Central Public Schools - Education Is Central

Let’s celebrate Kellen Zumhofe! Kellen’s favorite teacher is Mr. Gove and his favorite memory is playing basketball at the Target Center. After high school he will attend UConn for analytics and information management. His timely advice is “Have fun and make memories, it goes by fast!”

Thank you to the students and families that attended a fifth grade orientation for middle school next year! They got to listen to Principal Larson explain all the procedures and answer any questions they may have about middle school next year. Did you miss it? Contact Principal Larson and he will be happy to answer any questions that you have!

Join us at Central High School on Wednesday, May 7 for our Spring Art Showcase, featuring student artwork and band performances! The Chick-Fil-A Food Truck will be on-site with dinner available for purchase until 7 p.m. Come out and celebrate the arts with us! 5-8 p.m. - Visual Art Show (drop in) 6:30 p.m. - 5th grade band/6th grade band 7:30 p.m. - 7/8 Band/HS Concert Band

Mr. Schrupp and Mr. Evenski were challenged to take the Ice Bucket Challenge. With help from their students, they accepted!

We aren't just celebrating the class of 2025 on social media, we are also excited about this incredible new Senior Wall! Counselor Kirsten Thor (with some help from her husband) created this cool feature over the weekend, and it is getting a lot of attention already. So great!

Let’s get another STEAM Room Update! The fourth graders spent some time in STEAM learning about The Iditarod - the annual dog sled race held in Alaska. After learning about the race and the mushers, groups had to design and create their own dog sled that could connect to a Sphero robot. Students had to make sure the sled was lightweight so it would not weigh the robot down too much. Then, each class had their own Iditarod race. Racetracks were taped onto the floor for groups to drive the robots and sleds through. Along the track there were various checkpoints. At each one, groups had a challenge to solve - math equations, building an igloo with cards, calculating distances, etc. Every group was able to cross the finish line, which shows their determination, problem solving, and teamwork skills paid off! Earlier in the year, fourth graders learned about electricity in science class. Then in STEAM, they extended their learning to design a night light. Using online software, students used their creativity to design a nightlight which was then printed on the STEAM room 3D printers. After they were printed, students created a circuit for their nightlight using copper tape, a battery, and an LED light. Students were excited to take them home and show their families!

Jack Strickfaden says Mr. Degler is his favorite teacher and that his favorite high school memory is when the Raiders beat Cannon Falls in football to go to state. Next year he will play football at Bethel University and seek a degree in Business. He tells underclassmen to “Be confident in yourself and live in the moment!”

Gabi and Kortland are at the State Speech Tournament today!! Use the following links or the QR code on the flyer to watch the Awards Ceremony and see how they placed!! Friday @ 5:30pm Class A Awards:https://nspn.tv/MSHSL/GameStream/27165

Gabi Schmidt and Kortland Booth received a proper Raider send-off as they head to the State Speech competition today. Best of luck, Speechies!

The Student Council's "Tat the Teacher" fundraiser was a huge success! Thanks to the enthusiastic participation of both students and teachers, we raised over $100 for the Norwood Young America Park Fund and the Benton Lake Watershed Conservancy.

Today’s Senior Spotlight is Preston Sprengeler! Preston’s favorite teacher is Mr. Halpaus and his favorite memory is “Wrestling Lucas before band.” He will be majoring in Finance at Iowa State University and tells underclassmen to “have fun!”

Summer Kids Company is currently taking registrations for the upcoming summer which begins on June 2. The program is based at Central Elementary and provide a safe and supervised environment for your child. There are a variety of adventurous fun filled field trips, onsite activities, and educational opportunities to help channel your child's positive summer growth experiences. Please contact Phil Hendrycks at phendrycks@isd108.org with any Kids Co. questions you may have. To register: https://isd108.ce.eleyo.com/child-care/1/kids-company

During the After School Connections Program, the fourth graders designed and built tree houses. The requirements included having multiple levels, a way to get into and out of the house, a simple machine to get heavy items up to the top (ramp or pulley), and a place they could stay in for multiple days. They worked so hard!

Let’s get another Central Elementary STEAM update! During reading instruction, second graders learned about the Westward Expansion. To extend their learning, groups made covered wagons using cardboard and other recycled materials. They were given length restrictions and a list of supplies to make to fit inside their wagon. After making them, the wagons were hooked up to Beebots, and students had to code the robots to "head west" on our version of the Oregon Trail. They had to make sure to stay on the path, even when there were steep hills, sharp turns, and narrow bridges. This project required a lot of creativity, problem solving, and collaboration! Another unit second graders spent time on in their classrooms was all about insects. In STEAM they used what they learned to design and create a realistic insect using recyclable materials. Students had to ensure their design included all the correct body parts, including a head, thorax, abdomen, six legs, etc. Most recently, the second graders have been learning about shapes in STEAM. They have been focusing on 2D shapes and made them with PlayDoh and toothpicks as well as Geoboards and rubber bands. Not only were they learning math, but they were also practicing their fine motor skills!

Be sure to get your "Golden" Spring Fling tickets at Old National and Citizens State Bank through Friday, April 25!

Wyatt Schutte is our Senior Spotlight today! He says that Mr. Hallquist was a favorite teacher and that his favorite memory was developing an app with Ms. Kester for job postings in the community. He is planning on going to Ridgewater for an Associate's degree in programming, then transfer to a state school to get a Bachelor's. He has great advice for underclassmen: “Turn in your work even if it's half complete, as you'll still get some credit. The amount of points I could've gained, but missed on forgotten partial assignments is crazy.”

Mental Health Day will be held on May 16 and is a day for students at Central Secondary School to decompress, enjoy time with their peers, and get a well deserved break for working hard all year! We are looking for donations of several items to make this day a success. If you are willing to donate any of the following items, it would be greatly appreciated! Items can be dropped off at either the elementary school or the secondary school (attention school counselors). -Plastic pencil boxes that stay closed (we need a couple hundred total) -Food storage boxes to use for zen gardens -Zen garden figurines -Smooth decorative small rocks -Kinetic Sand -Fine sand (decorative sand) -Bracelet Making Kits -Fleece for blankets Or you can easily shop from the Mental Health Day Wish List on Amazon: https://a.co/gRSqrFc

We have gotten a few new submissions for the Senior Spotlight! Let’s highlight Braden Ketcher who says that Mrs. Schurmann was his favorite teacher and FFA Week was his favorite memory of high school. He will be attending NDSCS for Robotics, Automation and Mechatronics Technology. He tells underclassmen, “Do your work and get good grades because later in life when you start applying for colleges you will realize how much good comes from getting decent grades.”