The News

Mid-Prairie

VOTER GUIDE -- MID-PRAIRIE SCHOOL BOARD

MID-PRAIRIE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 seats, 4-year terms Michael Burns This is my first time running. I have four main priorities, and they are school safety, student excellence, staff …

The Mid-Prairie sociology class is proud to present the Staff Walk of Fame!

Mid-Prairie students launch Staff Walk of Fame project

The Mid-Prairie sociology class has something exciting in the works! The class was recently challenged to design a project that could improve the school, community, county, or even the state of Iowa...

Shelter C in Kalona City Park got a major upgrade this summer; student builders gained invaluable experience.

Reconstructing Shelter C: Kalona’s student builders lay a foundation for life

This summer’s student-built projects in Kalona included more than just the construction of a house; Shelter C in Kalona City Park saw some serious renovations too. “We took this building and …

The student-built duplex currently under construction at 502 A Avenue at the end of August 2025.

Kalona’s student built housing program is ever evolving, and that’s a good thing for our next generation of builders

Imagine starting a new job as a news reporter, where you’re told there’s this big story about a downtrodden house in Kalona that was purchased by the City, which then assembled a group of high …

Highland

VOTER GUIDE -- HIGHLAND SCHOOL BOARD

RIVERSIDE Four candidates, including current board president Nate Robinson and board appointee Aaron Friederich, are running unopposed for Highland School Board seats in the Nov. 4 …

Loss of federal funds affects Highland’s financing of nutritional programs

RIVERSIDE A loss of some federal school money has contributed to Highland Community Schools dipping into other funds to pay for the district’s nutritional programs for students. The …

Highland’s Boom Night set for Ainsworth; football program paused

RIVERSIDE Homecoming was this past week at Highland Schools. But there wasn’t a football game. Also, Boom Night on Wednesday was moved to Ainsworth, from Riverside, due to …

Highland School Board approves van, copiers in special meeting

RIVERSIDE The Highland School Board held a special meeting Monday to approve purchases of a school van and also two copiers and printing software. Board members approved the purchase of a …

Lone Tree

VOTER GUIDE -- LONE TREE SCHOOL BOARD

LONE TREE COMMUNITY SCHOOL DISTRICT 3 seats, 4-year terms Christina Magruder Christina Magruder did not respond to requests by The News for inclusion in this question-and-answer …

The full staff of Lone Tree Community School District.

2025-26 School Year Begins!

Backpacks and Big Smiles

And we’re off! A new school year began on Monday, Aug. 25, and students at Highland, Hillcrest, Lone Tree and Mid-Prairie embraced it 100%.

Lone Tree aims high with academic goals, major facility projects

As a new school year begins, the Lone Tree Community School District is looking ahead at how it might better prepare students for college, careers, and life beyond school. Engaging and effective …

Hillcrest Academy

Hillcrest Academy enrollment triples since adding middle school

Hillcrest Academy has been a part of the Kalona community since 1945. Over the decades, the school has steadily expanded, but a major turning point came after the 2023–2024 school year...

Nate Miller trades math classroom for principal’s office at Hillcrest

KALONA Nate Miller had recently completed a Principal Leadership Program for administrative licensure in March when Dwight Gingerich, technically his boss at the time at Hillcrest Academy, …

Math teacher Nate Miller named interim Head of School at Hillcrest

KALONA Nate Miller, a 1996 Iowa Mennonite School graduate and a math teacher at Hillcrest Academy the last three years, has been named interim Principal and Head of School at Hillcrest for the …

At Highland, L-R: Hayley Wright (Hills Bank), School Board member Nate Robinson, and Cindy Michel (Hills Bank).

Hills Bank donates more than $8,400 to area schools

Since its inception in 2004, Hills Bank’s Classroom Cash® program has donated over $1.56 million to all schools in the program, supporting programs and services that enhance student educational …

Photo Galleries

Mid-Prairie Elementary Trunk or Treat

The Highland Huskies' Homecoming King and Queen: Brody Miller and Adeline Krotz.

Highland Huskies Homecoming 2024

Band Night

The Mid-Prairie band took the field for a terrific halftime performance on Senior Night, October 11.

The marching band and color guard led off the homecoming parade on Wednesday, Sept. 11

Mid-Prairie Homecoming 2024

Photo gallery: Lone Tree graduation 2024

LONE TREE The Lone Tree Community School District hosted it's graduation ceremony on Sunday, May 26. Here, Valedictorian Ethan Bockelman, and X, the student who had the second best …