From the Desk of the Superintendent...
DECEMBER 2014 DISTRICT DISPATCH
The Underwood Performing Arts Center is proud to announce its upcoming inaugural season. Highly acclaimed performers Jaimee Paul and Jim Curry will bring their talents to Underwood’s new performing arts center in February and April of 2015. Miss Paul’s silky voice and sophisticated stage presence bring American standards such as “Route 66” and “Summertime” to life while Mr. Curry’s tribute to John Denver captures the persona and charm of one of America’s most beloved singer/songwriters. Miss Paul will be performing with a jazz combo led by her husband Leif Shires at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 15, 2015, and Mr. Curry’s John Denver tribute will be at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2015. Check out the Underwood Performing Arts Center website at http://underwoodperformingarts.com/ to learn more about these talented performing artists. Tickets are $25.00 each and ordering is fast and easy. Go to http://www.midwestix.com/ and get your tickets today. Ticket orders are already coming in, so don’t delay. If additional information is needed, call the school district’s central office at 566-2332 or the high school at 566-2703.
Our certified enrollment is up this year. The number of resident and open enrolled “in” students stands at 772.47. That is an increase of 37.77 students from the 2013-14 school year when we served 734.7 students. Looking back, we served 754.3 students in 2012-13 and 778.51 students in 2011-12. (Partial weighting applies in situations such as a homeschooled student who takes a class at the high school.) The aforementioned numbers reflect students for whom we receive state funding because they live within the boundaries of our school district or they attend as a result of open enrollment. In addition, four-year-old boys and girls in prekindergarten qualify for partial weighting.
This past fall the Underwood Eagle Marching Band under the direction of Kevin Sparks, flag choreographer Damon Harrington, and drum major Hannah Sealock had another stellar season. Junior flutist and assistant drum major Meagan Russell was awarded the outstanding marcher award at the 59th annual Clarinda Band Jamboree where the Marching Eagles garnered second place recognition in the parade competition and took home first place honors in the field competition. The next weekend saw the marching band place third at the Loess Hills Fieldfest at Glenwood. The grand finale came the following week at the Iowa High School Music Association State Marching Competition on Treynor’s football field. The 60 members of the 2014 Eagle Marching Band led by a committed group of 11 seniors helped continue our high school’s tradition of excellence by earning their tenth consecutive division I rating. Congratulations marching band members!
The fall variety show, Disney Spectacular, under the direction of Eric Wyler and accompanied by Arla Jo Clausen was a huge success. This entertaining production was performed on November 15-16, 2014, and featured the high school concert choir, the seventh and eighth grade choir, various high school small groups, and soloists singing popular songs from classic Disney movies including The Lion King, Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast, and Tarzan. A significant student vocal music honor was achieved this fall by Hannah Sealock for the third year in a row. Hannah was selected as a member of the prestigious Iowa High School Music Association’s All-State Choir and performed in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University on November 22, 2014.
Special fall season sports honors were awarded to several Underwood student athletes. In volleyball, first team all-conference recognition went to Maddy Powell and Emma Bonnet; second team recognition was awarded to Brooke Cooper; and honorable mention recognition went to Shay Tiarks. First team all-district football honors went to Tyler Conn, Justin Wilkins, and John Schnack; second team all-district recognition was awarded to Nick Pedersen and Thad Bohbot; and honorable mention football honors went to Isaiah Humphrey, J.T. Waters, Noe Guzman, and J.J. Martin. Academic all-conference and all-district recipients included Shay Tiarks, Alex Benedict, Bailey Campin, Sam Magnuson, Tobey Yates, Erin Shapcott, Emily Pierson, Gabby Myers, Chance Belt, Alex Wade, Nick Pedersen, Jarrett Waters, Noe Guzman, and John Schnack.
On behalf of the employees of the school district, the school board members, and my family, I wish each of you the very best during this holiday season.