Bobcats Making Headlines

Families have lunch during the annual Lunch on the Lawn at Franklin Elementary School on September 9.

Franklin Elementary School continued its annual tradition of Lunch on the Lawn on September 9.

The event invites families to the Franklin Field to enjoy lunch together.

“It’s a great tradition and it always has a great turnout,” said Franklin Principal Tim Holmgren, who roamed the grounds high-fiving students and talking to their parents and grandparents.

Holmgren said it’s vital that parents and staff work together to help children learn and grow.

“Without the parents, we can’t do it,” Holmgren said.

As part of the event, parents were encouraged to visit the gym to take a book home to read with their children.

Franklin Elementary Principal Tim Holmgren talks with a family during the annual Lunch on the Lawn at the school on September 9.

Students from MHS display how to dress during different dress up days in advance of Homecoming Week during a special pre-Homecoming assembly at the school on September 8.

It was time to let loose and look forward to the upcoming Homecoming week as Marshalltown High School held a special assembly on September 8.

The assembly included the announcement of the 2016 Homecoming king and queen candidates as well as fun competitions between MHS staff and students.

The king candidates include Sam Brintnall, Austin Case, Brennin Davis, Trevor Lewis, Tyler Smith, Jordan Teixeira and Drake Zeuthen.

The queen candidates are Vanessa Ceren, Aspen Chadderdon, Leah Edel, Malory Henze, Kobe Sandoval, Kelbryn VanGundy and Morgan Van Staalduine.

The marching band and color guard also performed at the assembly.

For a video of highlights from the assembly, click here.

Homecoming week is September 12-17. For more details on the schedule visit the MCSD website at www.marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

Marshalltown High School students interested in joining this year’s robotics team look over a robot made by last year’s team. Coaches held an informational session on the robotics team on September 1 at MHS.

The Marshalltown High School robotics team known as the “Botcats” is entering its third year of existence at the school.

Co-coaches and MHS teachers Stephen Frese and Mike Lazere held an informational meeting on September 1 for prospective team members and 20 MHS students attended.

“I’m really excited for you to be part of this,” Frese told the students.

The robotics team will build a robot and program it to do certain functions in competitions against other schools November through January.

More than just robots
Lazere said the students learn so much more than building and programming a robot as part of the team. They learn business and interpersonal skills as they will talk to local groups to raise money and they will also build a website and learn how to promote the group on social media.

“There’s a lot of different ways people can participate,” Lazere said.

Frese said this type of league is the “big brother” of the Lego League that many of the students compete in when they are younger. It also gives them experience should they choose to go into the STEM field and its growing number of jobs in the nation.

“There are several facets to STEM careers that students are exposed to and work on throughout the competition season,” Frese said. “For instance, the engineering process that we go through as we design, build, program and compete with our robot contains several unique pieces.”

Building communication skills
Frese said students are able to build on their communication skills as they work together as a team.

“I have really enjoyed seeing students getting out of their comfort zone and be required to communicate what they are working on with others,” Frese said. “Sometimes this can be seen in refinement of communication skills and for others it’s like opening the communication floodgates.”

Frese is a science teacher at MHS while Lazere teaches engineering as part of Project Lead the Way at the school.

MHS hosted a robotics tournament last school year at the Roundhouse and Frese said he hopes to have another tournament at the gym this season.

The team started as part of a STEM Scale-Up grant in 2014-15 from the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council. That grant was awarded again for year two but not this year, so the group will be relying on donations and sponsorships from community groups and businesses as it moves forward.

Last year’s robot created by MHS students

Due to other events coinciding with the race and low registration numbers, Marshalltown High School has announced the postponement of the Homecoming 5K race and fun run, originally scheduled for the morning of September 17 at the Marshalltown Community College cross country course.

Those who preregistered will have their money returned. The school is currently in the planning stages of having the race later in the fall.

Anson Elementary School Physical Education teacher Don Wiser leads a dance for students and staff as part of a special PBIS kickoff assembly on September 2 at the school.

Anson Elementary School kicked off the second year of PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) at the school with a special assembly to end the day on September 2.

During the assembly, students recited the three main expectations as part of PBIS, which are to be respectful, responsible and active learners.

“You are doing a great job of learning the expectations,” Anson Principal Ronnie Manis told the students.

Physical Education teacher Don Wiser also led a dance for the students as part of incorporating physical activity into PBIS.

Anson was recognized for its PBIS implementation last year by the Iowa Department of Education.

PBIS involves a series of processes that promote a school-wide culture of positive behavior. This is done through educating teachers on how to teach expected behaviors to their students.

PBIS is utilized throughout the Marshalltown Community School District.

For a video of the dancing, click here.

The junior class float is pictured from last year’s Marshalltown High School Homecoming parade. The 2016 Homecoming week is September 12-17.

Marshalltown High School is gearing up for Homecoming Week, which runs September 12-17. The week will be filled with special spirit days for students and staff with this year’s theme being “Bobcat Paradise.”

Parade and coronation
The Homecoming parade will be held on Main Street downtown at 6 p.m. on Thursday, September 15. The parade will be followed by the pep rally and the king and queen coronation in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

Football game
The Bobcats will host Waterloo West for the Homecoming football game at Leonard Cole Field on Friday, September 16. The 9th grade team will play at 4:45 p.m. with the varsity game set to kickoff at 7:30 p.m.

Dance
The Homecoming Dance will be held from 8 to 11 p.m. in the MHS cafeteria on Saturday, September 17.

For more Homecoming schedule information and dance ticket information, visit the Marshalltown High School website at www.marshalltown.k12.ia.us/schools/marshalltown-high-school and click on the “2016 Homecoming Schedule” link.

Homecoming 5K run/walk – RUN HAS BEEN POSTPONED

Marshalltown High School seniors Frank Iole, left, and Angel Ramirez are drum majors of the Bobcat Marching Band. The band will makes its debut for the season on September 2.

Frank Iole and Angel Ramirez know the storied history of the Bobcat Marching Band and now they are part of it as drum majors heading into the 2016 season.

The Marshalltown High School seniors assist Mr. Bret Lee and Mr. Brett Umthun with the band as they gear up for the season debut during halftime of the home football game vs. Mason City on September 2.

Ramirez said when he was a freshman in the band it was fun to see the show come together through the dedication of staff and students.

“As we are older now, we wanted to take a lead in that,” Ramirez said.

Drum majors direct the band, critique the performances and serve as student leaders of the band. Iole said being a drum major “builds leadership skills” while Ramirez said the role “helps build character.”

Both also stay busy with several other school activities at MHS. Iole is a three-time All-State Chorus member and Ramirez is a student leader in the Mentors in Violence Prevention program.

This year’s marching show theme is the Underworld and Iole feels it has a great opening.

“I feel like movement one will grasp the audience,” Iole said.

Lee said the drum majors are selected via an audition process and called both drum majors “great kids.”

Aside from home football games and contests, the band also will perform locally during the Homecoming parade on September 15 and the Oktemberfest parade on September 24.

New Marshalltown Community School District Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, right, talks with Lenihan Intermediate School teachers Diane Simpson, left, and Julie Finch during a new administrator open house on August 16 in the team room of the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse.

The Marshalltown Community School District Board of Education hosted a new administrator open house on August 16.

The event drew a packed crowd at times into the team room of the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse.

It featured a chance for parents, staff, students and the community to meet new administrators in the district including Superintendent Dr. Theron Schutte, Director of Instruction Dr. Lisa Stevenson, Director of Human Resources Anthony Spurgetis, Director of Buildings and Grounds Brett Purvis, Director of Business Operations Brian Bartz, Marshalltown High School Activities/Athletics Director Rollie Ackerman, Miller Middle School Principal Pat Rial, Miller Middle School Associate Principal David Glenn and Marshalltown High School Associate Principal Justin Boliver.

The board and district administrators would like to thank the community for taking time to attend the event.

Community members meet with new administrators in the district during the new administrator open house held on August 16 in the team room of the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse.

MHS Fall Sports Kickoff

NOTE HERE IS AN UPDATED SCHEDULE DUE TO PENDING WEATHER

Due to weather forecast of incoming thunderstorms on Friday, the MHS Falls Sports Kick-off schedule has been adjusted.

4:15 MHS Band will perform on field
4:30 FB warmups – all teams
5:00 FB scrimmages – 9th on north practice field/ 10th and varsity will split main field
5:00 VB scrimmages (Roundhouse)
6:00 Watermelon Feed at stadium entrance

Booster Club membership sign-up, Marshalltown Bobcat Apparel forms, and Cross Country 5K Homecoming Alumni Run sign-up, will start at 4:30 at the stadium

Admission is free, however, free will donations of sports drinks will be accepted.

Miller sports sign up dates

On Thursday, August 18 during the Miller Middle School open house (7th grade from 5 to 6:45 p.m. and 8th grade from 6:45 to 8 p.m.) there will be a sign up for the following fall sports: 7th and 8^th girls volleyball, 7th and 8th girl/boy cross country and 7th and 8th football.

All athletes are reminded that they must have a physical before they can begin practicing. Completed physical forms can be submitted the night of the open house.  If not, please schedule a physical as soon as possible with your family physician.

Practices will begin for 7th and 8th grade football on Monday, August 22.  Start time will be at 3:30 p.m.  Players are asked to report to the Miller gym in shorts, T-shirts and tennis shoes. Practice should be completed by 5 p.m. There will be a 7th grade only football parent/player meeting on Thursday, August 18 at 6:30 p.m. following 7th grade orientation for more information that evening.

Miller cross country and volleyball practices will begin on Thursday, August 25.  7th girls volleyball will be meeting in the gym at 6:30 a.m. for practice and 8th volleyball (in the gym) and 7/8th cross country (in front of auditorium doors) will meet for practice at 3:45 p.m.

The Marshalltown Community School District will have a school board vacancy on the November 8 ballot.

The vacancy is a result of an appointment made by the board in January after the resignation of one of its members. State law at the time dictated that if the seat is appointed by the board it would have to be on the ballot during the next election that includes the school district voters.

The seat is currently held by Mike Miller, who was appointed by the board after the resignation of one of its members. The individual elected on November 8 will serve until an individual is selected for a four-year term during the September 2017 school election.

To become a candidate
Those looking to be on the ballot for the November 8, 2016 election are required to complete an affidavit of candidacy and acquire 50 signatures from eligible voters in the school district.

The forms can be picked up at school district offices from Board Secretary Brian Bartz at 1002. S. 3rd. Ave., the auditor’s office in the Marshall County Courthouse or via the Iowa Secretary of State’s website. An affidavit of candidacy can be located at sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/affidavit.pdf and a nomination petition can be located at sos.iowa.gov/elections/pdf/candidates/nompetnonpartisan.pdf.

These completed forms would need to be returned to Brian Bartz, MCSD Board Secretary, 1002 S. 3rd. Ave., Marshalltown, Iowa, 50158 by 5 p.m. on August 31, 2016.

For more information, call the school district offices at 641-754-1000.