This week we honored our Veterans. These men and women bravely served their country to protect our freedom. Some volunteered and others were drafted~all are an important part of our history and our future! THANK YOU to all that have served and are serving.
Several school groups have special ways to connect with Veterans, and some of the 2nd Graders wrote letters to them. A Veteran who received one of those letters brought in a variety of donations including coats, hats and mittens. Our children are so lucky to get to experience how showing appreciation and doing good things for others is paid forward in ways that make our community a better place. Veterans, we thank you for your service to our country and also appreciate how you continue to serve our community with the same heart and bravery!
The Marion County COVID-19 numbers are still increasing, and so are our school numbers; however, they are still low in comparison to other schools around us. As of right now, our total positive cases for the entire district (students & staff combined) is 9. West, Northstar, KMS & KHS all have at least one case.
We encourage our families, staff, and students to continue to wash your hands, keep social distancing, wear your mask and practice good healthy habits both in school and away from school! It sounds like there is promising news about vaccines, so hopefully this "pandemic" will end sooner rather than later. Please help us stop the spread, so we can stay in school and continue with our student activities!
Cassi Pearson, KCSD Superintendent
309 W Main Street, Knoxville, IA 50138
o: (641) 842-6551
BIG WINS THIS PAST WEEK/UPCOMING POSTSEASON
Congratulations to Jorja Culver, Kinsli Cram, Olivia Ramaeker, and Kodi Cram for qualifying for the State Swimming Meet in the 200 Free Relay! Jorja, Kodi, Kinsli, and Olivia Ramaeker also qualified for the 400 Free Relay!
They will swim Saturday afternoon at the State Meet at the Marshalltown YMCA!!
Best of luck to our students performing in these upcoming postseason contests:
Dance Team: State Championships on Wednesday, November 18 in Des Moines at Wells Fargo Arena, first performance at 824 AM
Capacity Restrictions Plan
In a Proclamation issued on November 10, Governor Reynolds issued some capacity restrictions for extracurricular activities for the rest of November. Here is our plan to implement these public health measures issued by the Governor.
High School girls basketball, bowling, cheerleading, and boys swimming have started! Boys Basketball and Wrestling start this coming Monday! High School winter sports information is here. Here is our complete Winter Activities Plan to address and mitigate COVID-19.
THE KNOXVILLE STORE
In partnership with Ramaeker Enterprises Inc., we are excited to offer the Knoxville Store - the online apparel store for Knoxville Panther gear!
This link can be found on our school website: https://www.knoxville.k12.ia.us/ and then click on the "Knoxville Store." This store features apparel/gear with items from our new brand system with logo marks that have never been on the market! These are exclusive Knoxville Panther items you will only find here!
Some items on this store will stay from month to month - some items will change so that there are constantly new items to choose from for Panther fans!
Orders will be processed twice a month - on the 15th and at the end of the month and Ramaeker Enterprises will email you when your order is ready.
NFHS Network
For events in our high school gym, we will stream on the NFHS Network (https://www.nfhsnetwork.com and then search for Knoxville), a subscription-based service.
When our team is on the road and the host school offers a livestream - we will post that link on Facebook with the host school spectator guidelines that have been sent to us - this will ensure to our viewing public the post/link is authentic. We will also stream all concerts in KPAC on there as well.
SCHEDULES
Get schedules for all extra-curricular middle school and high school activities by going to www.knoxville.k12.ia.us and then clicking on "Activities Calendar". You can even sign-up for email notifications so whenever we make a change to a schedule - you can be notified immediately.
Follow the Knoxville Activities Department on Instagram! @knoxvilleactivities
Scholarships and Grants
Future Ready Iowa Last-Dollar Scholarship
A state-funded program for Iowans who:
- Are recent high school graduates enrolling in an eligible program full-time OR recent high school graduates who are enrolling in an eligible program part-time and are employed in an approved work-based learning program OR adult learners (20 and older) starting an eligible program at least part-time
- Have applied for all other available aid
- Plan to earn a credential for a high-demand job
This program, as the name implies, is intended to cover any remaining gap between federal and state grants/scholarships and tuition and qualified fees. Credentials include postsecondary certificates, diplomas and associate degrees.
For more information, visit https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/LastDollar.
Kibbie Grant (Iowa Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant)
Iowa residents enrolled in specified career or technical education programs at Iowa community colleges may be eligible for this grant program. The maximum Kibbie Grant award is one-half of the average Iowa community college tuition and mandatory fees per year for up to two years of education. Part-time students may be eligible for prorated amounts.
For more information, visit https://www.iowacollegeaid.gov/KibbieGrant.
KHS Performing Arts
Both Concert Choir and Chamber Choir are off to a great start. Three members of Chamber Choir: Tanner Errthum, Kailan Ethell, and Mason Hatch auditioned for All-State virtually. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, we weren’t able to attend Conference Choral Festival in Dallas County, but that allowed Mrs. Duffy to select music from a variety of genres suitable for each choir to perform at the Fall Concert. Both choirs also benefited from instruction offered by Ms. Fehlhaffer who comes to us from Central College. She is a senior who will be student teaching next fall.
On November 10, the Concert Choir performed; “Bound for Jubilee”, a spiritual arranged by Joyce Eilers; “I’m Just a Poor Wayfarin’ Stranger” , a folk ballad arranged by Lee Kjelson; “In This Very Room”, by Ron and Carol Harris; and, “The Crawdad Song” arranged by Aden G. Lewis. They were joined by the Chamber Choir to perform, “Hiney Mah Tov” a Hebrew folk tune arranged by Iris Levine.
Chamber Choir took the stage and began with, “America the Beautiful”; arranged by Samual Ward. The Chamber Choir annually opens the their portion of the fall concert with this patriotic piece. Next, they performed, “All Things Bright and Beautiful”, by John Rutter. “The Road Home” was originally intended to be performed at solo/small ensemble contest last spring, but its’ message seemed appropriate for the fall concert; thank you to Lily Yocum, soloist. “Ching-a-Ring Chaw” is a whimsical piece written by a great American composer, Aaron Copland. “Freedom Come” offered an opportunity for Tanner Errthum to shine on percussion, as well as Claire Schneider, Mason Hatch, Abby Wadle, and Katelynn Collins, soloists. We closed the concert with another piece we do annually, “Battle Hymn of the Republic”.
Both choirs are already preparing for the Winter Concert. In addition, you’ll see Chamber Choir caroling on the square after the tree lighting on November 19.
We’re also selling candy bars as a fundraiser for Music Boosters who do so much to enrich the experiences of our performing students. If you’re interested in purchasing a few, contact any Music Booster member, or a band/choir student!
Sign Up To Receive Alerts
Sign up and/or update your subscription to receive alerts regarding school cancellations/delay and/or activity changes, you will need to subscribe to this service through GovDelivery. You can choose to receive text messages, email messages, or both. Please don’t delay, sign up today: https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/IAEDU3375/subscriber/new
KCSD Admin. Office
The Panther Press is a weekly collective newsletter for parents & community members. If you have an article or flyer to share, please submit to Lisa.Willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us for consideration. We love to hear from you so please send us your submissions and feedback. The regular weekly deadline is Thursday at noon.
Stay connected by frequenting our website or following us on social media!
- KHS: www.facebook.com/KHSPanthers/ & twitter.com/KHS_Panthers
- KMS: www.facebook.com/PanthersKMS/ & twitter.com/Panthers_KMS
- Northstar: www.facebook.com/NorthstarElementary/ & twitter.com/MrKeitges
- West: www.facebook.com/knoxvillewestelementary/ & twitter.com/pantherswest
Rate us on greatschools.org!
Email: lisa.willis@kcsd.k12.ia.us
Website: https://www.knoxville.k12.ia.us/departments/district-office/people/1988396/lisa-willis
Location: 309 W Main St, Knoxville, IA, United States
Phone: 641-842-6551
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KnoxvilleCSD
Twitter: @KCSD_Panthers
