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In THE NEWS
this week:
May is BEEF month --
lots of news on the beef industry, great recipes, local
advertisers, and more - pick up a copy today!
Governor
Culver signs Model Core Curriculum bill in Independence
By Tari Robertson
Over
the last few years, Iowa has dropped to a grade of “D”
on the highly regarded National Assessment of Education
Progress - the nation’s report card. Furthermore, a
recent poll revealed improving education was the
number-one issue concerning Iowans. According to the
poll, Iowans expected the Legislature to deliver high
quality education in public schools, provide high school
students better access to college-level credits and
mandate Iowa’s core curriculum.
On Thursday, May 1, those
voices were heard as Iowa Governor Chet Culver signed
Senate File 2216, the Model Core Curriculum bill, into
law at the Hawkeye Community College Independence
Center. The law is a blueprint for how and what teachers
can and should teach: “Establishing models for teaching
math, science and social studies with emphasis on 21st
Century life skills, including civic literacy,
financial literacy, technological literacy, health
literacy and employability.”
Sen. Brian Schoenjahn
(D-Arlington), one of the lead sponsors of the bill,
attended the signing. He commented, “The model core
curriculum will create a pathway for teachers and local
school districts to follow to reach the standards and
benchmarks previously adopted. It will align well with
the nation’s No Child Left Behind initiative. …
Although it is a work in progress, affecting grades 9-12
initially, and K-12 by the year 2014, I feel it’s great
for Iowa education. It is a formula teachers can follow.
It’s a guide to teachers from a web-based portal. …”
Before
signing the bill, Culver thanked members of the Iowa
Legislature, teachers and school administrators for
their support. He also commended Sen. Schoenjahn and
other members of the education committee for their work
on the bill.
“As the only governor in the
nation who has taught in the classroom in the last 20
years, I am deeply committed to ensuring all Iowa
children have access to the best education possible,”
Culver said. “Recruiting and retaining the best
educators in Iowa classrooms is the key to providing
that excellence. We need to level the playing fields so
it doesn’t matter if you grow up in McGregor or Des
Moines … we‘re going to give all students a chance and a
fair opportunity. … We may not always be 100-percent
right, but our hearts are in the right place (with this
bill) and I feel we are heading in the right direction.”
Surrounded by members of
Hawkeye Community College staff, county supervisors and
students, Culver signed Senate File 2216 into law, using
a different pen for each letter of his name. Afterward,
the pens used in signing the document were handed out to
those standing nearby.
Later, Sen. Schoenjajhn
commented, “We may have had a D going in to this, but
today, according to The Des Moines Register, that
grade has just gone up to a B!”
Culver shook the hands of
attendees following the ceremony, but did not stay to
answer questions. He headed to Allen Hospital in
Waterloo where he was scheduled to participate in a
round-table discussion with healthcare professionals.
The model core curriculum
bill was the second bill signed Thursday by Gov. Culver.
The first was Senate File 2405 (the energy bill), signed
into law at 9:15 AM at the Chamber of Commerce office in
Mason City. To access the complete Model Core Curriculum
bill online, visit
www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view.
Pictured: Gov. Culver signs the core curriculum bill
into law; and Sen. Brian Schoenjahn introduces Gov.
Culver.
(Tari Robertson photos)
Have a story idea? Email
newswriter Tari Robertson!
tarirobertson@thewinthropnews.com
Local Catholic Daughters host fun
fashion show
and tea party for all ages
By Tari Robertson
“Hello
Dolly,” a glamorous fashion show fundraiser and little
girl’s tea party, was held Thursday, May 1, 7 PM in the
old Quasqueton School gym. The event was hosted by the
Catholic Daughters of America (CDA), St. John Parish,
Independence and St. Patrick’s, Winthrop. Area ladies
and girls were invited to wear their “tea-party” best
and enjoy the evening’s festivities which included a
fashion show featuring the “Calendar Girls” modeling
outfits for each month’s theme, door prizes and
refreshments. Entertainment was provided by singer
Freddie Moreno.
Organizers went all out,
decorating the beautifully painted Quasqueton gym (which
features a 360-degree, floor-to-ceiling mural created by
artist Donna Wolfe) with flowers, ribbons and bows.
Masses of silk flowers adorned the stage, serving tables
and entrances, creating a fairy-tale backdrop for the
well-attended event.
Twelve young ladies from
East Buchanan Schools were recruited as models for the
calendar-themed fashion show. Models included
Laura Halford- January, Alissa Lewis- February, Morgan
Monaghan- March, Megan Goedken- April, Anna Werner- May,
Felicia Halsted- June, Miranda Gericke- July, Kendra
Kehrli- August, Hannah Zimmer-September, Brennan
Monaghan- October, Taylor Daubenberger- November and
Gillian Mendez- December. Hairstyle and make-up were
provided Silver Scissors of Aurora and The Barb-er Shop
of Quasqueton. Fashion show emcee was Sue Sloan of
Quasqueton.
During a 10-minute
intermission, refreshments were served and a quilt, made
and donated by Bev Ciesielski, was raffled. Nellie Berns
was the door prize recipient for an “ambush makeover”
provided by Alyssa Wolfe.
During the course of the
evening, CDA spokesperson Lola Baragary, took a moment
to enlighten the gathered about the Catholic Daughters
of America organization.
According to Baragary, the
John Paul II Cluster is comprised of women from St.
Patrick Parish in Winthrop and St. John Parish,
Independence. The chapter was formed in 1920. The group
donates annually to the Buchanan County Food Pantry and
to Abused Women of Buchanan County. They are currently
seeking new members.
Pictured: Event
organizers (from left): Kathy Decker, Lola Baragary,
Wilma Priebe, Donna Wolfe, and Elizabeth Decker.
SEE MORE GREAT
COLOR PHOTOS OF THIS EVENT
IN THE NEWS THIS WEEK!
WHERE DO
YOU READ
The Winthrop News?
Four generations of the
Brown family, formerly of Quasqueton, met recently to
read THE NEWS and celebrate birthdays at the home
of Tom and Marlene Stark, Taylorsville KY.
Pictured here (l to r) are
Marlene (Brown) Stark, Taylorsville; Don Brown,
Independence; Judy (Brown) Melka, Independence; and
Dennis Brown, Cadiz KY.
The family gathered in
Shelbyville to have this photo taken. Shelbyville and
Taylorsville are near Lexington, in the heart of horse
racing country. Horse farms abound, with miles of white
fences and well-groomed lawns. The red bud trees and the
dogwood were in full bloom. The Brown family also
visited the Louisville Slugger plant in Louisville and
learned how baseball bats are made.
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