Every second grader was given the book 'Just Like Caitlin.' This book tells Caitlin Clark's story including life lessons like dreaming big, working hard, valuing relationships over winning, and many more. The Jensen Family provided these, for free, to every second grader in the state of Iowa. This book is the perfect tie to our Leader in Me lessons students learn each day. Central Lee Elementary says a big THANK YOU to Caitlin Clark for inspiring our students to dream big and to the Jensen Family for this wonderful gift.
Today, we’re proud to announce Gary Wagner (CLHS ‘80) as a 2024 Fine Arts Hall of Fame inductee!
A lifelong musician with a passion for bluegrass, Gary is celebrated for his exceptional skills on the guitar, mandolin, and upright bass. His music has reached audiences nationwide, from local festivals to the renowned stages of Silver Dollar City and Dollywood. He’s also recorded with acclaimed artists and performed at numerous benefit events.
In addition to his musical accomplishments, Gary has built a 40-year career as a welder. As he nears retirement, he looks forward to continuing his musical journey and cheering on his daughter, Amber Wagner, as she carries forward his legacy as a talented vocalist.
We’re grateful for this inspiring musician and his positive impact on the community!
December is Human Rights Month, which honors the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It’s an opportunity for us to reflect on the importance of respect, fairness, and inclusivity in our schools and beyond.
Thank you for helping us foster a community rooted in these values!
First grade students held a Writing Gallery Walk recently. The reading lessons included connections to writing and the students were very excited to share about themselves. All first grade students and teachers took a gallery walk to each classroom to read and view self portraits along with the sentence writing. We promote the connection of reading and writing in our school and strive for each student to grow as both readers and writers each school year.
Hawks of the Month were selected from each classroom Kindergarten through Fourth Grade for exhibiting regularly Habit 2: Begin with the End in Mind. Students have shown that they make a plan to achieve their goals. Growing as a leader while in our school is something we are most proud of! Congratulations to these Central Lee Elementary Hawks!
Exciting News! Join us for Iowa Computer Science Ed Week Family Night on December 12, 6:30–7:30 PM!
Bring the whole family for a night filled with tech-inspired activities and fun! Here’s what’s in store:
Live Book Reading: Kick off the night with a special reading by author Julie Darling from her book Little Hackers—an inspiring story for young techies!
Cybersecurity Game: Learn about the many “hats” in computer science in an interactive, web-based game! Think Simon Says with a cyber twist!
Card Game Fun: Discover the world of incident response in cybersecurity jobs in a whole new way with a card game!
Don’t miss this FREE family event! Perfect for kids and adults curious about tech and cybersecurity. Register for virtual or in person locations at IowaCSEdWeek.org! See you there!
Register to join us at CL here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSddMfupJq5Gl6uXdJmQtpbph-TXmaYQyuAuAtffgyZjvrZfqg/viewform
We are delighted to announce C. David Rutt’s induction into the 2024 Fine Arts Hall of Fame!
With a music education career spanning over 40 years, C. David is celebrated for nearly a decade of service as Central Lee’s band director. During his tenure, he built a thriving band program, leading students to achieve the school’s first State Division 1 rating in marching band and earn All-State honors.
He also introduced the cherished tradition of having the marching band form an American flag on the field while playing “God Bless America” during the season’s final home football game!
Beyond his contributions to Central Lee, C. David directed the Forest City High School band for 24 years and spent five years helping to rebuild Waldorf University’s band program.
He holds a bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Upper Iowa University and a master’s in Music Education from the University of Northern Iowa. In retirement, C. David continues to inspire students nationwide as a Bob Rogers Tour Director and guides international concert tours with the Iowa Ambassadors of Music. C. David lives in Iowa with his wife, is a proud father of two daughters, and is the grandfather of an eight-year-old grandson.
It’s an honor to recognize this dedicated educator and champion of the arts!
Computer Science Education Week reminds us how important it is to prepare students for the future. With hands-on learning, they’re gaining the skills needed for success in a tech-driven economy. 🖥️
Here’s to nurturing the next generation of savvy innovators!
The High School Student SOAR Team held a community retreat in November to inform our parents, school board, and community members of all the exciting leadership opportunities happening with the SOAR Team!
Please join us in welcoming Brett Azinger (CLHS ‘09) to the 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame!
A four-year letter winner in both baseball and basketball, Brett captained the basketball team for three years and remains one of the school's most celebrated athletes.
In basketball, he earned Third Team All-State honors as a sophomore and Second Team All-State honors in his junior and senior years, leading the team to CL’s first-ever state tournament appearance. As the school’s all-time leading scorer with 1,535 career points, Brett was ranked among the top 250 high school athletes nationally for the McDonald’s All-American Team.
In baseball, he excelled with a batting average over .350 for three seasons, earning multiple All-Conference and All-Hawkeye honors. After graduating, Brett continued his athletic career at Iowa Wesleyan College, where he started every game as a freshman and distinguished himself as a standout player.
Congratulations to this legendary Central Lee athlete!
Central Lee is hosting the Tri State Shootout this Saturday, December 7! Don’t miss a full day of basketball featuring schools from across the region. Here is the schedule for the day! 🏀
With the holidays approaching, it becomes all too easy to say: “Missing one day of school won’t hurt.”
The truth is, missing a day here and there can really add up. Let’s work together to keep that passion for learning alive in our students. Every day matters! 🌟
🌟#Proud2bCL
The Central Lee High School added some festive cheer to the classroom doors during their SOAR time. Each door had to have an elf incorporated into the design!
We are honored to posthumously induct Linda Hardin into the 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame.
A 1966 CLHS graduate, Linda’s legendary track and field career remains a source of pride and inspiration. Training on the gravel roads near her hometown of Donnellson, she captured state titles in the 440-yard dash and the 4x200-meter relay, setting a record time of 59.4 seconds in the 440. Competing on cinder tracks in a single-class system, she faced the top athletes from across the state.
Linda continued her athletic journey with three years in the Iowa Girls Track Club, where her talent drew media attention and speculation about her Olympic potential. She later competed on the track and field team at John F. Kennedy College, graduating in 1970. Afterward, she served as an FBI Intelligence Analyst for 37 years, earning recognition for her contributions to major investigations.
Though Linda bravely lost her battle with cancer, her legacy lives on through an annual scholarship awarded to a Central Lee senior track and field athlete in her honor.
It is our privilege to celebrate this iconic CLHS track star and outstanding leader!
Good luck to our dance team as they travel to Des Moines for state dance competition today!
On International Volunteer Day, we thank the people who dedicate their time and energy to supporting our schools and students. We’re truly grateful for the impact you make! 🙏 #Proud2bCL
We’re excited to announce the induction of the 1989 Central Lee High School Baseball Team into the 2024 Athletic Hall of Fame!
This remarkable team, made up of players from grades 9 through 12, made history by winning the state championship through skill, resilience, and unity. Despite facing significant challenges—including a lack of a home field during the seniors’ freshman year and being the smallest Class 3A school in the state—they claimed the title by defeating Decorah HS, the largest school in their division.
This thrilling victory stands as a pivotal moment in CLHS history and a testament to their determination and teamwork. Congratulations!
Today, we celebrate Brittani Patterson as a 2024 Academic Hall of Fame inductee!
A 2010 CLHS graduate, Brittani earned her Associate of Arts degree from Southeastern Community College while still in high school. An active leader, she participated in Science Club and Show Choir, served as vice president and president of the Art Club, and held roles as treasurer and vice president of the National Honor Society. Her science fair project earned recognition from both the Iowa Academy of Science and the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair.
Brittani graduated magna cum laude from Iowa State University with a BS in Biochemistry, achieving Dean’s List honors, the Academic Distinction Award, and co-authoring several peer-reviewed papers.
For over a decade, Brittani has worked in the biotech and pharmaceutical fields, with roles at Integrated DNA Technologies and now at Ribometrix, where she leads RNA production for cancer drug research.
Brittani continues to excel in her field while living in North Carolina with her husband and daughter.
We’re proud to honor such an accomplished alumna!
Mrs. Weber’s 4th, 5th, and 6th grade Sprint classes created Street Art projects to master the mathematical concepts of finding area and perimeter. The students created and installed their cup designs in the fence leading into the Pre-K 8 building from the bus lot for others to enjoy.
🎉🏀 Central Lee Basketball: 2024-2025 Schedule 🏀🎉
Mark your calendars and get ready to cheer for the Hawks this season! 📅✨ We kick off our season tonight, December 3rd at Holy Trinity Catholic. Don’t miss the action-packed IA/IL/MO Shootout on Saturday, December 7th, hosted here at home! 🦅💛🖤
See the full schedule in the images below and make plans to support our team. Go Hawks! 🙌🔥
📸 Share this with your friends and family to spread the word!
💪 #CentralLeeBasketball 💪
