Announcements

The Spring Social is Friday, April 12th for 6th grade students, and April 19th for 7th grade students.  It will be from 4:00-5:45 pm. Cost is $5.00 each which includes two pieces of Little Caesars’ pizza and a water. Tickets are available for purchase in your InTouch account. Once you are signed in, click the “Items at student’s school” button, then Student Activities to find the Student Social option. You can then add it to your cart and check out.

Volunteers are needed to help at different activity stations. We would love to have parents join us to enjoy the night with our awesome Jags! To volunteer, go to this website to get signed up.

During a discussion about the Perry tragedy, Mr. McColley, the Art Exploratory Teacher at Prairie Ridge Middle School, expressed his heartfelt sympathy regarding the situation. He mentioned the potential healing power of art therapy and suggested that creating something for Perry Schools could be a compassionate gesture of support. Inspired by his words, students Zaina, Madi, Samantha, Keira, and Brooklyn took the initiative to create something meaningful. They collaborated on a grid mural with the message “Together We Rise.” With assistance from other students over the following weeks, the artwork was completed. On March 1, during a no-school day for Ankeny Schools, the Prairie Ridge Middle School students delivered their creation to Perry. Principal Adam Jessen shared his thoughts on seeing the artwork, expressing pride in the students’ empathy and support for their peers. This act serves as a poignant reminder of the profound impact of kindness.

During this time of year, many of our students will be preparing to take assessments. Whether you’re helping an elementary or secondary student prepare for testing, listed below are a few resources to help:

• Helping Your Child with Test-Taking
• Help Your Child Prepare for Standardized Tests

The ACSD maintenance team will be conducting prescribed burns periodically in Ankeny as weather conditions allow, continuing until June 1, 2024. Weather conditions and safety considerations will determine the exact date and time of the fires.

Why do we perform prescribed burns?

Central Iowa’s landscape was once dominated by tall grass prairies. These ecosystems have an abundance of plants, insects, birds, mammals, and reptiles. The native grasses and forbs (flowers) also provide seed and nectar for insects, butterflies, birds, and small mammals. In nature, fire is essential to maintain the integrity of the native prairie plant species located in our parks. Fire is a natural occurrence that helps the plant and animal communities in a park and controlled burning offers a safer way to use fire in a helpful manner. The benefits of prescribed burns include the following:

• Aid in reducing the undesirable plants from invading our native prairie areas
• Help to maintain a rich diversity of wildflowers and grasses
• Decreases the threat of wildfires by decreasing the accumulation of combustibles
• Benefits water quality by aiding in the establishment of deep-rooted natives
• Improves the natural beauty and enjoyment of our parks

Thank you for understanding.

Listen to these experts as they explore the creation of a culture of belonging. Discover our commitment to equipping educators with the tools to help students develop essential soft skills. Learn strategies for guiding students through the high school to college transition, emphasizing the importance of early connections and proactive support. They also mention how it is important to focus on student well-being, encouraging self-care practices during study sessions, including water breaks, physical movement, and brain breaks. Uncover how Ankeny fosters these skills from pre-kindergarten, aligning with Ankeny’s graduate profile.

Join Kayla Bell-Consolver, Director of the Counseling Center at Broadlawns Community Clinic at Drake University, Shawn Beirman, Social-Emotional Learning Specialist at Ankeny Schools, and Al Neppl, Director of Professional and Leadership Development at Ankeny Schools, in a conversation highlighting the significance of adaptability, empathy, and collaboration for students.

Click here to listen or find us on your favorite podcast app!

We are excited to introduce a convenient new way to report student absences to your school! The Absence Request tool in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows you to report your student’s absence online with just a few clicks. This can be done using your desktop computer or the Parent Portal app on your mobile device.

Entering an absence request is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
2. Select your child’s profile.
3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.
4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
5. Submit your request.

Visit this Absence Request Guide for detailed information on how to report absences.

Per the student handbook, students who know they will be absent for a reason other than a school-sponsored trip or school-sponsored activity must have a parent notify the school’s office in advance of the absence. This notification can be provided using the Absence Request tool outlined above, or by phone call, e-mail, or written note.

Follow us on Facebook @AnkenyPRMS and Twitter @AnkenyPRMS for up to date information throughout the school year!

One of the great things about Ankeny Schools is the community’s support of our athletics and activities. These events bring thousands of people together to celebrate the achievement of students. Because security is of utmost importance, the district continues to review its practices and identify areas of improvement at such events. As a result, we will be implementing some new security measures this Fall for our activities and events.

Security practices that will continue:

• Grades 6-12 must wear school ID while at the game
• Footballs are not allowed
• No baby powder, confetti, signs, noisemakers
• No weapons (real or look-alike)
• The North gate will remain secured at all times unless a team, band, or emergency personnel need access to the stadium

New security practices:

• Families will be encouraged to ensure that students in grades K-5 be accompanied by an adult
• Entrance to the stadium before an event will not be allowed
• There will be no re-entry after leaving the stadium
• Spectators will not be allowed to bring backpacks and large handbags into the stadium; Diaper bags or medical bags are allowed, but are subject to search
• No outside food or drink
• No access without a ticket or pass, including after halftime

These recommendations are the result of numerous conversations with security experts and a review of our current practices. Security can often be at odds with convenience. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for our students and spectators. We look forward to cheering on the Hawks and Jaguars with you this Fall.