MHS student places 5th at state Poetry Out Loud

Posted on March 21, 2014 by marshalltownschools
Ellen Podhajsky, MHS Poetry Out Loud winner and state qualifier.

Ellen Podhajsky, MHS Poetry Out Loud winner and state qualifier.

Ellen Podhajsky placed fifth in the state’s annual Poetry Out Loud contest March 16 at the State Historical Building in Des Moines.

In the two preliminary rounds she recited “Those Winter Sundays” by Robert Hayden and “No Coward Soul is Mine” by Emily Bronte.  Five finalists were then chosen, and then Ellen recited her third poem, “Meditation on a Grapefruit” by Craig Arnold.

First place went to Josie Everett of Lamb Arts Regional Theatre in Sioux City, who will represent Iowa at the national contest in Washington, DC.  Eleven schools were represented at the state contest.

Poetry Out Loud began in November when Yvette Hermann, Iowa’s Poetry Out Loud’s coordinator and “teaching artist,” held a half-day workshop for about 30 MHS students. Students then memorized two poems and 11 performed them at the MHS Poetry Out Loud contest Dec. 18. Ellen won that contest, which earned her a spot in the state competition.

MHS ELP teacher Susan Fritzell and Gary Zmolek, a retired ELP teacher and speech coach at South Tama, were Ellen’s coaches.

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MHS Jazz Band/Show Choir Blast is March 20

Posted on March 19, 2014 by marshalltownschools

The Marshalltown High School Music Department will present the Jazz Band/Show Choir Blast on Thursday, March 20, in the MHS/Community Auditorium at 7pm.

The concert will open with MHS Jazz II, under the direction of Mr. Brett Umthun, playing three selections of varying style.  Tunes include arrangements of Moanin’, Count Basie’s  Jumpin’ at the Woodside and Quincy Jones’ Soul Bossa Nova.   The program will continue with Jazz I also playing tunes of varying style.  The Jazz I program will include a Basie-type shuffle, O Sole Mio, a piece titled Dizzying in the style of the great Dizzy Gillespie and in the style of Duke Ellington, Fantasia on an Ellington Theme.  One additional selection, Always and Forever will feature a Flugel Horn solo by Eric Weinberg.

The concert will conclude with the MHS show choir, South Side Transit, performing their complete competition show.  With a set of songs that follows the theme of “We Believe”, the show choir will take you on a journey that includes popular music from the last decade.  Songs will include: Some Nights, It’s Time,  Something to Believe In, and will close with the Bollywood-style piece, Jai Ho.

Admission for the concert will be $5 Adults, $3 Students (K-8), Children under 5 admitted free.  MHS activity tickets will be honored.

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MHS Math Team qualifies for state

Posted on March 18, 2014 by marshalltownschools

Six members of the Marshalltown High School Math Team have qualified for the state championship April 26 in Iowa City.

At the Greater Plains Math League contest held Feb. 15, at Iowa State University, Nick Summers (freshman) won first place in individual competition, Sumeet Panchal (junior) won second place, and Eric Lizarde (sophomore), Ashley Harris (junior), and Nicole Lacina (senior) won third place in their respective age groups. The team placed second overall.

In addition to the above, Tim Potter qualified for state with his performance at an earlier competition.

The students competed against teams from Ames, Des Moines, Iowa City and Johnston.

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National History Day showcase at IVH March 26

Posted on March 18, 2014 by marshalltownschools

PrintThe National History Day participants from Lenihan Intermediate School, Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School will hold a special event at the Iowa Veterans Home Malloy Leisure Center Wednesday, March 26, 4-5pm, to showcase their NHD projects.

The event will give students the opportunity to share their history projects before competition on April 2. Fifteen Lenihan students, 10 Miller students and three MHS students will present their exhibits, all focused on this year’s NHD theme: “Rights & Responsibilities.”

The students will present their projects and receive feedback from local judges, including the IVH commandant and an IVH resident.

The public is invited to attend.

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Reading vastly improved for Lenihan sixth grader

Posted on March 17, 2014 by marshalltownschools

Teacher Deb Martin said Lenihan Intermediate School sixth grader Alejandra Andrade Murillo has shown a great interest in books – and it is paying off.

Martin said Alejandra has vastly improved her reading ability in the past year.

Read Alejandra’s spotlight in today’s Marshalltown Times-Republican.

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Marshalltown’s Leavy family entrepreneurs in meat industry: Harvest Meat Co. at $1 billion in sales

Posted on March 16, 2014 by marshalltownschools

Eileen O’Connor’s Famous Irish Corned Beef Brisket will soon be making its debut in Marshalltown.

And following will be O’Connor’s Famous Irish Pot Roast and Irish Bacon.

Put simply, the revered O’Connor name is not one made up to promote a variety of meat products, rather, the family matriarch was born in Ireland and immigrated to the United States in 1952. She lived in Marshalltown many years with husband Frank Leavy, raising seven children before moving west…

“Our trucks frequent Marshalltown on a weekly basis providing only the highest quality of meat and service to our customers in the midwest,” said Mike Leavy, Frank and Eileen’s son, and eastern regional manager for the company in Kansas City. “Although the company distribution network is national in scope, our roots and pride for community past and present were instilled by our mother, Eileen O’Connor Leavy and father, Frank. Their seven children graduated from the Marshalltown Community School District, and are proud to have been Bobcats!”

Read the full story in the Marshalltown Times-Republican.

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Branstad, Reynolds talk STEM at Fisher school: State initiative lauded in Marshalltown

Posted on March 13, 2014 by marshalltownschools
Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds visited Fisher Elementary Wednesday, March 12, to discuss STEM education.

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds visited Fisher Elementary Wednesday, March 12, to discuss STEM education.

Two special guests visited Fisher Elementary School Wednesday and applauded the effort Marshalltown has put forth on the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math initiative.

Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds spoke to a crowded media center at the school which featured students, local business leaders and area residents.

Read the full story in today’s Marshalltown Times-Republican.

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Miller swim program makes splash in first year: Middle school wraps up season

Posted on March 12, 2014 by marshalltownschools

Coaches didn’t know what to expect as they launched a new swimming program for Miller Middle School students last month. Just more than three weeks later and they are deeming the inaugural season for Marshalltown seventh and eighth graders a success.

The program is led by high school coaches Mike Loupee, Angie Nelson and Sam Backstrom, who have volunteered their time, along with Miller teacher Jen Beals and a few high school swimmers.

“We’ve had tremendous growth and success,” Loupee said. “We are trying to bolster participation at the high school level.”

Read the full story in today’s Marshalltown Times-Republican.

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Hoglan Carnival raises $800 for Roundhouse project

Posted on March 11, 2014 by marshalltownschools
Left to Right: Amy Williams (principal of Hoglan), Amy Pollard (Carnival Co-chair/ Team Hoglan Member), Craig Huegel (MHS Activities Director), Erin Weatherly (Team Hoglan President/ Carnival co-chair). Front: Andrew Huegel and Carson Weatherly.

Left to Right: Amy Williams (principal of Hoglan), Amy Pollard (Carnival Co-chair/ Team Hoglan Member), Craig Huegel (MHS Activities Director), Erin Weatherly (Team Hoglan President/ Carnival co-chair). Front: Andrew Huegel and Carson Weatherly.

Team Hoglan donated a quarter of the proceeds from their elementary carnival to Renovate the Roundhouse, presenting a check for $800 on March 6.

Team Hoglan, the parent-teacher organization at Hoglan Elementary, organized the Feb. 23 carnival, which was open to all Marshalltown elementary students.

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Lenihan holds 8th annual Battle of the Books

Posted on March 11, 2014 by marshalltownschools

Marshalltown Public Library hosted nearly 100 fifth and sixth graders yesterday for the 8th annual Lenihan Battle of the Books Bash.

Teams comprised of 4-5 students from Lenihan Intermediate and St. Francis gathered at the library, each earning a spot in the BOB Bash by scoring high on a qualifying exam about dozens of books read by each student. After qualifying each student was given an additional books to read.

In the morning students participated in numerous hands-on learning activities throughout the library and in the afternoon competed several rounds of trivia based on the books read.

Once the points were tallied, these teams came out as the top scorers:

  • First Place: Liberty Grife, Madi Finch, Tavis Reisdorf, Bennett Hageman, Tyler Downey.
  • Second Place: Taevin Perisho, Austin Shomo, Rodolfo Mendoza, Jack Gruening, Trevor Ketcham.
  • Third Place: Joe Barlow, Seth Derby, Wyatt DeMeyer, Lucas Kramer.

Every student participating received a certificate and a book.

Additional coverage in today’s Marshalltown Times-Republican.

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