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Project STOMP Winning PSA from Ames High
May 19, 2021

Project STOMP Winning PSA from Ames High

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6C6fgTXgRs Ames High students Adrian Guan, Camden Wacha, and Jason Ahn were recognized by Iowa State University's Project STOMP (Steps Toward Opioid Misuse Prevention) for their work on a video Public Service Announcement "Don't Drink Your Life Away". They won first place in the high school teams group in not only video but also the radio competitions. 

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Richard Day: Ames High Music Man
May 14, 2021

Richard Day: Ames High Music Man

Performing arts were minimal in the early years of Ames High School. Small groups would perform as a chorus or cornet band, dependent on student interest. Orchestra was formed in 1903, and band in 1920. Participant numbers were low due both in part to lack of initial interest and the inability to secure instruments. That began to change when a new band director, Richard Day joined Ames High. While the band’s main purpose was to assist the Pep Club in putting pep into school, with Day’s leadership, they began turning out at a full array of athletic events and other activities. 

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Science in the City
May 7, 2021

Science in the City

Ever sit in a science or math class when you were in school and wonder, either quietly or out loud, when will I ever use this? Davis Verhoeven, a senior at Ames High School, aims to showcase exactly how science, math, engineering, and technology (STEM) are used every day and in almost every career through a self-founded after-school program called, Science in the City. 

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A Decorated Musician: Ames High Senior Seth Durbin
April 13, 2021

A Decorated Musician: Ames High Senior Seth Durbin

At a time when most high school seniors are planning for graduation and what lies ahead, Seth Durbin leaves 2021 not only as an Ames High School graduate, but also as a decorated pianist. Playing piano for 10 years, the Ames High senior has received multiple awards in just the past two months. 

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YWCA Women of Achievement
March 26, 2021

YWCA Women of Achievement

Each March, the YWCA Ames-ISU announces women in the Story County and Iowa State University communities who are honored with the Women of Achievement Award. The Ames Community School District celebrates two of this year’s recipients. Nicole Coronado, Associate Principal at the Ames Middle School, and Genya Coffey, 7th-grade literacy teacher at Ames Middle School were among the eight honorees. The award recognizes women who are living out the Y's mission of eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all. 

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The Martin Family: Early African-American History in Ames
February 24, 2021

The Martin Family: Early African-American History in Ames

  When Ames was established in 1864, many of its settlers arrived from the New England area, and according to famed Ames historian Farwell T. Brown, they were “abolitionists in sentiment.” However, very few individuals had personal contact with black individuals. Brown said, “there seems to be no record of any African-American families in Ames until well after 1900.”

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Abbie Sawyer: Kindergarten Teacher and Principal (1894-1972)
January 21, 2021

Abbie Sawyer: Kindergarten Teacher and Principal (1894-1972)

"The greatest personal satisfaction I've had is watching these children grow up and develop," said Abbie Sawyer, a long time teacher and later principal who devoted her career to children in the Ames School District. Sawyer is most remembered for starting the first kindergarten class in Ames in the old Central school in 1917, her first year in Ames. In 1952, she retired after 35 years in the Ames school system, and in 1962, an elementary school building was named in her honor.

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Data: More than Numbers
January 19, 2021

Data: More than Numbers

What does “data” mean?  “Data” means any kind of information that can be understood or proven by a set of standards. Yes, in our district this often means different sets of numbers like grades, test scores, and attendance rates. But, it can also mean measuring things that don’t always appear measurable at first glance, such as: What are we doing to meet the needs of all students, and how can we improve?; How welcome do our learners and families feel in our district? It can also mean looking for standards of equity when resources may not always be shared equally. 

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Masked Hero: Tabitha Wu
December 4, 2020

Masked Hero: Tabitha Wu

Superpower: Stay calm and kind for my students in situations of stress “I believe that EVERY child deserves the best…

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Masked Hero: Andrea Lowe
November 24, 2020

Masked Hero: Andrea Lowe

Superpower: Generate weird and random teaching examples. Understanding the how and why concepts work together, rather than just presenting facts and numbers, can create long-lasting learning for students. This is how Ames High Earth and Space Science teacher Andrea Lowe approaches the classroom. “I'm spending more time teaching the hows - how to use technology wisely and beneficially, how to complete certain actions or functions, how to find information when you don't have immediate access to the teacher.”

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