Liberty Newsletter: Volume 174
February 16, 2026
Iowa City Liberty High School
Email: colbert.justin@iowacityschools.org
Website: https://liberty.iowacityschools.org/
Location: 1400 South Dubuque Street, North Liberty, IA, USA
Phone: (319) 688-1350
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LibertyHighSchool2017
X: @ColbertJust, @ICLibertyHS
Instagram: liberty_bolts
DANCES
- April 18 - Prom @ The Highlander Hotel (7:30-10:30 PM)
SENIORS
- March 2 - Senior photo due to Yearbook (Send photos to jabbari.anna@iowacityschools.org)
- May 20 - Senior Awards & Scholarship Recognition Evening
- May 29- Senior’s Last Day
- May 29 - Graduation Rehearsal (Xtream Arena @ 8:30 AM-10:00 AM)
- May 31 - Liberty High Graduation (Xtream Arena @ 12:00 PM)
MIDTERMS & END OF TRIMESTERS
- March 3 - End of 2nd Trimester
- April 23 - Midterm
- June 5 - End of 3rd Tri. & Last Day of Classes (2-hr. early release)
Trimester 2 Finals Schedule (March 2 & 3)
In an effort to not overload students with all of their final exams occurring on the same day, we have scheduled final exams across two days and extended testing periods to 84 minute blocks. Please note that there is no expectation for teachers to have a traditional summative final assessment at the end of a trimester. However, if teachers are planning an assessment in the final two weeks of the trimester, the assessment needs to be scheduled on a class periods designated day.
Additionally, in order for 4th period to have a full uninterrupted 84 minute testing block, lunch is scheduled during Advisory on both days. Students will eat A, B, or C lunch based on the name of their Advisory teacher. Please see the Trimester 1 Finals Schedule and Advisory Lunch Schedule Teacher List below:
ICCSD Student Spotlight: Taylor Cavanh
The Iowa City Community School District's Community Relations Team started a student spotlight segment. The first Liberty student to be featured is senior Taylor Cavanh. Taylor has been a trailblazer with the Liberty Girls Wrestling Program and recently finished as a state medalist at the girls state wrestling tournament.
Click here to visit the Student Spotlights page on the district website to read more about Taylor and her involvement at Liberty, as well as the two other student spotlights that have been finished to date.
Dance for a Difference
On Sunday, February 15 the Liberty High School Difference Makers held their Dance for a Difference Big Event. The Big Event is their final fundraising event of the year. At this event families from across the community share their story, enjoy food and games, host a silent auction, and dance for those who cannot.
In the nine years that Liberty has been open, the Difference Makers have already raised hundreds of thousands of dollars in support of those battling childhood illnesses. This year, they raised $41,505.22 for the kids! Congratulations to all the Difference Makers for their efforts and reach out to Mrs. Secrist if you have any interest in being part of the amazing work this club does.
Girls State Wrestling
Congratulations to the Liberty High girls wrestlers on their outstanding showing at the state wrestling tournament. Eight wrestlers qualified for the state wrestling tournament and six of those wrestlers earned a medal and spot on the podium. Additionally, the team finished in 5th place overall at the state tournament!
This is an incredible accomplishment for the entire program, especially considering that the program had its first state medalist only one year earlier. An equally impressive feat is the eight state qualifiers have an average GPA of 4.05!
Kate Eggleston - 3rd place
Evelyn Eggleston - 3rd place
Peyton Van Dyke - 5th place
Eva Karam - 5th place
Callum Wu - 7th place
Taylor Cavanh - 8th place
Boys Wrestling State Qualifiers
On Saturday, February 14 the boys wrestling team participated in their state qualifying meet at Cedar Falls. The team had a strong showing and five wrestlers successful punched their ticket to the state wrestling meet in Des Moines.
- Landon Bell- 175 pounds
- Finn O'Toole- 157 pounds
- Benjamin Rosen- 120 pounds
- Konstaninos Panos- 113 pounds
- Connor McGonegle- 106 pounds
Girls Basketball Postseason Brackets
Earlier this month the Iowa Girls High School Athletic Union released the postseason brackets for girls basketball. Liberty was assigned to the Class 5A Region 8 Region. Liberty High's first game will be against Cedar Rapids Jefferson at Liberty on Saturday, Feb. 21 at 7 PM. If Liberty wins, they will play in the Regional Championship on Tuesday, Feb. 24 at 7 PM. Their opponent for that game will be Davenport West, Muscatine, or Iowa City West. If West is their opponent, the game will be hosted at West.
North Liberty Youth Council
Established in 2022, the North Liberty Youth Council invites local high school students to engage more deeply with the city, develop leadership skills, plan and host community events, support the community through service projects and advocate for other young people in North Liberty.
Members of the 2025-2026 North Liberty Youth Council, with a term that runs from September 2025 to August 2026, include:
Anaya Patil (Liberty)
Charlotte Dillon (Liberty)
Jens Strand (Liberty)
Luqmaan Khan (Liberty)
Mi’niri Jurgens (Regina)
Smriti Jaishy (Liberty)
Sophia Jin (Liberty)
Vincent Ni (Liberty)
Our Mission: To ensure all North Liberty youth have the chance to excel by expanding equality and resources throughout the community.
Our Vision: A North Liberty where all people, especially youth, have the resources needed to manage their mental health and succeed in an inclusive, sustainable community.
Click the PDF Below to see the North Liberty Youth Council's most recent newsletter
Garner Fun Fair Event Volunteers
Garner Elementary is hosting their Fun Fair Event on Friday, February 27 and are looking for volunteers to help. Garner students look forward to this event every year, but it requires many volunteers to make it possible.
Please consider signing up, and this event is also eligible for high school students to earn Silver Cord Hours. Email communityevents@garnerpto.org with any questions you may have.
Scrub Club
Are you interested in a healthcare profession and wondering how to prepare in high school or during undergrad? Not sure where to begin, what classes to take, or what experiences really matter? If so, Scrub Club may be a great resource for you.
My name is Lauren Koch, and I’m a City High graduate currently pursuing the pre-med track. I co-chair Scrub Club alongside Cate Klitgaard, a Regina graduate who is also on the pre-health path. As students who were recently in your position, we know how overwhelming it can feel to navigate healthcare careers without clear guidance — and that’s exactly why we started this club.
Scrub Club is a pre-health career exploration group designed specifically for high school students who are interested in fields like medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy, optometry, physical therapy, and more. Our goal is to provide clarity, mentorship, and real insight into what it actually takes to pursue these careers.
Our meetings are already underway, and we have an exciting session coming up on March 8th featuring a third-year medical student from the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine. He’ll be sharing his journey, what helped him succeed, and answering your questions about preparing for medical school.
Through Scrub Club, you can:
- Learn what classes to prioritize in high school and undergrad
- Understand what extracurriculars truly make an impact
- Hear directly from healthcare students and professionals
- Ask questions in a supportive, low-pressure environment
We currently have around 60 students from the Iowa City area involved, and we’re especially hoping to build more engagement at Liberty High. We would love to see Liberty students represented!
Follow us on Instagram for updates: @iowacityscrubclub
The QR code to join our GroupMe is on the flyer for meeting links and announcements.
If you’re even slightly curious about a future in healthcare, Scrub Club is a great place to start. We hope you’ll join us!
Best,
Lauren Koch
Co-Chair, Scrub Club
City High Graduate
Cate Klitgaard
Co-Chair, Scrub Club
Regina Graduate
Prom Suit Community Partnership
Massaki's Closet, a local custom menswear brand led by CEO Jeremie Massaki, is proud to give back to the community that helped shape him. A graduate of the Iowa City Community School District Class of 2016, Jeremie is passionate about using fashion to empower young men in the Iowa City area, helping them look and feel their best as they celebrate proms, weddings, and other meaningful life moments.
Over the years, Masaaki's Closet has provided custom suits for students across the district, combining fine-quality fabrics with expert craftsmanship and personalized fittings. For this year's prom season, the company is offering special student pricing to make custom tailoring more accessible for families. Each student receives a custom suit tailored to their measurements, perfect not only for prom but also for future special events, with a comfortable fit and no tailoring inconvenience.
To further support students, Massaki's Closet is hosting a Massaki's Suit Drive featuring gently used, Dry-cleaned, no-rip, no-stain suits. Donated suits will be given free to students who cannot afford formal wear for prom or other special events. As a thank-you, students who donate a suit will receive $100 off a new custom suit from Massaki's Closet.
Because every student deserves to show up looking sharp, confident, and ready to shine. for more information visit us at https://massakiscloset.com/#promotional
Instagram: @massakiscloset
Greater Iowa City Area Volunteer Network
A student from Iowa City High has recently created a platform to serve as a centralized and accessible resource that compiles a diverse range of volunteer opportunities from trusted organizations, making it easier for students to find causes that align with their interests, values, and goals. Having access to clear resources makes volunteering far less intimidating for high school students. When expectations, guidance, and support are readily available, students feel more confident stepping into new roles and unfamiliar environments. Resources help answer questions, reduce uncertainty, and empower students to focus on making a positive impact rather than worrying about what they don’t know.
In addition to connecting students with service opportunities, I aim to foster a supportive and inclusive student network through a peer connect feature that allows individuals to find and connect with others who share similar passions, backgrounds, and aspirations. I believe that volunteering is not only about service hours, but also about personal growth, collaboration, and leadership development.
Visit the link above to visit the Volunteer Network.
ICCSD Ombuds Office
Students, Families, and Employees - The Ombuds Office is here to help. Check out our Ombuds webpage to learn more!
The Ombuds Office is a general concern office and conflict resolution resource for District constituents, including students, parent/guardians, and employees regarding school and/or District-related matters.
Liberty Lightning Virtual Spirit Store
Check it out by clicking on this link: https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/iowa/northliberty/liberty-high-school or by clicking the image below.
The Liberty Fund
Support Student Programs. Leave a Legacy. Donate today!
The Liberty Fund needs your help! We want to ensure all Liberty students can participate in school activities where belonging and school pride come together through both academic and co-curricular activities.
The Liberty Fund has provided grants to students and groups to support student access to opportunities through fundraising. Here are a few program examples that grants have supported:
- New Student/Freshman Orientation
- National French Competition Exam
- Liberty Lightning Technical Theater
- Garden Club
- African American Literature Classes & Black Student Union
- Business Professionals of America Leadership Conference
Make a tax deductible donation to The Liberty Fund today! Donate at The Liberty Fund Website or email for more information at libertyhighfund@gmail.com.
Liberty High PSTO
PSTO’s February meeting is coming up!
Thursday, Feb 19 | 12:00 PM | Zoom
Everyone is welcome — drop in if you can. https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/99895552850
Build a Bloom Fundraiser was a success. Thanks for supporting the PSTO! See the pictures below.
Follow us on Instagram: @libertyhighschoolpsto
Want to stay in the loop about important updates and upcoming meetings?
Join our email list: https://forms.gle/pCqK3q2U99dk75Lu8 or email us! libertyhspsto@gmail.com
