Announcements

Our summer office hours will begin on Monday, June 5th.

Monday – Thursday: 7:30am-3:30pm

Friday: Hours will vary. Please call ahead.

You can also reach us be emailing:  ahs.office@ankenyschools.org

Click here for transcript requests: Transcript Requests

Click here to register for the 2023-24 School Year:  https://ahs.ankenyschools.org/register/

If you still need help getting registered and need to speak to someone in the Registrar’s office contact us at 515.965.9604.

HAVE A GREAT SUMMER!

As we wrap up the year and prepare for the 2023 HAWKS to leave the nest, here is some information for how you can support and celebrate your student for their accomplishments. We are so thankful for your partnership in preparing these students for a lifetime of personal success. Go HAWKS!

SENIOR BREAKFAST AND MANDATORY COMMENCEMENT PRACTICE 

Students will be celebrating the AHS Class of 2023 with a senior breakfast and slideshow, hosted by the AHS Student Council, on Thursday, June 1st, at 8:30 am in the AHS Commons. The Mandatory Commencement rehearsal will follow starting at 9:15 am at AHS in the Main Gym.

AHS COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Commencement exercises for the Class of 2023 will be held at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Saturday, June 3rd, at 1:00pm. The doors to Hilton Coliseum will open
at 12:00 pm for the public. There is seating for approximately 14,000 people, so we will not issue tickets for commencement. Graduates should be at Hilton ready to line up no later than 12:15 pm.

PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY

• Tim McConnell Fine Photography will be our photographer during the ceremony. Ankeny Community Schools does not share parent contact information with outside vendors. In order to receive email notifications of your proofs, please fill out the photo form by using this link: http://regis.viewyour.photos/direct/2882/27187172

PARKING

• We recommend that you park in one of the large parking lots south of Hilton and enter through the south entrance. If you need handicap accessibility, please plan to park in Lot B-2 or in a handicap accessible spot surrounding Hilton, and then enter through the lower west doors. C Lots (C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6) are available for parking.

ENTERING

• Please plan to enter through the south entrance, unless a family member needs ADA access, as our students, faculty, and board members will be utilizing other entrances. If you need ADA access, please enter through the west side of the building.

SEATING

• Seating for the ceremony will be on the south side.
• Students will process onto the floor from the west side to the east side. Sign language interpreters will be located in front of the west side seating area (left side as you face the stage). Please let an usher know if you need to be seated near a sign language interpreter, and they will take you to this section.
• Students will walk across the stage to receive diplomas from right to left as you face the stage.

VIEWING THE CEREMONY

• Everyone who attends our ceremony does so wanting to hear the name of their loved one as they cross the stage.  For this reason, we ask that you not shout, clap, or use noisemakers when your student’s name is announced.  Doing so limits the ability of the next student’s name to be heard by their family.  Thank you in advance for helping us to honor every student who is graduating.
• Student caps and gowns are not to be adorned with any tape, pins, or other items. Soaring Hawk medals, senior academic medals, Silver cords, and National Honor Society cords are encouraged to be worn.
• Hilton does not permit balloons, silly string, air horns for students or their families. Items of this nature will be confiscated by Hilton ushers.

FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY

• Students will recess out the same entrance they come in through on the west side. They will pick up their final packet which contains their diploma, transcript, and immunization card, and exit through the west ticket box doors. The diploma and immunization card CANNOT be replaced. (Please keep your diploma and immunization card in a safe place – DO NOT DESTROY). Their gowns and caps were purchased by you, not rented, so they do not need to be returned. Therefore, student departure should occur fairly rapidly.
• This year, the ceremony will be live streamed at www.YouTube.com/AnkenySchools, where the video will also be available immediately following the commencement ceremony for those who are unable to attend in-person.
• Tim McConnell Fine Photography will be our photographer during the ceremony.  Each graduate will have a photo taken as they receive their diploma and of them holding their diploma in front of a professional background.  After the photographs are taken, you will receive an email link directly from McConnell Fine Photography, where you can view and order pictures. You must complete the registration here http://regis.viewyour.photos/direct/2882/27187172 to receive your proof email. All orders will be mailed directly to your home. Email any questions to tim@timmcconnell.com.

The parking lots are under construction. Please park in one of the following lots (B2, B3, B4, C2, C3, or C4). Please look over the map which is linked below.

https://www.fpm.iastate.edu/maps/buildings/building_parking.asp?id=53

Hannah Howard, a Junior at Ankeny High School, has achieved the remarkable feat of scoring a perfect 36 on the ACT exam. This impressive achievement is a testament to her hard work, dedication, and academic excellence.

The ACT is a standardized test used by colleges and universities to assess a student’s readiness for higher education, and a perfect score is a rare accomplishment.

Congratulations to Hannah Howard on this outstanding achievement, and best wishes for a bright future.

View our interview with Hannah.

Click on the link to see the end of 2nd semester schedule.  End of Semester 2 Finals Schedule 2023 

There will be no school Memorial Day which is Monday, May 29, 2023.

The Talon, the student publication of Ankeny High, competed with class C schools in the Iowa High School Press Association’s spring contest due to its size. The class C schools are known as phenomenal, impressive, groundbreaking student publications across the state that have been in the scholastic journalism for a very long time.  This did not deter the students of AHS since the publication secured a spot among the best of the best by showcasing quality work in both print and web. Judges were impressed by the phenomenal work of high school journalists across the state, and The Talon held its own alongside them. Their adviser Alissa Hansen cannot wait to see what they do next.

13 awards go to the following Talon journalists for their stellar writing and reporting:

• First Place for Sports Story goes to seniors Gabby Risk & Sophie Rohlfing
• Third Place for Sports Story goes to sophomore Adam Mein
• First Place for School News Story goes to junior Vivian Wu
• Second Place for School News Story goes to senior Sophie Rohlfing
• Honorable Mention for School News Story goes to 2022 AHS graduate Lauren Kemp
• Third Place for News Story goes to senior Gabby Risk for
• Second Place for Editorial Cartoon/Comic Strip goes to junior Julien Noble
• Third Place for Editorial Cartoon/Comic Strip goes to junior Julien Noble
• Second Place for Reviews goes to senior Lejla Ahmetovic
• Honorable Mention for In-Depth News Story goes to junior Julien Noble
• Honorable Mention for Personality Profile goes to junior Vivian Wu
• Honorable Mention for Personality Profile goes to junior Joanna Guerrero
• Honorable Mention for Feature Story goes to senior Drew Taylor

The Talon is also among the top 15 contenders for the Iowa High School Press Association’s All-Iowa News Team. The winner of the prestigious award will be revealed during the IHSPA fall conference in October. It is indeed a remarkable achievement for The Talon to secure a spot on this list, and it speaks volumes about the newspaper’s dedication to excellence and journalistic integrity. Congratulations to the team behind The Talon!

Ankeny High School’s Drama Department will participate in the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school’s achievements for its April production of The Wizard of Oz.

Produced by Des Moines Performing Arts as the culmination of a year-long education initiative, the Showcase will be held at the Des Moines Civic Center on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 94 schools from across the entire state.

AHS will be honored in a special video shown at the Showcase, in celebration of its receipt of an Outstanding Overall Performance Award – one of the program’s highest honors.

Jacynda Santiago and Jemma Bullock will represent AHS by performing in a collaborative inter-school medley led by a guest Broadway music director and choreographer. Additionally, Carter Evans will perform an excerpt from his award-winning role in The Wizard of Oz as Zeke/Lion.

Carter Evans will also participate in the Triple Threat Award program with other advanced performing students. In addition to a special performance at the showcase, students will audition for theater camp scholarships and the opportunity to represent Iowa at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this summer.

Ankeny High School will also be recognized with the following awards and honors:

• Outstanding Overall Performance
• Outstanding Ensemble
• Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Carter Evans as “Zeke/Lion”
• Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Jenna Freeseman as “Glinda”
• Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Grant Miner as “Hickory/Tinman”
• Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Jacynda Santiago as “Dorothy Gale”
• Special Recognition for Featured Ensemble – Oz Company Singers

Tickets to the Showcase, which start at $15, will go on sale on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 10 AM at DMPA.org, the Des Moines Civic Center Ticket Office, and by phone at 515-246-2300.

The Awards Showcase will be live-streamed at IowaPBS.org as part of a collaboration with Iowa PBS. Iowa PBS will also broadcast a highlights special of the event on Friday, July 14 at 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m.

Dearest HAWK seniors and families,

As we wrap up the year and prepare for the 2023 HAWKS to leave the nest, here is some information for how you can support and celebrate your student for their accomplishments. We are so thankful for your partnership in preparing these students for a lifetime of personal success. Go HAWKS!

REMINDERS PRIOR TO OUR SENIORS’ LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

• All student coursework must be completed and submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 23rd.  Commencement exercises include only those students who complete all coursework needed for graduation by that date, the end of their last day of school.
• Seniors will return Chromebooks and chargers during English class on their last day, Tuesday, May 23, 2023. If a student does not return their Chromebook charger or their Chromebook has physical damage like a cracked screen or missing keys, a $25 fine will be assessed.
• All library books, textbooks, calculators, cameras, etc are due back to the media center by the end of the day on May 23. Anything not returned by the end of the day will be marked lost and replacement fines charged. If an item is returned later, the fine will be deleted. All student accounts must be at a $0 balance or have a payment plan set up with the Business Office to be in good standing for graduation. Emails will be sent on May 24 with new fines for unreturned or damaged items.
• All fees and fines must be paid in full or have a payment plan set up with the Business Office  no later than Friday, May 26th in order for your student to be in good standing and participate in commencement exercises.  If you have questions about your student’s account, please contact Nick Nelson or Ashly Schryver at 965-9630.
• Google accounts will be deactivated at the time of graduation. Students may transfer their data to a personal account. For directions on how to transfer data, refer to the AHS Media Center web page, under Chromebook & Tech Help. At the bottom of the page you will find a video tutorial about transferring data and the links you need to transfer content. Any questions about library materials may be addressed to Jenny Wirtz, AHS Teacher Librarian, jenny.wirtz@ankenyschools.org.

SENIOR BREAKFAST AND MANDATORY COMMENCEMENT PRACTICE 

Students will be celebrating the AHS Class of 2023 with a senior breakfast and slideshow, hosted by the AHS Student Council, on Thursday, June 1st, at 8:30 am in the AHS Commons. The Mandatory Commencement rehearsal will follow starting at 9:15 am at AHS in the Main Gym.

AHS COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY

Commencement exercises for the Class of 2023 will be held at Hilton Coliseum in Ames on Saturday, June 3rd, at 1:00pm. As you begin to plan your student’s commencement day and make arrangements with extended family, we want to share a few details with you that may help you prepare. Tickets are not required to attend the ceremony – all are welcome to attend.

PRIOR TO THE CEREMONY

• Tim McConnell Fine Photography will be our photographer during the ceremony. Ankeny Community Schools does not share parent contact information with outside vendors. In order to receive email notifications of your proofs, please fill out the photo form by using this link: http://regis.viewyour.photos/direct/2882/27187172

PARKING

• We recommend that you park in one of the large parking lots south of Hilton and enter through the south entrance. If you need handicap accessibility, please plan to park in Lot B-2 or in a handicap accessible spot surrounding Hilton, and then enter through the lower west doors. C Lots (C2, C3, C4, C5 and C6) are available for parking.

ENTERING

• Please plan to enter through the south entrance, unless a family member needs ADA access, as our students, faculty, and board members will be utilizing other entrances. If you need ADA access, please enter through the west side of the building.

SEATING

• Seating for the ceremony will be on the south side.
• Students will process onto the floor from the west side to the east side. Sign language interpreters will be located in front of the west side seating area (left side as you face the stage). Please let an usher know if you need to be seated near a sign language interpreter, and they will take you to this section.
• Students will walk across the stage to receive diplomas from right to left as you face the stage.

VIEWING THE CEREMONY

• Everyone who attends our ceremony does so wanting to hear the name of their loved one as they cross the stage.  For this reason, we ask that you not shout, clap, or use noisemakers when your student’s name is announced.  Doing so limits the ability of the next student’s name to be heard by their family.  Thank you in advance for helping us to honor every student who is graduating.
• Student caps and gowns are not to be adorned with any tape, pins, or other items. Soaring Hawk medals, senior academic medals, Silver cords, and National Honor Society cords are encouraged to be worn.
• Hilton does not permit balloons, silly string, air horns for students or their families. Items of this nature will be confiscated by Hilton ushers.

FOLLOWING THE CEREMONY

• Students will recess out the same entrance they come in through on the west side. They will pick up their final packet which contains their diploma, transcript, and immunization card, and exit through the west ticket box doors. Their gowns and caps were purchased by you, not rented, so they do not need to be returned. Therefore, student departure should occur fairly rapidly.
• This year, the ceremony will be live streamed at www.YouTube.com/AnkenySchools, where the video will also be available immediately following the commencement ceremony for those who are unable to attend in-person.
• Tim McConnell Fine Photography will be our photographer during the ceremony.  Each graduate will have a photo taken as they receive their diploma and of them holding their diploma in front of a professional background.  After the photographs are taken, you will receive an email link directly from McConnell Fine Photography, where you can view and order pictures. You must complete the registration here http://regis.viewyour.photos/direct/2882/27187172 to receive your proof email. All orders will be mailed directly to your home. Email any questions to tim@timmcconnell.com.

The parking lots are under construction. Please park in one of the following lots (B2, B3, B4, C2, C3, or C4). Please look over the map which is linked below.

https://www.fpm.iastate.edu/maps/buildings/building_parking.asp?id=53

Ankeny High School’s Drama Department will participate in the 2023 Iowa High School Musical Theater Awards Showcase, presented by EMC Insurance Companies, in honor of the school’s achievements for its April production of The Wizard of Oz.

Produced by Des Moines Performing Arts as the culmination of a year-long education initiative, the Showcase will be held at the Des Moines Civic Center on Thursday, June 1 at 7:00 p.m. and will recognize a total of 94 schools from across the entire state.

AHS will be honored in a special video shown at the Showcase, in celebration of its receipt of an Outstanding Overall Performance Award – one of the program’s highest honors.

Jacynda Santiago and Jemma Bullock will represent AHS by performing in a collaborative inter-school medley led by a guest Broadway music director and choreographer. Additionally, Carter Evans will perform an excerpt from their award-winning role in The Wizard of Oz as Zeke/Lion.

Carter Evans will also participate in the Triple Threat Award program with other advanced performing students. In addition to a special performance at the showcase, students will audition for theater camp scholarships and the opportunity to represent Iowa at the National High School Musical Theatre Awards in New York City this summer.

Ankeny High School will also be recognized with the following awards and honors:

Outstanding Overall Performance

Outstanding Ensemble

Outstanding Performance in a Principal Role – Carter Evans as “Zeke/Lion”

Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Jenna Freeseman as “Glinda”

Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Grant Miner as “Hickory/Tinman”

Special Recognition for Performance in a Principal Role – Jacynda Santiago as “Dorothy Gale”

Special Recognition for Featured Ensemble – Oz Company Singers

Tickets to the Showcase, which start at $15, will go on sale on Friday, May 12, 2023 at 10 AM at DMPA.org, the Des Moines Civic Center Ticket Office, and by phone at 515-246-2300.

The Awards Showcase will be live-streamed at IowaPBS.org as part of a collaboration with Iowa PBS. Iowa PBS will also broadcast a highlights special of the event on Friday, July 14 at 8:30 p.m. and on Sunday, July 16 at 1:00 p.m.