Parochial Schools

Gehlen student removed from school after e-threat (03/04/10)
An 18-year-old Gehlen Catholic Schools student who allegedly authored a message threatening other Gehlen students was removed from the school immediately Thursday. The student, an 18-year-old female, sent the alleged message via an electronic communication, according to the Le Mars Police...

Gehlen opens Catholic Schools Week with special Mass (01/29/10)
A Mass at Gehlen Catholic Schools gymnasium at 8:45 a.m. Monday will kick off Catholic Schools Week under the theme, "Dividends for Life." The week will celebrate the life-long impact of a Catholic education. Catholic Schools Week is observed Jan 31 through Feb. 6 and is celebrated by the National Catholic Education Association and schools throughout the Diocese of Sioux City...

Gehlen kindergarten, TK round up dates set (01/25/10)
Plans are underway at Gehlen Catholic School to welcome the classes of 2023 and 2024. Catholic and non-Catholic parents of children who will be 5 years old by December 31, 2010, are invited to an information meeting on from 7-8 p.m. Tuesday, February 23 in the Gehlen Library...

Locals urge legislators to watch medical, school bills (01/18/10)
Plymouth County residents concerned with proposed Iowa laws impacting everything from school dollars to anesthesiology in rural hospitals spent Saturday morning bringing questions before the local legislators. At the Le Mars Public Library, Republicans Sen. Randy Feenstra and Rep. Chuck Soderberg held their first public forum of the year, outlining the beginning of the legislative session and hearing citizens' concerns...

Spring construction set for Gehlen Wellness Center (01/12/10)
What started as a free-standing structure to house a wellness center at Gehlen Catholic Schools will now be an addition to the school's back gym. Construction on the addition is expected to start in the spring, according to Tony Gunter, the school's high school athletic director, teacher and coach...

Gehlen Catholic hosts Veteran's Day Prayer Service (11/09/09)
Gehlen Catholic School will host a Veteran's Day Prayer Service at 8:45 a.m. Wednesday in the Gehlen Catholic gym. Members of the community, past and present servicemen and women and their families are invited to attend the service. Guest speaker will be Gary Tillman, nurse anesthetist at Floyd Valley Hospital in Le Mars. Gary and his wife, Elaine, are the parents of Michelle ('98), Jake ('01) Scott ('03) and David, a senior at Gehlen Catholic...

Two earn Eagle Scout rank with service, leadership (10/16/09)
Mitch Christoffel and Matt Klein were honored at a Court of Honor celebration Sunday, Sept. 27 for earning the highest rank in scouting, the Eagle Scout Award. Christoffel's Eagle Scout service project involved helping design and build a brick border and landscaping around Gehlen Catholic School's electronic sign...

Students may still travel to Honduras despite political turmoil (10/09/09)
For the first time in Gehlen Catholic School's history, two student teams, instead of just one, will travel to Honduras this spring to help connect communities to fresh water supplies. At least that is coordinator Richard Seivert's hope. Honduras has been pummeled by political unrest since June when the country's president, Manuel Zelaya, was deposed after he tried to hold a vote about re-writing the nation's constitution, according to international news reports...

Gehlen students prepare for 2009-10 school year (08/03/09)
After many changes this summer, Gehlen Catholic Schools principals Lorie Nussbaum and Jeff Alesch say Gehlen Catholic is ready for the 2009-2010 school year. Those families who have not completed their registration should stop by the office Monday through Thursday, Aug. 3 through 6, between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 to 3 p.m...

Pastor, brother remembered in scout's eagle project (06/08/09)
Can a 10th grader make a difference? Josh Jurgens did. The Le Mars Community Schools student coordinated the efforts to bring new playground equipment to Grace Lutheran Church and the surrounding neighborhood. And he did it in the memory of two people -- his brother Zachary, who died at the age of nearly 5 in 1991, and his pastor, the Rev. Larry Fett, who died during a youth trip Josh was on in Branson, Mo. in August 2008...

New road by senior center, parking by planned church get council OK (05/21/09)
Le Mars City Council members approved a roughly $225,000 concept plan that will add parking, sewer lines and a public roadway near Le Mars Senior Center, Floyd Valley Apartments, and the planned new St. Joseph Church. The improvements, City Administrator Scott Langel explained, would involve expanding Yoerger Drive, which runs east from Sixth Avenue Northeast between Floyd Valley Apartments and the existing Gehlen Catholic School parking lot...

Gehlen Catholic, LCS graduation is Sunday (05/21/09)
Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community High School seniors will receive their diplomas during commencement ceremonies this Sunday, May 24. Gehlen Catholic's graduation ceremony is at 1:30 p.m. in the school gymnasium. This year's commencement speaker is Karen Schroeder. She was at Gehlen for 14 years, teaching English, speech and drama, retired one year and returned to the school. Although she retired in May 2007, she still frequently substitute teaches at the school...

Volunteers and Sitzmanns honored at Friends of Gehlen Catholic Ball (04/29/09)
Thanksgiving. For many, Thanksgiving is a holiday celebrated in November. But for Gehlen Catholic, this year's Friends of Gehlen Catholic Ball was the kick off for National Volunteer Appreciation Week, April 26-May 2. The gala, held Saturday, April 25, focused on thanking those individuals who give generously of their time, talents, and treasurers to the school...

Gehlen adds section to transitional kindergarten program (04/28/09)
Gehlen Catholic Schools will have a second transitional kindergarten section for the 2009-2010 school year. The Rev. Kevin Richter made the surprise announcement, met with applause and cheers, at the Friends of Gehlen Ball Saturday. The school is in the second year of a three-year pilot program for transitional kindergarten (TK) and currently has 30 students on the list for next year...

Gehlen Ball sure to be 'a Grande Gala' (04/21/09)
There's still time to get tickets for the 2009 Friends of Gehlen Catholic Ball "a Grande Gala" set for this Saturday, April 25. Food, special presentations, and auction and live music highlight the evening which raises money for education of students at Gehlen Catholic Schools...

Gehlen jazz band competes at Iowa Jazz Championships (04/16/09)
The Gehlen Catholic School Jazz I Band made its first ever appearance in the Iowa Jazz Championships Tuesday in Des Moines. Band member Sarah Jentz, a junior, brought home an Outstanding Soloist Award for her solos on alto saxophone during the band's performance...

LCMS, Gehlen Catholic students selected for BVU Honor Band Festival (02/25/09)
Students from Le Mars Community Middle School and Gehlen Catholic Schools will take part in the 28th Annual Buena Vista University Honor Band Festival this Saturday, Feb. 28, in Storm Lake. The following students from Le Mars Community Middle School have been selected to perform in the festival: Ben Meis, oboe; Yashila Permeswaran, bassoon; Emily Ellefson, clarinet; Zach Kooistra, trumpet; Rodrigo Cobian, trumpet; Evan Richards, trombone; Karter Ewing, trombone; Tim Fett, baritone and Rebecca Luksan, percussion. ...

Gehlen TK program making a difference (02/12/09)
A pilot program for transitional kindergarten (TK) is in its second year at Gehlen Catholic Schools and is giving children the boost needed to prepare them for kindergarten. "This is something that has been requested by parents for more than 15 years," said Gehlen Catholic Elementary principal Lorie Nussbaum said. School officials decided to do a three-year pilot program to see how it would work...

Local soldiers will protect the commander in chief (01/15/09)
It's a duty the Iowa National Guard has never been called upon for before. About 85 soldiers in the Iowa Army National Guard will help with security during President-elect Barack Obama's inauguration in Washington D.C. January 20. "It's a pretty big deal," said Private First Class Jesse Olson, of Le Mars. "Being as historic as (this election) is, it's really, really exciting. It's a pretty big honor to be chosen for it."...

A year to remember: Top stories of 2008 (12/30/08)
Editor's note: This is the first of two stories recapping 2008's top stories in the Daily Sentinel. 10. O'Keefe stabs, kills a man A butcher knife to the chest led to the death of Sam Toliver, 32, Jan. 24, 2008. Jody O'Keefe, 35, most recently of Le Mars, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter and other charges and was sentenced to 40 years in prison. ...

Gehlen Catholic to hold Veteran's Day Prayer Service Nov. 11 (11/10/08)
Gehlen Catholic School invites the community, past and present service men and women, and their families to a Veteran's Day Prayer Service at 8:45 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 11, in the Gehlen Catholic gymnasium. The prayer service will educate students and guests alike as to the definition of a veteran and the meaning of the folding of the flag for a fallen soldier...

Gehlen's Fall Service Day benefits those who give (11/05/08)
Every year, there are a variety of individuals who call for Gehlen Catholic's fall service day -- graduates of Gehlen Catholic's predecessor, St. Joseph School; past staff; those who are ill or sick; Cluster parishioners; family members; and more. Every service day call teaches Gehlen Catholic students an important lesson. However, one of this year's lessons will not be taught be a "certified teacher" at Gehlen Catholic School. Instead, they are "humble and loving servants."...

Saggau shares stories of inspiration to motivate students (09/26/08)
"Make good choices" was the message Bernie Saggau shared with Le Mars students in grades four through 12 Thursday. "The freedom of choice is to be what you want to be," Saggau said. "The more education you have, the more choices you have." Saggau, past executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association (IHSSA), was invited by Le Mars Community Schools (LCS) to talk about his life experiences to inspire LCS and Gehlen Catholic School students...

Young to be comissioned for ministry in ELCA (09/26/08)
When Marcia Young graduated from high school, she wanted to attend seminary to become a pastor. There was only one roadblock: the Lutheran church was not yet ordaining women as pastors at that time. Instead, she went to college, majoring in business and theology, married and became a mother, and always remained active in her church...

Gehlen Catholic opens homecoming week with special mass (09/26/08)
Students, staff, parents and alumni at Gehlen Catholic Schools will start their 2008 homecoming activities with a special Homecoming Mass at 8:45 a.m. Monday, Sept. 29, at St. Joseph Church in Le Mars. Presiding at the mass will be two priests, both 1953 graduates of the last class from St. Joseph School, Father Gene Sitzmann and and Rick Sitzmann...

Iowa native earned students' trust teaching on reservation (09/25/08)
Maria Valen remembers her former Crow and Cheyenne students fondly, especially this week -- Native American Heritage Week. Valen, a new high school English teacher at Gehlen Catholic School, spent two years prior to coming to Le Mars educating American Indian students in Montana...

Group seeks people to 'Think outside the car' (09/19/08)
More than half the students at Le Mars schools drive or ride in a car to school every day, according to a recent survey. But a group of locals are looking into other options, and they want your help. Locals are invited to a Safe Routes to School meeting 5 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 23 at the Le Mars Convention Center to talk about the possibility of starting a Safe Routes to School program in Le Mars...

'Pride Night' promotes school activities Monday (08/22/08)
"Pride Night" will be shining with school colors Monday as students, parents, and fans from Le Mars Community and Gehlen Catholic Schools celebrate their schools and extra-curricular activities students participate in. "Pride Night will kick off the new school year and promote school unity. Pride Night is a great way for Le Mars area residents to show their support for Gehlen Catholic and Le Mars Community students," KLEM Radio operations director Dave Ruden said. There is no admission charge...

New teachers prepare for first day at Gehlen Catholic School (08/14/08)
Gehlen Catholic Schools are welcoming three new faces to their faculty for the 200-2009 school year. A new Spanish teacher, a math teacher and an English teacher are preparing their classrooms for students' first day next week. Elizabeth Rogers Elizabeth Rogers of Blair, Neb. will start her teaching career at Gehlen Catholic High School this fall. A recent graduate of Northwestern College in Orange City, Rogers will teach high school Spanish levels 1-4...

Registration open at Gehlen until Aug. 13 (08/04/08)
Registration is underway at Gehlen Catholic Schools for the 2008-09 school year and will continue through Aug. 13. Families may stop at the school during regular office hours of Monday through Thursday, between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., to purchase lunch tickets, bus passes, activities tickets and pay tuition...

Merrill's before- and after-school program on hold (07/31/08)
What began as a great opportunity for the Merrill may not be ready in time when classes resume this fall. Throughout the past year, the town has been working to develop a before- and after-school program to provide activities and supervision for students whose parents work longer than school hours...

School's out forever (07/10/08)
A Le Mars landmark for more than a century was demolished Wednesday. St. Joseph School, completed in 1905, was torn down to make way for a new Catholic church. A handful of the more than 2,000 students that studied in the building's classrooms gathered Wednesday to take pictures and watch the school be reduced to a pile of rubble...

Meals packed in Le Mars reach Honduras (07/08/08)
Two containers full of dry meals, many packed at the Kids Against Hunger event at Gehlen Catholic School in May, are reaching their destinations in Honduras. The first container of 285,000 meals was delivered at the end of June to Montana de la Flor, a remote region populated by a group of native Hondurans...

American Legion Auxiliary announce winners of Poppy Poster Contest (05/21/08)
Sixth grade students at Gehlen Catholic School showed their support of veterans of all wars by participating in the American Legion Auxiliary's annual Poppy Poster contest. Poppy Week is usually observed as the week that ends on the Saturday before Memorial Day. However, Gehlen Catholic sixth graders learned about it earlier as part of a unit on good poster design in art class in preparation for the American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Poster Contest, under the direction of Beth Schlichte...

Volunteers needed for food-packing event (04/25/08)
Two hours of your life can translate into hundreds of meals for malnourished people around the world. Gehlen Catholic School is seeking volunteers and sponsors for this year's Kids Against Hunger food-packaging project, planned for Friday, May 9. Volunteers will work alongside students and staff to pack, weigh and seal bags of dried rice and protein meals which will be shipped overseas, mainly to Honduras...

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