Bobcats Making Headlines

Marshalltown High School All-State Music Festival qualifiers are pictured. Front row, from left, Olivia Stone, Luke Wymore, Benjamin Harris and Skylar Lindeman. Back row, Hadley Wagner, Lucas Thiessen, Eli Thiessen and Kassandra Wilkins.

Several Marshalltown High School students have been selected for the 2017 Iowa All-State Music Festival, which will be held November 16-18 at Iowa State University.

Qualifying for the all-state chorus were Hadley Wagner, Kassandra Wilkins, Lucas Thiessen and Eli Thiessen (alternate). Qualifying for the all-state band were Olivia Stone (bass clarinet), Benjamin Harris, (alto saxophone), Luke Wymore (alternate, bari saxophone) and Skylar Lindeman (alternate, B-flat clarinet).

Wagner, Wilkins, Lucas Thiessen and Stone are two-time all-state qualifiers. All four two-time qualifiers said it took daily rehearsal work outside of the school day to qualify.

“It’s nice to get recognition for working so hard,” Wilkins said.

Stone said she looks forward to playing in a group of the state’s best players. All qualified at the auditions held on October 21 at Hampton-Dumont High School. The All-State Festival concert will be at 7:30 p.m. on November 18 in Hilton Coliseum at Iowa State University.

Longtime Marshalltown High School athletic department volunteers Andy Burt, center, and Greg Baughman, right, received the Friend of the School award from MHS Associate Principal Deb Holsapple, left, at the home football game on October 20.

Longtime Bobcat supporters and Marshalltown High School athletic program volunteers Andy Burt and Greg Baughman were honored with Iowa High School Athletic Association Friend of the School awards during the home football game against West Des Moines Valley on October 20. They volunteer countless hours to help athletic events run smoothly at MHS.

“Their service and humility for many years volunteering at baseball, football, cross country and swim events just to name a few is much appreciated,” said MHS Activities Director Rollie Ackerman. “Their roles in helping the activities department in various ways, and behind the scenes in most cases, is vital in being able to provide the opportunities for the students of the Marshalltown community.”

Marshalltown High School sophomores meet with Jessie Buffington, right, who works at the front desk at the Best Western Regency Inn as part of a career exploration program.

Marshalltown High School sophomores learned about local careers, businesses, agencies and government the week of October 16-20 as part of the annual career exploration program.

This initiative is led by a local committee of the Marshalltown Business Education Alliance known as the Student Partnership Program.

Students learned about a variety of careers including salary ranges, hours, what education or training is needed for each position and more.

One group visited TIG Distributing at its new location on Rex Ryden Drive to learn about shipping and logistics. TIG is a supplier for John Deere, especially to John Deere dealerships. The tour was led by Joe and Lisa Tharpe at TIG. Lisa stressed to the group the importance of treating everyone on staff like you want to be treated and to make sure they feel valued.
“Everybody’s job is important,” Lisa said. “We are a team.”

Businesses and agencies visited on the tours
Blood Dairy Farms
TIG Distributing
Iowa School of Beauty
St. Francis Catholic School
Bobcat Academy
Emerson
Child Abuse Prevention Services
Best Western Regency Inn
UnityPoint Health
Marshalltown Family Dentistry
Central Iowa Physio
Ricken Tiling, Inc.
Ethington Heating & Cooling
Long Enterprises
Times-Republican
KIX 101.1
Mechdyne
Marshalltown Police Department
Marshalltown Fire Department
Marshall Country Courthouse

Student partnership committee members
Deb Wollam, McFarland Clinic
Jeff Mathis, Great Western Bank
Luis Meza, Emerson
Samuel Ibarra, Emerson
Lydia Arevalo, MHS Counselor
Valerie Corson, MHS Counselor
Connie Gardalen, MHS Gear Up Coordinator
John Augustine, Miller Middle School Counselor
Sandy Supianoski, Iowa Valley Community College District
Terri Hungerford, Iowa Valley Community College District
Teresa Klostermann, Iowa Valley Community College District

Scroll down for more photos from the tours…

Joe and Lisa Tharpe give a tour of the warehouse at TIG Distributing to a group of Marshalltown High School sophomores.

Blood Dairy Farm

Ricken Tiling

Long Enterprises

Emerson Innovation Center

Emerson’s Governor Road plant.

UnityPoint Health, Central Iowa Physio and Urgent Care

Students meet with Best Western Regency Inn kitchen manager Maria Sotelo.

KFJB/KXIA

Students outside the offices of Child Abuse Prevention Services.

This group of Marshalltown High School students and teacher Jocelyn Frohwein, right, participated in the Latinx Educational Excellence in the Midwest Conference and Professional Development Institute at the University of Iowa on October 18.

Students from Marshalltown High School participated in the Latinx Educational Excellence in the Midwest Conference and Professional Development Institute at the University of Iowa on October 18.

This conference aims to build community and pool resources focused on increasing the success and participation of Latinx students, staff, administrators, and faculty in K–12 and higher education institutions in the Midwest.

MHS Al Exito students presented during the professional development conference for adults and also participated in the History Day competition among students and the youth educational sessions. The History Day quiz team placed third and included the following MHS students: Dru Dobbins, Kathy Del Real, Juan Hernandez, Ronaldo Ordaz Zambrano and Nayeli Barajas Aguilera.

“It was amazing to see them do so well for their first time competing,” said MHS teacher and Al Exito sponsor Jocelyn Frohwein. “Overall it was an amazing and informative event.”

Marshalltown High School student senate members are again organizing a trunk or treat at the school’s south parking lot from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on October 31. Pictured are many of the senate organizers including, front row, from left, Acacia Brown, Olivia Ryan, Sarah Jacobs and Mackenzie Moyer. Back row, Aubrey Hala, Claire Stalzer, Jose Orozco and Ryan Bohan.

Marshalltown High School student senate members are once again planning a trunk or treat event in the staff parking lot at MHS for Halloween.

The event will feature dozens of student clubs and teams handing out candy to youth from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, October 31, which is the regular trick or treat time in Marshalltown. All are invited to the event.

The idea started last year as a goal of student senate to get more involved in the community. Last year’s event was very successful with hundreds of families visiting. MHS senior and event organizer Olivia Ryan said the event is a nice way for high school students to make connections with young people and families. “You get to meet all of the younger kids,” she said “It’s a cool connection.”

Senate member Mackenzie Moyer said it was a great experience for all involved.
“Kids had such a fun time last year,” Moyer said.

The staff parking lot is located south of the MHS Roundhouse.

Rogers Elementary School students are pictured with teacher Anna Wolvers. The students are participating in a project where they learn to earn and spend fake money. Students, from left, include, Shar Dah Htoo, Theilan Sizemore, Dominic Edwards, Troy Corwin and Wyatt Hood.

The money may be fake, but the life lessons are real for a group of Rogers Elementary School students, taught by their literacy and math teacher Anna Wolvers.

The students earn the money for being responsible, respectful, cooperative and reaching their learning goal areas.

Then at the end of the week, they pay “rent” for class tables and supplies. Once a month they are able to buy real snacks, rent costumes to wear, or rent toys to play with while working. They also “donate” to a charity. This month, the students will be able to buy pumpkins to decorate.

“We are teaching them to spend, save and give,” Wolvers said. “This is teaching them life and employability skills.”

Pictured at the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse Phase 2 groundbreaking ceremony are from left, Marshalltown Schools Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, Fundraising chair Gary Schaudt, School Board member Mike Miller, Fundraising chair Heather VanBuren, Marshalltown Schools Director of Buildings and Grounds Chuck Springer, MHS Activities Director Rollie Ackerman, Kevin Eipperle of FEH Design (Architects), School Board Vice President Janelle Carter, School Board member Ross Harris and Karn Gregoire of the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation.

Marshalltown High School hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Phase 2 project of the Roundhouse on October 12.

Work has begun on the project, which will include an auxiliary gym and a wrestling room with completion expected in late 2018

Speaking at the groundbreaking event  Marshalltown Schools Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, MHS Activities Director Rollie Ackerman, Fundraising Chair Gary Schaudt, School Board Vice President Janelle Carter and Architect Kevin Eipperle of FEH Design.

Appreciation to all who have donated to the project and helped with fundraising efforts was a main theme from the speakers. Nearly $3 million in private donations led to the $6.8 million project.

Ball Team of Urbandale serves as general contractor for the project.

Click here for the WHO-TV (Channel 13) news story.

These students pictured were inducted into the National French Honor Society at Marshalltown High School on October 10. Pictured are, front row, from left, Jocelin Guzman, Fatima Perez Negrete, Madeline Jelken and MHS French instructor Naomi Musal. Back row, Benjamin Harris, Valerie Castillo, Olivia Stone, Dylan Roseburrough and Hunter Hodges. Not pictured are Kaitlyn Martin and Marco Rios.

Ten Marshalltown High School students were inducted in the National French Honor Society known as “Societe Honoraire de Francais” (SHF) during a ceremony held in the team room of the MHS Roundhouse on October 10.

SHF recognizes outstanding scholarship in the study of French language and promotes leadership and activities around French language and literature.

The French program at MHS is led by instructor Naomi Musal, who has been instrumental in getting the French Club active again, including sponsoring this charter French Honor Society.

“French continues to be a global language and can provide students more opportunities after graduation,” Musal said. “Opening SHF is one way to promote language study over students’ high school careers,”  

MHS students inducted into the French Honor Society included: Valerie Castillo, Jocelin Guzman, Benjamin Harris, Hunter Hodges, Madeline Jelken, Kaitlyn Martin, Fatima Perez Negrete, Marco Rios, Dylan Roseburrough and Olivia Stone.

Miller Middle School student Derek Peng is pictured with his Extended Learning Program teacher Ann Jackson. Both were honored by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center on October 8.

Miller Middle School student Derek Peng was among the nearly 500 students from Iowa and throughout the nation who were invited to be honored at The University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center’s Recognition Ceremony on October 8 at the Iowa Memorial Union.

Derek was nominated for exceptional performance in the Belin-Blank Center student talent search.

Additionally, recognized students were given the opportunity to honor a teacher they credited for having a profound influence on their lives. Peng selected Ann Jackson, Miller Middle School Extended Learning Program teacher, for this honor.

Addressing the students, teachers and guests were University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld, Dean Dan Clay from the College of Education and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.

To keep up with Marshalltown Schools Extended Learning Program news, “like” the new Facebook Page of the MCSD XLP.

Other MCSD Extended Learning Program updates:

A National History Day kickoff event was held October 6 at the State Historical Building in Des Moines.  Marshalltown XLP students from Lenihan, Miller and Marshalltown High School participated in an all day event that consisted of a panel of professionals involving the history of Six-on-Six Basketball.

Students then participated in breakout sessions to learn about the different project categories, explored the museum, and conducted research in the library.

Miller Lego League team presents to Representative Mark Smith

Miller’s 8th grade Lego League team, the Robocats, has been working hard at understanding this year’s Lego League theme, Hydrodynamics.  All Lego League teams are tasked with identifying a problem related to human’s use of water and then creating a solution for the identified problem.

The Robocats have decided to improve water quality by trying to write legislation that would create a water bottle tax in Iowa.  The funds created by this tax would be distributed equally to each of Iowa’s Soil & Water Conservation Districts to help fund water quality initiatives that are endorsed by the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrients to Iowa waters and the Gulf of Mexico.

State Representative Mark Smith visited Miller on October 9 to listen to the Robocats’ solution.  He offered tremendous insight into the legislative process and offered valuable constructive criticism for the Robocats to consider as they continue their project work.  The team also enjoyed showing him their robot and explaining how the table game is played.

Miller Middle School students are creating a hygiene cabinet, which will offer supplies for students at no cost. Pictured collecting supplies to stock the cabinet are students, from left, Joel Vargas, Leslie Rangel and Diyana Rabih.

A Miller Middle School personalized learning class project is part learning about business and part learning about helping others.

The class has started accepting donations for a hygiene cabinet to help provide these supplies for free for students if they need them. The class is taught by science teacher Dan Cibula.

Dan Cibula

The closet is still accepting donations and is expected to be able to open for students to select items later in the fall. Students wrote business letters to local businesses seeking donations and a few have already sent back donations.

“We are trying to get across to the students how to set up a business structure, but the main point is the importance of lending a helping hand,” Cibula said.

A donation box will be set up at the Miller Middle School office if anyone from the public would like to donate to the hygiene closet. For more information email Mr. Cibula at dcibula1@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.