Bobcats Making Headlines

MHS Show Choir

The annual Marshalltown High School jazz band and show choir blast will be held at 7 p.m. on March 28, in the MHS/Community Auditorium.  There is an admission charge of $5 for adults and $3 for students K-8, with preschool students and younger free.

The concert will include MHS Jazz II directed by Brett Umthun, MHS Jazz I directed by Bret Lee and Southside Transit (show choir) directed by Amy Ose.  Come support the arts and enjoy an evening of music.

Applebee’s Bobcat Night is March 29
Applebee’s and KIX 101.1 are presenting Bobcat Night at the Marshalltown Applebee’s from 4 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, March 29. The event will raise funds for the MHS prom. All tips and money from the special Bobcat menu will go to the Marshalltown prom.
Bobcat students and parents will be serving and greeting customers that night.

Miller Middle School students presented projects on cells to fourth graders at Fisher Elementary School on March 22. Pictured presenting are, from left, Blaine Daniel, Pedro Torres and Carly Johnson. 

Seventh graders in a project based learning science class taught by Jennifer Edel at Miller Middle School took their learning on the road on March 21.

The students visited fourth grade classrooms at Fisher Elementary School. The Miller students were assigned to come up with analogies for parts of cells and then present them to the younger students.

“Part of project based learning is a component to have their learning benefit others,” Edel said. “One of the ways to enhance their own learning is to explain it to others.”

Edel said it was great to see the conversations between the Miller and Fisher students.

“I was so impressed with the students,” Edel said. “Not just about what they learned about cells and how they work, but their maturity in presenting in front of each other and younger students. My students are proud of themselves and their work as they should be.”

“Beyond Measure” will be screened at the Orpheum Theater on March 26 at 2 p.m. It is free and open to the public and a small group discussion will follow the film.

The Marshalltown Community School District will host a free screening of the documentary film “Beyond Measure” on Sunday, March 26 at the Orpheum Theater, 220 E. Main St.

“Beyond Measure” from Reel Link Films offers a positive picture of what’s possible in American education when communities decide they are ready for change.

The event will be held from 2 to 5 p.m. and begin with the 90-minute film then move into a small group discussion. The movie will be screened in English with Spanish subtitles.

“I am excited that we are able to bring the documentary film ‘Beyond Measure’ to our school community (staff, parents and community members),” said MCSD Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte.

“It describes how the way school has been done for the past 100 years is no longer appropriate to best prepare our students for their futures. Our classrooms, schools and District must continue to embrace more teaching and learning strategies that provide relevant and meaningful learning experiences while also finding better ways to more effectively differentiate and personalize the learning experiences for ALL children. The viewing and discussion of this film will help to provide a foundation for our school community’s stakeholders to begin shaping future improvements within our PK-12 system,” Schutte said.

To RSVP for the event, click here. Reservations are not necessary to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

For more information on the film, click here.

For the movie trailer, click here.

Spanish

El documental “Beyond Measure” se mostrara en el Orpheum Theater el 26 de marzo

El Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Marshalltown presentara por gratis el documental de “Beyond Measure” el domingo 26 de marzo en el Orpheum Theater, 220 E. Main St.

“Beyond Measure” ofrece una visión positiva de lo que es posible en la educación de América cuando las comunidades deciden que están listos para cambiar.

El evento será de 2 a 5 p.m. empezando con la película de 90-min y después pasar a grupos chicos para la discusión. Sera demostrada con subtítulos en español.

“Estoy emocionado de poder traer el documental “Beyond Measure” a nuestra comunidad escolar (personal, padres y miembros de la comunidad).” dijo el superintendente de MCSD Dr. Theron Schutte. “Describe como la manera que la escuela se ha hecho durante los últimos 100 años ya no es apropiado para preparar mejor a nuestro estudiantes en sus futuros. Nuestros salones, escuelas y distritos deben continuar de adoptar más estrategias de enseñanza y aprendizaje mientras también encontrando mejor maneras de efectivamente diferenciar y personalizar la experiencia de aprendizaje de TODOS los niños. La vista y discusión de esta película ayudara a proporcionar una fundación para nuestra comunidad escolar para empezar el mejoramiento futuro dentro de nuestro sistema de PK-12.”

Para RSVP a este evento, haga clic aquí. Reservaciones no son necesarias para asistir ya que la película está abierto al público.

Para más información sobre la película, haga clic aquí.

No matter what their age, Marshalltown Bobcats are successful and making a difference throughout the world. Bobcat Pride is evident among those who have graduated and those who still walk the hallways of Marshalltown Schools.

As proof, the Marshalltown Community School District is pleased to release this Bobcat Pride video. It features dozens of proud Bobcats throughout the 3 minute, 35-second video

“I would like to thank the students, alumni, staff and community members who helped out with this video,” said Andrew Potter, communications director with Marshalltown Schools. “Bobcat Pride is apparent when you watch the video.”

To view the video, click here.

These Miller Middle School students visited the Iowa State Capitol on March 16. Pictured, from left, are Emily Manis, Klaudia Hernandez, Mary Kate Gruening, Abbey Welden, Megan Sills and Avery Case.

Six Miller Middle School Extended Learning Program students visited the Iowa State Capitol on March 16. The students are part of a current events discussion group that meets bi-monthly before school.

Ann Jackson, XLP teacher, describes the group’s activities, “In the fall, students discussed the political campaigns, and had guest speakers from both the Marshall County Republican and Democratic parties.  Now that the election is over and power has been transferred, it’s the perfect continuation of learning for the students to visit our elected officials and share their thoughts on proposed legislation.”

Students meet with Representative Mark Smith

Students met with Representative Mark Smith and Senator Jeff Edler and offered their opinions on legislative proposals.  

“Prior to our trip, each student researched a bill and then wrote a short summary of why they support or oppose the bill.  During our trip, they presented this summary to the legislators,” said Jackson.  “Legislation that the students chose ranged from gun rights legislation to a proposal to make the honey bee the state insect.”  

Other highlights of the day included seeing Iowa’s Constitution, meeting with House of Representatives intern and Marshalltown High School graduate, Isaac Medina, and getting an exclusive tour that included the veranda on the exterior of the capitol’s dome.

Students met with Senator Jeff Edler.

Lenihan Intermediate School hosted a dodge ball tournament on March 16 as a fundraiser for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Pictured on the front line of defense for their team are, from left, Hoglan teacher Stacy O’Hare, school board member Ross Harris and MHS student TJ Snyder.

Hundreds of Marshalltown Community School District students, staff, parents and community members came together for a good cause on March 16.

Lenihan Intermediate School, and the student leadership group, Ricochet, hosted the annual dodge ball tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The event raised $1,425 for Make-A-Wish.

Ten teams competed in the tournament, which provided plenty of laughs and some tough competition in the Lenihan gym. The winning team was The Eliminators.

The winning team The Eliminators

The Marshalltown High School Envirothon team took first place at a recent regional contest. Pictured, front row, from left, are Hannah Gardea, Jasmine Mendoza and Zyrus Whitehead. Back row, Emily Sickles, Coach Susan Fritzell and Monica Carroll. 

The Marshalltown High School Envirothon team took first place in the West Des Moines regional contest held at West Des Moines DMACC on March 15. As a group, the students took tests on wildlife, aquatics, soils, and forestry. They earned the top scores on the soils and forestry tests and the top score overall. Nine teams attended this regional contest. There are five regional contests with more 50 teams competing throughout the state.

Marshalltown looks forward to competing at the state finals on April 24 at Springbrook State Park. In the past 17 years that MHS has competed in the Envirothon contest, they have qualified for the state contest every year and have been state champions eight times. The Envirothon team is sponsored by the Extended Learning Program and coached by MHS teacher Susan Fritzell.

World-renowned ceramist Jeffrey Oestreich speaks to students at Marshalltown High School on March 17.

World-renowned ceramist Jeffrey Oestreich visited the pottery classes taught by Kirk Niehouse at Marshalltown High School on March 17. Oestreich, from Taylor Falls, Minnesota, presented to the students and made items from clay.

He talked about his career and what inspired his love of ceramics. He told the students that inspiration for art designs can come from anything. He proved that by showing how a design on a car floor mat can be incorporated into a pottery piece.

Niehouse said Oestreich is one of the hottest clay artists in the field today. He will do a workshop for adults on Saturday, March 18 at MHS.

These three Marshalltown High School sophomores competed at the state individual speech contest on March 11 at Vinton-Shellsburg High School. Pictured, from left, are Nathan Thill, Mackenzie Moyer and Phoebe Osgood.

Marshalltown High School speech coach Jocelyn Frohwein said MHS students had an excellent showing at the Individual State Speech contest held at Vinton-Shellsburg High School on March 11. Three sophomores from MHS competed at the event.

Phoebe Osgood received a Division I rating in both storytelling and interpretive poetry, Nathan Thill received a Division I rating in interpretive poetry and Mackenzie Moyer received a Division II rating for after dinner speaking.

Frohwein said Phoebe is a “fantastic storyteller,” Nathan was very passionate about the topic and Mackenzie has continued to show growth.

“I am so proud of all of my students,” Frohwein said.

Marshalltown High School senior Mitch Eberle has been named a National Merit Scholar finalist. As a finalist he is eligible for a wide range of scholarships.

Marshalltown High School senior Mitch Eberle has been named a finalist in the National Merit Scholar competition. Eberle has been selected as one of 15,000 finalists in the nation as a result of his scores on an exam and an application.

“It’s exciting,” Eberle said.

Eberle will later be notified if he is one of the finalists to receive $2,500 National Merit scholarships.

He plans to study computer science at Iowa State University this fall. Eberle said ISU also offers scholarships to National Merit finalists and he is also eligible for corporate-sponsored scholarship awards.

Eberle is no stranger to academic honors. Last school year, he was honored by achieving the highest possible ACT score.