extend a heartfelt thank you to our amazing community partners, families, and staff for helping make our Trunk or Treat such a fun and successful event! 👏
Your creativity, generosity, and support brought so much joy to our students and families. 💚🖤
We are proud to be part of a community that always comes together to make special moments like this possible. Thank you for helping make Delwood a great place to learn, grow, and celebrate together! 💫
#DelwoodElementary #VikingPride #CommunityStrong #TrunkOrTreat
We’re so proud of our 6th graders for completing the D.A.R.E. program! These students have learned valuable lessons about making safe, smart, and responsible choices.
A huge thank you to Officer Zach Lange for leading our Vikings through this important journey with energy, humor, and heart!
#DelwoodVikings #DAREtoBeGreat #VikingStrong
Our staff shoutout this week goes to Jessica Durkop.
Julia Rabe, principal, said: "Jess is always willing to help others and believes in her students. She is always open to new ideas or ways of doing things. I appreciate that she works hard to build relationships with her students and colleagues."
A teacher said, "Jess takes the time to ensure that the needs of our students are being met. She tries new strategies and implements techniques that work best for our students. She truly cares about the success of others! It has been a pleasure working alongside her."
Another teacher said, "Jess has been a pleasure to work with here at Delwood. She is very good at communicating when it comes to our shared students. She knows what needs to be done to help the students be successful and tries to get those things accomplished as best she can. It's always nice to bounce ideas off of her and have our hallway conversations!"
A third teacher said, "Jess is always willing to help or answer a question that I might have! She is a great resource when I have questions regarding any IEP's or instruction questions!"
Thank you, Jess, for being an important part of our Delwood team!!
We would like to recognize Mr. Ray Cavanagh for our staff shoutout this past week. Ray teaches sixth grade at Delwood and if anyone can make school fun while doing hard work, it's Ray. Whether it's technology, teaching, or sports, he can do it all!!
Julia Rabe, principal, said, "I can always count on Ray to make us laugh, be the first person to contribute and share, and be a great role model for the students in our school. He uses humor, sarcasm, and authentic relationship-building to connect with his sixth graders in a way that makes him a favorite time and again. Whether he's leading a basketball club, joking around with kids, trash talking the Packers, or teaching about the yellow fever or greatest common factors, he makes a point of building those connections with students and staff. "
A teacher said, "Ray has been my tech support person for many years. Whether he is fixing my smart board, helping me get something uploaded to a parent or being non-judgemental if I forgot to turn my sound off in a Zoom meeting. I appreciate all he does for anyone who is technically challenged."
Thank you, Ray for all you do for our school!
Delwood Elementary is hosting our first family event of the year. Please join us for Family Bingo Night this Thursday, October 23 from 5:30-7:00 pm (or until all door prizes are gone). Light refreshments will be provided. Bring your best game face and be ready to have some fun!!
📣📣Calling all current parents of Delwood Elementary students 📣📣
We need your feedback!!!
Please take 5-10 minutes to complete the following survey: https://www.leaderinme.com/s/delwood-elementary-school-iowa/families
Thank you!!
STAFF SHOUTOUT 🥳👏
This week our staff shoutout goes to Marcia Kleinsmith! Many people know Marcia as a kindergarten teacher, but since last year, Marcia has worked as a reading and math interventionist. She is always willing to help others and works hard to make connections with students. They are excited to see her and work with her. She also often demonstrates flexibility and willingness to adapt in the moment.
Marcia's best kept secret is her strawberry jam- if you've been lucky enough to get some, you know it's true!
Julia Rabe, principal said the following about Marcia:
"The thing I appreciate most about Marcia, is her willingness to help out and if it's best for kids, she's all in! She is consistently demonstrating flexibility and a growth mindset. She's a great asset to our school!"
Several teachers also echoed that sentiment:
One teacher said "Marcia is always willing to jump in and help. She sees a need and helps without being asked."
Another teacher said "Marcia is a great support to students. She always has great suggestions on how to help them. She's a great resource for teachers and staff as well."
Thank you, Marcia, for being an important part of our Delwood team! 💚🤍
🥳👏STUDENT SHOUTOUTS 🥳👏
Ruby Brauer:
Ruby is becoming more of a leader in the classroom by showing how to be kind to other students. She's sharing her ideas more and showing that all you have to do is try your best! Keep up the positive attitude Ruby!
Vivienne Feeler:
Vivienne will listen carefully to suggestions her teacher gives her to help make her work even better. That shows she has a great attitude and wants to do her very best. Keep it up! You're learning something new every day!
Naomi Swarts and Raelee Clark:
Naomi and Raelee have done a wonderful job helping out around our classroom and school. They are always looking for ways to make our school a better place. They take the initiative to help without being asked. They clean up our classroom at the end of the day, organize items that may be out of place, and assist others in what they may need after completing their tasks. Keep up the great work in helping us achieve our goals!
Caden Kulhman:
He has been working hard to be a great friend, by helping others clean up centers and making sure all the toys are picked up off the floor.
Allen Behrle, Kinsley Kemp, Rhett Morris:
In music, Ms. Spencer can always count on Allen, Kinsley, and Rhett to treat others with kindness and give their best effort. Both in and out of music, they carry a positive attitude and are always looking for ways to help others. Keep it up Allen, Kinsley, and Rhett!
Trace Flagel:
This week’s shoutout goes to Trace! He has been working hard on believing in himself and trying his best to complete his work independently without asking for help right away. Yesterday, he completed all of his math boxes on his own!
Cooper Meyer and Krystin Dontje:
These two students have continued to work hard this year. They are always prepared for class and do their best work.
Taylor Bowman, Cash Adrian and Braxton Becker:
These 3 kids can always be found playing together nicely and sharing toys with one another. All 3 kids have really opened up and let their true colors shine through. Keep up the great work!
Hugh Bowman:
Hugh has been working on remembering to raise his hand to get a teacher's attention. He is always excited to learn and every more excited when he is able to apply that learning in other areas of the classroom. Keep up the good work Hugh!
Avery Knickrehm, Ava Brown, and Charli Bowman:
These three girls went above and beyond in Amplify this week. They are active participants and lead by example. They’ve been working hard, sharing their ideas during lessons, and always trying their best. We are very proud of their effort and focus. Keep up the good work!
Braylynn Edwards and Cohen Spain:
Braylynn is an amazing leader in our class. She is always willing to help her classmates and sets a great example with her positive attitude and kind behavior. Cohen is always eager to learn new things and puts forth his best effort in everything he does. His curiosity and determination make him a wonderful role model for others! Keep it up Braylynn and Cohen!
Raelee Clark, Jaycee Cavanagh, Naomi Swartz, and Gracie Dontje:
Awesome work being good citizens and helping Mrs. Kleinsmith with cutting out math materials. She really appreciated how you worked so hard to finish the job and do it with so much enthusiasm. Thank you for helping your school!
Violet Stamp:
Violet always volunteers to help and demonstrates a willingness to work with anyone
Isabella Ingersoll:
She always produces quality work that is detailed and neat
Jovie Frahm and Sylvie Ingersoll:
Both Jovie and Sylvie are always so kind and inclusive! They make sure everyone feels welcome and loved each and every day. Their caring hearts and positive energy brighten our classroom!
Congratulations to all of our hard-working students! We are so proud of you! 💚🤍 #vikingproud
We also had some great conversations about fire safety and making sure we have a plan for staying safe at home and school.
Thank you to the Delmar Fire Department for teaching us how to stay safe and for making our visit so exciting! #firepreventionweek
Our Delwood Elementary students came together in a big way — collecting over 2,000 non-perishable food items for the Maquoketa Community Cupboard! ❤️
A huge THANK YOU to all of our Delwood families for your generosity and support. Because of you, we’re helping make a difference right here in our community! 🌟
Way to go, Delwood Elementary — what an amazing example of kindness, teamwork, and caring for others! 💪💛
In Sixth grade, Cam and McCoy have been working hard on IXL this last week, and they ended up being the 2nd and 3rd place finishers in the classroom when it came to the number of skills they mastered. Andrew has been putting his best effort forward during writing and math time and trying his best always. When he doesn't understand somethings he isn't afraid to ask for help! Keep up the great work!
In kindergarten, Mila Stone is always on task, respectful, gives her best effort and is kind to all! Keep it up, Mila!!!!
In fifth grade, Porter is always getting started right away and gets to work. Jordan always shows up by being prepared and ready to learn.
In second grade, Easton comes in every morning with a pleasant and polite "Good Morning, Mrs. Eberhart." He has been doing a great job of sharing and explaining some of our new math strategies we are learning in class. Keep up the hard work, Easton. Evelynn has been turning in quality work lately! She's taking her time and her work is nice and neat. She is making it something to really be proud of. Way to go, Evelynn!
In preschool, Joe Cavanagh is a great friend and always tries to help others. Hailie Kemp is making a big effort to listen during story time. She is raising her hand to answer questions and becoming more vocal and brave every day! Good job! Stella Taggert and Blake Roling are always trying to do their best whether it be doing a project with their teacher, playing with friends and using their manners. They also show what it should look like during carpet time and when getting in a line. Keep up the great work Stella and Blake!
Casey and Blake in TK were also sent a shoutout by their teacher. Casey is such an amazing friend to others, always participates, and does his best work. Blake is so helpful and her teacher can always count on her to be a leader and a good friend to others. Keep up the good work Casey and Blake!
In first grade, Jorja Kilburg showed wonderful kindness yesterday by helping a classmate clean up. She is always so willing to lend a hand, and it makes the classroom such a positive place! Tate Flagel has been very responsible with his materials and sets a great example for others. His teacher is proud of the effort and kindness he has been showing in class! Ava Pape has been putting great effort into her daily tasks. She is motivated and hard-working!
In fourth grade, Addison LaFrenz and Noah Marshall are consistently great leaders in music, and are always giving their best effort and pay attention right away when the signal is given. They always put first things first by making sure they are following classroom rules and fully participating in activities. They both ask many great questions and are always looking for opportunities to build their music knowledge and skills. Keep it up, Addison and Noah!
In. music, the following students have demonstrated their ability to give their best effort- Maliah Henson always comes to class ready to learn. She is always one of the first I see ready to listen when the signal is given, and waits patiently until the next instruction is given. In activities, she gives her best effort and asks questions as needed. Nice job, Maliah! Violet Stamp begins with the end in mind. In band, she uses multiple resources and skills from outside of music to develop her skills on the oboe. She is always looking for ways to be prepared and organized so that she can be successful in and out of class. She approaches challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, which have shone through in her first 2 band lessons. Keep it up, Violet!
In PE, Kinsley Kemp is one of best listeners her teacher has ever had. She does an awesome job of listening first and then applying it to whatever we are working on. She is also a great example to follow when leading the warm-up. She is loud enough so everybody can hear and she is a great demonstrator for the rest of the class on how you are supposed to do the stretches/exercises the correct way. Great job Kinsley! Keep it up!
In third grade, Charle has done a fabulous job in math! She has been putting in her best effort every day and showing so much determination. I’ve noticed her working independently and really pushing herself to do her best. Especially with trying problems on her own first!
Finally, Mrs. Kleinsmith wanted to send a shoutout to Eoghan Ashpole for being confident enough to dress like her for spirit week. He really got the look with the black dress and glasses!
Way to go everyone!!
Julia Rabe, principal said: "The thing that I appreciate most about Jill is that she has high expectations for her students. She believes that all students can be successful and works to ensure strong routines and consistency for each student. "
Teachers and staff also praised her classroom management and organization, as well as her commitment to ensuring all students learn at high levels.
Thank you, Jill, for being an important part of our Delwood team!
🎉 CELEBRATING OUR SCHOOL 🥳
Delwood Elementary School has been identified once again as a high performing school by the state of Iowa. At 77.04 percent, Delwood is just over one percent away from being exceptional, which is the highest designation given by the state of Iowa. 👏 👏 Delwood has beat out all but two of the elementary schools in our larger area, including the Quad Cities area, which is an amazing accomplishment! Our performance beats out the average for the state of Iowa in every category: growth and proficiency in math and literacy as well as our attendance being lower than the state average.
These results show what we already know- that our school continues to demonstrate a commitment to excellence and quality, rigorous instruction. We should be proud of our great school, quality teachers, and the amazing work we are doing!
Understanding the Iowa School Performance Profile Rating System:
The Iowa Department of Education has released its 2024-25 Iowa School Performance Profile scores – these profiles are a measure of schools across the state based on several data sources.
The Iowa School Performance Profile uses six rating categories as listed below:
Exceptional
High Performing
Commendable
Acceptable
Needs Improvement
Priority
The Iowa Department of Education builds its rating on core indicators such as state assessment results (ISASP) and chronic absenteeism.
If you have any questions about the Iowa School Performance profile, visit the link below or reach out to Dr. Rabe or Mr. Fee:
https://www.iaschoolperformance.gov/ECP/StateDistrictSchool/SchoolSummary?k=18749&y=2025
STUDENT SHOUTOUTS:
We had another big week of student shoutouts!
Lincoln Irwin worked hard on Numeracy Project math skills and increased 25% on the stage he is currently working on. Keep using those great math strategies to solve problems.
Liam, Mila, Josie, Emerie, and Colt B showed great respect on our Ag Safety Day field trip. They represented Delwood so well and really stood out to Miss Zeimet!
Brecken Lundin has been an awesome leader in PE class. Mr. Skogen can always count on him to be doing his job, participating to the best of his ability, and having a positive attitude no matter what. Keep up the good work!
Gabby is such a polite and respectful student. She works hard and tries her best every day. She is kind and helpful to her classmates. She was absent from school for a couple days and she worked very hard to get caught up on what she missed while she was gone. Keep up the hard work Gabby!
Beau has improved a lot on listening during classroom instruction and sharing his ideas with the class. He has been following directions and getting his work done without distracting others. Keep making good choices, Beau!!
Lilian has been working super hard in Miss Till's room. She is always ready to learn and is a great listener! Keep up the great work!
Shout out to Ayla for being a hard worker with any task she is given and shoutout to Kessley for being so kind and respectful!
Ava B. and Charli both demonstrate leadership in the music room by always waiting quietly for directions. During singing games, they are great role models by listening carefully to the rules and singing out. Nice job, Ava and Charli!
In music this week, third grade worked on a concept that was tricky for many students. When working with partners to practice the skill, Raelee received feedback with a great attitude and never gave up, using what she knew to help her figure out each question. Keep it up, Raelee!
Jorja is a kind 1st grader. She goes out of her way to help others get organized and stay on task. She’s quick to follow directions and is a good participant on the carpet.
Charli Bowman is a hard worker. Charli is always on task while working at the back table with me. She is always ready to work and gives it her best everyday!
Zia Gambleton and Addison Lafrenz in 4th grade have both been working incredibly hard in math and showing true perseverance. Even when things get tough, they never give up! They’re not afraid to ask questions and seek help when needed — a true sign of growth and dedication.
Keep rocking it, girls!
Heidi and Shawn have been doing an amazing job in TK! Heidi is a wonderful leader who helps her friends follow routines and always puts forth her best effort. Shawn does an excellent job cleaning up after centers and is always kind to his classmates. Way to go, Heidi and Shawn!
Both Haiden and Addison have made great choices all week. Haiden has quality work completed and turned in on time. Addison worked well with others, keeping them focused on the task
Miss Hodge
Adam, Preston, Declan, and Max have been doing such a great job and working really hard in 4th grade to complete their work. They take their time to demonstrate their understanding and use thoughtful approaches! Keep up the great work!
This week, Andrew has gotten 90% of his vocabulary correct in Amplify! Way to go Andrew!
Congratulations to all of our students leading by example and making good choices! We are proud of you!
Dr. Rabe, principal, stated: "Cindy is always willing to help out and has a positive attitude. She cares about the students and the people she works with. Cindy graduated from preschool to third and fourth grade this year and she has been such a great support to the students and teachers in those grades. Thank you Cindy for all you do!"
Sophie Hodge, the fourth grade teacher, shared: "Cindy does a wonderful job each time she steps into fourth grade. She is thoughtful in meeting the needs of our students. Cindy is always positive and encouraging towards others and the students. She helps students complete their work, keep them on task, and gives them encouragement. She truly is a second teacher within our classroom and helps the students to be successful. Without her, our classroom would not be the same! We love Ms. Cindy!"
Sam Zeimet, the long-term sub teacher for 3rd grade, said: "Cindy is such a fantastic help in 3rd grade! She is always lending a hand to the kiddos, and you can definitely tell they love having her in our room. Whenever she steps out to help another class, the kids instantly ask where she’s going because they miss her right away! I especially appreciated her joining us on our first field trip. Her support truly helps our classroom run smoothly."
Thank you Cindy for everything you do for our school!
STUDENT SHOUT OUTS:
Cato was the winner of the challenging word game in our group this week. He was working hard on finding the syllables to help him take the word apart. Keep working hard Cato!
Kenley and Tanner are showing to school with everything they need and are always giving their best effort!
Kaiser and Logan have done a wonderful job this week at being proactive. They are participating in the class discussions, ready to go when transitioning from one subject to the next, and leading by example. They are great role models for their peers. Keep up the great work!!
Allen sets a positive example by following rules and showing respect to others. He is patient and shows empathy towards others. He shows he's listening during class by having his eyes on me and participating in the discussion. Keep up the good work, Allen!
Reagan shows kindness by helping others. She shares her ideas, but she also listens to her classmates' ideas. She has come into a new class and is well on her way to being a leader in the class. Nice work, Reagan!
Ashton and Cohen always do their best work and are quick to help out whenever they have the opportunity.
Sam is always ready to go and is great at following routines. He also shows patience at centers when something is full and he has to wait his turn to go there. He is kind to friends and plays with everyone.
Owen is always ready to learn. He loves to experiment with different toys to see how they work. He is always excited to share during group lessons!
London has been working to regulate her emotions and she is doing a fantastic job getting used to being at school.
Anson is always showing respect and using his best manners.
Sylvie works so hard to tackle every task that comes her way! Keep up the good work!!
In music, Andrew does a great job staying on task and focused in both large and small groups on recorder. In music and band, he gives his best effort and asks questions when needed, which have shone through when we go through the music. Keep up the great work, Andrew!
Brody has had a strong start in music this year! During a small group rhythm game last week, Brody was a leader by staying engaged with a positive attitude and helping his neighbors find the right patterns. Brody asks questions often and has been an eager participant in our activities. Nice job, Brody!
6th Grade band started with their music away at the beginning of the school year. Every day, they have come in excited and ready to go, and have been working hard with a great attitude in class. This allows us to get a lot of good work done and still laugh and have fun along the way. They are going to do great things this year!!
Mila Stone has done an awesome job in PE class so far this year. She is a great listener, she is always following directions, and she is always giving her best effort! Keep up the good work Mila!
Kingston has been rocking it in class! He’s been following directions, staying on task, and doing an awesome job in math!
Emerie is such a great leader in our classroom. She’s always doing the right thing and going above and beyond every single day!
Gray has been practicing so hard on her gumball math. She does math facts at home and brings them back to school! Way to go Gray!
Oakley picked up trash in our classroom without being asked. He did a great job keeping our classroom clean. Way to go Oakley!
Zoey is always so kind to others, she gives her best effort and makes good choices.
Haiden takes the lead when working with others and takes responsibility for her actions
Eden and Aria come into the classroom with a smile on their face ready to play and learn. Both girls have been caught using their manners and apologizing when accidently bumping into a friend.
At our tailgate party two weeks ago, Preslee, Krystin, Amelie, Addison, Kenley and Ava B. created and performed several cheers while at the tailgate. After they performed, some of the younger girls wanted to try some cheers and the 6th grade girls took them in, helped them perform, and even did a few small lifts with the littler ones.
This took courage to get up in front of the crowd and perform those cheers. Great job girls!
This week we would like to send a shout out to Miss Madison. Miss Madison works in our three-year-old preschool room and has such a great, positive attitude. She is also always willing to go the extra mile and help out when needed.
A teacher said: " I enjoy working with Madison because of her positive energy that she brings to the classroom. Madison is always willing to help out where needed and is not afraid to ask questions on what needs to be done. I love that Madison interacts with the kids at their level and is always interested in what they have to say."
The principal said: " Madison is such a great asset to our school. She is always friendly and has a positive approach to work and life. She is a great role model to students and engages with them in positive, meaningful ways. She goes out of her way to connect with others and contribute to our school."
Thank you, Madison, for being such an important part of our school!
