Announcements

Click HERE to read our November newsletter!

The Local 5 We Are Iowa team is excited to invite parents and guardians to have their children participate in our holiday card design contest! This is a wonderful opportunity for kids to showcase their creativity while supporting a great cause.

Children up to 13 years of age can submit their holiday card designs using the Card Design Template. The best part? The top five winning designs will be printed and sold at the Des Moines Holiday Boutique, with all proceeds going to DMARC in support of their food pantries.

Entry is free and the process is simple! For more details about the contest and to see how it supports DMARC, check out our interview [here].

To submit your child’s design or for more information, please click [here].

Remember, submissions are due by October 20th. Don’t miss this chance to get involved in a heartwarming holiday project that benefits the community.

Thank you, and if you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out. Let’s spread some holiday cheer together!

Fall classroom parties will take place during the afternoon on Friday, October 11th. In order to volunteer, you must:

1. complete all volunteer requirements as listed on the ACSD volunteer portal

2. sign up for the party & activity you will help with in Better Impact

3. have your ID scanned at the school office (prior to the party or on party day)

To sign up for the party, go to the “opportunities” tab in your Better Impact portal, find your student’s teacher(s), choose the activity you will help with, and sign up under that event. Please sign up by Wednesday, October 9th.

Party times are as follows:

K – 1:05 – 2:00

1st – 2:00 – 2:50

2nd – 1:00 – 1:45

3rd – 1:00 – 1:45

4th – 2:00 – 2:50

5th – 2:00 – 2:45

Please remember that siblings are not permitted to attend the party. If you plan to take your child home before 2:55pm, please check out in the office (this will be an unexcused absence). You will need to bring your ID with you to the party. Thank you for your involvement and commitment to Ankeny Community School District; we look forward to seeing you at the party!

https://ankenyschoolsorg.finalsite.com/fs/comms-manager/view/b11a7e99-0fcc-495f-a4db-fcde62913054

Click HERE to read the September Prairie Trail Post!

One of the great things about Ankeny Schools is the community’s support of our athletics and activities. These events bring thousands of people together to celebrate the achievement of students. Because security is of utmost importance, the district continues to review its practices and identify areas of improvement at such events. As a result, we implement security measures for our activities and events.

Security practices:

• Grades 6-12 must wear school ID while at the game
• Footballs are not allowed
• No baby powder, confetti, signs, noisemakers
• No weapons (real or look-alike)
• The North gate will remain secured at all times unless a team, band, or emergency personnel need access to the stadium
• Families will be encouraged to ensure that students in grades K-5 be accompanied by an adult
• Entrance to the stadium before an event will not be allowed
• There will be no re-entry after leaving the stadium
• Spectators will not be allowed to bring backpacks and large handbags into the stadium; Diaper bags or medical bags are allowed, but are subject to search
• No outside food or drink
• No access without a ticket or pass, including after halftime

These recommendations are the result of numerous conversations with security experts and a review of our current practices. Security can often be at odds with convenience. Our goal is to provide a safe environment for our students and spectators. We look forward to cheering on the Hawks and Jaguars with you this Fall.

May

5/17: Ice Cream Social @ PT Playground, 3-5pm

5/24: Last Day of School! (2-hour early dismissal)

5/24: 5th Grade Awards Ceremony, 8:15am

Ankeny Schools is excited to announce the opening of a transitional kindergarten (TK) program for the 2024-2025 school year. This new level is designed to provide students with the time needed to develop essential social and academic skills, acting as a bridge between preschool and kindergarten.

Registration for Transitional Kindergarten will be integrated into the general registration process, commencing on February 2, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. Similar to preschool, available space is limited, and acceptance is determined by the time and date of the submitted complete registration. Class sizes will be capped at 20 students per class, and the total number of classrooms will be finalized by the district later in the spring.

For more information please visit the Transitional Kindergarten website page within the Register section. Applicants can expect to receive an email confirmation of classroom placement or waitlist status by the end of March.

We are excited to introduce a convenient new way to report student absences to your school! The Absence Request tool in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal allows you to report your student’s absence online with just a few clicks. This can be done using your desktop computer or the Parent Portal app on your mobile device.

Entering an absence request is quick and easy. Follow these simple steps:

1. Log in to your Infinite Campus Parent Portal account.
2. Select your child’s profile.
3. Navigate to the Absence Request section.
4. Fill in the required information, including the date and reason for the absence.
5. Submit your request.

Visit this Absence Request Guide for detailed information on how to report absences.

Per the student handbook, students who know they will be absent for a reason other than a school-sponsored trip or school-sponsored activity must have a parent notify the school’s office in advance of the absence. This notification can be provided using the Absence Request tool outlined above, or by phone call, e-mail, or written note.