Mousetrap Vehicle

The purpose of this project was for classmates to build the fastest mousetrap vehicle, the most distance traveled vehicle, the most force vehicle, or the most acceleration vehicle. The resources they were able to use were their partner and any non-motorized parts, to build their vehicle. The mousetrap had to travel 5.0 meters and was graded on class average placement. 

MATERIALS

Mr. Lahners supplied 1 standard mousetrap. The students were able to use any other mousetrap in their final run. No kits were allowed  They were able to practice on as many mousetraps as the student wanted to buy. 

The videos of the vehicle can be seen on the link below.

 

Need for Speed

 

Mr. Killpack’s Environmental Science class was awarded the Tree’s for Kids Grant through the Iowa DNR this fall. The initial planting and maintenance of the trees were tied into the course curriculum in the habitat unit focusing on habitat loss, conservation, and restoration. Once the trees are established they will also be used in other units such as flora (plant) identification. The establishment of this outdoor classroom space will also serve as a benefit to our native habitats increasing the opportunities for hands-on, outdoor learning experiences. Our goal is to establish a school forest that could be used as a cross-curricular tool throughout the entire district at all grade levels. 

This project’s goals and benefits will positively impact our district's role within the community and its goals for the community. These goals include school beautification initiatives and maintaining our status as a destination district. This project will also serve as a focal point for student-led inquiry-based learning, hands-on projects, and opportunities to actively engage students with the outdoors and their community. This project will also aid us in building students’ appreciation for the efforts put forth by the community and previous classes to better their learning. This will help build an appreciation for the efforts our community and previous classes have put forth and help build a stewardship ethic among the students for our school and their community.

October 5th was the night Underwood and Riverside volleyball stood up to cancer. The event included a Pink Out, donations from the fans and student body, as well as playing for and honoring those people affected by cancer. Thank you to Riverside volleyball for helping out and thank you to all who supported our Pink Out last night. #UWoodEaglePride

The Underwood Community Schools District was ranked the 19th best school district in all of Iowa. This includes every district from a size 1A school up to a 4A. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT/ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings, and more. Data was taken from the US Department of Education as well as reviews from students and parents. Congratulations to the teachers, staff, and students of Underwood!

2022 Best District

A bench to be placed in front of the entrance to the high school was donated by the Richard Torneten family this afternoon. Richard was a 1954 graduate of Underwood. His children and most of his grandchildren all graduated from Underwood as well. He was a lifelong farmer in the Underwood/McClelland area and was very active in 4H along with being on the Westfair board.

He and his wife Kathy were staples at Underwood activities most notably basketball, softball, and baseball. Mr. Torneten passed away in December of 2020. 

OCTOBER 2021 DISTRICT DISPATCH Why can great creative teams achieve more together than they can separately? In his book, The Element (2009), Dr. Ken Robinson suggests that it is because of the following three features: (1) great creative teams are diverse; (2) great creative teams are dynamic; and (3) great creative teams are distinct. In discussing the first point regarding great creative teams being diverse, Dr. Robinson writes about the Beatles and their different musical sensibilities and types of personalities. For all they had in common, musically and culturally, John Lennon and Paul McCartney were very different people, as were George Harrison and Ringo Starr. It was their differences that made their common creative musical work greater than the sum of their individual parts. Dr. Robinson goes on to discuss great creative teams being dynamic. Different ways of thinking can be an obstacle to creativity, but great creative teams find ways of using their differences as strengths and not weaknesses. They have a process through which their strengths are complementary and compensate for each other’s weaknesses. They are able to challenge each other as equals and take criticism as an incentive to improve. Dr. Robinson also notes that great creative teams are distinct. They have a unique and distinctive group personality and come together to do something specific. They are together only for as long as they want to be or must be to get the job done. One of the most famous examples of powerful and creative teamwork is the administration of Abraham Lincoln. In her books Team of Rivals (2005) and Leadership in Turbulent Times (2018), presidential scholar Doris Kearns Goodwin tells the story of Lincoln and key members of his cabinet: Edwin M. Stanton, secretary of war; Salmon P. Chase, secretary of the treasury; William H. Steward, secretary of state; and Edward Bates, attorney general. These five men were passionate in their desire to lead and move America forward. However, each of the cabinet members mentioned had openly opposed Lincoln prior to his presidency. Stanton once even called Lincoln a “long-armed ape.” Each of them had strongly-held positions that sometimes differed significantly from Lincoln’s. In addition, each of them believed he was more deserving of the presidency than the man the people had elected. Still, Lincoln believed that each of these rivals had strengths the administration needed. With a degree of equanimity and composure difficult to imagine in current American politics, Lincoln brought this team together. They argued often and vigorously. However, what they found in working with each other was the ability to forge their differing opinions into sturdy national policy which guided the nation through its most perilous time. Please note that we will be having a 2:30 p.m. dismissal at the end of the first quarter on Friday, October 15, 2021. Parent-teacher conferences will be held on Tuesday, October 26, 2021, and Thursday, October 28, 2021, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. There will be no school on Friday, October 29, 2021.

The 2021-2022 Homecoming Court has been announced.  King candidates were: Steve Barnes, Easton Eledge, Collin Brandt, and Joey Anderson. The Queen candidates were: Aubrie Massie, Abbie Martin, Allie Witt, and Sierra Fox. Mason Ogle and Leslie Morales-Foote were elected king and queen. Congratulations to all.

 

The Underwood School District would like to introduce all the different people who make the district go. 

 

6th-grade teachers

District Secretaries/Business Manager

PK-Kindergarten Teachers

4th-grade teachers

Instructional Coaches

High School Science

Guidance and TAG

5th-grade teachers

HS SPED and PARAS

 

Coach Ridder was presented with his coach of the year award from the United States Track & Field and Cross-Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) and the USMC. Congratulations Coach Ridder. #UWoodEaglePride