From the Desk of the Superintendent...
November 21, 2019
DECEMBER 2019 DISTRICT DISPATCH
Our certified enrollment is down this year. The number of resident and open enrollment “in” students we are serving stands at 781.6. That is a decrease of 25 students from the 2018-19 school year when we served 806.6 students. Looking back, we served 807.6 students in 2017-18 and 779.36 in 2016-17. (Partial weighting applies in situations such as a homeschooled student who takes a class at the high school.) The aforementioned number reflects students for whom we receive state funding because they live within the boundaries of our school district or they attend Underwood 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 Marching Eagles got off to a challenging start when their first competition in Clarinda was cancelled due to inclement weather. However, they quickly bounced back the next weekend by earning a Division I rating at the Loess Hills Marching Band Competition in Glenwood. They finished off the season by earning a Division II rating at the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Marching Festival. In addition, the color guard qualified to compete in the Iowa School Drill Team Association state competition in Des Moines. Significant middle school honors were awarded to Kate Spitznagle and Jonathan Rosas who were selected to be members of the Southwest Iowa Middle School Honor Band. Two students achieved significant vocal music honors this past fall. Eighth grader Manny Rodgers was selected to sing in the Opus 7th/8th Grade Bass Clef Choir which performed in C.Y. Stephens Auditorium at Iowa State University on November 21, 2019. This was Manny’s second year representing Underwood Middle School at the Opus Honor Choir Festival. Additionally, Savannah Smith was selected as a member of the prestigious Iowa High School Music Association’s 2019 Iowa All-State Choir for the third year in a row and performed in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University on November 23, 2019. Congratulations, instrumental and vocal music students!
Special fall season sports honors were awarded to several Underwood student athletes. In cross country, Jordyn Reimer qualified to participate in the state cross country meet held in Fort Dodge. In volleyball, Macy Vanfossan and Zoe Rus earned first-team all-conference honors and Peyton Cook garnered second-team all-conference accolades. In addition, Lauren Brown was awarded Western Iowa Conference honorable mention recognition. In football, first-team all-district honors went to Nick Ravlin, Landon Nelson, Braden Wollan, Scott Pearson, and Easton Eledge. Second-team all-district football recognition was awarded to Jon Casson, Chris Gardner, and Blake Hall. Academic all-conference and all-district recipients included Erin McMains, Lauren Brown, Ashlyn Torneten, Nick Ravlin, Isaac Heilman, Blake Hall, Quinn Kuck, Nick Stephens, Hayden Goehring, and Harrison Smith.
A special “thank you” goes out to everyone who supported the ShyAnneKind food drive this past fall. The community’s support was truly remarkable. The volume of food items and paper products donated was astounding. Several gift cards were also donated and were used in many cases to purchase items such as toothpaste, soap, and shampoo.
Don’t forget that the members of the Underwood Dollars for Scholars organization will be having their annual fundraiser dinner featuring a “Soft Shell Taco and Nacho Bar” in the high school commons from 5:00 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019, during the home basketball game against AHSTW. Your need not attend the game to enjoy the meal. In addition to soft shell tacos and nachos, the meal will include beans, rice, ice cream with candy toppings and a drink for $7.00 per plate. All proceeds will help fund college scholarships for students graduating from Underwood High School. It is the goal of the Underwood Dollars for Scholars organization to help as many students as possible make their dreams of attending college a reality.
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.
