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Several MCSD buses will load up with meals and begin going to drop-off zones next week. The buses will show red flashing lights, like those pictured here, to stop traffic so students and families can pick up a meal.

(Información sobre el programa Comidas Cerca a Casa en español aquí)

The lives of many Marshalltown Schools students and families have changed drastically in the past week amid COVID-19 concerns. Because meeting the needs of our students is of the utmost importance, the MCSD Transportation and Food Service departments are teaming up to bring meals to students across the district. 

The MCSD Meals Close to Home program is an extension of the existing meal sites currently available Monday-Friday at all 10 school buildings. Beginning Monday, March 23, the Meals Close to Home program will provide six bus routes to deliver meals in Marshalltown and the MCSD areas north and south of the city. 

“The MCSD Transportation Department is fully behind this effort to bring meals closer to our students,” said MCSD Transportation Director Rex Kozak. “Our drivers and monitors want to do everything they can to help out our community during this time.” 

MCSD Food Service Director Lynn Large said the Meals Close to Home program is one of many ways the district is reaching out to families amid COVID-19 concerns. 

“I’m hoping we’ll be able to reach more children in our community by bringing meals into their neighborhoods. During this time of uncertainty, we still want students in our community to have access to nutritious food,” Large said. “We know some students just can’t be out and about right now, so bringing the meals closer to home will help provide better access for some families.”

MCSD is coordinating with the Marshalltown Police Department on the bus routes and meal drop-off locations. Families are asked to maintain social distancing while waiting for meals, and to arrive before the time the bus is set to arrive at a given location (schedule details below) in order to pick up a meal.  

During the five-minute meal drop-off period at each location, the school buses will display flashing red lights, a signal to traffic to stop so that children and families can pick up the meals safely. The signals will be the same as those used during student pick-up and drop-off under normal school circumstances. 

Meals will be served with an optional snack. Food items may include sandwiches, cereal, graham crackers, muffins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more. 

All questions about meal drop-offs should be directed to the MCSD Food Service Department at (641) 754-1000. Take a look at the below bus schedules to find the nearest meal drop-off site:

Northeast Marshalltown: North of the railroad tracks and east of Highway 14/Third Avenue – Bus #3

Northwest Marshalltown: North of the railroad tracks and west of Highway 14/Third Avenue – Bus #46

Southeast Marshalltown: South of railroad tracks, east of Highway 14/Center Street, south to Iowa Avenue – Bus #40

Southwest Marshalltown: South of railroad tracks, west of Highway 14/Center Street, south to Iowa Avenue – Bus #14

MCSD Rural South: Route includes Timber Valley and Haverhill – Green Van #54

MCSD Rural North: Route includes Albion

Woodbury Elementary Principal Anel Garza, left, and school counselor Heidi Williams, right, talk about self care in the first video in the “Daily Woodbury Adventures” series.

Marshalltown Schools students will be away from their schools for some time due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but that isn’t stopping teachers and staff from interacting with their pupils.

Woodbury Elementary School is making an extra effort to ensure students stay engaged during the district closure by releasing a series of 36 educational videos in the coming weeks.

“They’re a variety of activities; there are physical activities, there’s music, there’s art, there’s jokes, crafts, and cooking,” said Woodbury Principal Anel Garza. “Our staff always considered things that students would have at home to help with learning while making the videos.”

Garza credited Woodbury physical education teacher Sarah Murphy with the initial idea of making the videos, all of which feature staff discussing educational topics for the students’ benefit. Videos will be released in English and in Spanish.

It did not take long before the entire school building’s staff got involved with the project.

Staff across the district have worked hard this week to reach out to students’ parents and guardians to prepare for current next three-and-a-half weeks of scheduled closure. Several teachers from multiple buildings created educational packets and donated care items, like puzzles and games, to families.

Garza said one thing that excites her about the video series is that it is not limited to Woodbury students and can benefit students across the district.

Keep an eye on the Woodbury Elementary Facebook page (where two videos have already been posted) to catch the latest videos released by staff. Check out these resources for keeping students academically engaged during school closure.

The Miller Middle School gymnasium entrance, shown here, is where to enter to pick up a Chromebook this week (La entrada del gimnasio de la Escuela Miller Intermedia, que se muestra aquí, es donde entrar para recoger un Chromebook esta semana).

Marshalltown Schools are currently closed through April 10, 2020 in response to the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. District leaders are aware it is important for students to continue learning however possible during the next four weeks.

As a result, the MCSD Technology Department is offering students in grades preschool to sixth grade the opportunity to check out a Chromebook to have access to digital learning. Read below for more details:

(Español abajo)

How do PK-12 students access Chromebooks?
Students in grades 7-12 should already have their Chromebooks at home, as they take these home with them on a daily basis. 

*NOT REQUIRED, but Chromebook devices will be available for PK-6 students to checkout starting at 11 am on Tuesday, March 17. Check out for the entire district will be at the Miller Middle School Gymnasium at the dates and times below. To keep crowds small, we must stagger times.

**MCSD  will be following guidelines for how many people to allow in the gymnasium at once.  Parents may have a short wait outside or in their vehicles if the number of people exceeds the recommended limitation.

Chromebooks require internet connection in order to function!
These devices can be connected to hotspots (certain cell phones). 

Tech staff will not support issues outside of district buildings; however, tech staff will help troubleshoot passwords at the time of device checkout.

Chromebooks will only be checked out to parents/guardians of students. Students cannot come in and check out a device on their own. Parents/Guardians will be expected to sign a responsible use policy that includes the possibility of paying for any damages that may incur. Before parents/guardians leave the building, it is up to them to ensure the device works.

¿Cómo los estudiantes de PK-12 pueden tener acceso a los Chromebooks?
Los estudiantes en los grados 7-12 ya deberían tener sus Chromebooks en casa, ya que se los llevan a casa diariamente.  

* NO SE REQUIERE, pero los dispositivos Chromebook estarán disponibles para los estudiantes de PK-6 a partir de las 11 am del martes 17 de marzo. La repartida de los dispositivos Chromebooks para todo el distrito estará en el Gimnasio de la Escuela Miller Intermedia en las fechas y horarios a continuación. Para mantener a las multitudes pequeñas, debemos escalonar los tiempos.

** MCSD seguirá las pautas para cuántas personas se permiten en el gimnasio a la vez. Los padres pueden esperar un poco afuera o en sus vehículos si el número de personas excede la limitación recomendada.

Chromebooks requieren conexión a Internet para funcionar!
Estos dispositivos se pueden conectar a puntos de acceso (ciertos teléfonos celulares). 

El personal técnico no ayudará con problemas fuera de los edificios del distrito; sin embargo, el personal técnico solo ayudará a solucionar las contraseñas en el momento de distribución.

Los Chromebooks solo se entregarán a los padres / tutores de los estudiantes. Los estudiantes no pueden entrar y recoger un dispositivo por su cuenta. Se espera que los padres / tutores firmen una política de uso responsable que incluya la posibilidad de pagar cualquier daño que pueda ocasionar. Antes de que los padres / tutores abandonen el edificio, depende de ellos asegurarse de que el dispositivo funcione.

Dear MCSD families, 

Spring break is coming to a close and normal classes are set to resume Monday, March 16. Many families and staff members may have traveled out of the state or country during the break. The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that those who have visited the high-risk countries of China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican City stay home for 14 days after leaving those countries in order  to prevent spreading the illness. Please contact the principal of the school building your child attends if you have visited any of those countries and will be staying home.For more information on COVID-19 in Iowa, visit the Iowa Department of Public Health website. As of March 12, there have been NO confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Marshall County. School building contact information:
Anson Elementary –
Principal Ronnie Manis (rmanis@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1020
Fisher Elementary –
Principal Mark Lee (mlee@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1030
Franklin Elementary –
Principal Tim Holmgren (tholmgren@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1041
Hoglan Elementary –
Principal Amy Williams (awilliams2@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1060
Rogers Elementary –
Principal Dr. Mick Jurgensen (mjurgensen@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1072 Woodbury Elementary –
Principal Anel Garza, (agarza@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1080
Lenihan Intermediate School –
Principal Kyle Young (kyoung@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1160
Miller Middle School –
Principal Pat Rial (prial@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1110
Marshalltown High School –
Principal Jacque Wyant (jwyant@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1130
Marshalltown Learning Academy –
Principal Eric Goslinga (egoslinga@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-752-0039

Estimadas familias de MCSD,

Las vacaciones de primavera están llegando a su fin y las clases normales se reanudarán el lunes 16 de marzo. Muchas familias y miembros del personal pueden haber viajado fuera del estado o el país durante el descanso. Los Centros para el Control de Enfermedades de los Estados Unidos (CDC) recomiendan que aquellos que han visitado los países de alto riesgo – incluyendo China, Italia, Irán o Corea del Sur, Austria, Bélgica, República Checa, Dinamarca, Estonia, Finlandia, Francia, Alemania, Grecia, Hungría, Islandia, Letonia, Liechtenstein, Lituania, Luxemburgo, Malta, Países Bajos, Noruega, Polonia, Portugal, Eslovaquia, Eslovenia, España, Suecia, Suiza, Mónaco, San Marino, Ciudad del Vaticano – permanezcan en casa durante 14 días después de dejar esos países para evitar la propagación de la enfermedad. Por favor, contacte el director del la escuela al que asiste su hijo(a) si ha visitado cualquiera de estos países y si se quedará en casa.Para obtener más información sobre COVID-19 en Iowa, visite el sitio web del Departamento de Salud Pública de Iowa. Hasta el 12 de marzo, NO HA HABIDO CASOS CONFIRMADOS de COVID-19 en el condado de Marshall.
Información de contacto por edificio escolar:
Escuela Primaria Anson –
Director de la escuela Ronnie Manis (rmanis@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1020
Escuela Primaria Fisher –
Director de la escuela Mark Lee (mlee@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1030
Escuela Primaria Franklin –
Director de la escuela Tim Holmgren (tholmgren@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1041
Escuela Primaria Hoglan –
Directora de la escuela Amy Williams (awilliams@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1060
Escuela Primaria Rogers –
Director de la escuela Dr. Mick Jurgensen (mjurgensen@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1072
Escuela Primaria Woodbury – Directora de la escuela Anel Garza, (agarza@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1080
Escuela Intermedia Lenihan –
Director de la escuela Kyle Young (kyoung@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1160
Escuela Intermedia Miller –
Director de la escuela Pat Rial (prial@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1110
Escuela Secundaria Marshalltown (MHS) –
Directora de la escuela Jacque Wyant (jwyant@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-754-1130
Academia de Aprendizaje de Marshalltown (MLA) –
Director de la escuela Eric Goslinga (egoslinga@marshalltown.k12.ia.us), 641-752-0039

MCSD staff help families get their children signed up for preschool and kindergarten at February’s registration event at Lenihan Intermediate School.

For many students and families across the Marshalltown Community School District, March means spring is fast approaching. However, hundreds of families have been focused on next school year by registering their preschoolers and kindergartners for class.

As of Wednesday, March 11, a total of 121 students were signed up for preschool in the 2020-21 school year, along with 188 kindergartners.

The district rolled out online registration two years ago. Parents can access online registration by logging in to Infinite Campus via the link on the upper right-hand corner of the district website homepage.

Parents and guardians whose children are already registered for preschool are invited to Preschool Family Night, tentatively scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 19.

The event, which was originally scheduled for March 26, will be open to all families currently enrolled at MSCD, St. Francis Catholic School, Bobcat Academy and Mid-Iowa Community Action (MICA) Head Start preschool programs.

Fisher Elementary students, from left, Bryson Payne, Quinten Leger, Brooklyn Harned, Aria Peck, Kage Adkins, and Morgan Hilderbrand were among the students who helped raise well over $4,000 through the Kids Heart Challenge in February.

Fisher Elementary just completed the American Heart Association’s Kids Heart Challenge (previously known as Jump Rope for Heart). Fisher students raised $4,317.09 toward this worthy cause. The students participated in jump rope skills during physical education classes and had the entire month of February to collect donations.

In all, 49 Fisher students helped with the effort. Other MCSD buildings also participate in this generous event.

Fisher Elementary teams:

• Team Heart (Grades 1 and 3) = $1,546
• Team Hero (Grades 2 and 4) = $2,772

For more information on the American Heart Association Kids Heart Challenge, click here.

MHS student Wendy Chavarria Figueroa talks with a Grandview Heights resident on Wednesday.

Several Marshalltown High School students are making a weekly trip down Olive Street to visit with residents of Grandview Heights Rehab and Healthcare.

The students – who are involved in the high school’s Pier program – and Grandview residents engage in a variety of fun activities, from fingernail painting to board games. Much of the time, the students and residents simply talk about their lives with one another.

“I just like being able to catch up with them, being able to talk to someone,” said MHS senior Alexis Garcia. “We come here every Wednesday.”

Fellow senior student Ariana Buenrostro said she enjoys learning from the Grandview residents she sees regularly.

“I just enjoy coming and talking to them and learning things about them. We talk about what their childhood was like,” she said, adding she especially enjoyed reading to residents during a previous visit.

The Pier students are set to keep visiting Grandview until late April. The Pier is a school-within-a-school program helping juniors and seniors get back on track with credits toward graduation. So far this school year, the Pier has graduated eleven seniors who needed a non-traditional pathway toward graduation.

Luiselijio Alcantar has a conversation with a Grandview resident during Wednesday’s Pier visit.

MHS students Ariana Buenrostro, left, and Alexis Garcia, right, have fun fingernail painting with Grandview Heights residents.