NOTE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT
World Class Schools for Our Students:
Meeting the Needs of Every Student
It's not hard to see that Norwalk remains an ever-changing landscape these days as housing developments and commercial properties continue to break ground and develop. With exciting growth comes change and new opportunities but one thing remains the same, Norwalk's small school mindset. As we grow, we still strive every single day to make sure that we are serving the needs of each individual student. Creating relationships in each building between students and staff members is one of the core ingredients for grow learners and leaders. Helping students find their passion and meeting them where they are is one of the best ways we can help them succeed. Thank you to our staff for serving our students in such a special way!

Yours in service,
D.T. Magee
Congratulations to NHS junior Claire Boswell who has been selected as the 2022 NCSD Board of Directors Student Representative! Claire navigated through a very strong applicant pool as part of the selection process by the Policy Subcommittee and we are happy she accepted her appointment. We are looking forward to your service Claire!

Below: The Norwalk School Board recognized Kennedy Burch in January for all of her work in serving as the NCSD Board of Directors Student Representative during the past year. Thank you for your service and commitment Kennedy!
District News & Articles
The Latest News
Norwalk Teacher and Student of the Year

Congratulations to Middle School teacher, Katie Weldon who was named Norwalk's Teacher of the Year and Grant Kimball who was named the Norwalk Student of the Year! These remarkable individuals received their awards at the Norwalk Area Chamber of Commerce's 29th Annual Awards Banquet on January 21.
Norwalk Show Choir On Fire At Seasonal Opener
by Nathanael Smale, 8-12 Vocal Music Director & Show Choir
Norwalk Show Choirs were on fire as they kicked off seasonal competitions at Des Moines Christian in early January!

Sound Adrenaline won 1st place in the unisex division! This is a wonderful accomplishment for our JV group and we're so excited and proud!

Sound Revolution won 1st place in the 4A division during the day time and was one of the 5 groups who qualified for finals. Going into finals, they were in 4th place overall from all divisions. Our kids' performance in finals was filled with fire and passion, and they left the stage feeling amazing about their show, which is always the goal - that kids be proud of what they do on that stage every show. The icing on that cake was that this impassioned performance earned them 2nd place in finals round (two of the five judges actually had us in 1st in the night round) and the caption award for "Best Choreography"!

Huge shout out to Kourtlin Pearson and Jenny Schaff for all they've done to help us get kids ready, as well as our many parent volunteers/chaperones.

Images of Sound Revolution: photos by Elizabeth McCloney

Norwalk will host Nexus 2022 this Saturday, February 5 at Norwalk High School.

Tickets:
$10 for adults
$5 for non-performing students K-12

For more information and the performance schedule, please visit https://www.showchoir.com/events/event.php?id=5403
Linda Bussanmas Retirement
The Norwalk School Board recognized Linda Bussanmas last week for her tenure of service to Norwalk Schools. Linda retired at the end of January after 38 years at Norwalk. Congratulations Linda on your retirement! Norwalk staff celebrated with Mrs. Bussanmas last week prior to her last day.
Norwalk Student Paras Honored for Serving at Lakewood

The Norwalk School Board awarded board awards last week to Norwalk HS students who have helped fill in as students paras this school year! Thank you Bianca Bakley, Abby Agan (pictured to the left), JoJo Bice and Vinny Mauro for stepping up as leaders and making a huge impact in other students' lives!
ATHLETICS & ACTIVITIES
Warrior Updates
Norwalk Star Achieves 1,000 Points in Senior Season
by AUSTIN BELL/ Indianola Independent Advocate

Norwalk senior Jocelyn Bice has been a big part of Norwalk girls’ basketball ever since she stepped on the court for the first time in her freshman year. Her successes paid off when she recently reached 1,000 career points.

Jocelyn, who also goes by JoJo, has been playing varsity basketball since her freshman year and has averaged 12.5 points per game over her career. She has averaged 12.3 points per game during the current season.
Warriors Compete in State Girls Wrestling Tourney for the First Time in History

Our female Warriors, Madeline Benge (junior) and Maddy Lepley (senior) competed in the 4th Annual Iowa High School Girls State Wrestling tournament in January. The sport has now become sanctioned by the state which will mean big changes in the future. The first tournament had 160 girls competing and 2022's tourney had over 700. This was the first time Norwalk has had female wrestlers compete in this event. Senior Maddy Lepley pinned in her first match to be the first girl in Norwalk history to win a match at state! Maddy Lepley went 1-2 on the day and Madeline Benge lost both matches but competed hard and has won a lot of personal battles/achieved goals that will carry on with her for the rest of her life. Way to go Warriors!
Left to Right: Maddy Lepley and Madeline Benge
Norwalk Dance Team Earns 1st Place Honors at Regional Championships

Congrats to the Norwalk Dance Team for placing 1st in Hip Hop at the MA Dance Regional Championship competition this past weekend! The team also earned the highest number of points overall in the Small Select Category, 3rd in Lyrical, 3rd in Pom and a Choreography award.
Warrior Winter Camps
Norwalk is now offering a series of winter camps available for multiple age groups! To register visit https://norwalkwarriors.org/2022/01/21/winter-camps/
HUMAN RESOURCES
Grow With Us!
With the new year brings exciting new opportunities to be part of our growing community at Norwalk Schools! If you enjoy working with children and like the idea of a flexible schedule, we invite you to check our open career opportunities at norwalkschools.org!
STUDENT INFORMATION
Norwalk Schools Preschool & Kindergarten Registration 2022-2023
by Amy Gage, Oviatt Elementary Principal
Universal Preschool Programs
Photos of the Month
Above: Elaine Menke honored for being a 2021 Iowa Teacher of the Year Finalist. Congratulations Mrs. Menke!
Below: Lakewood 5th graders volunteering their time at Meals for the Heartland last week!
photo credit: Brian Patterson

District Links
Upcoming Important Dates:
Feb. 2, 2022: No School K-12, Staff Work Day
March 10, 2022: No School K-12, Conferences
March 11, 2022: No School K-12
March 14-18, 2022: Spring Break
NHS Dance Marathon Hosts Valentine's Day Party for K-5th Grade
Norwalk Dance Marathon is hosting a Valentine's Day Party fundraiser for all K-5th grade students to raise money for the Stead Family Children's Hospital in Iowa City!
Sat., Feb. 12th from 1-4pm
Orchard Hills Gym
Games, crafts, snacks and FUN!
$30 for 1st child/ $15 for each additional child