Bobcats Making Headlines

Parents of Woodbury Elementary School students are pictured participating in a recent parent engagement program at the school. Pictured, front row, from left, are Rosa Parra, Karina Hernandez (class instructor), Maria Gonzalez and Maria Saldana. Back row, Juana Gorgonio, Enriqueta Munoz, Julia Martinez, Claudia Suarez, Paty Caudillo and Bitaelia Juarez.

A group of parents from Woodbury Elementary School participated in a program at the school designed to teach them how to get more involved in their child’s education.

Led by Karina Hernandez of Mid-Iowa Community Action, the parent training program is known as Abriendo Puertas (Opening Doors). It is a 10-session program and a partnership between MICA and the Marshalltown Community School District.

The program promotes school readiness, family well-being and advocacy by addressing best practices in brain development, key aspects of early childhood development, early literacy, numeracy, bilingualism, health, attendance, civic engagement, parent leadership, goal setting and planning for family success.

“I truly believe that these parents gained the skills to be a positive role model to their children, as well as a great advocate towards their children’s education,” Hernandez said. “The parents that attended were very engaged in our discussions and activities, they asked questions and came to class every Monday eager to learn.”

On the final night of the program, Woodbury Principal Anel Garza spoke to the group about their rights as a parent and how they can get more involved at Woodbury and in their child’s education.

Parents take part in an activity, from left, Juana Gorgonio, Rosa Parra, Paty Caudillo, Maria Saldana and Bitaelia Juarez.

Miller Middle School special education teacher Wendy Olinger said she was excited to see the recent Marshalltown Area United Way campaign employee contributions total from the Marshalltown Community School District.

Wendy Olinger

Olinger, who leads the campaign for MCSD, said the school district has just surpassed her goal of total employee contributions reaching $25,000 this year.

“I think that it is wonderful to have met this goal,” Olinger said. “Many of our staff have stepped up to give a donation for the first time or have increased their giving, which has contributed to us reaching the goal.”

Olinger serves on the United Way Board of Directors and has been educational co-chair on the United Way campaign cabinet for nine years. She has noticed the volunteer spirit of students and staff in the school district, not only for the United Way campaign.

“The students and staff in the school district do an amazing job of supporting many great organizations and causes in our community,” Olinger said.

United Way appreciates work of volunteers like Olinger

Marshalltown Area United Way Executive Director Nancy Steveson said Olinger’s work on the campaign and as a volunteer has been invaluable through the years.

“She has done a really good job over the years and she is a delight to work with,” Steveson said of Olinger. “We’ve always had a strong partnership with the school system thanks to people like Wendy.”

The overall Marshalltown Area United Way campaign goal is $797,000. As of December 13, there has been $728,000 raised, or 91 percent of goal. The United Way supports 26 agencies in Marshall County.

The MHS wind ensemble performs during the holiday concert on December 11 at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

Hundreds of Marshalltown High School students put their musical talents on display during the MHS holiday concert on December 11 at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The event featured performances by the MHS holiday singers, treble choir and concert choir directed by Amy Ose with piano accompaniment by Annie Grieshop. Representing the instrumental music department were the symphonic band directed by Brett Umthun and the wind ensemble directed by Bret Lee.

The annual event featured several holiday favorites throughout the near 2-hour show.

Several Hoglan Elementary School staff members are pictured with some of the items that were part of the Hoglan giveaway event on December 8. Staff donated  items which were able to be picked up by families for their use. The event was led by kindergarten teacher Amy Pollard, who is pictured at the front left.

Everything from household items to clothing to furniture were part of the Hoglan Elementary School giveaway event on December 8. Staff donated the used items and more than 100 people visited the school to choose items they needed.

“We have a lot of people in high need in our community,” said Amy Pollard, event organizer and kindergarten teacher at Hoglan.

Schools are always looking at ways to get parents more involved and this event was able to help with that as well.

“It’s a good way to get the families here,” Pollard said.

Aside from Hoglan staff, donations also came from the Iowa Valley Leadership Class and staff at Marshalltown Schools Central Office.

Young students use a tablet to control a robot during the Teach Your Parents to Code night held at Miller Middle School on December 7. Several computer science and robotics demonstrations were featured.

The inaugural Teach your Parents to Code night was held at Miller Middle School on December 7.

The night featured a wide range of robotics and computer science activities for families of all students in the Marshalltown Community School District. For example, some young students were controlling a robot via a tablet and were excited to see it move any direction they wanted.

During another popular activity led by Miller technology specialist Bob Gilbertson, students were able to play a digital piano by using bananas as keys hooked up to a computer. There were also several other robotics demonstrations led by the students themselves and MCSD staff members.

The event was held in conjunction with the Hour of Code as part of Computer Science Week, designed to spark interest in computer coding and the ever-growing STEM fields. Marshalltown Community School District is a statewide leader in STEM programming. The district expects this to be an annual event moving forward.

“We were very pleased with our first district-wide family night to celebrate the national Week of Code,” said MCSD Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson. “There were over 150 children and adults who joined the event held at Miller Middle School that introduced families to the value of computer science and gave them an opportunity to experience hands-on makerspace materials, coding with BeeBots and Osmos, underwater robots, as well as demonstrations from 5th-12th grade students and teachers about Lego League and programming options from www.code.org with the teacher librarians.”

Miller Middle School technology specialist Bob Gilbertson helps students play a digital piano using bananas as keys which are hooked up to a computer.

Students in the 8th grade literature classroom of Shea Hill at Miller Middle School are pictured on yoga stability ball seating, which was put in place in the classroom before Thanksgiving.

Bouncing in your seat is the point in the classroom of Miller Middle School literature teacher Shea Hill.

Hill received a Donors Choose grant of $380 to purchase yoga stability balls to use as seating in her classroom. The balls arrived just before Thanksgiving.

Hill said these balls, which are a nationwide trend, allow many students to avoid daydreaming in class as it keeps them on alert. She said some students get bored sitting in a traditional chair all day and this allows them to fidget in a positive way. Students also say they help with their posture.

Shea Hill

“They love them,” Hill said.

There are still traditional chairs for students who don’t want to use the stability balls and Hill said there have been some growing pains, such as the noises the balls make on the floors. Overall, she said it’s been a positive thing for her classroom.

“It’s different and it’s a change,” Hill said.

Lindsey Roberts, who is also an 8^th grade literature teacher at Miller, received a similar grant and purchased alternative seating as well for her classroom such as stools and also standing tables.

Members of the Miller Middle School Lego League team are pictured, from left, Coach Ann Jackson, Lilly Duff, Marcus Barker, Marek Jablonski, Maggie Stansberry, Ethan Benscoter, Derek Peng, Isaac B. Lopez and Jacob Swartz. This team earned honorable mention in robot design and qualified for the state Lego League competition.

Teams from the Marshalltown Community School District participated in the FIRST Lego League competition on December 3. Two teams competed at Marshalltown Community College while one competed in Council Bluffs.

Miller Middle School’s team, the Robocats, earned an honorable mention in robot design and qualified for the State First Lego League tournament with its performance at Marshalltown Community College.  The team is coached by Miller Extended Learning Program teacher Ann Jackson and team members include Lilly Duff, Marcus Barker, Marek Jablonski, Maggie Stansberry, Ethan Benscoter, Derek Peng, Isaac B. Lopez, and Jacob Swartz.

The team Siberian Tiger Soldiers, made up from a group of Lenihan Intermediate School students, competed in the event at MCC as well. They were coached by Lenihan Extended Learning Program teacher Vanessa Engel and parent Connor Reynolds. Team members included Josh Reynolds, Adrian Juarez, Braden Stewart, Jay Helton and Jason Montes.

A parent-led team made up of Miller and Lenihan students competed in the competition in Council Bluffs and qualified for state. That team, known as Medieval Gamer Puppies, was coached by Amanda and Travis Bloomquist and featured team members Quinton Lacey (Miller), Kaiden McWilliams (Lenihan), Taylor Vaughn (Lenihan) and Locke Bloomquist (Lenihan).

FIRST Lego League is a competition in which students research a real-world problem, this year animal and human interaction, and are challenged to develop a solution. They also must design, build and program a robot to compete on a tabletop playing field.

Along their journey, they develop critical thinking and team-building skills, basic STEM applications, and even presentation skills.

The team from Lenihan Intermediate School included, from left, Josh Reynolds, Adrian Juarez, Braden Stewart, Jay Helton and Jason Montes. Back row are coaches Vanessa Engel and Connor Reynolds.

This parent-led team competed in the Lego League in Council Bluffs and qualified for state. Pictured in front row, from left, Taylor Vaughn and Kaiden McWilliams. Back row, Coach Amanda Bloomquist, Quinton Lacey, Locke Bloomquist and coach Travis Bloomquist.

Choir members sing during last year’s holiday concert at Marshalltown High School. This year’s holiday concert featuring vocal and instrumental music will be at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 11 in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

Marshalltown High School will present the annual holiday concert at 3 p.m. on Sunday, December 11 in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

It will feature performances by the combined high school choir, holiday singers, treble choir, concert choir, symphonic band and wind ensemble. There will be various selections featured during the concert including holiday music.

Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for students with activity cards honored.

Kirk Niehouse

Marshalltown High School art instructor Kirk Niehouse has been selected to receive the Western Region Secondary Art Educator Award from the National Art Educators Association. Niehouse was nominated for the regional award after receiving the Outstanding Secondary Art Educator award from the Art Educators of Iowa recently.

“I am very excited about this award,” Niehouse said of the award from the NAEA. “I am beyond words as to what this means to me.”

Niehouse credits past MHS art teachers and the current MHS staff for making this award a “team effort.” He also credits his family for their support and belief in his work.

“I never in my wildest dreams saw myself winning an award like this,” he said.

Niehouse said his goal each day when he arrives at MHS is to do what’s best for students.

“I come to school every day to do my best and give all my efforts to helping students succeed and learn to love and enjoy art,” he said.

Niehouse will be presented the award at the National Art Educators Association National Convention in New York City in March. Niehouse was nominated for the Iowa award by Marshalltown elementary art teacher Maggie Parks.

Niehouse is instructor of pottery and graphic design at MHS. He has taught at MHS since 2001 and is a 1978 Marshalltown High School graduate.

Former Hoglan Elementary School student and current Lenihan Intermediate School student Braden Stewart shows his dad, Travis Stewart, and Hoglan Principal Amy Williams some coding work he learned during last year’s Hour of Code. This year a special “Teach Your Parents to Code” night will be held for all district families preschool through 12th grade from 5 to 6 p.m. on December 7 at Miller Middle School. 

Families in the Marshalltown Community School District are invited to an event titled “Teach Your Parents to Code” night from 5 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, December 7 at Miller Middle School, 125 S. 11^th St.

The free event will feature computer coding activities, robotics demonstrations with hands-on work and other computer science activities. These activities are designed for all school age children and their families.

No reservations are needed, just visit that night and have some fun.

This event is held in conjunction with the worldwide Hour of Code as part of Computer Science Week, designed to get students interested in computer coding and other computer science activities.

Interpreters will be available for Spanish speaking visitors as well as for languages from Burma.