The News

Local schools hire new teachers

The new school year is here, which means new students and new faculty. After the novel COVID-19 became pandemic, many schools faced a loss in staff. Despite this shortage, many schools are still …

Mid-Prairie Homecoming

Left to right, Carmen Sieren, Will Cavanagh, Olivia Caskey, Thaddeus Shetler, Dawsyn Miller, Tyler Helmuth, Cana Rediger and Gunnar Gingerich.

M-P Feed the Kids dinner “wildly successful”

Before COVID, Mid-Prairie Feed the Kids worked to confidentially put bags of food in the backpacks of food-insecure students during lunch, when all the students were out of the room so no one would …

Hruby ready to tackle the challenges of middle school

Rob Hruby is entering his first year as principal at Mid-Prairie Middle School during an unsteady time, with the pandemic still affecting school and students just craving a return to normal. But …

Highland

Highland board adds heat policy, discusses open-enrollment waivers

In a less-than-10-minute meeting on Monday, Aug. 30, the Highland School Board added a heat policy to their coaches handbook, OKed the purchase of a new school van and discussed waiving the 90-day …

Highland Elementary builds naturescape playground

Several months ago, Highland Elementary Principal Jane O’Leary told members of the Elementary Support Organization that the school’s playground was lacking a place for kids who just …

HIGHLAND COMMUNITY SCHOOLS

Masks recommended on Highland school buses, encouraged in school

RIVERSIDE When school begins August 23 for Highland Community students, masks may be as common as books, pencils and homework assignments. Schools Superintendent Ken Crawford said at the school …

Stransky named to IGCA All-State third team

The Highland softball team had a pair of athletes recognized by the Iowa Girls Coaches Association after finishing a 22-7 season in the regional final. Sophomore Abbi Stransky landed on the …

Lone Tree

Lone Tree school to host American Rescue Plan public session Oct. 12

Lone Tree Community School has been chosen by the Johnson County Board of Supervisors to be host of an upcoming American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) public session. The county, which has been awarded …

Lone Tree leads Grant Wood Area Education Agency in reading proficiency

As the school year begins, the Lone Tree Elementary staff is preparing for another great year. However, once again, this staff is not going to let COVID get in their way of great teaching and student …

Lone Tree FFA chapter teaches younger students about farm safety

On May 11, 2021, the Lone Tree FFA hosted a Farm Safety Day. This year Farm Safety Day took place behind the school, near the football practice field. The fifth-grade students got to take their …

Hills Bank donates over $8,000 to area schools

Hills Bank, as part of the Classroom Cash program, recently donated $1,483.65 to the Highland Community School District, $728.91 to Hillcrest Academy, $662.85 to the Lone Tree Community School …

Hillcrest Academy