10/16/23 Principal Newsletter
Dear Parent and Student and Educator,
I wanted to take this opportunity to celebrate some of the many wonderful things at Glenwood High School in this “Did you know?” newsletter.
High Levels of Student Performance: Did you know that our high expectations for student performance and learning translate into strong results in ACT scores? Dr. Chad Lang, assistant superintendent of school improvement & HR, conducted a local evaluation of GHS ACT and GPA in light of current national research. The findings demonstrate Glenwood High School’s deviation from the national trend for ACT and GPA in recent years. See more here: Article link.
Career & Trade Exploration: Did you know that GHS offers many trade and career based exploration classes and opportunities not found at many local high schools? Examples include: welding, advanced culinary arts and a culinary restaurant, PLTW biomedical science courses, sports digital media, IJAG, Career Transitions and workplace time built into students schedules, agricultural sciences, including FFA, animal and plant science, and horticulture. We are also looking to expand these opportunities for students. For example, we are building a greenhouse to support student learning.
Planning for an Innovation Center: In addition, GCSD is committed to opening an innovative career center campus for Southwest Iowa to complement the Southwest Iowa Technical Hub (SWITCH) also opening in the fall of 2024 in Mills County. GCSD is writing a state of Iowa Career Center Incentive Fund (CAIF) $1 million grant to get a program started in two pathways by the fall of 2024 in Glenwood; Digital Mass Media (w/a Social Media Certificate) and Precision Agriculture. By the fall of 2025 three more pathways will be added: cybersecurity, industrial robotics, and fire fighter one/EMS. These would be one year, a.m. or p.m. programs in a Glenwood center site. A parent advisory committee has been meeting to support the opening of such a center for the last 12 months, and if you wish to join contact GCSD central office administrative assistant, Debbie Schoening at schoeningd@glenwodschools.org.
Announcements for the Week:
High School Conferences are October 19th and October 24th from 4:30 pm to 8:30 pm. These are
pre-scheduled by appointment and held virtually through Google Meet. We are using the app Calendly
to schedule conference times. While our conferences are primarily virtual, if you would prefer to have
an in-person meeting or a phone call versus connecting virtually, we would like to support you. Reach
out to your student’s teacher for your needs for a meeting.
Veterans Day: GHS is planning on recognizing Veterans Day with a high school assembly this year in
November. A planning committee involving the American Legion, Student Council, FCCLA, and
music teachers has met and started this work. More information will be coming out soon!
Students of the Week: These students are recognized as having demonstrated one or more of our
RAMS United Values of “Respect, Achieve and Improve, Make an Effort, and Serve Others.”
Have a great week RAM Nation! Reach out if you have questions. We are here to help and welcome your feedback. Every day is a great day to be a RAM!
Mrs. Lorraine Duitsman