Summer "fun" at school: We're working hard this summer cleaning and fixing up the school in preparation for the 2014-2015 school year which begins Tuesday, August 26th. In advance of that, new student registration was Tuesday, August 12th. Some of us are on limited work schedule right now, while our custodians are throughout the building working hard painting walls, stripping and waxing floors, cleaning carpets, and a lot more. Access to the building should be pre-arranged if needed, as doors may be locked. Other summer projects include some building system maintenance, new security doors for our four primary access points, and beefing up our video surveillance camera system throughout the building and grounds.

   We're on limited availability during the summer. Best access is via the north side doors into the Commons. If you're stuck outside and can't get in, please call 468-2267 or 9383 for access. Staff and teachers are regularly checking their email. Have a great summer!

Congratulations to Mr. Cody Davis, 3rd Grade Teacher, for his selection as Cascade Public Schools Elementary Teacher of the Year 2014, as announced at the Junior High School Graduation Ceremony Tuesday, May 27th.

        We launched our high altitude balloon Tuesday, May 20th, at about 1030 a.m. from the back of the school. Weather conditions were perfect; the sun was shining, there was no wind, and the projected recovery area was less than 10 miles away. We filled the balloon, turned on the instruments, and launched it toward near space. It rose straight up to over 25,000 feet directly over Cascade, before drifting to the east about 10 miles, then shifting back toward the west. The balloon popped just shy of 84,000 feet just east of the Missouri River, about 6 miles NE of Cascade, then began its descent back toward Earth under parachute. It landed on the Pepos property off of River Rd 9.7 miles NE of Cascade after being airborne for 1 hour 38 minutes. 

If all goes as planned, we'll finally get to launch our (Junior High Student) high altitude balloon experiment Tuesday about 10:00a.m., sending a "weather" balloon up beyond 90,000 feet or wherever it bursts. The payload, consisting of several cameras and tracking devices, will fall back to Earth under parachute. Weather conditions are near perfect, will very low winds, meaning we won't have to chase after the balloon 100 miles, but rather only about 5 miles to the ENE from Cascade.If you want to follow us on the internet, go to URL http://aprs.fi/k7gps-11 or http://aprs.fi/k7gps-12. You should be able to follow the payload track, and also the chase vehicle listed as K7GPS-9. These are amateur radio callsigns assigned to those trackers.

Congratulations to Mr. Jeff Skogley, Band and Music Teacher, for his selection as Cascade Public Schools High School Teacher of the Year 2014, as announced at the High School Commencement Ceremony Sunday, May 18th.

Congratulations Class of 2014. You made it to Graduation! This is YOUR day. Best wishes in your future endeavors: Class of 2014: Max Austin (Salutatorian), Cassidee Boland, Lydia Cope, Chastity Crago, Megan Crossland, Cory Cummings (Valedictorian), Christopher DiAngelis, Colter Dobbins, Elizabeth Ferguson, Chance Freed, Samuel Goss, Timothy Hefner Jr., Jesse Johnson, Clancy Ludvigson, Timothy O'Brien, Amber Wehr, Kane Wells, and Code Wirth.

New 2013-14 Cascade High School yearbooks will be on sale during the month of May for only $35.00.  The book is designed by students, and is 80 full-color pages of memories from this last year.   In October, the price jumps to $45.00.  So, save $10.00 by ordering yours in advance.  All books will be delivered at the end of August.  Get a check or cash to Mrs. McGonigal or the office before the end of May. 

Join the Cascade FFA at our 2014 Chapter Banquet "Come Taco 'Bout FFA", Thursday May 15th, 2014 at 6:00pm in the South Gym. Join us for Dinner, Awards, Leadership Pie Auction and 2014-2015 Officer Installations. Contact any FFA member or Mr. Tilleman for more info.

It's Teacher Appreciation Week. To honor our teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week, teachers are invited to the commons to partake in food and soft drinks before your PIR time on Friday at 1:45pm.  There will be meat (turkey, ham, salami, roast beef, cheese)  vegetable and fruit trays, rolls and crackers, drinks, desserts will be available.  There will be a lot available.