OPEN ENROLLMENT REMINDER:
Are you looking for a great place for your child to learn and grow? Delwood Elementary offers stellar academics, quality staff, and a supportive school community. 💚🖤
📝 Open Enrollment deadline for the 2026-2027 school year is quickly approaching- March 1st!
Join the Delwood family today!
Note: All students entering kindergarten not in district will need to have open-enrollment forms turned in. In addition, all new students wanting to enroll in Delwood will also need to file open-enrollment paperwork by March 1st.
"Addison Lafrenz and Jaycee Cavanagh have been making great choices this week in supporting other students within our classroom. They choose to do the right thing, even when others may not be. They are kind and always thinking about win-win when interacting with others. Keep up the great work!" -Ms. Hodge
"My student shout outs go to Braylynn and Ashton!
Braylynn Edwards is such a hard worker. She is always willing to help her classmates and her teachers.
Ashton Shedenhelm has shown so much kindness to his friends and always participates during Amplify, sharing great comments that deepen his thinking. I am so proud of you both!" -Ms. Eden
"Jorja Kilburg was a role model in class this week. She was quick and quiet while putting materials away, always followed rug rules, and was a helper to other students. Way to go Jorja!
Ava Pape has been using her time wisely in class and being a role model to others. She gets her work done and doesn't waste work time. Way to go Ava Pape!" -Mrs. Hartung
"Oakley Taggart has been working very hard with his reading and writing skills throughout the year. He has grown several reading levels already and is continuing to grow in the amount of words he is able to write independently. I am proud of all of the work he has done so far this year and I hope he continues to put forth that same effort for the rest of the year. Congratulations Oakley!" -Mrs. Doll
"My two shoutouts are Eden Rabe and Blake Roling. Eden and Blake are always willing to help out their friends, teachers and share new ideas when problem solving. Keep up the great work Eden and Blake!" -Ms. Ruth
"John Delagardelle has been working so hard to sit with his classmates and participate during story time. He is standing in line and walking in line by himself, and he is working hard to use his words to express his feelings. Great work, John!" -Mrs. Rogge
"Cooper Meyer and Addison Ralston have been very good classmates by helping other students that were absent or that might not have understood the instructions. I appreciate you being there for your classmates!" -Mr. Cavanagh
"I want to give a shout-out to a student I’ve noticed at recess. Kenley Doubek is kind to everyone and always willing to play with anyone. She helps others whenever they are in need and is especially thoughtful toward younger students and staff. Kenley consistently shows respect and responsibility in everything she does. Keep being you, Kenley—you make our school a better place!" -Mrs. DeMoss
"Evelynn Albrecht works so hard and has the neatest handwriting. She continues to improve reading smoothly and we are able to accomplish so much in 15 minutes.Thank you for working to be a better reader." -Mrs. Kleinsmith
"Isabella Ingersoll and Maliah Henson both worked well with others in reading and math this week creating a win-win for everyone. Isabella is always positive and gives kind words of encouragement, while Maliah cooperates by taking turns and making sure the work is divided equally. Way to go!" -Mrs. Maher
"Mila Dubek deserves a shoutout for going above and beyond in her work on writing journal. She has taken great pride in the story she is working on and added in a lot of interesting details.
Colt Banowetz and Josie Kilburg worked together as a team to solve our math area challenge. They went above and beyond and came up with the most accurate solutions to our challenge. " -Mrs. Kieffer
"Since returning from break, I've noticed Natalyn Otten working hard in music. She has approached our new games in music with a positive attitude and has been demonstrating leadership by following directions and waiting patiently for others before moving on. Allen Behrle is consistently a role model in music - not only in the way he follows classroom expectations, but also in the way he treats others with kindness. Allen is always eager to volunteer and contribute to class discussions, giving his best effort no matter the activity. Way to go, Natalyn and Allen!" -Ms. Spencer
"Jovie Frahm and Adalyn Brauer have been working so hard in class, always showing kindness to every student in our classroom. They are wonderful examples of think-win-win, making sure everyone feels heard and that everyone gets to “win,” no matter the task. We are so proud of you both!" -Mrs. Sierra
This week we would like to recognize the two ladies that make sure everything runs smoothly- Denise Swanson and Melinda Hackman. Denise is not only our Assistant Business Manager, but she manages payroll and benefits as well as serves as the board secretary. Melinda is our ever-so-efficient school secretary and resident stand-in for Nurse Kelsey.
Here's what our principal, Julia Rabe, had to say about these ladies:
"Melinda is one of the most organized people I know. She always has a smile for everyone and keeps everything running smoothly. I'm not sure what I would do without her help!"
"Denise is always helpful and organized. She always has suggestions about how to make things better and is happy to help anyone out. I'm thankful to have her in my corner whenever I have questions or need help."
Here's what their colleagues have to say about them:
"Melinda is one of the most organized people I have ever met! I love that she always thinks of everything when organizing things and keeps our school running smoothly!"
"Melinda is always available for questions. Whether the question is about the copy machine, materials or a student. She answers with a smile and never makes you feel like you are bothering her. Melinda manages the office with energy and kindness. We are lucky to have such a wonderful person as a member of our Delwood family. "
"Melinda is truly the engine of our school and keeps everything running smoothly. She never hesitates to help others, and everything she does is handled with kindness and care. We would not know what we would do without Melinda!"
"Denise keeps everything in line from behind the scenes and is such an important part of Delwood. She is always willing to help others, answers questions with patience, and makes sure everything is organized and running smoothly. Her hard work often happens quietly, but it makes a huge difference for our entire school. We are so grateful for all that Denise does!"
"Denise is the person to go to for any HR needs. She can handle insurance and payroll questions or give recommendations for how to use your time off away from school. Thank you Denise for being that helpful person in our building. "
"Denise is so friendly and approachable! I always feel so comfortable if I have any questions for her! She is always willing to help."
Thank you both for everything you do for Delwood! We are lucky to have you!! 💚🖤
If you are interested in volunteering, please let us know by commenting below or sending an email to jrabe@delwood.k12.ia.us or jflanigan@delwood.k12.ia.us.
Thank you in advance for your involvement!
STAFF SHOUTOUT: Our next shoutout goes to Jenna Spencer. Miss Spencer teaches music and band and is also in her second year at Delwood Elementary! She is such a kind, caring person and is very intentional about connecting with each of her students.
Here’s what her colleagues say about her:
"Jenna has a very kind heart and always wants to do what is best for students!"
"I appreciate Jenna's great story telling ability. She always can add something to a conversation or discussion with a personal reflection or experience. And, she does it in such a calm, unrushed manner so you can fully appreciate the whole story. "
"Jenna is an incredible music teacher who brings so much energy, creativity, and passion into everything she does. She goes above and beyond for her students and is always willing to step in and lend a helping hand wherever it’s needed. Jenna’s positivity, teamwork, and dedication make her such a valued part of our school community, and we are so lucky to have her on our team!"
"Jenna is always kind and caring towards others. She always goes the extra mile for others, and looks for opportunities to support and collaborate with her colleagues. She is She is always thinking of ways to improve and grow, but also takes the time to celebrate when things go well. Her work with our band students has been incredible to watch over the past two years- their growth is reflective of the hard work she puts in to making them great musicians and individuals."
-Julia Rabe, principal
Thank you, Jenna, for making Delwood a great place to be- we are lucky to have you!
STAFF SHOUTOUT: Our first shoutout of the week goes to Peyton Sierra, a second-year Kindergarten teacher here at Delwood Elementary!
Mrs. Sierra is known for her positive energy, kind heart, and dedication to her students and colleagues. Her classroom is a place where learning is filled with joy, students feel loved, and everyone is encouraged to grow.
Here's what some of her colleagues have to say about her:
"Peyton is always a go-to coworker and an amazing friend! She is someone you can always count on no matter the situation. Peyton is consistently willing to step in, lend a hand, share ideas, or offer support whenever it’s needed, and she does it all with such a positive attitude. Her kindness, teamwork, and dedication make a huge difference in our day-to-day work, and our school is truly better because of her. We are so grateful to have Peyton!"
"I love the relationship Peyton has with her students. You can tell every student loves learning from her and she cares deeply about her students. I appreciate all her energy and enthusiasm she brings to any task she is doing. "
"Peyton is a fun, go with the flow teacher! Her classroom always seems so happy and inviting!"
"Peyton has high expectations for herself and her students. She always looks for ways to make our school better and bring new and fresh ideas to try. I appreciate her work this year with our student leaders and community projects, as well as her involvement on our leadership team. Peyton is a great asset to our school and we are lucky to have her." -Julia Rabe, principal
Thank you, Peyton, for making Delwood a brighter, stronger place for our students and staff every day.
Delwood Community School District is proud to announce their partnership with ZeroEyes, Inc. to provide weapon detection services for the district. As part of this partnership, ZeroEyes will be conducting a field calibration test on Friday, January 9th at 2:00. As part of this calibration, a representative from ZeroEyes will walk around the building with a fake replica weapon being escorted by law enforcement from the Clinton County Sheriff’s department. So you will notice a law enforcement presence at the school, but Delwood CSD would like to assure you that there is no active threat to the school nor the community.
Delwood CSD would like to thank you for your understanding and cooperation during this time.
Our staff shoutout goes to Mrs. Doll! Through dedication, patience, and a true passion for literacy, she works individually and in small groups to help students build confidence, strengthen skills, and discover the joy of reading. Her impact goes far beyond the classroom—building relationships with them and supporting their path to success.
Thank you for the heart and passion you bring to your work and for making such a meaningful difference for our students at Delwood every single day!
1st Place- Emerie Henson (7,674 correct questions answered)
2nd Place- Ava Brown (7,406 correct questions answered)
3rd Place- Trace Flagel (4,455 correct questions answered)
Third Grade also took 1st Place as a class with an average of over 2,147 correct questions answered per student. They absolutely rocked it!!
We would also like to recognize our December Top Ten:
Mila Doubek, Logan McDermott, Colt Hughes, Josie Kilburg, Noah Marshall, Wyatt Rabe, Lincoln Irwin, Kenley Doubek, Isabella Ingersoll, and Chloe McClain
Your hard work and dedication to learning shines through- Way to go!
December is the season of giving back, and our students are leading the way! 🎄✨
Through our Giving Tree project, our students practiced "Thinking Win-Win" by pairing leadership with heart. On Monday, our students hit the road to deliver donations and sing carols at local nursing homes! 🎤🏘️
We are so proud of their commitment to service and so grateful for everyone who donated to make this happen.
Together, we’re making the holidays a little brighter! 🌟
#StudentLeaders #DelwoodGivingTree #SpreadJoy
You can also check out his website: https://coachsloth.com
TK: Heidi has been participating so well during lessons and has been working hard on solving conflicts independently. Braylynn always gives her best effort and strives to reach every goal she sets, especially during math activities. - Ms. Eden
KINDERGARTEN: Mila and Beckett both have been coming to the carpet so quietly and being respectful to their teacher and friends! Keep it up! -Mrs. Sierra
SECOND GRADE: Allen Behrle and Adeline Kinrade--Both of these students have been doing a great job of being more involved in the class. They are participating in discussions by raising their hands and volunteering to share their thoughts and ideas. I love that they are both so much more outgoing and willing to share with the group! Keep it up Allen and Adeline! -Mrs. Eberhart
Natalynn Otten has been very focused on sounding out words and is using great strategies when she blending her sounds together. She has been coming into the room ready to get right to work and is making good choices during our work time. Thank you for putting in the effort it takes to be a better reader. -Mrs. Kleinsmith
As we've been preparing for the concert, Eoghan Ashpole has been giving his best effort by showing "riser-ready," singing his best, and responding quickly when given a direction. I can count on Eoghan to make good choices to help himself be successful!
Easton Edwards has been working hard in music. He is always looking for ways to help Ms. Spencer and the class, asks thoughtful questions, and works to better himself each class. I'm proud of Easton for his growth in music this past year! -Ms. Spencer
THIRD GRADE: Emerie Henson, Josie Kilburg, and Mila Doubek- These three students stand out for following expectations even when no one else is looking. They frequently have their hands up to participate in class. They also work hard on independent work and ask questions when they don't understand. -Mrs. Keiffer
FOURTH GRADE: Jaycee Cavanagh has been demonstrating extreme kindness when her classmates need help. She is the first one to volunteer to lend a hand, to give encouragement, and help with anything that others need. She is a great role model for others and continues to lead by example. I am so proud of her! _Ms. Hodge
FIFTH GRADE: Lincoln Irwin's determination, work ethic, never-give-up attitude, and sense of humor are helping him make incredible strides in fluency. He set a goal and has been working very hard to reach it. His effort, positive attitude and excitement have helped him make great gains. Way to go!
Haiden Hughes has shined on both the math and reading and tests for the last units. She has also been a fabulous partner in groups where she takes on a leadership role and keeps everyone on task and working together. Keep it up! -Mrs. Maher
Congratulations to each of these students- we are so proud of their kindness, hard work, and leadership!
Thank you to every one who took an ornament from our Giving Tree for our friends at Jackson Ridge! We love being able to give back to those in need, and our students enjoy being a part of service learning projects like this one. Your generosity is much appreciated! Please make sure to have ornaments and gifts returned to the school by this Friday, December 12th so we can coordinate times to get the gifts delivered.
