Bobcats Making Headlines

Managing schedules, translating documents, providing vital communications, and maintaining organization are just a few of the crucial duties performed by Marshalltown Schools’ team of administrative professionals. 

That group of employees, including administrative assistants, receptionists, and other administrative support professionals are celebrated during National Administrative Professionals’ Day, which falls on Wednesday, April 22 this year. Administrative professionals are at the heart of MCSD’s mission to ensure student success. 

MCSD administrative professionals take their work seriously and enjoy playing a key role keeping the district running smoothly day-to-day. 

“I love that I get to interact daily with every single one of our students (before COVID-19). I love that all of the MLA staff strives to make sure everyday that every student knows that we are glad they made the choice to come to school, that we care about them as a person, and are always willing to listen or direct them to the right person to talk to.”
 – Muriel Bryant, Marshalltown Learning Academy Administrative Assistant 

“I love what I do at Miller. Helping parents and staff to communicate effectively with each other is very rewarding as a bilingual secretary.”
– Maritza Parra, Miller Middle School Bilingual Administrative Assistant

“The best part of my job is being able to help my coworkers in any way I can to alleviate some stress. I also enjoy the rewarding smiles one their faces. That moment is priceless.”
– Cindy Cisneros, Administrative Assistant to the Director of Human Resources

“I love the connections we get to make with students!”
– Lisa Crouch, Lenihan Intermediate School Administrative Assistant

“I enjoy learning and working with my Anson work family. The highlight of my day is watching all of the students walk through the doors in the morning ready to learn. I’m looking forward to another great year!”
– Liz Chavez, Anson Elementary Administrative Assistant 

“I enjoy the people I work with each and every day – now we are really aware of how much they mean to us. Students really are awesome people and I love the senior high school age level, they have so much personality.
– Trina Heimgartner, Marshalltown High School Office Manager 

Thank you to all MCSD administrative professionals!

Jennifer Kilborn, far left, and Justin Nacchione, second from left, delivered a sack full of fresh-made McDonald’s sandwiches to happy MCSD Food Service employees Thursday. Also pictured outside Lenihan Intermediate School, from left, are MCSD Food Service employees Rachel Menter, Shelly Dall and Lily Robinson.

The Food Service and Transportation employees at Marshalltown Schools have been working diligently in recent weeks to deliver meals to students throughout the community; their hard work has not gone unnoticed.

O’Brien Family McDonald’s independent Owner/Operator Kevin O’Brien, whose franchises include the Marshalltown McDonald’s, wanted to return the favor.

On Thursday, dozens of fresh-made McDonald’s sandwiches were delivered to the MCSD Bus Barn and to the kitchens of Marshalltown High School. Miller Middle School and Lenihan Elementary School by McDonald’s Area Supervisor Justin Nacchione and franchise Marketing/Human Resources Coordinator Jennifer Kilborn. The sandwiches were then enjoyed by the Transportation and Food Service employees.

MCSD Food Service Director Lynn Large said the kind gesture by the O’Brien Family McDonald’s was deeply appreciated.

“I am really proud of all the Food Service staff members for stepping up to help provide meals for our community during this time of school closure,” she said. “This gesture helps us to understand just how much our work means to our community.”

For more information on the MCSD “Meals Close to Home” program, click here.

Hoglan Elementary ELL teacher Adrian McLaughlin shows how to navigate the MCSD Learn From Home website in a video message.

(Español abajo)
This week’s launch of the MCSD Learn From Home (Aprende desde Casa) website is giving thousands of young Bobcats access to high-quality, voluntary remote learning opportunities while the district is closed.

To aid students and their families in accessing and navigating the new website, Hoglan Elementary ELL teacher Adrian McLaughlin created video guides in English and Spanish.

The videos include information on how to access webpages created by MCSD teachers and staff for their students. Those webpages include educational activities and projects, suggested time blocks for those activities, and additional resources.

The effort to bring meals and voluntary learning to our students is off to a great start this week –

• MCSD served a record 1,511 meals Tuesday, including 996 via “Meals Close to Home” bus routes and 515 at the school school building sites.
• Thousands of students and families successfully picked up this week’s educational paper packets at the feeding locations as part of the MCSD “Bringing Learning to Bobcats” program. The next packet drop-off will take place at the nine school feeding sites and along the six “Meals Close to Home” bus routes on Monday, April 20.

(ESPAÑOL)

Una maestra de Hoglan crea guías de vídeo sobre el sitio web “Aprender desde casa” MCSD

El lanzamiento de esta semana del el sitio web MCSD Learn From Home (Aprende desde Casa) está brindando a miles de jóvenes Bobcats acceso a oportunidades de aprendizaje remoto voluntario de alta calidad mientras el distrito está cerrado. 

Para ayudar a los estudiantes y sus familias a acceder y navegar el nuevo sitio web, la maestra de ELL de Hoglan Elementary, Adrian McLaughlin, creó guías de vídeo en inglés y español. 

Los videos incluyen información sobre cómo acceder a las páginas web creadas por los maestros y el personal de MCSD para sus estudiantes. Esas páginas web incluyen actividades y proyectos educativos, bloques de tiempo sugeridos para esas actividades y recursos adicionales.

El esfuerzo para llevar comidas y aprendizaje voluntario a nuestros estudiantes ha tenido un gran comienzo esta semana:

• MCSD sirvió un récord de 1,511 comidas el martes, que incluyó 996 a través de las rutas de autobús “Comidas cerca del hogar” y 515 en los edificios escolares del distrito.
• Miles de estudiantes y familias recogieron los paquetes de papel educativo de esta semana en los sitios de alimentación como parte del programa MCSD “Trayendo el Aprendizaje a los Bobcats.” La próxima entrega de paquetes tendrá lugar en los nueve sitios de alimentación escolares y a lo largo de las seis rutas de autobuses “Comidas Cercanas al Hogar” el lunes 20 de abril.

MCSD bus drivers and monitors, face masks donned, prepare for a great day of meal deliveries.

MCSD’s dedicated Food Service and Transportation staff will have an added layer of safety thanks to a generous donation of hand-sewn face masks from community members. The masks will be used by the employees at school feeding sites and on Meals Close to Home bus routes.

The 215 donated face masks are made of fabric and several were designed specifically for wearers with glasses. Each Transportation and Food Service staff member received two masks, enabling masks to be cleaned regularly to maintain sanitation.

Woodbury Elementary nurse Nancy Pins led the effort, and community members who donated supplies and sewed masks include: Karen Boland, Sandy Mullen, Nancy Jones, Ann Kuhlman, Leslie Renaud, Amy Prusha, Dawn Tallman, Judy Stone, MHS paraeducator Dianna Fogt, MHS teacher Rachel Nelson-Loupee, MHS Associate Principal Deb Holsapple, Lenihan Intermediate School teacher Kate Neidermann, Jill Chris, and MHS paraeducator Clara Riddle-Hart. Woodbury Grace Church Women’s Ministries also contributed to the effort.

MCSD’s Associate Principals include Deb Holsapple at MHS (upper left), Dr. Liz Jurgensen at Lenihan (upper right), Justin Boliver at MHS (lower left) and Dave Glenn at Miller (lower right).

Associate principals are a key part of the success of students across the Marshalltown Community School District and public schools around the country. They are being celebrated during National Assistant Principals Week, April 6-10.

Marshalltown’s four associate principals are crucial to ensuring student success and managing the day-to-day, as well as long-term, wellbeing of their school building community.

“I love everything about Miller! I love the kids, the teachers, and the staff. It’s a family at Miller and building relationships with students and teachers and celebrating their successes is one of the most rewarding parts of my job,” said Miller Middle School Associate Principal Dave Glenn. “Increasing student achievement and preparing students to be successful at MHS is a main focus of all of the work that we do at Miller, and I feel energized to face that challenge each and every day!”

At Lenihan Intermediate School, Associate Principal Dr. Liz Jurgensen said she acts in many roles on the job.

“There are opportunities to provide beneficial feedback, collaborate with families and community organizations, and positively impact a student’s life time trajectory,” she said. “These are powerful aspects of the job that I absolutely love. I never have forgotten that, after twenty-nine years, I am still a teacher who acts as a role model for students, staff, and parents.  ”

National Assistant Principals Week is promoted by the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP) and the American Federation of School Administrators (AFSA) each spring. Go to the NASSP website for more information.

Thank you to all of our excellent MCSD Associate Principals!

MCSD Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger, right, and Center Associates Executive Director Dr. Paul Daniel, left, discuss resources for families in Episode 1 of the “Supporting Children & Families During School Closure” video series.

Thousands of Marshalltown students and families are navigating a challenging time due to the COVID-19 outbreak. To support students and their families, Marshalltown Schools and local partners are launching the “Supporting Children & Families During School Closure – an MCSD social-emotional learning series” project.

MCSD Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger said the video series is meant to address the social-emotional needs of students and families.

“The district continues to work to support our students and families while our schools are closed. Beyond offering voluntary learning opportunities for our students, we also want to make sure people are thinking about and taking care of their social, emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs,” Cretsinger said. “These videos are being developed as a way to get information to our students and their families on how they can take care of their well being and support their loved ones. We also want our families to understand that the school district and their community mental health partners are here to support them through this unprecedented time.”

The series will include discussions by Cretsinger and fellow mental health experts from the Marshalltown community. Self care, managing strong emotions, and attending to children’s mental health will be among the topics addressed in the series.

Episode 1 of the series, featuring Center Associates Executive Director Dr. Paul Daniel, is available on the MCSD Youtube Channel. Please take time to watch the video, and be on the lookout for next week’s installment; the videos will be released on Friday afternoons.

Fisher ELL teacher Kristianne Buck shares a positive message from home as part of a video to students.

The closure of school due to COVID-19 concerns means Marshalltown Community School District staff and students do not get to see each other in-person like they would under normal circumstances. That is why teachers and staff at Fisher Elementary created a heartwarming video meant to connect with and encourage students.

“I had seen other schools around Iowa doing similar videos and I thought it would be fun for our students to see us, in our homes, with families and pets,” said Fisher kindergarten teacher Hilary Klyn, who led the video project. “I am hoping that our students see the video and remember that even if we aren’t together, we are always thinking about them and miss them.” 

The video features photos of Fisher staff posing with their families and pets as they stay safe by social distancing. Many staff members included encouraging messages to their students. 

“It’s a great way for us to stay connected to each other visually,” said Fisher Principal Mark Lee. “We want students to know that we are still here, we miss them and we look forward to seeing them.” 

The video is available for viewing here, and image samples from the video can be viewed below.

Fisher Elementary first grade teacher Emily Keppler poses with her dog with an encouraging message for students.

Fisher Elementary fourth grade teacher Amanda Freiberg’s Bobcat and Fisher Pride shows in her message to students.

Fisher Elementary Principal Mark Lee said he and the rest of the Fisher staff look forward to being able to see their students again.

Several MCSD buses will load up with meals and begin going to drop-off zones next week. The buses will show red flashing lights, like those pictured here, to stop traffic so students and families can pick up a meal.

(Información sobre el programa Comidas Cerca a Casa en español aquí)

The lives of many Marshalltown Schools students and families have changed drastically in the past week amid COVID-19 concerns. Because meeting the needs of our students is of the utmost importance, the MCSD Transportation and Food Service departments are teaming up to bring meals to students across the district. 

The MCSD Meals Close to Home program is an extension of the existing meal sites currently available Monday-Friday at all 10 school buildings. Beginning Monday, March 23, the Meals Close to Home program will provide six bus routes to deliver meals in Marshalltown and the MCSD areas north and south of the city. 

“The MCSD Transportation Department is fully behind this effort to bring meals closer to our students,” said MCSD Transportation Director Rex Kozak. “Our drivers and monitors want to do everything they can to help out our community during this time.” 

MCSD Food Service Director Lynn Large said the Meals Close to Home program is one of many ways the district is reaching out to families amid COVID-19 concerns. 

“I’m hoping we’ll be able to reach more children in our community by bringing meals into their neighborhoods. During this time of uncertainty, we still want students in our community to have access to nutritious food,” Large said. “We know some students just can’t be out and about right now, so bringing the meals closer to home will help provide better access for some families.”

MCSD is coordinating with the Marshalltown Police Department on the bus routes and meal drop-off locations. Families are asked to maintain social distancing while waiting for meals, and to arrive before the time the bus is set to arrive at a given location (schedule details below) in order to pick up a meal.  

During the five-minute meal drop-off period at each location, the school buses will display flashing red lights, a signal to traffic to stop so that children and families can pick up the meals safely. The signals will be the same as those used during student pick-up and drop-off under normal school circumstances. 

Meals will be served with an optional snack. Food items may include sandwiches, cereal, graham crackers, muffins, fresh fruits and vegetables, and more. 

All questions about meal drop-offs should be directed to the MCSD Food Service Department at (641) 754-1000. Take a look at the below bus schedules to find the nearest meal drop-off site:

Northeast Marshalltown: North of the railroad tracks and east of Highway 14/Third Avenue – Bus #3

Northwest Marshalltown: North of the railroad tracks and west of Highway 14/Third Avenue – Bus #46

Southeast Marshalltown: South of railroad tracks, east of Highway 14/Center Street, south to Iowa Avenue – Bus #40

Southwest Marshalltown: South of railroad tracks, west of Highway 14/Center Street, south to Iowa Avenue – Bus #14

MCSD Rural South: Route includes Timber Valley and Haverhill – Green Van #54

MCSD Rural North: Route includes Albion

Woodbury Elementary Principal Anel Garza, left, and school counselor Heidi Williams, right, talk about self care in the first video in the “Daily Woodbury Adventures” series.

Marshalltown Schools students will be away from their schools for some time due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, but that isn’t stopping teachers and staff from interacting with their pupils.

Woodbury Elementary School is making an extra effort to ensure students stay engaged during the district closure by releasing a series of 36 educational videos in the coming weeks.

“They’re a variety of activities; there are physical activities, there’s music, there’s art, there’s jokes, crafts, and cooking,” said Woodbury Principal Anel Garza. “Our staff always considered things that students would have at home to help with learning while making the videos.”

Garza credited Woodbury physical education teacher Sarah Murphy with the initial idea of making the videos, all of which feature staff discussing educational topics for the students’ benefit. Videos will be released in English and in Spanish.

It did not take long before the entire school building’s staff got involved with the project.

Staff across the district have worked hard this week to reach out to students’ parents and guardians to prepare for current next three-and-a-half weeks of scheduled closure. Several teachers from multiple buildings created educational packets and donated care items, like puzzles and games, to families.

Garza said one thing that excites her about the video series is that it is not limited to Woodbury students and can benefit students across the district.

Keep an eye on the Woodbury Elementary Facebook page (where two videos have already been posted) to catch the latest videos released by staff. Check out these resources for keeping students academically engaged during school closure.

The Miller Middle School gymnasium entrance, shown here, is where to enter to pick up a Chromebook this week (La entrada del gimnasio de la Escuela Miller Intermedia, que se muestra aquí, es donde entrar para recoger un Chromebook esta semana).

Marshalltown Schools are currently closed through April 10, 2020 in response to the spread of COVID-19 in Iowa. District leaders are aware it is important for students to continue learning however possible during the next four weeks.

As a result, the MCSD Technology Department is offering students in grades preschool to sixth grade the opportunity to check out a Chromebook to have access to digital learning. Read below for more details:

(Español abajo)

How do PK-12 students access Chromebooks?
Students in grades 7-12 should already have their Chromebooks at home, as they take these home with them on a daily basis. 

*NOT REQUIRED, but Chromebook devices will be available for PK-6 students to checkout starting at 11 am on Tuesday, March 17. Check out for the entire district will be at the Miller Middle School Gymnasium at the dates and times below. To keep crowds small, we must stagger times.

**MCSD  will be following guidelines for how many people to allow in the gymnasium at once.  Parents may have a short wait outside or in their vehicles if the number of people exceeds the recommended limitation.

Chromebooks require internet connection in order to function!
These devices can be connected to hotspots (certain cell phones). 

Tech staff will not support issues outside of district buildings; however, tech staff will help troubleshoot passwords at the time of device checkout.

Chromebooks will only be checked out to parents/guardians of students. Students cannot come in and check out a device on their own. Parents/Guardians will be expected to sign a responsible use policy that includes the possibility of paying for any damages that may incur. Before parents/guardians leave the building, it is up to them to ensure the device works.

¿Cómo los estudiantes de PK-12 pueden tener acceso a los Chromebooks?
Los estudiantes en los grados 7-12 ya deberían tener sus Chromebooks en casa, ya que se los llevan a casa diariamente.  

* NO SE REQUIERE, pero los dispositivos Chromebook estarán disponibles para los estudiantes de PK-6 a partir de las 11 am del martes 17 de marzo. La repartida de los dispositivos Chromebooks para todo el distrito estará en el Gimnasio de la Escuela Miller Intermedia en las fechas y horarios a continuación. Para mantener a las multitudes pequeñas, debemos escalonar los tiempos.

** MCSD seguirá las pautas para cuántas personas se permiten en el gimnasio a la vez. Los padres pueden esperar un poco afuera o en sus vehículos si el número de personas excede la limitación recomendada.

Chromebooks requieren conexión a Internet para funcionar!
Estos dispositivos se pueden conectar a puntos de acceso (ciertos teléfonos celulares). 

El personal técnico no ayudará con problemas fuera de los edificios del distrito; sin embargo, el personal técnico solo ayudará a solucionar las contraseñas en el momento de distribución.

Los Chromebooks solo se entregarán a los padres / tutores de los estudiantes. Los estudiantes no pueden entrar y recoger un dispositivo por su cuenta. Se espera que los padres / tutores firmen una política de uso responsable que incluya la posibilidad de pagar cualquier daño que pueda ocasionar. Antes de que los padres / tutores abandonen el edificio, depende de ellos asegurarse de que el dispositivo funcione.