Announcements

Please find our updated COVID-19 dashboard and informational data here.

Ankeny Community School District is guided by state laws which prevent schools from mandating face masks and requires school districts in Iowa to provide on-site learning. However, students, staff, and others on district property are permitted to wear masks; disposable masks are available in our buildings for those who wish to wear them.

Per guidance from the Iowa Department of Public Health, Ankeny Community School District will treat COVID-19 similar to influenza and other common child illnesses. Students who believe they have been exposed to COVID-19 in or outside of school are not required to quarantine and should monitor for symptoms.

Due to health department changes in quarantine requirements, Ankeny Community School District will not contact trace to identify individuals as “close contacts” who may have been exposed to COVID-19 in the school setting. As necessary, all Ankeny school buildings are sending notifications to families to indicate potential exposure to positive case(s) of COVID-19.

A dashboard has been created to provide parents with “at-a-glance” positive case information, based on self-reported information. It is updated once a week and date stamped. An asterisk (*) denotes at least one but fewer than four (4) cases within a given reporting category and is provided in lieu of a specific number to protect privacy.

Transmission levels as of Friday, September 3, 2021 in Polk County are High. For more information please visit the CDC website. This website includes an integrated county view by state.

For more information on our health and mitigation practices please review our Return to Learn Addendum here.

As we approach opening day of the Iowa State Fair 2021 we would like to extend a big congratulations to one of Ankeny’s own. Allison Su received first place for her painting “The Life of Hogs” and is featured in the 2021 Iowa State Fair Fine Art Gallery. Allison graduated from Ankeny Centennial High School May 29, 2021. She was a 2020-21 National Merit Finalist and was in the top of her class. She is attending John Hopkins this fall. Her artwork is featured below. Follow this link to view the youth gallery or visit the Fine Art Gallery located on the third floor of the Cultural Center!

Hello, Jaguar Families!

We are gearing up for our first day of school on August 23rd!  This includes important information for you to be ready.  Be on the lookout for an email on Friday, August 6, with additional important information.

2021-2022 Schedule Release

The student schedules for the 2021-22 school year will go live on Monday August 2nd for viewing in the Infinite Campus Portal.  If students see an error on their schedule or would like to request a schedule change they need to go to https://tinyurl.com/CHSScheduleChangeRequests and fill out the form to begin the process.  Counselors return to the high school the last part of the week of August 9th and will begin to reach out to students for opportunities to make adjustments.  Please reach out to the CHS Counseling office with any questions.

Our counselor breakdown is as follows:

Building Open on Tuesday, August 17

Our building will be open to students from 8:00 am to 4:00 pm on Tuesday, August 17, for the following purposes:

• Locate classes and practice their routes,
• Pick up their textbooks,
• Purchase a parking pass, and/or
• Purchase an activities ticket.

Textbook Pickup and Chromebook Repair

Students may stop in the media center to pick up textbooks for classes. We can look at your schedule and let you know what is needed.

Students who have not received a Chromebook will be issued one once school begins, however the media center will be available to look at any previously issued Chromebooks that might need attention on August 17th.

Parking Passes

If a student would like a parking pass, they must turn in this form in person on August 17th or during the school year. Parking passes will not be accepted before August 17th. Students must have acquired a drivers license or permit prior to purchasing a parking pass.

Activities Tickets

Students who would like to purchase an activities ticket for the upcoming school year are encouraged to do so online by using the online payment system. Online activity ticket purchasing runs until 11:59pm on August 8th at https://ia-ankeny.intouchreceipting.com.

Activities tickets will also be available to purchase in person on August 17th and throughout the school year.

For information on types of tickets and pricing, please visit https://tinyurl.com/activities-tickets.

Locker Requests

All students have the ability to request a locker for the upcoming school year but are not assigned one ahead of time.  If you would like to have a locker please go to https://tinyurl.com/CHSLockerSignup and fill out the form.  Someone from the counseling office will make contact with you regarding your request to get you the necessary information.  This may be done at any time throughout the year.  Please reach out to the CHS guidance office if you have any questions.

Adjusted Schedule on August 23 & August 24

Our staff has been working hard to support our incoming 10th grade students, as well as new-to-Centennial 11th and 12th grade students as we plan for a successful Centennial experience. Please note our adjusted start time on the first day of school, August 23rd:

• 10th graders begin at 8:25
• New-to-Centennial 11th and 12th graders begin at 9:00
• Returning 11th and 12th graders begin at 11:55.
• Additional details regarding our schedule on August 23rd, as well as August 24th, will be communicated in our next email on Friday, August 6.

Go Jaguars!

The fall sports parent meeting has been scheduled for Thursday, August 5, at 6:30 p.m. at Centennial High School in the main gym.   This meeting is for parents of students in grades 9-12 that will be participating in Girls Cross Country, Boys Cross Country, Football, Boys Golf, Girls Swimming and Diving, Volleyball, Fall Cheer and Dance.   Following the brief meeting with the Activities Staff, parents will meet with coaches for additional information.

The Ankeny Community School District (ACSD) is committed to keeping our students, staff, and community safe while we continue to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to respect current social distancing requirements and to protect the health and safety of our staff and community, the procedures communicated below may be different compared to past practices.

Ankeny Community Schools is accepting the annual textbook rental fees, purchases of CIML (Central Iowa Metro League) student activity tickets, K-8 activity passes, eight-punch pass activity tickets, parking passes, and meal account deposits for the 2021-2022 school year. Fees are accepted by:

• Credit/debit card online at TouchBase. This is the preferred method of payment.
• NEW/CHANGE – PLEASE READ CAREFULLY – Credit/debit card at a building.
  • School building: An appointment must be made by calling that building’s main office. Please know that office hours may be limited.
  • District Office building: An appointment must be made by calling 515-965-9600. Please know that office hours may be limited. Checking the website would be beneficial.
  • Credit/debit card numbers CANNOT be taken over the phone.
  • Mail check to 306 SW School Street, PO box 189, Ankeny 50021-0189 using this payment form.

For information on making online payments, please refer to the online fees and meal payments. You may view an instructional video on using TouchBase.

You can learn more about how to use TouchBase by reading this new user guide.

Important points regarding online payments:

• Meal account deposits may be made throughout the school year. Try the recurring purchases feature on TouchBase!
• NEW/CHANGE to staying online all school year: League student activity tickets (9-12 only) and the K-8 grade activity tickets may be purchased online until Sunday, August 8.
• Eight-punch activity tickets can be purchased online until Sunday, August 8. Beginning August 9, payments for the eight-punch activity tickets/passes may be purchased from your feeder system’s high school Activity Office or at a home event.
• TouchBase can be found under Online Payments, which is located in the Quick Links at the top right and bottom of the page. Please note, when accessing TouchBase, you will be leaving the Ankeny Schools website and entering a secured environment hosted by InTouch Receipting.

What is the annual Textbook Rental?

The Textbook Rental is an Iowa Department of Education state-wide term used that covers not only textbooks, but electronic textbooks and any supplementary instructional materials used that conveys information to the student or otherwise contributes to the learning process. This is referenced and authorized in Iowa Code 301.1.

If you have already paid the textbook rental fee for this year, you do not need to do so again.

Free/Reduced Priced Meals and Other Fees

To be eligible for free/reduced price meals and textbook rental fees, you must submit an application and the fee waiver form EACH SCHOOL YEAR. This can be done online late July on the nutrition services free and reduced meals webpage.

Please contact LeeAnna Vigor before completing an application, if:

• You are enrolling a kindergarten student and another student in your household was eligible for free or reduced meals the previous school year.
• You have a student who is transferring from another school in Iowa and was eligible for free or reduced meals at that school.  Eligibility does NOT automatically transfer – you need to notify LeeAnna Vigor.
• The state has placed a foster student in your care.

To be eligible for Free/Reduced Text book Rental, a free/reduced priced meal application and the fee waiver form must be completed and approved on October 4, 2021 or before. If not, unless a student is a new enrollee, full priced Textbook Rental Fees will be applicable for students in your household. PLEASE NOTE: if a fee waiver is applicable, it is only valid if completed and submitted within that eligible school year.

Contact Information:

• For questions about fee and/or fine balances, fee and/or fine payments, please email studentfees@ankenyschools.org
• For questions about meal balances and/or meal payments or School Cafe, please email leeanna.vigor@ankenyschools.org or scott.litchfield@ankenyschools.org.
• For questions about the Free and Reduced Meal Program, please email leeanna.vigor@ankenyschools.org.
• For questions about the Before and After School Program and/or about the payment structure, please email nikki.logsdon@ankenyschools.org.

The Ankeny Centennial High School National Honor Society held its induction ceremony on Thursday, May 27th, at 7:30 p.m. Since there was no ceremony last year we awarded memberships to both the 2020 and 2021 inductees at this year’s event. Brigadier General Shawn Ford, Deputy Adjutant General of the Iowa Air National Guard gave the keynote address. A grand total of 135 students were admitted to National Honor Society. The ceremony was attended by many parents, friends, and family members. 

Students apply to become members of National Honor Society, an organization chartered by the National Association of Secondary School Principals, which has been in existence since 1921. Successful applicants must have a minimum unweighted grade point average of 3.5 or above, a demonstrated record of scholarship, extracurricular involvement, community service, and character. Tim Garner is the sponsor of the Ankeny Centennial High School chapter of National Honor Society, and he can be reached at tim.garner@ankenyschools.org, or by telephone at 515-965-9610. 

Below is a list of the 2020 and 2021 memberships:

Sophomores:
Claire Aronson
Ella Becker
Katelynn Bender
Thomas Brustkern
Maddie Carleton
Dara Cleveland
Clayson Cox
Braydon Cunningham
Grace Dodder
Nicholas Eaton
Sophia Elgin
Kaylee Fornoff
Jeanna Fuller
Quinn Geiger
Autumn Graybill
Kennedy Hade
Zach Hansen
Mallory Hoogensen|
Mason Inman
Alexis Jansen
Katie Johnson
Kendall Jorgensen
Savannah Klingensmith
Kathryn Krueger
Evan Larson
Taylor Lehman
Allie Lensch
Nick Littlefield
Aaron Martin
Abby Mayo
Colin Moran
Kristen Menges
Delaney Miller
Ellerson Miller
Peyton Mitchell
Matthew Monsivais
Cleao Murray
Nathan Neppl
Hailey Paulson
Erica Peters
Caden Rasmus
Eden Rodekamp
Isabelle Sash
Tyler Schermerhorn
Ashley Simpson
Julianne Stevens
Jasmine Underwood
Brooks Wee
Lindsey Wessel
Maria West
Tessa Woerdehoff

Juniors:
Lauryn Auderer
Mandy Bendezu
Raylee Bishop
Brody Blakeslee
Aubree Bloom
Brianna Busch
Ryan Bybee
Anna Christensen
Kaden Christensen
Sydney Clark
Macy Cowman
Connor Cunningham
Blake DePhillips
Grace Dickinson
Eva DiMeo
Emma Donnelly
Hannah Doup
Bethany Ehmcke
Ben Fountain
Kyrillos Girgis
Tyler Graham
Peter Guzman
Abby Housker
Emily Huff
Mason Jensen
Nate Jones
Aly Jumper
JaKyla Kaniaru
Parker Kintigh
Taylor Kruse
Miranda Kuehl
Jade Nettrour
Mackenzie Longmire
Halle Northway
Zeynep Oghan
Emmy O’Meara
Lindsey Paulson
Lauren Playle
Bella Robben
Zach Solis
Scott Talmadge
Spencer Thiele

Seniors:
Cole Bosch
Mallory Logsdon
Allison Robinson
Mya Taylor
Anna Teeple

Students from ACSD competed in the Polk County Bar Association’s Law Day contest and garnered several awards in each category. Students in grades K through 12 were invited to compete in the visual arts, music, essay, and poetry categories.

This year’s theme was Advancing the Rule of Law Now. The Rule of Law is the bedrock of our democracy because the same laws apply to everyone, and no one is above the law. The Rule of Law is a system of laws, rules, policies, and principles that apply to everyone to ensure a fair and just society where everyone is treated equally under the law. This includes having a fair and independent judiciary and making sure human rights are guaranteed for all.

Law day has been celebrated since 1958 when President Dwight Eisenhower signed the proclamation declaring it a day to celebrate and strengthen the American heritage of liberty, justice, and equality under the law.

This year’s celebration was held virtually. Guests from the legal profession spoke to students, emphasizing the importance of the Rule of Law, and entertained questions from the students. A visual presentation was shared that showcased student work.

Anna Rowling – Prairie Trail

Vivian Zhang – Rock Creek

5th grade:
Anna Rowling (Prairie Trail) – 1st Place in Poster
Vivian Zhang (Rock Creek) – 2nd Place in Essay
Zena Jorgensen and Ingrid Weber (Ashland Ridge) – 1st Place in Visual Arts

Zena Jorgensen and Ingrid Weber – Ashland Ridge

Alanna Bredice – Prairie Ridge

Kalyani Bhat-Prairie Ridge

Emmarie Becker-Prairie Ridge

Rosie Howieson-Prairie Ridge

Maia Bredice-Prairie Ridge

Lauren Boka-Prairie Ridge

7th Grade:
Alanna Bredice (Prairie Ridge) – 1st Place in Technology
Kalyani Bhat (Prairie Ridge) – 1st Place in Music & Performing Arts
Emmarie Becker (Prairie Ridge) – 3rd Place in Poetry
Rosie Howieson (Prairie Ridge) – 2nd Place in Poetry
Maia Bredice & Lauren Boka (Prairie Ridge) – 3rd Place in Visual Arts

Finn Stukerjurgen and Avery Bacon from Southview Middle School

8th grade:
Avery Bacon (Southview) – 2nd place in Middle School Visual Arts
Josie Bishop (Northview) – 3rd place in Middle School Essay
Olivia Madison (Northview) – 1st place in Middle School Poetry
Finn Stukerjurgen (Southview) – 1st place in Middle School Essay
Meghan Wolf (Northview) – 1st place in Middle School Visual Arts; 2nd Place in Middle School Essay

9th graders from Northview at Law Day

9th grade:
Lio Aguirre (Northview) – 3rd place in High School Essay
Lio Aguirre, Caeden deBruin, Mary Faidley and Addison Pollock (Northview) – 1st place in High School Visual Arts
Kylie Kinzie (Northview) – 2nd place in High School Visual Arts

Julia Yount – ACHS

10th grade:
Julia Yount (ACHS) – 2nd place in High School Poetry

Allison Su

12th grade:
Allison Su (ACHS) – 3rd place in High School Visual Arts

What: On the Prowl

When:  May 17^th – 7:00 pm start time

Who:  Juniors and Seniors that signed up with a team.  You MUST be on a team or volunteering with Student Council to be on the field.

Where: ACHS Football Stadium (at the High School, NOT Ankeny Stadium)

Student Arrival Time and Info: Teams should arrive with all team members and staff sponsor no later than 6:50 pm as the start time is at 7:00 pm. Teams will enter by the home concession stand on the football field and then enter through the gate behind the home stands to the field west of the stadium.

Spectator information: Due to our smaller field this year and Covid, we are not allowing spectators to follow teams. There will be an area where spectators may watch, but they will NOT be allowed on the field this year. Staff members will be taking pictures throughout the night and these will be available to download for free. A link will be sent out once the pictures have been uploaded.

Masks REQUIRED: Teams will not meet the social distancing policy, per the district, so even though we are outside, teams must still wear masks. Team captains will be reminded of this at their captain’s meeting. Teams should provide their own masks.

Here is the Senior Calendar for 2021.

Please note, this calendar includes important dates for Seniors and their families.  Many items are still “TBD” (to be determined) as details are still being finalized.  This document will be updated as that information is available.

Senior-Calendar-2021

Between preparing healthy food, adhering to strict nutrition standards, navigating student food allergies, and offering service with a smile, Ankeny Community School District nutrition professionals have a lot on their plate. To celebrate their hard work and commitment, Ankeny schools will celebrate School Lunch Hero Day on May 7. This day, celebrated annually since 2013, was designated by The School Nutrition Association and Jarrett Krosoczka, author of the “Lunch Lady” graphic novel series. School Lunch Hero Day provides an opportunity for parents, students, school staff and communities to thank those who provide healthy meals to nearly 30 million of America’s students each school day. 

All across the school district, school nutrition professionals will be honored and recognized from students, school staff, parents, and the community.

The importance and nutritional value of school meals are well documented. For many children, school lunch is the most important and nutrient-rich meal of their day. The Ankeny Schools Nutrition Services mission is to promote a culture of health and wellness in the Ankeny Community School District by providing safe and nutritious foods that support the learning process. Join us in thanking our School Lunch Heroes throughout the District! Get the details about School Lunch Hero Day at www.schoollunchheroday.com. To learn more about the school nutrition program for Ankeny Schools, visit https://www.ankenyschools.org/departments/nutrition-services/.