MHS Science Bound hosts STEM Carnival Nov. 18

SBlogoStudents of all ages are invited to Marshalltown High School Monday, Nov. 18, for fun, engaging, interactive activities at the STEM Carnival.

The Carnival, hosted by MHS Science Bound students, will include will explore different areas of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) experienced in daily life. Project presentations and interactive experiments will feature the immune system, the nervous system, airplanes, solar energy, soil erosion, gravity and others. Activities run 6-7:30pm.

Besides the interactive events, there will also be presentations featuring the work of the many STEM-related competitions in which MHS students have participated. There will be booths on dual credit and Advanced Placement courses, and information from Marshalltown Community College, Iowa State University, and others.

PLTW_Logo_Vertical_187-295Free popcorn will be available and the concessions stand will be open.

Prior to the carnival, community members are invited to a ribbon cutting for the new Project Lead the Way laboratories. Gov. Terry Branstad will be on hand to celebrate the opening of these state-of-the-art labs supporting the Principles of Engineering and Biomedical Sciences programs.

The ribbon cutting program will begin at 5pm and will also include local business leaders.

SAVE THE DATE: STEM CARNIVAL

Monday, Nov. 18, 2013
Marshalltown High School

  • 5pm PLTW Ribbon Cutting with Gov. Terry Branstad
  • 6pm STEM Carnival hosted by MHS Science Bound Students

STEM-Carnival

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MHS students attend Governor’s Summit on Bullying

Marshalltown High School students Trey Quick, Mikela Jones, Kailey Miller, Isabella Pedersen, and River Bown attended the Governor's Summit on Bullying Monday in Des Moines. The students are pictured above with Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

Marshalltown High School students Trey Quick, Mikela Jones, Kailey Miller, Isabella Pedersen, and River Bown attended the Governor’s Summit on Bullying Monday in Des Moines. The students are pictured above with Gov. Terry Branstad and Lt. Gov. Kim Reynolds.

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Confident leader focuses on health: Miller student a role model

With a teacher as a mother, Sam Irwin doesn’t have to look far for advice on how to be a success at school.

Irwin, 14, is in eighth grade at Miller Middle School. His mother, Michele Irwin, teaches at Woodbury Elementary School.

“She’s a good role model for me in my life,” Sam Irwin said of his mother.

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

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MHS Vocal Music holds annual Butter Braid fundraising sale

The Marshalltown High School Vocal Music Department is holding its annual Butter Braid fundraiser.

MHS Vocal students will be selling Butter Braids through Nov. 11. All funds raised will help support the Vocal Music Activity Account that covers the cost of costumes, robes, registrations for contests and competitions, as well as travel expenses for any activities in and out of Marshalltown. If you know a vocal student, please contact them directly. If you would like to place an order, but don’t have a connection with any of our vocal students, you may contact Amy Ose, Director of Vocal Music at Marshalltown High School 641-754-1130 ext. 1157.

Made in West Bend, Iowa, each Butter Braid costs $14, with seven varieties offered:  Apple, Blueberry Cream Cheese, Cherry, Cinnamon, Raspberry, Strawberry Cream Cheese and the newest flavor, Double Chocolate. The braids come frozen and need to stay frozen until you are ready to thaw them for baking.

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MHS cheerleaders bring Bobcat spirit to Community Y Day Camp

daycamp01Marshalltown High School cheerleaders brought some Bobcat spirit to the Community Y Day Camp recently.

Jessica Cakrasenjaya, cheerleading coach, said the squad is always looking for ways to involve the entire community in Bobcat spirit.

“The kids really enjoyed watching the cheerleaders to cheers and stunts and even joined in some of their favorites,” she said.

This is the first time they’ve volunteered at the day camp, but she says they hope to do more community events, including a after-school cheer clinic second semester.

Right now the squad is recruiting more members for the upcoming basketball and wrestling seasons. Interested high school students can come to tryout practices Nov. 5-7, 6am in the Roundhouse. Tryouts will be Friday, Nov. 8, after school.

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Woodbury celebrates return of teacher deployed in Afghanistan

For nearly a year the fence at Woodbury Elementary was decorated with red, white and blue ribbons, each representing a wish for Richard Ortega, the teacher who left last November for deployment in Afghanistan. The ribbons remained on the fence as a daily reminder of the teacher serving his country and an ongoing hope for his safe and speedy return.

Today students and staff celebrated just that – Mr. Ortega’s return to teaching at Woodbury.

Their mission accomplished, the ribbons were removed from the fence and tied together into a wreath presented to Mr. Ortega this morning at an all-school celebration. Students read tributes to Mr. Ortega and presented him with an over-sized “Woodbury Wonderful” certificate that stated the following:

“Mr. Ortega: You are a hero! Thank you for your service. – Your Woodbury Family.”

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STEM leaders pitch project to governor: Branstad visits Howgan Monday

Area leaders in education and technology had a willing ear in Gov. Terry Branstad Monday as they talked about a proposed initiative as part of the STEM push.

Branstad visited Howgan in Marshalltown Monday to talk about an effort of the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics initiative.

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

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Phomvisay wins ISU educational administration award

Phomvisay

Phomvisay

Marshalltown High School Principal Aiddy Phomvisay is one of four winners of the Richard P. Manatt Fellowship in educational administration, issued by the School of Education at Iowa State University.

Phomvisay will receive the $2,000 award at a College of Human Sciences scholarship recognition event, 3 p.m. Friday in the first-floor lobby of the Scheman Building.

The fellowship provides partial funding to support and develop the nation’s best educational administration scholars as they pursue the Iowa State University doctoral program in educational administration.

Phomvisay is in his third year as the principal at Marshalltown High School.  He previously worked as an associate principal at Valley High School in West Des Moines, taught ninth grade world studies and 10th grade U.S. history at Ames High School, and taught in an English Language Learner sheltered classroom.

He is a National Board Certified Teacher in social studies and history, and has taught classes at Drake University and Iowa State University.

In Ames and West Des Moines, Phomvisay held many leadership roles in various training and curriculum writing teams. He serves on the Iowa Department of Education English Language Learner Task Force and the external advisory committee for Iowa State’s Educator Preparation Coordinating Council. He has been a keynote speaker at the Iowa Culture and Language Conference, Our Kids Conference and Iowa Project Lead the Way Teacher Conference.

Prior to seeking his doctorate, Phomvisay received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Iowa State University, as well as a certificate of advanced studies (superintendent license). He also attended the James Madison Senior Fellowship Constitution Institute at Georgetown University.

He lives in Marshalltown with his family. His wife Mindy is an elementary music teacher and the director of music ministry at First Baptist Church in Ames. Their children Elijah, 11, and Emma, 9, are active in orchestra, band, dance, and school activities.

Other winners of the award include Mark Ernst of Ankeny, director of curriculum for Clear Creek Amana Community Schools; David Ford, district at-risk coordinator in the Southeast Polk Community School District; and Jesse Ulrich, superintendent of the A-H-S-T Community School District in Avoca and Walnut Community School District.

The Richard P. Manatt Fellowship was created in honor of Dick Manatt, professor of educational administration at Iowa State University, who served as a teacher, counselor, school administrator, and professor during a distinguished career that spanned nearly 50 years.

As a university professor and director of the School Improvement Model (SIM), Manatt supervised research projects totaling more than $5 million and authored five books and more than 100 articles. He is perhaps best known by his students for his exceptional commitment to their personal and professional development.

During Manatt’s nearly 40 years at Iowa State University, he served as major professor for 175 Ph.D. students in educational administration. His dedication to mentoring graduates of the program and supporting their work continued long after they received their degrees. Upon Manatt’s retirement in May 2002, his students and friends established the Richard P. Manatt Fellowship.

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Fisher Elementary hosts Family Reading Night

Hundreds of Fisher Elementary students and their families came to school Tuesday, Oct. 22, for hot pizza and cool books at Family Reading Night.

Families enjoyed pizza in the gym before each student was given a free new book. Families were then invited to visit classrooms where members of the Marshalltown Community College softball team and Fisher staff members were waiting to read to them.

The MCC Tiger was also traveling between classrooms and visiting with students.

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Marshalltown Board of Realtors donates $5,000 to Roundhouse

RealtorsThe Marshalltown Board of Realtors donated $5,000 toward the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse renovation Friday, Oct. 18.

Present to receive the check were Craig Huegel, MHS activities director, and Gary Schaudt, fundraising co-chair for Renovate the Roundhouse.

Roundhouse Logo Final

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