Employee of the Quarter award winners are, from left, Hector Campos from MHS, Ashley Chyma from Anson and Joanna Ruddick from Woodbury.

Three employees from the Marshalltown Community School District received Employee of the Quarter honors for the fourth quarter of the school year recently including Hector Campos, Ashley Chyma and Joanna Ruddick.

Hector Campos
Campos is an English Learner teacher at Marshalltown High School. He was nominated for the award by MHS teacher Emily Hackbarth.

“He is dedicated to and passionate about his work, and that shows in his relationships with students,” Hackbarth said in her nomination. “He always pushes students to do their very best, and is thoughtful and considerate in his approach to getting students engaged in the classroom.”

Ashley Chyma
Chyma is counselor at Anson Elementary School. She was nominated for the award by Caitlin Mull and Jordan Wentzien at Anson.

“Ashley goes above and beyond in our building,” Wentzien said. “Our students absolutely adore her and love to see her come in our classroom.”

Joanna Ruddick
Ruddick is a preschool teacher at Woodbury Elementary School. She was nominated by Amy Bachman, paraeducator at Woodbury who works closely with Joanna.

“Joanna always goes above and beyond to make sure that the instruction she gives her students is enriching and meaningful,” Bachman said. “While still teaching, she is always open to learning new approaches and techniques to help make the education she provides the best the students can get.”

Pictured during the award presentation to Hector Campos are, from left, MHS teacher Emily Hackbarth, Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, MHS Principal Jacque Wyant, Hector’s son Uriel, Hector Campos, MHS Associate Principal Justin Boliver, Hector’s daughter Ariana, Human Resources Director Anthony Spurgetis, Hector’s wife Isabel and MHS Associate Principal Deb Holsapple.

Presenting Ashley Chyma with the award, are from left, Anson Principal Ronnie Manis, Ginna Randall, Erica Sanchez, Ashley Chyma, Jordan Wentzien, Rachel Olson, Matt Cretsinger and Dr. Theron Schutte.

Presenting Joanna Ruddick with the award are, from left, Human Resources Director Anthony Spurgetis, Woodbury Elementary Principal Anel Garza, Preschool Program Director Emily Banks, Joanna Ruddick, Paraeducator Amy Bachman and Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte.

Two family members of Amy Canadé stand next to a bench dedicated in her honor at Fisher Elementary School. Amy worked in food service at Fisher. Pictured are Amy’s husband Reuben Canadé, left, and her father, Bob Rush.

The memory of a Fisher Elementary School food service professional who passed away earlier this year now lives on through a bench located outside of the school near the playground.

Amy Canadé died on February 22 at the age of 37. She impacted so many lives at the school. A group gathered recently to honor her with a bench dedication, which was purchased by her family.

“The kids really loved her and they knew her by name,” said Amy’s husband Reuben Canadé. “She absolutely adored children.”

Amy’s dad, Bob Rush, was also at the dedication along with many staff from buildings and grounds and food service from Marshalltown Schools. The staff donated a plaque placed on the wall above the bench.

Fisher fourth grader Frankie Glenn read a card she made for the Canadé family that included information on how she felt about Amy.

“Although we are apart your spirit lives with me forever,” the fourth grader said as she read the card during the dedication ceremony.

Amy Canadé

Fisher Elementary School fourth grader Frankie Glenn reads a letter honoring Amy Canadé as Reuben Canadé and Bob Rush listen during a bench dedication event honoring Amy.

Beau Ragland is pictured at his residential college at Yale University. The 2016 Marshalltown High School graduate just completed his second year at Yale University.

MHS graduate Beau Ragland completes second year at Ivy League school

With two years down and two years to go, Beau Ragland has reached the midpoint now as a student at Yale University.

The 2016 Marshalltown High School graduate is majoring in economics and global affairs at the Ivy League college in New Haven, Connecticut. He has a strong interest in entrepreneurship, which has grown in his time at Yale.

“A lot of people go into finance at Yale and go to work at Wall Street,” he said. “Ideally, I’d like to do something on my own.”

Ragland is not waiting until he graduates from Yale to dabble in the business world. He has started a company known as Voyista, which helps travelers plan all-in-one, affordable backpacking European and Latin American adventures. Ragland himself has visited 23 different countries in the past two years, so this business is his way of passing on what he’s learned.

“It takes all the hassle out of traveling,” Ragland said of his company.

Beau also lends his business acumen to a Marshalltown business, C Eye Care, which is run by his mom, Cynthia Ragland.

Time at MHS

Beau credits his time at MHS for allowing him to succeed at Yale, especially the dual credit opportunities offered at MHS and Marshalltown Community College.
“Most of my courses my junior and senior year in high school were college courses, which definitely prepared me for going to Yale,” Ragland said.

He also said he was fortunate to complete online college courses offered through the Extended Learning Program at MHS.

MHS Extended Learning Program teacher Susan Fritzell remembers Beau as a gifted student whose love of learning led him to take advantage of the opportunities at MHS.

“Beau really exemplifies a student who took advantage of all the opportunities that MHS has to offer and, judging by his success in college, his involvement paid off,” Fritzell said.

His future

With two more years left in college, Ragland foresees his entrepreneurial interests growing into the future.
“It has unlimited upside, really,” he said of entrepreneurial business work. “You are not constrained.”

To view Beau’s travel company’s website, visit Voyista.com

Pictured seated are donation recipients during a special assembly at Lenihan Intermediate School held on May 23. Students from the Ricochet student leadership group (back row) presented $2,500 in donations to three organizations. Pictured in the front row are, Chris Voggesser, president of Make-A-Wish Iowa, Blaine Fisher and his mother Kandy Fisher, of Make-A-Wish Iowa, Leigh Bauder and Isabella Pantoja of Splash 4 Life and Shelly Deal of the Animal Rescue League.

The Lenihan Intermediate School student leadership group Ricochet held a special donation assembly at the school on May 23. Students donated a total of $2,500 to three organizations as a result of fundraisers it held throughout the school year.

The group donated $1,500 to Make-A-Wish Iowa and $500 each to Splash 4 Life (splash pad fundraising) and the local Animal Rescue League. Lenihan teacher Angie Lovell said Ricochet is all student driven and told the group she was proud of them.

“Kids raising money for kids is amazing,” said Chris Voggesser, president of Make-A-Wish Iowa, who presented Lehinan with a special plaque as he received the $1,500 donation.

Pictured are Marshalltown High School graduating seniors in the Mentors in Violence Prevention Program. More than 70 MHS students were honored during the Scholarship Awards night held at the MHS/Community Auditorium on May 21.

Marshalltown High School held the annual scholarship awards night honoring graduating seniors on May 21 at the MHS/Community Auditorium. A total of 71 students were awarded scholarships at the event, which was hosted by MHS Principal Jacque Wyant.

The MHS Class of 2018 has earned more than $2 million in scholarships for their post-secondary future including $667,204 in the next year alone.

For more photos from the event, view our district Facebook page.

Marshalltown Education Partnership graduates

Silver cord volunteer awards, from left, Alexandrea Olinger, Jaci Hardman, Maria Mendoza Piceno and Olivia Ryan.

Marshalltown High School students planted a pollinator garden outside of the school on May 17, 2018. The garden features native prairie plants and will be haven for native pollinators such as bees and butterflies. 

Marshalltown High School biology students took an hour to help out the environment on May 17. The students partnered with People for Pollinators, the MHS Envirothon team and the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge of Prairie City, Iowa to plant a pollinator garden near the greenhouse at the school.

The students planted more than 60 prairie plant seedlings with a goal to provide a haven for native pollinators such as bees and butterflies, said MHS teacher Mike Lazere.

“The garden of native prairie plants will be a haven for native pollinators, including migrating Monarch butterflies, and will be used as a teaching tool for the MHS biology classes,” Lazere said.

On hand at the planting and bringing the seedlings was naturalist Patrick Bryant of the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge.

Also helping with the project were Shaphan Smith and his fellow team members at the Marshalltown Menards, who donated mulch, brick edging and tools for the project.

To view a video on the planting project, click here.

Rogers Elementary School second grade students Rayan Boufares, left, and Gabriel Gallardo work on computer programming as part of elementary computer science courses which are new this school year in the Marshalltown Community School District.

Computer science instruction through the Project Lead the Way Launch program grew for younger students in the Marshalltown Community School District this past school year with even more expansion plans into the future.

“This year, our teacher librarians piloted computer science instruction using PLTW Launch materials for all second and fourth graders,” said David Stanfield, instructional design specialist with the district. “Next year, instruction will expand to include all students in kindergarten through fourth grade. We also have plans to begin a program at Lenihan Intermediate School.  It is impressive that all of our elementary students will soon be exposed to the world of computer science in meaningful ways.”

During a recent computer science session at Rogers Elementary School, second graders were programming an animated figure to move and do certain tasks using the program ScratchJr.

“They really like it,” said Rogers teacher librarian Erin Faas.

Faas said students were able to work together on their problem solving and perseverance skills while working with the program.

“They are not afraid to continue trying if something doesn’t  work the first time,” Faas said.

Rogers Elementary School second graders Aubrie Davis, left, and Garrett Thede work on computer programming.

Retiring MHS counselor John Fitzgerald hugs fellow counselor Meri Edel who honored him at the recognition tea event on May 16.

The Marshalltown Education Association and Marshalltown Community School District hosted the retirement recognition tea on May 16 at Dejardin Hall on the Marshalltown Community College campus.

The event was hosted by MEA President Kate Troskey and featured opening remarks from Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte and School Board President Bea Niblock.

Several of the retirees from the district were honored at the event including:

Mark Chardoulias

Beverly Fisher

John Fitzgerald honored by fellow MHS counselor Meri Edel

Sammi Jo Luse

Pat Moore

Retirees not in attendance but who were recognized at the event included Sharon Baughman, Linda Brintnall, Jody Brintnall, Dee Coulter, Penny Duer Cheryl Dunham, Kathi Hale, Susan Pollpeter, Kim Proescholdt, Karen Roessler, Merlyn Ruport and Cindy Wirkler.

Scholarship winners

This year’s $500 MEA Scholarship winners are MHS seniors Gretchen Benscoter, left, and Sam Irwin. Both plan to attend University of Northern Iowa.

Friend of Education award

Assistance League of Marshalltown members, from left, Kirsten Schmit, Kathy McCune, Shannon Naughton and Kristen Polley accepted the Friend of Education award.

The Assistance League of Marshalltown was presented this year’s MEA Friend of Education award from the MEA. The league has spearheaded the project to place concrete “M’s” around Marshalltown to build Bobcat pride. All schools have the M’s and a total of 32 locations around town have them placed.

The Marshalltown High School athletics fundraiser golf outing will be held on Tuesday, June 12 at the American Legion Golf Course.

It is a four person best shot tournament with both morning and afternoon sessions. The morning session tees off at 8 a.m. with the afternoon session teeing off at 12:30 p.m.

Cost is $75 per person per session or $100 per person to play both sessions. Cost includes golf, lunch and gifts. Lunch will run from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Door prizes will be presented at the lunch.

For more information, contact the MHS athletics office at 641-754-1142.

Pre-registration is requested, though walk-ups the day of the event are welcome. For a registration form and sponsorship information, click here.

These three Miller Middle School students were awarded the purple ribbon at the Central Iowa Tech Fair at Iowa State University on May 8 for creating and presenting a video game. Pictured, from left, are Locke Bloomquist, Josh Reynolds and Kaiden McWilliams.

Students from Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School presented exhibits at the Central Iowa Tech Fair at Iowa State University on May 8. It is sponsored by the Iowa Technology & Education Connection (ITEC).

Miller Middle School
The Miller  team of Locke Bloomquist, Josh Reynolds and Kaiden McWilliams earned a purple judges’ choice award for their video game “Maelstrom.”  They programmed the game and created all of the art and music for the game. They will present at the ITEC teachers conference in October.

Other Miller students who participated and received blue ribbons at the event included:

Alivia Eaton, Austin Christen, Gavin Jablonski, Kaden Ricken, Derek Ketcham, Nile Christensen, Willow Schmidt, Lilly Duff, Marcus Barker, Derek Peng and Jacob Swartz.

MHS
For MHS, Marek Jablonski won the purple ribbon for his project in the category of innovative technology use. His project was titled “Shortcut Keyboard” and consisted of how he programmed a keyboard of shortcuts to use when he creates a holiday light display.

Marek was selected to display at the ITEC teachers conference in October.

MHS senior Lucas Thiessen won a blue ribbon in the music and sound design category for his video “Prom?”

Marshalltown High School student Marek Jablonski was awarded a purple ribbon for this presentation “Shortcut Keyboard.”

Students from Miller and MHS at the Central Iowa Tech Fair at Iowa State University.