Bobcats Making Headlines

Each of the 11 Marshalltown Community School District building principals is committed to ensuring the achievement and success of Bobcat students – we celebrate their incredible dedication and leadership this October during National Principals Month. 

The District’s school principals oversee student learning and safety at each of their buildings, keep in contact with parents and families, organize school events, share their insights as educational leaders, and so much more. They all continue to show great leadership through the turbulence caused by the coronavirus pandemic. 

Read on to meet each of our incredible school principals, each of whom shared what they love about their work: 

Anel Garza, Woodbury Elementary
“I enjoy interacting with parents, students, and staff in a collaborative way to do what is best for all our kiddos. The fun part is when you really get to know the parents and you get along with them like family. I love sharing that same great family feeling with our students and staff.”

Dave Glenn, Miller Middle School
“I most enjoy working with diverse groups of people. I work with teachers, students, support staff, district personnel, other principals and, of course, parents and guardians. Building meaningful relationships with all of these people in order to ultimately provide meaningful learning experiences for ALL students and increase achievement is a critical and most rewarding aspect of my day-to-day work.”

Eric Goslinga, Marshalltown Learning Academy principal 
“I enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with talented teachers and great kids to help students reach their goals.”

Tim Holmgren, Franklin Elementary
“What I enjoy most about being a school principal is leading staff that all want the same for kids and families – success! Our team takes on challenges and advocates for kids, acting with students’ best interests in mind.”

Dr. Mick Jurgensen, Rogers Elementary 
“I enjoy the variety of celebration and challenge that comes with being a principal. The joy is all about the students and making a positive impact on their lives … Personally, my ultimate reward is seeing my former students in our community moving our community forward in various roles and hiring former students to serve here at Rogers as employees. The joys of teaching kids more and more of the skills and knowledge in this rapidly changing environment has come from the challenge to be on top of the wave so children would benefit most from their time in school.”

Kristyn Kell, Miller Middle School
“What I enjoy most is the people – I love working with kids and staff; it’s truly about the relationships that are formed. It’s about making a difference in our students’ lives and making decisions based on what is best for them. At the end of the day, if I helped a student or staff member I did a job well done.”

Mark Lee, Fisher Elementary
“What I enjoy most about being a principal is working with teams to find solutions to challenges. I enjoy working with teachers to seek out the best methods to help all students to grow.”

Ronnie Manis, Anson Elementary
“I most enjoy my interactions with students and staff. I enjoy popping into classrooms to just sit back and enjoy watching the learning that occurs every day.”

Amy Williams Hoglan Elementary
“The thing I enjoy most about being a principal is helping students, families, and teachers. I enjoy working on teams with other adults who are passionate about serving kids and are willing to learn. It is rewarding to work with students and to help them learn and grow socially, emotionally and academically.”

Jacque Wyant, Marshalltown High School 
“My greatest pleasure in my role as principal has been disruption innovation: helping school communities develop better environments for learning for both adults and students. In Sioux City and Marshalltown, I have facilitated the integration of 1-1 computers, launched Professional Learning Communities, developed smaller learning communities like Freshman House and PIER as well as implemented Mentors in Violence Prevention. I enjoy bringing out the leadership abilities of staff and students as they work together to improve the school environment.”

Kyle Young, Lenihan Intermediate School 
“I enjoy knowing that no day as a principal is ever the same. We have the opportunity to directly support so many people. It’s a challenge and an honor to be in this position.”

Thank you to each and every MCSD school principal! You play a crucial role in ensuring Bobcat students are prepared to pursue a meaningful, successful future.

The Community Foundation of Marshall County (CFMC) awarded Marshalltown Community School District with a grant to support student transportation services on Monday, Oct. 5.

CFMC Executive Director Julie Hitchins presented the $9,000 Marshall County Disaster Recovery Fund grant to the Marshalltown School Board at Monday’s regular meeting. The Marshall County Disaster Recovery Fund received donations to assist those negatively impacted by the current pandemic.   

“Thanks to generous donations for pandemic relief efforts, the Foundation is pleased to provide this grant to ensure students are transported to school to ensure learning continues,” Hitchins said. “This is another great example of collaboration between the Marshalltown Community School District, the City of Marshalltown and the Marshall County Disaster Recovery donors to meet a need which is a result of the pandemic.”

The award funding will support the partnership between the MCSD Transportation Department and the City of Marshalltown Municipal Transit to ensure access to safe, high-quality transportation to and from school for all Bobcat students.  

“The MCSD Transportation Department is very appreciative of the grant from CFMC, which will help our students get to school using the City’s public transportation system. We look forward to working with the Marshalltown Municipal Transit team in getting students to school with this grant,” said MCSD Transportation Director Rex Kozak.

Marshalltown Schools thanks the Community Foundation of Marshall County for helping us meet Bobcat students’ school transportation needs! We are grateful to have excellent partners in the CFMC and Marshalltown Municipal Transit.

CFMC recognizes that this is an unprecedented time but anticipates a continued need for funding pandemic related efforts. Contributions to the Marshall County Disaster Recovery Fund can be made online at www.desmoinesfoundation.org/marshallcountydisasterfund  or checks can be mailed to the Community Foundation of Marshall County, 11 N. First Ave., Marshalltown, Iowa 50158.

If you have any questions, you can contact Julie Hitchins, Community Foundation of Marshall County Executive Director, at director@cfmarshallco.org. www.cfmarshallco.org

The mission of the Community Foundation of Marshall County is to improve the quality of life in Marshall County by building charitable endowments and by addressing critical needs of our communities in partnership with nonprofit organizations and donors. The Community Foundation of Marshall County is an affiliate of the Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines, a community foundation that is confirmed in compliance with National Standards for U.S. Community Foundations.

Marshalltown High School senior Marek Jablonski has been named a scholarship competition semifinalist and a Commendable Student from a Rural School by the National Merit Scholarship Program.

Both honors reflect Jablonski’s commitment to academic success. He is one of only 16,000 students nationwide to be named as a scholarship program semifinalist.

“The next phase is becoming a finalist, and that involves writing an essay about what your plans are for and after college, activities and volunteering,” Jablonski said, adding he has already submitted his essay for consideration. 

In his essay, Jablonski wrote about a major project he began several years ago – a synchronized holiday light show – and how his academic interests in computer engineering have grown since starting that project. He has since become involved in the MHS BotCats robotics team, the MHS Math Team, Lego League and the National Honor Society.

The NMSC will announce the scholarship program finalists in February. In the meantime, Jablonski will continue to work toward his post-graduation career goals. 

“I’m planning on going to either Iowa State or Purdue for computer engineering,” he said. “Computer engineering is a good medium between programming and electrical engineering. You get to deal with software on the hardware level.” 

Congratulations Marek Jablonski for earning both of these major recognitions!

Marshalltown High School senior Klaudia Hernandez will bring an important student voice to the state Board of Education’s (BOE) Equity Committee this school year.

Hernandez was one of only seven students statewide to be selected to serve on the BOE Equity Committee. She is also serving as one of three Marshalltown School Board school representatives this year.

“I felt really happy and excited,” Hernandez said about being selected to the Equity Committee. “I was proud of myself.” 

The BOE Equity Committee works to ensure equity is embedded in education statewide. Hernandez said she wants to use her voice on the committee to help fellow Iowans find success in education.

“I know that there are many issues facing Iowans right now and I wanted to try and help solve them,” Hernandez said, adding she looks forward to meeting with the committee and learning more about how she can support equity in education.

Congratulations Klaudia Hernandez! You will do a great job of representing your fellow Bobcats and students across Iowa.

Several young evergreen trees found a permanent home just north of the Marshalltown Tennis Complex Saturday morning, thanks to a generous donation from the Marshalltown High School Class of 1969. 

A group of Bobcat students, staff, and community members teamed up on the crisp fall morning to plant the trees, which will act as a windbreak for the new tennis facilities as they grow. The trees also represent the growing legacy of the Class of 1969, which has dedicated special focus to community support. 

“Our theme is ‘Bringing Back the Green to Marshalltown,’” said Class of 1969 Vice President Lyle Jensen of the group’s effort to replace trees lost to the 2018 tornado.

Jensen is also the vice president and treasurer of the MHS Bobcat Alumni Fund, which has seen $115,000 raised for 900 trees to be planted throughout the community over the next few years. Jensen said the tree donations have been a group effort, with more than 20 MHS alumni classes and 20 businesses lending support. 

“The MHS Class of 1969 is very proud of our heritage, of our graduation from this District and what they’ve done for us,” said Class of 1969 Secretary Billy Wilson, adding the recent tree donation effort is “something that our class is proud of, to give back to the community.” 

Marshalltown Schools thanks Lyle Jensen, Billy Wilson, and the rest of the Class of 1969 for yet another generous effort! We are grateful to have such dedicated, caring, community-minded Bobcat alumni. 

The custodial team at Marshalltown Community School District plays a vital role in the health, safety, and security of thousands of Bobcat students and staff every day. Today is National Custodial Workers Recognition Day, and we thank the dedicated custodians across the District for everything they do to maintain great learning environments for students.

Marshalltown Schools custodians work to clean, sanitize, and maintain hundreds of thousands of square feet of school building space. They also ensure school building security throughout the day and night, move equipment and supplies within the buildings, and have stepped up deep cleaning and sanitation efforts this school year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I am very proud of what each one of our custodians accomplish with their schedule,” said District Buildings and Grounds Custodial Supervisor Travis James. “I am proud of how they have taken on the disinfecting of the rooms and common places. Each one of our custodians take ownership of their building and are very responsible for them.”

Meet a few members of the excellent Marshalltown Schools custodial team below!

Teresa Bellus is a familiar face in several District buildings, from Central Office and Marshalltown Learning Academy to the bus barn and Four Oaks.

Bellus takes care to ensure commonly-touched areas are thoroughly disinfected throughout her buildings. She said she enjoys making connections with her fellow District employees.

“I like the daily interaction with the people,” she said.

Miller Middle School custodian Jeff Braddock goes the extra mile to ensure the building’s classrooms, hallways, offices, and other spaces are in great shape to provide the best learning environment possible.

Braddock brings a positive attitude to Miller every day, and he said there is a strong theme of “teamwork, teamwork, teamwork” among the six custodians at the building. He said student safety and security is always a focus of the Miller custodial team.

Scott Randall said one of his favorite aspects of being a the head custodian at Marshalltown High School is that he never knows exactly what they day will bring.

“There’s always something to do, it changes from moment to moment,” Randall said. “I love to keep moving, I’m one of those people who is always on the move, and I like a challenge.”

He said he also enjoys the responsibility of overseeing the many custodial duties at the largest school in the District.

Thank you to Teresa Bellus, Jeff Braddock, Scott Randall, all of their fellow MCSD custodial team members – you play a key role in ensuring our schools are safe, secure, and enriching places for young Bobcats to learn and grow. Happy National Custodial Workers Recognition Day!

As crews get closer to completion of the Marshalltown Tennis Complex on the Marshalltown High School campus, excitement is also building for new physical education tennis opportunities for Bobcat students of all ages. 

Thanks to a grant from the United States Tennis Association (USTA) Missouri Valley “Net Generation” program, District P.E. teachers will be adding new tennis activities to their classes this school year. The grant, which totals about $11,500,  provides new tennis rackets, tennis balls, nets, and other equipment to help students build their skills and enjoy the sport; P.E. teachers were introduced to the new equipment during professional development this week. 

“The equipment is very nice, we are very lucky to partner with the USTA. I believe the students will have a great time doing these activities, they are fun and will keep them engaged,” said Hoglan Elementary P.E. teacher Blake Cutright, who played collegiate tennis. “Tennis is a phenomenal activity for all ages; it is a life-long healthy activity. Our students will be physically active, will learn social emotional learning skills and will have a fun time doing so.”

Fellow P.E. teacher Casey Moberly at Lenihan Intermediate School also said the new equipment is a great addition and will help develop students’ skills in the sport.

“It is geared to beginner levels, so they can learn the game and control their racket and the ball,” she said. “Tennis can teach hand-eye coordination, agility, strength, speed, and focus. Tennis is also a safe sport option.” 

Marshalltown High School P.E. teacher Adam Goodvin said the new equipment will not only help develop students’ interest and skills in the sport, but will also introduce them to an activity they can enjoy as they grow up. 

“The biggest benefit is tennis can be a lifelong physical activity,” he said. “Students may develop a strong interest in tennis and continue to participate outside of P.E. class with friends or possibly competing for the school.” 

During this week’s professional development, the P.E. teachers were able to get hands-on experience with the new equipment. They practiced exercises that will help Bobcat students develop their tennis skills during classes this year. 

In addition to the new tennis equipment, each school’s physical education program is receiving $100 from USTA Missouri Valley to go toward the tennis curriculum. 

Energetic, informative, insightful – these are just three words to describe author, speaker, CEO and generational expert Mark C. Perna’s special keynote to the Marshalltown and surrounding community Monday evening. 

Did you miss the presentation of “Answering Why: Unleashing Passion, Purpose, and Performance in Younger Generations” yesterday? It isn’t too late to watch! A recording of Monday evening’s virtual keynote is available here; however, please note that this recording will only be available for the next 14 days. 

The keynote addresses many crucial questions when it comes to young people entering the workforce, including:

• How do young people decide on a career path?

• How do they find what they are passionate about?

• What is the relationship between career choice and lifestyle

Don’t miss out on this amazing opportunity to learn about the generations which will lead our nation and world forward – give Monday’s keynote a watch today!

NOTE/NOTA: This keynote recording includes Spanish subtitles/Esta grabación de la presentación de anoche incluye subtítulos en español.

Marshalltown Community School District is blessed with a skilled, hardworking team of IT (Information Technology) professionals, and this year’s National IT Professionals Day on Tuesday, Sept. 22 comes at a time when their work is especially critical.

Along with providing crucial, regular IT services, the District Technology team has greatly expanded its student and family supports over the past several months of the coronavirus pandemic. When the pandemic situation caused schools to shut down in the spring, the Technology team stepped up to get Chromebooks into the hands of PK-6 students to facilitate voluntary home learning. 

MCSD family surveys also showed a need for home internet support. In response, the Technology Department has acquired and distributed hundreds of internet hotspots for students to use. The District also entered an agreement with Mediacom to temporarily cover monthly payments for low-cost, high-speed home internet for students. 

Read on to meet our incredible MCSD Technology Team!

Alex Bartels – Technology Support Specialist
Alex Bartels has a hand in everything at the Technology Department. No matter which technology-related task he is asked to handle, he steps up to the challenge. Bartels’ positive approach to new challenges has allowed him to broaden and deepen his IT skill set. 

 

Mike Britt – Network and Security Specialist
Network and Security Specialist Mike Britt was integral in ensuring Chromebooks were issued to PK-12 students due to the pandemic shut down in the spring. He has stepped up in a major way to his new position, and he continues to bring his expertise and work ethic to the Tech Department every day. 

 

Andrew Claseman – Server Specialist
Andrew Claseman is the newest member of the District Technology team, and the timing of his arrival was perfect. Claseman is knowledgeable and capable of handling the implementation of new technologies, but his humble character has meant he can effectively jump in and help however the team needs him. 

 

Janet Garcia – Technology Support Specialist
Janet Garcia has gone above and beyond to be personable while coordinating digital devices and troubleshooting tech issues with students, families and District staff. She is self-motivated and works hard to figure out even the most daunting of technical issues.

 

Ricardo Garcia – Chromebook Repair Technician
Another new and crucial member of the Technology team is Ricardo Garcia. He has taken on the new challenge of coordinating internet access for families, as well as repairing Chromebooks in the District. Those duties require a strong work ethic and problem-solving skills, and Garcia has handled it well with his capable nature.

 

Amy Harmsen – District Director of Technology
Amy Harmsen’s tenure as District Technology Director began in February 2020, just weeks before the arrival of the coronavirus pandemic. She hit the ground running and, and she and the Technology Team have been running a marathon ever since. Harmsen said she immediately realized just how intelligent and capable a team she had inherited.

Jennifer Harrington – Student Technology Device Coordinator
Jenn Harrington plays a vital role in the District Technology Department. She puts in the time to ensure details are taken care of, and she is constantly thinking about how to be even more effective and efficient. Harrington has improved a multitude of Tech Department processes since moving her position.

 

Sebastian Ramirez – Technology Support Specialist
Sebastian Ramirez has shown he is passionate about technology. He has impressive motivation and is always wanting to learn more. Ramirez has shown particular interest in understanding the District’s mobile device management strategy and network infrastructure.

Marshalltown High School has new Homecoming royalty after Friday evening’s coronation ceremony at Leonard Cole Field. 

Accepting the Homecoming King’s crown was MHS senior Sergio Zaragoza, while fellow senior Milagros Barajas took the throne as Homecoming Queen. In a unique coronation ceremony, the new king and queen were crowned just prior to the evening’s Homecoming football game.

The Homecoming fun on Friday evening was preceded by exciting performances from the MHS Marching Band at the high school that morning. 

From the parking area to the courtyard to the front entrance of the school building, Bobcat students and staff opened windows and stepped outside to enjoy the “Bobcat Fight Song” and other pep rally tunes. MHS Color Guard and Cheerleading team members brought energy to the performances as well. 

Check out the photos below to see more 2020 MHS Homecoming fun!

Please note: In order to maintain the health and safety of students, there will be no MHS Homecoming Dance this year.