School News

Roots and Shoots

Laura Mallory (right) brought the Mid-Prairie Home School Roots & Shoots program to the Kalona Farmer’s Market Saturday, May 27.   Kids enjoyed playing in the dirt and planting seeds …

West Elementary Girls on the Run

Twenty-two girls in Mid-Prairie West Elementary’s grades 3 and 4 participated in a Girls on the Run 5K in Washington on Thursday, May 18.

Mid-Prairie's Future Problem Solvers

At daybreak, January 1, 2000, some of us were worried about a thing called Y2K.   We had been happily living our lives, getting used to email and the internet and ordering things with a click on …

Mid-Prairie loses second administrator

The Mid-Prairie community is set to lose another valued administrator as the need to be forward-thinking weighs on the district.   With the decision to eliminate assistant principal …
Highland

Highland FFA Plants Soybean Test Plot

On Wednesday, May 17, Highland FFA planted their 13.2-acre test plot and land lab. The land lab is located behind the Highland High School baseball and softball fields and on the west side of the …

Highland FFA concludes year with banquet, safety day

On April 30, 2023, the 2022-2023 Highland FFA members, families, and guests met for the conclusion of the 22-23 Highland FFA Banquet to finish off the FFA year.   To start the evening off, …

Highland partners with OPN in facility planning and assessments

RIVERSIDE The Highland Community Schools District is partnering with OPN Architects of Iowa City as it considers additions and updates to its buildings and athletic facilities. The School …

School Board approves FY24 budget, teachers contract

RIVERSIDE The Highland School Board approved a Fiscal Year 2024 budget of $11.5 million at its regularly scheduled meeting April 10. Expenditures include $6.15 million for instruction and …
Lone Tree

Alt, Bender Honored as 'Best of the Class'

Tyce Alt from Lone-Tree Community School and Grant Bender from Hillcrest Academy were honored as members of the 2023 Best of the Class. KWWL and the University of Northern Iowa recognized …

Tim Ruth reads to Lone Tree Students

Tim Ruth from McCreedy-Ruth Construction visited Lone Tree’s Pre-K and 2nd grade classes Tuesday. He read, “The House That She Built,” a book based on a true story about a team of …

Lil Racer Car Visits Lone Tree

On April 14, Mitch Swinton, Lil Racer Car Club director, and race car driver Frank Mason of Cedar Rapids presented to the fourth-grade students at Lone Tree Elementary. The presentation included how …

She’s the one

Jessica Howard knew someone would receive the award; she just didn’t believe it would be her.  “I checked the website compulsively [so I could] congratulate whoever won because I …
Hillcrest Academy

Jeff Gingerich addresses Hillcrest Class of 2023

When Jeff Gingerich sat in his cap and gown, eager to walk the stage and collect his high school diploma with the rest of Iowa Mennonite School’s class of 1986, he imagined himself studying …

Hillcrest Blood Drive

Jayce Rempel was among the blood donors at the ImpactLife Blood drive at Hillcrest Academy on Monday, March 20. Jayce is son of Randy and Kristin Rempel, Iowa City.  Working with Jayce is …

Hillcrest performs original drama March 24 and 25

Everyone knows the statistic that, on average, people have a bigger fear of public speaking than they do of death. Now, imagine if you were suddenly and unexpectedly called upon to not only speak in …

Hillcrest delights with “Around the World in 80 Days”

The Hillcrest Ravens held their performance of Around the World in 80 Days this weekend, with a special twist. The three main (originally male) characters are played by females, and the damsel in …
Photo Galleries
Lone Tree’s Freshest Graduates
Lone Tree preschoolers celebrated graduation on May 24.
Elementary students visit Voyage Home Museum
Highland 5th Graders, led by teachers Ryan Cortum and Jill Strubee, trekked from the Elementary School down to the museum on Thursday, May 11.   Although it was a warm day, energy, enthusiasm, …