Bobcats Making Headlines

Dr. Alan Heisterkamp presents a program known as Mentors in Violence Prevention to 40 Marshalltown High School students on Oct. 6.

A group of 40 Marshalltown High School students received in-depth training on violence prevention in hopes they can mentor younger students and learn more about how they can help in tense situations should they arise.

Dr. Alan Heisterkamp, director of the University of Northern Iowa Center for Violence Prevention, presented the day-long program known as Mentors in Violence Prevention to 10^th to 12^th grade MHS students on Oct. 6.

These students will serve as mentors, especially for the freshmen at MHS. The group learned about the role of a bystander and how their behaviors can range from doing nothing to intervening on topics such as bullying, gender discrimination, sexual harassment and substance abuse.

MHS Principal Jacque Wyant also was part of the program and believes strongly in the power of mentoring. “Mentoring is a very important community service,” Wyant said.

The students were nominated by staff at MHS to participate in the program and many are part of the Not In Our Town anti-bullying initiative at MHS.

The 2015 Marshalltown High School Homecoming royalty are Raechel Hannam as queen and Tony Smith as king.

Tony Smith and Raechel Hannam were crowned king and queen of Marshalltown High School Homecoming on Oct. 1 during the coronation ceremony.

Other members of the Homecoming court this year were Jack Greene, Omar Medina, Josh Edel, Daniel Wieland, Peyton Williams, Aaron Hauser, David Braga, Ashley Hala, Morgan Harrelson, Megan Emerson, Haley Vajgrt, Rachel Whaley, Tabitha Steffensen and Sydney Grewell.

The parade was also held Thursday night, featuring dozens of floats. The MHS volleyball team float won first place, the art club took second place and the vocal music department took third place.

Homecoming continues with the football game on Friday night as the Bobcats take on Mason City (freshmen at 4:45 p.m., varsity at 7:30 p.m.) at Leonard Cole Field.

The Homecoming dance will be at the MHS cafeteria from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday.

MHS volleyball- 1st place float

MHS art club- 2nd place float

MHS vocal music- 3rd place float

T0 view more photos, visit the MCSD Facebook page by clicking here.

Mary Boyvey brought her Sparkle Hoop Dance program to physical education classes at Woobury Elementary School this month.

Hula hoops were whirling around the Woodbury Elementary School gym on Sept. 24 as part of a visit by a special guest.

Mary Boyvey brought her Sparkle Hoop Dance exercise  to the school. She is making several visits to Woodbury this month.

Boyvey, of Woodward, Iowa, said her main message to the students is the importance of having fun while being active.

Woodbury physical education teacher Todd Beare met Boyvey at a recent community event and invited her to present to his students.

Mary, along with her husband Gordon Boyvey, present throughout the state at community festivals and other gatherings of young people.

Their appearances at Woodbury are funded by the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) Grant.

Three Marshalltown High School students have received recognition in the National Merit Scholarship Program. Collin Krukow, left, and Tim Potter, center, were named commended students and Ellyn Boland, right, is a national semifinalist.

Three Marshalltown High School students have been honored by the National Merit Scholarship Program. MHS seniors Ellyn Boland, Collin Krukow and Tim Potter have recently received recognition.

Boland has been named a semifinalist in the program. Semifinalists represent less than one percent of the 1.5 million high school students who took the qualifying test last school year.

Boland will now advance to seek a finalist spot, trying to share in the $32 million in scholarships to be offered next spring.
“It’s exciting,” Boland said.

To apply to be a finalist, Boland will submit a scholarship application, including information on her academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards received.

Potter and Krukow were named commended students from the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Commended students do not advance for scholarship awards in the program, but they represent the top 5 percent of students who took the test nationally.

Anytime Fitness Manager Mikki Englund presents a box full of school supplies to Franklin Elementary School Principal Tim Holmgren on Sept. 18. New members at Anytime Fitness donated the school supplies.

Franklin Elementary School Principal Tim Holmgren welcomed a box full of school supplies as a donation from Anytime Fitness members in Marshalltown.

Anytime Fitness held a promotion in which enrollment fees were waived for new members if they donated school supplies. The effort netted loads of paper, pencils, colored pencils, pencil boxes, crayons and more.

“We just wanted to help the school any way we could,” said Anytime Fitness manager Mikki Englund.

Englund delivered the box full of supplies to Franklin on Sept. 18. Holmgren said support from the community is always welcome and the school will put the supplies to good use.

“We love it,” Holmgren said.

Marisa Rivera

The Marshalltown School Improvement Advisory Committee invites the public to a meeting titled “Working Together for the Sake of Our Children.”
The event will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, September 29 at the Marshalltown High School library.

It will be moderated by Marisa Rivera, an educational consultant with decades of experience in leadership development. The event is free and open to the public.

This continues the series of parent rallies as the Marshalltown Community School District works to increase two-way communication with parents and community members to help all students in the district.

Rogers Elementary School kicked off its first Family Learning Center night of the school year on Sept. 17.

Families from Rogers Elementary School participate in the first Family Learning Center of the school year on Sept. 17.

With help and donations from Faith Church, students and their families were invited to a Bobcat tailgate themed night.  Volunteers from Faith Church grilled and served hot dogs, chips, cookies and a drink to families.

Rogers staff then got families involved in outside activities such as kick-ball, 4-square and soccer.  Families finished out the evening inside the Family Learning Center with a large group game of Family Feud.  All families left with free books to take home and read together.

A total of 31 Rogers families, 50 Rogers students, 11 guests, and 11 Rogers staff members were in attendance for this first event.  Rogers Family Learning Center is held at least once each month, while some months it is held twice.

“What a great start to this ongoing tradition,” said Rogers teacher librarian Erin Faas.

This group of Marshalltown Schools students talked about STEM projects during a Governor’s STEM Advisory Council meeting Sept. 15 at Lennox Industries in Marshalltown. Pictured front row, from left, Moises Raya, Conner Smith, Alex Rivas-Alanis, Elisabeth Ramirez and Javier Rodriguez. Back row, Ryan McDaniel, Regan Smith and Jacob Ramsey-Smith.

Marshalltown Community School District students and staff spoke at a panel discussion during the Governor’s STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Advisory Council meeting on Sept. 15 at Lennox Industries in Marshalltown.

Lenihan Intermediate School teachers Francie Woerner and Laura Fricke and Marshalltown High School teacher Susan Fritzell were part of the group, as was Associate Superintendent Dr. Susan Pecinovsky.

Students included Moises Raya, Conner Smith, Regan Smith and Alex Rivas-Alanis from Lenihan, Elisabeth Ramirez and Javier Rodriguez from Miller and Ryan McDaniel and Jacob Ramsey-Smith from MHS.

In front of a group of state leaders which included Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds and several Iowa college and university officials, the students and staff described in detail past and current STEM work in Marshalltown Schools.
Students and staff talked about projects such as gliders, gravity cruisers and HyperStream at the event.

“There are so many opportunities that the school can provide,” McDaniel said.

Conner Smith answers a question.

Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds asks the Marshalltown students a question.

An interview with McTV.

Miller Middle School student Samantha Snyder hands out a hog dog during a tailgate party sponsored by the Miller Student Council on Sept. 15. The effort was put in place to boost school spirit during an eighth grade football game at Franklin Field.

In an effort to boost school spirit, a group of Miller Middle School Student Council members offered free hot dogs, popcorn and lemonade to their fellow students and other fans at the eighth grade football game at Franklin Field on Sept. 15.

The group set up a Bobcat tent near the field. Their food, which was provided by private donations, was popular with the fans.

“We want to support the school and be proud Bobcats,” said Alexis Espinoza, one of the council members volunteering at the event.

The Bobcats played Waukee as the A team lost 14-6 and the B team won 16-0.

This group of Marshalltown High School students participated in the Jostens Leadership Workshop on Sept. 10 at Des Moines Area Community College. Pictured front row, from left, Bailey Wildt, Karen Alvarado, Ryan McDaniel, Cindy Mora and Beau Ragland. Second row, Gaby Hernandez, Elliot Weidenaar, Sydney Grewell, James Drummer and Josh Edel. Back row, Omar Medina, Deshonna Garth, Nate Harris , Trey Quick and Peyton Williams.

A group of 15 seniors at Marshalltown High School participated in the Jostens Leadership Workshop on Sept. 10 at Des Moines Area Community College.

Approximately 200 students from the state participated in the workshop.
Students from MHS who participated included Bailey Wildt, Karen Alvarado, Ryan McDaniel, Cindy Mora, Beau Ragland, Gaby Hernandez, Elliot Weidenaar, Sydney Grewell, James Drummer, Josh Edel, Omar Medina, Deshonna Garth, Nate Harris, Trey Quick and Peyton Williams.

These MHS students were chosen due to their leadership roles at the school. MHS counselor Meri Edel hopes they can share what they learned with their fellow students at MHS.

“They did a great job of networking with students from other schools,” Edel said. “They learned about culture and climate in school and the value of time, play and movement. We plan to come together later and work toward action to make an impact on their classmates.”