Liberty Newsletter: Volume 175

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)

Representatives from Jostens will be at Liberty between 10 AM and 1 PM on Thursday, March 12. All seniors who have ordered announcements and/or caps and gowns will be able to pick those items up within that timeframe. Anyone who still need to order can stop by to order and/or pay as well.

Mrs. McGrane's Intro to Engineering and Design students have collaborated with Childserve to adapt toys that will be used by real clients. Recently, these students and their teacher visited Childserve in Coralville to visit the facility and see how the toys that they adapted as part of their class project will be used.

This real-world learning experience allowed Liberty students to apply their engineering skills, while also helping younger students right here in their own community. This opportunity provided context for academic learning as well as the development of professional skills such as troubleshooting and teamwork, and highlight the tangible impact engineering has on society.

On Thursday, February 26 the Liberty High Art Department hosted an all day second trimester art show. Students, staff, and parents were invited to stop by the art room to view the wonderful pieces of art created by Liberty students this trimester. Liberty's visual art students enjoyed the recognition and celebration of their creativity and hard work!

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:

• 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)

The Liberty Colorguard is holding clinics on March 23, 26, and 30 from 7:00pm-8:00pm in the Liberty Band Room to prepare for auditions for the 2026 season! Color Guard auditions are open to any current 8th-11th grade student attending Liberty next Fall.

For those that are unfamiliar, color guard is a mixture of dance and choreographed routines using flags. They perform with the Lightning Marching Band in their halftime shows for all of 1st Trimester (and earn elective credit for doing so). No previous experience with band or color guard is necessary, although a background in dance is helpful!

Auditions will be held on April 1st at 7:00pm. Attendance at all three clinics is not required but is highly recommended to prepare for the audition. If you have any questions, please reach out to our coach, Mrs. Carlo, at carlo.amanda@iowacityschools.org.

Congrats to our Science Olympiad team for representing Liberty well at the regional competition in Mount Vernon towards the end of February.

Medal Winners:

2nd Place - Electric Vehicle

Luqmaan Khan & Miles Poolman

2nd Place - Experimental Design

Smriti Jaishy & Abby Watters

The Science Olympiad team will compete at the State Competition at Iowa State University on April 11th!

In early February, the Liberty Speech Team had a successful day at their State Large Group competition at CCA. Out of seven groups who qualified for the contest, four received an overall Division 1 rating, including Readers Theatre, two Radio Broadcasts, and one short film! One of these groups was also nominated for the All-State festival, which showcases the best events from the state of Iowa and took place on February 21st at Iowa State University. The group, a radio broadcast titled “TNTR” (short for Time News Travel Radio), was created by sophomore Venus Kerr and freshman Kai Kellogg.

Then, at the District Individual Events contest on Saturday, February 28th, the Liberty Speech team took 14 students with 20 events. Of those 20 events, 18 received Division 1 ratings and will move on to the state contest on Saturday, March 14! The Liberty Speech Team is coached by Schuyler Fynaardt and Olivia Gonzalez. For more information or details regarding Liberty Speech, contact Schuyler via email: fynaardt.schuyler@iowacityschools.org

One of the largest and most prestigious high school state wrestling tournament takes place each winter in Des Moines. This year the boys wrestling team qualified five wrestlers to compete for a place on the podium. Congratulations to Landon Bell for his 4th-place finish and Connor McGonedgle on earning 8th-place at the State Wrestling Tournament.

Congratulations to Liberty Football Head Coach Scott Chandler for being named the Iowa Football Coaches Association Head Region 2 Coach of the Year in 5A for the 2025 season. This award is a testament to the great work coach Chandler and his staff have done and continue to do with the Liberty High Football Program.

Coach Chandler was also selected as the IFCA 5A Coach of the Year for the 2024 season as well. Congratulations to Coach Chandler and Liberty Football on this recognition!

SAMI (San Antonio Math Include) is a student-founded nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to high-quality math and STEM support for K-12 students. SAMI tutors work with students to build confidence, strengthen foundational skills, and foster a positive learning environment.

SAMI is looking for students who are interested in volunteering as a tutor and earning silver cord hours. See the flyer below for additional information.

The Old Capitol Chorus is performing at Liberty High School on Saturday, March 7, from 7-9 PM. This will be the barbershop Chorus' annual spring show, and it's free to students and children. There is a $20 admission fee for each adult as it serves as a fundraiser for the group as well. Here is a link to their show that includes payment details.

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

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.

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.

What are Liberty’s PSTO meetings like? Fun, efficient, and worth your time.

You’ll hear quick updates from our Board (President, Treasurer, and Teacher Appreciation) along with an informative principal update. In March, we’ll continue the conversation about fundraising plans and share details about Liberty’s Night Out with the Iowa Heartlanders.

Note: This month’s meeting is one week earlier due to spring break.
Thursday, March 12 | 12:00 PM | via Zoom https://uiowa.zoom.us/j/98249442101

———

SAVE THE DATE: Luck of the Landers with the Iowa Heartlanders
Wednesday, March 18 | 7:00 PM

Not traveling for spring break? Sticking around town? Looking for something fun to do mid-week? Join us for a night out supporting Liberty’s PSTO!

This special “Luck of the Landers” game is a fundraiser for PSTO and a great way to spend an evening of break with friends and family.

Purchase tickets here: https://www.gofevo.com/event/Libertypsto2

We’d love to see you there!

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

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