
At last night’s school board meeting, it was decided the last day of the 2023-2024 school year will be Wednesday, June 5th to make up for the snow days we experienced this winter. Since that falls on a Wednesday, it will be an early dismissal at 1:30 p.m. The last day for staff members will be Friday, June 7th.
Thank you for understanding and we appreciate your flexibility! If you have any questions, please reach out to Superintendent Dr. Dan Peterson at dan.peterson@cd-csd.org or (563) 659-4705.
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #lastdayofschool #lastdayofschool2024


Congratulations to Juniors Jayden Flammang and Ben Boyd on a job well done at the welding competition held last Friday at Clinton High School! Jayden earned 1st place for his welding and Ben earned 2nd place for his welding. Way to go, Sabers!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdhswelding #weldingcompetition #saberpride #saberssucceeding


Last Friday, Ms. Pickup’s 4th grade class took special guests on a “trip” all over the United States when they presented their national park research projects. While studying geology recently, one of Ms. Pickup’s students came up with the idea to research national parks. The class then chose how they wanted to present the information and decided to invite staff, administrators and other students to see their work. Ms. Pickup’s students not only learned about the different national parks we have, but also about the variety of animals and plants that inhabit the areas, landforms present, as well as other interesting facts. Great work, Sabers!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdis #4thgrade #nationalparks #nationalparkpresentation #saberpride #saberssucceeding #learningisfun











ATTENTION SENIORS! Sycamore Media is now accepting applications for a paid part-time summer intern. Do you have an interest in journalism and/or photography? This would be a great opportunity to learn hands-on! See flyer for details.
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdhsseniors #seniors #classof2024 #summerinternship #handsonlearning #sycamoremedia #careerandcollegeready


🎓 Meet Adrian Santos another one of our seniors who has a bright future ahead of him! Way to go, Adrian!
The Senior Spotlight is created by CDHS AmeriCorps Student Leaders Aubrey Vance and Tori Rheingans. In this role, Aubrey and Tori 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


Good luck to sophomores Molly Burken and Jack Butler who are performing at the IHSSA All State Individual Speech Festival at the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls today! Molly will be presenting her Review, and Jack will be performing Prose. Last Friday, CDHS held a send-off for the speech team members to wish them well! We’re proud to have you represent Central DeWitt, Molly and Jack!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #saberspeech #individualallstatespeechfestival #allstate #saberssucceeding #saberpride



EICC’s concurrent summer classes are a great opportunity for high school students to take college credit courses for free! All courses are first come, first served so do not wait to register! Please see the flyer for more information. If you have any questions please reach out to holly.hansen@cd-csd.org.
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #eiccconcurrentsummerclasses #summerlearning #summeropportunity #freecourses



🎓 Meet Sabine Housenga one of our seniors who has great advice for younger students! Way to go, Sabine!
The Senior Spotlight is created by CDHS AmeriCorps Student Leaders Aubrey Vance and Tori Rheingans. In this role, Aubrey and Tori 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


‼️ ATTENTION: CDHS Senior Awards Day needed to be rescheduled and will now take place on Monday, May 13th at 12:45 p.m. in the CDPAC. Seniors’ last day and picnic will still be Friday, May 17th. Please spread the word! Thank you!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #classof2024 #seniorawardsday #scholarships #seniorrecognition #saberpride #saberssucceeding


We are excited to announce that Bill Petsche has been named as the next CDCSD Director of Curriculum and Instruction! Please join us in congratulating him!
Bill Petsche has contributed 18 years to the Central DeWitt CSD across various roles, most recently as Middle School Principal and Director of Secondary Special Programs. His achievements include initiating a successful internship program and a Future Business Leaders of America club. As an administrator, he has enhanced educational practices and systems within the district, focusing on curriculum development and instructional methodologies.
Petsche is anticipating a doctoral degree in educational policy and leadership studies from the University of Iowa this December. Additionally, he holds an education specialist degree in educational administration and a master’s degree in education with a focus on technology integration.
"I am deeply honored to step into the role of Director of Curriculum and Instruction for the Central DeWitt Community School District," said Petsche. "Having devoted nearly two decades to serving this community and its students, I am passionate about advancing our educational mission and building on our successes. I look forward to creating a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that nurtures and empowers every student."
Board members worked with Grundmeyer Leader Services to conduct the search. Petsche interviewed with a stakeholder interview group consisting of instructional coaches, administrators, and a school board member on March 18.
Pending school board approval, Petsche will officially begin serving as Director of Curriculum and Instruction on July 1, 2024.
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #directorofcurriculumandinstruction


We encourage you to join us Monday, March 25th at 5 p.m. for our Community Conversation event in the CDMS Media Center. Superintendent Dr. Dan Peterson, CFO Sarah Johnston, and two school board members will be available to listen to your thoughts and answer questions. Then join us for the Central DeWitt School Board Meeting that begins at 6 p.m. in the CDMS Media Center. You can also attend the school board meeting via Zoom: https://cd-csd.zoom.us/j/86752617759?pwd=SFB4amN2MDc4SDJXYXRkWlQySW9YUT09
To view the agenda for Monday night’s meeting, visit https://go.boarddocs.com/ia/central/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=D3HRN76EBA2A
Community Conversation will take place before all regularly scheduled board meetings (not work sessions). We look forward to seeing you!
#gosabers #centrldewittcsd #schoolboard #communityconversation #centraldewittcommunityconversation #centraldewittschoolboard #schoolboardmeeting


Here is a great opportunity for high school students to explore several careers at once! Arconic is hosting Skilled Trades Exploration Nights on April 30th and May 1st from 6-8 p.m. To register, scan the QR code. Registration is first come, first served so don’t wait! If you have questions, please reach out to holly.hansen@cd-csd.org.
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #arconic #skilledtradesexplorationnight #learnabouttrades #handsonactivities #careerandcollegeready #exploreoptions


ATTENTION 8th GRADE PARENTS AND STUDENTS: Freshman Orientation will be held Monday, March 25th at 6:30 p.m. in the Central DeWitt Performing Arts Center. This is a great opportunity to learn about CDHS and all we have to offer our high school students, meet teachers, and have your questions answered. A letter about the event was emailed to 8th grade parents. If you have any questions, please contact the high school at (563) 659-0715. We look forward to welcoming our new class of freshmen to CDHS!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #freshmenorientation2024 #welcomefreshmen #8thgraders #welcometocdhs


Whether you’re a supporter, athlete, Unified buddy, or believer, displaying these yard signs is a great way to show your pride in our Special Olympics program! Signs are $20 each. Order now through March 31st by emailing angieubel@hotmail.com. Please indicate if you would like a Unified Sports sign or Special Olympic Athlete sign and the name that should be displayed in the yellow banner. If you would like a title in the yellow banner such as “BELIEVER” or “SUPPORTER,” etc. instead of a name please include that information. A portion of the proceeds will go toward our Special Olympics team. Thank you for your support and showing your Saber pride!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #specialolympics #specialolympicathletes #unifiedbuddies #supportspecialolympics #showyoursaberpride #yardsigns #specialolympicyardsigns


CDHS Student Council has partnered with St. Ambrose University to host our very own Dance Marathon. All donations will go toward meals for families that are at the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital. This event will be held April 6 from 5-8 p.m. in the high school competition gym. At this event there will be games, dancing, guest speakers, and prizes! Entry to this event is free, and open to the entire community, so bring your friends and family!
Donations are welcome at any time before April 6, 7:30 p.m. We are able to take cash, check (write to St. Ambrose Dance Marathon), or online donations.
If you have any questions or need to get in contact with someone about cash or check donation turn-in, please feel free to email anthony.meyer@cd-csd.org.
If you would like to donate to this event through card or PayPal please click the following link and click "DONATE TO THIS EVENT." https://events.dancemarathon.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donorDrive.event&eventID=6163
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #dancemarathon #FTK #forthekids #steadfamilychildrenshospital #cdhsstuco #stuco #cdhsstudentcouncil


We’d like to share a great, and convenient, opportunity for anyone interested in becoming a substitute teacher! Eastern Iowa Community Colleges will be offering two-day substitute teacher authorization courses this spring and summer for only $100. By committing to just two Saturday classes at EICC you will be qualified to substitute teach in Iowa by this fall. The spring session begins March 23rd and the summer session begins June 15th.
To learn more and register, visit https://bit.ly/3TKl4f1
Here is an article that also shares more information: https://bit.ly/43oI7A6.
We hope you will become a substitute teacher at Central DeWitt or share this information with someone you know who would be interested! Please reach out to Kayla Martens at kayla.martens@cd-csd.org if you have questions or would like to substitute teach at Central DeWitt once authorized.
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #cdms #cdis #ekstrandelementary #eicc #eiccsubstituteteacherauthorizationcourse #becomeasubstituteteacher #joinoursaberfamily


Ekstrand Elementary kindergartners were blown away today when Chief Meteorologist Andy McCray Local 4 News read them “Wacky Weather,” a book where the Cat in the Hat shares strange but true weather events. He also talked about changing seasons since today is officially the first day of spring. Make sure you watch the weather on Local 4 News WHBF TV at 4, 5, and 6 p.m. to see some familiar faces! Thank you, Mr. McCray, for taking the time to visit with our students!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #ekstrandelementary #local4news #local4weather #wackyweather #learningisfun



Eight speech students, led by coaches Brianne Magill and Wendy McCartt, represented CDHS at the IHSSA Individual State Speech Contest at Xavier High school in Cedar Rapids on Saturday, March 9th. Two Central DeWitt speech team students have qualified to perform at the IHSSA All State Individual Speech Festival to be held at the University of Northern Iowa campus in Cedar Falls on Monday, March 25th. Molly Burken will be presenting her Review, and Jack Butler will be performing Prose. The festival is open to the public and showcases students from across Iowa who have been selected by State contest judges for the highest honor in the Iowa High School Speech Association. Congratulations, Sabers!
INDIVIDUAL STATE SPEECH CONTEST RESULTS
Lauren Burmeister received a Divsiion II for Storytelling
Caleb Govert received a Divison II in Individual Improvisation.
The following students received Division I ratings for their performances:
Molly Burken in two events; Original Oratory and Review
Jack Butler in two events; Prose and Review
Caleb Govert in Musical Theatre
Sabine Housenga in Musical Theatre
Hannah Moore in two events; Public Address and Poetry
Rachel Spicer in Prose
Lacey Stoker in Review
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #saberspeech #individualstatespeechcontest #allstatespeech #saberssucceeding #saberpride


Central DeWitt National Honor Society is holding a supply drive for a local low-cost spay/neuter clinic. All of the collected items will be taken to the clinic to help support the animals they serve. If you are interested in providing any items from the list included on the flyer, please drop off your donations at any school office, including St. Joes, or go to the QR code on the flyer to fill out our pick-up form. Thank you for helping National Honor Society!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #cdhs #nationalhonorsociety #nhs #nhssupplydrive


The Central DeWitt Special Olympics spring online store opens today! Order your apparel now through March 25th clicking here: www.adcraftwebstores.com/cdsos24 Thank you for supporting our Special Olympic athletes!
#gosabers #centraldewittcsd #specialolympicsonlinestore #specialollympics #centraldewittspecialolympics #supportoursabers
