Bobcats Making Headlines

Logan Woods is a 2015 Marshalltown High School graduate who works as a technician in the service department with Clemons Chevrolet. He was able to take college automotive classes while in high school.

No two days are the same and that’s exactly why Logan Woods loves his new job. The 2015 Marshalltown High School graduate works as a technician in the service department of the Clemons Chevrolet dealership in Marshalltown.

“It’s something new every day,” Woods said. “You always have to stay on your toes.”

He said most days offer challenges, but that’s what he enjoys.

“Sometimes it’s frustrating but that payoff that you are doing something challenging is the best feeling,” Woods said.

With help from MHS counselors, Woods found his career calling during his high school years. He was able to take college automotive classes from Iowa Valley Grinnell while still attending MHS.

“I talked with my counselor and she said I can start doing college while in high school,” Woods said.

He eventually got his degree in the field and worked at another dealership for a year before landing at Clemons recently. Clemons service manager Jason Colby is glad to have Logan on board.

“I’m extremely happy with him,” Colby said. “He’s enthusiastic and he’s got drive.”

Woods talked about his career path to several MHS sophomores who visited Clemons on October 16. The visit is part of the current week-long program from MHS where sophomores are touring area companies and businesses to learn about local careers. This initiative is led by a local committee of the Marshalltown Business Education Alliance known as the Student Partnership Program.

Marshalltown High School instructional coach Brad Weidenaar holds the Distinguished Service Award he received from the Iowa Council of Teachers of English on October 12. Also pictured is Kirstey Ewald from Central Rivers AEA, who presented Brad with the award.

Marshalltown High School instructional coach Brad Weidenaar received the Distinguished Service Award from the Iowa Council of Teachers of English during a conference on October 12.

Weidenaar said he was honored to receive the award, which is highest honor given by the ICTE.

“I have been at Marshalltown High School for my entire professional career – 25 years,” Weidenaar said.  “So I’ve learned to teach here, I’ve grown as a teacher here, I’ve grown as a teacher-leader in this district and for all of that I thank my colleagues and district leaders both past and present.”

MHS Principal Jacque Wyant said Weidenaar empowers teachers to bring engaging lessons to the classroom.

“As a school leader, Brad has been instrumental in effecting change that has impacted the culture at MHS and improved conditions for student learning,” Wyant wrote as part of her nomination letter for Weidenaar.

Weidenaar and fellow MHS instructional coach Janelle Hawk also presented a session with the topic of “Inquiry and Social Justice” at the ICTE conference.

MHS instructional coaches Janelle Hawk, left, and Brad Weidenaar presented a session at the ICTE conference on October 12.

Marshalltown High School students are pictured during a recent practice for the Latin Dance Group at the school.

Marshalltown High School Spanish teacher Charlotte Santana is ecstatic that a once-dormant Latin Dance Group at the school is now flourishing.

With now more than 30 students, the group meets after school four days a week learning salsa, merengue and other Latin dances.

“We are doing something that is culturally important and culturally significant to what our community is about,” said Santana, who serves as the sponsor of the group. “The students have found something they are passionate about and making connections with each other.”

The group was at 10 total members when it performed at a recent school assembly. After that performance, interest grew and now the group is three times as big.

The students are now preparing for a public performance during the Dancers Against Cancer dance marathon at the North Grand Mall in Ames on November 3.

“The students are developing the dances themselves,” Santana said. “I think this is building such a good school culture.”

MHS teacher and dance group sponsor Charlotte Santana gives some direction to the group.

Stet Sanborn, 1999 Marshalltown High School graduate

Sanborn a leader of San Francisco firm

Stet Sanborn said it’s important to never stop learning. His can-do, positive attitude and a thirst for knowledge has led him to be named a recipient of the Consulting-Specifying Engineer magazine 40 under 40 award for 2018.

Sanborn, who is a 1999 Marshalltown High School graduate, is Principal of Engineering in the San Francisco office of SmithGroup.

“I’m humbled to be among a really great group of exceptional engineers from around the country,” Sanborn said. “It really shows the strength of committing to deliver high-quality work with a friendly attitude and being able to team up with some truly amazing clients.”

SmithGroup is an international firm specializing in architecture, engineering and design. Sanborn said he has always enjoyed hands-on projects and figuring out how things worked. Considering he also enjoys math and science, his path to engineering was evident. He said his time at Marshalltown High School helped propel him into continued learning.

“MHS let me combine my love for art, design, music and drama with the freedom to take advanced AP classes in math and science through MCC,” he said. “I was also able to take four years of drafting/CAD/CAM classes, which set me up to be ahead of the curve when I got to the engineering program at Kettering University. I had a great time in high school.”

Sanborn received a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering and a master’s degree in architecture from the University of California, Berkeley. He is the son of LaVonne and Arlo Hildahl, who still reside in Marshalltown.

The 38-year-old Oakland resident has advice for others looking to travel a route to success.

“Keep learning,” Sanborn said. “It sounds really cliché, but continuing to push yourself to build on your expertise and expand your skill sets is a sure fire way to succeed.”

Stet Sanborn with his 40 under 40 award.

Lenihan Intermediate School Band Director Paul Sibbel shows students how to clean a trumpet during a recent class. Sibbel has worked tirelessly to make sure students have instruments so they can participate in band.

Lenihan band teacher promotes student participation

Lenihan Intermediate School Band Director Paul Sibbel doesn’t let anything get in the way if a student wants to participate in band.

The most important aspect – getting an instrument – is something he is passionate about. His work has helped grow the Lenihan band program from 120 students in 2010 to 272 students in fifth and sixth grade instrumental music today.

Lending Library
Sibbel has worked closely with Carrie Barr of the Marshalltown Youth Foundation instrument lending library, which provides instruments for student use. They have helped grow the instruments library from 30 to 181 instruments for Marshalltown School students.

“Mr. Sibbel believes that each student has value and deserves to be a part of the band program,” Barr said “Who knows the impact on students when they feel this commitment on behalf of their teacher? His energy and encouragement is definitely uplifting.”

Sibbel said the Marshalltown Youth Foundation is “invaluable” in providing musical opportunities for students, especially with many Marshalltown families living in poverty.

“Paul puts in the extra work to ensure as many kids as possible have the opportunity to try band,” said Terry Gray of the Marshalltown Youth Foundation.

Love of the job
Sibbel said days have their ups and downs and at times the job can be exhausting, but he continues to see the reward from his students.

“I love working with the kiddos in my classroom and feeding off of their energy and excitement,” he said.

He said his teaching helps students grow in much more than just musical skills.

“I discovered long ago that I enjoy teaching more than I enjoy music,” Sibbel said.  “What I mean by that is, helping my students learn, mature and become responsible participants of a team are the true goals of the class and what I am passionate about.”

To donate instruments to the foundation, call Carrie Barr at 641-750-2890 or drop them off at Lenihan Intermediate School at 212 W. Ingledue Street.

Marshalltown Learning Academy received new equipment to help students build real-world skills. Pictured with some of the equipment is MLA Career Development and STEM Coordinator Nicole Critchfield and MLA student Caine Garrett.

New equipment has arrived at Marshalltown Learning Academy to help build real-world skills for students. The two new systems include Mechatronics and Mechanical Fabrication.

Mechatronics

The Mechatronics system equipment is specialized for learning manufacturing skills. The rise of automation requires a skilled, well-trained workforce that understands the fundamentals, operation and programming of mechatronic components and programmable logic controllers. The impact and applications of mechatronics grows by the day, so industries need skilled workers who understand these complex systems.

Mechanical Fabrication

While using the Mechanical Fabrication training system, students will have real-world, hands-on tools training and basic assembly skills training with components such as screwdrivers, wrenches, and sockets. A few of the skills students will be practicing are: inspecting and installing a threaded fastener; using fixed, adjustable, Allen and ratchet wrenches to tighten threaded fasteners; and installing pipe thread and straight thread pneumatic fittings.

“It is my hope that using this equipment and style of learning will provide our students with the skills that employers in our region are asking for,” said Nicole Critchfield, Career Development & STEM Coordinator at MLA. “The ultimate goal for this program would be to have students learning on the simulator and then spend some time at our local businesses seeing how the same processes work on a full-scale.”

This learning is part of Personalized Extended Learning Opportunity (PELO) at MLA, which provides a chance for students to learn something new in an unconventional manner.

“This allows the student to study something not offered in the program of studies for elective credit,” Critchfield said.

The equipment was funded by a STEM Best grant received by MLA. Marshalltown Learning Academy is a high school for at-risk students in the Marshalltown Community School District.

MHS students are pictured getting ready for the “Hamilton” musical in Minneapolis on October 4.

One hundred Marshalltown High School students had a “fantastic” trip to Minneapolis on October 4 to see the “Hamilton” musical at the Orpheum Theatre.

Students in American History and AP Government classes taught by Tim Johnson and Brad Rahmiller at MHS viewed a matinee performance of the Tony award winning musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda.

In addition, students participated in a question and answer session with cast members and viewed a student performance workshop.

“The whole day was fantastic,” Rahmiller said. “I believe the students really enjoyed the experience. We heard some kids saying ‘Now I want to go to all the musicals I can!’”

Aside from enjoying the award-winning musical, Rahmiller said students were able to learn about history as well.

“We had multiple discussions about the history with students on the way back home,” Rahmiller said. “I think we will see the payoff in our history classrooms this year. The students will likely reap the rewards of this cultural experience for years to come.”

Funding for the tickets and program came from the Hamilton Education Program through the Gilder Lehrman Institute. The Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation and the Ann Keyser Trust provided donations for dinner and transportation costs.

Miller Middle School seventh grader Stephanie Lizarde displays ink drawings she produced as part of Inktober at the school.

Dozens of students at Miller Middle School in Marshalltown are producing some amazing work in a national effort called Inktober. Led by Miller art teachers Melissa Thelen and Baily Klammer, Inktober has students create a different ink drawing every day in October during their free time.

“By the end of October, they should feel better about drawing,” Thelen said. “Their drawing skills should improve.”

One student who has produced some very creative work so far this month is seventh grader Stephanie Lizarde. She is enjoying creating work on a daily basis, oftentimes spending hours at home working on pieces.

“It helps you get in the habit of drawing,” Lizarde said.

See more art produced by Miller students below.

Tha J Mo diplays her work.

Abriana Martinez works on a Starbucks logo drawing.

Piece by Jay Helton

Piece by Avery Mills

Piece by Mia Bradley

Ashley (Morford) O’Brien is a 2006 Marshalltown High School graduate. She said she is thankful of all of the opportunities she had at MHS.

Story written by Samantha Edwards, volunteer writer

“If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”

Ashley (Morford) O’Brien, a 2006 graduate from Marshalltown High School, uses the quote to explain how sociology classes at MHS benefited her.

Her first career choice was to become an art teacher, and she said the art classes she took at MHS might have been superior to other high school art classes.

“I like the diversity of classes that were offered, especially in art,” she said. “We had a really, really great art department, which we were really fortunate to have.”

All the extracurricular activities at MHS also strongly impressed Ashley, and she was in several involving: a volunteerism association called KEY club, tennis, cheerleading, art club, Spanish club, Educational Talent Search and even an assistant in Special Olympics bowling.

“Students could be involved in [activities] that spark their current interest or may spark interest in something they didn’t know much about,” she said.

Ashley works at a leasing company located in Cedar Rapids with the title as a sales support person.

“Basically, I support our sales reps. Our sales reps call our office equipment dealers and try to build a relationship with them. I try to build that relationship too. I try to make deals work and benefit both my company and the dealer,” she said.

Other duties include processing documents, problem solving, the financial aspect and answering phone calls.

“Essentially, we’re kind of like a bank,” she explained.

Her main job is at the leasing company, but her passion is photography, and primarily she takes pictures of families. Ashley started photography in college, and now is the manager of AO photography. She was happy to say that she took a college-credited photography class at Marshalltown High School.

These Extended Learning Program students and staff from Marshalltown were among those honored at the Belin-Blank Center Recognition Ceremony at the University of Iowa on September 30. Pictured, from left, are MHS students Lilly Duff and Alivia Eaton, Lenihan teacher Vanessa Engel, Miller Middle School student Adrian Juarez, Lenihan student Izaiah Correa, elementary teacher Deb Christenson and Lenihan student Ella Spitzli. Several other Marshalltown students and one staff member were honored but not in attendance.

Several Marshalltown Schools staff and students were honored at the Belin-Blank Recognition Ceremony on September 30 at the University of Iowa.

Three Marshalltown Extended Learning Program teachers were recognized including Deb Christenson from Fisher, Franklin and Rogers elementary schools, Vanessa Engel from Lenihan Intermediate School and Ann Jackson from Miller Middle School. These staff were nominated by Marshalltown students who were asked to identify a teacher who has made a significant impact on their lives.

Marshalltown students recognized included Adrian Juarez of Miller Middle School and Lenihan students Izaiah Correa, Ella Spitzli and Isaac Benscoter. These students were awarded for their performance in the I-Excel test (above level test) last spring while at Lenihan.

Several MHS freshmen were recognized for their participation in the Blank Summer Institute for Arts and Sciences including Lilly Duff, Alivia Eaton, Jacob Swartz, Marcus Barker, Erin Stanley, Zoe Johnson and Jesse DeMeyer.