Q: How can I batch convert Appleworks to iwork?

While your issues may have been solved there is still the issue of drawing  documents.  There is a program called Easy Draw which is capable of opening Appleworks drawing docs.  The only thing it will drop is tables elements.  And if you still have appleworks running anywhere you can even cut and paste tables into Easy Draw you just won't be able to edit them.

I keep an old mac around just for holding on to Appleworks documents.

wy Applw dropped this program is beyond me.  For education it is the best software ever developed for showing seamles interaction of all computing environments.