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Readers respond to 12 questions of Christmas
By Julie Witthoeft News-Review Convergence Editor
Monday, December 24, 2007 11:38 AM EST
In this “12 Questions of Christmas” feature, Petoskey News-Review online readers share what’s important, what’s not and what makes lasting
Christmas memories.
From Dec. 11 through Dec. 22 readers responded to Christmas questions online. A selection of those responses are printed in the Dec. 24 News-
Review and all responses appear here at www.petoskeynews.com.
1. How does your family make the holidays special on a tight budget?
Read
“We read from a book that is, inherently, the original Christmas story. Even our 3 and 5 year olds are into ‘the story,’” John C. McLintock.
Church and light tour
“On Christmas Eve we would go to the early service at my childhood church in Charlevoix, sitting through the service was hard because we
anticipated where we were going afterwards. When we left the church my father would drive us down by the Boss’ house to see all their
decorations, listen to the music, and see the list of names on Santa’s list (which was fun because we knew some of the neighborhood children on the
list). Then we would head towards the Witthoeft’s house which, from the moment you got on the property ‘til the moment you exited you were
surrounded by lights, decorations and music. After we were done at those two houses we would head over to a friend’s house who would invite
what seemed to be everyone from our church and the community for a big Christmas Eve gathering of friends, food and laughter. We never opened
gifts on Christmas Eve because we savored each on Christmas morning, but to me Christmas was/is a time of being with family and friends and
enjoying what is offered around us, in our community. Now that I am married and with three children of my own, though the Witthoeft’s no longer
have a display, we go to our church in Petoskey, but right after we head over to Charlevoix so we can see our children’s faces light up as we drive
down the street toward the Boss’ house. It is amazing how many more things they have added and I happy that we are able to still enjoy it. We are
also going to be starting our own Christmas Eve gathering, because being with family and friends is the best gift of all,” Megan R. Mainland,
Petoskey.
Wrap it up
“The small things are just as special as any big things that can be given. Wrap everything — it makes for an exciting if not messy morning. Kids
appreciate what they get. Mine never came to me with what their friends got, they always appreciated what they got. Time spent together is more
important than the material,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
2. What’s your favorite Christmas carol and why?
Drummer Boy
“My favorite Christmas carol is ‘The Little Drummer Boy.’ It conveys the message that you don't have to give expensive gifts. Just give from your
heart and that will be enough. In this day and age, I absolutely love that message,” Mary Stone.
Silent Night
“My favorite is ‘Silent Night’ because it says it all,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
3. What tradition do you carry out on Christmas Day that you couldn’t celebrate without?
Christmas Festival
“When we were kids, we could not come downstairs on Christmas morning until our dad played Leroy Anderson’s ‘Christmas Festival’ on the
stereo. Even to this day, we don't start opening our gifts until we've played ‘Christmas Festival’ which is now the way we remember my dad on
Christmas morning,” Marcie Szczubelek, Petoskey.
Tuning in
“I start on Christmas Eve at about 10 p.m. by listening to Lite 96’s Christmas music. That was one of my oldest son's first jobs in broadcasting he
is now in the 15th year of serving our great country in the Army broadcasting on the Armed Forces Network. He just got back from Iraq as a
master sergeant. I continue to listen until the wee hours of the morning. It may sound silly to some but it means a lot to me,” Thomas Clementson.
Mass
“Christmas Eve Mass,” Sheila Blackledge.
Be flexible
“Christmas traditions are fun but you always have to be flexible. One tradition we do stick to is that everyone has to be up before presents can be
opened. Stockings are fair game as soon as you get up but the presents must wait. Family dinner is a great tradition but the numbers have gone up
and down through the years. You just have to appreciate who you have with you during that year,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
4. What movie gets you in the holiday mood?
It's a Wonderful Life
“There is only one movie. ‘It's a Wonderful Life’ with Jimmy Stewart, in black and white. OK, ‘Elf’ runs a close second,” Lori Britton.
White Christmas
“My favorite holiday movie, without a doubt, is ‘White Christmas’ (1954) starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen.
Between the music and dancing, and the fun story how can you help but be in the holiday spirit?” MaryBeth (Hempstead) Koberna, Waverly,
Iowa.
Christmas Vacation
“Has to be ‘Christmas Vacation’ with Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid. No matter how bad or weird my Christmas season is going, it seems down
right normal when I compare it to the Griswolds. Everything from picking out the tree, the lights on the house and the relatives coming over turns
into a complete mess,” David Kruskie, Boyne Falls.
It's a Wonderful Life
“My favorite Christmas movie is ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ I watch it every year. It makes you appreciate what you have,” Betty Simon, Boyne
Falls.
5. What do you loathe about the holidays?
Identity theft
“The identity theft of Christmas! Society has forgotten about the true meaning of Christmas. It's not about a day off from work or a vacation from
school. It's not about presents and spending more money than you can afford to spend. It's not about a weight-challenged man in a red suit (notice
that I was trying to be politically correct in my terminology) bringing presents down a chimney to good children (isn't that a form of bribery and
breaking and entering?). It's not about ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme.’ It's about the birth of Jesus. It's never been about anything else, and should never
be about anything else.
All of a sudden, I'm being wished "Happy holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Being sent holiday cards with cute little animals and cartoon
characters, instead of receiving Christmas cards celebrating Jesus' birth; and being bombarded with presents by people who expect to receive a gift
in return. The hustle and bustle of Christmas has gotten to the point of society being more worried about what they have and what they get instead
of celebrating the birth of Jesus — in my opinion, the most recognizable "figure" in history.
I loathe the fact that Christmas has lost it's identity. The "holidays" have changed to be politically correct and non-offensive to everyone.
However, I (and many others) have been offended because of this change. As a Christian, I am offended that Christmas has, in my opinion, become
a commercial nightmare. People running around with credit cards, charging well beyond their financial limits so their children will have all the latest
gadgets and electronics. So their children (and themselves, too) will have everything they could possibly ever want - what happened to providing
what is needed. Want and need are two different things!
A child may want 20 toys that each cost $30 (or more) but do they really need them? A child may want to have a whole new wardrobe of clothes
because the fashion trend has changed and all their clothes are not "in fashion" anymore. But do they need them? A child may want a new video
game machine because last years model is not the best one on the market or the latest thing to have - but do they really need it? No, no and no! Our
children need to have a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, and food in their mouths. That doesn't mean their homes have to be bigger and
better than everyone else's; that their clothes have a designer label or be "in fashion" for this season and obsolete by spring; or that their food is fast-
food take out or the best cuts of meat. It means we, as parents, provide the basics. A home with love and respect; clothes that are modest and worn
respectfully, and food to nourish their bodies. Nothing more....nothing less. As parents we should give of ourselves and not of our paychecks. We
should be teaching values not wants. A person should be respected for who they are, not what they have. None of this has to do with Christmas -
the birth of Jesus Christ.
Let's get back to the true meaning of Christmas. Give Christmas back it's identity. Celebrate the birth of Jesus, not the coming of Santa. Celebrate
with your children with love and a day of quality time, not hundreds of dollars of toys that will only be forgotten with your next trip to the store.
Give kindness and respect instead of a small gift with expectations attached.
Give Christmas back it's identity,” Karen Giudice, Charlevoix.
Doing everything
“The only thing I don’t like about the holidays is trying to do everything. Trying to get all the cards mailed, all the gifts bought and wrapped, all
the baking, etc. Sometimes you just have to cut something out,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
Don't choke on it
“The main think I loath about the holiday season is people or organizations that go out of their way to say ‘happy holidays’ instead of ‘merry
Christmas.’ Stores post banners conspicuously omitting the word Christmas, but no one is in them buying New Year’s gifts. Shoppers are buying
Christmas presents.
Many schools now have winter vacations instead of Christmas vacations, but coincidentally they schedule their winter vacations over Christmas.
Call it what it is. Perhaps they think they will offend non-Christians by not saying Christmas, but in so doing they end up offending Christians.
I know several Jewish people and none are offended when wished merry Christmas. Many of them observe the secular aspects of the day
anyway. And the ones that don’t still get the day off work because, guess what, it is Christmas.
Don’t choke on it – say it,” Jim Tice, Indianapolis, Ind.
6. What is your favorite gift you’ve received and why?
The birth of Jesus
“The best Christmas gift that I and everyone else has received was the birth of Jesus Christ, whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas. Everything
else pales in comparison to this ultimate gift that was freely given and it is ours for the taking,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
7. How do you share your holiday with relatives and friends far from home?
Christmas cards
“My Christmas cards are usually filled with news that has gone on through the year. If there is no other time that I stay in touch with family and
friends it is definitely at Christmas,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
8. Teenagers in your life are all asking for this...
iPod Touch
“iPod Touch,” Katelynn Murray, Petoskey.
9. If Santa could bring you one thing this year, what would it be?
Plane ticket
“I just moved here from Virgina. I would love for Santa to bring me a teleporter device so I could visit my family and friends whenever I want. But
I’ll settle for a plane ticket,” Megan Feeley, Boyne City.
10. What does Christmas breakfast look like at your house?
Morning feast
“We usually have cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon and juice. Christmas morning is special — the anticipation of the opening of gifts, the surprises and
the goofy gifts which we’re good at in our family,” Connie Green, Harbor Springs.
11. When do you take your Christmas tree down?
New Year's Day
“New Year’s Day. We discuss the highlights from Christmas and take one last peek at our favorite ornaments before packing them away for the
year,” Julie Witthoeft, Charlevoix.
12. What is your best Christmas memory?
Light tour
“Looking at house lights with my family when we were kids,” Bill Collins, Boyne Falls.
Retail entrepreneurs open doors in time to capture holiday spending
By DREW ANDERSEN Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO -- The holiday season is celebrated by retailers as the time of year when they go "into the black" and start turning a profit for the
year. But the window from mid-November until just after Christmas is also a prime time for startup retailers to set up shop.
After working for thirteen years at the Cedar Bend Humane Society, Carrie Ragsdale wanted a change of pace, so she decided to start a company in
Waterloo. Each year she traveled through Indiana near the holiday season and picked up hundreds of dollars worth of hand-dipped candles to give
out as presents. Her original business idea was to market those candles in the Cedar Valley.
So Ragsdale decided to open a retail store and finally settled on a storefront on East 4th street in Waterloo. But she had to scramble to get her new
business up and running in time to catch the holiday crowd.
Although she had virtually no experience running a business, Ragsdale hit the ground running, and the focus of her new business, Home Comforts,
branched out from candles to a variety of products.
"I was surprised by how much attention our children's toys have received," said Ragsdale. Home Comforts carries a line of toys by the Melissa &
Doug company.
Ragsdale officially opened for business three weeks ago, just a few weeks later than she had hoped. But her large inventory of holiday-related gifts
has already struck a chord with customers.
"This time of year, sales are really important for businesses that have a large percentage of their inventory in Christmas merchandise," said James
Hoelscher, program manager of entrepreneur development for the University of Northern Iowa Small Business Development Center. "If sales are
not good, they are going to have a large number of items leftover."
Hoelscher works almost exclusively with startup companies in the area, and he advises businesses to open at a time when sales will be at their
peak. This helps small businesses to quickly establish their most important lifeline -- cash flow.
"You don't want to open an ice cream stand in the winter," joked Hoelscher. "You have to ask, 'When will my customers be most apt to buy?' And
Christmas is a ripe time for retailers."
Of course, it's not good enough to just open the doors, especially for retailers not located in modern shopping hubs, such as shopping centers and
strip malls.
Stephanie Shavers opened a trendy women's fashion store called Shoe Fetish, also in downtown Waterloo, the day after Thanksgiving in an effort
to captuer the holiday shopping crowd. To spread the word about her new business, she hosted a pre-open party event and sent out about 300
invitations to members of the community.
"That proved to be the kind of jump start I really needed," said Shavers.
Hoelscher agreed that marketing was one aspect that startup businesses often overlook. Entrepreneuers can get buried in the details of running day-
to-day operations and forget about promoting their new business. And with all of the advertising during the holiday season, compounded with
limited space due to political ads, marketing is no easy task for new businesses.
"This time of year is like the Super Bowl of retail advertising," said Hoelscher. "It's easy for a business' message to get lost."
The catch-22 is that many small businesses do not have the means to support a huge advertising campaign, so they rely on other forms of
marketing to promote their new business.
"Word-of-mouth has proved to be the best (marketing tool)," said Shavers.
Some of the customers at Home Comforts told Ragsdale they received gifts from her store at company gift exchanges. The recipients were so
impressed with their gifts that they went to Home Comforts to do holiday shopping for people on their lists.
There is also a form of cameradarie marketing between downtown Waterloo businesses. Ragsdale's business cards can be found at nearby coffee
house and restaurant Cottonwood Canyon, and all of the entrepreneurs in the area are quick to refer customers to their fellow downtown
businesses.
"We try to do some cooperative marketing to help entrepreneurs stretch their dollars," said Terry Poe Buschkamp, the executive director of Main
Street Waterloo.
Ragsdale's business might be the best example of cooperative marketing, at least when mixed with supplier relations. Home Comforts carries a vast
array of locally-made products ranging from jewelry to woodwork to paintings by local artist Molly Hartz.
"It gets the eye of a different crowd," Ragsdale said of her store's distinctive selection of locally-crafted goods.
Both Ragsdale and Shavers said the recent onslaught of winter weather may have produced an adverse effect on sales, but both hoped shoppers
would be back in full force this weekend. Shavers is so committed to the success of her store that she is going to leave the doors open when most
other retailers will be huddled by the fire.
"I'm going to be open on Christmas Eve, and I know there aren't
December 13, 2007
Every School Every Thursday -- Des Moines East/North
Des Moines East/North -- Elementaries
Brubaker
Second-graders celebrated fall by having parties the day before Thanksgiving break. One classroom used a popcorn theme. They read a story about
popcorn, used facts from that story to create their own book, sorted words by their beginning sounds into popcorn bowls, made new words from
the letters in popcorn, tasted three flavors of popcorn, graphed their choices and then discussed the results.
We are participating in the KidStriders program by jogging and walking around the jog/walk trail every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during
lunch recess. Students get a Striders meter card punched with each lap and earn a toe token at every five miles. Three laps make a mile. If any
parents or community members are interested in volunteering to help punch tickets during recess call 242-8405.
Capitol View
Nothing submitted.
Carver
The Carver Cougar chorus will go caroling Dec. 19. Students from third through fifth grades have given up their recess on Wednesdays to sing in the
chorus. The students will leave at 9:30 a.m. with various stops including Iowa Lutheran Hospital and the Des Moines airport. After a lunch buffet
at CiCi's pizza, the chorus will arrive back at school around 1 p.m.
"Cookin' Up Christmas" will be presented by the Carver second-grade music classes at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 in the school gym. This is our first program
in the gym. The story centers on one of Santa's elves who would rather be a chef than a carpenter. The student body will get a chance to see the
play earlier at 12:45 p.m.
"A Tribute in Song to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." will be presented by the third-grade music classes under Robert Stinnett's direction at 2 p.m.
Jan. 16 in the gym. The students have been studying about the civil rights movement and how people were treated and discriminated against during
the history of our country. The students also have learned about the life of Dr. King.
Cattell
The first-graders celebrated their Native American unit by creating a tepee and dressing as pilgrims and Native Americans.
Fourth-graders finished the American stories theme from the new Houghton Mifflin reading curriculum. The students learned about how millions of
immigrants came to America to find a better life.
Students and their families participated in many math activities during Family Math Night on Nov. 27. Multiplication wheels, using math with
ordinary household items, working on tangrams after reading a book on the topic, and making ladybug clocks were among the interactive activities.
In between these activities, families enjoyed a meal in the lunchroom. This was our biggest event ever.
Findley
Nothing submitted.
Garton
Since September, English Language Learners in fourth and fifth grade have participated in a mentoring program with students from Simpson
College. The mentors spent a minimum of 30 minutes with the students once a week. Each group formed a relationship of trust and focused on
communication skills. They had a celebration and pizza party to end their time here on Dec. 3 after school. The students took pictures with their
mentors and made cards to remember this time.
Madison
On Nov. 29, 347 teachers, students and family members attended the Science Center Fun Night sponsored with Title I parent-involvement money.
Families saw "The Human Body" at the IMAX theater, learned new and interesting things about our bodies in the Grossology exhibit, and listened
to Ed Wilson give a live broadcast.
Oak Park
Nothing submitted.
Pleasant Hill
Nothing submitted.
Stowe at McKee
The students in Jay Starr's classroom were stars for the day when Channel 12 came to film their activities for the afternoon. Last year Stowe
received a grant from the Polk County Board of Supervisors and Apple computers that provided iPods and laptop computers for students in
fourth grade. Mr. Starr is using technology to enhance and support his instruction. Students love creating podcasts and have created mini-
biographies of famous scientists, podcast reports based on their Internet research and made a CD about Stowe school Positive Behavior Supports
rules.
Willard
Students are enjoying the excitement of a good book in the school library. Every class has scheduled time in the library. Students are being taught
how to treat books with respect and keep them in good condition. The upper classes are learning the Dewey Decimal System and familiarizing
themselves on why and how the library needs to be kept in order.
Des Moines East/North -- Middle Schools
Harding
Nothing submitted.
Hiatt
Students in Kelly Allen's class wrote and are performing their own funny plays this week to end their unit on plays. They are incorporating props
in their plays and are learning to use expression, stage direction and narration. The constant reading of their play dialogue is helping improve their
fluency. They may be performing for parents and Brent Parrott's classes this week.
Hoyt
We are sponsoring a food drive for the food bank. There is a contest between advisories to see who can bring the most food. A party will be the
reward for the advisory that wins the contest.
GEAR-UP will be beginning a Latino group to meet during advisory two days a week. Salvador Aguirre will be heading up the group. Their first
project will be to collect toys for Toys For Tots.
Spirit Week involved several dress-up days. One day students dressed up in 70s outfits. Another day we dressed up as our idols. Many staff
members chose Casey Goodhue, vice principal, and dressed in shirts and ties like he does every day. Another day was fashion disaster with
mismatched clothes. The last day was Red and Gold Day, school colors.
Hoyt is supporting a family from Brubaker for the holiday season. Staff and students will be collecting coins to be used to buy food and Christmas
presents for the family.
On Dec. 6, the vocal music department had a concert under the direction of Rebecca Langholz. The students worked hard to get ready for the
concert. Hoyt handbells are busy this season playing at various places, from a handbell festival to a Dec. 6 event at Iowa Lutheran Hospital for the
Lutheran Auxiliary and the public's enjoyment in the cafeteria. Marcia Isaac is the director of the handbells.
PTSA had a contest for each grade level advisory. Students made SOAR posters to help promote Positive Behavior Supports. Winners were Kim
O'Donnell, sixth grade; Paul Sams, seventh grade; Mary Lewis, eighth grade. The winning posters are displayed in the cafeteria for all of the
students to see.
Beth Smith's sixth-grade classes are reading "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Many of the students have expressed an interest in
reading other books by the author and have said that they would love to get some of them for Christmas.
East High School
So many students volunteered for the Nov. 28 blood drive that the Blood Center called for reinforcements. The results: 77 donors registered, 48
first-time donors, 55 units of whole blood collected, 10 double red.
The activities office, and wrestling and basketball teams have sportswear for sale that will be available before Christmas.
Color guard took second place at the state dance and drill team competition on Nov. 30.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Oscar Lucatero-Trevino, an East/Future Pathways student, was selected.
North High School
The holiday vocal music concert postponed by snow last week has been rescheduled for 1:15 p.m. Tuesday as a school assembly in the auditorium.
Parents and guests also are invited to "Tis the Season," which features a selection of music by the ninth-grade prep choir and the concert and
chamber choirs.
Art instructor Catherine Chiodo will host master print maker Robert Schulte of the Des Moines Art Center on Dec. 14. Advanced art students
from drawing and painting 3 and 4 will explore the art of print making.
The North winter guard team competed in the Iowa State Drill Team Association's state competition Nov. 30 and earned a Division II rating for its
Army Airborne routine. Using music from the 82nd Army Airborne Division's choir, they artistically represented what it must be like for our
troops to jump out of airplanes. All four of the 7-foot back drops used in the show were designed and painted by the team. They included
depictions of two C-130 airplanes, parachutes and the Airborne patch. During the routine, the team used double-ended flags to represent the
propellers of the planes taking off. They stood on large red boxes to represent waiting in the C-130 before jumping out of the plane. Ribbon
streamers pulled from back packs represented the parachutes. Four team members lifted and spun a fifth team member to show how the troopers
glide through the air. Finally, the show ended with blue and white flags and each member leaping over a box and landing. Stacie and Gig Thomas
constructed the boxes and went with us to the competition to move our equipment on and off the floor. Student team helpers were Christopher
Farrington, Mike Rundle and Samantha Snodgrass, who moved, created and set up equipment and videotaped performances. The team members
were: Michelle Allen, Kayla Allen, Lana Rouzer, Ashley Teply, Thanith Thammathay and Micah Thomas. The winter guard will likely attend one
more competition in February. Any student who would like to get involved and learn how to spin a flag is welcome. Contact team coach Jessica
Gogerty.
Student council attended a leadership conference at Adventureland on Dec. 5. The event, sponsored by Josten's, featured Emmy Award winner
Mark Scharenbroich. Approximately 1,000 students attended the all- day conference.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Oscar Guaman was among those selected.
Hoover High School
Students in Krys Phillips' ninth-grade English class created trees with watercolors, pastels and colored pencils to represent the main character,
Melinda, in the novel "Speak." Students were assigned the following statement to journal about and then create a representative illustration: "Every
day since the pep rally, I've been painting watercolors of trees that have been hit by lightning. I try to paint them so they are nearly dead, but not
totally."
Art Club has been invited to submit a proposal for a design to be placed on the wall in the parking lot at Principal Park. Bill Sherman from the Iowa
Historical Preservation Society will join us tonight to tell us about the location and share some ideas about images for the site. The wall is located in
a historic area for early settlers and baseball lovers. They will need lots of people to help. Currently they are thinking of applying the design to
ceramic tiles. Each tile would be one small square of the entire design. Each "artist" would just need to "copy" one small square of the design onto
their tile. The individual tiles would then be reassembled to recreate the overall design and installed on location. (Kind of like the Van Gogh that was
recreated on the side of a building downtown for the Arts Festival last summer.) The production and installation of the design can be stretched over
a period of time, but the wall is 100 feet long and the art work will be a permanent public installation.
Students of John Eller's English 10 classes and their parents are enjoying the opportunity to check weekly grade updates on the class Web site.
Upon checking grades, parents can use e-mail links at the site to ask the teacher specific questions about grades or classroom activities.
A group of seniors decided they wanted to do something for the school this year that they could all remember. The Hoover talent show will be
Dec. 14 as a buy-out assembly in the auditorium. A variety of acts, including students and staff, will sing, dance, play musical instruments and
recite original poetry. The main organizers of the show, Dana Hall and Drew Foster, are captains of librarian Pam Pilcher's homeroom. They have
been assisted by Stephon James, Jessica Cam, Jasmine Howard, Pablo Sanchez, Stephanie Mulstay, Nikki Kemp and the rest of the library
homeroom, and also English teacher Nic Jackson's homeroom. These hard working seniors have done most of the work during homeroom or after
school. They hope that next year's seniors will follow their lead and make the talent show an annual tradition.
The Hoover History Club will be holding a mock caucus from 3-4 p.m. Dec. 17. The session will include some informational background on the
Iowa caucuses, including their history and how they are run. History Club students will serve as precinct representatives for various candidates, as
well as guides to help people through the caucus process. The event will include abbreviated Democratic and Republican caucuses, so attendees can
experience both sides. Students, teachers, parents, and community members are all welcome to attend.
In government, three students participated in the Heartland Forum this weekend. They made a picture wall for the active citizenship project and
prepared for a high-school panel discussion. Their area of expertise for the panel was homelessness in Des Moines. Student teacher Mike Shaw had
a project called Create Your Perfect President. Also student council participated in a leadership conference at Adventureland Palace in Altoona. The
main speaker was Mark Schairenbroich.
Adult living classes will have a credit counselor from Consumer Credit Counseling Service speak Dec. 6. Students covered budgeting, checking
accounts and use of credit, and are beginning a unit on taxes. Art Ousley is speaking about dangers of credit use, how to manage credit wisely, and
how the counseling service can help if a person gets behind in paying for credit.
Sarah Hamilton's speech and fundamentals of speech classes are completing their informative presentations this week. The students researched
various topics of their choice including surrealism, "The Color Purple," Tupac Shakur, pharaohs, dwarfism and Bosnia. Students created
PowerPoint presentations, movies and posters and worked to incorporate YouTube videos into their speeches.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Yvette Rodriguez, a spring graduate from Hoover and now at Iowa State University, was among those chosen.
Lincoln High School
The Railettes, Railmen, and color guard competed at the Iowa State dance and drill team championships held at Veterans Memorial Auditorium on
Nov. 30. Honors earned included a Division I rating for the color guard, second place for the Railmen, second place in co-ed show production, third
place in pom for the Railettes, and fourth place for the Railettes in the hip-hop division.
Final exams for semester one are set for Jan. 811. The second semester begins Jan. 14. January 21-22 will be in-service and professional-
development days for teachers.
Winter break is Dec. 20 through Jan. 1. The office will be closed Dec. 24-25, and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Classes resume Jan. 2.
Staff members Linda Adrianse, Jamie Badger, Melissa Bird, Cathy Clough, Eric Dockstader, Sue Krantman, Roberts Nigro, Joe Spiess, Karen
Thompson and Sandy Wilson attended the fourth statewide high school summit Dec. 10-11 at Hy-Vee Hall. The focus of these summits is on
strategies for leading high school reform and initiatives to ensure student success.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Josue Acosta was among those selected.
Roosevelt High School
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Juan Jacinto was chosen from Roosevelt, with the help of ESL teacher Valerie Laing and because he met the
requirement with his GPA and plans to pursue higher education upon graduation. Jacinto's plan is to attend DMACC for the 2008 fall semester.
Students will be participating in the Dollars for Scholars phonathan during February. Students will be making calls to raise money for scholarships
on each of the four Sundays in February.
The debate team competed in the Patriot Games national debate tournament at George Mason University and won four championship trophies.
Seniors Liz McCabe and Olivia Sandbothe, paired for the first time, defended Roosevelt's title from last year in public forum debate. Junior Chris
Ohman and Billy Strong captured the championship in public forum and Billy Strong captured the extemp championship.
Citywide Schools
Cowles
A centennial celebration was held for students, parents and staff to mark the 100th anniversary of the Montessori method of learning. The upper-
elementary choir sang songs of peace and all enjoyed a photographic journey of Montessori learning throughout the world for the past 100 years.
This was followed by a slide show of Montessori learning within our own school.
Cowles radio continues to be a big hit with students and listeners. Each week students from a different classroom are featured "on air."
Students went on a safari to the rainforests of Africa in the middle-school classroom. Middle-school students, dressed as tour guides, led the
students through the rainforest noting and explaining various plants, animals and foliage layers.
The pre-kindergarten found out what it was like to be a pilgrim setting the table for Thanksgiving. They practiced folding napkins into rectangles
and triangles, sorted silverware and set the table with correct placement of the plates, cups and silverware. They even polished the silverware with
toothpaste.
The pre-K students are also learning about botany as they magnify rings in bark and study seeds in flowers. Some flowers were also dissected as
the students worked on their fine motor skills by pulling out the seeds with tweezers.
The upper-elementary students learned there is more than one way to solve a word problem in math. The students charted ways to make a
sandwich with various types of bread, vegetables and meat. After determining the number of ways to make a sandwich, they put their skills to the
test by making and eating their creations.
Downtown
Last week the 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds ended their study of shoes and trucks with formal presentations, museum walks and open houses. Now,
students are learning about community service. Some services that will take place throughout the month are: washing windows in the skywalk,
assembling necessity bags for shelters, ringing the bell to raise money for the Salvation Army, writing letters to soldiers and sending care packages
to them, etc. Students are learning what it means to give to others.
Jefferson
We have more than 100 students jumping rope to earn money for the American Heart Association. Pupils are also working hard to improve their
fitness in other ways. We have more than 100 students exercising at home, school and after school to complete a 26-mile marathon for the
Kidstriders program in Des Moines. In addition, the children may receive incentives in the Mr. Cardio-Fitness Club by doing anything from
jumping rope and bicycling to playing tag.
Phillips
Third-grade students have been studying American Indians in core knowledge. An Ojibway Indian, Carol Kramer, visited last week to tell Ojibway
stories and teach children about Ojibway life when she was growing up.
Smouse
The Head Start and ECSE classrooms have been enjoying their Kinderdrama classes that take place at Smouse in conjunction with the Des Moines
Playhouse. The last performance and activities, held on Nov. 29, was based on the book "Mortimer." Matt Gunsaulus, the music teacher, has
already introduced the book to the children during their library/music time. Kinderdrama has been made possible through a grant from the Iowa Arts
Council.
Smouse received a Christmas tree from the Festival of Trees and Lights. AAA Minnesota/Iowa donated the tree which was decorated by Iowa
Public Television. The tree stands 10 feet tall and is adorned with books, stuffed animals, videos, book bags, souvenirs and ornaments from the
many children's programs shown on Iowa Public Television. The tree stands in the atrium for all to enjoy.
Students and staff will present their annual winter program today at 1 p.m. entitled "The Spirit of Winter." Performances will include singing,
poetry, choral reading and instrumentals. The staff choir will also be performing. Cookies and punch will be provided.
Walnut Street
Many of the classrooms are learning about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations. They are learning about the different symbols that represent these
celebrations as well as comparing and contrasting these holidays. Some of the classes will sample some of the traditional foods that are eaten during
the holiday season.
Goodrell
The eighth-grade blue team is working on an interdisciplinary unit on the Iowa caucus. Throughout the project our students are writing research
papers, having a debate and participating in a mock caucus. Our goal is to get the students excited about the candidates and the Iowa caucus and
make sure they understand the value of participating in the political process. Although our students are not able to vote in this year's caucus, some
will be old enough to participate in four years. In reading class they compared and contrasted different candidates for president using campaign
literature and Venn diagrams. In civics, language arts, and science they have work on researching the candidates' stances on different issues, focusing
one on the environment or energy issues, which connected to the eighth- grade science curriculum. In math they used pie, bar and line graphs to
create a visual representation of data to complement the research paper they are working on describing why they support their candidates. On
Nov. 12 representatives from the Mike Huckabee, Bill Richardson and John Edwards campaigns came to our school and talked with our students
and answered their questions. For five days, during lunch, groups of students gave up eating with their friends to watch DVDs from the John
Edwards, Ron Paul, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaigns. On Nov. 20, five students met with Edwards prior to his event at
Roosevelt High School. We are also looking forward to finding more opportunities for students to meet with candidates and volunteer at events
leading up to the Iowa caucus. The final research papers were due Tuesday, the debate will be Dec. 19 and the mock caucus will be Jan. 3.
Eighth-grade reading is using QAR to develop reading comprehension. Students received a laminated bookmark with descriptors of the four QAR
reading strategies. This bookmark is an excellent resource that could be used in high school.
Central Campus
Throughout the year in Giovanni Leo's Italian classes, students hear numerous stories about his most recent trip to Italy. He was born there and
grew up in Terravecchia, where some of his relatives still live. He returns to Italy every three years for 6-8 weeks. Although many wish to go, only
a few students can take this once in a lifetime trip with their Italian teacher. This year he took two of his former students and a current student:
Kevin (Costanzo) Coughran, a Lincoln graduate; Katie (Cunegonda/Caterina) Stoen, a Hoover graduate; and Trisha (Teresa) Floyd, a Lincoln
student taking Italian V.
The first-year culinary arts class took a field trip to Iowa Methodist Medical Center to meet a dietitian as they study nutrition. She explained the
new food pyramid and how to meet daily food needs. They also toured the hospital to see all of the food-service operations which include patient
meals, staff and visitor cafeterias, and catering.
Junior automotive students in Jim Nelson, James Boyd and Steve Woods' classes are touring six area dealerships: Dewey Ford, O'Halloran's
International, Betts Auto Campus, Stivers Ford, Charles Gabus Ford and Bob Brown Chevrolet to gain insight on all aspects of the industry.
Students in Kelly Geist's ESL classes are preparing for their first movie premier. They have spent the past month learning the new Microsoft
program MovieMaker and are finalizing their projects about their visions for the school of the future. A red carpet event is planned for later in
December.
Orchard Place
High school students in Kathie Arlaud and Sarah Behren's classroom have been working on the writing, editing and revision process. They spent
several weeks developing pieces of their choice and celebrated their finished essays with a publishing party open house Nov. 30. Other students
and teachers viewed their publishings and provided comments.
Ruby Van Meter
Kathy Davis' classroom hosted a Thanksgiving dessert buffet on Nov. 21. The students in the class made numerous desserts in the practice kitchen
with the assistance of Teresa Hill and other staff. The students included Zak Hofer, Blake Roberts, Jason Hildebrand and Tyler Teel. Creating the
desserts was only part of the project. Each student practiced his social skills while greeting people at the event and telling jokes and stories. Many
of the students used Voice Output Communication Devices to carry on conversations with guests. More than 75 guests enjoyed the event. Julie
Lensing, Mary Rickert, Brenda Clausman and Anna Bingham helped with the event.
Teachers participated in meetings to help them work on the alternate assessments that are being done this year. Each year, we must report progress
on the alternate assessment to the state for approximately 75 of our students. Designated teachers and associates attended Crisis Prevention
Institute training. The focus of this training is on positive intervention when students begin to have difficulty managing their behaviors at school.
The techniques have proven to be helpful. Staff participate in refresher classes on a regular basis.
A small group of teachers is learning about Intellitools, a computer program that is designed to help students of any ability level learn basic and
more complex skills and concepts. Teachers are learning how to develop programs for their students in various areas.
Scavo
Twelve students enjoyed a delightful luncheon at the Embassy Club last week. Our hosts were Judge Celeste Bremer, John Shors and Richard
Lozier. Everyone was impressed with the view from the 41st floor and the bronzed shrimp. We talked about future plans and goals, and
interviewed our excellent server about her work at the Embassy Club. The Des Moines works and learns class will return for a tour of the kitchen
after winter break.
Steve Van Gundy and Mark Yusten have been working with students in their classes to build and launch rockets. The rocket project teaches
science, math, industrial technology and other subjects. For them it is an easy-to-use and exciting teaching aid for science awareness and education.
Students are able to participate during the personalization days that have been scheduled during each month on Fridays. During this time they
construct their rockets and launch them at Des Moines Water Works Park. Several rockets have been launched multiple times and returned safely to
the ground for a second or even a third launch on the same day.
A group of about 30 seniors is participating in a project aimed at encouraging them to participate in Iowa's 2008 caucuses. They began by
researching the major issues of the presidential campaign and the candidates of both parties. The students created their own political buttons and
bumper stickers based on the issues and candidates with which they most agreed. They also polled ten other students in order to discover which
issues and candidates had the greatest support at Scavo. On Nov. 30 the group went to the State Historical Building to analyze the Caucus Iowa
exhibit. The students answered questions covering the six areas of the exhibit. After lunch students attended a panel discussion where they asked
questions to learn additional information about the Iowa caucus process. The panel members included a representative of the Secretary of the
State's office, Frank Chido; Harold Moore from Rock the Vote and Rock the Caucus; Dave Stone from Sensible Iowans; and the director and creator
of the Iowa Caucus exhibit, Mark Holub. The project will end with the caucuses on Jan. 3.
Saydel Schools
Cornell
Cornell Cares is off to a great start with our collection to send to the troops overseas. Preschoolers are bringing travel-size wipes and Chapstick.
Kindergartners are bringing gum, toothpaste and toothbrushes. First graders' list includes small games, playing cards, hard candies and batteries.
Second-graders' list includes writing supplies (no stamps), hard candy and batteries. Third grade will bring crossword puzzles, word finds, small
books and different types of music. All students are welcome to donate money to go toward the $600 it will cost to ship these items. To date we
have collected $281.57 toward our $600 goal. Collection boxes and jars for money donations are in front of the office through Dec. 21. Thank you
for helping Cornell with our caring project.
As a part of Cornell's Enrichment Learning Program, previously known as TAG, Frankie Wolver has been presenting lessons from the Kilgore
Observation Inventory. These lessons are designed for specific grade levels that allow children to show their abilities in different areas. The areas of
giftedness that are inventoried are accelerated learner, analytical thinking, meaning motivation, sense of humor, sensitivity, advanced language, and
perspective. Wolver has presented lessons in every third- and second-grade classroom six times this year introducing these lessons. Wolver will
begin the first grade lessons before Christmas and finish with kindergarten in March and April. The finished activities the students create are then
taken and evaluated for these characteristics. The data collected, along with ITBS, CoGat scores, and teacher nomination is used for the
identification process.
Teacher spotlight: Kindergarten teacher Darla VanHouten has 15 years teaching experience. VanHouten attended elementary school at Cornell. She
was a kindergartner in the very classroom that she is now teaching in. Daughter Hayden is enjoying kindergarten this year at Cornell. Daughter
Hannah attended Cornell and has moved on to Norwoodville, in the fourth grade. VanHouten enjoys garage sales, camping and boating with her
daughters and husband Dave. She loves to read. The Harry Potter books are her favorite.
Norwoodville
Norwoodville Christmas concert will be tonight at the high school. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Woodside
Saydel's middle school and high school jazz band will perform at Capital Square at 11 a.m. Dec. 20.
High School
Congratulations to the Eagle color guard on its outstanding success this past Friday at the state championship dance and drill team competition.
Saydel earned a Division I rating and third place out of 11 competing color guard teams in its division. This is a very special honor for all 19
members of the winter guard and their instructor, Darrin Mell. This is a very impressive first-year showing at this event, which is billed to be the
largest competition of this kind in the nation.
Saydel is hosting a JV wrestling invitational Friday at 5 p.m. Varsity wrestling duals will be held Saturday at 10 a.m.
The junior class is selling spirit signs to help raise money for after prom. The signs are selling for $20. Contact the high school office for more
information.
DECA is continuing its Christmas collections. Donations are being taken for hats, mittens and scarves. Collections will continue through Saturday.
The Saydel High School band and vocal concert will be held at the high school auditorium at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Saydel's middle school and high school jazz band will perform at Capital Square at 11 a.m. Dec. 20.
The high school choir will be caroling at Cornell Elementary School on Dec. 21.
Private Schools
Des Moines Christian
Congratulations to second-grader Sterling Brunk, who had an amazing day at the Martensdale-St. Marys tournament at which he wrestled on Nov.
17. He placed first, recording pins in all three of his matches. Fall times were 1:50, 1:51, and 2:45.
On Nov. 29, the kindergarten classes visited the Animal Rescue League. They watched a presentation on living things, attributes of living things and
the special care animals need.
The Great Relationship Experience theme for December is service. School families are encouraged to think of ways they can be a blessing through
service to others during the Christmas season.
Elementary chapel on Dec. 5 was presented by Lori Eilers, Jordan Creek Family Church children's pastor. The "big idea" was "service is not just
for a season."
On Dec. 5, secondary students met in their assigned small groups during chapel time.
Grandparents' Day was held Dec. 8 and celebrated by a special luncheon for grandparents at the Machine Shed, followed by elementary and
secondary Christmas programs and an open house.
The Music Parents Association met Dec. 10 in the secondary library. MPA members addressed several issues in regard to the trip, conference
festival, show choir dinner theater, and show choir invitational.
The girls' basketball team participated in the conference jamboree in Guthrie Center on Nov. 19.
The school celebrated the life of Erika Schwager by wearing pink, Erika's favorite color, on Nov. 26, the one-year anniversary of her death.
The boys' basketball team participated in the conference jamboree at Panorama High School on Nov. 26.
The following new National Honor Society members, with cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher, were inducted on Nov. 27: Kimberli Acheson,
Stephen Albers, Holly Aunan, Davin Bell, Kathleen Bird, Emily Bosman, Garrett Brown, Katie Cole, Morgan Cramer, Matthew Gallaher,
Courtney Grotenhuis, Jacob Hansen, James Haskins, Katie Heth, Katie Johnson-Martin, Sarah Keller, Katelyn Kostek, Kaitlin Lundeen, Honor
Monahan, Seo Young (Anna) Shin, Tyler Smith, Keyla Spahr, Annie Stevens, Sarah Thune, Simon Veldkamp, Wan Wang and Andrea Ytzen.
Induction is based on scholarship, exemplary character and service.
First Federated Church children's director Sherri Stufflebeam spoke to the staff and students about perseverance during elementary chapel Nov. 28.
On Nov. 28, the varsity basketball team played Perry at Wells Fargo Arena before the Iowa Energy NBA Development League game.
A limited quantity of DMC beanie lions are available in the elementary office until Christmas. Cost is $7 each.
Dowling Catholic
This year's Christmas choir concert was held last night at Hoyt Sherman Place.
DCHS semester exams will be held Dec. 18-20. Holiday break begins Dec. 21. Classes resume Jan. 3.
The Dowling community and the class of 2008 has shown great leadership during the 2007 Christmas baskets project. This year, 51 families were
assisted by the project, a 30-year Dowling Catholic tradition.
A special thanks goes out to the Dowling Catholic liturgy class for preparing the school for the Advent season recently.
Don't forget the last day to shop before Christmas at the Dowling Catholic campus store is Dec. 17. The store will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15
p.m. The store will be closed Dec. 18 through Jan. 2.
The Dowling Catholic winter guard recently earned a superior rating at the state contest and finished sixth at the State of Iowa Dance and Drill
Championships.
Recently more than 800 students from 10 states visited the Des Moines area for the Dowling Catholic speech and debate tournament. DCHS' event
is one of the two largest forensics events run by a high school in the United States.
Congratulations to the three DCHS students who achieved perfect scores of 36 on the most recent ACT test. Greg Noth achieved a perfect score of
36 on the reading subtest. Therese Whipple received a 36 on her reading subtest and Colton Smith received a perfect 36 in both reading and science.
The incoming freshmen placement test for prospective students will take place on Jan. 5 from 8 to 11:45 a.m. Parochial school students are
automatically registered to take the test. Nonparochial school students should contact the admissions office or register online by Jan. 3. Students
unable to take the exam should contact the admissions office at 222-1025 or 222-1047 to register for the makeup exam.
The DCHS band Christmas concert was held recently at the school. The concert band, brass choir, flute ensemble, brass quintet, clarinet choir and
symphony band performed.
Iowa Christian Academy
Thanks to all the faithful donors who gave blood at the National Honor Society blood drive held Nov. 16. All 32 appointments were kept or
accounted for, and a few simply came in to donate without an appointment. More importantly to the Blood Center of Iowa, 15 of those were first-
time donors. The hope is that they will become regular donors, which is a huge blessing to the community. A total of 21 units of blood were
collected, directly impacting the lives of 63 Iowans. In case you missed the opportunity, NHS will be hosting a similar drive in the spring.
Congratulations to senior Kylie Schroeder, who has been named to Class 1-A All-District south central team. Also selected from the Rolling Hills
Conference were Hallie Christofferson of Exira; Lynea Fisher and Kelsey VanDeer, both of Adair-Casey; and Hillary Runyan of C-A-M.
ICA will host its first kindergarten and preschool roundup of 2008 at 7 p.m. Feb. 21. It's a great time for prospective preschool and kindergarten
parents to come hear more about ICA, meet the preschool and kindergarten teachers, take a tour, and hear a preschool and kindergarten-specific
presentation. Open houses for all prospective students are Jan. 15 and Feb. 5, both from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
School closings can be found by turning to WHO (1040 AM), WHO-TV (TV 13), KWKY (1150 AM), KCCI-TV (TV 8), WOI-TV (TV 5), KIOA
(93.3 FM), and KRNT (1350 AM). The cancellation of school means the cancellation of preschool as well. We do not always follow West Des
Moines, as their circumstances for cancelling or starting late may differ from ICA's, so watch and listen for Iowa Christian Academy.
By Julie Witthoeft News-Review Convergence Editor
Monday, December 24, 2007 11:38 AM EST
In this “12 Questions of Christmas” feature, Petoskey News-Review online readers share what’s important, what’s not and what makes lasting
Christmas memories.
From Dec. 11 through Dec. 22 readers responded to Christmas questions online. A selection of those responses are printed in the Dec. 24 News-
Review and all responses appear here at www.petoskeynews.com.
1. How does your family make the holidays special on a tight budget?
Read
“We read from a book that is, inherently, the original Christmas story. Even our 3 and 5 year olds are into ‘the story,’” John C. McLintock.
Church and light tour
“On Christmas Eve we would go to the early service at my childhood church in Charlevoix, sitting through the service was hard because we
anticipated where we were going afterwards. When we left the church my father would drive us down by the Boss’ house to see all their
decorations, listen to the music, and see the list of names on Santa’s list (which was fun because we knew some of the neighborhood children on the
list). Then we would head towards the Witthoeft’s house which, from the moment you got on the property ‘til the moment you exited you were
surrounded by lights, decorations and music. After we were done at those two houses we would head over to a friend’s house who would invite
what seemed to be everyone from our church and the community for a big Christmas Eve gathering of friends, food and laughter. We never opened
gifts on Christmas Eve because we savored each on Christmas morning, but to me Christmas was/is a time of being with family and friends and
enjoying what is offered around us, in our community. Now that I am married and with three children of my own, though the Witthoeft’s no longer
have a display, we go to our church in Petoskey, but right after we head over to Charlevoix so we can see our children’s faces light up as we drive
down the street toward the Boss’ house. It is amazing how many more things they have added and I happy that we are able to still enjoy it. We are
also going to be starting our own Christmas Eve gathering, because being with family and friends is the best gift of all,” Megan R. Mainland,
Petoskey.
Wrap it up
“The small things are just as special as any big things that can be given. Wrap everything — it makes for an exciting if not messy morning. Kids
appreciate what they get. Mine never came to me with what their friends got, they always appreciated what they got. Time spent together is more
important than the material,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
2. What’s your favorite Christmas carol and why?
Drummer Boy
“My favorite Christmas carol is ‘The Little Drummer Boy.’ It conveys the message that you don't have to give expensive gifts. Just give from your
heart and that will be enough. In this day and age, I absolutely love that message,” Mary Stone.
Silent Night
“My favorite is ‘Silent Night’ because it says it all,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
3. What tradition do you carry out on Christmas Day that you couldn’t celebrate without?
Christmas Festival
“When we were kids, we could not come downstairs on Christmas morning until our dad played Leroy Anderson’s ‘Christmas Festival’ on the
stereo. Even to this day, we don't start opening our gifts until we've played ‘Christmas Festival’ which is now the way we remember my dad on
Christmas morning,” Marcie Szczubelek, Petoskey.
Tuning in
“I start on Christmas Eve at about 10 p.m. by listening to Lite 96’s Christmas music. That was one of my oldest son's first jobs in broadcasting he
is now in the 15th year of serving our great country in the Army broadcasting on the Armed Forces Network. He just got back from Iraq as a
master sergeant. I continue to listen until the wee hours of the morning. It may sound silly to some but it means a lot to me,” Thomas Clementson.
Mass
“Christmas Eve Mass,” Sheila Blackledge.
Be flexible
“Christmas traditions are fun but you always have to be flexible. One tradition we do stick to is that everyone has to be up before presents can be
opened. Stockings are fair game as soon as you get up but the presents must wait. Family dinner is a great tradition but the numbers have gone up
and down through the years. You just have to appreciate who you have with you during that year,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
4. What movie gets you in the holiday mood?
It's a Wonderful Life
“There is only one movie. ‘It's a Wonderful Life’ with Jimmy Stewart, in black and white. OK, ‘Elf’ runs a close second,” Lori Britton.
White Christmas
“My favorite holiday movie, without a doubt, is ‘White Christmas’ (1954) starring Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen.
Between the music and dancing, and the fun story how can you help but be in the holiday spirit?” MaryBeth (Hempstead) Koberna, Waverly,
Iowa.
Christmas Vacation
“Has to be ‘Christmas Vacation’ with Chevy Chase and Randy Quaid. No matter how bad or weird my Christmas season is going, it seems down
right normal when I compare it to the Griswolds. Everything from picking out the tree, the lights on the house and the relatives coming over turns
into a complete mess,” David Kruskie, Boyne Falls.
It's a Wonderful Life
“My favorite Christmas movie is ‘It’s a Wonderful Life.’ I watch it every year. It makes you appreciate what you have,” Betty Simon, Boyne
Falls.
5. What do you loathe about the holidays?
Identity theft
“The identity theft of Christmas! Society has forgotten about the true meaning of Christmas. It's not about a day off from work or a vacation from
school. It's not about presents and spending more money than you can afford to spend. It's not about a weight-challenged man in a red suit (notice
that I was trying to be politically correct in my terminology) bringing presents down a chimney to good children (isn't that a form of bribery and
breaking and entering?). It's not about ‘Gimme, gimme, gimme.’ It's about the birth of Jesus. It's never been about anything else, and should never
be about anything else.
All of a sudden, I'm being wished "Happy holidays" instead of Merry Christmas. Being sent holiday cards with cute little animals and cartoon
characters, instead of receiving Christmas cards celebrating Jesus' birth; and being bombarded with presents by people who expect to receive a gift
in return. The hustle and bustle of Christmas has gotten to the point of society being more worried about what they have and what they get instead
of celebrating the birth of Jesus — in my opinion, the most recognizable "figure" in history.
I loathe the fact that Christmas has lost it's identity. The "holidays" have changed to be politically correct and non-offensive to everyone.
However, I (and many others) have been offended because of this change. As a Christian, I am offended that Christmas has, in my opinion, become
a commercial nightmare. People running around with credit cards, charging well beyond their financial limits so their children will have all the latest
gadgets and electronics. So their children (and themselves, too) will have everything they could possibly ever want - what happened to providing
what is needed. Want and need are two different things!
A child may want 20 toys that each cost $30 (or more) but do they really need them? A child may want to have a whole new wardrobe of clothes
because the fashion trend has changed and all their clothes are not "in fashion" anymore. But do they need them? A child may want a new video
game machine because last years model is not the best one on the market or the latest thing to have - but do they really need it? No, no and no! Our
children need to have a roof over their heads, clothes on their backs, and food in their mouths. That doesn't mean their homes have to be bigger and
better than everyone else's; that their clothes have a designer label or be "in fashion" for this season and obsolete by spring; or that their food is fast-
food take out or the best cuts of meat. It means we, as parents, provide the basics. A home with love and respect; clothes that are modest and worn
respectfully, and food to nourish their bodies. Nothing more....nothing less. As parents we should give of ourselves and not of our paychecks. We
should be teaching values not wants. A person should be respected for who they are, not what they have. None of this has to do with Christmas -
the birth of Jesus Christ.
Let's get back to the true meaning of Christmas. Give Christmas back it's identity. Celebrate the birth of Jesus, not the coming of Santa. Celebrate
with your children with love and a day of quality time, not hundreds of dollars of toys that will only be forgotten with your next trip to the store.
Give kindness and respect instead of a small gift with expectations attached.
Give Christmas back it's identity,” Karen Giudice, Charlevoix.
Doing everything
“The only thing I don’t like about the holidays is trying to do everything. Trying to get all the cards mailed, all the gifts bought and wrapped, all
the baking, etc. Sometimes you just have to cut something out,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
Don't choke on it
“The main think I loath about the holiday season is people or organizations that go out of their way to say ‘happy holidays’ instead of ‘merry
Christmas.’ Stores post banners conspicuously omitting the word Christmas, but no one is in them buying New Year’s gifts. Shoppers are buying
Christmas presents.
Many schools now have winter vacations instead of Christmas vacations, but coincidentally they schedule their winter vacations over Christmas.
Call it what it is. Perhaps they think they will offend non-Christians by not saying Christmas, but in so doing they end up offending Christians.
I know several Jewish people and none are offended when wished merry Christmas. Many of them observe the secular aspects of the day
anyway. And the ones that don’t still get the day off work because, guess what, it is Christmas.
Don’t choke on it – say it,” Jim Tice, Indianapolis, Ind.
6. What is your favorite gift you’ve received and why?
The birth of Jesus
“The best Christmas gift that I and everyone else has received was the birth of Jesus Christ, whose birthday we celebrate on Christmas. Everything
else pales in comparison to this ultimate gift that was freely given and it is ours for the taking,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
7. How do you share your holiday with relatives and friends far from home?
Christmas cards
“My Christmas cards are usually filled with news that has gone on through the year. If there is no other time that I stay in touch with family and
friends it is definitely at Christmas,” Betty Simon, Boyne Falls.
8. Teenagers in your life are all asking for this...
iPod Touch
“iPod Touch,” Katelynn Murray, Petoskey.
9. If Santa could bring you one thing this year, what would it be?
Plane ticket
“I just moved here from Virgina. I would love for Santa to bring me a teleporter device so I could visit my family and friends whenever I want. But
I’ll settle for a plane ticket,” Megan Feeley, Boyne City.
10. What does Christmas breakfast look like at your house?
Morning feast
“We usually have cinnamon rolls, eggs, bacon and juice. Christmas morning is special — the anticipation of the opening of gifts, the surprises and
the goofy gifts which we’re good at in our family,” Connie Green, Harbor Springs.
11. When do you take your Christmas tree down?
New Year's Day
“New Year’s Day. We discuss the highlights from Christmas and take one last peek at our favorite ornaments before packing them away for the
year,” Julie Witthoeft, Charlevoix.
12. What is your best Christmas memory?
Light tour
“Looking at house lights with my family when we were kids,” Bill Collins, Boyne Falls.
Retail entrepreneurs open doors in time to capture holiday spending
By DREW ANDERSEN Courier Staff Writer
WATERLOO -- The holiday season is celebrated by retailers as the time of year when they go "into the black" and start turning a profit for the
year. But the window from mid-November until just after Christmas is also a prime time for startup retailers to set up shop.
After working for thirteen years at the Cedar Bend Humane Society, Carrie Ragsdale wanted a change of pace, so she decided to start a company in
Waterloo. Each year she traveled through Indiana near the holiday season and picked up hundreds of dollars worth of hand-dipped candles to give
out as presents. Her original business idea was to market those candles in the Cedar Valley.
So Ragsdale decided to open a retail store and finally settled on a storefront on East 4th street in Waterloo. But she had to scramble to get her new
business up and running in time to catch the holiday crowd.
Although she had virtually no experience running a business, Ragsdale hit the ground running, and the focus of her new business, Home Comforts,
branched out from candles to a variety of products.
"I was surprised by how much attention our children's toys have received," said Ragsdale. Home Comforts carries a line of toys by the Melissa &
Doug company.
Ragsdale officially opened for business three weeks ago, just a few weeks later than she had hoped. But her large inventory of holiday-related gifts
has already struck a chord with customers.
"This time of year, sales are really important for businesses that have a large percentage of their inventory in Christmas merchandise," said James
Hoelscher, program manager of entrepreneur development for the University of Northern Iowa Small Business Development Center. "If sales are
not good, they are going to have a large number of items leftover."
Hoelscher works almost exclusively with startup companies in the area, and he advises businesses to open at a time when sales will be at their
peak. This helps small businesses to quickly establish their most important lifeline -- cash flow.
"You don't want to open an ice cream stand in the winter," joked Hoelscher. "You have to ask, 'When will my customers be most apt to buy?' And
Christmas is a ripe time for retailers."
Of course, it's not good enough to just open the doors, especially for retailers not located in modern shopping hubs, such as shopping centers and
strip malls.
Stephanie Shavers opened a trendy women's fashion store called Shoe Fetish, also in downtown Waterloo, the day after Thanksgiving in an effort
to captuer the holiday shopping crowd. To spread the word about her new business, she hosted a pre-open party event and sent out about 300
invitations to members of the community.
"That proved to be the kind of jump start I really needed," said Shavers.
Hoelscher agreed that marketing was one aspect that startup businesses often overlook. Entrepreneuers can get buried in the details of running day-
to-day operations and forget about promoting their new business. And with all of the advertising during the holiday season, compounded with
limited space due to political ads, marketing is no easy task for new businesses.
"This time of year is like the Super Bowl of retail advertising," said Hoelscher. "It's easy for a business' message to get lost."
The catch-22 is that many small businesses do not have the means to support a huge advertising campaign, so they rely on other forms of
marketing to promote their new business.
"Word-of-mouth has proved to be the best (marketing tool)," said Shavers.
Some of the customers at Home Comforts told Ragsdale they received gifts from her store at company gift exchanges. The recipients were so
impressed with their gifts that they went to Home Comforts to do holiday shopping for people on their lists.
There is also a form of cameradarie marketing between downtown Waterloo businesses. Ragsdale's business cards can be found at nearby coffee
house and restaurant Cottonwood Canyon, and all of the entrepreneurs in the area are quick to refer customers to their fellow downtown
businesses.
"We try to do some cooperative marketing to help entrepreneurs stretch their dollars," said Terry Poe Buschkamp, the executive director of Main
Street Waterloo.
Ragsdale's business might be the best example of cooperative marketing, at least when mixed with supplier relations. Home Comforts carries a vast
array of locally-made products ranging from jewelry to woodwork to paintings by local artist Molly Hartz.
"It gets the eye of a different crowd," Ragsdale said of her store's distinctive selection of locally-crafted goods.
Both Ragsdale and Shavers said the recent onslaught of winter weather may have produced an adverse effect on sales, but both hoped shoppers
would be back in full force this weekend. Shavers is so committed to the success of her store that she is going to leave the doors open when most
other retailers will be huddled by the fire.
"I'm going to be open on Christmas Eve, and I know there aren't
December 13, 2007
Every School Every Thursday -- Des Moines East/North
Des Moines East/North -- Elementaries
Brubaker
Second-graders celebrated fall by having parties the day before Thanksgiving break. One classroom used a popcorn theme. They read a story about
popcorn, used facts from that story to create their own book, sorted words by their beginning sounds into popcorn bowls, made new words from
the letters in popcorn, tasted three flavors of popcorn, graphed their choices and then discussed the results.
We are participating in the KidStriders program by jogging and walking around the jog/walk trail every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday during
lunch recess. Students get a Striders meter card punched with each lap and earn a toe token at every five miles. Three laps make a mile. If any
parents or community members are interested in volunteering to help punch tickets during recess call 242-8405.
Capitol View
Nothing submitted.
Carver
The Carver Cougar chorus will go caroling Dec. 19. Students from third through fifth grades have given up their recess on Wednesdays to sing in the
chorus. The students will leave at 9:30 a.m. with various stops including Iowa Lutheran Hospital and the Des Moines airport. After a lunch buffet
at CiCi's pizza, the chorus will arrive back at school around 1 p.m.
"Cookin' Up Christmas" will be presented by the Carver second-grade music classes at 2 p.m. Dec. 12 in the school gym. This is our first program
in the gym. The story centers on one of Santa's elves who would rather be a chef than a carpenter. The student body will get a chance to see the
play earlier at 12:45 p.m.
"A Tribute in Song to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr." will be presented by the third-grade music classes under Robert Stinnett's direction at 2 p.m.
Jan. 16 in the gym. The students have been studying about the civil rights movement and how people were treated and discriminated against during
the history of our country. The students also have learned about the life of Dr. King.
Cattell
The first-graders celebrated their Native American unit by creating a tepee and dressing as pilgrims and Native Americans.
Fourth-graders finished the American stories theme from the new Houghton Mifflin reading curriculum. The students learned about how millions of
immigrants came to America to find a better life.
Students and their families participated in many math activities during Family Math Night on Nov. 27. Multiplication wheels, using math with
ordinary household items, working on tangrams after reading a book on the topic, and making ladybug clocks were among the interactive activities.
In between these activities, families enjoyed a meal in the lunchroom. This was our biggest event ever.
Findley
Nothing submitted.
Garton
Since September, English Language Learners in fourth and fifth grade have participated in a mentoring program with students from Simpson
College. The mentors spent a minimum of 30 minutes with the students once a week. Each group formed a relationship of trust and focused on
communication skills. They had a celebration and pizza party to end their time here on Dec. 3 after school. The students took pictures with their
mentors and made cards to remember this time.
Madison
On Nov. 29, 347 teachers, students and family members attended the Science Center Fun Night sponsored with Title I parent-involvement money.
Families saw "The Human Body" at the IMAX theater, learned new and interesting things about our bodies in the Grossology exhibit, and listened
to Ed Wilson give a live broadcast.
Oak Park
Nothing submitted.
Pleasant Hill
Nothing submitted.
Stowe at McKee
The students in Jay Starr's classroom were stars for the day when Channel 12 came to film their activities for the afternoon. Last year Stowe
received a grant from the Polk County Board of Supervisors and Apple computers that provided iPods and laptop computers for students in
fourth grade. Mr. Starr is using technology to enhance and support his instruction. Students love creating podcasts and have created mini-
biographies of famous scientists, podcast reports based on their Internet research and made a CD about Stowe school Positive Behavior Supports
rules.
Willard
Students are enjoying the excitement of a good book in the school library. Every class has scheduled time in the library. Students are being taught
how to treat books with respect and keep them in good condition. The upper classes are learning the Dewey Decimal System and familiarizing
themselves on why and how the library needs to be kept in order.
Des Moines East/North -- Middle Schools
Harding
Nothing submitted.
Hiatt
Students in Kelly Allen's class wrote and are performing their own funny plays this week to end their unit on plays. They are incorporating props
in their plays and are learning to use expression, stage direction and narration. The constant reading of their play dialogue is helping improve their
fluency. They may be performing for parents and Brent Parrott's classes this week.
Hoyt
We are sponsoring a food drive for the food bank. There is a contest between advisories to see who can bring the most food. A party will be the
reward for the advisory that wins the contest.
GEAR-UP will be beginning a Latino group to meet during advisory two days a week. Salvador Aguirre will be heading up the group. Their first
project will be to collect toys for Toys For Tots.
Spirit Week involved several dress-up days. One day students dressed up in 70s outfits. Another day we dressed up as our idols. Many staff
members chose Casey Goodhue, vice principal, and dressed in shirts and ties like he does every day. Another day was fashion disaster with
mismatched clothes. The last day was Red and Gold Day, school colors.
Hoyt is supporting a family from Brubaker for the holiday season. Staff and students will be collecting coins to be used to buy food and Christmas
presents for the family.
On Dec. 6, the vocal music department had a concert under the direction of Rebecca Langholz. The students worked hard to get ready for the
concert. Hoyt handbells are busy this season playing at various places, from a handbell festival to a Dec. 6 event at Iowa Lutheran Hospital for the
Lutheran Auxiliary and the public's enjoyment in the cafeteria. Marcia Isaac is the director of the handbells.
PTSA had a contest for each grade level advisory. Students made SOAR posters to help promote Positive Behavior Supports. Winners were Kim
O'Donnell, sixth grade; Paul Sams, seventh grade; Mary Lewis, eighth grade. The winning posters are displayed in the cafeteria for all of the
students to see.
Beth Smith's sixth-grade classes are reading "Among the Hidden" by Margaret Peterson Haddix. Many of the students have expressed an interest in
reading other books by the author and have said that they would love to get some of them for Christmas.
East High School
So many students volunteered for the Nov. 28 blood drive that the Blood Center called for reinforcements. The results: 77 donors registered, 48
first-time donors, 55 units of whole blood collected, 10 double red.
The activities office, and wrestling and basketball teams have sportswear for sale that will be available before Christmas.
Color guard took second place at the state dance and drill team competition on Nov. 30.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Oscar Lucatero-Trevino, an East/Future Pathways student, was selected.
North High School
The holiday vocal music concert postponed by snow last week has been rescheduled for 1:15 p.m. Tuesday as a school assembly in the auditorium.
Parents and guests also are invited to "Tis the Season," which features a selection of music by the ninth-grade prep choir and the concert and
chamber choirs.
Art instructor Catherine Chiodo will host master print maker Robert Schulte of the Des Moines Art Center on Dec. 14. Advanced art students
from drawing and painting 3 and 4 will explore the art of print making.
The North winter guard team competed in the Iowa State Drill Team Association's state competition Nov. 30 and earned a Division II rating for its
Army Airborne routine. Using music from the 82nd Army Airborne Division's choir, they artistically represented what it must be like for our
troops to jump out of airplanes. All four of the 7-foot back drops used in the show were designed and painted by the team. They included
depictions of two C-130 airplanes, parachutes and the Airborne patch. During the routine, the team used double-ended flags to represent the
propellers of the planes taking off. They stood on large red boxes to represent waiting in the C-130 before jumping out of the plane. Ribbon
streamers pulled from back packs represented the parachutes. Four team members lifted and spun a fifth team member to show how the troopers
glide through the air. Finally, the show ended with blue and white flags and each member leaping over a box and landing. Stacie and Gig Thomas
constructed the boxes and went with us to the competition to move our equipment on and off the floor. Student team helpers were Christopher
Farrington, Mike Rundle and Samantha Snodgrass, who moved, created and set up equipment and videotaped performances. The team members
were: Michelle Allen, Kayla Allen, Lana Rouzer, Ashley Teply, Thanith Thammathay and Micah Thomas. The winter guard will likely attend one
more competition in February. Any student who would like to get involved and learn how to spin a flag is welcome. Contact team coach Jessica
Gogerty.
Student council attended a leadership conference at Adventureland on Dec. 5. The event, sponsored by Josten's, featured Emmy Award winner
Mark Scharenbroich. Approximately 1,000 students attended the all- day conference.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Oscar Guaman was among those selected.
Hoover High School
Students in Krys Phillips' ninth-grade English class created trees with watercolors, pastels and colored pencils to represent the main character,
Melinda, in the novel "Speak." Students were assigned the following statement to journal about and then create a representative illustration: "Every
day since the pep rally, I've been painting watercolors of trees that have been hit by lightning. I try to paint them so they are nearly dead, but not
totally."
Art Club has been invited to submit a proposal for a design to be placed on the wall in the parking lot at Principal Park. Bill Sherman from the Iowa
Historical Preservation Society will join us tonight to tell us about the location and share some ideas about images for the site. The wall is located in
a historic area for early settlers and baseball lovers. They will need lots of people to help. Currently they are thinking of applying the design to
ceramic tiles. Each tile would be one small square of the entire design. Each "artist" would just need to "copy" one small square of the design onto
their tile. The individual tiles would then be reassembled to recreate the overall design and installed on location. (Kind of like the Van Gogh that was
recreated on the side of a building downtown for the Arts Festival last summer.) The production and installation of the design can be stretched over
a period of time, but the wall is 100 feet long and the art work will be a permanent public installation.
Students of John Eller's English 10 classes and their parents are enjoying the opportunity to check weekly grade updates on the class Web site.
Upon checking grades, parents can use e-mail links at the site to ask the teacher specific questions about grades or classroom activities.
A group of seniors decided they wanted to do something for the school this year that they could all remember. The Hoover talent show will be
Dec. 14 as a buy-out assembly in the auditorium. A variety of acts, including students and staff, will sing, dance, play musical instruments and
recite original poetry. The main organizers of the show, Dana Hall and Drew Foster, are captains of librarian Pam Pilcher's homeroom. They have
been assisted by Stephon James, Jessica Cam, Jasmine Howard, Pablo Sanchez, Stephanie Mulstay, Nikki Kemp and the rest of the library
homeroom, and also English teacher Nic Jackson's homeroom. These hard working seniors have done most of the work during homeroom or after
school. They hope that next year's seniors will follow their lead and make the talent show an annual tradition.
The Hoover History Club will be holding a mock caucus from 3-4 p.m. Dec. 17. The session will include some informational background on the
Iowa caucuses, including their history and how they are run. History Club students will serve as precinct representatives for various candidates, as
well as guides to help people through the caucus process. The event will include abbreviated Democratic and Republican caucuses, so attendees can
experience both sides. Students, teachers, parents, and community members are all welcome to attend.
In government, three students participated in the Heartland Forum this weekend. They made a picture wall for the active citizenship project and
prepared for a high-school panel discussion. Their area of expertise for the panel was homelessness in Des Moines. Student teacher Mike Shaw had
a project called Create Your Perfect President. Also student council participated in a leadership conference at Adventureland Palace in Altoona. The
main speaker was Mark Schairenbroich.
Adult living classes will have a credit counselor from Consumer Credit Counseling Service speak Dec. 6. Students covered budgeting, checking
accounts and use of credit, and are beginning a unit on taxes. Art Ousley is speaking about dangers of credit use, how to manage credit wisely, and
how the counseling service can help if a person gets behind in paying for credit.
Sarah Hamilton's speech and fundamentals of speech classes are completing their informative presentations this week. The students researched
various topics of their choice including surrealism, "The Color Purple," Tupac Shakur, pharaohs, dwarfism and Bosnia. Students created
PowerPoint presentations, movies and posters and worked to incorporate YouTube videos into their speeches.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Yvette Rodriguez, a spring graduate from Hoover and now at Iowa State University, was among those chosen.
Lincoln High School
The Railettes, Railmen, and color guard competed at the Iowa State dance and drill team championships held at Veterans Memorial Auditorium on
Nov. 30. Honors earned included a Division I rating for the color guard, second place for the Railmen, second place in co-ed show production, third
place in pom for the Railettes, and fourth place for the Railettes in the hip-hop division.
Final exams for semester one are set for Jan. 811. The second semester begins Jan. 14. January 21-22 will be in-service and professional-
development days for teachers.
Winter break is Dec. 20 through Jan. 1. The office will be closed Dec. 24-25, and Dec. 31 and Jan. 1. Classes resume Jan. 2.
Staff members Linda Adrianse, Jamie Badger, Melissa Bird, Cathy Clough, Eric Dockstader, Sue Krantman, Roberts Nigro, Joe Spiess, Karen
Thompson and Sandy Wilson attended the fourth statewide high school summit Dec. 10-11 at Hy-Vee Hall. The focus of these summits is on
strategies for leading high school reform and initiatives to ensure student success.
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Josue Acosta was among those selected.
Roosevelt High School
The Iowa Latino Heritage Festival Committee, JoAnn Mackey, executive director, has awarded a $500 scholarship to five Latino high school
seniors in the Des Moines district. Juan Jacinto was chosen from Roosevelt, with the help of ESL teacher Valerie Laing and because he met the
requirement with his GPA and plans to pursue higher education upon graduation. Jacinto's plan is to attend DMACC for the 2008 fall semester.
Students will be participating in the Dollars for Scholars phonathan during February. Students will be making calls to raise money for scholarships
on each of the four Sundays in February.
The debate team competed in the Patriot Games national debate tournament at George Mason University and won four championship trophies.
Seniors Liz McCabe and Olivia Sandbothe, paired for the first time, defended Roosevelt's title from last year in public forum debate. Junior Chris
Ohman and Billy Strong captured the championship in public forum and Billy Strong captured the extemp championship.
Citywide Schools
Cowles
A centennial celebration was held for students, parents and staff to mark the 100th anniversary of the Montessori method of learning. The upper-
elementary choir sang songs of peace and all enjoyed a photographic journey of Montessori learning throughout the world for the past 100 years.
This was followed by a slide show of Montessori learning within our own school.
Cowles radio continues to be a big hit with students and listeners. Each week students from a different classroom are featured "on air."
Students went on a safari to the rainforests of Africa in the middle-school classroom. Middle-school students, dressed as tour guides, led the
students through the rainforest noting and explaining various plants, animals and foliage layers.
The pre-kindergarten found out what it was like to be a pilgrim setting the table for Thanksgiving. They practiced folding napkins into rectangles
and triangles, sorted silverware and set the table with correct placement of the plates, cups and silverware. They even polished the silverware with
toothpaste.
The pre-K students are also learning about botany as they magnify rings in bark and study seeds in flowers. Some flowers were also dissected as
the students worked on their fine motor skills by pulling out the seeds with tweezers.
The upper-elementary students learned there is more than one way to solve a word problem in math. The students charted ways to make a
sandwich with various types of bread, vegetables and meat. After determining the number of ways to make a sandwich, they put their skills to the
test by making and eating their creations.
Downtown
Last week the 5-, 6- and 7-year-olds ended their study of shoes and trucks with formal presentations, museum walks and open houses. Now,
students are learning about community service. Some services that will take place throughout the month are: washing windows in the skywalk,
assembling necessity bags for shelters, ringing the bell to raise money for the Salvation Army, writing letters to soldiers and sending care packages
to them, etc. Students are learning what it means to give to others.
Jefferson
We have more than 100 students jumping rope to earn money for the American Heart Association. Pupils are also working hard to improve their
fitness in other ways. We have more than 100 students exercising at home, school and after school to complete a 26-mile marathon for the
Kidstriders program in Des Moines. In addition, the children may receive incentives in the Mr. Cardio-Fitness Club by doing anything from
jumping rope and bicycling to playing tag.
Phillips
Third-grade students have been studying American Indians in core knowledge. An Ojibway Indian, Carol Kramer, visited last week to tell Ojibway
stories and teach children about Ojibway life when she was growing up.
Smouse
The Head Start and ECSE classrooms have been enjoying their Kinderdrama classes that take place at Smouse in conjunction with the Des Moines
Playhouse. The last performance and activities, held on Nov. 29, was based on the book "Mortimer." Matt Gunsaulus, the music teacher, has
already introduced the book to the children during their library/music time. Kinderdrama has been made possible through a grant from the Iowa Arts
Council.
Smouse received a Christmas tree from the Festival of Trees and Lights. AAA Minnesota/Iowa donated the tree which was decorated by Iowa
Public Television. The tree stands 10 feet tall and is adorned with books, stuffed animals, videos, book bags, souvenirs and ornaments from the
many children's programs shown on Iowa Public Television. The tree stands in the atrium for all to enjoy.
Students and staff will present their annual winter program today at 1 p.m. entitled "The Spirit of Winter." Performances will include singing,
poetry, choral reading and instrumentals. The staff choir will also be performing. Cookies and punch will be provided.
Walnut Street
Many of the classrooms are learning about Hanukkah and Kwanzaa celebrations. They are learning about the different symbols that represent these
celebrations as well as comparing and contrasting these holidays. Some of the classes will sample some of the traditional foods that are eaten during
the holiday season.
Goodrell
The eighth-grade blue team is working on an interdisciplinary unit on the Iowa caucus. Throughout the project our students are writing research
papers, having a debate and participating in a mock caucus. Our goal is to get the students excited about the candidates and the Iowa caucus and
make sure they understand the value of participating in the political process. Although our students are not able to vote in this year's caucus, some
will be old enough to participate in four years. In reading class they compared and contrasted different candidates for president using campaign
literature and Venn diagrams. In civics, language arts, and science they have work on researching the candidates' stances on different issues, focusing
one on the environment or energy issues, which connected to the eighth- grade science curriculum. In math they used pie, bar and line graphs to
create a visual representation of data to complement the research paper they are working on describing why they support their candidates. On
Nov. 12 representatives from the Mike Huckabee, Bill Richardson and John Edwards campaigns came to our school and talked with our students
and answered their questions. For five days, during lunch, groups of students gave up eating with their friends to watch DVDs from the John
Edwards, Ron Paul, Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden campaigns. On Nov. 20, five students met with Edwards prior to his event at
Roosevelt High School. We are also looking forward to finding more opportunities for students to meet with candidates and volunteer at events
leading up to the Iowa caucus. The final research papers were due Tuesday, the debate will be Dec. 19 and the mock caucus will be Jan. 3.
Eighth-grade reading is using QAR to develop reading comprehension. Students received a laminated bookmark with descriptors of the four QAR
reading strategies. This bookmark is an excellent resource that could be used in high school.
Central Campus
Throughout the year in Giovanni Leo's Italian classes, students hear numerous stories about his most recent trip to Italy. He was born there and
grew up in Terravecchia, where some of his relatives still live. He returns to Italy every three years for 6-8 weeks. Although many wish to go, only
a few students can take this once in a lifetime trip with their Italian teacher. This year he took two of his former students and a current student:
Kevin (Costanzo) Coughran, a Lincoln graduate; Katie (Cunegonda/Caterina) Stoen, a Hoover graduate; and Trisha (Teresa) Floyd, a Lincoln
student taking Italian V.
The first-year culinary arts class took a field trip to Iowa Methodist Medical Center to meet a dietitian as they study nutrition. She explained the
new food pyramid and how to meet daily food needs. They also toured the hospital to see all of the food-service operations which include patient
meals, staff and visitor cafeterias, and catering.
Junior automotive students in Jim Nelson, James Boyd and Steve Woods' classes are touring six area dealerships: Dewey Ford, O'Halloran's
International, Betts Auto Campus, Stivers Ford, Charles Gabus Ford and Bob Brown Chevrolet to gain insight on all aspects of the industry.
Students in Kelly Geist's ESL classes are preparing for their first movie premier. They have spent the past month learning the new Microsoft
program MovieMaker and are finalizing their projects about their visions for the school of the future. A red carpet event is planned for later in
December.
Orchard Place
High school students in Kathie Arlaud and Sarah Behren's classroom have been working on the writing, editing and revision process. They spent
several weeks developing pieces of their choice and celebrated their finished essays with a publishing party open house Nov. 30. Other students
and teachers viewed their publishings and provided comments.
Ruby Van Meter
Kathy Davis' classroom hosted a Thanksgiving dessert buffet on Nov. 21. The students in the class made numerous desserts in the practice kitchen
with the assistance of Teresa Hill and other staff. The students included Zak Hofer, Blake Roberts, Jason Hildebrand and Tyler Teel. Creating the
desserts was only part of the project. Each student practiced his social skills while greeting people at the event and telling jokes and stories. Many
of the students used Voice Output Communication Devices to carry on conversations with guests. More than 75 guests enjoyed the event. Julie
Lensing, Mary Rickert, Brenda Clausman and Anna Bingham helped with the event.
Teachers participated in meetings to help them work on the alternate assessments that are being done this year. Each year, we must report progress
on the alternate assessment to the state for approximately 75 of our students. Designated teachers and associates attended Crisis Prevention
Institute training. The focus of this training is on positive intervention when students begin to have difficulty managing their behaviors at school.
The techniques have proven to be helpful. Staff participate in refresher classes on a regular basis.
A small group of teachers is learning about Intellitools, a computer program that is designed to help students of any ability level learn basic and
more complex skills and concepts. Teachers are learning how to develop programs for their students in various areas.
Scavo
Twelve students enjoyed a delightful luncheon at the Embassy Club last week. Our hosts were Judge Celeste Bremer, John Shors and Richard
Lozier. Everyone was impressed with the view from the 41st floor and the bronzed shrimp. We talked about future plans and goals, and
interviewed our excellent server about her work at the Embassy Club. The Des Moines works and learns class will return for a tour of the kitchen
after winter break.
Steve Van Gundy and Mark Yusten have been working with students in their classes to build and launch rockets. The rocket project teaches
science, math, industrial technology and other subjects. For them it is an easy-to-use and exciting teaching aid for science awareness and education.
Students are able to participate during the personalization days that have been scheduled during each month on Fridays. During this time they
construct their rockets and launch them at Des Moines Water Works Park. Several rockets have been launched multiple times and returned safely to
the ground for a second or even a third launch on the same day.
A group of about 30 seniors is participating in a project aimed at encouraging them to participate in Iowa's 2008 caucuses. They began by
researching the major issues of the presidential campaign and the candidates of both parties. The students created their own political buttons and
bumper stickers based on the issues and candidates with which they most agreed. They also polled ten other students in order to discover which
issues and candidates had the greatest support at Scavo. On Nov. 30 the group went to the State Historical Building to analyze the Caucus Iowa
exhibit. The students answered questions covering the six areas of the exhibit. After lunch students attended a panel discussion where they asked
questions to learn additional information about the Iowa caucus process. The panel members included a representative of the Secretary of the
State's office, Frank Chido; Harold Moore from Rock the Vote and Rock the Caucus; Dave Stone from Sensible Iowans; and the director and creator
of the Iowa Caucus exhibit, Mark Holub. The project will end with the caucuses on Jan. 3.
Saydel Schools
Cornell
Cornell Cares is off to a great start with our collection to send to the troops overseas. Preschoolers are bringing travel-size wipes and Chapstick.
Kindergartners are bringing gum, toothpaste and toothbrushes. First graders' list includes small games, playing cards, hard candies and batteries.
Second-graders' list includes writing supplies (no stamps), hard candy and batteries. Third grade will bring crossword puzzles, word finds, small
books and different types of music. All students are welcome to donate money to go toward the $600 it will cost to ship these items. To date we
have collected $281.57 toward our $600 goal. Collection boxes and jars for money donations are in front of the office through Dec. 21. Thank you
for helping Cornell with our caring project.
As a part of Cornell's Enrichment Learning Program, previously known as TAG, Frankie Wolver has been presenting lessons from the Kilgore
Observation Inventory. These lessons are designed for specific grade levels that allow children to show their abilities in different areas. The areas of
giftedness that are inventoried are accelerated learner, analytical thinking, meaning motivation, sense of humor, sensitivity, advanced language, and
perspective. Wolver has presented lessons in every third- and second-grade classroom six times this year introducing these lessons. Wolver will
begin the first grade lessons before Christmas and finish with kindergarten in March and April. The finished activities the students create are then
taken and evaluated for these characteristics. The data collected, along with ITBS, CoGat scores, and teacher nomination is used for the
identification process.
Teacher spotlight: Kindergarten teacher Darla VanHouten has 15 years teaching experience. VanHouten attended elementary school at Cornell. She
was a kindergartner in the very classroom that she is now teaching in. Daughter Hayden is enjoying kindergarten this year at Cornell. Daughter
Hannah attended Cornell and has moved on to Norwoodville, in the fourth grade. VanHouten enjoys garage sales, camping and boating with her
daughters and husband Dave. She loves to read. The Harry Potter books are her favorite.
Norwoodville
Norwoodville Christmas concert will be tonight at the high school. The concert begins at 6:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium.
Woodside
Saydel's middle school and high school jazz band will perform at Capital Square at 11 a.m. Dec. 20.
High School
Congratulations to the Eagle color guard on its outstanding success this past Friday at the state championship dance and drill team competition.
Saydel earned a Division I rating and third place out of 11 competing color guard teams in its division. This is a very special honor for all 19
members of the winter guard and their instructor, Darrin Mell. This is a very impressive first-year showing at this event, which is billed to be the
largest competition of this kind in the nation.
Saydel is hosting a JV wrestling invitational Friday at 5 p.m. Varsity wrestling duals will be held Saturday at 10 a.m.
The junior class is selling spirit signs to help raise money for after prom. The signs are selling for $20. Contact the high school office for more
information.
DECA is continuing its Christmas collections. Donations are being taken for hats, mittens and scarves. Collections will continue through Saturday.
The Saydel High School band and vocal concert will be held at the high school auditorium at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Saydel's middle school and high school jazz band will perform at Capital Square at 11 a.m. Dec. 20.
The high school choir will be caroling at Cornell Elementary School on Dec. 21.
Private Schools
Des Moines Christian
Congratulations to second-grader Sterling Brunk, who had an amazing day at the Martensdale-St. Marys tournament at which he wrestled on Nov.
17. He placed first, recording pins in all three of his matches. Fall times were 1:50, 1:51, and 2:45.
On Nov. 29, the kindergarten classes visited the Animal Rescue League. They watched a presentation on living things, attributes of living things and
the special care animals need.
The Great Relationship Experience theme for December is service. School families are encouraged to think of ways they can be a blessing through
service to others during the Christmas season.
Elementary chapel on Dec. 5 was presented by Lori Eilers, Jordan Creek Family Church children's pastor. The "big idea" was "service is not just
for a season."
On Dec. 5, secondary students met in their assigned small groups during chapel time.
Grandparents' Day was held Dec. 8 and celebrated by a special luncheon for grandparents at the Machine Shed, followed by elementary and
secondary Christmas programs and an open house.
The Music Parents Association met Dec. 10 in the secondary library. MPA members addressed several issues in regard to the trip, conference
festival, show choir dinner theater, and show choir invitational.
The girls' basketball team participated in the conference jamboree in Guthrie Center on Nov. 19.
The school celebrated the life of Erika Schwager by wearing pink, Erika's favorite color, on Nov. 26, the one-year anniversary of her death.
The boys' basketball team participated in the conference jamboree at Panorama High School on Nov. 26.
The following new National Honor Society members, with cumulative GPAs of 3.5 or higher, were inducted on Nov. 27: Kimberli Acheson,
Stephen Albers, Holly Aunan, Davin Bell, Kathleen Bird, Emily Bosman, Garrett Brown, Katie Cole, Morgan Cramer, Matthew Gallaher,
Courtney Grotenhuis, Jacob Hansen, James Haskins, Katie Heth, Katie Johnson-Martin, Sarah Keller, Katelyn Kostek, Kaitlin Lundeen, Honor
Monahan, Seo Young (Anna) Shin, Tyler Smith, Keyla Spahr, Annie Stevens, Sarah Thune, Simon Veldkamp, Wan Wang and Andrea Ytzen.
Induction is based on scholarship, exemplary character and service.
First Federated Church children's director Sherri Stufflebeam spoke to the staff and students about perseverance during elementary chapel Nov. 28.
On Nov. 28, the varsity basketball team played Perry at Wells Fargo Arena before the Iowa Energy NBA Development League game.
A limited quantity of DMC beanie lions are available in the elementary office until Christmas. Cost is $7 each.
Dowling Catholic
This year's Christmas choir concert was held last night at Hoyt Sherman Place.
DCHS semester exams will be held Dec. 18-20. Holiday break begins Dec. 21. Classes resume Jan. 3.
The Dowling community and the class of 2008 has shown great leadership during the 2007 Christmas baskets project. This year, 51 families were
assisted by the project, a 30-year Dowling Catholic tradition.
A special thanks goes out to the Dowling Catholic liturgy class for preparing the school for the Advent season recently.
Don't forget the last day to shop before Christmas at the Dowling Catholic campus store is Dec. 17. The store will be open from 9:30 a.m. to 1:15
p.m. The store will be closed Dec. 18 through Jan. 2.
The Dowling Catholic winter guard recently earned a superior rating at the state contest and finished sixth at the State of Iowa Dance and Drill
Championships.
Recently more than 800 students from 10 states visited the Des Moines area for the Dowling Catholic speech and debate tournament. DCHS' event
is one of the two largest forensics events run by a high school in the United States.
Congratulations to the three DCHS students who achieved perfect scores of 36 on the most recent ACT test. Greg Noth achieved a perfect score of
36 on the reading subtest. Therese Whipple received a 36 on her reading subtest and Colton Smith received a perfect 36 in both reading and science.
The incoming freshmen placement test for prospective students will take place on Jan. 5 from 8 to 11:45 a.m. Parochial school students are
automatically registered to take the test. Nonparochial school students should contact the admissions office or register online by Jan. 3. Students
unable to take the exam should contact the admissions office at 222-1025 or 222-1047 to register for the makeup exam.
The DCHS band Christmas concert was held recently at the school. The concert band, brass choir, flute ensemble, brass quintet, clarinet choir and
symphony band performed.
Iowa Christian Academy
Thanks to all the faithful donors who gave blood at the National Honor Society blood drive held Nov. 16. All 32 appointments were kept or
accounted for, and a few simply came in to donate without an appointment. More importantly to the Blood Center of Iowa, 15 of those were first-
time donors. The hope is that they will become regular donors, which is a huge blessing to the community. A total of 21 units of blood were
collected, directly impacting the lives of 63 Iowans. In case you missed the opportunity, NHS will be hosting a similar drive in the spring.
Congratulations to senior Kylie Schroeder, who has been named to Class 1-A All-District south central team. Also selected from the Rolling Hills
Conference were Hallie Christofferson of Exira; Lynea Fisher and Kelsey VanDeer, both of Adair-Casey; and Hillary Runyan of C-A-M.
ICA will host its first kindergarten and preschool roundup of 2008 at 7 p.m. Feb. 21. It's a great time for prospective preschool and kindergarten
parents to come hear more about ICA, meet the preschool and kindergarten teachers, take a tour, and hear a preschool and kindergarten-specific
presentation. Open houses for all prospective students are Jan. 15 and Feb. 5, both from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
School closings can be found by turning to WHO (1040 AM), WHO-TV (TV 13), KWKY (1150 AM), KCCI-TV (TV 8), WOI-TV (TV 5), KIOA
(93.3 FM), and KRNT (1350 AM). The cancellation of school means the cancellation of preschool as well. We do not always follow West Des
Moines, as their circumstances for cancelling or starting late may differ from ICA's, so watch and listen for Iowa Christian Academy.
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