The 48th annual Northwest Iowa Choral Directors Association 7th/8th grade Honor Choir took place on November 4, 2025, at the LeMars Community High School in LeMars, Iowa. The guest director for the Treble Clef Choir was Ms. Heather Barker. She serves as Director of Choral Activities at Van Meter CSD in Van Meter, Iowa. The accompanist for the Treble Clef choir was Mr. Brent Peterson.
    The guest director for the Bass Clef choir was Mr. Mark Potvin. He is the Music Director at Luther College at Decorah, Iowa. The accompanist for the Bass Clef choir was Laura Garred.
    There were 33 schools participating in the Honor Choir event this year with more than 370 talented junior high singers in the combined choirs. The MVAO middle school students who were chosen to be in the Northwest Iowa Honor Choir were: Sopranos-Avery Dose, Skylar Jones and Rylee Yockey.
    The day was spent learning new music literature, new vocal techniques, and fine-tuning their performance skills for the evening concert. The program songs for the Treble Clef Choir included "Bring Me Little Water, Silvy", "Lakeside Lullaby", and "Bonse Aba".
    The program songs for the Bass Clef Choir included "Rain Music", "In Time of Silver Rain", and "The Storm is Passing Over". The combined Treble and Bass Clef choirs performed "Liza, (Water Come-a-Me Eye)".
    Congratulations to these students for being selected for such an honor.
    Photo by Mrs. Crista Else. Thank you, Crista!

    Veterans were acknowledged on Veterans Day by multiple grades at Danbury Catholic School. Each class learned the significance about Veterans Day. Special visitors Ron Coyle and Staff Sgt. Jackie (Krusen) Cardwell then visited the classes in their own ways. Coyle, the father of kindergarten teacher Mrs. Michelle Drees attended the school in person while Cardwell, a high school classmate of 1st/2nd grade teacher Mrs. Sara Cass attended through Zoom as she is currently stationed in New Mexico.
    Photos provided by Mrs. Molly Petersen. Thank you, Molly!

    The MVAO elementary students were excited to have a special visitor come to their buildings. Kim Boyle, a local caricaturist came to each elementary school to share about her work. Several years ago, Kim published a book that she wrote and illustrated. The MVAO elementary students got to hear her book during library time before her visit.
    During her presentations, Kim shared about how she started drawing, some of the things she takes into consideration as she prepares to draw someone, and she fielded questions from her excited audience. Then she took time to draw several members from the audience. The students were amazed to watch as someone's face became recognizable on the paper.
    Pictured, Kim creates a caricature of Charlotte Miller, daughter of Tari Kay and Jacob Miller of Mapleton.
    Photo provided by Mrs. Angie Oberreuter. Thanks, Angie.