Community Corner
🌱 Patch AM: Which Ankeny schools are getting new principals this year?
Coming up on the Ankeny Patch calendar: Excel & Launch - Open House
Greetings Ankeny! We're your go-to source for what's happening in town. Read on to get plugged in! ☀️
In today's newsletter:
- Which Ankeny schools are getting new principals this year?
- How DMU brought real human organs into Ankeny Centennial classrooms
- See where Ankeny and Centennial land in new volleyball rankings
Today's riddle: Why do fish live in salt water? 🤔 (Answer below!)
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- Thursday: Partly sunny and humid, with a high of 82 and low of 65 degrees.
- Friday: A heavy t-storm in the p.m., temps: high: 87, low: 63. 🌶 Hot!
- Saturday: Sunny and humid, with a high of 83 and low of 59 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Suburban Des Moines schools welcome new administrators, principals (bluewaterhealthyliving.com) — Families in Ankeny will see several new principals leading local schools this year, including Northwest, Westwood, Ashland Ridge, Northview, and Ankeny Centennial High School. The article also notes leadership changes in nearby Waukee and West Des Moines, but Ankeny's administrator shifts will matter most for local parents as the 2026-27 school year begins. 
2. Des Moines University Medicine and Health Sciences Anatomy Ambassadors Program Lets Students Hold Science in Their Hands (rcreader.com) — High schoolers at Ankeny Centennial recently got to handle real human organs during Des Moines University's traveling Anatomy Ambassadors program, turning textbook lessons into hands-on discovery. DMU medical students guided small-group stations on hearts, lungs, brains, and more, aiming to spark interest in health and science careers. The long-running program is expanding partnerships to reach more Central Iowa classrooms and events.
3. IGHSAU Volleyball Rankings (klem1410.com) — Two Ankeny programs land in the latest IGHSAU volleyball rankings, with Ankeny Christian listed in Class 1A and both Ankeny and Ankeny Centennial included among Class 5A powers. The statewide list highlights where local teams stack up against top Iowa competition. Fans can use the rankings to size up likely rivals heading into the season.
4. Iowa man crafts Adirondack chairs from reclaimed wood for Iowa State Fair (kcci.com) — An Ankeny resident, Geoffrey Grimes, is turning discarded lumber into dozens of Adirondack chairs that fairgoers can relax in at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Self-taught during the pandemic, he now supplies local vendors, donates chairs to nonprofits, and takes pride in seeing people enjoy his reclaimed-wood creations.
📸 Around Ankeny
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📣 Ankeny Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Excel & Launch - Open House
Johnston Comm School District Johnston, IA 50131
4:00 pm - Summit - Open House
Johnston Comm School District Johnston, IA 50131
4:00 pm - Elementary Meet the Teacher
Johnston Comm School District Johnston, IA 50131
4:00 pm - Library Board Meeting →
Johnston, IA Calendar, 6700 Merle Hay Road, Johnston
5:30 pm - Football: North Polk vs Urbandale (Varsity)
North Polk Comm School District Urbandale High School Frerichs Field
6:30 pm - Board of Adjustment Meeting →
Johnston, IA Calendar, 6221 Merle Hay Road PO Box 410, Johnston
6:30 pm - Girls Cross Country: PreSeason Scrimmage (Varsity)
Middle School North Polk High School
4:15 pm - Boys Cross Country: Nevada vs North Polk (Varsity)
Middle School North Polk High School
4:15 pm - Volleyball: Hudson Volleyball Scrimmage (Varsity)
North Polk Comm School District Hudson Elementary/Middle School, Hudson High School
8:30 am - Grace LIfe Church
North Polk Comm School District North Polk High School Auditorium
7:00 am - Girls Tennis: Carroll vs North Polk (Varsity)
Middle School North Polk High School Tennis Courts
4:00 pm - Music at the Market - Beggars Bargain →
Johnston, IA Calendar Johnston, IA 50131
4:00 pm
Thursday August 20
Friday August 21
Saturday August 22
Sunday August 23
Monday August 24
Tuesday August 25
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Charitable Organizations' Alert! —Viking Foundation Read on Patch
- I'm looking for someone to repair or replace my homes chimney its brick.
Some of the bricks came loose and have fallen on my roof. (Nextdoor Sunset Park)
- QuikTrip posted a job opening for Job Part-Time Store Clerk Fairgrounds 4:45am clerk in Ankeny. Apply here.
- ABM Industries posted a job opening for Warehouse Janitorial Cleaner in Ankeny. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Ankeny here.
Ok Ankeny! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: Pepper makes them sneeze (Thank you Karla H. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!
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