Liberty Newsletter: Volume 171

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

PARENT TEACHER CONFERENCES

• January 21 - 4:15-7:45 PM (Virtual)
• January 28 - 4:15-7:45 PM (In-Person) (Family Course Registration Information Event)

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

• January 23 - Midterm
• March 3 - End of 2nd Trimester
• April 23 - Midterm
• June 5 - End of 3rd Tri. & Last Day of Classes (2-hr. early release)

Welcome back from winter break! This is a reminder that our District's Canvas access link changed on December 19. Please use the updated link when accessing Canvas:

https://iowacityschoolsorg.finalsite.com/students-families/canvas

Chrome bookmarks and ClassLink tiles for students and staff were updated during the transition, but if you have saved any personal bookmarks, please update those as well.

Liberty's Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences will take place on Wednesday, January 21 from 4:15-7:45 PM. Our Winter Parent-Teacher Conferences are held on Zoom, and parents will have the ability to begin scheduling at 4:15 PM on Wednesday, January 14. The conference scheduling window will remain open until 3:15 PM on Wednesday, January 21.

Please look for an email that will be sent around 4:15 PM on Wednesday, January 14 that will include a screencast and written directions on how to access the scheduling website (PTC Wizard), and directions on how to schedule and access your virtual conferences.

Liberty's first ever Course Information Night will take place on Wednesday, January 28 from 4:30-7:30 PM. This evening is designed to provide students and their families with information about the courses we offer so students can make informed decisions with their course registration process. All teachers will be available to share information about the courses offered and the classes they teach. School counselors and Kirkwood Regional Staff will also be presenting grade specific and general information sessions throughout the evening. Please see the flyer below for additional information, and we hope to see you there!

To support our amazing Liberty staff, PSTO is coordinating meals on both conference nights in January. Winter Parent Teacher Virtual Conferences are Wednesday, January 21st and Family Course Registration is on Wednesday, January 28th.

Thank you to Andale Cantina for catering the meal on January 21st. PSTO is able to purchase part of the meal with generous donations from Liberty families given throughout the year. Please review the available slots below and click on the links to sign up. If you have not been able to give a monetary donation this school year and still would like to, feel free to send a check made to Liberty PSTO to the main office. Or, you may Venmo payment to @lhspsto26 and write "conference meal" in the memo line (NOTE: Our Venmo username has changed slightly from last school year). Since the conference schedule was adjusted this school year, January 21st and 28th may be the last meals we provide to our staff this school year.

Winter Conference Meal Assistance (1/21/26)

Course Information Evening Meal Assistance (1/28/26)

• Senior Photos for the Yearbook are due Monday, March 2. Use this link to submit. (School Code: Libertybolts). See this Doc for additional information.
• Interested in purchasing a Senior Recognition Ad? Use this link to create a personalized ad for your senior! (Liberty Code: 26852)

Thanks to the generosity of students and staff at Liberty High, representatives from National Honor Society were able to present a donation check to the North Liberty Food Pantry for $1,858.50 right before the beginning of winter break.

This money was raised through the coin drive contest sponsored by NHS. Great work Bolts!

Choirs for a Cause is an annual winter event in the Iowa City Community School District where high school show choirs perform to raise funds for a local non-profit. This is a wonderful tradition that not only supports music education and community outreach, but it also serves as a great way to bring all three high schools together. Prep and Varsity Show Choirs from City, Liberty and West will all perform.

This year's event will take place in Liberty's auditorium on Wednesday, January 7 at 7 PM. Tickets may be purchased by clicking here.

Congratulations to the Liberty High Winter Guard on their solid performance at the State Competition that took place at the Casey's Center in Des Moines at the end of the first week in December. The team earned a Division I ranking and came in 2nd place while competing in Class III.

Students interested in learning more about the color guard are encouraged to reach out to head coach Amanda Carlo.

Congratulations to the Liberty High Dance Team for their strong performance at the UDA Chicagoland Regionals. The Varsity team competed in Division II and earned a 5th place finish in Jazz and a 6th place finish in Pom. The JV earned an 8th place finish in Jazz and an 11th place finish in Pom.

The team now turns their attention to the national competition.

Registration is open for the Iowa City Mountain Bike (MTB) Club. They are a mountain bike club for ages 8-18 and belong to the Iowa Scholastic Mountain Bike League. It is free to join the team and they have partnerships with Geoff’s Bike/Ski, Scheels, Sugar Bottom Bikes, and World of Bikes that provide discounts to active members of our team. The Iowa City Bike Library also has low-cost options for used bikes and supplies.

Their primary goal is to get more kids on bikes. We want youth to have fun, build self-confidence, develop skills, and race bikes. In addition, our riders have had success competing at the state level. But riders at all levels are welcome.

Practices will start in late April. They will be once a week on Thursday evenings from 6:00-7:30pm at the Creekside Flow trails (3550 340th St SE, Coralville) or Sugar Bottom trails (2192 Mehaffey Bridge Rd NE, Solon). There are five races in our league this season: May 17, May 31, June 7, June 14, June 21, and June 28th. Plus there are more races in the community if athletes are interested.

For questions, please contact us at: ICmtbclub@gmail.com. For more info, follow us on Facebook. Registration can be found at this link: https://forms.gle/ebANh9azXYRfhLu56

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.

Take a moment to check out the Liberty High Spirit Store provided by BSN Sports. This store offers a large number of options for Liberty gear. You can search by your favorite brand and customize your own items.

Check it out by clicking on this link: https://sideline.bsnsports.com/schools/iowa/northliberty/liberty-high-school or by clicking the image below.

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.

The Liberty PSTO is excited to support Liberty High students and staff in another school year! Our monthly meetings are always open to all, and we'd love for you to join us - whether you just want to listen in, share ideas, or get involved.

Happy New Year!

Please join us for the January Liberty PSTO Meeting on Thursday, January 15:

Location: Liberty High School – Main Office Conference Room

Time: 6:00 PM
Format: In-person

On the agenda:

• Planning and ideas for 2026 fundraising efforts and events
• All are welcome—we’d love to see you there!

Want to stay in the loop about important updates and upcoming meetings?
Join our email list: https://forms.gle/pCqK3q2U99dk75Lu8

Email us! libertyhspsto@gmail.com

Do you have a Cap & Gown from an older sibling or someone else that is taking up space in your closet? We would like to begin collecting lightly used purple Liberty cap and gowns to offer to students and their families who may not currently have the resources to purchase a new one for graduation. All donated cap and gowns can be dropped off in the main office during regular school hours.

It is the policy of the Iowa City Community School District not to discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, religion, creed, age (for employment), marital status (for programs), sexual orientation, gender identity and socioeconomic status (for programs) in its educational programs and its employment practices. There is a grievance procedure for processing complaints of discrimination. If you have questions or a grievance related to this policy, please contact:

• Laura Cottrell (Executive Director of Educational Services & Student Success) for programming at cottrell.laura@iowacityschools.org
• Nick Proud (Chief Human Resources Officer) for employment at proud.nick@iowacityschools.org, 2255 N. Dubuque Road, Iowa City, Iowa 52245, (319) 688-1000; or
• If you are unsure how to proceed or would like assistance in discussing your options, you may also contact Janet Abejo-Parker at ombuds@iowacityschools.org or (319) 688-1312