New teachers, big impact. 🍎✨

Last week we celebrated our Mid-Prairie Beginning Teacher Network—because supporting teachers from day one isn’t just important, it’s part of how we help all students learn at high levels.

Our first- and second-year teachers are doing more than just finding their footing in year one. Through mentoring, coaching, co-planning, professional learning, and growth aligned to Iowa Teaching Standards, they’re building strong practice, strong relationships, and strong classrooms. 💡

The Beginning Teacher Network includes:
✔️ Instructional coaching + induction support
✔️ New teacher trainings
✔️ Personalized professional growth goals
✔️ Collaboration with mentors and principals
✔️ Reflection, feedback, and continuous improvement

Translation? We don’t just hire great educators—we invest in them. 🌱
#mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Groups of 5 teachers sitting at tables in the MP Central Office community room with gift boxes on the table in front of them; Text on the video screen reads Beginning Teachers Network Celebration
Teachers serving themselve through a buffet line of food prepared in the MP Central Office community room
Teachers outside in the MP Central Office parking lot playing cornhole games int he parking spaces
Two MP Teachers Cate Burke and Justin Barthelman pointing to a bracket competition drawn on a large piece of paper hanging on the wall showing that they made it to win the championship; Poster reads BTN BAGS Tournament with names in each player space and Cate and Justin written on the final champion line
Teachers sitting in groups of 5 at tables in the MP Central Office community room talking to each other; Table sign reads West Elementary
Superintendent Brian Stone cooking personal pizzas in his outdoor pizza ovens with three teachers standing to the side waiting
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Alex. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Alex Castillo senior photo sitting outdoors on hay bales; MP logo: text reads: Alex Castillo Class of 2026 future plans: I want to become a flight attendant. Favorite class at MPHS: Computer science principles 1 and 2. I've been employed by: Farmers Hen House. My MP extracurricular activities: Track and cross country. My favorite MPHS highlight is: the times ahna and I would talk about the little Amish dog. Best thing about being a Golden Hawk: We're superior.
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Griffin. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Griffin Caskey senior photo standing outdoors in front of a field leaning on a white fence; MP logo; Test reads Griffin Caskey Class of 2026 Future plans: I plan to keep pursuing goals as a cyclist and get my bachelors in neuroscience in hopes to work in research. My favorite class at MPHS: anatomy. Awards and honors: national honor society, youth salute, homecoming king, nations cup competitor, 5x state champion, platinum honor roll, work habit honor roll; My MP extracurricular activities: student government, big hawk little hawk mentoring program, tutoring. My favorite MPHS highlight is: going to prom as a freshman and seminar poker tournaments. Best thing about being a golden hawk: the amazing staff that always encourage and support us.
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Jadyn. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Jadyn Carrillo senior photo standing outdoors near the railing of a porch; MP logo; test reads: Jadyn Carrillo Class of 2026 Future plans: I am going to Kirkwood for my RN and the University of Iowa for my BSN and CRNA. Favorite class at MPHS: anatomy. Awards and honors: platinum, gold, and silver honor rolls. My MP extracurricular activities: I have been in choir, lyrica, band, did makeup for theater, and girls' wrestling maager. My favorite MPHS highlight is: grad parties weekend of 2025. Best thing about being a golden hawk: Our school is very connected through activities, school spirit, and our student section.
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Ellie. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Ellie Callahan senior photo our in a wooded area; MP logo; Test reads Ellie Callahan Class of 2026 Future plans: I plan to attend the University of Northern Iowa and major in communication sciences and disorders and pursue a career in speech pathology. Favorite class at MPHS: physics and anatomy. Awards and honors: renaissance awards, my Iowa degree through FFA, Youth Salute. My MP extracurricular activities: FFA, FCCLA, big hawk little hawk mentoring program, national honor society, girls' wrestling, volleyball, girls' soccer, silver cord, student council. My favorite MPHS highlight is: hanging out with friends and playing poker in seminar. Best thing about being a golden hawk: the environment of supportive teachers and kind students.
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Emilie. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Emilie Burnett senior photo standing in front of a greenery bush; MP logo: Text reads: Emilie Burnett Class of 2026 Future plans: I plan to study music at the University of Iowa. Favorite class at MPHS: Choir and intro to psychology. My most important accomplishment: I am proud of the solo I sang this year. My MP extracurricular activities: Choir. My favorite MPHS highlight is: my seminar starting an orange drawer at the end of freshman year. Best thing about being a golden hawk: meeting new people and being in a community of different people.
Miss Ruppenkamp’s class is ready to save the day with today’s episode of MP-West School News! #mphawks
https://youtu.be/hTRO0M_fn40
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Gentry. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Gentry Bontrager senior photo in a barn doorway; MP logo; Text reads Gentry Bontrager Class of 2026 Future Plans: To work for J.S. Builders as a sales rep. Favorite class at MPHS: construction. Awards and honors: going to state in football 2 years in a row. My MP extracurricular activities: football, baseball, track. My favorite MPHS highlight is: singing "love me" on stage at junior year homecoming. Best thing about being a Golden Hawk: the community.
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Tate. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Tate Bombei sitting on a tractor step senior photo; MP logo; Text reads: Tate Bombei Class of 2026 Future plans: I plan to go to Kirkwood for two years and major in something agriculture. Favorite class at MPHS: Ag Business. Awards and honors: Platinum honor roll, gold honor roll, work habit honor roll, FFA Iowa degree, Livestock Award for 4-H, 3rd place crop scouting. My MP extracurricular activities: FFA and Trapshooting. My favorite MPHS highlight is: drive your tractor to school day. Best thing about being a Golden Hawk: Our school is very good about school spirit

It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Delani. We’re proud of you! #mphawks

about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Delani Blum senior photo sitting outside; Mid-Prairie logo; text reads: Delani Blum Class of 2026 Future plans: undecided. favorite class at mphs: algebra 1 with Potts or chemistry with boman. Awards and honors: varsity award, silver honor roll, work habit honor roll, perfect attendance, super student. my MP extracurricular activities: golf. my favorite mphs highlight is: freshman year homecoming. best thing about being a golden hawk: getting candy at assemblies.
It’s almost graduation, and we want to celebrate our seniors. Make sure to leave them a note of encouragement and congratulations. Today we celebrate Mardie. We’re proud of you! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Mardie Berry in a field senior photo; MP logo, text reads: Mardie Berry Class of 2026 Future Plans: Studying farm, Ag. Business, and ag mechanics at Iowa State or Kirkwood Something interesting or important about me: I'm good at solving problems. Awards and honors: Iron man (x2), Gold Honor Roll, Work Habit Honor Roll, Perfect Attendance. My MP extracurricular activities: wrestling for three years. did volleyball for one. My favorite MPHS highlight is: junior prom. Best thing about being a Golden Hawk: getting candy at assemblies.
Miss Beitzel’s class is ready to share a bear-y sweet episode of MP-East School News today! #mphawks
https://youtu.be/kEW7szUvdtg
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
The Mid-Prairie Boys golf team finished 3rd out of 10 with a 326 team score Thursday at the Williamsburg Tater Tough Invitational. Out of 60 golfers, Grayson Gingerich was runner up with a personal best 1 over par 72. Bryce Henry finished 9th with a 77. #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Grayson Gingerich with golf award
Mid-Prairie Girls Golf won it's home invitational on Thursday!
From Head Coach Tracy McArtor - "Great outing by the Golden Hawk Girls at our home Girls Hawk Invite. The kids outlasted runner-up Williamsburg by a single shot, shooting a team score of 361. That score may be a team record along with the 9 hole front side score of 176. I'll have to check my archives. Plenty new personal bests by the kids as well. Senior Delani Blum's 100, Junior Morgyn Bender's 85 and Freshman Macie Ihrig's 9 hole and 18 hole scores of 44 and 92. Olivia Swartzendruber shot a team best 84.
Conditions got a little tougher as the day went on with the winds really kicking up, but the girls kept their focus and did an amazing job. This was also possibly the first time that the kids have won our home invite in back to back years and also both the Boys and Girls teams winning the same year. Lots to celebrate and then back to work to get even better. Awesome job by the kids!" #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Mid-Prairie girls golf team standing with their coach and award plaque
Girls golf team sitting at a table together with golf carts in the background
Four Mid-Prairie High School jazz musicians were guest DJs at the Jazz 88.3 KCCK radio station on Wednesday, April 22. Senior, Brock Lowenberg, juniors, Thomas Lueck and Millana Kazakov, and sophomore, Rachel Lamb, were live on the radio at 4:00 pm playing their favorite jazz recordings and talking about their lives as musicians and students. They did an incredible job representing the band program and their school! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
4 MPHS jazz band students sitting in the radio room with the DJ around a desk smiling with microphones in front of each one
Check out this week's Golden Hawks at a Glance! #mphawks
https://youtu.be/DdOB0wKUN10
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Mrs. Meier's class is ready to share this extra-sweet episode of MP-West School News! #mphawks
https://youtu.be/klpOaWq2iK8
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Prom season is coming—and you can support it in style!

Mid-Prairie Prom is hosting a fundraiser featuring MP shorts—perfect for workouts, summer, or repping your Hawks pride!

$26 per pair
Orders due by May 4
Pick up at Mid-Prairie High School

Grab yours and help make this year’s prom a great one!
Questions? Contact Megan Neal at mneal@mphawks.org
or 319-646-6091.
#mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
Order Form: Mid-Praiire Prom Fundraiser Item #1: ST485-Sport-Tek Repeat 7" Short $26/short; +$2 for 2XL, +$# for 3XL-4XL Colors: Black Item #2: LST485-Women's Repeat 3.5" Short $26/short; +$2 for 2XL, +$3 for 3XL-4XL Color: Black Item #1 SM, MD, Lg, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL Item #2 SM, MD, Lg, XL, 2XL, 3XL, 4XL Please make checks payable to Mid-Prairie Community School District Name: Phone Number: Please have orders turned into Megan Neal by 5/4/2026 mneal@mphawks.org 319-646-6091 All orders will need to be picked up from Mid-Prairie High School
Congratulations to MPHS Student of the Week, Jaxson Gingerich! Jaxson was nominated by Mrs. Mercer, "It is a joy to have Jaxson in class. He's kind, respectful, and hardworking. He consistently puts his full effort into everything he does, and it shows in his success. He does a great job of balancing his schoolwork with his extracurricular activities. He's an all-around great person and sets a strong example for those around him." Great job, Jaxson! #mphawks
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
MPHS Student of the Week Congrats, Jaxson! with photo of Jaxson Gingerich
Congratulations to our MPMS April Students of the Month! Great work leading by example. #mphawks
5th Grade - Max
6th Grade - Jenna
7th Grade - Gloria
8th Grade - Willa
about 2 months ago, Mid-Prairie School District
MPMS April Student of the Month Max 5th Grade Max is a wonderful student who consistently demonstrates kindness and consideration toward his peers. He produces quality work and serves as an excellent role model for following classroom expectations. His positive attitude and willingness to help classmates create a supportive learning environment for everyone.
MPMS April Student of the Month Jenna 6th Grade Jenna demonstrates a positive and supportive attitude in class. She is always willing to work with others and is a role model for her peers. As her confidence has increased this year she has grown into a leadership role by participating more in class discussions and producing exemplary work. She always gives attention to detail and her full effort. Great job, Jenna!
MPMS April Student of the Month Gloria 7th Grade Gloria always strives to do her best work, and encourages others to do as well. She is always respectful, kind and considerate of others. She is a great role model for others!
MPMS April Student of the Month Willa 8th Grade Willa is respectful to peers, staff, and always shows a willingness to assist others around her. She is supportive of her peers and always participates in class discussion. She has done a great job asking good questions in class, staying off of FLEX, and she always comes to school with a positive attitude.