Johnston Community Education

Course Description Come see why the Johnston Boys Cross Country team has one of the best traditions of excellence and culture in the country! Learn about the sport, train, and participate in team building activities. Logistics Enter through Door #19 (NE side of JMS) by the gym Bring water bottle with your name on it Camp Director JHS Head Boys Track and Field & Head Boys Cross Country Coach Matt Jaschen- Coach Jaschen started coaching at Johnston in 2010 and teaches HS Science at JHS. He was the 2023 State Track & Field Coach of the Year, 2023 Des Moines Register All-Iowa Coach of the Year, 7x At-Large XC Coach of the Year Awards. His teams have been to state the last 12 years in a row! JHS won state in track in 2023, runners-up in cross country in 2013/2022, and have had multiple individual champions in both sports. Coach says "We help athletes develop self-confidence, promote a healthy lifestyle, and create a culture where young athletes can learn and take ownership of their success."

Course Description The Johnston Boys tennis camp is designed for those planning on playing high school tennis. Emphasis will be placed on singles and doubles match strategy and advanced stroke development. Please arrive 10 minutes early so camp can start on time. Contact Coach Nyquist (Snyquist1@msn.com) or Coach Schuessler (dennis.schuessler@johnston.k12.ia.us) with any questions. Logistics Campers should bring a racket, water bottle and sunscreen each day. Weather policy/procedures- if courts are slick/wet from rains, lessons will be cancelled. The decision will be made at least 30 minutes before each class. Please watch for texts & emails for the notification Camp Directors JHS Boys Head Tennis Coach Dennis Schuessler- Coach Schuessler started coaching at JHS in 2017. Their last state appearance was in 2022. His goal for this camp is to prepare the next generation of Tennis Dragons. JHS Boys Assistant Coach Steve Nyquist- Coach Nyquist started coaching tennis at JHS in 2022. They qualified for team state in 2022 and had state qualifiers in 2022, 2023. Current professional coach has said “You have done a great job and are doing amazing with the Johnston team. They are lucky to have you.” He has over 40 years experience in tennis and has learned from some of the best players and coaches in the country. Coach has tremendous passion for the sport and wants to give back to a sport that has given him a lifetime of fun and pleasure. He wants to be the coach and resource to the players that he didn’t have when he was learning the game. If your son attends this camp and applies what they have learned, they will improve. The camp will focus more on strategy and philosophy that is often not included from professional coaches.

Course Description The players will develop skills emphasized within the Johnston High School Girls Basketball Program and learn how to utilize those skills with the team concept. Instructors will be the JHS Girls Basketball Coaching staff. Logistics Enter through Door #3 on south side of JHS. Balls will be provided. Camp Director JHS Head Girls Basketball Coach Chad Jilek- Has been the coach of 5A State Champions in 2025, 2024, 2022, 2020 and Class 5A Runners-Up in 2023, 2021, 2016.

Course Description Come join the coaches and athletes of the 6 x State Champion JHS Girls Cross Country TEAM in the process of living out our TEAM Mission Statement: We are Dedicated to Developing Strong, Confident Women Who Seek to Build Community While Enjoying Competitive Athletics!! Logistics Bring water bottle with your name on it Camp Director JHS Girls Cross Country Head Coach Patrick Hennes- Coach Hennes has been a Dragon since his first days of student teaching at JHS in the Spring of 2002. He has had a front row seat as the number of graduates has doubled over time and taken great joy in witnessing JCSD grow into a thriving and diverse community serving the needs of a broad, multicultural group of learners. After volunteering with the JHS Track & Field squads as a student teacher in the spring of 2002, Coach Hennes was hired as an assistant coach for both the boys and girls Cross Country and Track & Field squads for the 2002-2003 school year. The following year (2003) he was hired as the Head Girls Cross Country Coach, remaining with the Boys Track & Field program as the distance coach until joining the girls Track & Field TEAM as distance coach in the spring of 2007. In the classroom, Mr. Hennes enjoys teaching mostly JHS seniors in one of their final required courses: American Government or American National Government. In one action-packed semester, students learn about the Foundations of American Government, Citizenship and Civic Participation and the Constitution and Bill of Rights. Coach Hennes has been recognized with the following awards: 2016 Des Moines Register/USA Today Iowa All Sports Coach of the Year following the Dragons undefeated and record-setting State Championship season 13-time recipient of the IATC Cross Country Coach of the Year Award, including most recently the Dragon’s 2023 State Championship season 2016 USTFCCCA Iowa Coach of the Year 2018 IGHSAU Golden Plaque of Distinction Conference Championships (what years) The Dragons have earned a total of eight CIML Conference Championships under Coach Hennes, who took the Dragons from “Worst to First” in the Conference in his first season as Head Coach in 2003. The Dragons celebrated the 21st anniversary of that Championship with another in the 2023 season. They have also won a total of 13 State Qualifying Meet Championships under Coach Hennes and his amazing staff. State Appearances- The Dragons have competed in the IGHSAU State Championship in 20 out of the past 21 seasons and are currently the defending State Champions State Titles- The Dragons have won *six* out of the past 10 IGHSAU Class 4A Cross Country State Championships (2014-2016-2017-2019-2020-2023) and have finished in the Top 4 in 14 out of the last 18 years. In 2016, the Dragons set the State Meet record for the All Time lowest TEAM score (26) and fastest TEAM finish (18:41 for 5K) "As coaches, we take great pride in living and coaching by our TEAM Mission Statement: We are dedicated to developing strong, confident women who are committed to building community while pursuing excellence in competitive athletes. As coaches, we deeply value the trust that parents place in us to help guide the development of their daughters as both athletes and as individuals. As coaches, summer is our opportunity to take the time to really, truly get-to-know our athletes on an even deeper level as individuals. Life is an adventure and we can’t wait to share that adventure with your daughter!!” Why should they attend/benefits? Participants will learn what it takes to live by our TEAM values: Be Healthy Dream Big Dreams Pursue Excellence Take Ownership Be Accountable Have Fun Embrace Your Sister

Course Description This camp will be a high intensity camp focusing on preparation for competition. Drills will be fast-paced and challenging. Learning to compete and teamwork will be the goal of the camp. Logistics Bring a water bottle with your name on it Camp Director JHS Head Volleyball Coach Rick Brooks has been coaching at Johnston since 1993. His teams have made 11 state appearances, State Title in 2007, 3 runner-up finishes. Coach Brooks was the Coach of the Year in 2007 and has several "District Coach of the Year" honors. He currently teaches Math at JHS. In 2015, he was honored with the Presidential Award in Mathematics & Science Teaching. Coach really enjoys coaching the next generation of Dragons!

Course Description The Introduction to Competitive Swimming course bridges the gap between swimming lessons and competitive swim team. This class will teach the finer points of freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, flip turns, and racing starts. Each class will focus on one or two skills per class to help students learn the skills needed for competitive swimming. Swimmers should come into the class being able to swim a minimum of 25 yards freestyle, 25 yards backstroke, and be comfortable in deep water. If parents are not sure their child is ready, please contact the Aquatics Coordinator to set up an evaluation prior to attending class. At the end of the class, the instructors will evaluate each student to determine if they are ready for swim team. Students may require multiple rounds of the class in order to be ready for swim team. Logistics Class is at Summit Middle School Pool. Enter through door #20 and the pool area is to the right. Bring goggles that do not cover the nose, a water bottle, competitive style swim suit, towel, and an optional swim cap. Swimmers will meet under the scoreboard while parents should observe the class from the stands. Instructor Instructor: Summit Pool Staff Please contact Olivia Stephenson, Aquatics Coordinator to set up an evaluation if needed or ask questions at olivia.stephenson@johnston.k12.ia.us.

Course Description: Magic & Juggling are for anyone who likes to have fun! Participants learn how to entertain and amaze friends, family, and classmates with routines that can be done anywhere, at any time. Join professional magician Lee Cole for two days of Magic & Juggling! Logistics: All magic and juggling materials provided Participants will have the option to purchase juggling balls Instructor: Lee Cole When Lee isn’t running Magicamps, he’s performing on cruise ships, at casinos, for Fortune 500 companies, and in comedy clubs as far away as Australia. Lee’s playfulness & spontaneity give his magic show the feel of a stand-up comic’s. When asked about Lee Cole’s Magicomedy, Beyoncé & Jay-Z said, Who? LeeCole.com

Course Description Whether a quicker first step is needed, a faster change of direction, or improved footwork - working on speed and agility with Patrick Jackson will help each child get there! This clinic will focus on explosion, bursts, turn over and top end speed. Logistics Enter through Door #9 Bring water bottle/jug with name on it Instructor Patrick Jackson was a football and track star at Coe College. As a defensive back for the Kohawk football team, Patrick was a two-time, First Team All-Iowa Conference honoree. He was named to the All-West Region first team by Don Hansen’s Football Gazette in 2002. With 213 career tackles, he is tied for ninth in school history with seven interceptions in 2001. He tied a school record with three career blocked kicks. In track, Patrick was a two-time All-American as a member of the 4x100-meter relay team, which finished fifth at the NCAA Championships in 2002 and 2003. After graduating, Patrick played semi-pro football for 12 years with the Sioux City Bandits, Cedar Valley Vikings, Iowa Lightning, and North Iowa Bucks, which inducted him into its hall of fame in 2016.

Course Description Learn this Korean art of self-defense (includes Tae Kwon Do and Karate concepts) to improve health, balance, agility and poise. Develop mental alertness and moral ethics to enhance your life. Students must sign up on or before the first class day of each session. Logistics Enter on the east side of the District Office Building Instructor Mr. Phil Dickey, has more than 30 years of martial arts teaching experience. He is an elementary teacher, a fourth Degree Black Belt in Taekwondo, Fifth Degree Black Belt Karate, and a 3-time Martial Arts Hall of Fame Inductee.

*NOTE- The weeks of 7/7-7/10 and 7/14-7/17 are only for Grades 6-7 due to the Dragon Tennis Camp going on those weeks. Course Description Beginners and Intermediates will be split by the instructors after the first day to allow for better growth in each individual. BEGINNER- The focus will be on learning the basics of tennis while having fun! In a 4 day session there will be a different theme each day: forehand, backhand, serve return, and volley. The final practice will be spent learning how to play a real match including scoring. The main focus is on having fun, sportsmanship, learning tennis, fitness and improving skills. INTERMEDIATE- ADVANCE- This is for players that have played matches and are looking to play matches/tournaments this summer. The player should be able to serve and rally 3 balls in a row. The focus is going to be on offense and defense with an understanding of shot selection. There will be an emphasis on grip changes, placement, consistency, and spins. Logistics Friday will be the make-up day, if needed. Bring racket (if you have one) Balls will be provided Bring a water bottle with your name on it Weather policy/procedures- if courts are slick/wet from rains, lessons will be cancelled. The decision will be made at least 30 minutes before each class. Please watch for texts & emails for the notification. Instructor Iowa Tennis 4U

Course Description: Trust is vital for true success. The instructor will present a summary of Stephen M.R. Covey's book "The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything", detailing how trust is crucial in all levels of relationships. All participants are encouraged to have their own copy of 'The Speed of Trust' book, available for purchase online. Logistics: None Instructor: Kathryn Armstrong Kathryn Armstrong is a certified teacher and taught middle and high school classes for many years. Kathryn currently substitute teaches in the Metro area.

The Water Safety Instructor, also known as WSI™, course trains instructor candidates to teach all of the courses presented in the Swimming and Water Safety program to all age groups; all of the courses listed above, plus Learn-to-Swim Levels 4-6 and Adult Swim. This certification is the gold standard and provides the most comprehensive training for swim instructors. Students must be able to pass a pre-course and be at least 16 years of age on or before the final scheduled lesson of this course. Students must demonstrate the ability to perform the following swimming skills consistent with the Stroke Performance Charts in level 4 (Front crawl—25 yards, Back crawl—25 yards, Breaststroke—25 yards, Elementary backstroke—25 yards, Sidestroke—25 yards, Butterfly—15 yards, Maintain position on back for 1 minute in deep water (floating or sculling), Tread water for 1 minute). This course will be held as a blended learning class meaning you will have a course to complete on your own time prior to the in-person class. By doing a portion of the class online, it will reduce the number of hours you will have to do in person. You will have to make time for an online course and complete it prior to the first day of class. The hours have already been pre-reduced, so you will need to attend the entire in-person class as scheduled. In order to pass, participants must attend all the in-person training days, complete the online course, pass the prerequisites, and pass the written exam. In the event that a student fails or drops out of the class after the registration deadline, it will the instructor’s decision to issue a full, partial, or no refund. Certification’s will come to you via email. Please pay attention in class to find out how to maintain your WSI certification and how to renew when the time comes.