Miller MATHCOUNTS team competes at regionals

Posted on February 25, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Front: Eric Lizarde, James Drummer, Sumeet Panchal, Collin Krukow. Sponsor/coach: Bev Fisher. Back: Mitchell Schwandt, Bryce King, Ashley Harris, Molly Major, James Talbert, Nicole Lacina, Ellyn Boland, Jacob Ramsey-Smith.

Four Miller students ranked in the top quarter of all participants at the MATHCOUNTS Regional competition Thursday, Feb. 24, at Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny.

Nicole Lacina, Ellyn Boland, Sumeet Panchal and James Talbert were among the top 25 percent of the 236 participants. The team overall placed 11th out of 29 schools, improving four places from last year.

MATHCOUNTS is a nationally sponsored club designed to enhance and challenge students with mathematical problem solving and reasoning.

Congratulations to these 12 students for an outstanding finish!

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Lenihan students use choral reading to learn about Martin Luther King, Jr.

Posted on February 15, 2011 by marshalltownschools

A group of Lenihan Intermediate sixth graders recently performed a choral reading about the life and work of Martin Luther King, Jr., enhancing not only their knowledge of American history, but their public speaking skills as well.

Karen Roessler, Extended Learning Program teacher at Lenihan, wrote the choral reading script for students from Leah Mattox’s afternoon reading group, as well as students from Erica Finders’ and Angie Lovell’s classrooms. She used King’s “I Have a Dream” speech, Martin’s Big Words, and Robert Kennedy’s speech as primary source material for the piece.

Choral reading is a performance process where students read a script in unison. Some sections are read by the entire group, while others read by smaller groups of students or individuals to give dramatic effect.

Plans for the performance began three weeks earlier around Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Students read aloud some books about King in order to learn more about his life. Roessler then worked with students on rehearsing the choral reading, training the students on timing, enunciation, poise and working in unison. Students could also audition for solo parts in the reading.

The practice culminated in a performance for parents and classmates on Thursday, Feb. 3, after which students evaluated their own performance and assessed what they learned.

“Many students felt this was an exciting way to incorporate the learning of history with the love of performing,” Mattox said.

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MHS senior qualifies for Forensic League National Tournament

Posted on February 14, 2011 by marshalltownschools

The Marshalltown High School Forensics Team will be represented at the National Forensic League National Tournament for the third year in a row.

James Lindgren, a senior at MHS, is once again a national qualifier in Extemporaneous Speaking. Last year, Lindgren represented MHS and the East Iowa Forensic League at the National Tournament in Kansas City, Mo., in the same event. This June, the National Tournament will be held in Dallas, Texas.

Three years ago MHS alumna Claire Runquist advanced to the National Tournament.

The team has chance to qualify another person on Saturday, Feb. 26, during the Congress National Qualifier Tournament, which will be held in Bettendorf. Lindgren will also be competing at the Congress National Qualifier Tournament, along with several other members of the MHS Forensic Team.

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MHS Speech advances 8 events to State Large-Group Contest

Posted on January 24, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Marshalltown High School’s Speech Team competed in Iowa High School Speech Association’s District Large Group Competition at Pella on Saturday, Jan. 22, with eight of the nine events earning Division I ratings and advancing to state.

Television News Broadcast with Philip Kuhlman, Therese Kuhlman, Jared Mills, Lauren Mills, Emily Barske, Christian Kremer, Jacob Schmidt, Jason Reimenschneider earned a Division I.

Two improv groups also earned I ratings:  Ashton Baardseth, Hannah Carter, and Jill Schoborg; and Jordan Olson and  Dean Oziah.

The script of Hush was used as material for the One Act Play, which featured Emily Nordstrom, Ryan Jensen, Zoe Harris, Annalisa Donahey, Joe Schoborg, and Matt Parson; and an ensemble acting scene with Shellie Robinson and Gwen Morrison.

Marissa Chase, Lily Larsen, Jordan Cline and Becca Klaas as members of the readers theatre, Bradbury Trilogy, will also go to state.

Musical theatre entry, Little Shop of Horrors, will advance with these singers: Joe Schoborg, Mallory McKay, Joe Cahill, Annalisa Donahey, Grace Franck, and Philip Kirner.

Radio News turned in a Division I performance; members are Shellie Robinson, Marissa Chase, Kathleen Ferrin, Stephanie Jones, Jared Mills, Jacob Schmidt, and Tomi Degrado.

Choral Reading, performing Pandora’s Box, received a Division II rating. Members are Jonathan Kirner, Jordan Cline, Randy Hansen, Cody Johnson, Tomi Degrado, Brittney Blocker, Brittany Ryerson, Sara Downs, Lily Larson, and Mykiela Tordoff.

The state competition will be at Cedar Rapids Kennedy High School on Feb. 5.

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Lenihan’s FIRST LEGO League teams earn high marks

Posted on January 21, 2011 by marshalltownschools

Two FIRST LEGO League teams from Lenihan Intermediate competed at the FLL Championship Tournament Saturday, Jan. 15, at Iowa State University.

“FLL is an exceptional program that teaches youth the importance of collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation,” said Karen Roessler, Lenihan ELP teacher and Lego League coach. “The students must create and develop their own robot, robot programming, and innovative solution to their research problem.  I know some of these kids will be future leaders in research and design.”

Seventy-two teams competed in four events: robotics performance, robot programming and design, FLL core values, and research presentations.

Lenihan’s fifth grade team, Technic Medics 5, came home with the first place trophy for robot programming and design.  Their work in designing three robot prototypes and the systematic testing of the robots’ efficiency was sited for their success. This first-year team consists of Joshua Arment, Lucas Duff, Maggie Grimm, Jill Podhajsky, and Martin Runquist.  The team is coached by volunteers Frank Roessler and Mark Runquist, along with ELP teacher Karen Roessler.

Lenihan’s sixth grade team, NEM JJ BioMedics, made their way into the Championship round of awards and were distinguished with the 2nd place overall trophy.  Teams presented with the top three places must show excellence in all four portions of the tournament.  Team members include Mary Margaret Drummer, Juliana Osgood, Jake Streeter, Nick Summers, and Ethan Thill.  The team is sponsored by the Noon Optimists who provided both financial support and an outstanding technical coach. Coaches are volunteer Pete Peterson and Karen Roessler. This team researched Alzheimer’s disease and received expert information from staff at Villa del Sol and Cindy Zhand, retired director of the dementia unit at the Iowa Veteran’s Home.

“The dedication of these young students and their enthusiasm toward learning is amazing,” said Karen Roessler, Lenihan ELP teacher and FLL coach. “They spent many hours outside the school day preparing for this rigorous competition.”

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Lenihan rallies around fifth grader battling cancer, holds penny drive

Posted on January 21, 2011 by marshalltownschools

When students at Lenihan Intermediate heard their friend Tyler Harris was once again battling cancer, they wanted to help.  Some students suggested a penny war, an idea quickly embraced by all of Lenihan, and after just one week the lofty goal of $2,000 was shattered, with students raising more than $4,000 for Tyler and his family.

Tyler was first diagnosed with brain cancer while a third grader at Hoglan Elementary. When the now fifth grader had it return this year his former Hoglan classmates wanted to help. Route 66 teacher Kris Alman helped spearhead the drive. The school was decorated with signs and shirts were made with the Harris family’s mantra: Keep Fighting, Tyler!

Students spent 10 minutes each morning in their neighborhoods counting the donations. Julie Finch and Stacey Barta, teachers in Tyler’s neighborhood (Route 66), said students were extremely excited about supporting the penny war. They eagerly pitched in to raise money and asked for regular updates from Tyler’s Caring Bridge website.

Because the students surpassed their goal, they will get to witness two special events this Friday during the end-of-the-year pool party at the Community Y. Guidance counselor Mark Chardoulias – a die-hard Iowa Hawkeyes fan – will attend decked out in Cyclone gear. Principal Ralph Bryant will have his head shaved.

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Woodbury students collect $844.73 for relief in Haiti

Posted on December 22, 2010 by marshalltownschools

Holiday Penny Wars at Woodbury Elementary netted $844.73 for the Red Cross and its efforts in Haiti.

Grade levels competed in the Penny War to earn the most points. Pennies earned points and silver coins (nickels, dimes, quarters) deducted points. Each day Woodbury business partner Lennox Community Credit Union helped to count change and sort between pennies and other coins.

First grade won the Penny War with 1,331 points. Second place went to preschool, followed by kindergarten, fourth grade, third grade and second grade. A check for $844.73 was presented to Kim Trowbridge from the Red Cross during an assembly on Dec. 21.

Trowbridge told the students the money raised would build nearly four homes in Haiti.

Woodbury also took time on Tuesday to thank Lennox Community Credit Union for their support of the Penny War. Representatives from LCCU then surprised Woodbury with a donation of new books for the school library.

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National reading list influenced by Marshalltown students is published

Posted on November 30, 2010 by marshalltownschools

The 2010 Young Adults’ Choices reading list, shaped by students at Marshalltown High School, Miller Middle School and BCLUW middle and high schools, has been published in the November edition of the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy.

The Young Adults’ Choices program was created to develop annotated lists of new books that young adults enjoy reading and help educators to find books that encourage youth to read more.

During school year 2009-2010, the first year of the three-year project, the participating schools received two copies of the 383 titles nominated for the list. Students then read and voted on the top picks of books to shape this list, tallying a total 1100 votes.

The schools have received more than 3,000 books published in 2009 and 2010 for the 2010-2011 school year (five copies each of 620 titles). After students have read and evaluated the books, they become part of the school library’s permanent collection.

Sue Inhelder, MHS librarian, serves as team leader for the project.

Details about this year’s list may be viewed at the Journal of Adolescent & Adult Literacy website.

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MHS senior selected for National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security

Posted on October 6, 2010 by marshalltownschools

Danielle Propst, a senior at Marshalltown High School, will attend the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security Oct. 12-17, 2010, in Washington, D.C.

This fall outstanding high school students from across the United States will take part in a unique career development program in our nation’s capital. The six-day program, focused on “Exploring American Diplomacy, Intelligence and Defense” will introduce students to the challenging careers in national security, intelligence, the diplomatic corps and more.

“Imagine being 16 or 17 years old and the responsibility of securing the United States at home and abroad rests on your shoulders. Through specialized simulations, the National Youth Leadership Forum on National Security strives to put students in the driver’s seat of building a strategy that will uphold our national security,” said Marguerite Regan, Dean of Academic Affairs for NYLF. “The combination of interacting with professionals and with other students in this setting ensures that leaders are being developed so the future of our country will remain very bright.”

The curriculum for the Forum on National Security is based on actual world events. Throughout the program, students use critical thinking, leadership and public speaking skills to tackle the complexity of national decision-making as they examine how the U.S. plans for peace and prepares for crisis. They employ a crisis decision-making process similar to that employed by the nation’s top policy makers.

Students also participate in thought-provoking question and answer sessions with highly respected, internationally recognized civilian policy makers and senior military. In addition, leading institutions open their doors to NYLF/NS students, where they are educated in diplomacy, international affairs and military strategy. Past programs have included visits to several government institutions and military installations, such as the U.S. Department of State, the U.S. Marine Corps Combat Development Command at Quantico, the Defense Intelligence Agency, the U.S. Naval Academy, a variety of embassies and many others.

Founded in 1992, the National Youth Leadership Forum (NYLF) is an educational organization established to help prepare extraordinary young people for their professional careers. Forums are offered in 11 cities across the United States in a wide variety of career fields, such as national security, law and medicine. Over 50,000 young people have attended NYLF programs.

Her instructors at MHS nominated Propst for NYLF. At MHS she is active in Forensics, Mock Trial and other activities.

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Fisher/Woodbury Art Teacher named AEI Art Teacher of the Year

Posted on September 29, 2010 by marshalltownschools

The Art Educators of Iowa (AEI) is proud to announce that Maggie Parks, of Fisher and Woodbury elementary schools in Marshalltown, is this year’s recipient of the AEI Art Teacher of the Year Award.

Mrs. Parks received National Board Certification in 2000, then spent the next decade serving her profession through the Iowa State Education Association, AEI, and the National Art Education Association (NAEA). She has served on the AEI board as Treasurer, Mentorship Co-chair, President-Elect, President, and is currently the Past-President. She has attended multiple NAEA Delegate Assemblies plus Leadership Forums and training sessions in the NAEA’s Western Region. This level of dedication is needed as art educators work to articulate the needs of our students and the purposeful contributions visual art programming can achieve.

Mrs. Parks was a highly effective president. She kept the organization vital and active. Under her presidency, long range planning and goals were updated and implemented. Mrs. Parks has been instrumental in the implementation of a statewide first year art teacher mentoring program which is made possible through a cooperative grant with the Iowa Alliance for Arts Education and the Iowa Department of Education.

Mrs. Parks is a reflective, persistent and skilled leader, mentor and role model.  Her ability to comfortably relate to all peoples—children, professional peers, administrators, advocates and policy makers at the local and state level–is guided by an innate understanding of human behavior and environmental contexts. Both skills have been instrumental in AEI’s recent growth and solidity and in moving our state towards the discussion and writing stage of Arts Literacy Standards. She listens, absorbs, ponders and acts in quiet, focused ways bringing goals and vision to fruition.

AEI named Mrs. Parks Outstanding Elementary Art Teacher in 2004 and The Optimist’s Club gave her the Golden Apple Award that same year. Mrs. Parks is a talented educator, using her training in innovative teaching practices, classroom management, and knowledge of art education to create an engaging and creative classroom environment where authentic learning takes place. Maggie Parks’ understanding of art education, and the high expectations she has for her students translate into a quality program with students who are excited about the work they do in her classes.

Mrs. Parks is also an active artist. Her altered books, pine needle baskets, pottery, and art quilts have been on display in 11 different art exhibits in the last 4 years. She is an active member of the Iowa Art Quilters, and continues to take classes in a variety of art techniques. Mrs. Parks shares her own enthusiasm for learning with students, the school communities she serves, and fellow art educators across the state and country.

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