Salute to the Villisca School Board of Education
American Education Week
Sung by Lori Hefflefinger & Mary Lynn Poston
(to the melody of Mr. Sandman)
with the yes? response by the board members themselves
at the November 12, 2007 meeting of the board
of the Villisca Community School District

Mr. Smith, (yes?) thanks for the year's (bum bum bum bum)
We all applaud you and give you three cheers (bum bum bum bum)
You are the one who's been here forever.
You've got experience and are so clever.
Mr. Baker, (yes?) you are the Pres.
You get to hear (pause) what everyone says
Please hear this: For all you do,
Villisca School Board, we salute you!

Mr. Sunderman, (yes?) it's Monday night (bum bum bum bum)
You're missing football, and that's just not right (bum bum bum bum)
You find some time to come to a meeting
to make decisions and discuss our heating>
Mr. Sorensen, (yes?) we know your wife.
You and the others lead a hectic life.
Please hear this: For all you do,
Villisca School Board, we salute you!

Mr. Poston, (yes?) thanks for your time (bum bum bum bum)
It's not that easy to find words that rhyme (bum bum bum bum)
You've got to know a lot about schools.
Your wife and mom know that a teacher rules.
Ms. Nook, (yes?) you are the best.
You're head and shoulders above all the rest.
Please hear this: For all you do,
Villisca School Board, we salute you!

bum bum bum bum bum bum bum bum
bum bum bum bum bum
repeat

Mrs. Waddell, (yes?) you're a good sport! (bum bum bum bum)
You started school a refrigerator short. (bum bum bum bum)
You're a good cook and have a nice smile.
We're hoping that you stay a long, long while.
Mr. Johnson, (yes?) you are the man.
You're fast becoming a Big Jay fan.
Please hear this: For all you do,
Villisca School Board, we salute you!

Mrs. Forsythe, (yes?) you are the one (bum bum bum bum)
who gets to play with the numbers, what fun! (bum bum bum bum)
You have to deal with this fund and that bill.
Some days it seems your job is uphill!
Villisca School Board, (yes?) thank you a bunch!
You're even better than recess and lunch!
SO please take this in a good way
Villisca School Board bring us, please, please, please,
Villisca School Board, (pause) brung us more pay!!!!

Below are listed just some of the accomplishments of Villisca students and student groups in the school year 2006-2007:

Corner Conference 2007 Art Fair
The Paul Andrew Clapper Excellence in Art Award was given to the VHS Design students for their work on the V.F.W. Hall mural. The students were Jordan Wyatt, Coyote Woods, Cecily McCuen, Tristin Pafford, Aayla Woerth, & Samantha Smiley.

Receiving Best of Show at the Art Fair were Shayner Scott, Katelyn Kernen and Taylor Burgess.

Congratulations to Jaylenne Shepherd who was awarded first place for the poetry division of the Southwest Iowa Reading Association.

Congratulations to the 8th grade DI who placed 3rd at Regionals in Carroll on Sat. They beat two much larger schools.

CONGRATULATIONS to all FFA members who participated in the 2007 Southwest District FFA Convention in Glenwood. The Reno Smith FFA was well represented and had a gREAT DaY!

  • Five freshman participated in the Greenhand FFA Quiz: Alex Herzberg placed 9th out of 51. Risa Watterson placed 10th. Jared Gillespie placed 11th, and Amanda Fulton placed 14th, all earning gold ratings.
  • Matt Jergensen earned a silver in the same event.
  • Josh Bashaw earned 4th place and a bronze in the Arc Welding contest.
  • Steven Fitzwater earned 2nd place and a bronze in the oxy-acetlene contest.
  • Michael Dolch won the Ag Broadcasting CDE, winning a gold rating.
  • Clark Dolch earned a silver in Ag Sales.
  • The Chapter Program team, consisting of Tristan Pafford, Tasha Kernen, and Samantha Smiley earned a silver.
  • Jared Gillespie is the alternate to state in the Creed Speaking contest, earning a gold.
  • The Conduct of Meetings Team, which consists of Alex Herzberg, Brandon Bruning, Amanda Fulton, Kyle Rhamy, Risa Watterson, Nick Berggren, and Matt Jergensen earned a silver. Hank Sunderman earned a silver in Job Interview.
  • The Parliamentary Procedure team earned a silver rating. The team members are Breanna Sunderman, Jordan Wyatt, Julie Gray, Emily Herzberg, and Lisa Vanderhoof. Jared Dolch and Breanna Sunderman earned a second place gold in the Reporter’s Scrapbook.
  • Nathan Sunderman earned a second place gold in the Secretary's Book contest.
  • Spencer Klocke earned a silver in the treasurer’s book contest.
  • Nicole Fisher, Joel Herzberg, and Jared Dolch earned a second place gold in the Experience the Action Contest.
  • Four contest winners are advancing to state: Scrapbook, Secretary's’ Book, Experience the Action, and Ag Broadcasting.

Congratulations to the individual speech students on receiving six - I ratings and two - II ratings.

Congratulations to the following varsity girls and boys basketball players for making the following conference teams:
First Team: Becca Baker, Matt Herzberg (unanimous selection), Michael Dolch
Second Team: Lisa Vanderhoof, Jake Gillespie
Honorable Mention: Shayney Scott & Brooke Johnston, Clark Dolch & Ryan Focht

Congratulations to all Reno Smith FFA members for an outstanding showing!

  • Britni Larabee earned a silver and alternate to districts in Public Speaking.
  • Josh Bashaw earned a gold and won the arc welding contest and advances to districts
  • Steven Fitzwater earned a silver rating and won in Oxy-Acytlene welding and advances to districts.
  • Greenhand Quiz results are: Jared Gillespie and Risa Watterson tied for first and earned a gold. Alex Herzberg earned 4th and gold. Matt Jergensen earned a silver.
  • Conduct of Meetings (Alex Herzberg, Brandon Bruning, Amanda Fulton, Kyle Rhamy, Risa Watterson, Nick Berggren, and Matt Jergensen) earned a gold, placing 4th and advancing to districts.
  • Clark Dolch earned 2nd place and a silver in Ag Sales, advancing to districts.
  • Natasha Kernen, Tristan Pafford, and Samantha Smiley earned a gold, 2nd place, advancing to districts.
  • The Parliamentary Procedure team (Julie Gray, Emily Herzberg, Breanna Sunderman, Lisa Vanderhoof, and Jordan Wyatt) earned 4th place, silver, advancing to districts.
  • Michael Dolch earned a gold, 1st place, advancing to districts in ag broadcasting.
  • Jared Gillespie earned a gold, 3rd place, advancing to districts in Creed Speaking!
  • Hank Sunderman, Jared Dolch, and Greg King! They won the Reporter's Scrapbook event in Southwest Iowa and advance to state. Thank you to all who helped build the scrapbook!
  • to Nathan Sunderman! Nathan's secretary's book placed 2nd and advance to state.
  • to Spencer Klocke for earning a silver on his Treasurer's Book. He is alternate to state.

Villisca Community School District Mission Statement

The mission of the Villisca Community School District is to provide a safe, nurturing and educational environment in which effective teachers and staff provide challenging curriculum through which each student can achieve his/her maximum potential while developing the ability to become lifelong learners and a productive member of society.

The Villisca community is supportive of the education system in a variety of ways and through a number of groups. An example is the number of community people who attend school events with no other reason but just to show support to the students. The number of local scholarships that have been established - 25 to date - are another example of Villiscans wanting to see that students reach their fullest potential. The Villisca Faith Community is supportive of Villisca students and school faculty and staff. The newly formed Villisca Alumni and Friends Association was formed with the specific purpose of supporting the school system and all its programs providing full educational opportunities for Villisca students.

Understanding the challenges of small schools in rural communities in providing a broad curriculum, the school board and the administration work to provide education opportunities beyond those classes available in Villisca, including Advanced Placement and Post Secondary Educational Opportunities (PSEO) online courses and ICN classes. The system also currently participates with Iowa Western Community College in their 5 in 4 Program where students take college courses, receiving credits for high school graduation and credit for college classes. Students are able to take courses in the building trades and nursing through a Southwestern Community College program.

The culture and arts curriculum and extra-curricular activities in the school system give students the opportunity to discover and develop talents that will enhance their adult lives. Unlike many urban schools, students are able to participate in as many of the activities as they choose - arts, music, sports, speech, drama, ....

Scroll down for photos and information on events and accomplishments in the Villisca School District in 2006-07

 

 

More accomplishments of Villisca students and student groups for the school year 2006-2007

Congratulations to the Villisca Bluejay Boys' Basketball team on their victory against the Stanton Vikings!! Way to go on being Corner Conference Champs!

Congratulations to Ms. Feilmeier and the speech students! The speech team received three I ratings and one II rating. Choral Reading, Readers Theatre, and Radio Broadcasting and all will advance to state on Feb. 3 in Des Moines.

Congratulations to Rebecca Baker, Michelle Williams, and Britni Larabee for being accepted to the 9/10 SWIBA honor band!

Congratulations to the Jaywalker Dance team for receiving a one rating at State!

Congratulations to the Villisca student body. The NHS blood drive had more students that donated than Stanton. We met and exceeded their challenge. Job well done!!

Congratulations to Austin Cooper in receiving 1st place in the District Voice of Democracy essay contest. His essay will now move on to state competition.

Congratulations to the following Villisca Bluejay FB players for 2006 District Football Honors:
2nd Team Defensive Utility: Kyle Gay; Honorable Mention: Punter: Jake Gillespie; Defensive Back: Jake Gillespie; Linebacker: Dylan Wright, Scott Lindburg, Dustin Haffner; Defensive Lineman: Wyatt Barnes, Eli Cordon; Offensive Lineman: Scott Lindburg; Academic Team: Jake Gillespie, Daniel Vanderhoof, Dakota Garey, Scott Lindburg

Congrats to the Villisca girls' softball team: 2006 District Champions!! And congratulations to Roni Riggle and Malorie Winther for 1st team all conference and Brittany Bashaw, Hilary Dunn, Shayney Scott, and Brooke Johnston for 2nd team all conference selections.

Congratulations to the high school marching band on their outstanding performance Saturday at Clarinda Band Days!! In our class they received a trophy for placing 3rd out of 24, and overall placed 11th out of 60 bands!

 
Here are some photos from the Middle/High School Winter Concert on Dec. 11, 2006

Here are some photos from the Middle/High School Winter Concert on Dec. 11, 2006

Even the teacher's had their moment - a clarinet trio - Alyssa Young, Instrumental Instructor; Mindy Docker, Student Teacher; Linda Krueger, Vocal Instructor

Reno Smith FFA members accepted the 3-star National Chapter award at the National FFA Convention. The award ranks them amongst the top 3% of FFA chapters in the nation. Congratulations to these leaders in the making and all those who are making a difference in these young people's lives.

Little Women was the drama production of the VHS Drama Department in fall 2006.

Little Women was the drama production of the VHS Drama Department in fall 2006.

from the Villisca Review Stanton Viking 10-24-06 edition "... In Villisca, the VFW American Legion Post #8998 and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary are continually initiating projects in an effort to keep the commmunity and children involved with patriotism.

Recently, members of Villisca’s High School art class embarked on a project ... Under the guidance of Villisca Art instructor Arlan Meske, Villisca students are stepping outside of their normal curriculum and painting a mural on the wall of the post hall. The backdrop for the mural will be the word patriotism withseven of the letters depiting seven major conflicts of the United States - the Colonial War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, and the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. In the center, a portrait of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. The remainig block will represent the ultimate sacrifice, a gloved hand presenting a folded flag to bare hands.

"The mural, an original design by the students, will be a project
througout the school year ... once completed their work will be a patriotic memorial to all that have served the country."

The Iowa National Guard brought their Rock Wall to Villisca for the students to climb during PE on October 23, 2006
 

2006

Villisca choral students recently were a part of the Corner Conference Choral Festival in Creston.

They girls performed a musical number and then the full Villisca group performed with other attendees. - thank you to Cindy Scott for providing the photos

photo by Tammy Johannes

2006 - Congratulations to the high school marching band on their outstanding performance Saturday at Clarinda Band Days!! In our class they received a trophy for placing 3rd out of 24, and overall placed 11th out of 60 bands!

photo by Cindy Scott