Weekly Update 5/25/2012

The end of the year always brings a sense of accomplishment and a little sadness.  It is great to shake the hands of our seniors as they walk across the stage and transition to a new phase of their lives.  The sadness comes in losing the great group of young men and women we have had the tremendous opportunity to get to know over the last four years.  The entire Assumption Family should be proud of these alums.  Once a Knight, always a Knight.

With graduation last Sunday, a board meeting on Monday and the end of school on Wednesday the week flew by.  Instead of spending time recounting the meetings and happening of the week let’s try something different, a brief year in review. But first a disclaimer:  With all of the success we have had this year, I am sure to miss something.  Forgive me for any oversights , and let me know what I missed so I can update the list. 

2011-2012 Year in Review

Teachers were issues new laptops for classroom use.

Assumption became a wireless campus.

The new gym floor was installed over the summer and refinished yesterday. 

The football team beat Bettendorf.

Volleyball won the MAC.

Girls and Boys basketball won the MAC, made it to State, and the girls won back-to-back State Championships.

Cross country took second in state.

Band received a I rating at the IHSMA festival.

The Assumption Knight Players put on three amazing shows.

Mrs. Martin was a top five teacher in the nation on the LIVE! With Kelly show.

We released a new recruiting video.

Wrestlers won dual state.

Rose Ripslinger was the QC Times Female Athlete of the Year and girls basketball was Team of the Year.    

Our teachers participated in in-service learning on differentiated instruction.

New display cabinets were installed in s-wing.

The auditorium stage floor was replaced.

Assumption created a Twitter account and Facebook page.

The computer program Turn-it-in was implemented for our teachers.

The 1:1 computer initiative was approved.

Our 401K program was updated.

Students, parents, faculty, and supporters participated in a “pink out” for Betsy Shovlain.

AHS students placed in the top three in three different events at the Iowa State Thespian Festival, one of which will be performed at the International Thespian Festival in June.

Alex Underwood won a blue ribbon in the Quad City Area high school art display at Festival of Trees.

AJ Skinner was the Top Euphonium player in the STATE of Iowa.

The sound system in the gym was upgraded by ECS.

Teachers participated in training on technology in the classroom.

Embracing Our Future campaign 2.0 began.

Wall of Fame inducted 22 athletes and 17 teams.

The Assumption seniors earned over 5 million dollars in scholarships. 

Seniors had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Craig about ways to improve Assumption.

KKD won their 15^th straight state championship.

Addition of a two year old room to the daycare began, as did an update of the domestic hot water lines.

A laptop cart was purchased for student use.

A student technology team was formed to help with the implementation of the 1:1 initiative.

Teachers were trained in the use for the Iowa Core Alignment Tool.

A consortium of Assumption, All Saint, JFK and St. Paul was created to increase our bandwidth for the upcoming school year. 

We moved the parent newsletter from paper form to online access.

Assumption students attended Iowa Advocates for Choice in Education event in Des Moines.

The ten year average for Assumption enrollment is 420 students; starting this year we had 437.

Approximately 130 Assumption students received financial aid that enables them to receive a great education.

Emma Simmons, Mundo Cadena, Patrick Kakert, Kevin McCabe, Andrew McCabe, and A.J. Skinner participated in the St. Ambrose Honor Band.

Assumption faculty visited Dewitt Community Schools to learn about their technology program.

Salsa Knight was a tremendous success with over 475 people attending.

Girls Soccer won the MAC Championship

Boys tennis won their first MAC championship in 20 years.

The Assumption website was updated.

I know I forgot something and there will certainly be additions this summer, but what a great year to be a Knight!

Weekly Update 5/18/2011

I had a tremendous opportunity this week to sub for Wendy Martin while she was out in New York for the taping of LIVE! With Kelly. While she was out having fun in the Big Apple I was enjoying myself in her classroom discussing the circulatory system and muscle action.  It was great to be back in the classroom and to have the opportunity to do a little teaching.  The kids were great (as expected) and I certainly hope for more opportunities like this in the future.  

I attended the Scott County Catholic Schools Advisory Board Meeting on Monday evening.  Much of the discussion focused on a couple of issues.  

Board Evaluation of Administrators

Orientation for Diocesan boards

Recent developments in Des Moines in regards to the STO

Administrative openings in the Diocese

Board presidents working together through the advisory board compare processes

We held the Assumption Technology meeting on Monday night in the Library.  It was a busy night with a lot going on not only at Assumption, but also at the elementary schools.  I understand that many people who wanted to attend couldn’t.  Don’t worry about that!  You can check out the Prezi presentation here.  We also taped the presentation, Check it out here:

I hope everybody got a chance to see Wendy Martin on national TV on Tuesday.  What a great feature on Mrs. Martin and Assumption High School!  If you didn’t get a chance to see it, check it out:

Congrats to everyone who worked so hard to make Senior Honors and awards a success.  From the administration’s efforts to the custodians who work to make sure the gym and auditorium are in tip-top shape for all who will cross through our doors this week, it takes countless hours to pull of such a special week for our seniors.  

I hope to see all of you this weekend at Graduation!  It looks like it should be wonderful weather. 

Weekly Update 5-11-12

Another exciting week for the Assumption Knights!  It’s not every week you have a national television crew roaming the halls.  Best of luck to Mrs. Martin on her trip to New York!  Check out some footage of the pep rally/sendoff we held for Mrs. Martin on Thursday.

Thanks again to everyone who put in countless hours preparing for this visit. It was a team effort from top to bottom.  Special thanks to Mrs. McGuire for taking the lead in putting the nostalgia cases in order.  Check out the pictures:

Our student Technology Team met this week and provided input on the laptop initiative.  Their initial impression is overwhelmingly positive.  They love the access and the speed of the machines.  They also love the fact that the technology they need is so readily accessible.  No more waiting for computers!  They gave some potential program options for us to explore adding to the computers.  Thanks again for all of their help.

Speaking of technology, we will be holding a technology meeting on Monday, May 14 at 6:30 p.m.  in the library.  The purpose of this meeting is to update our community on recent technological improvements and initiatives and to discuss future initiatives.  If you are interested learning about the Assumption technology plan, please attend. If you are unable to attend but have questions about the initiative, feel free to send me an email: craiga@mail.assumption.pvt.k12.ia.us

Finally we had a wonderful rosary and presentation by Mrs. Murphy on Thursday.  I encourage all of you to take a couple of minutes and listen to the strong words of faith she shared with our student body.  Awesome words from a great teacher. Check out the video:

Have a great weekend!

Weekly Update 5/4/2012

What an exciting week to be a Knight!  Wendy Martin will be heading to New York to the “LIVE! with Kelly” show as one of the top 5 teachers in the nation which has resulted in local and national media crews to film Assumption, Rose Ripslinger and the Lady Knights basketball team won QC Times honors, our girls track team had a great showing at the Drake Relays setting multiple school records, and ours boys tennis team will play this afternoon to bring home their first MAC championship in 30 years.  Whew!  What a week.

I had a great opportunity to listen to speeches given by senior members of  FCA to the underclassmen and their peers.  I was very impressed with their poise and willingness to share not only their triumphs, but also their struggles.  While I may have been the “guest speaker,” those young men and women that gave the most impactful speeches that night.  Thanks for your courage and commitment to Assumption.

We interviewed this week for replacements for Mrs. Carlson and Mrs. Williamson.  Both will be missed greatly next year and we wish them the best in their future endeavors.

On Thursday we held the April Knight wrap up luncheon, which is a debriefing of the event and discussion of what worked well and areas that could be improved.  There was lots of positive input on many of the facets from the night.  It certainly was great food, great decorations and a great party!  

I attended the AEA 9 superintendents meeting in Bettendorf this week.  The program was regarding technological innovations at each of our schools.  It was very educational to hear what is going on at other schools, and it certainly reinforced my belief that Assumption is heading the right direction. That being said, on May 14th at 6:30 p.m. we will be holding an optional meeting to update interested parties about where Assumption is heading technologically.  Hope to see all of you there.  

Assumption hosted the K-12 Marketing Committee on Thursday and we discussed the possibility of putting together a unified mailing that would update our alums, parents and friends on the happenings in the Scott County Catholic Schools.  We will begin work on that mailing in the near future.  

We held Grandparents Mass today, and it was beautiful!  Thanks to all of those who came to spend time with their grandkids and to all of those who planned the mass.  Nice job.