Miller Middle School teacher Jen Beals, left, and student Hunter Block, present Animal Rescue League Director Shelly Deal with dog chew toys. Students at Miller made the toys out of old T-shirts.

Old T-shirts have a new life, and rescue dogs will be the beneficiary.

Students at Miller Middle School made dog chew toys by cutting up old T-shirts and then braiding the pieces. They donated 30 of the toys to the Animal Rescue League of Marshalltown on May 26.

Animal Rescue League Director Shelly Deal said the dogs will definitely put the toys to good use as often they are bored in their kennels.

For a video on this project, click here.

Lenihan Intermediate School sixth grade student Kenzie Madkin displays her short story and cover art as part of a publishing party held at the school on May 25.

Lenihan Intermediate School sixth grade students were able to display their creativity in both their writing and illustrating as part of a recent project in the Mathias Clement Cove neighborhood of the school.

After reading science fiction work, students were assigned to write a short story in the science fiction genre and illustrate what would be the proposed cover of the book.

Student Kenzie Madkin was interested in cloning so her story dealt with a girl who wanted to clone herself so she could live forever.

“I like that you get to use your own creativity to tell a story,” Madkin said.

To celebrate the completion of the books, the classes hosted a publishing party on May 25, where students read each other’s work and enjoyed popcorn.

Students who took part in this project were in the classes taught by Angie Lovell, Leah Mattox and Jen O’Neal at Lenihan.

Rogers Elementary School students are pictured at a recently-planted garden at the Iowa State University Marshall County Extension Office on May 24. The students visited the office after school to help with the planting of vegetables.

Rogers Elementary School students helped plant a wide variety of vegetables as part of an after school field trip to the Iowa State University Marshall County Extension Office on May 24.

Zucchini, onions, tomatoes and several other vegetables were planted near the office as part of the partnership with ISU Extension.

This summer, students in the Rogers University summer program will tend to the crops and harvest them. This is an extension of the gardens already on the grounds of Rogers Elementary School.

Chelsea Martens, garden coordinator with ISU Extension, said the students were very excited to be part of the planting process.

Fourth graders in Shelly Kluver’s class at Franklin Elementary School display thank you cards they received from Mercy One emergency medical helicopter service staff. Previously, the students wrote the Mercy One staff thank you cards as part of a caring project. Pictured are front row, from left, Layla Gavagan, Chloe Quick, Angela Mercer, Cade Klein, Guadalupe Gonzalez and Chayten Bracy. Second row, Ellie Hughes, Cristoval Sanchez, Emma Bradbury, Brooklyn Gudith, Camille Ceren, Olivia Zavala Livengood, Ari Herrera, Miles Griego and Linette Lopez. Back row, Tamara Mejia, Davis Ragland, Isaac Young, Xanyra Tapia Gonzalez, Gaby Martinez Torres, Ella Spitzli and Makia Long.

Franklin Elementary School students were excited on May 24 after thank you cards they wrote as part of a caring project resulted in thank you cards back to them.

Earlier in May, fourth graders in Shelly Kluver’s class wrote thank you cards to Mercy One emergency medical helicopter service staff after life flight was needed for family members of Franklin staff.

It didn’t take long for Mercy One staff to send personalized, hand written cards to each of the students in the class, who were elated to receive them.

For a video about this project, click here.

Amara DeLarme, left, and Natalie Davis play checkers at Lenihan Intermediate School. The school started a board game group that meets after school on Tuesdays, which helps build positive relationships among students.

Yes, youth still play board games.

For evidence, look no further than a board game group, which has met after school on Tuesdays at Lenihan Intermediate School since November. Started by Lenihan staff members Joan Furjanic, Bianca Hernandez and Elizabeth Luttrell, the group has met for 30 minutes weekly to help build positive relationships among students.

“Our students love coming each week,” Furjanic said. “Students like to have the opportunity to socialize with others who are in other grades and other neighborhoods within Lenihan.”

Furjanic said games such as checkers, UNO and Bounce-Off Blow-Out have been the most popular.

“Next year we are hoping to expand the group to include more students,” Furjanic said.

Marshalltown High School senior Immaculate Edwin receives a $2,000 Grand Lodge of Iowa Scholarship from Brandon Ruopp during the MHS scholarship awards night on May 22 at the MHS/Community Auditorium. Edwin will attend Iowa State University in the fall with a major of Biochemistry (Pre-medicine).

Marshalltown High School hosted the annual scholarship awards event on May 22 at the MHS/Community Auditorium.  Graduating seniors were recognized for the scholarships they have earned at the post-secondary level. The students recognized at the event are earning more than $1 million in college scholarships the next four years and $391,345 in their first year alone.

The event featured several community members and MHS staff handing out the scholarship recognitions.

Graduation May 28
The Class of 2017 will graduate at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, May 28 in the MHS Roundhouse. Doors open at 1 p.m.

These Marshalltown High School seniors were recognized as part of the Marshalltown Education Partnership Scholars Night on May 18. Pictured in front row, from left, Jennifer Diaz, Jennifer Chavarria, Raul Chavez, Lay Htoo, Eh Tha Dah Paw, Sydney Mann and Samantha Lammert. Back row, Fatima Hernandez, Xochitl Ibarra, Kailey Miller, Nellie Strait Ramirez, Lavonne Tran, Jennifer Aguilera, Margarita Ventura, Ruth Doser and Denise Martinez.

 A group of Marshalltown High School seniors took part in the Marshalltown Education Partnership (MEP) Scholars Recognition Dinner on May 18 at Iowa Valley Continuing Education.

Following dinner, a panel of former and current Marshalltown Community College students—including a former MEP participant—talked about their experiences in transitioning to college and what it takes to be successful in post-secondary education.  At the conclusion of the event, the 2017 MEP Scholars were recognized with a small gift and congratulations from MCC Provost Dr. Robin Lilienthal.

Each year, the Scholars Recognition Dinner provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of this select group of MHS seniors in MEP.  In addition, it gives members of the MEP Steering Committee the chance to meet and interact with the students.

The MEP scholarship covers half of tuition and fees for those attending Marshalltown Community College, and both the scholarship and the services offered through MEP are possible through the generous commitments of the Steering Committee members and the various businesses and organizations that support MEP’s efforts.

The goal of the Marshalltown Education Partnership is to make post-secondary education a possibility for all graduates of Marshalltown High School.

Miller Middle School students displayed projects on special events as part of a math project at the school. Pictured are students, from left, Claire Hughes, Brealyn Anderson and Rachel Smith and their project on a farmers market.

Students in the seventh grade math classes taught by Lisa LaVelle at Miller Middle School presented special projects on May 19.

The students displayed their work on special event planning and fundraising. Math skills came in handy as they made sure their expenses didn’t outweigh their income for the event they planned.

“The students coordinated all the ins and outs of an event of their choice, while making sure they had a profit,” LaVelle said.

Miller students Marisol Morales, left, and Dayanara Martinez present a project on a neon party.

David Barajas, CEO of the Marshalltown Regional Partnership, talks to Lenihan Intermediate School students during career chat on May 16.

Lenihan Intermediate School wrapped up its monthly career chat program by hearing from David Barajas, CEO of the Marshalltown Regional Partnership, on May 16.

Barajas focused mainly on the importance of communication, not in what we think of in communication through technology and screens but in face-to-face human interaction.

Barajas talked to the students about helping the people of Marshalltown of all cultures reach their dreams, whether they are a first generation student ready for college or a family looking to expand their business.  Barajas gave the advice to learn from every experience and live in the moment.

Career chat is facilitated by Vanessa Engel, Extended Learning Program teacher at Lenihan. It featured a wide array of community members who spoke to students about their careers this school year.

“I feel like the career chats went really well this year in that students really got to interact with local professionals in a meaningful way,” Engel said. “Advice from seasoned successful adults of Marshalltown shows students that they can make a difference in their community. This activity showed students that they have a voice. Not only did they learn from our guests, our guests learned from our students. David Barajas even asked students what they would like to see in Marshalltown and the overwhelming response…an arcade. I think that this is a great example of personalized learning that I hope will continue to catch on throughout our district. I plan to continue this next year so if there are any local professionals that are interested in jumping on board next year, please feel free to contact me. 🙂”

Retiring Franklin Elementary School teacher Kathy Ferguson, left, is pictured with Paula Johnson of Miller Middle School at the retirement tea on May 17.

Retirement is nearing for several Marshalltown Community School District employees. On May 17, they were honored during the Marshalltown Education Association/MCSD retirement tea. Several of this year’s retirees were in attendance and spoke at the event, or had friends give them a farewell.

“For your devotion, dedication, and hard work you deserve the best retirement ever,” School Board President Bea Niblock told the retirees.

Those honored at the event included:

Grant Brintnall

Grant Brintnall
Grant is retiring after working with the district since 1984.  Fellow Miller teacher Chad Spear talked about times spent at Miller and read comments about Grant from former Miller Principal Brad Clement.

Kathy Ferguson
The Franklin teacher is retiring after working 34 years in the district. Her fellow teachers at Franklin, Angie Pietig, Leiah Craun and Mallori Ghent provided Kathy with a top 10 list of things to look forward to in retirement.

Cindy Seberger

Cindy Seberger
The Miller Middle School kitchen manager retired after serving in that role since 2002.

Vicki Vopava

Vicki Vopava
The Fisher Elementary Principal retires after working for the district since 1992. Vicki especially thanked her fellow elementary principals for helping her through the years.

Don Wiser

Don Wiser
The retiring physical education teacher and coach was honored by his former principal at Anson Elementary, Bea Niblock, and others he has worked with. Don taught for Marshalltown Schools for 39 years.

Other retirees not in attendance but recognized at the event included: Kay Burr (substitute caller), Barb Gummert (Franklin paraeducator), Deb Johnson (Miller teacher),  Bret Lee (MHS instrumental music), Melissa Keeler (Franklin secretary), Ann Noe (Woodbury custodian) Mary Oetker (Fisher teacher), and Marilyn Rhodes (executive assistant to the superintendent).

MEA Scholarship recipients Leah Edel and Austin Tullis

Scholarship recipients
MHS seniors Leah Edel and Austin Tullis received $250 MEA Scholarships at the event. Edel plans to attend Simpson College and major in elementary education while Tullis plans to attend the University of Iowa on a pre-medicine track.

Friend of Education Award winner Lynn Jensen, left, of Emerson, and Paula Johnson.

Friend of Education Award
Lynn Jensen of Emerson received the Friend of Education award, which was presented by a group of Lenihan Intermediate School staff members. Jensen started a tutoring program last school year which has brought Emerson staff to Lenihan to tutor. A total of 36 Emerson staff volunteered as tutors this school year. Jensen has also volunteered at several Lenihan events.

Orchestra students from Marshalltown High School entertained the guests prior to the event.