Central DeWitt School District -

🎓 Seniors, don’t miss this opportunity! No matter what your plans are after graduation, The Education Foundation of Central DeWitt has scholarships available to help you start your future off right! And, with their OneApp, you can apply for 29 different scholarships by submitting just one application! Your future is waiting—don’t leave this money on the table! 📅 Application Deadline: March 16, 2025 🔗 Apply now: https://www.cd-cef.org/online-scholarship-application/ SCHOLARSHIPS • Ann (McClimon) Moyna Scholarship • Beth A. Weiskircher Memorial Scholarship • Bill and Ruth Hanesworth Scholarships (2) • Camila Christine “CeCe” Barnes Memorial Scholarship • NEW: Carolyn M. Eggleston Memorial Scholarship for Vocal Music (Alumni Eligible) • David A. and Sandra K. Deke Scholarship • DeWitt Police Foundation Scholarship • Don Thiltgen Scholarships (2) • Donald G. and John Henricksen Memorial Scholarship • Dr. Alan R. and Myrna J. Tubbs Scholarship • Elvis and Evelyn Wieck Fine Arts Scholarship • Florence M. Schrader Scholarship • Iowa Mutual Educational Scholarship • James D. Owen Jr. Scholarship • The Krieger Family Scholarship • Lillian Fell Scholarship • Mary and Gary Froeschle Scholarship • Neil Padgett Scholarship • Nellie LeMon Scholarships • Paul and Sally Banowetz Family Scholarship • Ray and Jan Meier Scholarship • NEW: Robert and Joan Reynolds Family Scholarships (2) • Ron and Shirley Besst Scholarship • Ryanne (Gillum) Davis Memorial Scholarship – Forever 42 Foundation • Sam Potter Memorial Scholarship • The Kilburg Family Scholarship • The Mitchell Ertz Memorial Scholarship • Tommy C. Capper Scholarship (Alumni Eligible) • NEW: Vern Fleagle Scholarship #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #seniors #classof2025 #graduation #Scholarships #TheEducationFoundationofCentralDeWitt #OneApp #InvestInYourFuture

💜💛 Congratulations to our December 2024 District Student of the Month 3rd grader Derrick Hall! He is featured in today's edition of The Observer thanks to our friends at First Central State Bank. Derrick Hall has been recognized as the District Student of the Month for his outstanding demonstration of SABER qualities. Derrick is new to Central DeWitt this year and from his first day, he has exemplified leadership, kindness, and a commitment to inclusivity that has made a lasting impression on his peers and teachers alike. Derrick’s leadership extends beyond the classroom. At the beginning of the year, he made it a priority to walk his first-grade cousin home every day after school, ensuring he was always on time to pick her up. This level of responsibility and care is just one of the many ways Derrick demonstrates his dedication to others. Ms. Herington, Derrick's third-grade teacher, spoke highly of his ability to connect with students of all abilities and backgrounds. "Derrick greets me every morning with a ‘Good morning, Ms. Herington,’ and leaves every day with a ‘Bye, Ms. Herington.’ It always brings a smile to my face," she shared. Derrick’s problem-solving skills and self-advocacy are equally noteworthy. When faced with challenges, he takes the initiative to resolve conflicts respectfully and thoughtfully. Mrs. Herington recalled being impressed by Derrick’s willingness to address issues independently before seeking her help, always with a focus on building friendships and understanding. Academically, Derrick consistently participates in class, strives to do his best work, and seeks help when needed to ensure he continues to grow as a learner. His dedication to both his studies and his relationships with others has made him a valued member of the school community. “Derrick has been a great addition to our district, and I am so thankful to have him in my class,” Mrs. Herington said. Congratulations, Derrick, on being named District Student of the Month!

It’s time to nominate Central DeWitt employees for the December Employee of the Month! This district-wide program gives CDCSD parents, students and community members the opportunity to help us recognize our outstanding employees. Nominations are due Monday, Jan. 13th! Nomination form: https://forms.gle/ksRVLaYC6XBXkAbw7 #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #employeeofthemonth #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #nominateanemployee

This Friday, January 10th, enjoy dinner at The Education Foundation of Central DeWitt's Sloppy Joe Supper in the CDHS Atrium, followed by a chance to satisfy your sweet tooth at the Central Saber Athletic Boosters Club cake auction. The auction will take place in between the varsity girls’ and boys’ basketball games. Proceeds from the supper fund grants for Central DeWitt teachers, while the cake auction supports our athletic programs. Thank you for supporting our teachers and programs by joining these delicious events! REMINDER: It’s not too late to make a cake to donate! Reach out to jfkray@gmail.com or text (651) 472-1359. Completed cakes must be dropped off between 5-7 p.m. at the CDHS/CDMS Media Center on Jan. 9th for judging. #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #theeducationalfoundationofcentraldewitt #sloppyjoesupper #cakeauction #centralsaberathleticboostersclub #supportoursabers

⏰ Set your alarms Sunday night, Sabers—school is back in session on Monday. We’re excited to see everyone on our first day back from winter break! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #backtoschool #winterbreak #seeyoumonday

The Central Saber Athletic Boosters Club is still looking for volunteers, especially on Sunday, January 5th, for one of their biggest fundraisers of the year—the 2025 Saber Shootout! All proceeds benefit Central DeWitt athletic programs, and your support will make this event a slam dunk! The Saber Shootout will take place January 4th for the boys' teams and January 5th for the girls' teams. Sign up to volunteer at: https://bit.ly/4g6ECnx. Over the years, Boosters have proudly donated over $500,000 to support ALL Central DeWitt athletic programs. Thank you for supporting all Saber athletics! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #centralsaberathleticboostersclub #SaberShootout #SaberShootout2025 #SupportOurAthletes #SaberPride

A cherished tradition at Central DeWitt, our talented staff filled the media center with holiday cheer on the last day before winter break. Known as the “Elf Band,” these dedicated team members dusted off their instruments to perform festive tunes, creating a joyful atmosphere to kick off the day. Thank you to all of our staff members for your creativity, enthusiasm, and the extra effort put into making the season special for our students! Check it out: https://youtu.be/tsPhnZOLfT0 #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #elfband #centraldewittstaff #weloveourstaff #saberpride #happyholidays

Have you ever stopped to think about the science involved in the delicious cookies and candy we enjoy during the holiday season? Well, that’s what Mr. Taylor’s Physical Science students learned about before break. They wrapped up their unit on physical and chemical reactions in the most delicious way possible—exploring the science of making sponge candy! Students learned about forced saturation through applied heat, how sugar molecule crystallization is interrupted with sodium bicarbonate and caramelization being a form of thermal decomposition. Who knew science could be so sweet! Take a look: https://youtu.be/hjcY4vusx5Y #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdhsphysicalscience #physicalscience #spongecandy #makingcandy #scienceissweet #saberspride #saberssucceeding #yum

The Chamber Singers headed to Iowa City last Friday giving a heartfelt performance at the University of Iowa Health Care Stead Family Children’s Hospital as part of Project Art. The mission of Project Art is to create a healing environment through art and music, reducing the stress and anxiety often associated with healthcare settings. The Chambers Singers also performed at Coral Ridge Mall while in Iowa City. We’re proud to have our Chamber Singers share their talents and be a part of Project Art! Outstanding job, Sabers! Check out this clip of them performing: https://youtu.be/iVbUXSxpLZw #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdhschambersingers #chambersingers #ProjectArt #UniversityofIowaChildrensHospital #holidayseason #spreadingholidaycheer #sabertalent #saberpride #sabersucceeding

Last week, CDIS hosted its annual Poetry Slam, and it was nothing short of amazing! Over 50 poems were performed by our incredibly talented 4th, 5th, and 6th graders. Their words were inspiring, and showcased the creativity of our young poets. Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate their voices! And congratulations on a job well done, Sabers! More photos are available at https://www.facebook.com/CentralDeWittCSD #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdis #cdisannualpoetryslam #cdispoetryslam #sabertalent #saberpride #saberssucceeding

Looking for ways to keep your kids engaged and learning during the holiday season? Reading Teacher Mrs. Roberts has put together a special video packed with creative ideas to keep students reading over winter break! 🎥 Watch the video here https://bit.ly/4iRrYdM and discover fun, meaningful ways to make reading a part of your family’s winter traditions! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #KeepReading #WinterReading #FamilyTime #LoveForReading

We wish all of our students, families, staff and the entire community a joyful holiday season! Thank you for making Central DeWitt Community School District such a special place to learn and grow. Enjoy your well-deserved break students and staff — we’ll see you again on January 6th! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #centraldewittwinterbreak #winterbreak #happyholidays

This morning, Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Mishler brought the magic of the season to life by reading The Polar Express to these lucky first graders. What a fun and heartwarming activity on the last day of school before winter break! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #ekstrandelementary #firstgrade #ThePolarExpress #holidaymagic #holidayseason #readingisfun #saberpride

Due to winter road conditions, Central De Witt Community Schools are delayed 2 hours on Friday, December 20th. AM preschool and morning practices and activities are canceled.

Our kindergartners recently wrapped up their Amplify CKLA Native American unit where stories and visuals brought the culture of tribes like the Lenape, Wampanoag, and Lakota Sioux to life. They explored fundamental aspects such as clothing, housing, food sources, and traditional practices while learning the importance of respecting diverse cultures and understanding community values. Through engaging activities on Wednesday, they created totem poles to represent their family traditions, learned Indian dance to celebrate cultural expression, decorated teepees to explore Native American housing, and wrote about the significance of buffalo in Native American life. Inspired by The Legend of the Indian Paintbrush by Tomie dePaola, they also painted vibrant sunsets. A special thanks to our kindergarten teachers for guiding this meaningful and creative learning experience! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #ekstrandelementary #kindergarten #AmplifyCKLA #NativeAmericanUnit #NativeAmericanCulture #NativeAmericanHeritage #LearningIsFun #saberleaners #saberpride #saberssucceeding

Every school day, our Nutrition Services Department serves up delicious and nutritious lunches for our students, but today’s lunch was extra special! Earlier this year, Nutrition Services Director Dede Wagener issued a fun and creative challenge to the nutrition staffs at Ekstrand, CDIS, CDMS, CDHS, and St. Joseph Catholic School. The task? To develop a unique and exciting lunch menu that would appeal to students. CDIS and St. Joseph teamed up to create “Tachos” which uses tater tots instead of corn chips for nachos. CDMS and CDHS worked together to create a “Saber Mac Attack Burger” and Ekstrand created a “Saber Helper” dish. Each menu was served to students, and the winning menu was Tachos! Today, that meal was served district-wide, much to the delight of our students. Congratulations to the CDIS and St. Joseph nutrition staff on a job well done! This challenge was no small feat as it’s quite a process to create a standardized menu—it truly pushed the nutrition staff out of their comfort zone. But it also fostered collaboration, creativity, and teamwork creating pride in their craft, and have fun while creating a unique menu. They absolutely delivered! “We understand our students are becoming real foodies and we are in competition with other restaurants and home by what we serve,” Mrs. Wagener said. “So, we try our best to introduce new foods or menu items that kids will like and look forward to having on the menu.” Looking ahead, Mrs. Wagener would love to take this to the next level by hosting a student menu competition! Students will work with the ingredients and foods served at school to create new dishes. The best part? These ideas could end up on our menu! Students, stay tuned for more details! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #nutritionservices #centraldewittnutritionservices #kitchenchallenge2024 #lunchmenu #tachos #sabermacattackburger #sabershelper #kitchenchallengewinner #deliciousandnutritious #saberpride #saberssuceeding

🎓Our next senior spotlight of the year is Lauren Burmeister, one of our seniors who has a bright future ahead! The Senior Spotlight is created by CDHS AmeriCorps Student Leaders Lauren Walker, Parker Petsche, and Natalie Cagle. In this role, these students serve as a resource for their peers in planning and preparing for post-secondary options. They help with scholarships, college applications, FAFSA, work-based learning opportunities, and more. #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #seniorspotlight #americorpsstudentleaders #careerandcollegeready #postsecondaryoptions #saberssucceeding

💜💛 At Central DeWitt Middle School, it’s not just the students and staff who are making waves — it’s also the leadership. CDMS Principal Pam Hayes has been recognized as the November Central DeWitt Employee of the Month, a well-deserved honor backed by heartfelt nominations from staff, parents, and students. Since joining the Saber family this summer, Mrs. Hayes has brought a level of energy and positivity that has transformed the middle school experience. Her infectious enthusiasm and genuine care for everyone around her have earned admiration from colleagues, parents, and students alike. “Mrs. Hayes is exactly the principal we needed,” said one student. “She has energy and happiness enough for all of us, and we know middle school can be a difficult time to be happy. She also has made us proud of our school. She never stops being positive.” Her staff highlighted Mrs. Hayes’s exceptional leadership and ability to connect with others. “She has shown so much kindness and compassion to students, parents, and all employees,” Dede Wagener, Nutrition Services Director, said. “She has a unique gift of putting a twist on difficult situations and turning them into positive ones. Her communication is amazing, and she has been a breath of fresh air to our district.” Parents have also taken notice of her thoughtful and inclusive approach. “Mrs. Hayes consistently goes above and beyond to help kids through situations,” shared one parent. “She makes sure to consider every available angle before making decisions, follows up, and truly listens. I feel more heard this year than I have in previous years.” Mrs. Hayes’s commitment to fostering relationships is evident throughout our school community. Again and again, she is praised for how she goes out of her way to make sure staff feel supported and works tirelessly to build relationships with every middle school student. The Saber family is fortunate to have such a dynamic and compassionate leader at the helm. Congratulations to Mrs. Hayes for this well-earned recognition and for making a lasting impact on our school community! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdcsdemployeeofthemonth #employeeofthemonth #november2024employeeofthemonth #saberssucceeding #sabersuperstar

The Central DeWitt Board-Superintendent Team has been honored with the Team Achievement Award from the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB)! 🏆 Only 46 board teams across the state earned this prestigious recognition. To qualify, a majority of the board earned Individual Achievement Awards, showcasing their dedication to improving their knowledge and skills. Congratulations to: 🌟 Mike Zimmer, President 🌟 Angela Rheingans, Vice President 🌟 Dan Smicker, Board Member 🌟 Roger Hill, Board Member These board members completed a minimum of 15 hours of IASB-led learning events in one year, joining an elite group of 307 board members statewide. Additionally, Superintendent Dr. Stephanie Mishler earned the Award of Honor, recognizing her commitment to learning and leadership. Dr. Mishler is one of only 45 superintendents and one AEA chief in the state to receive this distinction. Thank you to our board and superintendent for your dedication to academic excellence, outstanding opportunities and exceptional experiences for our students! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #centraldewittschoolboard #IowaAssociationofSchoolBoards #IASB #IASBAwards #Leadership #saberpride #saberssucceeding

Congratulations to the Saber girls wrestling team for an incredible performance at the Zimmerman Invite in Maquoketa last Friday, bringing home the TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP! A special round of applause to Macy Poll and Blaire Kueter for finishing as individual tournament champions—what an amazing accomplishment! We are so proud of your hard work, dedication, and teamwork. Way to represent the Sabers! Go Sabers! #gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #sabergirlswrestling #cdhswrestling #champs #zimmermaninvitational #saberpride #saberssucceeing