From the Desk of the Superintendent...
November 18, 2021
DECEMBER 2021 DISTRICT DISPATCH
Our certified enrollment is up this year. The number of resident and open enrollment “in” students we are serving stands at 825.8. That is an increase of 37.8 students from the 2020-21 school year when we served 788 students. Looking back, we served 781.6 students in 2019-20 and 806.6 students in 2018-19. (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 had a great season. They kicked things off at the annual Clarinda Band Jamboree by placing fourth in the parade competition and second in the field competition. The following weekend they traveled to Glenwood for the Loess Hills Field Fest and took home third place honors. They traveled back to Glenwood the next weekend for the Iowa High School Music Association (IHSMA) State Marching Band Competition and earned their first division I rating since 2014! Special honors for band members so far this year include Jonathan Rosas receiving the outstanding marcher award at Clarinda and Ashley Knudtson, Kira Hetfield, and Samantha Spiker being selected to perform with the Southwest Iowa Honor Band in San Diego at the Holiday Bowl over the Christmas break. Significant middle school band accolades were awarded to Connor Brummett, Brandon Wade, Landon Leaders, and Taiden Ragland who were selected to be members of the Southwest Iowa Middle School Honor Band. In vocal music, two high school students received significant honors this past fall. Emily Wagner and Lennon Kimball were selected as members of the prestigious Iowa High School Music Association’s 2021 Iowa All-State Choir and performed in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University. Congratulations, instrumental and vocal music students!
Special fall season sports honors were awarded to several Underwood student athletes. In cross country, Bryce Patten was the Western Iowa Conference boys’ champion and qualified to participate in the state cross country meet held in Fort Dodge for the third year in a row. In volleyball, Aliyah Humphrey and Alizabeth Jacobsen earned first-team all-conference honors and Lesley Morales-Foote garnered second-team all-conference recognition. In addition, Delaney Ambrose and Leah Hall were awarded Western Iowa Conference honorable mention accolades. In football, first-team all-district honors went to Joey Anderson, Alex Ravliln, Scott Pearson, Collin Brandt, Easton Eledge, and Stevie Barnes. Second-team all-district football recognition was awarded to Walter Ausdemore and Chase Ryan. Academic all-conference and all-district recipients included Taylor Krueger, Lesley Morales-Foote, Ellie Hackett, Phoebe Wison, Josie Rosas, Emily Wagner, Clayton Luett, Bryce Patten, Collin Brandt, Tyler Jacobsen, Carter Davis, Chase Ryan, Joey Anderson, Scott Pearson, Olivia Adkins, Ellie Denise, Sierra Fox, Aubrie Massie, and Jade Whannell.
Don’t forget that the members of the Underwood Dollars for Scholars organization will be having their annual fundraiser dinner featuring sloppy joes in the high school commons from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Friday, December 3, 2021, during the basketball game against AHSTW. You need not attend the game to enjoy the meal. In addition to sloppy joes, the meal will include baked beans, potato chips, ice cream with candy toppings, and a drink for $8.00 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.
As many of you are already aware, I am retiring effective at the end of the working day on Thursday, June 30, 2022. It has been a privilege and an honor to serve the Underwood Community School District as the superintendent of schools for the past 28 years. My long and successful tenure is due in large part to the support I have received from my family, conscientious school board members, dedicated professional colleagues, and the community as a whole. Thank you very much and best wishes for a joyous holiday season.
