Bobcats Making Headlines

These three Marshalltown Community School District Employees received Employee of the Quarter awards for the fourth quarter. Pictured, from left are Jeni Sloan (Hoglan Elementary), Laurie Rink (Marshalltown High School) and Mary Abbe (Woodbury Elementary).

The Marshalltown Community School District held a staff recognition event at the Marshalltown High School/Community Auditorium on June 5. Employee of the Quarter award winners for the fourth quarter were recognized as were service award recipients.

Employee of the Quarter award winners for the fourth quarter included Mary Abbe from Woodbury Elementary School, Laurie Rink from Marshalltown High School and Jeni Sloan from Hoglan Elementary School.

Abbe is retiring this month after 43 years at Woodbury. She started in 1974 as a paraeducator and has been serving since 1988 as the Woodbury secretary.

Rink is a reading and language arts teacher at MHS. She has worked at MHS since 2011 and spearheaded the highly-successful Pier program at MHS to help students recoup credits.

Sloan is teacher librarian at Hoglan, where she has worked since 2009. She will be changing roles to be a fourth grade teacher at Hoglan this fall.

Service awards
Also recognized at the event were service award recipients for those serving for 20, 25, 30 and 35 years in the school district (pictured below).

Not pictured are 35 year service award recipients Gary Nymeyer and William Myers.

Marshalltown Community School District employees who received 20 year service awards and certificates included, from left, Sheryl Edwards, Scott Bittner, Teresa Rubendall, Adam Rundall, Kimberly Hurley, Diane Broshar, Deanna Gauthier, Judy Graves, Connie Uhlenberg, Jason Hempy, Tonia Emerson, Chad Spear, Mark Bohan and Justin Boliver. Not pictured are David Adland and Kaye Ruport.

Those who received 25 year service awards and certificates included, from left, Michele Irwin, Sue Cleveringa, Kimberly Sogge, Leiah Craun, Amy Phillips and Jamie Wilson. Not pictured is Vicki Vopava.

30 year service award recipient Penny Duer

Three Miller Middle School students are pictured delivering a toy truck they built to the McFarland Clinic Pediatrics Unit. Pictured with McFarland staff are Miller students front row, Nolan Bartlett and back row, Miguel Ibarra Campos and Xander Pickett.

Students from Mrs. Rebecca Callahan’s Project Based Learning class at Miller Middle School donated the projects they built to the Marshalltown Public Library and McFarland Clinic on June 2.

“It has been a very interesting class to teach and very busy,” said Callahan. “There were days when five groups of students were working on their different projects.”

One group designed and built a truck that was donated to the McFarland Clinic Pediatric Unit.

While another group researched why employees need breaks, what types of break rooms are beneficial and then put their ideas to work creating a blueprint of a room into a staff break room.

Another group designed and built a mini skateboard park that was donated to the Marshalltown Public Library. While another student researched energy use, surveyed the staff, calculated the cost of wasted electricity in the building, and finally presented her ideas of how to save electricity.

Finally, another group researched the advantages and disadvantages to alternative classroom seating. They put together a slideshow of their findings and built a standing student desk.
“It has been a very rewarding experience teaching this class, watching the students conduct their own research and learn different skills.” Callahan said. “ I’m glad students have the opportunity to experience this at Miller Middle School.”

Pictured are Miller Middle School students Andrew Kodis and Kenny Carillo Vazquez with youth services librarian Joa LaVille and the Marshalltown Public Library. The students built a mini skateboard park and donated it to the library for display.

Adam Goodvin

Marshalltown High School has announced that Adam Goodvin is the next head varsity football coach at the school.

Goodvin moves up from an assistant coach role with the team to the head job. He is a special education teacher at MHS.

Goodvin is an Ottumwa native who went on to play football at Upper Iowa University and then Graceland University. He also served as an assistant coach at Graceland for one year.

“Adam is a committed and talented young coach,” said MHS Athletic Director Rollie Ackerman. “He has a professional, consistent and reliable demeanor about him.  He has the support of long-time MHS coaches, who are equally impressed with his rapport with students, knowledge of football and dedication.”

Goodvin said he looks forward to this chance to lead the Bobcats.

“I’m excited and thankful to have this opportunity at MHS,” Goodvin said. “I’m excited to build off of what Coach (Don) Knock has already implemented here. One thing I will always preach to our guys is belief, effort and toughness; both physically and mentally. If we’ve got that, things will be just fine.”

Goodvin’s hiring will be up for school board approval at the June 5 board meeting.

Students from different classrooms come together to make a gingerbread village at Lenihan Intermediate School. Pictured, from left, are Luscrista Orozco Palmarez, Merly de Leon, Charlie Sinclair and Amy Reyes Raya.

This past school year, Mrs. Jan Kloberdanz’s 6th grade reading class has been providing peer helpers every day to Mrs. Susan. Arifi’s special needs class at Lenihan Intermediate School.  They have helped students with reading, writing, science experiments and socialization skills.  

“Diversity helps kids to not only become comfortable with differences, but also enjoy, appreciate, and value them,” Kloberdanz said. “By building relationships and working together with students from Mrs. Arifi’s class, my students were forced to go outside themselves and become involved in a community built on social justice – a community with strengths in emotional intelligence, sensitivity and care for one another.”

Students in Mrs. Arifi’s classroom have a variety of ability and communication skills.  Often they miss out on basic social skills due to difficulty communicating with peers. The peer helpers were able to develop relationships.  

Lenihan peer helper student Taylor Vaughn said working with the special needs class was fun.

Taylor Vaughn

“Not only do I think we helped you out but I think you helped us out,” Taylor said to the class. “ I learned a lot of new things and I think your class did too.  I am happy to have new friends.”

Students completed research and writing activities such as researching Antarctica and  penguins, making a tornado, and writing spooky stories for camping.  Students who at first were timid and shy built fun and energetic relationships.

“I loved seeing the kids have fun,” said student peer helper Ariana Hernandez.

Mary Abbe

Woodbury Elementary School secretary Mary Abbe has announced she will retire at the end of June. A retirement open house is planned for Mary from 3:30 to 5 p.m. on Monday, June 5 at Woodbury.

Mary has worked at Woodbury for 43 years, starting as a paraeducator in 1974 before becoming secretary in 1988. She has been secretary at the school ever since.

Mary said she’s enjoyed her work at Woodbury, which is why she stayed at the job. She’s getting a lot more hugs from students and staff since announcing her retirement.

“Being around the kids all the time, that’s what I’ll miss a lot,” Mary said.

She also wanted to thank the Woodbury staff through the years for their hard work.

“I’ve had wonderful staff people,” she said. “They are so dedicated to helping students.”

Woodbury teacher librarian Sue Cahill called Mary the glue that holds the staff together and the first face families, students and staff see each day.

“She always has a smile and is helpful to all,” Cahill said. “She is kind and generous to all who pass through our doors.”

Mary looks forward to a slower paced retirement.

“I think it’s time that I did something different and took it easy for awhile,” she said.

Anson Elementary School kindergarten student Itzel Cisneros reads her part as part of a book the students published. Holding the book is teacher Jessica Althaus.

Anson Elementary School kindergarten students in the class taught by Jessica Althaus celebrated the fact they are published authors with a reading party on May 31.

Students’ writing and artwork was published into a book, which they read during the party to other students, parents and other guests.

In the book, each student in the class wrote what they like about kindergarten and created an illustration to go with it.

The Marshalltown Community School District is hosting registration for students entering 1st through 12th grade on Wednesday, June 7 and Thursday, June 8.

Registration times are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, June 7 and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday, June 8.

Students entering first through 8th grade this fall will register at Miller Middle School, 125 S. 11th St.

Students attending high school this fall will register at Marshalltown High School, 1602 S. 2nd Ave. Students in Marshalltown Learning Academy will register at MLA, 1002 S. 3rd Ave.

Textbook rental fees are $40 for 1st through sixth grade, $60 for Miller Middle School students and $70 for Marshalltown High School and Marshalltown Learning Academy students.

Students new to the school district should bring their birth certificate and updated immunization records. For more information on registration, call the Marshalltown Community School District Central Office at 641-754-1000.

Preschool and kindergarten registration was held earlier this spring. To register for preschool or kindergarten, contact your neighborhood elementary school.

SPANISH

Registración Escolar de Marshalltown es el 7 y 8 de Junio

El Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Marshalltown está hospedando registraciones para los estudiantes entrando a los grados 1-12 el miércoles 7 de Junio y jueves 8 de Junio.
Tiempos para las registraciones son de 8 a.m. a 2 p.m. el 7 de Junio y de 11 a.m. a 7 p.m. el 8 de Junio.
Estudiantes entrando al grado 1-8 este otoño se registraran en la escuela Miller, 125 S. 11th St. Estudiantes entrando a la prepa (Grados 9-12) se registraran en la high school de Marshalltown, 1602 S. 2nd Ave.
Estudiantes de Marshalltown Learning Academy se registran en MLA, 1002 S. 3rd Ave.

Tarifas de libros de renta es de $40 para los grados de 1-6, $60 para estudiantes de la escuela Miller y $70 para los estudiantes de la High School y MLA.

Nuevos estudiantes al distrito deberán de traer su acta de nacimiento y registro actualizado de sus vacunas. Para más información sobre las registraciones llame a la Oficina del Distrito Escolar de Marshalltown al 641-754-1000.

Registración para el pre kínder y kínder fueron esta primavera. Para registrar para el pre kínder o kínder comuníquese con la primaria más cercana a su hogar.

Marshalltown High School teacher and coach Scott Smith is pictured with his dad, Jack Smith, at last year’s Bobcat Athletics fundraiser golf outing. This year’s event is on June 13 at the American Legion Golf Course.

The Marshalltown High School athletics fundraiser golf outing will be held on Tuesday, June 13 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 $50 per person per session or $75 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.

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, click here.

Marshalltown High School social studies teacher Brad Rahmiller has been selected for the James Madison Fellowship Program. He is the second MHS teacher selected for the program in the past two years.

For the second straight year, a social studies teacher from Marshalltown High School has been selected for the James Madison Fellowship Program.

Brad Rahmiller, government teacher at MHS, has been selected for the fellowship this year, after MHS teacher Alex Abbe received the honor last year.

Rahmiller’s application included his educational and professional organization background, essays and letters of recommendation. As part of this fellowship, Rahmiller will have his master’s degree work funded at Ashland University in Ohio and attend a four-week summer institute in 2018 at Georgetown University in Washington DC.

“It’s really exciting,” Rahmiller said. “The main reason I’m doing this is to be able to teach government dual credit classes at MHS.”

Rahmiller has taught at MHS since 2008. He is a native of Iowa Falls and is a University of Northern Iowa graduate. He grew up attending a wide range of political events with his father, Eldon Rahmiller, which led to his interest in government. Brad looks forward to bringing knowledge gained from this fellowship work back to his classroom at MHS.

“I think it’s good for the school,” Rahmiller said “It’s nice for Marshalltown to have two (James Madison Fellows). The more background you have is going to help the students.”

MHS Principal Jacque Wyant wrote a letter of recommendation for Rahmiller and called him an “excellent candidate” for the fellowship.

“As I have come to know Brad, I have seen his teacher leadership in multiple areas,” Wyant wrote as part of her letter.  “Not only does Brad demonstrate a broad understanding of curriculum as it ties to national and state standards, he is able to articulate the appropriateness for particular topics based on the developmental needs of students.”

The James Madison Memorial Fellowship was created by Congress in 1986 for the purpose of improving teaching about the Constitution. Rahmiller is one of just two educators in the state of Iowa selected for the honor this year, with 53 total selected throughout the nation.

Marshalltown High School Class of 2017 graduate Drake Zeuthen was the last to receive his diploma due to alphabetical order on May 28. He left the stage in style with 2017 glasses.

More than 300 Marshalltown High School students turned into graduates during the 142nd annual commencement ceremony held at the Roundhouse on May 28.

A full house of family members, friends, school staff and community members supported the graduates at the ceremony, hosted by MHS Principal Jacque Wyant. Wyant said the graduates would soon be “passing through the doors to their future.”

Graduating student presenters included Michelle Ankrum, Nya Gatwech, Nicholas Cooper and Morgan Van Staalduine.

Ankrum said they can learn from people who are from different backgrounds and told the students to be thankful for those who have helped them through challenges. Gatwech told the students to “never stop living your dream.” Cooper sang “May You Always Have a Song” and Van Staalduine told the students the best years in their lives are still to come.

Marshalltown Community School District Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte and School Board President Bea Niblock also spoke.

Schutte told the students their education in Marshalltown Schools will provide a solid foundation “which will launch yourself into this next phase in life’s journey.”

Niblock told the students to be responsible.

“Attitudes and behaviors that you choose will pave your way to success,” Niblock said.

Several groups of students were recognized during the ceremony, including the three students who achieved a 4.0 grade point average during their time at MHS. The 4.0 students were Aspen Chadderdon, Nicholas Cooper and Hannah Shirar.