Hoover Partners open to new ways to increase connections

WATERLOO — Hoover Middle School is partnered with League of Women Voters (Black Hawk & Bremer Counties), RE/ MAX Home Group, Friendship Village, Fareway (Waterloo) and Wild Wood Ranch.

Partners participate in the Adopt-A-Family program at Christmas and provide additional support by presenting household items, toys, clothing and gift cards. RE/MAX donated several $100 gift cards to support Hoover students and families.

Each year students participate in a 500-word essay contest with League of Women Voters. Winners receive a check and certificate for grades sixth, seventh and eighth. Breakfast Club rec- ognizes students of the month and Partners support academic and behavior celebrations, volunteer for mock interviews and help students fill out job applications for career assessments in a potential career.

Eighth-grader Daniel Putman said, “I participated in a mock interview for my Communications class and it helped me realize how important it is to have a positive attitude, get good grades and be a leader and not a follower.”

Sixth-graders are pen pals with Friendship Village, which also collaborates on the career day event.

New to the school district, Tom Harskamp, lead administrator said, “I really love how our Partners are open to trying new ways of increasing connections.

As I get more comfortable in my role I am looking for other opportunities to partner and expand our Hoover school community to the Waterloo community good to make artwork for our Partners. I know my art is appreciated.”

St. Mark’s Church provides volunteer readers and one member has helped first-graders start their own library. There are two annual book fairs at Barnes and Noble and PIE supply books requested by teachers.

The City of Elk Run hosts a monthly luncheon with the Mayor attended by students from each grade level who demonstrate good citizenship.

“I was really happy to have lunch with the mayor. It was nice to be rewarded for doing my job,” said fourth-grader Liam Sager.

“As a Partner in Education with Poyner Elementary School we feel better connected with our community. It’s been amazing to see the students work toward goals and to be able to celebrate that accomplishment with them. We donate to special causes, and the students and teachers also donate back to us with card making for Veterans, or other special events. It’s a relationship where we give some, but we get back so much more. It’s a winwin,” said Pastor Lisa Kruse of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

Highland Partners volunteer, support students

WATERLOO — Highland Elementary School shares their Partners in Education program with Nazareth Lutheran Church, Petersen & Tietz Florists and Greenhouses; VGM; Lincoln Savings Bank, John Deere and Ron Protzman.

Many Partners are volunteers in classrooms helping with STEM projects, acting as reading buddies, or volunteering to support classroom teachers and volunteers.

Partner-related activities include: ISASP bike and scooter giveaway, PAWS-4YOU monthly staff recogni-

Highland students tion; Adopt a Family Holiday Gift Program; holiday book giveaway; carnation sales; Earth Day activities; and staff dinners at parent-teacher conferences. Partners also raise funds for school improvements and student needs.

Southdale shares lengthy partnership

at large.”

School counselor Stephanie Chandler said Partners are invested in Hoover students “to help them discover ways to carry out our mission of ‘influencing the world and serving others.’”

CEDAR FALLS – Southdale Elementary School has enjoyed Texas Roadhouse as their Partner in Education for seven years.

The restaurant provides teachers a meal during each of the parent-teacher conferences, and rolls for the school staff on random occasions. They also provide student rewards that teachers can hand out as the students earn them.