Dr. Buck’s Bulletin – April 2024
Dear Parents and Guardians,
I hope this message finds you well. As we near the end of the school year, we’re busier than ever with elementary fun runs, outstanding musical performances, high school proms, and spring activities. As we get ready to wind things down, prepare for summer break, and celebrate our graduates, here are a few things to note:
- Returning student enrollment is now open. You should have received an email with instructions to enroll your student for next year. This is a requirement for ALL students in our District. If you have questions, contact our Enrollment Team.
- Our Kindergarten Nights begin in May and continue through the summer. These nights are a great chance for families of incoming kindergarten students to find information, do an activity, and explore our buildings. Learn more.
- We completed ISASP testing! Thank you for your support in ensuring your students were well-rested and well-prepared for these important assessments.
- A number of bills that impact schools were passed near the close of the legislative session and are on their way to the governor for her signature. We are working through them and plan to present on the key bills as part of the School Board meeting on May 13.
- As a reminder, the last day of school for students is May 30.
As always, thank you for being part of the Waukee CSD family. Let’s finish out the last month of the school year strong!
Sincerely,
Dr. Brad Buck
Superintendent
Important Information
Commencement is May 19
It’s almost time for graduation! Commencement for both high schools is May 19 at Wells Fargo Arena. The Waukee High School ceremony is at 1 p.m. and Northwest High School is at 5 p.m. Parking is available for $12 (cash or credit card) in the parking lots northwest of Wells Fargo. Seniors will receive more information about rehearsal from their schools. Read more.
New bus app available
Durham Bus Services has an app to help you keep tabs on your student en route to school. The new BusZone app allows you to view your student’s current school bus location, real-time information about the route, and expected arrival time. Download the BusZone app on your App Store or Google Play, and input the necessary information for your student. If you have questions, contact Gwen Brettman at 515-987-2788 x16103 or gbrettman@durhamschoolservices.com. Learn more.
Waukee Special Census Coming Soon
The U.S. Census Bureau will conduct a Special Census in Waukee next month. The census is not only important to the city, it helps Waukee CSD get an accurate count of our current population and plan for the future of our District. If you’re a Waukee resident, look for a mailing in May with a 12-digit census ID, which you will use to complete your response online. For more information, contact the City of Waukee.
We want your feedback
The Waukee CSD website has a new digital suggestion box, where you can provide feedback, ideas, and concerns. The form is open to all parents/guardians, students, staff, and community members. We value your input — both the positive and the negative — to help us maintain an exceptional learning environment. Visit the Contact Us page to fill out the form.
Recent News
Judi Roland Named New WHS Principal
Waukee CSD is pleased to announce Judi Roland is the new Waukee High School principal. Roland has been a leader at WHS for over two decades — serving first as assistant principal/dean of students before assuming the role of associate principal in 2015. “I am honored to be selected as Waukee High School’s next principal. This community’s unwavering support will continue to enable us to create an environment where students can explore their passions with guidance from some of the most talented and dynamic educators in the field,” Roland said.
Waukee CSD to host national speech & debate tournament
Six Waukee CSD buildings will serve as host sites for the 2024 National Speech & Debate Tournament: Waukee High School, Northwest High School, Prairieview, South Middle School, Timberline, and Waukee Middle School. From June 16-21, about 6,700 students representing 1,500 schools across the country will travel to the Des Moines metro for the tournament. Waukee CSD is one of several local districts to host the tournament and has the most buildings participating.
The National Speech & Debate Association will need hundreds of volunteers to help set up sites, support concessions, and more. If you want to volunteer, sign up on the NSDA website.
Video: Waukee APEX Automotive course
A new class this school year is putting high school students in the driver’s seat of their education! Our Waukee APEX program is teaming up with Stivers Ford Lincoln to offer an automotive class. Watch this video to hear what students think of the hands-on opportunities and how this course is helping them accelerate toward their future.
Igniting Innovation
Studying the effects of the eclipse
Students in Mrs. Stevens’ science class at Timberline School didn’t just watch the eclipse earlier this month, they used it as an innovative research project! As part of a NASA Citizen’s Science initiative, the students collected data to see whether the partial solar eclipse had an impact on local animals and insects. The morning classes were the control group to note any differences. Students observed nature and recorded their findings to see whether the animals and insects were less or more active during the eclipse.
Safety & Security
School resource officers
Waukee CSD proudly partners with the Waukee Police Department to provide School Resource Officer (SRO) programming. SROs are local law enforcement officers who work closely with administrators to ensure safety for students and staff. These officers bridge the gap between police and students by building relationships while protecting our school buildings. They provide security, respond to calls for service, document incidents, and give presentations on youth-related issues.
Meet our SROs on our website. Learn more about Waukee CSD safety and security.
Spotlight: Operations Department
The Waukee CSD Operations Department is responsible for providing a clean, healthy, and safe educational environment. The department oversees construction projects, custodial efforts, maintenance, technology, security, snow removal, and more for over two dozen Waukee CSD facilities encompassing nearly 2,500,000 square feet of space, as well as the surrounding grounds. The department works to keep each building as beautiful as the day it opened!
To learn more about the Waukee CSD Operations Department, visit our website.
