Fisher opens 26-year-old time capsule

Posted on May 20, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Fisher Elementary unlocked its own version of “buried treasure” Thursday afternoon, opening a time capsule from 1985.

The capsule was created during the 25th birthday celebration of Fisher Elementary. Karen Ketchum’s class organized the project and packed the box with items from the school ranging from textbooks and student drawings to an American Flag, a picture of the first computer at Fisher and a VHS recording of second and third graders performing “We are the World”.

Ketchum, now retired, joined 13 other former Fisher educators who were teaching at the school 26 years ago to help open the box with the current students and staff.

As Fisher prepares for major construction this summer, the students are also thinking about what they can put in their own time capsule.

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Area students showcase research at Project Share

Posted on May 18, 2011 by marshalltownschools

More than 200 students from 13 area schools gathered at Marshalltown Community College May 12-13 for Project Share, a two-day showcase of research projects by talented and gifted youth.

MCC and Marshalltown Schools co-sponsor the two-day event, which provided a fun venue for area students involved in enrichment programs to show off their hard work.

Each day began with the Grout Museum’s Jason Dornbush presenting “Mad Mixtures”. The rest of the time consisted of breakout sessions presented by various experts in a college-like atmosphere.

Generous donations from Fisher Controls and Lennox covered the cost of the opening speaker and hands-on student materials.

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Anson holds luau to celebrate hard work

Posted on May 10, 2011 by marshalltownschools

To celebrate learning and hard work on assessments, Anson Elementary held a luau Monday, May 9.

Each grade level had the opportunity to spent an hour at the “beach” and luau site, with teacher-directed activities and a treasure hunt in the sand.

Food service staff served a luau picnic consisting of BBQ pork sandwiches, fresh vegetables, fresh fruits, and special luau cupcakes.

Students and staff were also decked out in Hawaiian attire.

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MHS Tech Avengers compete at IT Olympics

Posted on May 10, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Marshalltown High School students competing at the Information Technology Olympics April 29-30 at Iowa State University placed among the top teams in several categories.

Our game design team (Matt Anzis, Austin Watts, Levi Castle, and Dylan Van Zee) placed second overall. The robot team (Philip Kuhlman, Therese Kuhlman, and Andrew Potter) placed third in the sumo-robot finals. The Cyber-defense team (Ben Anzis, Isaac Medina) successfully defied cyber attacks from ISU engineering students to place in the top half of the field.

This was the second year MHS attended competition, and the first year entering game design and cyber defense.

Philip Kuhlman also won a $500 scholarship to the ISU College of Engineering.

The team was facilitated by Enrichment teacher Susan Fritzell, but the students were self-taught and independently learned the technology and programming needed to compete.

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Author, illustrator Nancy Carlson visits Woodbury

Posted on May 9, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Nancy Carlson, award-winning children’s book author and illustrator, spent May 5 at Woodbury Elementary, sharing stories and drawings with students and their families.

Carlson, a native of Minnesota, has published more than 60 books. Her work has been featured on Reading Rainbow, as well as honored with the Children’s Choice Award from the International Reading Association and Children’s Book Council, the Minnesota Children’s Museum Great Friends to Kid Award and many other accolades.

Carlson spent all day Thursday, May 5, at Woodbury Elementary, sharing stories with students in preschool through fourth grade. She showed students some of her colorful illustrations, as well as created some original artwork while students brainstormed ideas.

Thursday evening Carlson met with Woodbury students and their families.

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Miller students bring home awards from state National History Day

Posted on May 9, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Ten Miller Middle School students participated in the National History Day Junior Division State Competition held May 2 at the State Historical Society of Iowa, with teams being named National Alternate and Judges’ Choice.

This year’s theme was, “Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, and Consequences.” Over 350 students competed from throughout the state.

Miller’s Group Performance, “A Woman’s War: Debating the Roles of Civil War Women,” was a finalist for Nationals, and was named as the Nationals Alternate in this category. The group consisted of Ellen Podhajsky, Hannah Stone, and Susie Pratt.

The Group Documentary, “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District: Debating Students’ Rights,” received a Judges’ Choice Award. This group included Ali Ashby, Cassidy Blackford, and Maddie Livingston.

The Miller participants were:

  • Beau Ragland – Individual Website, “The Berlin Wall: Debate and Diplomacy With the Wall”
  • Ashley Harris, Molly Major, Erin Woltjer – Group Website, “The Debate on Child Labor”
  • Hannah Stone, Ellen Podhajsky, Susie Pratt – Group Performance, “A Woman’s War: Debating the Roles of Civil War Women”
  • Cassidy Blackford, Maddie Livingston, Ali Ashby  – Group Documentary, “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent School District: Debating Students’ Rights”
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MHS student wins state patriotic art contest

Posted on May 6, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Marshalltown High School sophomore Luis Yepez won the local and state VFW Ladies Auxiliary patriotic art contest and is now in the running for the national prize.

Yepez’s drawing depicting an eagle, the Statue of Liberty and the American Flag placed first in the Marshall County contest and went on to take the top prize in Iowa. Thursday afternoon he and his fellow art students gathered in the MHS Community Auditorium where Yepez was presented with a $500 check.

At the national level Yepez could win a college scholarship for up to $10,000.

A panel from the Central Iowa Art Association judged the local contest. Theresa Kuhlman was the Marshall County runner-up.

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Lenihan holds annual Spelling Bee

Posted on May 5, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Juan Andrade was champion of the fifth annual Spelling Bee held April 28 at Lenihan Intermediate School.

The sixth grader beat out 25 of Lenihan’s top spellers, correctly spelling words such as: “possession”, “religious”, “dejected”, and “lieutenant”. Kaitlyn Martin, fifth grade, was the runner-up, spelling with great confidence until stumped by the word “saboteur”.

Over 100 students took the written qualifying test to be considered for the top 25 spots in the annual contest.  Each of the 25 participants received a medal recognizing their spelling skills.

Providing tough competition for the top prizes were Joshua Arment, fifth grader, who placed fourth and sixth grader, Whitney Canaday, who took third place.

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MHS student artwork selected for River of Words exhibition

Posted on May 4, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Marshalltown High School junior Evan Gruver is one of 34 student artists honored in the River of Words Iowa Environmental Poetry and Art Competition.

The River of Words contest is designed to “help youth explore the natural and cultural history of their own watershed, and to express what they discover through poetry and art.”

Gruver’s original painting was selected out of 403 pieces created by Iowa students. His work is Runner-Up in the Grades 10-12 Art Category and will be featured in a traveling exhibit showcased around the state.

He and other participants will be honored at an open reception and awards ceremony May 22, 2011, at Blank Park Zoo in Des Moines.

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MHS Math Team advances to regional competition

Posted on May 4, 2011 by marshalltownschools

The Marshalltown High School Math Team will represent the State of Iowa at the Greater Plains Math League Regional Championship May 14 in Kansas City, Mo.

The team was one of the four best teams at the state contest held April 30 in Iowa City. At the regional contest the team will face off against students from Missouri, Kansas, California, Arizona and Washington.

Marshalltown’s team consists of Matt Anzis, Ben Anzis, Molly Finn, Jaleb Jay, Phillip Kuhlman, Joe Metzger, Matt Paar and Chandler Schmitt.

Their coach is Rob Griffin.

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