Bobcats Making Headlines

A dedication and ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the Drills sculpture at the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse on March 30.

For a video of the dedication, click here.

Marshalltown High School hosted a dedication ceremony on March 30 for the Drills sculpture that has been placed outside of the Roundhouse.

The ceremony opened up with an all-school assembly and later moved into the team room of the Roundhouse.

Remarks were made by Marshalltown High School student Nya Gatwech, Amber Danielson, director of the Marshall County Arts & Culture Alliance, Mary Cownie, director of the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs, Heidi Dalal and Jenny Etter of the Marshalltown Public Art Committee, Artist Gail Folwell and Marshalltown Schools Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte.

The ceremony ended with a ribbon cutting at the sculpture.

The 18-foot aluminum sculpture by Folwell depicting three basketball players arrived at the entrance to the Roundhouse on November 28.

Leading the project was the Marshalltown Public Art Committee, which received funding through an Iowa Great Places grant administered by the Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs. Several community volunteers helped with the project.

Artist Gail Folwell talks about her sculpture during the dedication ceremony on March 30 at the MHS Roundhouse.

This group of Lenihan Intermediate School students qualified for the state National History Day contest following a successful group performance at the regional competition held in Pella on March 29. Pictured, from left, are Jason Strand, Mang Sang, Averi Bolar, Kaisa Stanley and Grace Bethel.

Students from Lenihan Intermediate School, Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School participated in the regional competition of National History Day in Pella on March 29.  Several students have qualified for the state contest in May.

Students competed in a variety of media such as papers, websites, documentaries and performances.

“All students of Marshalltown did very well, and we are proud of everything that they learned and accomplished throughout this process,” said Lenihan Extended Learning Program teacher Vanessa Engel.

National History Day participants from Lenihan Intermediate School are pictured. Front row, from left, Mang Sang, Connor Hugen, Annmarie Zhou and Kellsey Maxon. Back row, Jason Strand, Averi Bolar, Kaisa Stanley, Grace Bethel, Elexus Ocasio, Willow Schmidt and Yessenia Alvarez-Zamora.

Lenihan

Lenihan had eleven students attend the competition, one independent exhibit, one independent paper, and two group performances.  There were fourteen group performances at this regional competition in which two will be moving on to the state competition, including a group from Lenihan. The state-qualifying group consists of Jason Strand, Mang Sang, Averi Bolar, Kaisa Stanley, and Grace Bethel.

Other students participating from Lenihan were, Connor Hugen, Annmarie Zhou, Kellsey Maxon, Elexus Ocasio, Willow Schmidt, and Yessenia Alvarez-Zamora.

Miller

Miller had three students competing in the regional event.  Mary Kate Gruening wrote a paper and Emma Kuhlers and Taylor Jones created an exhibit on Cap Anson.

Miller Middle School students Taylor Jones, left, and Emma Kuhlers presented on Cap Anson.

Miller students, from left, Emma Kuhlers, Mary Kate Gruening and Taylor Jones.

Marshalltown High School

The two MHS entries placed in the top two of their category and will move on to the state contest.

Jacqueline Wahl, presented her Individual Senior Exhibit, “Korematsu vs. United States: Standing up for Japanese-American Rights in WWII.”

Molly Sickles and Kaylee Foth presented the Senior Group Documentary, “Griffin vs. Katz: Taking A Stand Against Segregation in Des Moines.”

The state contest will be held May 8 at the Iowa Events Center in Des Moines.

The Miller and MHS National History Day students will be presenting their projects at the Marshall County Historical Society for their “History on the Third Thursday” event at 6:30 p.m. on April 20. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

MHS student Jacqueline Wahl is pictured with her presentation on Korematsu.

MHS students pictured, from left, Kaylee Foth, Jacqueline Wahl and Molly Sickles.

Local school and business leaders meet as part of the Student Partnership Program committee of the Marshalltown Business Education Alliance. The group is planning career exploration programs for Marshalltown High School students.

A group of local business professionals is planning a massive career exploration program for all sophomores at Marshalltown High School in early April.

The Student Partnership Program is a committee of the Marshalltown Business Education Alliance. The SPP is chaired by Luis Meza of the Human Resources Department at Emerson and Sandy Supianoski of Iowa Valley Continuing Education.

The main goal of the group is to provide quality career exploration opportunities for Marshalltown High School students. The group is organizing student visits during the school day to a wide range of companies and businesses in the area from April 3-7. The sophomore class will visit different career fields based on career assessments done at the high school.

The freshmen class at MHS will have business professionals visit them at MHS at a future event.

Other members of the Student Partnership Program include MHS counselors Lydia Arevalo and Valerie Corson, Samuel Ibarra and Steve Martin from Emerson, Deb Wollam from McFarland Clinic, Jeff Mathis from Great Western Bank, John Augustine from Miller Middle School, Paula Wantiez, and Teresa Klostermann and Terri Hungerford from Iowa Valley Community College District.

Marshalltown High School will host a financial aid night for MHS juniors and their parents at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 5 in the MHS library.

The MHS counseling office has invited a representative from the Iowa College Access Network (ICAN) to provide the free financial aid presentation.

Topics will include the following:

• Financial Aid Process
• FAFSA Application Review
• Understanding FAFSA Results
• Understanding Costs – College Comparisons
• Financial Aid Options
• Scholarships Process
• Where to Go for Help

For more information, contact MHS counselor Meri Edel at 641-754-1130, ext. 1036.

Jeni Sloan, center, teacher librarian at Hoglan Elementary School, talks to the group at her table during a discussion following the movie “Beyond Measure” at the Orpheum Theater on March 26. 

The Marshalltown Community School District hosted a screening of the film “Beyond Measure” by Reel Link Films on March 26 at the Orpheum Theater.

“Beyond Measure” offers a positive picture of what’s possible in American education when communities decide they are ready for change. A discussion followed the film, moderated by Bill Decker, chief administrator with the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency.

“The film ‘Beyond Measure’ is about how the work skills necessary in today and tomorrow’s workforce are so much different than what was necessary for past generations, including my own,” said MCSD Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte. “The challenge is no longer about how much students’ know, it’s more about what they can do with what they know? How can they apply prior and new knowledge to solve problems in work and in life. I was very excited to see many staff, parents and community members interested in this film and what is possible for our students in order to best prepare them for their futures. The intent of showing this film was simply to get people to start thinking about what needs to change in order for ALL Marshalltown students to be in a position of success, now and in the future.”

A group holds a table discussion.

Bill Decker, chief administrator with the Mississippi Bend Area Education Agency, moderated the discussion following the film.

School leaders, parents and community members hold a discussion.

Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, right, talks to guests prior to the screening of the film.

Woodbury Elementary School second grade teacher Becky Jacobson, left, shows letters the second grade classes received from children’s author Tomie dePaola.

In January, second graders at Woodbury Elementary School in classes taught by Olivia Romero, Becky Jacobson and Lorena Munoz wrote letters and sent drawings to children’s author and illustrator Tomie dePaola of New Hampshire.

Just recently they received several letters back from the author along with photos and his autograph.

Romero said the students were very excited to receive the letters from the author as they are big fans of his Strega Nona stories.

Tomie dePaola has created more than 200 children’s books. The class project was part of an author study genre writing activity.

This group of Marshalltown High School students competed in the Science Olympiad Iowa Championships on March 25 at Coe College. Pictured are front row, from left, Mary Drummer, Hannah Gardea, Jay Drummer and Keyara McDowell. Back row, Juan Andrade, Whitney Canaday, Trevor Ketcham, Jordan Anderson, Frank Iole and Ben Harris. Not pictured is Alex Gallentine.

Several Marshalltown High School students took part in the Science Olympiad Iowa Championships at Coe College in Cedar Rapids on March 25.

Many of the students placed in their categories as they went up against 15 other high schools.

Science Olympiad is a nonprofit organization designed to encourage middle and high school students in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The group was led by MHS Extended Learning Program teacher Susan Fritzell.

MHS students who earned medals in their categories included:
1^st place – Electric Vehicle – Jay Drummer  and Alex Gallentine
2nd place – Optics – Trevor Ketcham  and Jordan Anderson
2^nd place – Towers – Whitney Canaday  and Frank Iole
3^rd place – Write It Do It – Whitney Canaday and Juan Andrade

Three Franklin Elementary School students blow gum bubbles as part of a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association on March 24. Pictured, from left, is Sophia Moz, Amanda Garcia and Angga Pramana. Garcia has Muscular Dystrophy and the fundraiser was held to support her.

Chewing gum is typically frowned upon at Franklin Elementary School. That wasn’t the case on March 24 as the school held a fundraiser for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which raised $439.

Franklin third grader Amanda Garcia has Muscular Dystrophy and staff came up with the idea to let students chew gum if they donated $1 to the MDA. Staff also donated $5 to wear jeans that day.

“It’s to show support for one of our students and her family,” said Franklin Principal Tim Holmgren. “The kids are having fun with it.”

Amanda was appreciative of the kindness shown to her by her fellow Franklin students.

“It feels really nice because they are raising money for me,” she said.

Amanda wore her team uniform (Bananaramas) for the upcoming MDA Muscle Walk of Des Moines, which will be April 29.

Amanda Garcia is pictured with her third grade class at Franklin, taught by Mrs. Angie Pietig, back row, right.

Amanda Garcia gets a bubble going.

Vance a big supporter of Bobcat athletics

Anne Vance takes photos at a wide range of Bobcat athletic events and is a key member of the Bobcat Booster Club.

Anne Vance started taking photos of her sons at school sporting events. That has evolved into her spending several hours a week at Marshalltown High School athletic events taking photos of a wide range of sports and athletes. Vance, a member of the Bobcat Booster Club, donates many of her photos to raise money for the club.

Her oldest son, Jon, was an all-state linebacker on the 2009 state runner-up Bobcat football team and youngest son, Nate, is a junior at MHS and was a state-qualifying golfer.

“Through my kids I’ve met a lot of parents and they have called wanting me to take photos of their kids,” Vance said.

Anne said one of the most enjoyable aspects of taking photos of the Bobcat athletes is being able to show just how hard they work at their sport.

“I catch kids showing the intensity, commitment and dedication,” she said.

More than 60 photos donated by Vance and printed by the Bobcat Booster Club are now on display along the track at the Roundhouse, spotlighting Bobcats throughout a wide range of athletic teams.

“I absolutely love it,” Vance said of the display. “I’ve had people come up to me and say that the photos give the Roundhouse personality.”

She also wants the athletes to be proud of them.

“I want the kids to be proud when they play on their athletic teams and proud to be a Bobcat,” Vance said.

MHS Activities Director Rollie Ackerman said Anne is a valuable member of the Bobcat Booster Club and her photos and support is appreciated by MHS.

“She has been a tireless and dedicated member of the Bobcat Booster Club, involved in all aspects of the group,” Ackerman said.

Anne’s day job is director of administrative services with CIRSI. A native of Michigan, Vance didn’t grow up a Bobcat but her pride in all things Marshalltown is evident.

She plans to continue to be on the sidelines at MHS athletic events even after her youngest son graduates. Her love of photography and the Bobcats can’t keep her away.

“It’s part of me,” Vance said.

Anne Vance is pictured in front of photos she has taken of Bobcat athletes, which are on display at the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse.

Cast members from the Marshalltown High School spring play “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind,” are pictured rehearsing a scene. From left is Abby Murty, Matthew Waldon, Phoebe Osgood, Mackenzie Moyer and Amber Lawthers. The play is at 7:30 p.m. on Friday March 24 and Saturday, March 25 at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The Marshalltown High School drama department will present the spring play “Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind” on Friday, March 24 and Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The play, written by Greg Allen, promises 30 plays in 60 minutes.

“The show will be timed and there is lots of audience participation, including choosing the order in which we perform the plays,” said Director Heather Lee. “The 30 plays cover a wide range of styles from dramatic to comedic and many others in between.”

Admission at the door is $5 for adults and high school students, $3 for 1^st through 8^th grade students and free for those kindergarten and younger. Activity tickets will be honored.

CAST

The Players
Carmen Araiza
Amber Lawthers
Mackenzie Moyer
Abby Murty
Phoebe Osgood
Reena Pearson
Isabella Pedersen
Matthew Waldon

Backstage crew
Calvin Morrison
Cassy Morrison
Alexis Ortiz

Director
Heather Lee

Production assistants
Molly Holl
Rachael Lee

From left, Phoebe Osgood, Reena Pearson and Mackenzie Moyer rehearse a scene.

The cast poses for a photo. Front row, from left, Reena Pearson, Phoebe Osgood and Amber Lawthers. Back row, Cassy Morrison, Matthew Waldon, Abby Murty, Mackenzie Moyer and Carmen Araiza. Not pictured is Isabella Pedersen.