TK celebrated Dr. Seuss's birthday today by eating Green Eggs and Ham for lunch in our classroom!! Everyone loved it!!
A reminder that there will be a 2 Hour Late Start on Tuesday, March 3rd due to the Maquoketa Girls Basketball Team competing at the State Basketball Tournament on Monday night. Bus pick up and parent drop off on Tuesday morning will be exactly two hours later than our regular times. There will be no morning activities, no morning preschool or breakfast on Tuesday. Thank You for your support and Go Cards!
Today at Cardinal Elementary we kicked-off Read Across America week with some guest readers from the community! Thanks you to the following guests for sharing their reading skills with our young readers! Guests were also greeted and hosted by Cardinal Leaders from 2nd grade.
Guest Readers:
Linda Martin
Sarah Hogan
Elaine Kahler
Julie Furne
Colleen Schwenker
Karla Olson
Bev Brauer
Becky Benedix
Sandy Kloos
Mike Till
Colin Larson
Karter Yarolim
Officer Tenny/Mrs. Bennis
Mike Hayward
Cindy Sellnau
Guest Readers:
Linda Martin
Sarah Hogan
Elaine Kahler
Julie Furne
Colleen Schwenker
Karla Olson
Bev Brauer
Becky Benedix
Sandy Kloos
Mike Till
Colin Larson
Karter Yarolim
Officer Tenny/Mrs. Bennis
Mike Hayward
Cindy Sellnau
Hello Cardinal Elementary Families,
Today we kicked off Read Across America week with some special guest readers from the community. Read Across America will start March 2nd. Our CWNK news reporters (https://youtu.be/3hi0OgSKhD8) will share more information about what's happening at Cardinal Elementary next week. Enjoy the weekend. Don't forget, Tuesday we will have a late start due to the Girls State basketball game Monday night. School will begin at 10:05 on Tuesday, March 3rd.
New Highlights Include:
2 hour late start on Tuesday, March 3
Good luck Lady Cards!
Read Across America Week: thank you guest readers!
Habit 6 Synergize: together is better
Joke of the Week
Hello Cardinal Elementary Families,
Spring Picture Day is coming soon! Please see the flyer for pricing and ordering information. This will be Monday, March 16th.
Spring Picture Day is coming soon! Please see the flyer for pricing and ordering information. This will be Monday, March 16th.
Hear ye hear ye! Today at Cardinal Elementary, we celebrated our learning of Kings and Queens with a royal tea party. Kindergartners got to learn more about etiquette and using good manners just like the Kings and Queens of royalty as they snacked on delicious treats. Be sure to check out more pictures and information about this event in our news article on the Maquoketa Community Schools website which will be coming out soon!
Mrs. Trusty's first grade classroom had a sweet visitor today! So cute! She got lots of attention and kind pets from students. 😊
Jenna Spain was awarded the 2025 Excellence in Teaching Agriculture Award! We are amazed at the opportunities you bring to our students! Grateful for you! 😊
Congratulations to Jennifer Gavin who was awarded 2025 VFW Teacher of the Year for the state of Iowa! We are so lucky to have to have you! ❤️
Congratulations to our High Hopes and Count on Me award winners for Habit 5: Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood. We are so proud of you! 👏
Today we celebrated good behaviors as our students have shown they can follow the expectations at Cardinal Elementary and be good leaders for others! Our second Level-Up Leadership Day was celebrated with "Popcorn and a Movie!" Thanks for being great leaders, Cards! 🍿🎥
Please meet our kindergarten Leaders of the Month at Cardinal Elementary! Congratulations to the following students...
Isabelle Samples is always treating her friends with kindness and helping others to be their best. We are grateful to have Isabelle as our leader!
Hazel Marshall does an amazing job when we are doing partner sharing. She shares her ideas and listens to her partners as well.
Cash Williams has been doing a great job of completing work to earn center time. He makes sure to ask for help if he is stuck to ensure he is successful. Keep us the great work Cash!
Hello MCSD Families,
Thank you for being part of our school community. If you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten in the 2026–2027 school year or are interested in learning more about our Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten programs, please take a moment to review the attached flyer with details about Kindergarten Round‑Up.
We are excited to welcome your child as they begin this important learning journey. Kindergarten Round‑Up is a wonderful opportunity to meet our staff, learn about the program, and get answers to any questions you may have.
Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to seeing you and your family soon.
Warm regards,
Sara Bennis
Cardinal Elementary Principal
Thank you for being part of our school community. If you have a child who will be starting Kindergarten in the 2026–2027 school year or are interested in learning more about our Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten programs, please take a moment to review the attached flyer with details about Kindergarten Round‑Up.
We are excited to welcome your child as they begin this important learning journey. Kindergarten Round‑Up is a wonderful opportunity to meet our staff, learn about the program, and get answers to any questions you may have.
Thank you for your continued partnership. We look forward to seeing you and your family soon.
Warm regards,
Sara Bennis
Cardinal Elementary Principal
Happy Valentine's Day from Cardinal Elementary!
Today we celebrated our 1st grade Leaders of the Month! Congratulations to the following students. Thanks for being great role models.
Royce Meeks is an excellent example of what being a good friend looks like. He does a great job of listening to his friends, including others, and gives great compliments to his friends. He works well with groups and partners to get the job done! Way to go, Royce!
Jolyn Dirks has been doing an awesome job in the classroom! She's been working well with others, especially when completing the animal research writing activity. She does an amazing job helping others. Way to go, Jolyn!
Aiden Manning is trying hard to be a leader in our classroom. Aiden shows concern for others and helps them have a good day.
Royce Meeks is an excellent example of what being a good friend looks like. He does a great job of listening to his friends, including others, and gives great compliments to his friends. He works well with groups and partners to get the job done! Way to go, Royce!
Jolyn Dirks has been doing an awesome job in the classroom! She's been working well with others, especially when completing the animal research writing activity. She does an amazing job helping others. Way to go, Jolyn!
Aiden Manning is trying hard to be a leader in our classroom. Aiden shows concern for others and helps them have a good day.
Cardinal and Briggs Elementaries,
We have reached our 1st goal for the Kid's Heart Challenge! Please help us celebrate with a pajama party on our first day back next week, Tuesday, February 17th!
We have reached our 1st goal for the Kid's Heart Challenge! Please help us celebrate with a pajama party on our first day back next week, Tuesday, February 17th!
Hello Cardinal Elementary Families,
We don't have a CWNK news report for the coming week but I wanted to share a few highlights with you!
1) We have reached our 1st goal for the Kid's Heart Challenge and student's have earned a pajama party that will be this coming Tuesday, February 17th.
2) NO SCHOOL Monday, February 16. - President's Day
3) Level-Up Leadership celebration on Friday, February 20th! Students will attend the movie and a popcorn party!
Enjoy the three day weekend!
Warm regards,
Sara Bennis
Cardinal Elementary Principal
We don't have a CWNK news report for the coming week but I wanted to share a few highlights with you!
1) We have reached our 1st goal for the Kid's Heart Challenge and student's have earned a pajama party that will be this coming Tuesday, February 17th.
2) NO SCHOOL Monday, February 16. - President's Day
3) Level-Up Leadership celebration on Friday, February 20th! Students will attend the movie and a popcorn party!
Enjoy the three day weekend!
Warm regards,
Sara Bennis
Cardinal Elementary Principal
Today at Cardinal Elementary we celebrated 2nd Grade Leaders of the Month. Congratulations to the following students. Way to be great role models!
Norma Capelle is always patient with everyone especially when someone is very sad or very mad. She is always kind and understands what she needs to do to be a good friend.
Caleb Kulper (not pictured) is having a great year! He is a leader in our classroom when he follows directions the first time. He volunteers to read aloud and does an amazing job of answering questions in complete sentences. Keep up the good job! You are awesome!
Rafe Morris has been using habit 5 as he considers the perspective of others and makes decisions with their thoughts and ideas in mind. He is being a good friend to all!
Brynlee Powell is a kind, caring young lady. She is an empathetic listener and takes other's feelings into consideration when making decisions.
Norma Capelle is always patient with everyone especially when someone is very sad or very mad. She is always kind and understands what she needs to do to be a good friend.
Caleb Kulper (not pictured) is having a great year! He is a leader in our classroom when he follows directions the first time. He volunteers to read aloud and does an amazing job of answering questions in complete sentences. Keep up the good job! You are awesome!
Rafe Morris has been using habit 5 as he considers the perspective of others and makes decisions with their thoughts and ideas in mind. He is being a good friend to all!
Brynlee Powell is a kind, caring young lady. She is an empathetic listener and takes other's feelings into consideration when making decisions.
Kindergarten classrooms got to celebrate their progress towards our attendance goal at Cardinal Elementary. They showed the most growth in attendance during the month of January with 91%. Hope we are through the cold and flu season! Their reward was getting to wear sunglasses in school. The future is looking bright! 😎
Today we had another successful Lunch with the Law! Thank you to the Maquoketa Police Department for your generosity. Congrats to the following 2nd grade students who continue to be good leaders and role models for others! Maddie Klatt Chevy Dague Lilly Yeager Hailey Hicks
