Wolf Pack News

Hello! We are glad you are here reading the Wolf Pack News news! This publication will come out monthly throughout the school year to inform stakeholders of what is happening in the IKM-Manning School District. Feedback is always welcome and can be directed to Rachel Merkel, School Communications, at rmerkel@ikm-manning.k12.ia.us

Dear Students, Families, and Staff,

Welcome back to the 2024 school year! It is with great excitement and a deep sense of responsibility that I join this wonderful community as your new superintendent. As we step into this new academic year, my focus will be on something that I believe lies at the heart of every successful school: relationships.

Relationships are the foundation upon which we build trust, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. Whether it’s the bond between students and teachers, the partnership between families and schools, or the connections we forge within our wider community, these relationships will be at the center of everything we do. I am committed to fostering an environment where every student feels supported, every teacher feels valued, and every family feels heard.

As we embark on this journey together, I encourage each of you to engage with one another, to listen, and to learn from the diverse experiences and perspectives that make our community unique. Together, we can create a school culture that not only promotes academic excellence but also nurtures the social and emotional well-being of all our students.

I look forward to meeting each of you and working side by side as we strive to make this school year one of growth, success, and meaningful connections. Let’s make 2024 a year to remember!

You may have recently heard your Kindergarten-8th grade student talking about FAST testing. These assessments are given three times a year to determine proficiency in math and reading. Some tests are computerized while others are given one on one with your student's teacher. Once fall testing is over, data is analyzed by teachers, and instruction is adjusted to fit the needs of each student. We will test again in January to see how much students have grown since September testing.

As part of the long term plan for 21st century grading, the middle school will now be utilizing standard- referenced grading starting this year. Standards-referenced grading only focuses on reporting what students have learned and are able to do. If you want to learn more, we encourage you to visit the SRG website.

Safe+Sound Iowa is a free anonymous school threat reporting tool for all public and accredited non-public schools across the state provided by the Governor’s School Safety Bureau and the Iowa Department of Public Safety. Students, school staff, parents and community members can submit school safety concerns anonymously using the Safe+Sound Iowa mobile app, website or toll-free tip line. We are currently in the process of educating all of our 4th-12th graders on this tool again. You can find a link to the website directly from the homepage of our school website. Please talk to your student about how important it is that if you see or hear something that doesn't seem right, to report it to a trusted adult or to Safe + Sound Iowa. To learn more about this program, visit Safe + Sound Iowa.

The gym/classroom addition continues and progress is being made! At the last school board meeting, representatives from Carl A Nelson presented to the board about how the project is going. At that time, the project was 14% completed and on budget. The proposed plan is to have the project completed in August 2025. To see the floor plan and renderings visit http://tinyurl.com/4htt9h62.

School safety is a top priority at IKM-Manning and this summer was a busy one for updating our buildings to make them a safer place for everyone. Last spring we were awarded money from the Governor's School Safety Initative that we chose to use on updating doors/locks in the Manning building and a new intercom system in Irwin. Many doors were replaced in Manning building with less windows and special doorknobs that can be locked from both the inside and out. A decorative steel window insert was also placed over the glass near the doors as an extra layer of security. The elementary building was able to install a new intercom system so everyone in the building can hear announcements. Both of these improvements are a big step in creating a more safe environment at IKM-Manning.

On Thursday, the United Bank of Iowa visited the school to provide a generous donation towards the Industrial Technology Room renovation in the high school. This summer, Manning Municipal Utilities approached the school administrators about partnering with the school to create a cutting-edge learning environment to support the development of 21st-Century skills in the field of industrial technologies. Our hope is to continue investing in our programs and students. Through investing in our students, we are investing in our communities and their futures.

If you would like to be part of these exciting updates, you can make monetary donations to the Industrial Tech Renovation Fund. These donations can be sent to the district office at 209 10th St, Manning, IA 51455.

Clark Halbur (Industrial Tech Teacher), Nolan Shanks (MS/HS Principal), Luke Potthoff (United Bank of Iowa), Jeremy Carroll (Manning Municipal Utilities)

A big shout out to the staff at the Manning Regional Healthcare Center who held a school supply drive to support staff and students needing additional supplies for school. If anyone else would like to donate, please drop off supplies in any school office.

Pictured: Judy Jacobsen (HS teacher), Carson, Jordan, and Trenton (HS Students), Mikasia and Neeka Jacobsen (MRHC).

C3 sponsored a meal of grilled hotdogs, chips, and cookies at both buildings at the Back to School Open House. C3 volunteers enjoyed welcoming students and staff and encouraging them to have a great school year! C3 partnered with Manning Dental, Sacred Heart Community Closet and Casey's to offer the meal to families!

A huge thank you to those organizations who dropped of treats and contributed to meals given to staff before school started. We appreciate all you do!

IKM-Manning Homecoming will be held the week of September 16. Activities will be held throughout the week to celebrate the Wolves. Friday is a big day with a community pep rally starting at 1:15 in the high school gym. The parade down Main Street in Manning will start at approximately 2:15 or thirty minutes after the conclusion of the pep rally. The football game against the Riverside Bulldogs will start at 7:00 PM with the high school Homecoming dance to follow. Please watch your e-mail for important information as it becomes available.

School pictures for all students and staff will take place on Thursday, September 12. There is no order form before the pictures are taken but be watching your e-mail for information from Jostens.

The 2nd annual IKM-Manning After Prom Glow Run will be held on Saturday, September 21, starting at 7:30 PM in the Manning City Park. Registration for the event can be found HERE.

The IKM-Manning After Prom Committee is also continuing the Kid Captain program. This will run for both fall and winter sports. The first dates are September 12 (volleyball) and September 20 (football).

The IKM-Manning Fine Arts Booster Club will once again be running the football concession stand as a fundraiser to support fine arts in our school. They have a robust menu so check them out at the next home football game!

Did you know that IKM-Manning has an app? If you are looking to get notifications and announcements from the district, download the app for free from the App Store or Google Play.

Email: rmerkel@ikm-manning.k12.ia.us
Website: www.ikm-manning.k12.ia.us
Location: 209 10th Street, Manning, IA, USA
Phone: (712) 655-3771
Facebook: www.facebook.com/ikmmanningschools