Author: Decorah Community School District

The Decorah Collaborative Preschool Partners will be holding their open houses during the first few weeks of February.

All Decorah Collaborative Preschool Partners are part of the Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program and provide a minimum of 10 hours per week of high-quality preschool programming for four-year-old children. Children must turn four by to attend.  Many programs also offer optional “wrap-around” care for a fee.

Parents, guardians and prospective students are invited to visit and explore Decorah’s preschool offerings on the following dates and times.  More information about each preschool program is available on their websites.

Kinderhaus: February 3rd from 10 a.m. -12 p.m.

http://kinderhausdecorah.com/

Northeast Iowa Montessori School: February 3rd from 10 a.m. -12 p.m.

Homepage

Nisse Preschool: February 7th from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

https://www.nissepreschool.org/

St. Benedict Preschool: February 1 from 5:30-6:30 p.m.

https://st-ben.pvt.k12.ia.us/

Sunflower: February 6th from 4-7 p.m. (this will be held at the new center)

https://www.sunflowerchildcare.org/

West Side Early Childhood Center: February 1st from 5-6 p.m.

West Side Early Childhood Center

DCSD will have a two hour delay start on Tuesday, January 16th.  The district will have virtual learning for those two hours.  We anticipate sticking with the delayed start but we start buses and recheck wind chills in the morning and any changes will be made by 8 AM. Look for more information for the virtual part of the day.

Decorah High School boys tennis coach Matt Anderson has been selected by the Iowa High School Athletic Association as the National Federation of High Schools Iowa Tennis Coach of the Year. 

Coach Anderson completed his second year at the helm of the Decorah boys tennis program in the spring of 2023 after two years as an assistant.  During the spring of 2022, the Vikings were District Champions and Sub-State Qualifiers while qualifying two individuals for the state tournament.  10^th grader Caden Branum was the runner-up in the singles tournament. 

In 2023, Anderson helped lead the Vikings to a fourth place finish in the Class 1A team tournament while helping guide the doubles team of Landon Baker and Daniel Skrade to a runner-up finish and Caden Branum to the State Championship in singles competition. 

Anderson is now a nominee for the NFHS Midwest Sectional Tennis Coach of the Year.  He is assisted by Brett Wilker and Scott Herrmann. 

Anderson is now a nominee for the NFHS Midwest Sectional Tennis Coach of the Year.  He is assisted by Brett Wilker and Scott Herrmann. 

Photo ID (l-r): Assistant Coach Scott Herrmann, Singles State Champion Caden Branum, Head Coach Matt Anderson, Doubles Runners-up Landon Baker and Daniel Skrade, and Assistant Coach Brett Wilker

Decorah High School’s 34^th Annual Madrigal Dinner will take place on Sunday, January 28 at 5:00 p.m. at Decorah High School. (Those in attendance should please be seated by 4:50 p.m.)

Advanced tickets are $25 each and are available online at https://decorahschools.ludus.com/index.php. Those who wish to pay with cash or check can purchase tickets in the DHS office. Tickets are available now and will be sold until noon on Wednesday, January 24. Each table will seat six people.

Each ticket includes a meal fit for a king or queen: wassail punch, field greens salad, herbed focaccia bread, roasted loin of pork with chimichurri sauce, mashed red potatoes, steamed green beans & carrots, pumpkin or chocolate chip cheesecake, and coffee. Advanced orders of vegetarian entrées and gluten-free options are available when purchasing tickets.

Diners will be entertained not only by the music of the Renaissance performed by vocalists, strings, and brass; but also by the comedic play “Weekend at (Sleeping) Beauty’s.”

The public is cordially invited to join the DHS Music Department on a journey to 16th century England.

Madrigal dinner musicians

Madrigal dinner royal court

Decorah Schools will cancel all classes for Friday, , due to the predicted snow and blowing winds. All buildings and District offices will be closed. Stay safe, everyone!

Decorah Schools will have a two-hour late start on Wednesday, January 10. School will start at 10:00 @ John Cline and DMS and 10:05 @ Carrie Lee and DHS. Any potential changes will be made prior to 8 AM tomorrow.

Decorah CSD will be closed Tuesday, January 9th, 2024 due to the winter weather warning.

At the Decorah High School Winter Concert, Mary Beth Bouska was recognized and celebrated for her seventeen years as the High School Vocal Music Department Collaborative Pianist. The recognition involved parting gifts and several tributes from students as far back as the class of 2012, current vocal music teacher Jason Rausch, and from Mara Schack, vocal music teacher from 2006-2007–Mrs. Bouska’s first year.

Throughout these messages were comments about her kindness, patience, encouragement, and unwavering commitment to the students’ success. Over the years she supported the students from the piano in daily choir classes, musicals, solo and small ensemble festivals, concerts, and special events. She was an important part of the success of the vocal music department for nearly two decades. Mrs. Bouska continues to play for Northern Lights Women’s Chorus and St. Benedict Church, and teach piano lessons.

Pictured is Mary Beth Bouska at the piano
Choir Council official Libby Phillips, Brynn Storhoff, Elizabeth Pritchard, and Gabriel Hiner

Throughout December, Decorah elementary students have been busy sharing holiday cheer throughout the community. Transitional kindergarten (TK) through 4th grade students created holiday cards and decorations for residents at local nursing homes and shared holiday songs during a visit.    Several of the third-grade classes recently participated in Holidays with Heroes. They visited our local heroes from the police station, sheriff’s department, fire station, and city hall and shared holiday songs and cookies.    Facilitator of Social Emotional Behavioral Health and Family and Community Partnerships Shanna Putnam Dibble stated, “Our educators work hard throughout the year to teach, model, practice, and promote Viking Pride, which is all about being respectful, responsible, and safe at school, at home, and throughout the community. These community service experiences are a great example of what Viking Pride is all about–being respectful and sharing kindness and love while serving our community!”

1st graders share holiday songs with residents at Aase Haugen

4th graders sing holiday songs and decorations with residents at Aase Haugen

Holiday Heroes: sharing holiday songs and cookies with local heroes #1

Holiday Heroes: sharing holiday songs and cookies with local heroes #2

Holiday cookies for Mayor Borowski

Sharing holiday cookies with police officers

Treats from sheriff office staff