Lenihan Intermediate School student Jose Vargas plays the flute during the school’s talent show held on June 5.

See below for a video of the 2019 Lenihan Intermediate School talent show featuring performances by 5th and 6th graders on June 5.

Brian Murphy

Brian Murphy has been named the next varsity girls basketball head coach at Marshalltown High School. Murphy comes to Marshalltown after two years of coaching girls basketball at Meskwaki. The Oelwein native and his family have lived in Marshalltown for three years.

“We fell in love with the community,” Murphy said.

Murphy will also teach ESL at Miller Middle School.

“We’re excited to have Brian on board,” said MHS activities director Rollie Ackerman. “He’s proven to be a very knowledgeable basketball coach, and more important, a good person who is going to be a good fit for our coaching staff.”

Murphy, who is a graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, said his basketball philosophy is focused on teamwork.

“It’s all about a team-first concept where every individual is doing what the team needs,” Murphy said.

Marshalltown High School Class of 2019 members move their tassels to make them official graduates during the commencement ceremony held on June 2 in the MHS Roundhouse.

View the video of the event at this link

Marshalltown High School sent 320 graduates into their future during the 2019 commencement ceremony held on June 2 in the MHS Roundhouse.

Hosted by MHS Principal Jacque Wyant, other speakers included Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte and Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson, School Board President Bea Niblock and MHS students Olivia Stone, Carson Potter and Phoebe Osgood with a singing performance by Yatnia Hernandez and Kassandra Wilkins. Diplomas were handed out by Bea Niblock and School Board member Mike Miller.

Four MHS students were honored for maintaining a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout high school including (above, from left) Olivia Stone, Stella Roseburrough Borras, Jane Ragland and Fatima Perez Negrete.

Graduate Carson Potter leads the graduates on a roller coaster ride.

Graduates head out of the Roundhouse with diploma in hand.

For more photos from commencement, visit the MCSD Facebook Page.

Students at Woodbury Elementary School are pictured designing what they would like to see as the next playground at the school.

The designers of the next playground at Woodbury Elementary School put pencil to paper as part of a design day on May 30. These designers happen to also be students at the school who are providing input on what they would like to see for the new playground, which is being made a possible by a $50,000 grant from KaBoom and Keurig Dr. Pepper.

“We want the kids to feel they are a part of this project since they are the play experts,” said Cristina Perez, of KaBoom, which is a national non-profit group which partners with schools on playground builds.

Students each took a piece of paper which read “My dream playground” at the top and were asked to draw what they want the new playground to look like. Second grader Marco Sanchez Juarez drew a playground that had two slides, a bridge and a tunnel.

“I like to go through tunnels,” Marco said.

The playground will be built by the community on July 19, 2019, exactly one year after a tornado damaged many homes in the Woodbury neighborhood. Those interested in volunteering for the playground build can click here, or visit the Marshalltown Schools website at www.marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

This playground idea was started by Jeff Wrage of Keurig Dr. Pepper who is a 1981 Marshalltown High School graduate. Fareway is also a partner on the building aspect of the project.

Marshalltown High School held the annual scholarship awards night on May 29 for graduating seniors. Pictured are those seniors who were recognized with the silver cord for accumulating at least 200 hours of community service in the past four years.

Before the Marshalltown High School Class of 2019 heads into the commencement ceremony, the annual senior scholarship awards night was held on May 29. The event recognizes scholarships, awards and other achievements from the senior class.

This Class of 2019 has achieved a total of more than $2.3 million in scholarships to college and post-secondary education in the next four years.

New this year was the recognition of the Bobcat Ready students for college and career readiness and those students who received the Seal of Biliteracy for dual language proficiency.

Graduation will be at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 2 in the MHS Roundhouse.

For more photos from the senior awards night, visit the MCSD Facebook page.

MHS graduates in the Marshalltown Education Partnership progam.

Lenihan Intermediate School fifth grade student Jacqueline Alvarez reads her fantasy story to a veteran from the Iowa Veterans Home on May 28.

Fifth grade students from Lenihan Intermediate School had a very experienced and distinguished audience to read their original fantasy stories to on May 28.

Residents from the Iowa Veterans Home visited the Lenihan classrooms of teachers Julie Preston and Alaina Goldman to listen to the stories written by the students.

The veterans introduced themselves then got right into the small groups where they heard the stories. The fact that it was on the heels of Memorial Day weekend made it even more special to welcome the veterans to the classrooms.

“It fits right with our purpose,” Preston said.

Lenihan fifth grader Katie Salas reads her original fantasy story to a veteran from the Iowa Veterans Home.

Lenihan students create mock restaurants

Lenihan students present their restaurant ideas to parents and community members.

What would you do with $5,000 and a restaurant idea?

Sixth grade students in the Lenihan Intermediate School Extended Learning Program answered that question as they presented their mock restaurant ideas on May 28. The students spent months on the project as they researched local restaurants then got to work planning their own, from menu items to staffing to marketing.

Some students focused on a full menu, while others focused on desserts.

“They’ve been doing a great job,” said Lenihan XLP teacher Vanessa Engel.

Sixth grader Landon Stanley puts the finishing touches on a dish as part of a mock restaurant project.

UPDATE:

Due to field conditions and scheduling, the IHSAA’s 2019 State Soccer Tournament at Cownie Soccer Park in Des Moines has been postponed. The start will be pushed back one day, with finals moved to Tuesday, June 4th due to IHSAA policy prohibiting postseason play on Sundays, and previously scheduled IGHSAU regional finals on Monday.

The Bobcats will now open quarterfinal play against Cedar Rapids Washington at 5:10 p.m. on Friday, May 31.

New tournament dates: Friday, May 31; Saturday, June 1; Tuesday, June 4. Currently set for same game times and field assignments.

To recap: Quarterfinals moved from Thursday to Friday, semifinals from Friday to Saturday, and championships and consolations from Saturday to Tuesday.

Further scheduling updates will be announced online at State Tournament Central: https://www.iahsaa.org/soccer/2019-soccer-state-tournament-central/

Las actualizaciones de horarios adicionales se anunciarán en línea en State Tournament Central: www.iahsaa.org/soccer/2019-soccer-state-tournament-central

Directions to the Cownie Soccer Complex-

Cownie Soccer Complex is located at 2600 E. Hartford Avenue,

Des Moines, IA, 50320.

Coming from West/East Interstate 235, take Exit 9; SE 14th St.

exit, off Interstate 235.

Head south on SE 14th St. for 3.7 miles, then take a left onto

Hartford Avenue. Take Hartford Avenue all the way to Cownie Soccer Complex,

it will be on your left.

There will be signage along Hartford Avenue directing you to

the soccer complex.

Instrucciones para llegar al Cownie Soccer Complex:

-Cownie Soccer Complex se encuentra en 2600 E. Hartford Avenue, Des Moines, IA, 50320.

-Viniendo desde el oeste / este de la carretera interestatal 235, tome la salida 9; SE 14th St.

-Salga de la carretera interestatal 235.

-Diríjase hacia el sur en SE 14th St. durante 3.7 millas, luego gire a la izquierda en Hartford Avenue.

-Tome la avenida Hartford hasta llegar a Cownie Soccer Complex, estará a su izquierda.

-Habrá señalización a lo largo de la avenida Hartford que lo dirigirá a el complejo de fútbol.

SPECTATOR INFORMATION

STATE SOCCER TOURNAMENT

ADMISSION – The gates will open one hour prior to the start of the first match. The admission fee is $10 for each day of the tournament. School age students on up to adults will be charged admission. This admission fee will allow your fans to attend all games played on that day.

CONCESSION STAND- The Cownie Soccer Complex provides a full concession stand to spectators and teams. However, the Iowa High School Athletic Association appreciates the fact that healthy alternatives are needed for teams competing at the state soccer tournament. Each team will be provided the opportunity to bring in a cooler that will provide appropriate snack foods for the players of each team. These coolers need to be brought in by the team when they check into the facility. Water and other sport specific drinks should not be included in the coolers. Water is available at each team bench. Coolers brought in by spectators will not be allowed.

EMERGENCY PERSONNEL- The Des Moines Fire and Rescue Department will be on site and providing emergency personnel throughout the tournament for players, coaches, officials, and spectators. They will be on site 30 minutes prior to the start of the first contest and will remain on site until 15 minutes after the conclusion of the last contest. The personnel and ambulance will be stationed north of the concession stand. In addition, Select Physical Therapy will be on site with athletic training services for all teams participating in the state tournament. In addition, an athletic trainer will be located at each field during the tournament.

PARKING- There will be a $5 per car parking fee charged per day. If you leave the complex and return later in the day, you will be charged an additional $5 to park. Please avoid parking on the grass medians at the Cownie Soccer Complex unless otherwise noted. (See Cownie Soccer Complex Parking Lots) Cars parking on grass medians will be subject to parking tickets by the Des Moines Police Department and may be towed at the owner’s expense.

PASSES OUT- The Iowa High School Athletic Association enforces a “No Pass-Out” system for its tournament series. There WILL NOT be a pass-out system if a fan wishes to leave the complex and return. If you leave the Cownie Soccer Complex, you will be required to pay $10 to re-enter the Complex. THERE WILL BE NO EXCEPTIONS.

Please bring all necessary items with you to the Cownie Soccer Complex including:

Video cameras, sunglasses, hats, umbrellas, sunscreen, etc. Each of the state tournament fields has bleacher seating for all spectators. Lawn chairs are permitted inside the Cownie Soccer Complex for use on fields 7 and 8, which are only used on Thursday.

1) No outside food may be brought into the complex.

2) No alcohol allowed in the complex.

3) No tailgating in the parking lots. (Grills are prohibited)

4) No pets (unless licensed service animals)

5) No smoking allowed in the complex.

6) Lawn chairs, strollers, and umbrellas ARE permitted into the complex.

SPORTSMANSHIP – All participants are expected to maintain a high level of sportsmanship. Please conduct yourselves in a manner that shows respect for the game of soccer and all the participants. We are anticipating some very competitive soccer. Your cooperation as spectators, players and coaches in properly representing your school and high school activities will be greatly appreciated. Spectators entering the field of play during the contest or immediately after the conclusion of player are subject to trespassing violations. Violators are subject to arrest by the Des Moines Police Department. Spectators are not allowed into the pressbox on Field #9 for any reason.

INFORMACIÓN DEL ESPECTADOR

TORNEO DE FÚTBOL ESTATAL

ADMISIÓN: Las puertas se abrirán una hora antes del inicio del primer partido. La admisión es de $ 10 por cada día del torneo. Los estudiantes en edad escolar hasta adultos serán cobrados admisión. Esta pago de entrada permitirá a sus fanáticos asistir a todos los juegos jugados ese día.

PUESTO DE COMIDA: The Cownie Soccer Complex ofrece un puesto de comida completo para espectadores y equipos. Sin embargo, la Asociación Atlética de Iowa High School aprecia el hecho que se necesitan alternativas saludables para los equipos que compiten en el torneo estatal de fútbol. A cada equipo se le brindará la oportunidad de traer una hielera que proporcionará bocadillos apropiados para los jugadores de cada equipo. Estas hieleras deben ser traídos por el equipo cuando registran en la instalación. El agua y otras bebidas deportivas específicas no deben incluirse en las hieleras. El agua está disponible en cada banquillo del equipo. Las hieleras traídos por los espectadores no serán permitido.

PERSONAL DE EMERGENCIA: El Departamento de Bomberos y Rescate de Des Moines estará en el lugar y proporcionará personal de emergencia durante todo el torneo para jugadores, entrenadores, oficiales y espectadores. Estarán en el sitio 30 minutos antes del inicio de la primera competencia y permanecerán en el sitio hasta 15 minutos después de la finalización de la última competencia. El personal y la ambulancia estarán estacionados al norte del puesto de comida. Además, Select Physical Therapy estará en el lugar con servicios de entrenamiento atlético para todos los equipos que participan en el torneo estatal. Además, un entrenador atlético estará ubicado en cada campo durante el torneo.

ESTACIONAMIENTO: Se cobrará una tarifa de estacionamiento de $ 5 por automóvil por día. Si abandona el complejo deportivo y regresa más tarde en el día, se le cobrará $ 5 adicionales por estacionar. Por favor, evite estacionarse en las medianas de pasto en el  Cownie Soccer Complex, a menos que se indique lo contrario. (Consulte los estacionamientos de Cownie Soccer Complex) Los estacionamientos de automóviles en las medianas de pasto estarán sujetos a multas de estacionamiento del Departamento de Policía de Des Moines y podrán ser remolcados a cargo del propietario.

PASSES OUT- La Asociación Atlética de Iowa High School implementa un sistema de “No Pass-Out” para su serie de torneos. NO habrá un sistema de salir y volver a entrar si un fanático desea abandonar el complejo deportivo y regresar. Si abandona Cownie Soccer Complex, deberá pagar $ 10 para volver a entrar al complejo deportivo. NO HABRÁ EXCEPCIONES.

Por favor traiga todos los artículos necesarios con usted al Cownie Soccer Complex, incluyendo:

Cámaras de video, lentes de sol, sombreros, sombrillas, bloqueador solar, etc. Cada uno de los campos de torneos estatales tiene asientos de gradas para todos los espectadores. Se permiten sillas de jardín dentro del Complejo Cownie Soccer para usar en los campos 7 y 8, que solo se usan el jueves.

1) No se pueden llevar alimentos externos al complejo deportivo.

2) No se permite alcohol en el complejo deportivo.

3) No hay tailgating en los estacionamientos. (Las parrillas están prohibidas)

4) No se permiten mascotas (a menos que sean animales de servicio autorizados)

5) No se permite fumar en el complejo deportivo.

6) Se permiten sillas de jardín, cochecitos y sombrillas en el complejo deportivo.

DEPORTIVIDAD: se espera que todos los participantes mantengan un alto nivel de deportividad. Por favor, se conducen de una manera que muestre respeto por el juego de fútbol y todos los participantes. Estamos anticipando una competencia de fútbol muy competitivo. Su cooperación como espectadores, jugadores y entrenadores para representar adecuadamente su escuela y las actividades de la escuela secundaria será muy apreciada.

Los espectadores que ingresan al campo de juego durante la competencia o inmediatamente después de la conclusión del juego están sujetos a infracciones de invasión de propiedad. Los infractores están sujetos a arresto por el Departamento de Policía de Des Moines.

Los espectadores no pueden ingresar a la casilla de prensa en el Campo # 9 por ningún motivo.

Marshalltown Schools staff donated hundreds of pairs of new and gently used jeans to The Caring Center in Marshalltown, which provides clothing for those in need. Pictured, from left, are MCSD Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, Lisa Villegas and Donna Patton of The Caring Center, Jim Kopel of MCSD Buildings & Grounds and Karen Weltzin of The Caring Center.

Employees of the Marshalltown Community School District donated hundreds of pairs of jeans to The Caring Center on Main Street in Marshalltown on May 22. The Caring Center provides clothing and other household items for those in need in our community, with jeans being a popular item among visitors.

Staff in Marshalltown Schools held a “Jeans for Jeans” day on May 17 where they were able to wear jeans to work if they donated new or gently used jeans to The Caring Center.

Thanks to Jim Kopel of our Buildings and Grounds department for collecting the 18 boxes and 10 bags of donated jeans from our schools throughout the district.

Laura Jackman, left, of the Iowa Heart Center Foundation, presents a donation of a new AED to Lenihan Intermediate School nurse Toni Freese for the Lenihan gym. Also pictured in back row, from left, Lenihan staff Lisa Crouch, Elaine Johnson, Casey Moberly and Dr. Liz Jurgensen.

Total now at 15 AEDs in 10 school locations

The Marshalltown Community School District now has a total of 15 AEDs placed in its 10 schools after a donation of two of the devices was made on May 21.

The Iowa Heart Center Foundation donated two automatic external defibrillators (AEDs) to be located in the Marshalltown Learning Academy and the Lenihan Intermediate School gym.

AEDs are state of the art devices that when used in conjunction with effective CPR, assist in the resuscitation of a sudden cardiac arrest victim. AEDs do not require extensive medical knowledge to understand or operate.

The Iowa Heart Center Foundation has been instrumental in this effort to place more AEDs in Marshalltown Schools, as were donations from the Community Foundation of Marshall County (CFMC)

“I am so happy to say that we will have AEDs placed in all the buildings and needed areas of our district,” said Stacey Tool-Crawford, Marshalltown High School nurse and district lead nurse. “We are fortunate to have the support of CFMC and Iowa Heart Center Foundation to make this possible.”

Tool-Crawford also said the district has a Cardiac Emergency Response plan in place throughout the district which provides for a team of staff members that are trained to respond to a cardiac emergency until EMS arrives.

Laura Jackman, center, of Iowa Heart Center Foundation presents an AED to Marshalltown High School and district lead nurse Stacey Tool-Crawford to be used in the Marshalltown Learning Academy and Four Oaks area. Also pictured, from left are Nurse Sheryl Edwards, Melissa Brummel of Four Oaks, MLA Principal Eric Goslinga and MLA resource specialist Reji Kurian.

Leah (Landt) Struthers is a 2006 Marshalltown High School graduate. She is working toward her master’s degree to become a therapist.

2006 MHS graduate works to become a therapist

Story written by volunteer writer and MHS graduate Samantha Edwards

Leah (Landt) Struthers loved playing sports and was a wrestling cheerleader all four years of high school; but, she said, her preferred activity — pottery — was completed in the art space.

“I think the favorite part of my school time was all the time spent in the pottery studio, in the art room,” said Struthers, who is a 2006 Marshalltown High School graduate. “Looking back, what I valued the most then, and value even more now, was learning about the creative arts, and pottery in particular.”

Struthers currently lives in Omaha, Nebraska and works in foster care.

Her undergraduate degree is in family life and counseling from Nebraska Christian College, and her master’s degree will be in counseling and psychology from Hope International University.

“My hope is to become a therapist,” she said.

College courses at MHS
When asked how MHS helped get her ready for college, she said, “Definitely all the college classes that I was able to take in high school was a huge asset for me, in not only getting me college credit, but not have as stressful of a course load when I went to college. So, just getting to take those classes and getting a taste of what college credit classes would potentially be like.“

It was in those college-level classes in high school that exposed her to psychology and sociology, which led her to a career decision.

“Those two [classes] helped me make a decision about wanting to work with people, wanting to work with kids in particular,” Struthers said. “I think for me, growing up in the church and wanting to do ministry in some way, just feeling that God had a plan for me — in terms of having a positive impact on people. So, I think that also influenced me to choose that path that I did.”

Living in Omaha now, she sees how a town that is the size of Marshalltown creates a strong environment where teachers care about the students, and they have time to invest in them.