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FFA Annual Pancake Feed 2/28
The Creston Community High School annual FFA Pancake Feed will be held on Tuesday, February 18 from 5:30-7:30 PM in the high school commons. Come hungry! Cost is $7.00 per plate and proceeds go to the FFA Chapter. #CrestonCare
Tuesday, Feb 11 2025
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CCHS Speech Team State Speech Results
Congratulations to the Creston Speech Team for receiving 4 All-State Outstanding Award nominations for performances at the State Speech Contest! Choral Reading and One-Act Play will be performing at the All-State Festival on Feb. 22 at ISU. Musical Theatre and Readers Theatre will not be performing but receive special recognition. All 10 groups that performed at State Speech Contest on Feb. 8 received Division 1 Ratings! #CrestonCares
Tuesday, Feb 11 2025
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V.I.P. Panthers
🐾 Tonight we will be recognizing our V.I.P. students. Our Very Important Panthers, the girls basketball team members were able to invite a PreK-8th grade student to be their VIP. These VIPs will be recognized at tonight's Varsity girls contest vs Clarinda, game begins at 6:00 PM and received a ticket for free admission to the game. They will be recognized at half-time, p lease listen for the announcement from the announcer. 🐾 *Please note the boys basketball team will have their VIP's in attendance on Friday. #CrestonCares
Monday, Feb 10 2025
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Miss Teen Iowa: Avery Bradley visits 4th graders
Miss Teen Iowa, Avery Bradley, spent the afternoon with our 4th grade students. While visiting the classrooms, Miss Teen Iowa presented a STEM experiment. #CrestonCares
Friday, Jan 31 2025
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Creston Cares Campaign
🌟 Creston Cares: Bringing Our Community Together! 🌟 At Creston, we believe in the power of kindness, connection, and community support. #CrestonCares
Friday, Jan 31 2025
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January Panther Pitch
It’s hard to believe that the first half of the 2024-2025 school year is already behind us. This milestone provides a great opportunity to reflect on our progress and share a state of the district update. Student Attendance Our students are reaping the benefits of improved attendance, as we’ve seen a reduction in both chronic absenteeism and truancy. This progress is a result of setting clear goals and collaborating with students, families, and the county attorney to implement proactive measures that support regular attendance. Academic Progress Our district report card shows that students are making academic strides overall. However, we recognize the need for improvement in the academic growth of all of our students and a need to focus on our special education students. To address this, we’ve developed a targeted plan outlining the work needed to ensure every student has the support to succeed. District Culture and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support Each of the six Champion Teams has made meaningful contributions to improving district culture and strengthening our Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). Their work continues to positively impact students and staff, fostering a stronger and more inclusive learning environment that leads to student growth. Early Childhood Center Update Construction on the new early childhood center is progressing, although delays due to the procurement of steel beams have pushed the anticipated opening to October or November. While we don’t anticipate this being an issue, we are exploring options for where preschool and kindergarten students will start next fall to ensure a smooth transition. As a reminder, this project stems from the high costs associated with repairing the Burton R. Jones gymnasium (due to a collapsing culvert) and renovating the Elm Street building. The early childhood center is funded through SAVE/PPEL dollars, which are specifically allocated for facility improvements, technology, and transportation. These funds are restricted and cannot be used for staff compensation . 2025-2026 Budget Planning District administration is currently working on the 2025-2026 budget, addressing challenges posed by years of declining enrollment and rising costs. Below are the key budgetary factors and their implications: Key Budgetary Factors Budget Factor Amount Enrollment Decrease (55.39 students) -$432,308.00 Estimated Operating Budget Increases $100,000.00 Estimated Settlement CEA $288,508.00 Estimated Settlement AFSCME $113,886.00 Estimated Admin & Non-Union Costs $49,173.00 Estimated Total New Costs $983,875.00 Targeted Savings from TLC Flex $600,000.00 Targeted Savings from TQPD Flex $35,185.00 Estimated Cost Savings Target $383,875.00 The decrease in enrollment of 55.39 students will reduce state revenue by approximately $432,308. Combined with rising costs, this creates a total projected budget increase of $983,875.44. The district has identified targeted cost savings of $383,875.44 to address this gap. This is an ongoing process, and adjustments may be necessary as we continue to gather and analyze data. I plan to present a recommendation to the board regarding proposed reductions in force, with the goal of finalizing the budget by April 30, 2025, in compliance with state statutes. This process requires patience, flexibility, and transparent communication. School Closures While we have not yet experienced school closures this winter, I want to remind everyone of our protocol. Families and staff who are registered with ParentSquare will receive email, text, or phone notifications. Notices will also be posted on the district website and local media outlets. Please keep in mind that remote learning will begin on the sixth day of school closure . Community Engagement We are fortunate to have many opportunities for our community to enjoy the work and talents of our students. I encourage you to visit the district website for a full schedule and to join us in supporting our students. Your involvement makes our schools a source of pride for the community. I welcome you to join me for free coffee and engaged conversation on the third Tuesday of each month at a local coffee shop. I will be at Adam’s Street Espresso on Tuesday, February 18 from 7:30-8:30 a.m. The Coffee and Conversation schedule is available on the district website. Thank you for your continued support of our students, staff, and schools! Creston Cares, Deron Stender Superintendent Web: crestonschools.org Twitter: @CCSD_Panthers Facebook: Creston-Panthers
Monday, Jan 27 2025
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Speaker Ben Tracy from Safe Social Network
Social media and the internet have a big impact on our families. The best way to help families in our school district is to give them information and make them aware of the issues. The Creston St. Malachy Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) has sponsored speaker Ben Tracy from Safe Social Network, http://www.safesocialnetwork.com . Ben has agreed to give a free talk for our community. The event has been moved to Wednesday, February 12, 2025, 6:00 PM, at the Southwestern Community College (SWCC) Performing Arts Theater. Don't miss out on this FREE important presentation to keep your kids safe online. **This event is sponsored by St. Malachy PTO**
Monday, Jan 27 2025
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Two Hour Late Start Tuesday, January 21
Good afternoon. Due to extremely cold temperatures forecasted for tomorrow morning, school will start two hours late. Stay warm and safe as you plan your morning. Sincerley, Deron Stender
Monday, Jan 20 2025
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Notification Regarding Potential Data Breach
The District has been informed by PowerSchool, our student information system provider, of a potential data breach. While they currently believe that our district’s data has not been compromised, they are continuing to investigate the situation thoroughly to determine the full impact. We want to assure you that if we receive notice indicating that our system has been affected, we will notify you promptly. Thank you for your patience and understanding. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly. Sincerely, Deron Stender
Friday, Jan 10 2025
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Hiring: RN
Creston Community Schools is seeking a RN to support our children at the Early Childhood Center and High School. The position is for eight hours per day and follows the student contact calendar. Compensation range is dependent upon BOEE licensure, licenses, and experience: $45,900 to $47,500. Please contact Mrs. Anderson canderson@crestonschools.org or Mr. Messerole bmesserole@crestonschools.org with any questions or apply online at crestonschools.org and click on the careers link.
Friday, Jan 03 2025