KATE WICKHAM ELEMENTARY
Parent Teacher Organization (PTO)
"At the end of the day, the most overwhelming key to a child's success is the positive involvement of parents." - Hull
KATE WICKHAM ELEMENTARY
Wickham is a wonderful place to be! From the talented and dedicated staff to the creative and hard-working students, our school focuses on high levels of learning and building strong character.
When Kate Wickham Elementary opened its doors on August 25, 1997, the very framework used to guide the school’s journey to continual educational excellence focused upon four essential pillars of an exceptional education; providing a positive climate for learning, establishing the school as a community, learning within a curriculum with coherence, and main taining a commitment to character.
These tenants continue to be the foundation of the educational experience students receive at our school. Our staff believes in a collaborative professional environment where working together is the best method to provide student success. Viewing students as “all our students” creates an environment of team work and acting upon the belief that we are all responsible for each student’s learning. This team approach entails clearly articulated learning standards, ongoing assessment, differentiated instruction, and celebrations of learning; all attributing to the consistently high academic assessment results we achieve.
Supporting the academic process are clearly defined behavior expectations with a strong emphasis on positive reinforcement. In addition, establishing positive parent and community partnerships has long been a key to student success.
Our active parents assist in providing a variety of family events that achieve both a focus on community building and showcasing the many talents of our students. Wickham is a wonderful place because we establish a positive climate for learning, build strong character, provide rigorous learning experiences, and connect our school with the broader community.
Over the years, Wickham has been recognized for high academic achievement and an enriching educational experience, yet it’s the pride we take in our students that deserves the acknowledgement. Wickham is a wonderful place to learn and grow!
WICKHAM CONTACT
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AMBER DAUBS
Principal
Email: daubs.amber @ iowacityschools.org
319-688-1175
601 Oakdale Blvd
Coralville IA 52241
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The school is named for Kate Wickham, who was born in England and served as a teacher and administrator in the Iowa City Community School District for 37 years, from 1902 to 1939.
History of Our School
Kate Wickham Elementary School is located at 601 Oakdale Boulevard in Coralville on a 15-acre site. Portions of the site are wooded, with Muddy Creek flowing through the east boundary. The school opened on August, 25, 1997.
The facility houses four wings of classrooms around the centrally located media center. The centralized location of the media center provides access to resources to enhance the curriculum. A spacious multi-purpose room can be used by students, parents, staff, and the community for a variety of purposes such as a lunchroom, large classroom, meeting place, and community center. The gymnasium was built regulation sized to accommodate community and school activities.
A unique partnership between the City of Coralville and the Iowa City Community School District have provided extensive opportunities for the development and use of the building and grounds as a joint recreational and educational facility. Paved recreational trails link Wickham to surrounding neighborhoods and the park's regional trail network. Through this partnership with the City of Coralville, joint use of the building, playground and programs allows for Wickham Elementary to serve both as educational and recreational resource within the community.
Kate Wickham
Kate Wickham was born in Shirley, Southampton, England in 1869. Her family moved to Iowa City in 1873. She attended Iowa City High School and the University of Iowa, receiving her teaching degree in 1891. She taught for 9 years in Texas and two other Iowa communities, Traer and Rock Rapids, before returning to Iowa City.
Miss Wickham's teaching career in Iowa City began in 1902 when she took over her sister Bessie's first grade classroom at the old First Ward School. This facility was later named Henry Sabin Elementary, and is now the district's Central Administration Office at 509 S. Dubuque Street. In 1909, Miss Wickham transferred to the old Kirkwood Elementary to become the principal. She was the principal there until it closed for a one year period in 1921. The building is still standing at the corner of Dodge St. and Kirkwood Avenue. Because Kirkwood closed, Kate Wickham transferred to Longfellow Elementary and taught first grade for 18 more years until her retirement in 1939.
In 1954, The Kate Wickham Memorial Trust Fund was established as a continuing memorial to Kate Wickham and other teachers who are dedicated to educating students of the Iowa City Community Schools. The purpose of the fund is to provide scholarships for high school graduates who plan to pursue a teaching career. Memorial gifts can be given to honor a person for their dedication to education. Persons honored have their names added to the Kate Wickham Memorial Trust Fund plaques which are displayed at Kate Wickham Elementary. In the past 43 years, more than 550 persons have been honored for their dedication to education and approximately 250 students have received scholarships from the Scholarship Fund.
Kate Wickham died in 1955 at the age of 86, but her commitment to educating the children of Iowa City lives on through the Kate Wickham Scholarship Fund and now through Wickham Elementary.