Lenihan Spelling Bee Champion Alex Whittler (left) and Runner-Up Hadley Wagner.
Fifth grader Alex Whittler was champion of the sixth annual Lenihan Intermediate School Spelling Bee held Thursday, May 17.
Whittler competed against 24 other students who qualified for the bee by out of 60 students competing in the preliminary rounds. Runner-up for the bee was sixth grader Hadley Wagner.
Each of the participants received a medal recognizing their spelling skills.
Marshalltown Community School District will hold registration June 6-7, 2012.
Students entering preschool through Grade 8 will register at Miller Middle School. Students entering high school will register at Marshalltown High School and Marshalltown Learning Academy Students will register at MLA.
Wednesday, June 6, registration hours will be 11am to 7pm. Thursday, June 7, will be 9am to 3pm.
All students will receive registration forms and information prior to June 6 (either sent home in student folders or via US Mail). Forms should be completed prior to registration and returned on June 6 or 7.
Textbook rental fees are $40 for students K-6 and $50 for students 7-12.
Marshalltown High School celebrated its students this morning, hosting an all-school assembly and cookout.
The assembly opened with a serenade by MHS faculty. Principal Aiddy Phomvisay took time to recognize the hard work of the student body throughout the year on things like assessments and attendance.
Special recognition was given to several students with recent outstanding achievements. Gwen Morrison, fresh from her trip to the National Poetry Out Loud contest in Washington, D.C., was recognized for being among the top nine finalists out of 365,000 students nationwide.
Min Lin and Jose Avina, who were first and second place respectively in the VFW Patriotic Art contest, were also honored.
The school celebrated the news that senior Kyle Carnahan received the Ed Thomas Award given by the Iowa Football Coaches Association.
Throughout the assembly there were student and staff contest and relay events. Dr. Ken Hayes, associate principal, rode a tricycle and raced senior Austin Hauser. Dr. Hayes was selected to ride the trike all day after the Key Club hosted a penny war for the Iowa Veterans Home.
There was also a sendoff for the students competing at Iowa Co-Ed State Track & Field, which begins today in Des Moines.
After the assembly all students received a free lunch of grilled burgers, courtesy of the Iowa Pork Producers and the Booster Club.
The Iowa Football Coaches Association makes a point of awarding various all-state accolades for a student-athlete’s accomplishments on and off the field.
On Wednesday night, Marshalltown High School senior Kyle Carnahan was given the IFCA’s highest distinction.
Read the full story in the Marshalltown Times-Republican.
Congratulations, Kyle!
Lenihan Intermediate held its annual Track & Field Day Friday, May 11, at Leonard Cole Field.
Sixth grade students participated in the morning, while fifth graders came in the afternoon. Students began in small groups, rotating to different stations and activities. The students then came together for a number of running events like the 100-meter dash and 200-meter dash.
For a little while on Tuesday, May 15, Courtney Lenz’s third grade classroom at Fisher Elementary took on the appearances of a hip and trendy bistro. Tables were set, (battery-operated) candles flickered, and light refreshments were served.
It wasn’t the ambiance, however, that drew a large crowd to Cat’s Café, but the Reader’s Theater performances by Ms. Lenz’s third grade students.
Throughout the year, Ms. Lenz’s students use Reader’s Theater scripts to work on reading fluency. With Reader’s Theater, students practice accuracy, rate, expression and volume. Several weeks ago, each reading group chose a favorite Reader’s Theater script from the year and rehearsed it to perform Tuesday.
“Through the use of props and costumes, the performances were a HUGE success!” Ms. Lenz said. “It truly is exciting to see so many parents and family members involved in their student’s learning.”
Ms. Lenz says she plans to make Cat’s Café an annual event.
Marshalltown students received four of the 10 “meritorious awards” granted during Project Share, the two-day student project showcase May 10-11, 2012, at Marshalltown Community College.
Approximately 80 projects from 17 area school districts were judged on each day, with five awards given Thursday (third and fourth grade students) and five on Friday (fifth and sixth grade students.
MCSD Meritorious Awards (Thursday):
MCSD Meritorious Awards (Friday):
Project Share provides a fun venue for area students who are involved in their school districts’ enrichment programs. During this event these high-ability students showcase their independent study projects and have the opportunity to share their expertise with a supportive audience.
All orchestras in the Marshalltown Community School District will present their annual Spring Pops concert Tuesday, May 15, at 7pm in the MHS/Community Auditorium.
This year’s theme is Rock & R oll. There will be a mix of classic and modern rock and roll with a few surprises along the way. A few of the highlights include music from bands like Led Zepplin, Journey, The Who, The Doors and Coldplay. Admission is free, but free-will donations will be accepted at the door.
Find your favorite jeans and dig out that old Beatles t-shirt and join us for an evening of rock classics…no ear plugs required!
Woodbury Principal Sarah Johnson (front) discusses the Dual Language Program with Laura Sands from Sen. Tom Harkin’s office. Sands and Harkin rep Omar Padilla (background) observed classrooms at Woodbury on May 10.
Representatives from U.S. Senator Tom Harkin’s office visited Woodbury Elementary May 10, observing classrooms and learning more about the Dual Language Program.
Laura Sands and Omar Padilla from Sen. Harkin’s office in Des Moines met with Principal Sarah Johnson; Dr. Susan Pecinovsky, associate superintendent for student achievement; and Rachel Inks, coordinator of English Language Learner and Dual Language Program services.
The representatives decided to visit after hearing a presentation about the program at the Diversity Conference held April 13 at Indian Hills Community College in Ottumwa. The group observed classes taught in English and Spanish, visiting kindergarten (taught by Anel Garza), second grade (taught by Luisa Romero) and fourth grade (taught by Jamie Williams).
This fall Marshalltown High School will implement a new math curriculum, as well as add more Advanced Placement course offerings for students.
The new curriculum has a more traditional class format, with a year each of Algebra I, Geometry and Algebra II. Implementation will be gradual, allowing students currently part of the Integrated Math program to complete the coursework. This fall Pre-Algebra and Algebra I will be added, followed by Geometry in 2013-2014 and Algebra II in 2014-2015.
“The greatest benefit of a single-tiered system is having the same high expectations for every student,” said Angela Pierce, MHS math teacher. “We’re excited that our new curriculum will offer students more current applications, online resources and differentiation.”
The single-tiered system will allow students to follow a common path, but begin at different stages according to ability (determined by MAP and Iowa Assessments scores, teacher recommendations and success in previous coursework).
Along with the new curriculum, MHS will continue offering Statistics as an upper-level math elective and dual-enrollment options for Pre-Calculus and Calculus with Marshalltown Community College.
MHS is also increasing the number of Advanced Placement (AP) courses offered for 2012-2013. New to MHS this fall will be AP Language & Composition, AP Literature & Composition and AP European History
“The AP classes are far more rigorous and give students the chance to earn college credit,” said Aiddy Phomvisay, MHS principal. “We intend to review other areas and consider additional AP courses or dual enrolled courses in the years to come.”
| Advanced Course Offerings 2012-2013 | |
| Advanced American History I | Web Design* |
| AP American History II | Pre-Calculus* |
| Gereral Chemistry I & II* | Calculus I & II* |
| AP Economics | Composition I & II* |
| AP European History | AP Literature & Composition |
| AP Government | AP Language & Composition |
| AP Psychology | |
| *college credit provided | |
Some classes previously labeled as “advanced”, such as Advanced English 9, 10, and 11, will be phased out as new, more rigorous literacy curriculum is implemented in the fall. A new upper-level English class, English – Senior Survey, will also be added.
“Teachers are also working hard to differentiate the curriculum in these course so all students’ learning needs are met,” Phomvisay said.
Next year MHS will also begin planning for a new Science, Technology, Engineering & Math (STEM) program through Project Lead the Way. The Gateway to Technology curriculum will start at Miller Middle School in the fall, with plans for implementation at MHS in 2013-2014.
“I appreciate the community’s support and desire to be highly competitive with other districts,” Phomvisay said.
Bobcats Making Headlines 