AMBOY – The last few finishing touches are steadily being completed at the Amboy Junior High/High School building project. Reporting at the Sept. 23 board of education meeting, Amboy Superintendent Joshua Nichols said the exterior painting is wrapping up and the roof over the storm shelter is now finished. 

As for the high school addition, Nichols said the new gym is almost ready for students to use and if everything goes well, that should happen on Oct. 4. 

“The good thing is that we are starting to get some forward progress on both production and delivery of some materials that have been hard to get,” he noted. “This is not everything, but some forward progress is being made.”

PRINCIPALS’ REPORTS

Amboy High School Principal Janet Crownhart congratulated Lauren Tarr, who was named Student of the Month for September.

Curriculum and School Improvement

• During the Sept. 14 School Improvement day teachers met to discuss the next chapter of the book study, “Significant 72.” They also worked on mandated trainings, getting SLOs set up and ready to go, and started to work through the Job Fair to be held in October. English Department teachers had training on StudySync in the afternoon.

• Crownhart and Katie Bulfer attended CPI refresher training in Byron on Sept. 15.

School Activities

• Crownhart said Homecoming Week began on Sept. 12 with the seniors winning the Powder Puff on Sunday afternoon. Throughout the week, there was also fresh/soph football, volleyball, cross country, and golf meets and games.

• The homecoming court was announced during a pep assembly on Sept. 13. The court included Natalie Pratt and Quinn Leffelman; Maeve Larson and Brennan Blaine; Courtney Ortgiesen and Kelton Schwamberger; and seniors, Lauren Althaus, Abigail Christoffersen, Lexi Morgan, Baylie Nickel, Kenzie Nickel, Lauren Richardson, Jairon Hochstatter, Andruw Jones, Haden McCoy, Sam Russell and Hayden Wittenauer.

• On Thursday night, Haden McCoy and Lauren Althaus were crowned king and queen.

• The Homecoming Dance on Saturday night welcomed 216 students. 

• Crownhart thanked the judges for floats, hallways and skits and announced the final results and overall places for Homecoming.

Hallway: Freshmen-4th, Sophomores-3rd, Juniors-2nd, and Seniors-1st.

Skit: Juniors-4th, Sophomores-3rd, Freshmen-2nd, and Seniors-1st.

Float: Juniors-4th, Freshmen-3rd, Seniors-2nd, and Sophomores-1st.

Overall Homecoming places were: Juniors-4th, Freshmen-3rd, Sophomores-2nd, and Seniors-1st.

• P.R.I.D.E Awards were given to those that went above and beyond the expectations of high school students. The recipients include Kain Ketchum, Emily Sachs, Wes Wilson, Jarrett Dempsey, Brennan Blaine, Aislinn Zitelman, Tyrah Vaessen, Hayleigh Stenzel, Lauren Richardson, Serenity Munk, Mason Ely, Aaliyah Pointer, Sierra Rhodes, Elizabeth Malach, Dillon Merriman, Dana Merriman and Valeria Salgado.

Building Activities

• A Bus Evacuation Drill was held on Sept. 14.

Amboy Junior High Principal Andrew Full 

Curriculum and School Improvement

• On Sept. 1, the SIP Team met with Anji Garza from the Regional Office of Education to discuss budgeting funds for the EMPOWER 1003(a) grant, meeting calendar, department meetings, grade level meetings, STAR, EasyCBM and RtI Handbook.

• On Sept. 8, each grade level met for two class periods to discuss students, data and upcoming events.

• During the Sept. 13 SIP Day, the ELA teachers participated in a Wit & Wisdom training. Other content areas were able to meet as departments and time was given to complete mandated trainings.

• On Sept. 15, Scotlyn Schabacker and Kaylee Jones attended a training on the use of Bridges, and Katie Bulfer attended a training on CPI at OCEC in Byron.

PBIS

• On Aug. 24, students went through Basic Training to learn what is expected of them regarding their actions/behaviors in certain parts of the school and on the bus.

• On Sept. 13, the first PBIS assembly was held and the following awards were handed out:

Students of the Month

5th Grade- Landon Jackson and Kinsley Pogue

6th Grade- Faith Fenwick and Amylia Bump

7th Grade- Lily Leffelman and Aaron Costner

8th Grade- Tucker McCoy and Olivia Ketchum

P.E.- Landon Roath and Rylan McNinch

Clipper P.R.I.D.E.- Kaylee Zimmerman, Mason Morris, Michael Hood, Bradley Schmidt, Anthony Sus, Macie Muro, Owen Dallam, Ellie McLaughlin, Kaitlyn Dempsey, Henry Nichols, Gavin Spinelli, Landon Donna, Charlotte Patterson, Aaron Costner, Jasmine Scott, Hope Lauzon, Aiden Spinellli, Caylee Hummel, Aubrey Wells, Jose Lopez, Liam Ketchum and Julius Arteaga.

On Sept. 17, students received their first orders by purchasing items in return for the Clipper P.R.I.D.E. good behavior tickets.

School Activities

• During the PBIS assembly, Full said the SEL groups presented their service learning projects for this year. The projects include:

5th Grade- Selling candy to raise money for animal shelters.

6th Grade- Sponsoring good day Fridays. Handing out candy and playing upbeat music on the Friday after SIP days.

7th Grade- Putting together care packages for servicemen and women.

8th Grade- AJHS Newsletter, purchasing plants for each classroom and hosting a Relay for Life in the spring.

• The AJHS 7th and 8th grade volleyball teams competed at the Montmorency Tournament. Seventh grade finished 3rd and 8th grade finished 1st.

• During the week of Sept. 13, students participated in a Spirit Week that coincided with AHS Homecoming.

• Students completed their fall benchmark testing on STAR and EasyCBM the week of Sept. 13.

Central Elementary Principal Joyce Schamberger

School Improvement/Professional Development

• K-4 English Language Arts teachers attended a Zoom training on Wit & Wisdom.

• Benchmark testing on all students K-4 was scheduled for the week of Sept. 20-27.

PBIS

• The Prize Closet for Central School students to purchase items using Camp Cash is being stocked by suggestions from students and teachers. Central School PTC supports the PBIS program.

• During the Sept. 13 assembly, students were recognized for Camper of the Month. Reading teacher Kathleen Russell spoke to students about the yearlong Book-It theme and reading goals. The assembly ended with a sing-a-long camp song led by Schamberger.

• Central also had a dress-up week in honor of AHS Homecoming.

School Activities

• Second Step presentations are taking place each week, in-person with Edie Peterson of the YWCA of the Sauk Valley. This program presents programs on Social Emotional Learning.

• Joe Jahn trained students in bus evacuation as part of the required drills. Central also held a fire drill.

• Art teacher Vanessa Goslin started a Drawing/Art Club. There are four sessions for students and all sessions are full. The emphasis of the club is on drawing, not crafts.

• Central PTC will hold a “Donuts with Dad” on Wednesday, Oct. 6 from 7:15-8:15 a.m. on the blacktop area outside. Coffee, donuts, milk/juice will be offered with a free will donation. This is open to all VIPs for students from Preschool through 4th grade. 

• Central held a fundraiser called Book Blast. Families and friends were invited to make donations for library books to be used by students and the school.

OTHER BUSINESS

• Following a public hearing, the board adopted the 2021-2022 budget, which covers the time period from July 1, 2021 through June 31, 2022. Nichols said the Amboy School District is doing well as far as managing finances, which is reflected in the budget. 

PERSONNEL

Following closed session, the board accepted the resignation of Robert Wissinger as a counselor at Amboy High School, effective Sept. 17; Christine Nowacki as cafeteria cook at Central, effective Sept. 29; and Megan Bus as credit recovery advisor for the 2021-22 school year.

They hired Michelle Wilhelm as cafeteria cook at Amboy Junior High, effective Aug. 20 and approved Danielle Benesh as credit recovery advisor for the 2021-22 school year and Joe Heavner for fall play scenery this school year.

The next regular board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 19 at Central School. All meetings are open to the public.