MHS senior named National Merit Scholar

Posted on May 9, 2013 by marshalltownschools

Marshalltown High School senior Ben Anzis is among 2,500 students nationwide recognized as a National Merit Scholarship winner.

Anzis was chosen out of a pool of 15,000 finalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program. Scholarship winners are the finalists in each state judged to have the strongest combination of accomplishments, skills, and potential for success in rigorous college studies. The number of winners named in each state is proportional to the state’s percentage of the nation’s graduating high school seniors.

Scholars were selected by a committee of college admissions officers and high school counselors, who appraised a substantial amount of information submitted by both the finalists and their high schools: the academic record, including difficulty levels of subjects studied and grades earned; scores from two standardized tests; contributions and leadership in school and community activities; an essay written by the finalist; and a recommendation written by a high school official.

Anzis will receive a scholarship for $2,500 from the National Merit Scholarship Corporation.

Posted in School News | Tagged , , | Comments Off on MHS senior named National Merit Scholar

Annual retiree recognition tea is May 15

Posted on May 9, 2013 by marshalltownschools

20130509080943660

The annual retirement tea recognizing retiring employees of Marshalltown Community School District is Wednesday, May 15, at 4pm in Dejardin Hall on the Marshalltown Community College campus.

The tea is sponsored by the district and the Marshalltown Education Association. The event will also recognize 25-year and 35-year employees and the 2013 Friend of Education award will be handed out at that time.

The event is free and open to the public.

Posted in School News | Comments Off on Annual retiree recognition tea is May 15

Annual Jazz Coffee Concert is May 13

Posted on May 8, 2013 by marshalltownschools

Middle school and high school jazz bands will be featured at the annual Jazz Coffee Concert Monday, May 13, at 7pm in Dejardin Hall at Marshalltown Community College.

The concert will feature the Miller Jazz Band under the direction of Sarah Baldus, MHS Jazz Band II under the direction of Brett Umthun and MHS Jazz I under the direction of Bret Lee.  Each ensemble will perform 3-5 selections and will feature MHS seniors for their final performance of the year!

Admission is $5 with activity cards honored. Desserts and beverages will be available during the concert.

Posted in School News | Tagged , , | Comments Off on Annual Jazz Coffee Concert is May 13

MHS places first in Chinese language competition

Posted on May 7, 2013 by marshalltownschools

Marshalltown High School students placed first at the University of Iowa High School Chinese Language Speaking Competition held Saturday, May 4, in Iowa City.

The competition was sponsored by the Confucius Institute, a collaboration between The University of Iowa, the Office of Chinese Language Council International and East China Normal University in Shanghai. Students prepared for two months and performed a short piece called “A Chinese Dream”.

“They did a very good job,” said Yuanhuai Xiong, MHS Chinese teacher. “I am so proud of them.”

The five MHS students competed against students from five other high schools across Iowa.

Posted in School News | Tagged , | Comments Off on MHS places first in Chinese language competition

Luncheon celebrates success at MHS: Pork burgers, games held at school

Posted on May 7, 2013 by marshalltownschools

Prior to a special luncheon Monday, Marshalltown High School Principal Aiddy Phomvisay had live video streamed throughout the school featuring students achieving a wide array of state and national accomplishments.

Just a few minutes later, it was time to celebrate those accomplishments with a Lunch on the Lawn event at the school.

Read more in today’s Marshalltown Times-Republican.

Posted in School News | Tagged | Comments Off on Luncheon celebrates success at MHS: Pork burgers, games held at school

MHS seniors named National Merit Scholarship finalists

Posted on May 6, 2013 by marshalltownschools

MHS seniors Joe Metzger and Ben Anzis are finalists in the 2013 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Metzger and Anzis were among 16,000 semifinalists selected out of 1.5 million students who took the 2011 PSAT/NMSQ exam. To become a finalist, students must submit a detailed scholarship application and show evidence of a strong academic record, participation in school and community activities and demonstrated leadership abilities. Approximately 15,000 are chosen as finalists.

Merit Scholars are selected on the basis of their skills, accomplishments and potential success in rigorous college studies.

The finalists are in the running for one of 2,500 scholarships for $2,500. The National Merit Scholar Corporation will announce the winners on May 8.

Posted in School News | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Woodbury students prepare care packages for teacher serving in Afghanistan

Posted on May 6, 2013 by marshalltownschools
Third Grade students at Woodbury helped pack up seven Woodbury Cares packages to the service men and women in the platoon of their teacher, Petty Officer Richard Ortega, who is serving in Afghanistan.

Third Grade students at Woodbury helped pack up seven Woodbury Cares packages to the service men and women in the platoon of their teacher, Petty Officer Richard Ortega, who is serving in Afghanistan.

Woodbury students created  care packages for their teacher, Petty Officer Richard Ortega, and members of his platoon currently serving in Afghanistan.

“Each grade brought a different item,” said Jackie Hernandez, third grade student who helped pack the boxes.  “We had to keep going back to the post office to get more boxes!”

The care packages contained gum, candy, drink mixes and other snacks. The students had all read stories about life in Afghanistan and the life on a military base in the area. The second, third and fourth grade students created questions and typed letters to the troops. The letters were included along with the food and drink mixes in the Woodbury Cares packages.

Kindergarteners and first grade students decorated kites and sent special wishes to the troops. Flying kites is one of the popular pastimes of children in Afghanistan.

“Mr. Ortega should be the most popular guy around when he gets those packages,” said Sue Cahill, who helped organized the project.  He will have enough packs of gum and Lifesavers to share with hundreds of friends!”

Ortega is slated to return to the United States in September or October of this year. He serves as a Petty Officer in the Sea Bees Unit of the United States Navy.

Posted in School News | Tagged , | Comments Off on Woodbury students prepare care packages for teacher serving in Afghanistan

A self-motivated learner: Hoglan student puts forth 100 percent effort

Posted on May 6, 2013 by marshalltownschools

Jason Strand doesn’t need any egging on when he gets to school. He knows he’s there to learn.

“He’s very much a self-directed, self-motivated learner,” said his teacher Deborah Friday in second grade at Hoglan Elementary School. “He puts forth 100 percent effort.”

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

Posted in School News | Tagged , | Comments Off on A self-motivated learner: Hoglan student puts forth 100 percent effort

VSA Iowa to hold performing arts/music workshop with MHS class

Posted on May 3, 2013 by marshalltownschools

Students in Susan Arifi’s class at Marshalltown High School will participate in a performing arts/music workshop courtesy of VSA Iowa on Thursday, May 9.

VSA Iowa is an organization focused on creating a society “where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in, and enjoy the arts.” The organization, sponsored through the State of Iowa, has an Arts For Children component that holds therapeutic arts workshops in classrooms across Iowa.

Allison Lindgren will lead a one-hour workshop with Arifi’s students at MHS on May 9. Lindgren is from West Des Moines and specializes in creative writing, music and theater.

Posted in School News | Tagged | Comments Off on VSA Iowa to hold performing arts/music workshop with MHS class

Lenihan holds 7th annual spelling bee

Posted on May 3, 2013 by marshalltownschools
Spelling bee winner Abril Alcaraz (right) and runner-up Eve Nettesheim (left) with Principal Ralph Bryant.

Lenihan held its 7th annual spelling bee Thursday, May 2, with sixth grader Abril Alcaraz taking the championship.

Alcaraz beat out 24 other participants, who qualified for the final bee based on their performance on a qualifying exam. She won by correctly spelling the word “measure”.

Runner-up was Eve Nettesheim. Both received a trophy for their excellent spelling performance. All participants received  medals.

Posted in School News | Tagged , | Comments Off on Lenihan holds 7th annual spelling bee