Announcements

Fall Book Fair

Fall Conferences

Our fall conferences will be held October 17-20. If you have not signed up yet, please email your child’s teacher for the class signup link.

Snacks:

On Friday, September 9 our district sent a communication to all elementary families regarding a change in our snack procedures. I would encourage each family to read the guidelines prior to Monday, September 19. I did want to take the opportunity to clarify a few items and ask that as questions arise that you reach out to Mr. Moss (mark.moss@ankenyschools.org).
1. Send one snack per day and not for the week or month as classrooms do have the storage space.
2. Our district is working on a plan to help those students that may not have the ability to bring a snack.
3. Parents should only send a snack for their student and NOT for the entire classroom.
4. Again, these are only points of clarification and more specific information was included in the district communication.

-Mr. Moss

Drop-off and Pick-up Reminders: 

Overall our drop-off and pick up procedures have been going well so THANK YOU for helping keep our students safe. Below are a few reminders:
1. Pull all the way up before dropping off or picking up student/s.
2. Always use the crosswalk and wait for a staff members directions.
3. Work with your student/s on how to exit and enter the vehicle from the passenger side in a timely manner.
4. Never use the handicap parking spaces unless permitted by Iowa law.

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 1st  ~ Back to School Night!

**for parents only**

Grades 1-5

1st & 2nd grade parents 6:30-7:00pm

3rd & 4th grade parents 7:00-7:30pm

5th grade parents 7:30-8:00pm

Band parents 8:00-8:30pm

 
The first-ever AELP Technology Fair was held at the Kirkendall Library on Thursday, May 5th.  All of our elementary schools, 6-7 buildings, and 8-9 buildings were represented.

Students were given a month to work on their projects by completing a technology fair planning sheet and in some cases had to “win” their home building in order to advance. There were about 40 entries total. The projects were categorized according to their classification:  web presence, graphic design and publishing, coding, innovative technology use, etc. Danfoss was on site to teach about hydraulics and the robotics team did demonstrations.

Projects were judged on a rating scale similar to show choir or band competitions. Judges consisted of parent volunteers, district office staff, instructional coaches, and community volunteers. Judges and participants fill out a survey the next day, so that we can make the fair even better next year.

Thank you and congratulations to all of our Technology Fair participants and volunteers!

Polk County Law Day Awards were held on Monday, May 2nd. This year’s theme was “Toward a More Perfect Union: The Constitution in Times of Change.” Each of these students created a project to fit into one of the following categories: Poster, Essay, Visual Arts, or Technology. Each of these students created a project to be judged. Each of these students placed in the top of their category!

Left to Right: Stella Heither, Lia Meyer, Brinely Feuerbach, Kaitlyn French, Jillian Tournier, Ainsley Schnurr, Chatham Beck

All year long, our school librarians create activities to help their school and local community celebrate the essential role that strong school library programs play in a student’s educational career. April is School Library Month and we would like you to join us in celebrating the dedication of our library staff throughout the district!

Our students, teachers, and staff are so grateful for your knowledge and support. We encourage you to take a moment today to say a special thank you by visiting our digital Thank You page, add your message, and hit submit to deliver your appreciation to your building’s library staff!

The Ankeny Community School District has broken ground on their newest elementary school building. The building is temporarily being referred to as the Elementary at the Grove, and will be the sixth elementary school in the north-feeder for the district. The new building will be located in the Grove development at NW 18th St and NW Abbie Dr and will be a part of the district’s north feeder system. The five-section building will serve kindergarten to fifth grade and have a capacity of up to 800 students and is slated to open in the fall of 2024.

“This is a day of excitement for our district, not only for our students and staff in our north-feeder elementary system but for our entire community who has worked together to build this district for our children,” said Dr. Erick Pruitt, Superintendent of Ankeny Schools. “The growth in our city is certainly notable. However, when we think about this growth as a district, what excites us is the number of students reaching their academic goals each year. This elementary school will serve as yet another launching point for our young people to achieve a lifetime of personal success.”

An additional school is needed to accommodate the district’s ongoing growth, as Ankeny remains one of the fastest-growing school districts in Iowa. This year enrollment increased by 364 students, making certified enrollment 12,512 students for the 2020-2021 school year, as reported in the Certified Enrollment Report. Enrollment growth has averaged 250 students annually for the past five years and is expected to grow by an average of 260 students per year over the next five years.

The Elementary at the Grove will be funded utilizing the S.A.V.E. state penny sales tax. The official name of the school will be forthcoming, with the naming committee convening within the next year to follow the process as laid out in board policy.

We are excited to launch the process of re-imagining our graduate profile! This document will work together with our strategic plan and equity framework to help chart a path for the district’s future. Please view this short survey to provide feedback on our graduate profile.