Pride and Progress, Mar. 8

Youth&ProgressPride

Field Day is a popular end-of-year treat for students at Garfield Elementary School in Clarinda. These boys are giving it their all in a tug-o-warmatch held during last year’s Field Day exercises. The event is not sponsored by any particular local organization, but groups like the Clarinda Parent-Teacher Association are heavily involved in school activities.

The Horse Show is one of the most heavily participated-in events at the PageCounty Fair each year. Young equestrians engage in a number of horsemanshipand agility events to show off their handling skills.

Page County 4-H

Extensionprogram isbeneficial tokids... 77CC

Daycare Programs

State’s QRSprogram isbenefit toparents... 66CC

Service Clubs

Clarindaclubs bandtogether forkids... 44CC

Scouting

Boy Scouts,Girl Scoutsoffer manybenefits... 33CC

Introduction

Clarinda kidshave manyfun activitiesto do... 22CC

The miniature Ferris Wheel at the Page County Fair is one of themost popular attractions for area children. It is hosted by localLions as a fundraiser for its blindness prevention efforts.

The Clarinda Optimist Club sponsors the annual Ghost Walk heldon the Page County Courthouse Square in Clarinda. Hundreds ofchildren take part in the annual event.

Clarinda has an extensive summer baseball and soft-ball program in which hundreds of area youth partici-pate. Local businesses and the Clarinda Lied Centersponsor the program while the Clarinda Optimist Clubhosts the Little Sluggers T-ball program.

While he’s not yet old enough to be a Cub Scout, thisyoung man shows his enthusiasm for the champion atthe annual Pinewood Derby held by Clarinda-areascouts.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

2C &ProgressPride

“In this week’sinstallment ofPride & Progress,we explore a num-ber of thoseorganizations andhow they improvethe lives of localyouth. I encour-age you to learnmore about them,and if you findone that is inter-esting to you, tryit out.”

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BOB ESCHLIMANPublisher

If you’re a kid inClarinda, there is so muchto do, it’s a wonder our chil-dren aren’t wearing them-selves out from the overac-tivity of it all.

You could say it’s a bitlike the old saying, “It’s likebeing a kid in a candystore.”

But, I’m reminded of myown youth and very busyschedule I led. So, I guess itkind of comes with the ter-ritory.

If organized sports isyour thing, the ClarindaLied Center offers a numberof fun activities throughout

the year. They include soc-cer, volleyball, basketball,swimming, baseball, andsoftball.

Personally, I picked upthe sport of baseball at theage of 5, and continuedplaying it even after I grad-uated from high school. Istarted out as a centerfielderand catcher and graduallyworked my way around thefield over the course of 15years in the sport.

So, I fully understand theexcitement of hearing theumpire yell out, “Playball!” And, I also know alltoo well the passion one canhave for his or her favoritesport.

I later picked up flag

football and basketball. Ieven tried out wrestling andhockey. But, I had a lot ofother interests, too.

And, if you’re a Clarindakid, you’re able to explorejust about any interest youmight have. There are BoyScouts and Girl Scoutsgroups, as well as Awanas,FFA, and 4-H.

In this week’s installmentof Pride & Progress, weexplore a number of thoseorganizations and how theyimprove the lives of localyouth. I encourage you tolearn more about them, andif you find one that is inter-esting to you, try it out.

I’m sure each organiza-tion would love to have

additional volunteers.Personally, I was

involved in both BoyScouts and 4-H in myyouth. I wasn’t an EagleScout and I never qualifieda project for the State Fair,but I enjoyed the socialinteractions, the communityservice, and the challengesboth groups presented.

Later in life, helping kidsbecame one of the things Iliked to do most. I coachedyouth sports, like flag foot-ball, basketball, and LittleLeague Baseball. And, Ialso became involved in alocal service organization,Kiwanis.

As you will see in thisweek’s installment of Pride

& Progress, each ofClarinda’s service organiza-tions is deeply committedto improving the lives ofchildren. And, they’vebegun working togethermore than ever before tomake an even biggerimpact.

If you’re not a member ofa local service organizationin Clarinda or the surround-ing area, I would highlyencourage you to do so. It’svery rewarding work.

So, enjoy this week’sinstallment, which barelyscratches the surface of allthe wonderful things thatare happening in our com-munity for the benefit ofour youth.

Being a kid in Clarinda is like the proverbial kid in a candy store


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3C&ProgressPride

As part of a community service project, these Clarinda Cub Scouts cleaned up Foster Park and the surrounding area. Local scouts participate in several community serv-ice projects each year, teaching them valuable life lessons while developing good character.

“I was aBrownie when Iwas a kid and mymom was ourleader. I found outthrough schoolthat Clarinda hadGirl Scouts and Iwanted my girlsto do that too. Iknew it was some-thing they wouldhave fun with andlearn many differ-ent things.”

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KENT DINNEBIEREditor

Scouting is far more thanlearning about camping orselling cookies. Boy Scoutsof America and Girl Scoutsof the USA prepare theirmembers to be good citi-zens and leaders in theircommunity.

Both the Boys Scouts andGirl Scouts programs havea long history of shapingthe lives of the youth inClarinda. That tradition isstill going strong today asapproximately 85 membersare currently involved in theprograms.

Clarinda Pack 202 holdsits Cub Scout meetings atFirst United MethodistChurch in Clarinda on thethird Monday of eachmonth. Meanwhile, thelocal Girl Scouts also meetat the church each Monday.

Jim Lindsay serves asCub Master for Pack 202and said the pack consistsof four dens that are dividedby grade level. The TigerCubs are members in firstgrade; Wolves, secondgrade; Bears, third grade;and Webelos consist ofmembers in fourth and fifthgrade.

“The Webelos are closerto the traditional BoyScouts program and starts

prepping the boys for goinginto the Boy Scouts,”Lindsay said. “Boy ScoutTroop 202 is also based inClarinda. It’s nice to have aBoy Scout Troop in townbecause if the older mem-bers decide they want tokeep going, they don’t haveto go to another town.”

Meanwhile, the GirlScout program in Clarindais open to girls from 5-years-old through seniors inhigh school. The DaisyTroop is for members inkindergarten and firstgrade; Brownies, secondand third grade; Juniors,fourth and fifth grade;Cadettes, sixth througheighth grade; Senior GirlsScouts, high school fresh-men and sophomores; andAmbassador Girl Scouts arejuniors and seniors in highschool.

Cindy Darrah serves as411 Service Unit Manager.The Service Unit consistsof the troops in Clarinda aswell as Essex andShenandoah and is part ofthe Girl Scouts of GreaterIowa.

Both Darrah and Lindsaywere involved with scout-ing when they were youngand have now assumedleadership roles as theirchildren are involved in thelocal programs. Lindsay

said his son, Nathan, joinedthe Tiger Cubs when thefamily lived in Ottumwa.Nathan is now a Webeloand his younger brother,Kaedon, has joined theTiger Cubs. Darrah saidtwo oldest daughters,Maicy and Lindsay, are aCadette and Brownierespectively.

“I was a Brownie when Iwas a kid and my mom wasour leader. I found outthrough school thatClarinda had Girl Scoutsand I wanted my girls to dothat too,” Darrah said. “Iknew it was something theywould have fun with andlearn many differentthings.”

“I remember going to themeetings when I was a CubScout and having fun. Wealso learned about valuesand morals. Today, in thisday and age, kids need thatmore than ever,” Lindsaysaid. “Scouting also allowsthem to do a lot of activitiesthat they normally wouldnot get to do otherwise.”

Besides serving as the411 Service Unit ManagerDarrah has also served as atroop leader for the pastfour years. She leads boththe Brownie troop and theCadette troop her daughtersare members of. Lindsayalso serves as a den leader

for the Tiger Cubs.“I like seeing the kids

every week and seeing howthey change through theprogram. At their first meet-ing they are eager and excit-ed, but not sure what to do.It’s neat to see them growand understand how themeetings work and howthey are supposed to act,”Darrah said.

“Seeing the kids havingfun and gaining new experi-ences has been a blast tosee,” Lindsay said.

While the programs areintended to be fun for themembers, they also teachthe participants importantlife skills like leadership,responsibility and citizen-ship.

Some of the annual proj-ects Clarinda Pack 202undertakes include march-ing in the Clarinda LightedChristmas Parade, cleanupprojects at local parks andits Scouting for Foodcanned food drive.

The most well knownactivity for the Girl Scoutsis its annual cookie salesprogram. In addition, theGirl Scouts assist with thelocal Faith, Food andFellowship program.

The Juniors also held arecent can drive to promoterecycling. Proceeds fromthe event went to purchase

books for the troop mem-bers. Daisies for Change isanother popular programwhere members of thattroop collect change anddonate the proceeds to alocal organization. Lastyear the troop supported theSouthwest Iowa HumaneSociety.

Through activities likethese, Darrah said the mem-bers build their self esteemand learn the importance ofbeing responsible citizens.

“Scouting helps build ourleaders of tomorrow. Theybecome girls with confi-dence and moral character.By being in the scoutingprogram, they also learnright from wrong and howto be respectful when theyare out in the community,”Darrah said. “It teaches thegirls to be tomorrow’s lead-ers and shapes them into thewomen they are going tobe.”

Similarly, Lindsay saidthe Boy Scouts program isstill centered on the familyand teaching the values thatwill make the members pro-ductive members of theircommunity.

“It’s a great organiza-tion,” Lindsay said. “It’snice to have an organizationfor young people withfounding principles likethat.”

Scouting in Clarinda is about far more than camping, cookies

Girl Scouts don’t just spend their time selling cookies. They meet regularly and take part in activities that help develop life skills that will be useful to them later in life,regardless of what kind of career path they choose.


4C &ProgressPride

The Clarinda Easter Egg Hunt held on the lawn of the Page County Courthouse each year, is sponsored by the Clarinda Kiwanis Club. It is one of many youth-orientedactivities the club hosts or sponsors throughout the year. All of the community’s service organizations, including the Lions, Optimists, and Rotarians, are directly engagedin programs and activities that enrich the lives of local children.

“We startedthinking aboutwhich [project] wecould work onfirst. Since this isthe first try atdoing somethingtogether, it shouldbe something wecan accomplish.”

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EMILY GOWINGStaff Writer

The body is made up ofmany parts and yet it is aunit; though each part per-forms a different function,it functions best when itworks as one.

So it is with Clarinda’sfour service clubs. TheKiwanis Club and OptimistClub work hand in handwith the community’s chil-dren, providing activitiesand holiday events, givingeducational courses in safe-ty and equipping them withresources to further theireducation and learning. TheRotary Club works in simi-lar ways as it providesopportunities for studentsof all ages to continue serv-ing and learning in theircommunity. The Lions Clubis a service-based organiza-tion just like the others butwidens its focus to theneeds of the community asa whole, to helping andhealing those with materialand physical needs.

“We’re not in competi-tion,” said Rotary Clubmember Bob Keefer. “Weare all for other serviceclubs in Clarinda.” In fact,the four clubs have justrecently begun workingtogether on a project thatwill cover both safety andenvironmental issues.

Keefer spoke at theKiwanis installation ban-quet in November and chal-lenged the service clubs towork together for the bene-fit of the community, doingsomething bigger than anyof them could accomplishon its own, said KiwanisClub past president ElaineArmstrong.

The CollaborativeCommunity Service beganmeeting last fall and cameup with a list of three proj-ects they would like to seeaccomplished in Clarinda.The requirements forArmstrong were that theproject would benefit chil-dren.

“We’re in the infancy

stages of the CCS,”Armstrong said. “I wasproud of Bob [Keefer] forsuggesting it.”

The three projects, anactivity and bike trail, statepark and art center, were all“huge projects. They’d takethousands of dollars andyears to accomplish,” saidArmstrong, who is current-ly researching and studyingthe ways in which othercommunities haveapproached and accom-plished large projects likethat.

“We started thinkingabout which [project] wecould work on first,” saidRotary Club presidentKathleen Keefer. “Sincethis is the first try at doingsomething together, itshould be something wecan accomplish.”

With the decision made,Keefer wrote a grant to thePage County CommunityFoundation requestingmoney for pet waste con-tainers and trash receptaclesto be placed around theboulevard.

If funded, the “WalkClarinda Day” projectwould be held this summerwith community membersspeaking on the importanceof walking safely on theboulevard at night, withchildren in strollers andwith pets.

After the presentationsthe community members inattendance would then walkthe boulevards together.

After finding out aboutthe grant money in lateMarch, the CCS will beable to continue makingplans for “Walk ClarindaDay” or switch gears byworking on one of the manyprojects on their list.

CCS meets the thirdMonday of each month atnoon at J’s Pizza andSteakhouse.

Kiwanis ClubA test of success for the

Clarinda Kiwanis Club isthe direct impact theirorganization has on chil-

dren.That measuring stick

covers a whole range ofthings from safety and pre-vention for school-agedchildren to holiday eventsfor those same kids andthose who are younger.

The annual Easter EggHunt held on the PageCounty courthouse lawnand the annual lightedChristmas parade whichtakes place around thesquare are just two of theyearly events that theKiwanis Club sponsors forthe community and itsyouth.

Aside from the fun thattakes place in each of theseholiday seasons, theKiwanis Club looks afterthe needs of children inboth preventative and after-math manners.

By providing theDepartment of HumanServices, the Clarindapolice staff and the Clarindarescue squad with what’sknown as Kiwanis KaresBears, children who arefound in frightening situa-tions can have a tangiblesign of hope and a softsource of comfort to clingto.

The Clarinda KiwanisClub also provides DHSwith backpacks filled withbasic hygiene supplies incase a child is ever removedfrom his or her home and inneed of emergency supplieslike shampoo or a tooth-brush.

Former president ElaineArmstrong said her favoriteproject the club sponsors isthe bike helmet program atGarfield Elementary, theLutheran School and SouthPage elementary.

Third graders from theseschools are fitted with andgiven a new bike helmetand taught bike safety tipssuch as what side of thestreet to ride one and whatto do when riding at night.

“We send them out withthe proper safety tools,”Armstrong said. “Theywear their helmets to pro-tect their brains. We provide[the helmets] and the propereducation to go with them.”

Another preventativemeasure is taken in Marchof each year when Chief ofPolice Keith Brothers fin-gerprints each Garfield Ele-mentary second grader toprovide them with ID cards.Each ID card will have thechild’s name and descrip-tive characteristics printednext to the fingerprint incase a child is ever lost.

“We hope no one willever have to use them,”Armstrong said.

While many of the pro-

grams are more or lesshands-off for the 25Kiwanis Club members,there is a few that enablethe members to have directinteraction with Clarinda’schildren, to show and notjust say that they care.

Adopt a Preschool is oneof those programs. Eachmonth, club members visitDeb Nelson’s preschoolclass at GarfieldElementary to do crafts andenjoy refreshments.

As their motto says,Kiwanis is a global organi-zation of volunteers dedi-cated to changing the worldone child and one commu-nity at a time.

Lions ClubSome service clubs have

a reputation for their focuson education, some for theirfocus on the environment;the Clarinda Lions Club hasa reputation for their pan-cakes and couldn’t be moreproud.

“What we’re most proudof is our pancakes,” saidClarinda Lions Club presi-dent Jerry Jones. “We’reknown around the area forhaving really nice pan-cakes.”

It’s not just the pancakesthat make the Lions Clubwhat it is, but the reasonbehind all their batter, but-ter and syrup.

One of the Lions Club’sbiggest events of the year isthe pancake breakfast heldat the fire station each Junefor the band members par-ticipating in the annualGlenn Miller Festival.

Second in tow is the pan-cake breakfast held for theClarinda Band Jamboreeeach October.

Aside from community-based events, members ofthe Lions Club have offeredtheir pancake services tolocal businesses such asGrandma’s House Daycarefor different fundraisingevents.

While the Clarinda LionsClub is celebrated for their

pancakes, they are alsoactive in service projectsand preventative measuresthat Lions ClubInternational boasts as itsmission.

Community service is akey part of what the LionsClub is about. From pickingup trash in area parks topainting park benches andraking leaves, Jones and hishandful of club membersare dedicated to the beauti-fication of Clarinda’s out-doors.

The primary project theLions Club Internationalhas devoted itself to overthe years is working to endpreventable blindness. Thisis done through a variety ofservices which include pro-viding vision screening forpreschool students andrecycling old eye glasses.

Clarinda’s club partnerswith this international mis-sion by working with elder-ly people who are losing orhave lost some of theirhearing and vision. TheLions Club also has a LionsLeader dog to aid Clarindaresidents who are legallyblind.

Jones, who has beenpresident since June of2011, has been a part of theDistrict 9SW ClarindaLions Club since he movedto Clarinda six years ago.

“We’ve got a fairly goodclub,” Jones said. “We’rejust needing numbers.We’ve lost some very valu-able members throughdeath and moving away.”

He and the 10 presentmembers of the Lions Clubare currently in the earlyplanning stages forClarinda non-profit organi-zations to publicly displaytheir emblems and logos fortown members and passers-by to see the good thatClarinda has to offer.

The club, which waschartered in May of 1946, isin its 65th year of servingClarinda and the surround-

Clarinda’s service organizations work together to help kids


While the Clarinda Lighted Christmas Parade, sponsored by theClarinda Kiwanis Club, is not necessarily a child-oriented project, itis very popular with children in Clarinda, as well as those acrosssouthwest Iowa.

Clarinda’s Lions Club is well known for its “world-famous pan-cakes,” which they frequently serve at fundraisers for club projectsor for local community endeavors, like their annual pancake feed tobenefit Grandma’s House Daycare.

SERVICE see page 5C

5C&ProgressPride Thursday, March 8, 2012

Service: Clubs donate time, resources to improve lives of local children

ing areas. It meets at 6:30p.m. on the first and thirdWednesday of every monthat J’s Pizza and Steakhouse.

Optimist ClubFormed in 2007, the

Clarinda Optimist Club hasplanted its roots and growndeeply involved with theyouth in town.

Optimist president DebMarlin is proud of theclub’s commitment to“bringing out the best inkids,” as the OptimistInternational motto goes.

In order to do this, Marlinand her team of membershave worked to bringnumerous activities and funlearning experiences to thearea children as well asannual programs and acts ofservice that honor workingcommunity members andwar veterans alike.

From the Clarinda GhostWalk at Halloween timewhen children can dress up

and walk the square withtheir parents and receivecandy and trinkets fromlocal businesses to theHalloween Hay Rack Ridearound the boulevard, theClarinda Optimist Club hasmade the Halloween holi-day a season of fun in thedaytime when kids can besafe and centralized in onepublic area.

The Optimist Club is alsomaking Christmastime aspecial season for childrenaround the area by sponsor-ing families in need so theycan buy gifts for their kidsand cook the much sought-after holiday food.

By joining forces withthe Rotary Club ofClarinda, the Optimist Clubis helping to sponsor abaseball little league forchildren who aren’t oldenough to participate in theLied Center’s summerleague. The Little Sluggershas been a well-attendedevent in past summers forboth young boys and girls

wanting to burn off someenergy and try their hand atbat.

During registration forthe 2011 Little SluggersLeague, the Optimist Clubdecreased the sign-up feeby two dollars for each fooditem donated. At the end ofregistration, 35 pounds offood was donated to thelocal food pantry due to theOptimist’s organization andthe parents’ involvement.

And it’s not just theyoung children that theOptimist Club is benefittingthrough their numerousactivities, but high schoolgraduating seniors as wellby providing scholarshipsto selected Clarinda gradu-ates each May.

Clarinda teachers havededicated their careers toenabling children to grow ina safe and fun environmentby encouraging and fight-ing for the success of eachchild that passes throughtheir doors. Because of this,the Optimist Club whosemission is the same as thatof the teachers, supportsand honors teachers with anannual teachers’ luncheonto give back to the men andwomen who give toClarinda’s youth each day.

The teachers support theyouth just as our war veter-ans have supported ourcountry and the OptimistClub makes sure to honoreach fallen and living veter-an in a special way numer-ous times each year.

From the summertimeFourth of July celebrationsto the anniversary of 9/11and each veteran-relatedday of honor in between,

the Optimist Club sets upthe Avenue of Flags to com-memorate the sacrificesmade for our country.

As Marlin said,“Optimists are doing greatthings.”

Rotary ClubThe Clarinda Rotary

Club is dedicated to servingthe Clarinda communitythrough the venue of educa-tion.

From enabling youngschool-aged children toread to supporting a gradu-ating senior with a collegescholarship, the RotaryClub is involved with stu-dents from the beginning oftheir education to the end.

Bob Keefer, a formerpresident and current mem-ber of the Rotary Club, stat-ed that one of their maingoals is to improve literacy.In order to do this, TheRotary Club has set up anannual Dictionary Projectwhen they donate dictionar-ies to Clarinda second

graders at both GarfieldElementary and theClarinda Lutheran School.

There are ongoingfundraisers throughout eachschool year to help raisemoney for the dictionaries.In February 2012, theRotary Club donated 96dictionaries to young read-ers in Clarinda.

The Rotary Scholarshipis awarded each year to onegraduating senior fromClarinda High School whohas participated in Rotaryevents, attended at least onemeeting and has written anessay about what Rotaryservice means and how ithas aided people on a glob-al scale.

Kidron Meyer, a 2011CHS graduate, was therecipient of last year’sRotary Club scholarship.While attending IWCC inClarinda this school year,Meyer decided to give backto the club that aided with

Continued from 4C

The Clarinda Ghost Walk is sponsored each year by the ClarindaOptimist Club. Children from throughout the area dress up in theirHalloween costumes and parade around the Page CountyCourthouse Square, collecting candy and other goodies.

The Henkeville Train, sponsored by the Clarinda Rotary Club, isone of the most popular amusements for children during the PageCounty Fair. The train runs each evening, non-stop, throughout thecourse of the fair.

SERVICE see page 8C

The Santa’s House set up on the Page County Courthouse Square in Clarinda each holiday season is a delight most Clarinda-area youth look forward to. The projectoriginated with the Clarinda Optimist Club and was later adopted by the Clarinda Lions Club. The service organizations in Clarinda all are focused on improving the lives ofchildren, both locally and globally.

6C &ProgressPride

Sherry Streiner works in the infant room at Grandma’s House Daycare in Clarinda. It is one of several highly rated preschool and daycare programs in the community, asrated by the state’s Qualty Rating System.

“I want toknow what I cando to improve myprogram. I’malways looking fornew ways toteach.”

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EMILY GOWINGStaff Writer

Choosing childcare andsending your children topreschool can be intimidat-ing and even nerve-wrack-ing for first-time parents.Release your breath; yourchildren are in great hands.

Grandma’s HouseDaycare, ClarindaCommunity Preschools andGarfield Preschool havebeen recognized by theIowa Department of HumanServices for their qualityservices in child care andpreschool classrooms.

In March 2011Grandma’s House Daycarereceived a Level 4 on theIowa Department of HumanServices Quality RatingSystem, the second-bestrating an Iowa daycare canattain.

Attaining a Level 5 is“very hard work,”Grandma’s House Daycaredirector Julie Streitenbergersaid. And becauseGrandma’s House is set upto hold 16 kids per roomrather than the desired eightkids per room according toaccreditation requirementsby the National Associationfor the Education of YoungChildren, it’s likely never toreach that top level.

The application processis a thorough and nearlynever-ending process butfor Streitenberger, it’s achallenge she’s willing totake.

“With a facility like this,you have to do what willkeep the doors open,” shesaid.

When being evaluated forQRS levels, daycares andpreschools are assessed ona variety of aspects involv-ing the staff, leadership,environment, health andsafety of the center.

“If we don’t have meas-ures to look for we’d

remain stagnate,” she said.According to the

Department of HumanServices, Level 1 child careproviders meet the basicstate requirements for childcare center licensing. Thisincludes criminal and childabuse record checks.

Level 1 centers will beregulated by the DHS orDepartment of Educationand may only remain atLevel 1 for one year.

Level 2 programs workwith the Iowa Departmentof Public Health in consult-ing with a certified childcare nurse, provide orienta-tion for all staff membersprior to beginning work,perform self-assessments ofthe staff members and thecenter as well as assuringthat each room has at leastone staff member in it at alltimes.

In addition to meeting allthe requirements for Levels1 and 2, center directorsperform a self-assessmentand submit paperwork stat-ing for which level theybelieve their center is quali-fied.

The program is then eval-uated on a points-based sys-tem and must earn between17-34 extra points.

As a Level 4 QRS,Grandma’s House receivedbetween 27-33 points fornumerous things includingemploying staff memberswho have training ordegrees in child care andchildhood education relat-ing specifically to the agegroup with which they areworking.

A bachelor’s degree inearly childhood education,like the one Streitenbergerhas, is worth 20 points inthe professional develop-ment assessment.

According to DHS, eachstaff member at a centermust indicate the highestapplicable education and

experience qualification.The total points of all staffwould then be divided bythe number of staff.

With 15 full-time staffmembers, the 20 pointsawarded forStreitenberger’s degreequickly dwindled to veryfew.

In this way, the ratingsystem challenges daycaresand preschools to seek outemployees with qualityeducation and hours ofexperience.

Points are also awardedfor the center having devel-oped and implemented anemergency preparednessplan.

Maggie Nordland, direc-tor of Special Programs atClarinda CommunitySchools, affirms that theQRS rating is a symbol ofexcellence in that it shows“the community we are safeand that we do have thingsin place in case there’s anemergency.”

Clarinda’s public pre-school at GarfieldElementary attained a Level3 rating for the 2011-2012school year and has the nec-essary paperwork preparedto apply for and attain aLevel 4 for next year.

“It’s a long process,”Nordland said, “a very longprocess.”

Certification expiresevery two years and assuch, there is only a shortgrace period when directorsaren’t working on applica-tion paperwork. Nordlandsaid she has been workingthrough the whole schoolyear to document every-thing necessary for theLevel 4, but believes that“Level 5 is just too muchpaperwork.”

Clarinda CommunityPreschool administratorJulia Cavin sees the directbenefit of all the work putinto her Level 3 application

and the benefits that havecome since. “I want toknow what I can do toimprove my program,” shesaid. “I’m always lookingfor new ways to teach.”

Under the QRS program,program directors areoffered guidance and direc-tion to continue to improvethe quality of childcare andeducation.

Although QRS is notrequired by the state ofIowa, it is a beneficial pro-gram, both for the providersand the families they assist.

Parents see that the cen-ters offer programs ofexcellence. And, inClarinda, children attendingthe three QRS-certifiedcenters receive tuition assis-tance grant money fromCorner CountiesEmpowerment.

“Preschool is expensive,”Nordland said, “but we surewant kids in there so theylearn what they need toknow for kindergarten.”

Cavin agrees. It took a lotof work to attain the Level 3her program has but even ifit wasn’t required by CornerCounties Empowerment toprovide her students withtuition assistance, Cavinsaid she would completethe QRS certification any-way.

“It helps parents decidewhere to sign their childrenup,” she said. “It gives theman option of quality serv-ice.”

Cavin knows that kinder-garten preparation is just asimportant as quality serv-ice. As such, she is alwaysadjusting her curriculum tomake sure the students arekindergarten ready.

As a part of the publicschool system, Nordlandbelieves her program haspositive aspects for parentsto look at in addition to theQRS Level.

Working alongside other

elementary staff, Garfieldpreschool teacher DebNelson knows exactly whather students will need toknow before they enterkindergarten. Not only that,but the children are alreadyattending school where theywill be for the next nineyears. “It’s a good transitionfor our kids to be in thatbuilding,” Nordland said.

From the many benefitsthat QRS-certified centersreceive, Corner CountiesEmpowerment tuition assis-tance and the money award-ed by DHS for accreditationare among the most tangi-ble.

When Grandma’s HouseDaycare jumped from aLevel 3 to a Level 4 theyreceived a $2400 achieve-ment bonus.

While remaining at thesame level at every two-year renewal, that numberis cut in half. In the grandscheme of things,Streitenberger said, that$1200 every two yearsdoesn’t amount to much.

Garfield Preschool, how-ever, is applying their Level3 bonus of $600 to get aSmartBoard in the pre-school classroom. “Themoney is good,” Nordlandsaid. “It’s worth the workfor Levels 1-4.”

While the QRS programis an accredited certifica-tion that shows parents andcommunity members thatthese daycares andpreschools provide safe andexcellent environments, thenecessity and value of thecertification is debatedabout due to the amount ofwork that it requires.

“These accreditations arenot an easy thing; thepaperwork is unbelievable,”Nordland stated. She addedit does help parents know aquality program before theyput their children in it,though.

Clarinda-area daycares benefit from state’s QRS program


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“We have a lotof 4-H supportersin the countybecause theorganization didstart here. Weoften see familiesthat have beeninvolved for gen-erations and gen-erations,” Swansonsaid. “We have avery, very strongbase for our pro-gram.You have togrow with societyand the newthings we’ve beenable to offer overthe years havebeen a big plus toour 4-H pro-gram.”

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KENT DINNEBIEREditor

From its roots in a one-room school house in ruralPage County, 4-H hasgrown into an internationalorganization that providesboys and girls the skillsthey need to become strongcommunity leaders.

While serving as ateacher at GoldenrodSchool in FremontTownship in 1901, JessieField Shambaugh estab-lished an after school pro-gram for girls that focusedon homemaking and a

boys’ program concentrat-ing on growing corn. TheBoys Corn Club and GirlsHome Club were the foun-dation of the 4-H programthat is in place today.

Five years later, when“Miss Jessie” as she wasknown to the students, waselected Page CountySuperintendent of Schools,she set about having theteachers at each of the 130one-room schools in thecounty start their own BoysCorn Club and Girls HomeClub. In order to promotefriendly competitionbetween the clubs, she also

organized a Junior Exhibitheld at the Farmers Institutein Clarinda.

In an effort to encouragemore members of the cornclubs to show their work,Field also designed a three-leaf clover pin with a kernelof corn at the center to rep-resent scientific agriculture.The letter “H” was placedon each leaf of the pin. Thethree Hs stood for head,hand and heart. Each boythat exhibited an agricultur-al product was presentedone of the pins.

Soon after, a fourth leafand “H” symbolizing home

was added to the pin to rec-ognize the efforts of themembers of Girls HomeClub. The four-leaf clover isstill the symbol of the mod-ern 4-H organization andthe focus of the clubsremains those four ideals ofhead, hand, heart and home.

For her efforts in estab-lishing those first clubs anddeveloping the ideals theorganization still promotes,Jessie Field Shambaugh isregarded as “The Mother of4-H” and Page County isconsidered the Birthplaceof 4-H. As a result, countyyouth coordinator Debbie

Swanson said the growth ofthe 4-H movement hasdirectly touched many ofthe local residents over thepast century.

“We have a lot of 4-Hsupporters in the countybecause the organizationdid start here. We often seefamilies that have beeninvolved for generationsand generations,” Swansonsaid. “We have a very, verystrong base for our pro-gram. You have to growwith society and the newthings we’ve been able to

Steeped in history, Page County 4-H reaches many in Clarinda

4-H see page 8C

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4-H: Programs provided for youth of all ages, settings in Page Countyoffer over the years havebeen a big plus to our 4-Hprogram.”

Currently, Swanson saidthere are 15 4-H clubs inPage County with approxi-mately 210 total membersranging in age from fourthgraders to seniors in highschool. In addition, PageCounty established theClover Kids program in1994 to introduce kinder-garten through third gradestudents to the ideas of 4-H.Swanson said approximate-ly 30 children are presentlyinvolved in that program.

“So often those kids feltleft out because they had anolder brother or sister whowas in 4-H. Now they canget a preview of 4-H. It’snot competitive at all, butthey can participate in proj-ects like showing bottlecalves and bottle lambswhile also having thesocialization that goes withbeing part of the organiza-

tion,” Swanson said. “Wesee a lot of these kids com-ing back as 4-Hers becauseof the good experience theyhad in the Clover Kids pro-gram.”

While the original 4-Hclubs were intended for therural students attendingone-room schoolhouses, theorganization has steadilyevolved over time to nowinclude rural and urban stu-dents alike.

“A lot of people stillthink of 4-H as a farm relat-ed program, but it has reallybecome geared a lot moretoward kids in town,”Swanson said. “There are alot of specialty clubs andschool enrichment activitiesthat help pull kids in.Whatever you are interestedin, there is an area for youto get involved with so noone should be left out.”

For example, the live-stock shows at the PageCounty Fair used to focusbeef and swine production.However, in recent years

Swanson said the rabbit andpoultry shows have grownin popularity as more andmore city members are rais-ing these smaller animalsfor competition.

Meanwhile, the LadyEagles is a 4-H club for thefemale students at theClarinda Academy. Theclub allowed the students tolearn about such hobbies assewing, baking and photog-raphy and also exhibit theirprojects at the fair.

The Page County 4-HProgram has also designedand delivered 4-HAfterschool program inClarinda, Essex,Shenandoah and SouthPage. The programs sup-ported safe, educational andrespectful learning environ-ments. School enrichmentprograms on topics like bul-lying and character buildinghave also been offered.

Among the specialtyclubs available in PageCounty are the FIRSTLEGO League where mem-

bers learn about engineer-ing by building Lego-basedrobots. The Move andGroove 4-H Club was heldin Clarinda andShenandoah and focused onreducing childhood obesity,while the Kids 4-HCooking Club was alsooffered.

Another popular special-ty club is 4-H Safety andEducation in ShootingSports. Focusing on the dis-ciplines of archery, rifle,shotgun, muzzleloader andwildlife skills the programpromotes hunter safety andproper shooting techniques.

Through their involve-ment in programs and activ-ities like these, Swansonsaid 4-H members learn theimportance of making gooddecisions and communica-tion while developingimportant character traitslike responsibility and lead-ership.

“Our 4-H programs pro-vide a lot of opportunitiesfor the kids. When we are

able to offer programs thatput into practice the fourbasic needs of belonging,mastery, independence andgenerosity we are able tohelp make better citizensfor our community and bet-ter leaders,” Swanson said.“I see a lot of past 4-Hmembers coming back andtaking leadership roles intheir community and oftenthey tell me that if it wasnot for 4-H they would nothave the leadership andcommunication skills theyneed to succeed in thoseroles.”

Therefore, just as JessieField Shambaugh originallyintended, the primary focusof 4-H remains empower-ing youth to reach their fullpotential by working andlearning in partnership withcaring adults.

“It’s not just about win-ning blue ribbons at thecounty fair. It’s what youhave learned along the wayand the person you havebecome,” Swanson said.

Continued from 7C

Service: Kids come firsther college tuition and,according to Keefer, hasnow become a ClarindaRotarian.

The club is about morethan just education, howev-er, as they are involved withthe little league baseballprogram through the LiedCenter each summer bysponsoring a team of youngathletes.

In the past year theRotary Club joined forceswith the Clarinda BoyScouts in painting thebleachers and doing otherimprovement work at thecity ball park.

With their sponsoredbaseball team hitting thediamond and their involve-ment in the Page CountyFair, the summer is an excit-ing time for the ten mem-bers of the Rotary Club.

Not only does the clubsupport the Page CountyFair’s queen contest and theyoung women who preparefor that contest, but it offersone of the free entertain-ment venues for children atthe county fair by drivingthe Henkeville trainthroughout the fairground.

“It’s not a fundraiser,”Keefer said, “we do that asvolunteers to give the littlekids some fun.”

From the local communi-ty to the global community,the Clarinda Rotary Club isa part of a much largerorganization that hasworked to eradicate poliofrom the face of the earth.

With over 34,000 clubs innearly every country world-wide, Rotary Internationalhas gained 1.2 millionmembers who are dedicatedto the ideal of “serviceabove self.”

Continued from 5C

Clarinda Baseball Day is one of the biggest youth-oriented events of the year in the community.Nearly all of the community’s baseball, softball, and T-ball teams compete during an all-day and all-night marathon at Clarinda City Park.

Pride and Progress, Mar. 8

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