Fall Newsletter 2026

Also please welcome Sara, Grace, Jason, Mariah, Peyton, Whitney, Carson and Valerie to our district!

We will have no school on Monday's starting in October!!!

The 2026 Maxwell School Reunion was held Friday, August 7, at the Maxwell MS/HS in

conjunction with the Old Settlers Picnic. Classmates reminisced for an hour starting at 4:30 p.m.

Then, a delicious meal, catered by Smokin’ Critters BBQ from Nevada was served by C-M

students Kiernan Heaps, Steve Reisdorf, Owen Meinerts, and Reagan and Leah Peters.

One hundred four (four) alumni and guests attended. Out-of-state classmates were from

Texas, Colorado, Arizona, Nebraska, Florida, Missouri, Illinois and Minnesota.

Two $500 scholarships were awarded to Jacob Dell and Maddox Weigelt. Jacob had 23

hours of college credit will attend DMACC for one year and then transfer to Iowa State

University and major in Construction Engineering. Maddox had 21 hours of college credit and

will attend South Dakota State University and major in Animal Science.

Jacob and Maddox were then directed to see Bob Welch, Class of 1954. Bob then

presented each boy an additional $500 to match the alumni scholarship and to use for college.

This is Bob’s 20 th year of supporting our scholarship recipients.

Maxwell anniversary classes recognized were 1951, 75 years; 1956, 70 years; 1961, 65

years; 1966, 60 years; 1971, 55 years; 1976, 50 years; 1981, 45 years. In 1984, the school

became Collins-Maxwell. Classes attending were 1984, 1998, 1999 and 2000.

Our oldest classmate attending was Darrell Banks from the Class of 1950.

On behalf of the Maxwell American Legion and Auxiliary, we also presented three quilts

of valor. The recipients were Don Cummings, Class of 1954; Clair Thompson, Class of 1958

and DeeAnna Tyler Graham, Class of 1972. Don was in the Marine Corps and was a mortorman.

Clair was in the Army and stationed in Germany for 26 months; and DeeAnna was in the Army

for over 22 years and was stationed stateside and in Europe. She is the daughter of Vel and Anna

Tyler.

The Class of 1966 and 1976 will each have a float in the parade.

After a rousing rendition of the school fight song, the evening closed with the singing of

“God Bless America.” More reminiscing followed and a great time was had by all who attended.

Next years’ reunion will be Friday, 6 August and will again be held at the MS/HS.

Watch for information via email.

Jackie Tiffany Peters, Secretary

MHS Class of 1966

Class of 1966 in parade

Kindergarten has started the school year by going on a Pigeon hunt around the building to find all the important locations in the elementary school. We have also had a different color day for the first three weeks. We are reviewing our ABC’s, numbers, and finding the importance of being a good listener and being kind.

Tuesday after Labor Day we enjoyed Jane Esterly-Rettig MSN, RN from Merry Greely Medical Center coming and providing education on the Pick a Better Snack program. She brings in a fruit or vegetable and has students experience it through their senses and has a discussion. She also has a lot of information about the fruit or vegetable.

Week of September 21st through September 25th!!!

Thursday September 24th

Information Below

The Scholastic book fair is coming soon!

Shop with us during the Elementary parent/teacher conferences November 3rd and November 5th.

The National Honor Society will be hosting Red Ribbon Week again Oct. 27-30. The theme for the week is "Make A Difference. Be A Hero. Stay Drug Free!" There will be dress up days and fun activities during the week!

The Fall Blood Drive, hosted by the National Honor Society, is scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 5 from 1:30-5:30 in the large gym. If you would like to schedule a time to donate go to this link to sign up today or contact Mrs. Coffelt at ccoffelt@cmspartans.org.

This year, students in Mrs. Gard's English classes will occasionally be trading computer screens for LEGO bricks as they explore literature in a new way. Using LEGO Serious Play-inspired activities, students will build models that represent ideas, characters, conflicts, themes, symbols, and connections they discover in their reading.

The goal isn’t to build the “right” model. Instead, students must make choices about how to represent an idea, explain the reasoning behind those choices, and connect their models to evidence from the text. By turning an abstract idea into something they can see and manipulate, students are challenged to think more deeply about what they have read and then put that thinking into words.

These activities will be used alongside traditional reading, discussion, annotation, and writing. The bricks simply provide another pathway into the same important skills: critical thinking, making connections, supporting ideas with evidence, and clearly communicating an interpretation.

9/15 MS/HS XC Meet @Colo-Nesco-Dakins Lake

9/15 HS Volleyball vs Colo-Nesco @Maxwell 5:30PM

9/16 FFA South Central CDE Day

9/21 JH Football vs Colo-Nesco @Maxwell 4:30PM

9/21 JV Football vs Colo-Nesco @Maxwell 6PM

9/22 MS/HS XC Meet @West Marshall 4:30PM

9/22 HS Volleyball @North Tama 5:30PM

9/22 JH Volleyball @Meskwaki

9/25 HS Football vs GMG @Maxwell (Homecoming Game)

9/26 V Volleyball Tournament @BGM 9:00AM

9/26 Homecoming Dance

9/28 JH Volleyball vs Baxter @Baxter 4:30PM

9/28 JH Football vs BGM @Maxwell 4:30PM

9/28 JV Football vs BGM @Maxwell 6PM

9/28 JH Volleyball @Baxter 4:30PM

10/1 HS Volleyball vs GMG @Maxwell 5:30PM

10/2 Varsity Football @Gladbrook-Reinbeck 7:00PM

10/5 JH Football vs Gladbrook Reinbeck @Gladbrook-Reinbeck 4:15PM

10/5 JV Football vs Gladbrook Reinbeck @Gladbrook-Reinbeck 6PM

10/5 JH Volleyball vs Colo-Nesco @Collins 4:30PM

10/5 XC Meet @North Polk 4:15PM

10/8 XC Meet @Jewell 4:15PM

10/8 JH/V Volleyball vs Ankeny Christian @Collins 4:30PM

10/9 V Football vs North Tama @North Tama 7PM

10/15 XC Meet @Wartburg Max 4PM

10/16 V Football vs Clarksville @Maxwell 7PM

10/17 V Volleyball Iowa Star Conference @Janesville 9AM

10/19 Volleyball Tournament @TBD

10/21 National FFA Convention @TBD

10/21 Volleyball Tournament @TBD

10/22 National FFA Convention @TBD

The 2026-2027 yearbook is now on sale! This will be the lowest price of the year. They also have a promotion if you purchase the signature package you can get up to 4 images to go with your name for free! Go to jostens.com/ybkorder or click the link below to order your book today.

Online Order Link

If you have any questions or concerns contact Mrs. Coffelt at 515-387-1115 or ccoffelt@cmspartans.org

Please email the following pictures and information to Mrs. Coffelt.

• Senior Picture
• Baby/Toddler Picture
• Quote - something that is motivational or inspirational to you (school appropriate)
• Future Plans
• Advice to Underclassmen

If you have any questions or concerns please contact Mrs. Coffelt at 515-387-1115 or by email at ccoffelt@cmspartans.org

There is a food pantry currently open for residents of both Maxwell and Collins located at the high school in Maxwell. Right now it is open for visitors on days when the school is open from 7:30AM-4:00PM. In the pantry, there are frozen meats' cheeses, soups, and fruit. There is also a large quantity of other dry goods like canned vegetables, pasta, rice and cereal, etc.

This is open from everyone. If you cannot be here during those hours, please contact us for other arrangements. Please contact Shane Arp at the high school (sarp@cmspartans.org or 515-387-1115) or Ashley Shivers at the elementary (ashivers@cmspartans.org or 641-385-2446) to set up a time to come in.

We want to make sure everyone knows about Nevada Food at First. They are a volunteer organization that will deliver free hot meals that are ready to eat on Monday and Thursday evenings at the Elementary, MS/HS, and at the Rolling Hills Mobile Home Park north of Maxwell.

All you need to do is fill out the following form by 2:00 on any Monday or Thursday: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScu8KKuJKl2fbIRnUSLQvQuOpLyHK1a_4YNzfDIDxQjPLRqdg/viewform

School Breakfast is served from 7:30-8:00 in both the Elementary & MS/HS. Breakfast is $2.25.

The CM District has several job positions open. Please use the link below to apply.

https://www.applitrack.com/collinsmaxwell/onlineapp/default.aspx

Reminder: If you have not yet paid your student(s) textbook fee, payments can be made online through your Infinite Campus account or at either the Elementary or MS/HS office.

K-12th Grade Textbook Fee: $50

Adult - $85

Family - $250 (up to 5 members)

Students - $65

Membership to the MS/HS Weight Room available to purchase as a single or family membership. If you have questions regarding the membership please contact Kim Hinton at khinton@cmspartans.org or 515-387-1115.

Costs:

Single: $200

Family: $250 (up to 2 members)

College Students for Summer: $50

Key Fob Fee: $20 per card (one time fee)

Email: secretary@cmspartans.org
Website: collins-maxwell.k12.ia.us
Location: 400 Metcalf Street, Maxwell IA 50161
Phone: 515-387-1115
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Collins-Maxwell-Middle-High-School-1668926333377062/