Bobcats Making Headlines

Marshalltown High School senior Hadley Wagner is the lead role in the fall musical “Cinderella.” Shows will be held at 7 p.m. on both Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11 at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The classic fairy tale comes to life as the Marshalltown High School drama department presents the fall musical “Cinderella.”

The show will be held at 7 p.m. both Friday, November 10 and Saturday, November 11 in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

MHS senior and veteran of the stage, Hadley Wagner, takes on the role of Cinderella. Other lead roles in the musical include Lucas Thiessen as Prince Charming, Olivia Stone as Stepmother, Yatnia Hernandez as Portia, Bella Russell as Joy, Carissa King as Fairy Godmother, Luke Pedersen as King, Kassie Wilkins as Queen and Eli Thiessen as the Herald/Town Crier.

The show is co-directed by Heather Lee and Amy Ose. Brett Umthun directs the pit orchestra and Grant Gale is technical director.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s ‘Cinderella’ is a lovely version of a classic fairy tale told with music,” said Heather Lee. “All of our students have been working hard and are doing a fantastic job. Our cast is bringing all the characters to life on stage, while our pit orchestra accompanies from below and our tech and stage crews support from the wings. We have also had some amazing volunteers that have been putting in many hours to assist with set construction, costumes, lights and more. Anyone who comes is in for a sweet treat of a show.”

Tickets are available at the door the night of the shows and are $5 for adults and high schoolers, $3 for children (kindergarten through eighth grade) with activity tickets honored.

From left, Luke Pedersen plays the King, Kassie Wilkins plays the queen and Lucas Thiessen plays Prince Charming.

The townspeople celebrate the announcement of the Prince’s Ball by the herald played by Eli Thiessen, center.

Three Marshalltown Community School District staff members have received Employee of the Quarter awards for the first quarter of the 2017-18 school year. Pictured, from left, are Leah Mattox, Eric Weeden and Cindy Wirkler.

Three Marshalltown Community School District staff members were recognized with Employee of the Quarter awards for the first quarter of the 2017-18 school year including Leah Mattox from Lenihan Intermediate School, Eric Weeden from Marshalltown High School and Cindy Wirkler from Central Office.

Leah Mattox is pictured with many of her Lenihan co-workers and Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, left.

Leah Mattox
Mattox has taught in the district since 1985, beginning at the former Anson Middle School and then moving to Lenihan. She teaches in the Mathias Clement Cove neighborhood at Lenihan. She was nominated for the award by fellow Lenihan teacher Vanessa Engel.

“She is a stellar teacher and an amazing teacher role model,” Engel said in her nomination for Mattox. “Leah really keeps positive communication open throughout our building. She is an asset and I am proud to call myself one of her colleagues.”

Mattox was nominated for the award three times in the 2016-17 school year and once in 2017-18.

Eric Weeden is pictured with MHS administrators and support staff.

Eric Weeden
Weeden has served as juvenile court liaison at MHS for two years. Weeden recently was assigned to be the project manager for the Tim Bell cross country shelter at Marshalltown Community College and the proud Bobcat stepped up to get the project done.

He was nominated for the award by Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte.

“The end product was outstanding and it was very well received by Tim Bell and his family and the various donors for the project,” Dr. Schutte said.

As far as his regular job at MHS, Weeden also excels, according to MHS Principal Jacque Wyant.

“Eric spends time getting to know students and building relationships with students so they feel comfortable with him if they have to come to him with problems,” Wyant said.

Cindy Wirker is pictured between the principals who nominated her, Tim Holmgren and Anel Garza and many Central Office staff members and Anson Principal Ronnie Manis, back middle.

Cindy Wirkler
Wirkler is administrative assistant to the Director of Human Resources Anthony Spurgetis. She is in her 15^th year working in the district. She has worked in Human Resources for seven years and previously worked in the district at Hoglan Elementary School and in the Buildings and Grounds Department. She was nominated for the award by Woodbury Elementary Principal Anel Garza and Franklin Elementary School Principal Tim Holmgren.

Both Anel and Tim said Cindy works hard to help coordinate substitute teachers in the district, is a great communicator with staff in the school buildings and cares for the staff and students in the district.

“She consistently works with principals to fill teaching positions across the district,” Garza said. “Her work directly impacts our students.”

Marshalltown High School students held a discussion on stereotypes at the school on November 6.

A group of Marshalltown High School students held a meeting on November 6 to talk about steps moving forward after an inappropriate and racially insensitive social media post by students made headlines last week.

The student group participated in a session on stereotypes, which were led by students in the Al Exito and Mentors in Violence Prevention groups and also featured MHS Principal Jacque Wyant and Social Worker Meredith Lageschulte.

The students talked about a wide range of subjects on how they can be better informed on issues of racial sensitivity and inform others. Dozens of students provided feedback on the issue during the discussion.

‘This is a teachable moment for all of us,” Wyant said.

Mrs. Wyant said more meetings are being planned with students to discuss these issues.

The House of Compassion school supply effort used excess funds to purchase new athletic wear for physical education use by students at Marshalltown High School. Pictured are, from left, Carol and Bruce Rahn (HoC volunteers), MHS physical education teacher Jerry Appel, Patty Schutt (HoC volunteer) and Meredith Lageschulte (MHS social worker).

Volunteers with the House of Compassion school supply donation effort utilized excess funds this year to provide new athletic wear for use in physical education classes at Marshalltown High School.

The donation of hundreds of items of clothing was made on November 6 at MHS, led by HOC volunteer Patty Schutt.

“It’s heartwarming,” Schutt said of the donation.

MHS social worker Meredith Lageschulte said this donation helps fill a need at the school, which led to this idea.

“I felt that it would be wonderful to have additional new clothing for students with this need, as we generally have several students that fit this need every school year,” Lageschulte said. “Since PE is a required class, we want to make sure students have what they need.”

Representatives from Alliant Energy will talk about skilled trades apprenticeship opportunities during an open house event at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, November 14 at the Marshalltown Public Library.

An event with a goal to raise awareness of skilled trades apprenticeship opportunities will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.. on Tuesday, November 14 in meeting room A of the Marshalltown Public Library, 105 W. Boone St.

The open house is for local high school students and families and is designed to connect youth to local apprenticeship opportunities.

The event is hosted by Marshalltown Learning Academy, Iowa Workforce Development and the Iowa Valley Education and Training Center as part of National Apprenticeship Week.

Featured presenting companies include Alliant Energy, Web Electric, Local 106 Carpenter’s Union and Plumbing Heating Cooling Contractors, among other skilled trades opportunities.

Luis Meza works in human resources at Emerson in Marshalltown. He is a 2005 Marshalltown High School graduate.

While in college, Luis Meza made out a road map to professional success for the next 10 years. While his route may have gone in different directions, his growth as a professional is evident.

The 2005 Marshalltown High School graduate works in global mobility for the Human Resources Department at Emerson in Marshalltown. He is in charge of international assignments for employees of the leading global valve manufacturer. He is in contact with more than a dozen countries regularly as part of these placements.

“It’s fun and rewarding to work with other cultures and leverage our differences and similarities in ways that promote the overall business objectives,” the 30-year-old said.

Arriving at MHS
A native of Mexico, Meza moved to Marshalltown with his parents and family and began at MHS as a sophomore. He said it was difficult to make that transition, but sought help when he needed it from a dedicated MHS staff. He remembers Deb Holsapple and Kirk Niehouse as two MHS staff members who are still at the school who helped him.

“Their support and availability really helped,” Meza said. “You can tell teaching is their vocation and they are passionate about it.”

Niehouse, an art instructor at MHS, said Luis made an impression on him as well.

“I remember him as a nice, pleasant young man working hard to learn everything he could and that he always had a smile,” Niehouse said. “He was one of those students that you knew just from meeting him that he would do well in life and be successful.”

College and starting a career
After MHS, Meza stayed in town where he attended Marshalltown Community College and then received a degree in banking and finance and a degree in human resource management from Buena Vista University. The field of human resources intrigued him.

“People-related problem solving really interests me,” Meza said.

He has been at Emerson for more than three years after working in human resources at JBS.

Advice for high school students
He said if he could go back and talk to the “high school Luis” he would have several pieces of advice to impart. Here are a few:
– Have determination: “It doesn’t matter where you come from, you must have the determination to succeed,” Meza said.
– Seek out opportunities: “Look for opportunities, find them and make them happen,” he said.
– Use your resources such as teachers, counselors, and neighbors and ask questions.
– Listen, observe and act.
– Plan ahead and make a road map. “With something as important as your future, you can’t do anything less than make a map with short, medium and long term goals,” Meza said.
– Be action and results oriented.

Since his days at MHS, Meza had the desire to build his career at Emerson.

“I used to drive through Center Street on my way home from school, and often pondered about the possibility of earning the opportunity to work at Emerson,” he said.

Valued Emerson employee
Paul Gregoire, Vice President of Global Human Resources for Emerson and Meza’s supervisor, said Luis is a great example of a local success story.

“He’s a classic case of finding success in education and coming back to Marshalltown and showing that’s a great idea as we’ve got great jobs and great companies,” Gregoire said.

Giving back to MHS
Meza also gives back to MHS as he serves on the Student Partnership Program of the Marshalltown Business Education Alliance, which helps students interact with businesses to learn about careers and inspires them to begin their career planning early.

“It’s been really rewarding seeing students engaged and brainstorming about potential opportunities career wise,” Meza said.

He also is a former board member of Child Abuse Prevention Services.

“I like to be actively and constructively involved in the community,” Meza said.

Special Thanks
As Meza reflects on his career path, he would like to thank those who inspired him along the way.

“I would like to extend my utmost gratitude to the faculty at MHS, MCC and Buena Vista University for all the support I received,” Meza said. “I also wish to thank my parents and my late mentor William Tempelmeyer for the relentless support and love they have provided me during this journey.”

Three Woodbury Elementary School second grade teachers are pictured with Scott Zahnle from Greater Iowa Credit Union as the school received a $1,000 grant. Pictured from left are teachers Lorena Patlan, Becky Jacobson and Olivia Romero. 

Woodbury Elementary School second grade classes were the recipient of a $1,000 grant from the Greater Iowa Credit Union Project Classroom grant program during a special assembly held November 1.

The grant will help the three second grade classrooms at Woodbury by paying for books for students to take home and math games and rugs for the classrooms. The grant was applied for by second grade teacher Lorena Patlan.

“I was very excited and surprised to receive it,” Patlan said.

The special assembly also included an appearance by Iowa State University mascot Cy and Woodbury was presented a football autographed by ISU football coach Matt Campbell.

Woodbury second graders are pictured with Iowa State University mascot Cy.

Woodbury Principal Anel Garza with the autographed ball from ISU football coach Matt Campbell.

University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook spoke to students at Marshalltown High School on October 31.

University of Northern Iowa President Mark Nook spoke to a group of juniors and seniors at Marshalltown High School on October 31.

Nook, who has been on the job since February 1, 2017, focused his presentation on the importance of attaining education beyond high school, getting involved in activities and opportunities at UNI.

Mark Nook

Though he owns a physics degree, Nook said the education he received helps him in his job as a university president. He stressed the importance of going to college to get an overall education, not just a degree.

“Don’t go to school for your degree, go to school for your education,” Nook said.

While having a degree and a high grade point average in college are nice, Nook said it’s just as important to get involved as a college student.

(Graduates) are hired because they get involved in a whole lot of other things,” he said.

Nook also showed a UNI promotional video and threw out UNI T-shirts to the students.

UNI President Mark Nook throws a UNI T-shirt into the crowd of MHS students.

Three Lenihan Intermediate School students are pictured with a basketball, which will be the first sport in the new intramural program at the school. Pictured from left, are Fernando Suarez, Carroll Gomez and Josue Gonzalez.

Lenihan Intermediate School is set to offer a new intramurals program to help get students connected to the school and provide a way to get them involved after school.

Intramurals will start with basketball on November 6. Students will be involved one day a week after school and the free program is offered three days a week: Monday, Tuesday and Thursday, from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.

“We want to get them to know what team sports are about and also introduce them to more in-depth skills than just in the P.E. class,” said Lenihan physical education instructor Casey Moberly, who runs the intramural program with fellow Lenihan P.E. teacher Matt Butler.

For basketball, there will be three weeks of practices with games to begin shortly after the Thanksgiving break. Teams will consist of boys and girls from both 5th and 6th grades.

Possible sports in the future as part of the new intramural program include volleyball, football, soccer and track.

For the sign up form, visit the Lenihan Intermediate School website link here. Information on the program will also be sent home with Lenihan students.

Pictured are “witches” Lauren Wall, left, and Elizabeth Lang, right, trying to shove “Gretel” played by Jurnee Barge into the fire during rehearsal of the Miller Middle School play “Hansel and Gretel.” The play will be performed at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 26 in the Miller auditorium.

Miller Middle School will present the fall play “Hansel and Gretel” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, October 26 in the Miller auditorium. Admission is free.

The play tells the story of the two siblings left in the woods who stumble upon a gingerbread house and work together to outsmart three witches. Garrett McKibbin plays the role of Hansel and Jurnee Barge is Gretel.

The play is directed by Miller teacher Katie Sawer and assistant director is Miller teacher Shawna Hutchison.

Cast members

Actor                        Part

Trinity Snow           Robin Robin
Sindy Guadiana   Cardinal Cardinal
Kaylynn Arends     Stiefmutter
Garrett McKibbin  Hansel
Jurnee Barge           Gretel
Ellie Draisey            Fritzene
Trixie Cantrell        The Yoo Hoo Clock
Jesse DeMeyer        Papa
Elizabeth Lang       Witch 1
Ydaliah Juarez        Witch 2
Lauren Wall            Witch 3
Daniel Schafer        Fritz
Gingerbread people: Natalie Davis, Kada Vaughn, Sarah Gooding, Jackie Ibarra and Mia Bradley.