orchestra Festival at Kennedy High School in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 5. The musicians chosen include Liam Huang, Ezra Vorvik, Madysen Lippe, Eli Sassaman, Ivy Sullivan, Gwen Thompson, Kinsey White, Naomi Kutz, Nina Sessions, Lulu Bellrichard, Owen Rix, Spencer Christensen, and Thatcher Brown.

Viking student athletes participated at the Special Olympics Track and Field competition held at UNI on Sunday, March 6. In all the team earned 19 Gold medals, three Silver Medals, and one 4th place Bronze. The team’s coaches are John Dunt, Michelle Monreal, Marie Conway, and Laurel Fadness. DHS Seniors Ruby Sullivan and Hallie Busta volunteered at the event.

The following Decorah High School students competed and placed:

Andrew Schaller

            1st Softball Throw

            1st 50 M Dash

Timothy Bean

            1st 100 M Dash

            4th Shot Put

Klaressa Miller

            1st Softball Throw

            1st Standing Long Jump

Allison Kalvelage

            1st Softball Throw

            1st 100 M Dash

Francesca Wilkerson

            1st Softball Throw

            1st 50 M Dash

Wyatt Pleggenkuhle

            1st Standing Long Jump

            1st Shot Put

Juan Lopez-Garcia

            1st Shot Put

            1st 100 M Dash

The following Decorah Middle School students competed and placed:

Donnie Hrdlicka

            1st Standing Long Jump

            2nd 50 M Dash

John Lippe

            1st Shot Put

            1st 50 M Dash

Kamryn Leuenberger

            1st Tennis Ball Throw

Zoey Lollar

            1st Standing Long Jump

            1st 50 M Dash

Daniel Bean

            2nd Softball Throw

            2nd 100 M Dash

2022-2023 West Side Four-Year-Old Preschool Open House & Registration Rescheduled

The previously scheduled Open House on Tuesday, March 8 for four-year-old preschool at West Side Early Childhood Center has been rescheduled for Monday, March 14 from 6:00-7:00 pm. due to the Decorah High School boys’ state basketball game.

District COVID-19 Active Positive Cases

• Total number of students and staff in isolation (currently positive) for COVID-19: one (1)

• Current district facilities with known positive cases: Decorah Middle School

DCSD reports COVID-19 data in alignment with the direction of the Iowa Department of Public Health. The full guidance can be found at the link below.

IDPH Information Sharing Guidance for Schools and Local Public Health

DHS Principal Search Stakeholder Survey

The application window for the DHS Principal position is currently open. The District will receive applications from interested applicants through March 20. As applications are collected, the District would like to gather feedback from stakeholders that will help inform the process. 

DHS parents and students are encouraged to use the link below to provide responses to the following question:

What might be the most essential attributes, knowledge, and skills needed to be an effective principal of Decorah High School?

The District will review responses to build key themes. Those key themes will be used to develop interview questions and assessment tools designed to help the interview teams identify the best candidate to serve as the next DHS Principal.

DHS Stakeholder Survey Link

After 21 years of service to Decorah Community Schools, Kim Sheppard has informed the DCSD Board of Directors  and Decorah High School staff, families, and students of her intention to retire at the end of the current school year.

Mrs. Sheppard reflected, “I am especially proud of the work of the Decorah High School staff as we researched and implemented a variety of new classes, including those that are rigorous and challenging; developed a new class schedule based on the needs of our students; and put interventions in place designed to assist our students in the development of the skills needed to be successful beyond the high school setting.”

“Mrs. Sheppard is one of the finest educators with whom I have had the pleasure of working. She is dedicated to success for each student and is tireless in her efforts to create high quality learning and extra-curricular experiences. I am incredibly grateful for her service to our district.” said Decorah Superintendent, Mark Lane.

Early Dismissal Tuesday, March 8

School will be dismissed at 12:30 pm next Tuesday, March 8 to allow students and staff to attend the boys’ quarterfinal round game in the state basketball tournament. The game will be played at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

Semi-final games are scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, March 10, and the class 3A championship game will be played at 5:00 pm Friday, March 11. 

Superintendent Mark Lane said, “This is our school’s first trip to the boys’ state basketball tournament in over 40 years. We appreciate the great support our community gives our students, and I hope as many people as possible are able to attend.” 

Like weather-related closures, early dismissals and/or cancellations related to state tournament participation will impact the student instructional hours for the current school year. Once the tournament is over, the District will share an update on the end-of-year calendar.

CDC Ends Masks on School Buses Requirement

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has ended the federal requirement of wearing a mask while on a school bus. With this change, the District will align guidance for buses to their current guidance in district buildings: individuals are encouraged to wear an appropriate mask when physical distancing cannot be consistently maintained. The District appreciate everyone’s efforts to keep our students and staff safe and healthy.

Decorah Middle School 7th and 8th graders will be presenting their “Night of Plays” on Thursday, March 10, at 7:00 pm in the Carrie Lee Auditorium. The students will perform the plays “Discount Phone Line,” “Psycho Psychic Network,” “Baitline News,” and “Beowulf on a Budget.” The public is cordially invited to attend this light-hearted evening of fun.  There is no admission charge for this event.

Decorah High School’s individual speech participants—coached by Molly Holkesvik, Gabriel Twedt, Carrie Kauffman, Rachel Breitenbach-Dirks, and Lyra McKnight—competed Saturday, February 26th, at Dysart Middle School. Around 50 students participated in the contest.  Out of Decorah’s 59 performances, 52 received I (excellent) ratings.

The directors shared, “We are excited for our students to keep showing their great performance and speaking skills at State Contest in two weeks. We are proud of everything they are bringing to the table.”

Individual Speech State Contest will be held at Clear Lake High School on Saturday, March 12th.

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grades 10-12 Receiving a I (excellent) rating:

Original Oratory: Nat Roberts, Evon Leitz, Nadia Johnson

Public Address: Jenna Hartz, Anya Lovstuen, Kathryn Kelly

Expository Address: Ellen Rooney, Annika Franzen, Gabriel Hiner

Storytelling: Hayley Stowe, Nadia Johnson, Ramsey Zilka

Prose: Danielle Rix, Sophia Christman, Wyatt Hackman

Poetry: Jensen Korsness, Kathryn Kelly, Koryn Bakken

Review: Braunwyn Darrington

Literary Program: Alex McGohan, Grace Bachelder

Solo Musical: Dylan Muhlbauer, Ella Grouws, Mikiah Krieg

Acting: Ada Lovelace, Ellen Rooney, Alex Kane

After Dinner Speaking: Joe Stammeyer, Landan Folkedahl

Spontaneous Speaking: Anya Lovstuen, Landan Folkedahl, Michael Njus

Radio News: Simon Kutz, Rebecca Anderson

Individual Improv: Nat Roberts, Jake Magner, Cori Timm

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grades 10-12 Receiving a II (good) rating:

Literary Program: Samantha Reilly

Review: Lexi Walker

After Dinner: Madi Castro

Radio News: Junior Battle

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grade 9 Receiving a I (excellent) rating:

Original Oratory: Natalie Goodner, Gwen Thompson

After Dinner: Ezra Vorvick, Davis Coppola

Prose: Evynne Downing, Margret Zook

Literary Program: Alex McGohan

Improvisational Acting: Jack Sovern

Solo Musical: Gwen Thompson

Radio: Karmyn Bakken

Public Address: Grace Blikre, Andy Kruger

Poetry: Elsa Johnson

Expository Address: Elliana Brodbeck

Storytelling: Margret Zook

Review: Grace Blikre

Results for Decorah Speech Performers Grade 9 Receiving a II (good) rating:

Acting: Elliana Brodbeck, Becca Kane

Expository Address: Klaara Short