The annual Marshalltown High School Bobcat Band fruit sale has started. Band students will be selling from November 18 to November 28 with fruit to be delivered December 14 to 18.

Prices range from $12 to $46 for selections of grapefruit, oranges, apples, gift baskets and salted peanuts.  Proceeds from the sale help the band cover contest registration costs and transportation, and will help fund the 2018-2019 band trip and new marching band uniforms to be purchased in the future.

Thank you to all the community members for their support of the band fruit sale.  To order or for more information on the fruit sale contact Bret Lee, Director of Bands, at 754-1130 ext. 1159 or blee@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

Sixth graders from Lenihan Intermediate School were able to conduct hands-on learning during a field trip to the Science Center of Iowa on November 11.

Sixth graders from Lenihan Intermediate School took part in a field trip to the Science Center of Iowa in Des Moines on November 11.

The whole class was able to explore many scientific concepts such as circuits, aerodynamics and friction through hands-on activities. Students went to the planetarium as well as saw the documentary “Extreme Weather” by National Geographic.

“It has become an amazing day of instruction because the hard work our sixth grade teachers put into planning and preparing the students for the day,” said Jenny Allen, instructional coach at Lenihan.

Allen also said the students should be commended for their attentiveness and behavior on the trip.

“For the past three years, we have gotten compliments from the Science Center about how well behaved and respectful our students are to the staff and other guests,” Allen said.

The Marshalltown High School robotics team will host a tournament at 1 p.m. on Saturday, November 19 in the MHS Roundhouse. Admission is free and open to the public.

The competition has teams utilize their robot in matches against other teams. An example would be using the robot to maneuver around a field to score points.

Twelve teams from throughout central Iowa are expected to compete, including the home team known as the “Botcats.” The MHS team is in its third year of existence and is led by MHS teachers Stephen Frese and Mike Lazere.

Parents of kindergarten students at Rogers Elementary School visited on November 16 as part of the Sunrise Family Learning Center.

Parents of kindergarten students made their way to Rogers Elementary School on November 16 as part of the Sunrise Family Learning Center. As part of the event, parents have breakfast with their student, learn about what is going on at the school, and learn ways they can help their children learn at home.

“It’s nice to make the connections with the parents,” said teacher Betsy Nusbaum.

Educating a child is a partnership between home and school and that partnership was on display at Rogers.

“Hopefully we can help them see how they can be a part of their child’s education,” said Rogers counselor Mark Church.

Parents also were able to take home a free book for their child. The Sunrise Family Learning Center will occur three times this school year at Rogers.

Lenihan Intermediate School Extended Learning Program students took a tour of Main Street to do research for a project. Pictured at left is teacher Vanessa Engel and at center back is volunteer Tyson Finders.

Extended Learning Program students at Lenihan Intermediate School took a tour of Main Street in Marshalltown as research for a school project on November 10.

The group visited with business owners and others as they begin a project in which they will own their own mock business.

The group met with Barb Hagstrand of the Kibbey Building, Mark Mathes and Jeff Mitchell involved in the garden project on Main Street, Nancy Urbanowski of 212 East Main Street, Scott Carnahan of the Woodbury Building and Kim and Jerry Gratopp of Smokin’ G’s BBQ.

Leading the group were Lenihan Extended Learning Program teacher Vanessa Engel and volunteer Tyson Finders.

The students will create their own business with an imaginary budget of $5,000.

Marshalltown High School biology instructor Lynne Diggins is pictured in the greenhouse at the school. The school is looking to make updates to the greenhouse to be able to utilize it for more instruction.

The once-thriving Marshalltown High School greenhouse is in need of several updates to bring it back to its full potential.

MHS biology instructor Lynne Diggins said the greenhouse is in need of a new watering system and several other updates.

As a start to help fund these updates, the school is selling poinsettias as a fundraiser through November 30. The poinsettias are for sale for $10 each and will be available on December 2. Orders can be made at the MHS main office or by contacting Lynne Diggins at ldiggins1@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

Years ago, plants from the greenhouse led to a big community plant sale at MHS led by former science teacher Jerry Heying. While bringing the plant sale back is a long term goal, Diggins said they plan to start small to increase the use of the greenhouse.

“We are looking to have students interested in creating a botany club and producing vegetables,” Diggins said.

Currently, the greenhouse is being used as just a way to grow hand-watered plants. Diggins hopes the improvements to the facility will bring back the glory days of the greenhouse.

“I think the greenhouse is a great educational tool to show the students real life examples of plants and hands-on work is always more exciting to teach and learn,” she said.

Lead characters Nick Cooper as Ren McCormack and Bell Russell as Ariel Moore are pictured in the center of the cast during a dance scene in the Marshalltown High School fall production “Footloose, the Musical.” The show was held November 11 and 12 at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The Marshalltown High School fall production “Footloose, the Musical” entertained two big crowds for two nights in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The shows were on November 11 and 12 and led by director Heather Lee, vocal director Amy Ose and pit orchestra director Brett Umthun.

“Footloose was a great success,” Lee said. “The students all did a terrific job and Mr. Umthun, Mrs. Ose and myself could not be prouder.”

Lee appreciated the support from the community for the show.

“The audiences each night were very responsive throughout and highly complimentary after the shows,” Lee said. “Thank you to everyone for their support.”

“Footloose, the Musical” Cast
Nick Cooper – Ren McCormack
Isabella Pedersen – Ethel McCormack
Lucas Thiessen – Rev. Shaw Moore
Eva Hernandez – Vi Moore
Bell Russell – Ariel Moore
Olivia Stone – Lulu Warnicker
Eli Thiessen – Wes Warnicker
Angel Ramirez – Coach Roger Dunbar, Jeter, & Chicago Friend 1
Kassie Wilkins – Eleanor Dunbar
Hannah Shirar – Rusty
Carissa King – Urleen
Hadley Wagner – Wendy Jo
Drake Zeuthen – Chuck Cranston
Frank Iole – Travis, Bickle, & Chicago Friend 3
Mackenzie Moyer – A Cop & Adult
Jordan Blue – Betty Blast
Luke Pedersen – Willard Hewitt
Matt Waldon – Principal Harry Clark & Chicago Friend 2
Taylor Naughton – Cowgirl
Angel Ramirez – Cowboy Bob
Jordan Blue & Frank Iole – Cowboy Bob’s Backup Singers

Ensemble Members
Molly Bach, Immaculate Edwin, Nyadoar Gatwech, Amanda Hoffman, Ashley Macbeth, Abby Murty, Reena Pearson

Production Crew
Director – Heather Lee
Vocal Director – Amy Ose
Choreographer – Amanda Loomis
Stage Manager – Trey Quick
Set Design – Heather Lee, Rachael Lee, Mickey McDonald, Alan Paxson
Light Board – Anna Marie Carlson
Sound Board – Madeline Jelken
Auditorium Mgr – Alan Paxson,
Poster/Program/T-Shirt Design – Kyi Tun
Head Makeup – Rachael Lee

Stage/Tech Crew
Brianna Dean, Payton Eigenberger, Nyapukah Gatwech, Liberty Grife, Jocelyn Guzman, Yatnia Hernandez, Eve Nettesheim, Alexis Ortiz, Valerie Ramirez, Jaiman Rivera, Molly Sickles, Sarah Trowbridge, Emily Waldon

Pit Orchestra
Director – Brett Umthun
Annie Grieshop, Amy Ose, Mary Sutton, Skylar Lindeman,
Ben Harris, Victoria Johnson, Quinton Rice, Alex Weidenaar, David Barlow, Josh Arment

Veterans who spoke at Lenihan Intermediate School, from left, included Matt Tullis, Roger Johnson, Russell Rosenberger, Rob Shepherd, Jeff Grimes and Bob Grimes.

Lenihan
Lenihan Intermediate School hosted presentations by six veterans on November 11 (Veterans Day) including two Lenihan staff members – special education teacher Matt Tullis (U.S. Army Military Police) and custodian Roger Johnson (U.S. Army).
Other presenters who have served their country were Bob Grimes (U.S. Air Force), his son, Jeff Grimes (U.S. Navy and Marines), Russell Rosenberger (U.S. Navy) and Rob Shepherd (U.S. Army National Guard, Purple Heart recipient).
The group talked about their time in the military and answered questions from the students. Tullis told the students there are ways to serve their country without being in the military, such as helping others and being kind.
The students provided the veterans with thank you cards and the veterans gave a flag to each student.

Brett Comegys

Miller Middle School
Miller social studies teacher and Army and Marine veteran Brett Comegys presented to the seventh grade class throughout the day on November 11. Comegys explained what life was like in the military.
Comegys said Veterans Day is “about remembering people who sacrificed themselves.”
He encouraged the students that anytime they see a veteran, especially those who are elderly, to thank them for their service.

Miller placemats
Students in social studies classes at Miller made 700 placemats as thank you cards for veterans. They were delivered to the Iowa Veterans home to be used for their lunch on November 11.

Placemats made by Miller students for veterans at the Iowa Veterans Home.

Miller student reads poem at Iowa Veterans Home
Miller Middle School seventh grader, Alivia Eaton, read a poem as part of the Iowa Veterans Home Veterans Day Program. Alivia wrote the poem, “Thank You” as part of an Extended Learning Program activity, and wanted to share it, “so that veterans wouldn’t feel forgotten.”

Alivia Eaton

Thank You
By: Alivia Eaton

You could be a husband,
A son, a wife, a daughter,
You very well could be,
A mother or a father,
I may not know who you are,
Or what you fought for,
Or why,
All I know 100 percent,
Is that filled with bravery,
Out you went,
You fought for what you held dear,
While we sat in our rooms cowering in fear,
You fought hard,
You didn’t flee
And I can’t imagine where we’d be,
If it weren’t for you,
I honor and I thank you,
I’ll shout it out loud, proud, clear, and true,
I believe I speak for everyone,
When I say,
Thank you.

Marshalltown High School teacher and veteran Marsha Johnson is thanked with a card and handshake from Marshalltown Schools Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte as part of Veterans Day recognitions in the district.

Administrators with Central Office of the Marshalltown Community School District thanked veterans who are employees by personally delivering Veterans Day cards to them.

Dozens of staff members who have served in the military were visited Thursday and Friday as part of the Veterans Day holiday recognition.

Veterans in the district were also honored at the November 8 meeting of the school board as board member and veteran Ross Harris read a presidential proclamation.

Thank you for your service!

Lenihan Intermediate School teacher and veteran Matt Tullis, left, is thanked by Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger.

Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte honors MHS teacher and veteran David Melde.

Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson, left, thanks veteran and Miller Middle School paraeducator Kristine Fisher.

Veteran and Miller teacher Brett Comegys is thanked by Dr. Lisa Stevenson.

MHS teacher and veteran Theresa Theis is recognized by Dr. Theron Schutte.

Dr. Theron Schutte honors MHS foodservice staff member and veteran Darlene Gilliland.

Bus driver and veteran Bob Schubert

Bus driver and veteran Kenneth Hoffman, left,  with Director of Business Operations Brian Bartz

Brian Bartz with bus driver and veteran Gordon Lypkes.

Veteran Larry Floyd, left, from Anson Elementary School (AmeriCorps)  with Director of Human Resources Anthony Spurgetis.

Veteran Michael Britt, right, of the Technology Department with Communications Director Andrew Potter.

Marshalltown High School teachers are pictured with their new facial hair as part of No Shave November to raise money for the American Cancer Society. Pictured, front row, from left are Mason Pelzer and Kirk Niehouse. Back row, Mike Loupee, Chad Pietig and Chris Sutch.

A group of Marshalltown High School staff members have decided to ditch the razor this month in an effort to raise money for the American Cancer Society. The teachers are participating in No Shave November as a fundraiser to fight cancer.

The effort is being led at MHS by art instructor Kirk Niehouse, who said past MHS staff have been affected by cancer in recent years.

“It’s something that has hit us,” Niehouse said. “We have to support these causes.”

Posing for a recent photo with Niehouse with their new facial hair growth were MHS English teachers Chris Sutch and Mason Pelzer and science teachers Mike Loupee and Chad Pietig. As part of participating, staff will donate to the American Cancer Society.

The effort has even made its way to the Marshalltown Community School District Office as Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, Director of Business Operations Brian Bartz, Technology Director Josh Wesley and Director of Special Services Matt Cretsinger are participating in No Shave November as well.

According to the website www.no-shave.org, the goal of No Shave November is  “to grow awareness by embracing our hair, which many cancer patients lose, and letting it grow wild and free. Donate the money you typically spend on shaving and grooming to educate about cancer prevention, save lives, and aid those fighting the battle.”