Cardinal Community Newsletter
Monthly Informational Newsletter - January 2025 - Vol 1.5

๐ Cardinals Soar - Episode 4 ๐ฌ โจ
๐ฅโจCardinal Soar #4 is HERE!โจ๐ฅ
Our DT Journalism students are back with another episode of the Cardinal Soarโyour inside look at the inspiring stories, outstanding achievements, and programs that make DT truly special!
๐ This weekโs spotlight: DT's growing wrestling team ๐คผ , led by our schoolโs first State Champion wrestlers, seniors Tycen Breckner and Dakota Gibson! ๐ ๐ฅ
๐ฏDiscover their journey of resilience, hard work, and community spiritโa true testament to what it means to be a Cardinal! ๐ฆ ๐ช
๐Donโt miss the full story:
๐https://www.dtcardinals.org/article/1929970
๐ฌhttps://youtu.be/idyImBd4CxQ
Letโs celebrate what makes DT soar! ๐
Building Updates
- Elementary
- Preschool Happenings
- Special Education Update
- Secondary News
- Activities Celebrations
Elementary School
January Update
Back to Routine
January marks an important transition as we focus on re-establishing classroom expectations, routines, and procedures. We're fortunate to have a lengthy stretch of uninterrupted instructional days ahead. Currently, we're conducting our winter testing schedule, and we'll be analyzing and sharing the results with you once completed.
Spring Opportunities for our Students
Our teachers have been diligently planning exciting spring activities for our students. Here's what's coming up:
January Events:
- Preschool field trip to the Children's Museum (late January)
February Events:
- 1st Grade field trip to the Edgerton Center in Aurora
- Mile High Falconry presentation with Devin Jaffe (February 5)
- Special thanks to Ms. Alecia O'Donnell from Hastings College for sponsoring this nocturnal animals presentation
Coming Later This Spring: We're excited to welcome back the NED show with their new program "NED's Resiliency Ride." NED (Never give up, Encourage others, Do your best) incorporates yo-yo performances to engage students throughout the presentation.
Following the show:
- Yo-yos will be available for purchase for a limited time
- A special morning "yo-yo zone" will be set up before school for students to practice their skills
Elementary Quiz Bowl
- Under Mrs. Kerr's leadership, our elementary quiz bowl team has been practicing extensively to prepare for the upcoming ESU 9 Quiz Bowl competition. The event will take place in Hastings on Tuesday, February 4.
We look forward to an exciting and enriching spring semester filled with learning opportunities and special events for our students!
December Students of the Month
We are proud to announce our December students of the month! These students were recognized for being safe, respectful, and responsible at DT. We are very proud of them.
Keep up the great work!
Congratulations December Teacher of the Month
Preschool Happenings
Important Dates & Deadlines
Preschool Applications - January 10th Deadline
We have reached capacity for our 3-year-old program section. All applications for 3-year-olds must be submitted by January 10th, 2025. While we will continue accepting applications for our 4-year-old sections after this date, we encourage prompt submission as spaces are filling quickly.
Hastings Museum Field Trip
Our 4-5-year-old classes are excited to announce an upcoming field trip to Hastings Museum scheduled for late January. More details regarding exact date, time, and required permissions will be communicated soon.
March Program Observation
The Nebraska Department of Education (NDE) will be conducting a program observation of our preschool classrooms in March. We look forward to showcasing our educational environment and student achievements during this evaluation.
Special Education Update: Commitment to Student Success and Academic Growth
ATSI Corrective Action Progress Report
Our department continues to make significant strides in addressing our ATSI (Additional Targeted Support and Improvement) requirements. We have an upcoming deadline of February 1st to submit updated data and progress documentation in several key areas:
Implementation Progress
We are finalizing documentation of our progress in:
- Integration of specialized instruction within general education lesson plans
- Evidence of collaborative planning between special education and general education teachers
- Implementation and results of our new alternative assessment procedures
Targeted Improvement Plan Development
Important Dates
- January 21st: Mandatory webinar for Targeted Improvement Plan guidance
- May 1st: Final submission deadline for the Targeted Improvement Plan
Plan Framework
Our Targeted Improvement Plan is being carefully developed to align with our school's overall improvement initiatives. This alignment ensures our special education goals and strategies support and enhance our broader school improvement efforts.
๐ See what the DT students have been creating.
The store includes student-made items and gently used clothing. There is something for everyone!
Secondary News
PBIS Updates: Reinforcing Positive Behaviors
Our secondary teachers have taken a proactive approach to supporting student success through our Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) program. Under the excellent leadership of Ms. Atkinson, the teaching staff has created instructional videos focusing on classroom and hallway expectations. These videos will be presented to students during next week's MAP classes, accompanied by focused discussions about targeted behaviors for the third quarter. This initiative demonstrates our ongoing commitment to creating a positive learning environment.
JAG Nebraska Program Coming to Our School
We're excited to announce the upcoming implementation of the Jobs for America's Graduates (JAG) program. This valuable initiative focuses on preparing students for future careers by teaching 37 essential workplace and community skills. This program is grant-funded for the first two years with a minimal investment following those two years.
Jessica, our JAG representative, will visit on February 14th to:
- Introduce the program to students and outline expectations
- Meet with teaching staff during professional development to explain the position and program goals
The program will establish connections with local employers and provide students with:
- Career and technical education
- Hands-on experience at various job sites
- Essential skill development
- Civic responsibility training
- Leadership opportunities
We are currently in the final stages of hiring our JAG specialist, with promising candidates being evaluated through our partnership with United Way.
Faculty Achievement Spotlight
Congratulations to Mr. Kelley, our FFA/Shop teacher, who has been selected by the Ag Educator Association to attend a prestigious seminar in Washington, D.C.! From March 17th to 19th, he will gain valuable insights into federal policy-making processes, grant writing, and data collection methodologies for improving local community efforts to support Ag Instruction. Mr. Kelley will share his experiences with the school board upon his return, bringing valuable knowledge back to our educational community.
Secondary PBIS Students of the Month
D-T Cardinal Activities Celebrations
Thank you to our volunteers!
It's no secret that our athletics and activities program thrives thanks to the dedication of our volunteers. From operating the clock and keeping score to moving the chains and countless other tasks, these individuals are the backbone of our program's success.
Mr. Mogilefsky would like to extend special recognition to several members of our community who have gone above and beyond:
- To Benjamin and Zac VanDiest, thank you for stepping up to serve as officials whenever needed. Your willingness to fill this crucial role enables our athletes to compete and grow.
- To Jaden Williams, your readiness to officiate games demonstrates the same committed spirit that makes our program strong.
- To John Schultz and Andy Schneider, your contributions to our spirit band bring energy and excitement to our events while showcasing the incredible support we have for all our students.
These individuals exemplify the volunteer spirit that makes Doniphan-Trumbull special. Their service enriches our students' experiences and strengthens our entire community.
Junior High Girls Basketball
3rd Annual Rumbull in Trumbull
Come out to the Trumbull Community Center for the annual RUMBULL IN TRUMBULL on Thursday, January 23 beginning at 5:00 PM. This year's wrestling even features the state ranked D-T Cardinals taking on Blue Hill/Red Cloud and Hershey in a Triangular. All passes are honored for the event and it starts at 5:00 PM.
School Streaming Information
The NSAA has compiled all of the streaming sources for every school in Nebraska in a link below. If you want to view activities when D-T is on the road, or if you just want to watch a relative in another part of the state, check out the link below to find out how to watch the action.
District Office Updates
- New Bus Arrival
- Annual Report
- 2025 Board of Education Updates
- Community Coffee
- Entry Procedures will be changing
New Bus Arrival
We're excited to announce the addition of a new bus to more consistently serve our routes and activities.
Are you interested in joining our team? We're currently seeking part-time drivers for both regular routes and activities. We offer:
- Paid training (all required certifications covered)
- Flexible scheduling options
- Supportive work environment
Getting started is easy! Simply stop by our office for assistance with the application process, or fill out an application online. Our staff is ready to help you begin your journey as a bus driver.
Want to learn more? Visit our office or contact us at jbraden@dtcardinals.org for details about this rewarding opportunity.
As aligned with BP 1040 and Rule 10, regulations and procedures for the legal operations of schools, here is the annual report for Doniphan-Trumbull Public School.
2025 Board of Education Updates
The Board of Education held their annual organizational meeting on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. During this meeting the following officer elections were completed:
- President - Steph Roach
- Vice-President - Amanda Groff
- Treasurer - Zachary VanDiest
- Secretary - John Schultz
Beau Toben and Douglas Rader were sworn in as new board members from the November 2024 election.
Board Members L-R: Zachary VanDiest, John Schultz, Beau Toben, Steph Roach, Amanda Groff, & Douglas Rader
Community Coffee Dates:
We love connecting with our Cardinal community and families! Our first community coffee on August 9th was a great start. Come and grab a cup of coffee or a cookie from 8:00 AM - 8:30 AM in the high school commons. It is an open house as well. If it has been awhile since you have been in the building, feel free to look around and take a tour. Here are the upcoming dates:
- March 7th
- April 18th
- May 21st
These informal gatherings are perfect for chatting with district leaders, asking questions, and sharing your thoughts. We hope to see you there!
Your engagement helps make our district stronger. Go Cardinals!
Safety & Security Reminders
Entry Procedures
๐ Calendar Reminders
Feb 14 - 1:30 PM Early Dismissal - Professional Development
Feb 19 / 20 - 1:30 PM Early Dismissal - PT Conferences (2pm-8pm)
Feb 21 - No School
Communication
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Watch the Cardinals
Tune into the Cardinals and livestream their games. If you are looking for away streaming, check into the calendar link at the top of the www.dtcardinals.org webpage. We make every effort to post livestream links within our calendar.