Bobcats Making Headlines

Marshalltown Schools teacher librarians, from left, Erin Faas (Rogers Elementary), Beth Steffa (Anson Elementary) and Sue Inhelder (Marshalltown High School) received Outstanding School Library Program awards at the Iowa Association of School Librarians spring conference on April 13 in Des Moines.

The libraries at Marshalltown High School, Rogers Elementary School and Anson Elementary School received Outstanding School Library Program awards on April 13 from the Iowa Association of School Librarians.

Marshalltown Community School District teacher librarians Sue Inhelder (MHS), Erin Faas (Rogers) and Beth Steffa (Anson) were presented the awards at the IASL spring conference in Des Moines.

Inhelder said she was “super excited” to receive the award for MHS.
“I’m proud of the support MHS and MCSD give to our school libraries. MCSD is a leader in the state when we look at full-time librarians in all of our buildings, full-service 21st century libraries and stable library budgets in all of our schools,” Inhelder said. “It is my honor and pleasure to offer services that have a direct impact on student achievement. “

Faas was equally excited to receive the honor on behalf of Rogers.
“It is an honor to receive this award because it symbolizes the commitment that we have to the students and staff in our buildings as well as administrative support,” Faas said.

Steffa also was happy to receive the award for Anson.
“I am very excited and honored that the Anson Elementary library was recognized for this award,” Steffa said.

Pictured are students from Marshalltown High School who plan to plant 50 trees on April 27 at the school. Pictured from left, are Chandler Fisher, Jonathan Ortega, Ryan McDaniel, Martin Runquist, Collin Krukow, Jose Garcia and Jacob Ramsey-Smith.

An Iowa Department of Natural Resources grant will translate into 50 new trees on the Marshalltown High School campus. A $5,000 Trees for Kids grant has been awarded to the school.

Students on the MHS Envirothon team have led this effort and will hold a special planting day at 3:30 p.m. April 27 at the school with the public welcome to attend.

The trees, which will include several different species, will be planted at several locations on the MHS campus. MHS student Ryan McDaniel said the group was excited to learn they received the grant and said these trees will be aesthetically pleasing as well as help with heating and cooling costs and decrease storm water runoff.

MHS extended learning teacher Susan Fritzell said they are also looking for people in the community to volunteer to water the trees over the summer months and help on the April 27 planting day. For more information on the project contact Fritzell at MHS at 641-754-1130 or email her at sfritzell@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

A team of students from Miller Middle School placed second in the Regional Battle of the Books competition at Simpson College in Indianola on March 31. Pictured in front row, from left, are Phoebe Osgood and Olivia Stone. Back row, Brianna Dean, Emily Miller, Eve Nettesheim and Carissa King

A team of students from Miller Middle School travelled to Simpson College in Indianola on March 31 to participate in the Regional Battle of the Books finals.  The team from Miller placed second in the competition.

Battle of the Books is a collaborative reading program, designed to enhance student commitment, team building, reading comprehension, and study skills in a fun, informative manner.

The competition began with the semifinal round in which the top 16 teams from qualifying rounds took a written test over 30 selected BOB books.  Participants answered questions about the books and listed each book’s author.  The top two teams from this round continued to the final oral round.

Battle of the Books at Miller is sponsored by the Extended Learning Program.

Jacque Wyant

Jacqueline “Jacque” Wyant has been named the next principal of Marshalltown High School.

Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of the Marshalltown Community School District, will recommend Wyant for approval by the Marshalltown Board of Education at its April 6 meeting.

Wyant has served as principal at West High School in Sioux City since 2011 and assistant principal for five years prior at the school. She has a background as an instructor of mathematics at the high school level.

A group of MHS students, community members and school district staff took part in interviewing the final four candidates during the past week.

“I was impressed with the committees and how seriously they took the process in helping with this important decision and interviewing four very strong candidates,” Wade said.

Wade said Wyant’s high school principal experience and her ability to relate well to the interview committees led to this selection.

“She has demonstrated the ability to meet discipline and achievement goals of a school improvement plan,” Wade said.

Wyant received her bachelor’s degree from Briar Cliff College in Sioux City in Secondary Mathematics Education and her master’s degree in Management and Administration of Education Programs from Nova Southeastern University in Florida.

She is nearing completion of her Educational Specialist degree in District Leadership from the University of South Dakota.

Wyant will replace Aiddy Phomvisay at MHS, who resigned to take another position.

She will begin her duties at MHS on July 1.

Rogers Elementary School students take part in a Jump Rope for Heart fundraising event at the National Guard Armory on March 31. Elementary schools throughout the Marshalltown Community School District raised more than $9,500 for the American Heart Association as part of the Jump Rope for Heart.

Students in elementary schools in the Marshalltown Community School District got on board in a big way for the Jump Rope for Heart fundraiser for the American Heart Association recently. Students at the schools raised more than $9,500 for the AHA, holding fundraisers and also learning more about how jumping rope can keep them healthy.

Rogers

Rogers Elementary held a special Jump For Heart event at the National Guard Armory on March 31, which had 50 students participate and raised $1,143 for the American Heart Association. “Amazing job,” said Rogers physical education teacher Donna Appel.

Woodbury

Woodbury Elementary raised $2,764 for the American Heart Association. “I’m proud of the kids,” said Woodbury physical education teacher Todd Beare. “It shows they care about other people” Third grader Dalen Huston gathered the most funds from Woodbury at $252.

The top fundraisers at Woodbury Elementary School in the Jump Rope For Heart are pictured, from left, Jacob Thiessen, Dalen Huston, Jonas Wildman and Mia Kimmins.

Fisher

Fisher Elementary had 71 students help raise $2,373 for the fundraiser. For every $50 raised, one life is saved, according to the AHA.  Fisher students and contributors saved 47 lives this year.  Grace Bethel was the top Fisher student fundraiser with $185.  All Fisher students participated in the Jump Rope for Heart activities during their regular physical education classes.

Hoglan

Hoglan Elementary raised $1,518, saving 30 lives. “Jump Rope For Heart is a great opportunity to teach students about heart problems and how to prevent heart problems,” said Hoglan physical education teacher Blake Cutright. “The students really enjoy jump roping and if a student donates over $20 then they get to silly string me. So I had 27 students who got to do so. I would say it was a very good year for us here at Hoglan.”

Franklin

Franklin Elementary has raised more than $900 with 80 students participating and will continue the effort until April 10.

Anson

Anson Elementary School did the Jump Rope for Heart for the first time in years and raised $872. They saved 17 lives.

Hoglan Elementary School kindergarten student Ella Reynolds has received a creative writing award from the Hardy Reading Council for her short story.

Hoglan Elementary School kindergarten student Ella Reynolds has received a creative writing award from the local Hardy Reading Council. Ella wrote a short story titled “Anny and the Science Day.”

She is a student of Amy Pollard and extended learning teacher Nicole Holman at Hoglan. Holman said Ella brings a combination of maturity, creativity and a sense of fun to her writing.

“She’s not just a great writer, she enjoys writing and knowing her writing will make others smile,” Holman said.  “She’s always looking for new ideas and inventing new, amazing characters for her stories.”

Ella has been invited to present her story at the Hardy Reading Council banquet at South Hardin High School on April 13.

The following is the text version of Ella’s award winning story.

“It’s a Science Day at school. She makes potions. She sells them to kids. She meets a real scientist. She dresses up like a scientist. She uses a telescope. She discovers Mars. Anny programmed on the computer. She works with a leopard. Anny teaches it. She reads a science book. She does a science experiment. She takes the bus to home. She had a good day. The End.”

Iowa Barnstormers football players Alex Gonzalez, center, and Lemans Casimier hand out stickers to Rogers Elementary students who achieved perfect attendance during the third quarter during a special assembly on March 31.

Perfect attendance students were honored on March 31 at Rogers Elementary School and were able to meet two very special guests during a recognition assembly.

A total of 56 Rogers students were recognized for perfect attendance in the third quarter (Jan. 17 to March 20) and shook hands with professional football players Alex Gonzalez and Lemans Casimier of the Iowa Barnstormers.

Rogers Principal Mick Jurgensen said aside from the 56 perfect attendance students they also had 111 students who missed one or fewer days.

“That means two-thirds of our students missed one or fewer days,” Jurgensen said. “That’s awesome.”

Also in attendance was a group of community leaders who honored the students as part of the All-America City distinction, including representatives from the City of Marshalltown, Marshalltown Police Department, the Marshalltown School Board, Mid-Iowa Community Action, YMCA-YWCA and Marshall County Extension.

Each of the community leaders told the students how important it was to aspire to achieve perfect attendance.

Marshalltown High School students, from left, Madeline Jelken, Darrian Aguilar and Jacqueline Wahl competed in the National History Day regional contest at Central College in Pella on March 27.

Students from Lenihan Intermediate School, Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School competed at the Regional National History Day competition at Central College in Pella on March 27.  All levels of Marshalltown students performed well with many advancing to the state National History Day competition at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines on May 4.

MHS

From Marshalltown High School, Madeline Jelken was a state qualifier in the senior individual website category and also earned a certificate of distinction for outstanding bibliography. Her project is titled “Robert Oppenheimer: How He Changed the World for Better or for Worse.”

Jacqueline Wahl was a state qualifier in the senior historical paper category and also earned a certificate of distinction for outstanding bibliography. Her paper is titled “Leland Stanford: Life of Ambition, Political Interest, and Personal Loss into a Legacy of Higher Education.”

Darrian Aguilar earned a certificate of distinction for outstanding use of a local topic in the senior historical paper category. His paper is titled: “Fletcher: The Unsung Admiral.”

Fletcher was born in Marshalltown.

National History Day participants from Lenihan Intermediate School include, from left, Laura Arneson, Emily Manis and Mary Kate Gruening.

Lenihan

From Lehihan, Mary Kate Gruening will be continuing on to state with her exhibit on Jonas Salk.

Emily Manis and Laura Arneson each received a certificate of appreciation for an outstanding presentation for their topic of Steve Jobs.

Miller

From Miller, state qualifiers included: Eve Nettesheim and Carissa King for their group exhibit, “Raoul Wallenberg: A Hero of the Holocaust,” Emily Miller and Emily Sickles for their group website, “Coco Chanel: How the Little Black Dress Changed the Fashion Industry Forever,” and Ryne Downey and David Wahl for their group exhibit, “Leading Expedition into Legacy: Lewis & Clark.”

In addition many other individual awards were presented to Miller students. Awards for unusual topic were given to Emily Sickles, Emily Miller, Carissa King, Eve Nettesheim, Phoebe Osgood and Brianna Dean. Awards for outstanding bibliography were given to Eve Nettesheim, Carissa King, David Wahl and Ryne Downey.

Awards for superior knowledge of topic were given to Emily Sickles and Emily Miller. Awards for excellent use of props and resources were given to Mia Barajas, Liberty Grife, Kaci Uhde, Madi Finch, David Wahl and Ryne Downey. Awards for outstanding presentation and creative entry were given to David Wahl and Ryne Downey.

A group of successful National History Day participants from Miller Middle School are pictures. Front row, from left, Emily Miller, Emily Sickles, Stella Roseburrough-Borras, Kya Naughton, Eve Nettesheim and Carissa King. Second row, Liberty Grife, Mia Barajas, Kaci Uhde, Madi Finch, David Wahl and Ryne Downey. Back row, Heather Junk, Kaylee Foth, Trevor Ketcham and Austin Shomo. Not pictured are Phoebe Osgood and Brianna Dean.

Third grade students at Anson Elementary School gathered with school staff and staff at Hy-Vee on March 26 at the site where two more garden boxes will be installed at the school.

Students at Anson Elementary School will continue to learn about gardening with help from a local grocery store.

Third grade students, Anson staff and Hy-Vee staff gathered on March 26 near the site of where two more 4-foot by 8-foot garden boxes are planned to be installed near the playground to go along with one already in place.

The gardens are provided through a Hy-Vee One Step Garden grant and will help students learn how to grow nutritious food and the importance of eating healthy.

“We want students to foster a love of fruits and vegetables from the start,” said Hy-Vee dietician Jennifer Scales.

The first garden box was installed in the Anson playground area in 2014.

“With research showing that the earlier we teach children healthy eating habits, the less likely they will suffer from childhood obesity, the intent of the One Step Garden partnership with Hy-Vee is to increase children’s preferences for vegetables through helping to grow, plant, cultivate and taste their own vegetables at Anson Elementary,” said Anson Principal Ronnie Manis.

Five Marshalltown High School seniors took part in a science fair at Iowa State University on March 26. Pictured in the front row, from left are Sumeet Panchal and Chandler Fisher. Back row, Cristina Chavez, Aurora Huerta and Natalie Kueny.

Five Marshalltown High School students took part in the Science and Technology Fair of Iowa at Iowa State University’s Hilton Coliseum on March 26.

Natalie Kueny and Chandler Fisher placed first in the behavioral and social sciences division with their project “Voting Stereotypes: Fact or Fiction?”

Sumeet Panchal earned honorable mention in the computer science category with his project titled “You Sunk My Battleship.”

Also participating were Cristina Chavez and Aurora Huerta, who competed in the plant sciences category with their project titled “Clean Water Plants.”

All five students are seniors at MHS and were led by extended learning teacher Susan Fritzell.

Hundreds of students from throughout the state took part in the event.