Daily Announcements News

Reminder:  Today ALL students should report to their Homeroom during Plus period to get information regarding registration for the 2021 – 2022 school year.

All students who are coming in late from an appointment need to remember to check in at the main office when you arrive at school. If you are leaving early during class time for an appointment, please acquire a pass from the main office before class so your teacher is aware that you have to leave for that appointment.

Reminder:  All students parking in the student lot must have a current parking pass visible on their rearview mirror.  Please do not park in the municipal pool parking spaces, AND please don’t park on 20th Street.

AP EXAM REGISTRATION – DUE TODAY, March 1. Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

On Thursday, March 11, from 5:00 – 9:00 PM ET/2:00 – 6:00 PM PT College Board will host BIGFUTURE DAYS. BIGFUTURE DAYS is a virtual event for high school sophomores and juniors to connect with college admissions representatives and take action on the most important steps for college. 

Any current sophomore or junior with a GPA of 3.4+ are eligible to apply for the Ames High National Honor Society for the 2020-2021 school year. Get an application or find more information online. You may also get a copy of an application in the Auxiliary Office or the Attendance Office. The deadline for accepting applications is Thursday, March 11th at 3:30 PM. Turn in all applications to room 229. 

If you are interested in joining Student Council, please come to a meeting this Wednesday, March 3rd at 2:45 in the student services conference room. No experience needed! The purpose of the Student Council is to give students an opportunity to develop leadership by organizing and carrying out school activities and service projects. In addition to planning events that contribute to school spirit and community welfare, the student council is the voice of the student body. The Ames High Student Council is involved in philanthropic events such as Winter Madness, student events such as Coffeehouse, and Club Fair and causes such as Earth Week, to name a few. We will be gearing up for an election for next year’s co-presidents as well, so join us and be a part of that process. For questions, contact Ms. DiBlasi or Mr. Burke.

Today’s lunch is Chicken Parmesan, spaghetti and seasoned broccoli florets.

Special Friday Schedule

Black History Month Mini-Conference is TODAY.  If you haven’t already done so, please go into FlexiSched and sign up for two (2) sessions.  There are 30 sessions to choose from, so you should be able to find a topic of interest.  Please be sure to do that as soon as possible.  We will need to know where you are during the two sessions for contact tracing purposes.  ALL students MUST REPORT to a designated location.

Municipal Pool parking spots are reserved for community members who come to AHS during the day to pay to swim in the pool.  Students parking in these spaces risk being towed.  During the school year, we have increased the signage, clearly marking each of these spots, ticketed students multiple times.  We will begin towing students’ cars if students continue to park in these spaces.  Please don’t let this happen to you.

All students who are coming in late from an appointment need to remember to check in at the main office when you arrive at school. If you are leaving early during class time for an appointment, please acquire a pass from the main office before class so your teacher is aware that you have to leave for that appointment.

Students, please remember we are a closed campus this year. That means that when you get here, you stay for the entire day. You are not allowed to leave and return several times throughout the day. Also students are not to have food delivered to the main office this year. Thank you for your cooperation.

Are you interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? ISU’s STEM Virtual Conference is April 6th through 8th. It is geared towards girls in grades 9 and 10. Get more info and register at https://www.wise.iastate.edu/outreach/gofurther-.

2nd semester only – AP exam registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

Students need to check Naviance for scholarship information, especially the Payer Family Scholarship due on March 1, 2021.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Throughout the month we’ve featured various interesting facts, Iowa-based history, and other information about African American’s contributions to our collective history.  That information is only as useful as you make it.  We encourage you to branch out and learn more on your own.  As the signs around the building say, “Black History is OUR history.”  Here’s another resource:  PBS Black Culture Connection.

Today’s lunch is Cheese Quesadilla, salsa and seasoned peas.

EVEN Block Schedule

Municipal Pool parking spots are reserved for community members who come to AHS during the day to pay to swim in the pool.  Students parking in these spaces risk being towed.  During the school year, we have increased the signage, clearly marking each of these spots, ticketed students multiple times.  We will begin towing students’ cars if students continue to park in these spaces.  Please don’t let this happen to you.

Students, please remember we are a closed campus this year. That means that when you get here, you stay for the entire day. You are not allowed to leave and return several times throughout the day. Also students are not to have food delivered to the main office this year. Thank you for your cooperation.

Are you interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? ISU’s STEM Virtual Conference is April 6th through 8th. It is geared towards girls in grades 9 and 10. Get more info and register at https://www.wise.iastate.edu/outreach/gofurther-.

Scholarship Opportunity, Karsyn’s Krusaders/Jessica Miller Memorial Cancer Scholarship Program is awarding five $1,000.00 scholarships to students who had a cancer diagnosis before the age of 18 or is a sibling of a person who was diagnosed with a pediatric form of cancer. The deadline to submit your application is April 11, 2021. More information regarding this scholarship can be found by logging into your Naviance account.

2nd semester only – AP exam registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

Students need to check Naviance for scholarship information, especially the Payer Family Scholarship due on March 1, 2021.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Interesting Fact:  While Jewish and African American communities have a tumultuous shared history when it comes to the pursuit of civil rights, there is a chapter that is often overlooked. In the 1930s when Jewish academics from Germany and Austria were dismissed from their teaching positions, many came to the United States looking for jobs. Due to the Depression, xenophobia and rising anti-Semitism, many found it difficult to find work, but more than 50 found positions at HBCUs in the segregated South.  Originally established to educate freed slaves to read and write, the first of the Historically Black Colleges and Universities was Cheyney University in Pennsylvania, established in 1837. By the time Jewish professors arrived, the number of HBCUs had grown to 78. At a time when both Jews and African Americans were persecuted, Jewish professors in the Black colleges found the environment comfortable and accepting, often creating special programs to provide opportunities to engage Blacks and whites in meaningful conversation, often for the first time.  In the years that followed, the interests of Jewish and African American communities increasingly diverged, but this once-shared experience of discrimination and interracial cooperation remains a key part of the Civil Rights Movement (source)

Today’s lunch is Turkey, Cheese & Bacon Panini and seasoned mixed vegetables.

ODD Block Schedule

Municipal Pool parking spots are reserved for community members who come to AHS during the day to pay to swim in the pool.  Students parking in these spaces risk being towed.  During the school year, we have increased the signage, clearly marking each of these spots, ticketed students multiple times.  We will begin towing students’ cars if students continue to park in these spaces.  Please don’t let this happen to you.

Congratulations to all of our State DECA competitors. Ames had 20 students finish in the top 3 in their event and qualify to compete at the International Career Development Conference in April. Additionally, Shrey Patel, Mario Napolitano, Alina Markutsya, and Adrian Guan were elected to the 2021-2022 DECA State Officer team. Allison Oh received the Most Outstanding Member award for Ames, demonstrating her strong commitment to and leadership in DECA throughout the year.

Congratulations to Olivia Heindel for receiving the Emerging Leader Honor Award! This award recognizes senior DECA members who have been involved at the local, state, and national DECA levels, have maintained a minimum 3.2 cumulative GPA, and have participated in a variety of activities that helped them to become a community-oriented, professional responsible and experienced leader.

There is a preseason meeting for students interested in playing girls tennis this season Today, Feb. 24 at 2:45 p.m. in the cafeteria. You will receive important information about the upcoming season and meet the new coaches. Spread the word!

Are you interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? ISU’s STEM Virtual Conference is April 6th through 8th. It is geared towards girls in grades 9 and 10. Get more info and register at https://www.wise.iastate.edu/outreach/gofurther-.

Students, please remember we are a closed campus this year. That means that when you get here, you stay for the entire day. You are not allowed to leave and return several times throughout the day. Also students are not to have food delivered to the main office this year. Thank you for your cooperation.

Scholarship Opportunity, Karsyn’s Krusaders/Jessica Miller Memorial Cancer Scholarship Program is awarding five $1,000.00 scholarships to students who had a cancer diagnosis before the age of 18 or is a sibling of a person who was diagnosed with a pediatric form of cancer. The deadline to submit your application is April 11, 2021. More information regarding this scholarship can be found by logging into your Naviance account.

Students need to check Naviance for scholarship information, especially the Payer Family Scholarship due on March 1, 2021.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Little Known Facts:  

• William Tucker was the first known Black person to be born in the 13 colonies. He was born in Jamestown, Virginia in 1624. According to BlackPast.org, his parents were indentured servants and part of the first group of Africans brought to colonial soil by Great Britain.

• Anthony Benezet, a white Quaker, abolitionist, and educator, is credited with creating the first public school for African American children in the early 1770s.

• After graduating from Oberlin College in 1850 with a literary degree, Lucy Stanton became the first Black woman in America to earn a four-year college degree.  (source)

Today’s lunch is Pizza Pasta Bake and seasoned broccoli florets.

EVEN Block Schedule

Municipal Pool parking spots are reserved for community members who come to AHS during the day to pay to swim in the pool.  Students parking in these spaces risk being towed.  During the school year, we have increased the signage, clearly marking each of these spots, ticketed students multiple times.  We will begin towing students’ cars if students continue to park in these spaces.  Please don’t let this happen to you.

Students, please remember we are a closed campus this year. That means that when you get here, you stay for the entire day. You are not allowed to leave and return several times throughout the day. Also students are not to have food delivered to the main office this year. Thank you for your cooperation.

Debate news: In only their second competition in Student Congressional Debate, AHS debaters did an excellent job at the NSDA Polar Bear Open on January 30. Senior Ella Chopskie won first place in her chamber, as did sophomore Allie Enyart.

Ames Debaters also competed this month in the qualifying tournaments for the National Speech and Debate Association’s National Tournament to be held virtually this June. Sophomores Allie Enyart and Leslie Kim qualified to compete in Public Forum Debate; Senior Ella Chopskie qualified in Student Congressional Debate. Good luck at Nationals!

All boys and girls interested in being a part of the 2021 Ames High Track & Field team will meet for a brief preseason meeting in the gym TODAY at 2:45 PM. 

Tennis Preseason Meeting for students interested in playing girls tennis this season on Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 2:45 p.m. in the cafeteria. You will receive important information about the upcoming season and meet the new coaches. Spread the word!

Are you interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? ISU’s STEM Virtual Conference is April 6th through 8th. It is geared towards girls in grades 9 and 10. Get more info and register at https://www.wise.iastate.edu/outreach/gofurther-.

AP Exam Registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

Scholarship Opportunity, Karsyn’s Krusaders/Jessica Miller Memorial Cancer Scholarship Program is awarding five $1,000.00 scholarships to students who had a cancer diagnosis before the age of 18 or is a sibling of a person who was diagnosed with a pediatric form of cancer. The deadline to submit your application is April 11, 2021. More information regarding this scholarship can be found by logging into your Naviance account.

Students need to check Naviance for scholarship information, especially the Payer Family Scholarship due on March 1, 2021.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

Any current sophomore or junior with a GPA of 3.4+ are eligible to apply for the Ames High National Honor Society for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications and more information can be found at bit.ly/nhsames. You can get a copy of an application in the Auxiliary Office or the  Attendance Office. The deadline for accepting applications is Thursday, March 11th at 3:30 PM. Turn in all applications to room 229. 

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Black Female Leaders: Texas congresswoman Barbara Jordan (1936-1996) rose to the national stage from Houston’s largely African American Fifth Ward, becoming a public defender of the U.S. Constitution and a leading presence in Democratic Party politics for two decades. She was the first Black woman elected to the Texas state senate and the first Black Texan in Congress. As a member of the House Judiciary Committee, she gave the influential opening speech of Richard Nixon’s 1974 impeachment hearings. She retired after three terms in Congress to become a professor and policy advocate.  Shirley Chisholm is widely known for her history-making turn in 1972 when she became the first African American from a major political party to run for president and the first Democratic woman of any race to do so. But Chisholm’s presidential bid was far from Chisholm’s only accomplishment throughout her 80-year life.  Born Shirley Anita St. Hill to a Guyanese American father and a Barbadian American mother in Brooklyn, New York, on November 30, 1924, Chisholm excelled first in school and then in her political career. (source)

Today’s lunch is Orange Chicken, brown rice and glazed carrots.

ODD Block Schedule

Municipal Pool spots are reserved for community members who come to AHS during the day to pay to swim in the pool.  Students parking in these spaces risk being towed.  During the school year, we have increased the signage, clearly marking each of these spots, ticketed students multiple times.  We will begin towing students’ cars if students continue to park in these spaces.  Please don’t let this happen to you.

All boys and girls interested in being a part of the 2021 Ames High Track & Field team will meet for a brief preseason meeting in the gym at 2:45 PM Tuesday, February 23. 

Are you interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? ISU’s STEM Virtual Conference is April 6th through 8th. It is geared towards girls in grades 9 and 10. Get more info and register at https://www.wise.iastate.edu/outreach/gofurther-.

AP Exam Registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

FIBER CLUB meets via Google Meet every Wednesday starting at 2:45 PM.  We will have a special session on MARCH 10. Central Iowa artist Betty Trost will be teaching us an embroidery project that day. Email Mrs. Dobernecker to get on the Google Classroom for Fiber Club and to check out the cool embroidery project.  We are happy to provide materials to you for the project, but you’ll need to sign up for that, please.

Scholarship Opportunity, Karsyn’s Krusaders/Jessica Miller Memorial Cancer Scholarship Program is awarding five $1,000.00 scholarships to students who had a cancer diagnosis before the age of 18 or is a sibling of a person who was diagnosed with a pediatric form of cancer. The deadline to submit your application is April 11, 2021. More information regarding this scholarship can be found by logging into your Naviance account.

Students need to check Naviance for scholarship information, especially the Payer Family Scholarship due on March 1, 2021.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

Any current sophomore or junior with a GPA of 3.4+ are eligible to apply for the Ames High National Honor Society for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications and more information can be found at bit.ly/nhsames. You can get a copy of an application in the Auxiliary Office or the  Attendance Office. The deadline for accepting applications is Thursday, March 11th at 3:30 PM. Turn in all applications to room 229. 

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Interesting Iowa Fact:  On May 19, 1917 the federal government announced that 1200 Black Americans would be trained at Fort Des Moines in preparation to send troops into World War I.  Though not typically assigned to the front lines, Black soldiers during WWI often saw combat due to their proximity to the front lines.  To learn more about these soldiers and their tenure at Fort Des Moines, see the link to Iowa PBS.  

Today’s lunch Popcorn Chicken, mashed potatoes and corn.

Ames High Art students had work chosen for display at the Octagon this February for the Students of Story County Art Show. Several students were selected as award winners in this juried exhibit. Congratulations to award winners (1st place) “Mythical Creature in Clay” Emily Kaminski, (2nd place) “Paper PopUp Design” Lucy Brekke as well as Juror picks “Primary Cat” Megan Riesselman and Tate Bernard “Whispers of Ghosts.”

Congratulations to all of this year’s IHSSA Large Group Speech participants. Groups from Ames receiving top Division 1 ratings were:

• Choral Reading featuring Lauren Anderson, Keilah Brewer, Geniya Collins, and Kenaiya James. TV News featuring Allie Enyart and Preksha Sarda.

• Two groups received top honors and were nominated to All-State:

• Ensemble Acting featuring Lauren Anderson, Keilah Brewer, Julia Divine, Libby Gens, Olivia Reed, and Jason Vernon.

• Short Film featuring E’mma Camara, Julia Divine, Libby Gens, Olivia Reed, and Jason Vernon.

Please take a moment to check your transcript in your Infinite Campus portal. We want to make sure all of the courses you took in the first semester are listed. If you see any missing courses, please notify your counselor ASAP so we can make sure you receive the credit you earned!

Key Club will be holding a book drive before the basketball games tonight. These books will be used to fill the Little Free Libraries that Key Club members built and will be installing this spring around Ames. A table will be set up in the pool entrance where you can give your books. We appreciate your support and book donations!

The deadline to drop a class without consequences is today, Feb.19th. Contracting for a grade with pass/fail option is March 26th. Get a form from your counselor if interested. This option needs to be renewed each semester.

AP Exam Registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

Are you interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math? ISU’s STEM Virtual Conference is April 6th through 8th. It is geared towards girls in grades 9 and 10. Get more info and register at https://www.wise.iastate.edu/outreach/gofurther-.

FIBER CLUB meets via Google Meet every Wednesday starting at 2:45 PM.  We will have a special session on MARCH 10. Central Iowa artist Betty Trost will be teaching us an embroidery project that day. Email Mrs. Dobernecker to get on the Google Classroom for Fiber Club and to check out the cool embroidery project.  We are happy to provide materials to you for the project, but you’ll need to sign up for that, please.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

Any current sophomore or junior with a GPA of 3.4+ are eligible to apply for the Ames High National Honor Society for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications and more information can be found at bit.ly/nhsames. You can get a copy of an application in the Auxiliary Office or the  Attendance Office. The deadline for accepting applications is Thursday, March 11th at 3:30 PM. Turn in all applications to room 229. 

Seniors: due to numerous requests and the disruptions caused by COVID, the Yearbook is extending the deadline for senior pictures to March 5th. Please send your pictures to yearbook@ames.k12.ia.us and remember the image needs to be a vertical high resolution .jpg image. The editor will send a confirmation email once the image has been uploaded and processed, but please be patient as we are a small staff this year. Direct any questions to Mr. Webb. Thank you!

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Interesting Iowa Fact:  Clark v. The Board of Directors — Alexander Clark Sr., who helped African-American men earn voting rights in 1868, did his best to give his children a better life. A year earlier, his 12-year-old daughter, Susan Clark, was denied admission into her neighborhood school in Muscatine because of her race. On his daughter’s behalf for her right to attend, Clark sued the Muscatine Board of Directors, explained Leo Landis, curator at the State Historical Society of Iowa.  The case went to the Iowa Supreme Court, which held that segregated schools were inherently unequal because “the law makes no distinction as to the right of children … to attend the common schools.” The decision led to the integration of Iowa schools — 86 years before Brown v. Board of Education, in which the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that racial segregation in public schools is unconstitutional (Des Moines Register).

EVEN Block / MAP testing schedule

Please take a moment to check your transcript in your Infinite Campus portal. We want to make sure all of the courses you took in the first semester are listed. If you see any missing courses, please notify your counselor ASAP so we can make sure you receive the credit you earned!

Key Club will be holding a book drive before the basketball games this Friday. These books will be used to fill the Little Free Libraries that Key Club members built and will be installing this spring around Ames. A table will be set up in the pool entrance where you can give your books. We appreciate your support and book donations!

The deadline to drop a class without consequences is tomorrow, Feb.19th. Contracting for a grade with pass/fail option is March 26th. Get a form from your counselor if interested. This option needs to be renewed each semester.

FIBER CLUB meets via Google Meet every Wednesday starting at 2:45 PM.  We will have a special session on MARCH 10. Central Iowa artist Betty Trost will be teaching us an embroidery project that day. Email Mrs. Dobernecker to get on the Google Classroom for Fiber Club and to check out the cool embroidery project.  We are happy to provide materials to you for the project, but you’ll need to sign up for that, please.

AP Exam Registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

Seniors: Nomination forms for baccalaureate speakers are in the Auxiliary office. Please pick one up today and fill it out asap. Forms are due back in the office Friday, March 5th. Also, applications for student performers are available and due by April 1st. Baccalaureate is organized by parent/guardian volunteers.

Any current sophomore or junior with a GPA of 3.4+ are eligible to apply for the Ames High National Honor Society for the 2020-2021 school year. Applications and more information can be found at bit.ly/nhsames. You can get a copy of an application in the Auxiliary Office or the  Attendance Office. The deadline for accepting applications is Thursday, March 11th at 3:30 PM. Turn in all applications to room 229. 

Seniors: due to numerous requests and the disruptions caused by COVID, the Yearbook is extending the deadline for senior pictures to March 5th. Please send your pictures to yearbook@ames.k12.ia.us and remember the image needs to be a vertical high resolution .jpg image. The editor will send a confirmation email once the image has been uploaded and processed, but please be patient as we are a small staff this year. Direct any questions to Mr. Webb. Thank you!

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Most people think of Rosa Parks as the first person to refuse to give up their seat on a bus in Montgomery, Alabama. There were actually several women who came before her; one of whom was Claudette Colvin.  It was March 2, 1955, when the fifteen-year-old schoolgirl refused to move to the back of the bus, nine months before Rosa Parks’ stand that launched the Montgomery bus boycott. Claudette had been studying Black leaders like Harriet Tubman in her segregated school, those conversations had led to discussions around the current day Jim Crow laws they were all experiencing. When the bus driver ordered Claudette to get up, she refused, “It felt like Sojourner Truth was on one side pushing me down, and Harriet Tubman was on the other side of me pushing me down. I couldn’t get up.”  Claudette Colvin’s stand didn’t stop there. Arrested and thrown in jail, she was one of four women who challenged the segregation law in court. If Browder v. Gayle became the court case that successfully overturned bus segregation laws in both Montgomery and Alabama, why has Claudette’s story been largely forgotten? At the time, the NAACP and other Black organizations felt Rosa Parks made a better icon for the movement than a teenager. As an adult with the right look, Rosa Parks was also the secretary of the NAACP, and was both well-known and respected – people would associate her with the middle class and that would attract support for the cause. But the struggle to end segregation was often fought by young people, more than half of which were women. 

Today’s lunch is Cheese Stuffed Breadsticks with marinara sauce and glazed carrots.

ODD Block / MAP testing Schedule Day

Congratulations to senior Julia Marks for being selected for the 2021 Iowa Shrine Bowl All Star Cheerleading Squad!

The boys tennis preseason meeting will take place today, Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 2:45 p.m. in the cafeteria. All students planning on playing this season should plan to attend. If you are unable to attend please email Coach John Hernandez at john.hernandez@ames.k12.ia.us.

Key Club will be holding a book drive before the basketball games this Friday. These books will be used to fill the Little Free Libraries that Key Club members built and will be installing this spring around Ames. A table will be set up in the pool entrance where you can give your books. We appreciate your support and book donations!

The deadline to drop a class without consequences is this Friday Feb.19th. Contracting for a grade with pass/fail option is March 26th. Get a form from your counselor if interested. This option needs to be renewed each semester.

FIBER CLUB meets via Google Meet every Wednesday starting at 2:45 PM.  We will have a special session on MARCH 10. Central Iowa artist Betty Trost will be teaching us an embroidery project that day. Email Mrs. Dobernecker to get on the Google Classroom for Fiber Club and to check out the cool embroidery project.  We are happy to provide materials to you for the project, but you’ll need to sign up for that, please.

AP Exam Registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

Seniors: due to numerous requests and the disruptions caused by COVID, the Yearbook is extending the deadline for senior pictures to March 5th. Please send your pictures to yearbook@ames.k12.ia.us and remember the image needs to be a vertical high resolution .jpg image. The editor will send a confirmation email once the image has been uploaded and processed, but please be patient as we are a small staff this year. Direct any questions to Mr. Webb. Thank you!

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  While it’s important to understand and recognize the achievements of Black Americans in the United States, Bryan Stevenson, author of Just Mercy and founder of the Equal Justice Initiative, points out that it’s also important to recognize and understand the struggle many African Americans have historically faced and continue to face today.  For more, see NBC News Lester Holt’s Interview with Stevenson Part 1 and Part 2.

Today’s lunch is Crispy Chicken Breast Tenders and seasoned mixed vegetables.

Even Block Day

MAP Testing — Due to the weather-related remote day, we will postpone administration of the MAP assessment until tomorrow, Wednesday, February 17, weather permitting.

The deadline to drop a class without consequences is this Friday Feb.19th. Contracting for a grade with pass/fail option is March 26th. Get a form from your counselor if interested. This option needs to be renewed each semester.

AP Exam Registration, Students in 2nd semester AP Government and AP Psychology classes who want to take the AP exam need to pay $95 (check made payable to AHS) for each exam to Student Services by March 1. Students who register for an AP Exam will also need to register in the corresponding AP Classroom.

The boys tennis preseason meeting will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 2:45 p.m. in the cafeteria. All students planning on playing this season should plan to attend. If you are unable to attend please email Coach John Hernandez at john.hernandez@ames.k12.ia.us.

Seniors: due to numerous requests and the disruptions caused by COVID, the Yearbook is extending the deadline for senior pictures to March 5th. Please send your pictures to yearbook@ames.k12.ia.us and remember the image needs to be a vertical high resolution .jpg image. The editor will send a confirmation email once the image has been uploaded and processed, but please be patient as we are a small staff this year. Direct any questions to Mr. Webb. Thank you!

Iowa graduating Iowa high school seniors may be selected to attend the National Youth Science Camp (NYSCamp) to be held June 28 – July 21, 2021. The camp is sponsored by the West Virginia Governor in cooperation with state governors including Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds. The Iowa Academy of Science is coordinating the selection process in Iowa.  The National Youth Science Camp is an honors program for two high-achieving high school graduates from each state in the United States and eight additional countries. This unique residential experience has been held in a rustic setting in West Virginia’s eastern mountains since 1963.  The camp is an exceptional opportunity. Even with the virtual nature of the camp, delegates are expected to participate daily in camp activities for the entire duration of camp. Students meet students from the United States and around the world. The NYSCamp is offered to selected participants at NO COST so that talented students may attend regardless of their financial ability.  DEADLINE TO APPLY: February 28, 2021 (6:00 pm EST)  Please visit http://apply.nysc.org to learn more and to apply

Black History Month was created in 1926 by Carter G. Woodson, a noted African American historian, scholar, educator and publisher. It became a month-long celebration in 1976. The month of February was chosen to coincide with the birthdays of Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln.  Born in Atlanta, Texas in 1892, Bessie Coleman grew up in a world of harsh poverty, discrimination and segregation. She moved to Chicago at 23 to seek her fortune, but found little opportunity there as well. Wild tales of flying exploits from returning WWI soldiers first inspired her to explore aviation, but she faced a double stigma in that dream being both African American and a woman.

She set her sights on France in order to reach her dreams and began studying French. In 1920, Coleman crossed the ocean with all of her savings and the financial support of Robert Abbott, one of the first African American millionaires. Over the next seven months, she learned to fly and in June of 1921, the Fédération Aéronautique Internationale awarded her an international pilot’s license. Wildly celebrated upon her return to the United States, reporters turned out in droves to greet her.

Coleman performed at numerous airshows over the next five years, performing heart thrilling stunts, encouraging other African Americans to pursue flying, and refusing to perform where Blacks were not admitted. When she tragically died in a plane accident in 1926, famous writer and equal rights advocate Ida B. Wells presided over her funeral. An editorial in the “Dallas Express” stated, “There is reason to believe that the general public did not completely sense the size of her contribution to the achievements of the race as such.” (source)