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University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld speaks to students at Marshalltown High School on November 13.

University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld talked about his business background and gave tips to be successful to a group of Marshalltown High School students during a visit to MHS on November 13.

Harreld has served as president of the University of Iowa since 2015. He talked to the students about pursuing their passion, college affordability, presented career advice and talked about the offerings at the University of Iowa.

He told students it’s important that they find the college right for them, not just one that their parents think they should attend.

“It’s your choice, it’s an important choice,” Harreld said.

When looking into potential employers, he said it’s important to work with great people who will help make you better.

“Work for great people, don’t even think about the company,” Harreld said.

Harreld was invited to MHS by Iowa Board of Regents member Larry McKibben of Marshalltown.

University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld answers a question from MHS junior Triton Buffington.

Pictured is the Miller Middle School team which qualified for the state Lego League contest at the FIRST Lego League regional contest held at Marshalltown High School on November 11. Pictured from left, are  Elazia Davison, Ellie Seberger, Yessenia Alvarez Zamora, Roan Jelken, Braden Stewart, Jay Helton,  Katelyn Schwartz and Coach Ann Jackson.

Two Lego League teams made up of students from Marshalltown Schools have qualified for the state tournament after performing at the regional competition on November 11 at Marshalltown High School.

Miller team state bound
The Miller Middle School Lego League team, Team VRoom, earned an award for robot design and was also named as the tournament’s Iowa Global Innovation Candidate for their project on the “VRoom Experience,” which maximizes virtual reality technologies to alleviate boredom and increase sensory stimulation for long-duration space travelers.  The team now will go on to compete to be Iowa’s Global Innovation Champion at the State Lego League tournament on January 19 at Iowa State University.

Lenihan students advance
The Wizard Engineers earned first place in the robot challenges to become eligible for the state competition. The team is made up of Lenihan Intermediate School fifth grade students.
The team project (innovative solution) was about growing food in space. The team developed “plant pillows” and “zoom gel” for astronauts to grow fresh food in while on the International Space Station.  The team also used a hydroponics garden to grow wheat grass, which then was included in a “Space Shake” recipe.

MHS robotics served as hosts
The MHS robotics team worked hard to host this event (setting up the competition venue, timing, announcing, etc.) as this was a community outreach project for the team.

This team of Lenihan Intermediate School fifth grade students qualified for state Lego League. Pictured is front row, from left, Emerson Eastman, Leah Kurian, Anessa Morrison and Sam Hatcher. Second row, Porter Niedermann, Harper Wilson, Millie Heitmann, Lucas Hagen, Max Reed and Josian Kurian. Back row are coaches Kate Niedermann, Matt Morrison, Reji Kurian and Laura Fricke.

Pictured are the group of veterans who visited Lenihan Intermediate School as part of a Veterans Day assembly on November 12. Pictured from left, are Lenihan teacher Matt Tullis, Steven Hyde, Marian Hyde, Clifford Pelke, George Ewers, Lenihan custodian Roger Johnson, Tom Pilkington, Larry Ozborn and Denny Shannahan.

Lenihan Intermediate School held its fourth annual Veterans Day assembly where the school honored veterans and also were able to hear some of their stories.

Organized by Lenihan custodian and Army veteran Roger Johnson, the event was a way for the fifth grade students to learn first hand military experience from a collection of veterans.

“We have a great country and freedom isn’t free, it takes responsibility from its citizens,” said Marian Hyde, who was one of veterans to speak.

Johnson also honored Lenihan PE teachers Matt Butler and Casey Moberly with a cake for their continued support of the assembly.

Veteran Marian Hyde speaks to the students.

Lenihan PE teachers Matt Butler, left, and Casey Moberly, second from right, were presented with a cake by Lenihan staff members and veterans Roger Johnson, right, and Matt Tullis, second from left.

The cast sings during the end of “The Addams Family” musical at Marshalltown High School on November 9. The show was well received on both November 9 and 10.

The tradition of top-notch musicals produced by the Marshalltown High School drama department continued with “The Addams Family” on November 9 and 10.

The musical comedy included singing, music, dancing and acting from a group of talented MHS students. Two full crowds attended the shows at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The musical was directed by Grant Gale and Amy Ose.

“When you have terrific students to work with it really makes any task all that much easier,” Gale said “From the actors, musicians, techs and crew I could not have asked for better bunch of students. I would be remiss if I didn’t give thank you to Amy Ose, Stacie Sorenson and Brett Umthun. All our hard work paid off more than I could have expected. I was blown away by the size of the crowd both nights and all the amazing nice things I’ve heard. We have some great kids here at MCSD and supporting, developing and showcasing their amazing talent is what it’s all about.”

Hoglan Elementary School second grader Lily Basnet waves to a robotic version of teacher librarian Anne Sellers. The robot was on display as part of Hoglan’s STEAM night on November 8.

More than 400 people attended the first-ever Hoglan Elementary School STEAM Night held on November 8. The school was a flurry of activity as part of the Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics event.

The hands-on activities included robotics, computers, other technology and the arts.

The gym was the central location of the robotics displays, while the classrooms focused on the arts and other technology.

“The first STEAM Night at Hoglan was a huge success,” said Hoglan Principal Amy Williams. “Hoglan families had fun engaging in a variety of hands-on learning which involved beginning coding, creatively building, getting messy with art and using technology to make robots move.”

The Marshalltown High School robotics team is pictured at a recent competition. The team, known as the Botcats, has been awarded a $1,500 grant from the Monsanto Fund.

The Marshalltown High School robotics team, known as the Botcats, has been awarded a $1,500 grant to support FIRST robotics activities by the Monsanto Fund.

The Botcats will use support from the Monsanto Fund grant to participate in FIRST Robotics and its educational programs and competitions. FIRST enables teams of students to compete with others in building, designing and programming their own robots to perform preassigned tasks – giving young students a chance to get involved with real-world engineering.

The Botcats are coached by MHS teachers Dori Pinkerton and Susan Fritzell and volunteer coach Mike Lazere and mentored by Emerson engineers Jesse Serano and Yan Qiu and Alliant Energy engineer Bill Peden.

The team will have a robot on display at the the district-wide Family Coding Night at Miller Middle School at 5 p.m. on December 5.

The Botcats will also host a home robotics meet at 10 a.m. on Saturday, December 8 at the MHS Roundhouse.

Roundhouse to host FIRST Lego League state qualifier
The MHS Roundhouse will be the host site for the FIRST Lego League state qualifier for the middle school level on Sunday, November 11. Opening ceremonies start at 12:15 p.m.

Marshalltown High School will present the fall musical “The Addams Family” at 7 p.m. on November 9 and 10 at the MHS/Community Auditorium. Pictured in front are from left, Matthew Waldon as Uncle Fester, Phoebe Osgood as Grandma, Eli Thiessen as Gomez Addams, Yatnia Hernandez as Morticia Adams, Trace Markle as Lurch, Alex Stansberry as Pugsley Addams and Kassie Wilkins as Wednesday Addams.

The Marshalltown High School drama department will present the fall musical “The Addams Family” at 7 p.m. on Friday, November 9 and Saturday, November 10 in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The musical comedy centers on America’s darkest family and a secret the daughter Wednesday has as she has fallen in love. It is based on the popular television show from the 1960s.

The musical is led by directors Grant Gale and Amy Ose, while Brett Umthun directs the pit orchestra.

Lead roles include Eli Thiessen as Gomez Addams, Yatnia Hernandez as Morticia Addams, Matthew Waldon as Uncle Fester, Kassie Wilkins as Wednesday Addams, Phoebe Osgood as Grandma, Alex Stansberry as Pugsley Addams, Trace Markle as Lurch, Lexy Perez as Mal Beineke, Olivia Adams-Zmolek as Alice Beineke and Colin Jensen as Lucas Beineke.

Tickets are $5 and available at the door. Activity tickets honored.

Pit Orchestra

Cast