August-September 2015 NOTE: This newsletter is available via e-mail & on the Boyden-Hull School District website (www.boyden-hull.k12.ia.us). If you prefer to receive it electronically or read it online & no longer wish to receive the newsletter, please contact Julie at 439-2711 or [email protected] so we can update our mailing list. WHAT’S INCLUDED With the school start date a week later, DISTRICT CONTACT INFORMATION 2015-2016 Registration Pg 1 we decided to move registration dates COMET HOTLINE – 439-1658 back a week. Registration is scheduled The Comet Hotline is available 24/7. School Begins Pg 1 during the second week in August to Mrs. Kooiker updates the Hotline with coincide with the start of Fall Sports information on school activities, results Schools & District Contact practices the same week. We also from activities, schedule changes, Information Pg 1 moved to a Tuesday & Wednesday so upcoming events, and weather-related families who would be gone over the School Board Pg. 1 changes or announcements. weekend could have Monday to return Superintendent News Pg. 1-2 and not rush back for registration. ELEMENTARY SCHOOL – 725-2381 Please try to make it to one of these two Call the Elementary during regular New Staff Members Pg. 2 days for registration as it helps our school hours to report an absence for secretaries get all finer details such as Open House Pg. 2 your child in grades PK-6. After school lockers, sections, and other last minute hours, you can leave a message by Secondary News Pg. 2 changes taken care of. Your cooperation calling the same number. is greatly appreciated! JHHS Items to Note Pg. 3-4 JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL – 439-2440 Grades PK-6: Registration for grades PK- Contact the Jr/Sr High School for Elementary News Pg. 4 6 will be in Hull on Tue, Aug 11 & in absences or other information Boyden on Wed, Aug 12. Parents can regarding your child in grades 7-12. Elementary Items to Note Pg. 4-5 register at either location from 10AM- After school hours, you can leave a 6PM. message using the same number. School Pictures Pg. 4 Grades 7-12: Registration for students SUPERINTENDENT/BUSINESS OFFICE PTO Meeting Pg. 5 entering grades 7-12 will be held Aug 11 You can contact the Business School Supplies Pg. 5 & 12 in the Hull Principal’s Office from Office/Superintendent’s Office at 439- 10AM-6PM. Please use the doors 2711. After hours, please leave a Athletic Boosters Pg. 5 labeled “Administration” on the south message so we can return your call. side of school. Health Requirements Pg. 5 SCHOOL BOARD If you’re unable to register during these The Boyden-Hull Board of Directors, TAG Pg. 5-6 times, you can register after August 12 Jake Ten Haken (President), Jason Moser, by contacting the school office: Staff In-service Pg. 6 Mark Nilles, Doug Reuvers, and Aric Van Grades TK-6 725-2381 Voorst, deserve our sincere thanks for Parent Teacher Conferences Grades 7-12 439-2440 their commitment to quality education Pg. 6 Student Insurance Pg. 6 SCHOOL BEGINS 2015 is a voting year. The public elected School begins on Tuesday, August 25! terms of Jason Moser (District 2), Jake School Reach Pg. 6 We will dismiss at 2:25PM the first day. Ten Haken (District 3), and Aric Van Note the schedule for PLC Voorst (District 2) will be completed & Sports Information Pg. 7 up for election. September 8, 2015 will Wednesdays: The regular school day for be voting day, so don’t forget to vote! Open Enrollment Pg. 8 K-12 students begins at 8:20AM & ends at 3:25PM except on PLC Wednesdays GREETINGS FROM REGISTRATION when we will dismiss at 2:25PM. Shuttle Registration materials will be mailed to SUPERINTENDENT GROND each family. It is important that you fill buses leave the buildings at 7:55AM. This article is always an exciting one to write as it signals the start of another out the forms and bring the completed B-H WEBSITE forms with you to registration on school year, with the hopes and Find district info & teacher web pages August 11 or 12. By completing the challenges that the days ahead present. I forms before you come for registration, at: http://www. boyden-hull.k12.ia.us would like to welcome everyone back for we hope to make things run more JMC Parent Access is available through the the 2015-16 school year. We here at smoothly and quickly for you. district website. Parents can access their school have been working very hard to It is important to register your child(ren) child’s grades, lunch balance, and report make certain that the pieces are put in before the school year begins. If you are card information. JMC Parent Access forms place to ensure that students and new to the district or registering a will be sent with the registration materials. parents have all the items necessary for a student in kindergarten, please bring successful year. your child’s birth certificate & immunization records. 1 BUILDING & GROUNDS UPDATE areas where we might be missing taken a special education position at Each summer it seems that some projects something in our curriculum, or areas MOC/FV. Mr. Soppe and his family are need to get completed to maintain and we need to ramp up our efforts. The residents of Ireton. After graduating improve our facilities. There was one number listed is going to represent the from South Dakota State University with medium size project and several smaller percentage of students in each grade a secondary math endorsement, Mr. ones that were worked on over the who scored proficient in the most recent Soppe began working at Walmart in course of the summer. state-wide testing. The scores in the several leadership positions. He has -The gym floors in both schools have white columns are Boyden-Hull scores returned to teaching and worked in the been refinished and new bleachers were and the in the shaded columns they are Le Mars School District last year, added to the secondary gym. the corresponding grade in NW AEA or following his passion for education and -New carpet was also placed in the 5th the schools in northwest Iowa. serving the needs of our youth. grade classrooms. Ms. Melissa Brantsen will be the K-12 NEW TEACHERS -We also worked some on the structural Art Teacher. She grew up in the Orange We are excited to welcome three new aspects of the buildings, including doing City area, and student taught at Rock teachers to the district this year: some tuck point (repairing motor and Valley and MOC/FV school districts. She Ms. Brooke Becker will be the fixing bricks) at the elementary, and we has degrees from both Iowa State and Secondary Math Instructor. Ms. Becker will begin the process of replacing the Dordt College. In addition to teaching, will replace Mr. Katsma who has taken a roof of the area over the kitchen and Art she will also take on the role of position at Northwestern College as an room in Hull this summer. cheerleading coach. admissions counselor. Ms. Becker is -Finally, we still are looking to go out to originally from New Hartford. She We are excited that each of these bid this fall for replacing the existing graduated from Dike-New Hartford and educators will either begin or continue concession stand and restrooms at Hesla UNI. She will be in her second year of their work in education at Boyden-Hull, Field. teaching as she taught last year at and believe that they each bring TEST SCORES Hudson CSD. Ms. Becker will also be outstanding credentials and abilities to As we do each year when we come back doing some coaching. our district. Please join me in welcoming together for fall workshop, is sit down Mr. Christopher Soppe will be each of them to Boyden-Hull. and analyze the standardized test scores teaching Special Education. Mr. Soppe from the previous spring. We check for will replace Mr. Koerselman as he has OPEN HOUSES It is also hard to imagine that the Abigail Bierly, Mrs. Laurel Evertse, Mrs. Open Houses will be held on Monday, Summer Theatre has just completed its Julie Anderson, Mrs. Donna Meerdink, August 24, from 6:30-7:30PM for grades 6th production. Ms. Wagner, Abigail Mrs. Julie Schafer, Mr. Russ Goold, Mr. TK-6 in Boyden and grades 6:30-8:30 in Bierly, Mrs. Anderson, Laurel Evertse, Jeremy Nelson, Mrs. Tressa Van Voorst, Hull. Donna Meerdink, many other Mrs. Julie Koster, Mrs. Julie Visscher, Mrs. Cheri Brunsting, and many others. This is an excellent time for students to volunteers, and over 40 students aging from elementary age through high Individuals listed here were integral in introduce themselves to their teachers, the production, ticket sales, stage bring school supplies to their desk or school just performed “The Rockin Tale of Snow White.” We had approximately construction & decorating, wardrobe, locker, and see their new classrooms. meals, snacks, transportation, and 500 tickets sold for the two UPDATE FROM THE JR/SR HIGH performances during Hull Summerfest. concession stands. Thank you for your passion for the youth and our Summer Dan Pottebaum, Principal As I sat in the audience for both Theatre Program. Welcome Back Students & Staff! performances, I was in awe of two It’s hard to imagine that July is already things. First, the talent of our young One of the largest changes in the JH/HS half over.