Bobcats Making Headlines

Four exceptional Marshalltown CSD staff members have been named Employees of the Quarter for the Third Quarter of the 2021-22 school year.

Woodbury Elementary school resource specialist Samantha Baedke, Marshalltown High School Food Service staff member Deb Corrick, Lenihan Intermediate School fifth grade literacy teacher Alex Klyn, and Marshalltown Learning Academy English teacher Katie Mummert were chosen for the honor after being nominated by their peers.

Woodbury school counselor Heidi Williams said Samantha Baedke is a key part of the school’s positive learning environment for both students and staff.

“Sam forms strong relationships with all of the individuals that she works with which allows for communication, collaboration, and progress towards our goals,” Williams said. “She is passionate about student attendance at school and works with families to find ways to help their children be at school and ready to learn. Sam also does an awesome job of connecting families to the resources that they need from the school and community.”

At MHS, Deb Corrick was nominated for being a dedicated, helpful, and hardworking member of the school’s Food Service team.

“Debbie has worked for Food Service since 1998. She has shown up to work almost every day of her 24+ years of working for the Marshalltown CSD,” said Jamie Wilson, who joined fellow MHS Food Service staff members Julie Giannetto and Marla Peter in nominating Corrick. “Debbie is the first person to say ‘Can I help you with that?’ to everyone she works with. She always tries to say thank you to each and every student she serves daily.”

Alex Klyn was nominated not only for being an outstanding fifth grade literacy teacher, but also for his leadership among fellow Lenihan teachers.

“As PLC lead, Alex offers great insight into students’ needs at every academic and behavior huddle,” said Lenihan teacher Jennifer Wiley, who was joined by teachers Kramer Grimes and Hannah Hamilton in nominating Klyn. “On a consistent basis, students are proud to claim that Alex is their favorite teacher. He makes connections with students and takes an interest in their lives.”

Katie Mummert joined the Marshalltown Learning Academy at the beginning of the 2021-22 school year. She has already had a positive impact in her short time at MLA.

“Katie goes above and beyond to listen to students and find out each of their needs. She then advocates for those students and collaborates with other staff members,” said MLA student resource specialist Jeraco Whitaker, who nominated Mummert.

Congrats to all four of these outstanding Bobcat staff members!

Anson Elementary fourth graders put together and donated 40 goodie bags for those in need this week, in partnership with the Salvation Army of Marshalltown. 

The donations were made possible through a $250 Iowa Association of Realtors Project Jack grant. School counselor Ashley Chyma and fourth grade teacher Jocelyn Schmidt applied for the grant, and worked with students to decide how to use the funds.

After brainstorming, the students voted to purchase several food and household items to give to those in need through the Salvation Army. The items, which were stuffed into the student-decorated goodie bags, included bottled water, bandages, wipes, hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, toothpaste, granola bars, candy, and other food items.

In addition to the donated items, the bags include positive messages written by students. Also donated was a large box of toilet paper for the Salvation Army to use as needed.

Schmidt said her students enjoyed working together to do something positive and kind.

”It filled our students’ hearts with joy and taught them that being kind doesn’t take much effort at all,” Schmidt said. “Thank you to the Iowa Association of Realtors for granting us the funds to do this project!”

Iowa author, athlete and actor “Coach” Ryan Sloth helped Rogers Elementary bring back Family Learning Night in April.

During his presentation to about 170 Rogers family members, Sloth shared his experiences growing up and his football playing and coaching career at Iowa State University, the Iowa Barnstormers, and beyond. He also shared about the multiple children’s books he has authored, and each Rogers family in attendance received a free book.

During the school day prior to the Family Learning Night presentation, Sloth visited with Rogers K-2 students to share about his life and writing books.

In addition to his football and writing careers, Sloth has appeared as an actor in several big-budget films, including “The Amazing Spider-man” and “We are Marshall,” among many others. Thank you to Coach Sloth for visiting with Rogers students and families!

More than 100 volunteers gathered in the Marshalltown High School cafeteria to package 20,000 meals for the hungry in Marshall County on Wednesday. The event was coordinated by student philanthropy groups from Marshalltown, East Marshall, and West Marshall high schools and was sponsored by the Community Foundation of Marshall County (CFMC) and the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation.

After conducting research, the student philanthropy groups – including Marshalltown’s Students Teaching and Empowering Philanthropy (STEP) – determined that they would work to address food insecurity in Marshall County.

The students selected Meals From the Heartland to host Wednesday’s mobile meal packaging event, due to the fact that their taco-mac food package was extremely well received by recipients. The young philanthropists then secured donations of $5,000 from the Martha Ellen-Tye Foundation, Mechdyne, Great Western Bank, and the Rotary Club of Marshalltown.

The students then recruited over 100 volunteers to participate in the meal packaging event. Finally, they developed a distribution plan for the meals, all of which will remain in Marshall County. Some of the organizations that will be receiving the taco-mac packages include: SEAL Little Free Pantries, East Marshall Backpack Program, Emergency Food Box, House of Compassion, Iowa State Extension Service, Salvation Army and Marshall County Veterans Affairs.

“I couldn’t be prouder of the efforts put forth by the students to make this event a success. The community embraced this project and partnered with the students at every phase,” said CMFC Executive Director Julie Hitchins. “Thank you to the financial sponsors for their support, the Marshalltown Community School District for providing a venue and all the volunteers that assisted with the meal packaging! We are truly better together!”

Several Marshalltown High School students were inducted into the National Honor Society (NHS) Monday evening at the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center.

Each of the 25 Marshalltown High School inductees was selected for their commitment to the NHS pillars of scholarship, leadership, character, and service. The NHS was founded in order to recognize and encourage students’ academic achievement while also developing other characteristics essential to citizens in a democracy.

The program’s keynote address was given by MHS Class of 1981 alum, National Wrestling Hall-of-Famer, and lifelong educator Larry Jackson.

Following an introduction by fellow Class of 1981 alum Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, Jackson spoke about the positive impact his teachers and coaches had on him during his time as a Bobcat student. He also encouraged the NHS inductees to continue serving the wonderful Marshalltown community.

“You are truly second to none,” Jackson said to the inductees, adding that the students’ positive attitudes and focus on service “can be the energy that pushes you to great accomplishments.”

Marshalltown High School NHS President and senior student Phoebe Hermanson also spoke at Monday’s program, as did MHS Principal Jacque Wyant. Hermanson and fellow NHS officers Veronica Herrera, Alivia Eaton, and Taylor Jones administered the Induction Pledge. MHS Extended Learning Program teacher Susan Fritzell presented certificates to each inductee.

Congratulations to all of the 2022 NHS inductees! More photos from the program and a full list of this year’s new NHS members can be seen below:

The MHS Drama Department’s Spring Play, “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime,” was presented this weekend in recognition of Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month.

The performances were followed by professional panels focusing on mental health, held in partnership with the Marshalltown Police and Community Services Team (MPACT), including the MPD and Youth & Shelter Services (YSS) of Marshall County.

For more photos from the Spring Play, click here!

Marshalltown High School students explored exciting, close-to-home career opportunities during a career fair at the Roundhouse on Wednesday.

Dozens of local and regional employers were on hand to describe the careers they offer, the education and experience sought for those careers, and the steps students could take to build a successful future working in the Marshalltown area.

Several key career fields were represented at the fair, including health care, insurance, conservation, energy, business/commerce, financial services, food service, grocery, public education, news and communications, law enforcement, emergency services, non-profit services, and local government.

Thank you to all of the businesses, organizations, and individuals who talked to Bobcat students about the great careers available right here at home! See more photos from Wednesday’s career fair below.

Approximately 300 band, orchestra, and vocal music students from Marshalltown High School and South Tama County High School had the opportunity to attend an educational session with the Musical Comedy Duo – Duo Baldo this week.

The event was sponsored by Live On Stage Marshalltown and featured renowned violinist Brad Repp and pianist/actor Aldo Genileschi, who carry on the classical comedic performances that were once given by Victor Borge, Anna Russell, PDQ Bach, and Gerard Hoffnung. These performers were known for their canny combination of great musical skill and terrific comedic timing.

The members of Duo Baldo met in Italy while they were both studying classical music. Since then, the duo has performed for sold-out audiences all over the world. This week’s show at the Marshalltown Performing Arts Center was part of Duo Baldo’s second US Tour since 2018.

Live On Stage Marshalltown is in its 82nd season of bringing World Class Live Entertainment to the Marshalltown area. Each season, Live On Stage sponsors two STAR Education opportunities for area students to experience and interact with professional artists from around the world.

Local business owner Lonnie Hogeland has made yet another generous donation to the Marshalltown CSD, this time in support of the Fisher Elementary playground resurfacing project.

“I’m here to say thanks for the opportunity to help,” Hogeland said at the Monday, March 21 Marshalltown School Board meeting, where the board accepted his $4,000 donation. “I’m just wanting to give back.”

The Fisher playground project will include replacing the existing pea gravel play surface with a new rubberized surface. Buildings and Grounds Director Todd Goulding said Hogeland’s donation will allow for the installation of two additional play panels for Bobcat students.

Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte said the donation was the latest example of the 1986 MHS graduate’s support of Marshalltown Schools.

“[Hogeland] has done a lot of work in helping add equipment and spaces for recreational play at many of our elementary schools over time,” Dr. Schutte said. 

Testaments to the Hogeland Auto Plaza owner’s generosity can be found in many places across the District, from a swing set at Fisher Elementary to the safety vests worn by crossing guards after the tragic loss of Franklin Elementary student Christian Maxon in 2019.

Thank you to Lonnie Hogeland for another generous donation!

For the second year in a row, a Marshalltown High School student has won the Poetry Out Loud state finals, the Iowa Arts Council announced today.

MHS freshman Landon Stanley took first place in this year’s contest, earning a chance to compete for a national championship and a share of $50,000 in scholarships and school prize money. MHS alum Elijah Thiessen took first place last year.

Stanley won this year’s contest with recitations of “Broken Promises” by David Kirby, “A Graveyard” by Marianne Moore, and “La Belle Dame sans Merci: A Ballad” by John Keats. With his victory, Stanley received a $200 cash prize and $500 for MHS to purchase poetry books, courtesy of the Poetry Foundation.

He will compete virtually against students from all 50 states, Washington, D.C. and several U.S. territories in the national semifinals, which will be streamed on Sunday, May 1, at arts.gov.

This year’s virtual state competition capped off a season during which nearly 500 Iowa students memorized and recited poems for school and semi-final state competitions. The top 18 scoring students advanced to the recent state contest.