Bobcats Making Headlines

Anson Elementary School student Landon Brown reads a book as volunteer Steve Bolar looks on during the Munch and More program on June 29 at Anson. The summer reading program is held at three elementary schools through July 22 in the Marshalltown Community School District. 

The summer reading program Munch and More is in full swing at three elementary schools in the Marshalltown Community School District.

This summer’s program started June 6 and is running through July 22. It is a volunteer-driven summer reading program, which gives the volunteers the opportunity to read with children during the summer at Anson, Franklin and Rogers elementary schools. It goes along with the summer meals programs offered to youth.

“The goal of Munch and More is to boost children’s summer reading time to help eliminate summer learning loss,” said Karina Hernandez, of Mid-Iowa Community Action, who leads the program.

The program runs from 11:15 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. and is at Anson on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays; Franklin on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays; and Rogers on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

The program is part of the Spread the Words – Read by Third initiative. The Marshalltown Public Library also provides books for the program.

Volunteers are always welcome. To sign up to volunteer call Hernandez at MICA at 641-752-7162 or email her at karina.hernandez@micaonline.org.

Rogers Elementary School Teacher Librarian Erin Faas leads some learning during Rogers University on June 22.

Though not backed by its original grant that has since expired, Rogers University at Rogers Elementary Schoool is still going strong. The summer learning and enrichment program for students includes 50 students in first through fourth grades this summer. The program started June 13 and runs through July 22.

It is funded by the Marshalltown Community School District, Mid-Iowa Community Action and the Martha-Ellen Tye Foundation.

Rogers Principal Dr. Mick Jurgensen said Rogers University continues to be a special program and among the highlights of his career.

“The impact it has on the kids, the families and the neighborhood is special,” Jurgensen said.

Lead organizer of the program is Karina Hernandez of Mid-Iowa Community Action.

She said the school day is modeled after the school year as far as time and lunch. The mornings are dedicated to instruction, especially in reading and math. Every afternoon though students enjoy activities such as gardening with Iowa State University Extension, swimming lessons and Y Fit Kids at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA, trips to the Marshalltown Public Library, fishing and more. Several other community partners offer programming for Rogers University in the partnership.

Hernandez said not only does this program help lower summer learning loss, it also helps strengthen relationships between the school and Rogers families.

Most teachers are from Rogers, with the assistance from Iowa State University students. Several younger students also took part in a two week preschool/kindergarten camp to help them learn more about the school.

For the previous five years, Rogers University was funded by an Iowa Department of Education 21^st Century Learning grant. It has been a model program in the state and even had visitors from Cedar Rapids Schools this week wanting to learn more about it.

Rogers teacher LuAnn Lura talks to a group of students during a reading exercise at Rogers University on June 22.

Students get active during the preschool/kindergarten camp.

Karina Hernandez of Mid-Iowa Community Action talks to visitors from Cedar Rapids about the program.

Dr. Lisa Stevenson

Dr. Lisa Stevenson has been selected as the director of instruction for the Marshalltown Community School District.

Dr. Stevenson currently serves as principal of Neil Armstrong Elementary School in the Bettendorf Community School District. She has previous principal, teaching and director experience in West Liberty, Bettendorf and other school districts.

“I am very excited to join the team at Marshalltown CSD,” Stevenson said. “My experience as a teacher and administrator has given me a solid foundation of knowledge and skills that will help MCSD realize its vision and mission.”

She holds a Ph. D in Educational Administration and a master’s degree in Educational Administration from the University of Iowa. She holds her education certificate in Advanced Studies (Superintendency) from the University of Northern Iowa. She has earned a master’s degree in Linguistics and Teaching ESL from Northeastern Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from the University of Iowa.

Dr. Stevenson will begin her duties at MCSD on July 1.

“I am looking forward to working together with the Board, administrators, staff and community to ensure that students are prepared for their future,” Stevenson said.

Her appointment is up for approval at the June 20 school board meeting.

Students build a structure out of newspapers during the STEM camp at Fisher Elementary School on June 15.

Supplied with curriculum from the College of Engineering at Iowa State University, one week STEM camps are being held in elementary schools throughout the Marshalltown Community School District this summer.

Caleb Carver, Marshall County youth coordinator at Iowa State University Extension, said these camps help continue the learning in the summer with a focus on science, technology, engineering and math.

“We are showing them hands-on learning opportunities,” Carver said.

Camps are being held this week (June 13-17) at Rogers and Fisher elementary schools. Other schools to hold camps later in the summer include Franklin (June 20-24), Anson (July 11-15), Hoglan (July 11-15) and Woodbury (July 18-22). The future camps have spaces open for both morning and afternoon sessions except Woodbury.

These free camps for area kindergarten through fourth grade students are a partnership between ISU Extension, the Marshalltown Community School District, the Marshalltown Regional Partnership, Mid-Iowa Community Action, the Marshalltown Business Education Alliance and St. Francis School.

“We are absolutely very excited about the way the camps are turning out,” said David Barajas, CEO of the Marshalltown Regional Partnership.

Emerson/Fisher is also providing staff at the camps to teach students about real world careers in engineering.

When all is said and done, camp organizers expect to host more than 500 students this summer.

For more information, call the Iowa State University Extension Marshall County office at 641-752-1551 or visit the schools during the camp sessions, which are 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. during the days listed above. Rogers camp has afternoon sessions only this week.

Marshalltown High School students are planning a Community Olympics event July 22-24. Pictured are organizers, from left, Trevor Lewis, Morgan Van Staalduine, Isabella Pedersen and Katie Matney.

THIS EVENT HAS BEEN CANCELLED DUE TO LOW NUMBER OF REGISTRATIONS

Olympic fever will hit Marshalltown prior to the Summer Olympics in Rio this year.

A group of Marshalltown High School Student Senate members are organizing the Marshalltown Community Summer Olympic Games from July 22- 24. All ages and skill levels are invited to these events, which will include community members competing for medals and for fun.

“It will be fun and family-friendly and a type of event that we haven’t had in Marshalltown for a lot of years,” said Morgan Van Staalduine, senior class president at MHS who came up with this idea and leads this effort.

Scheduled events include cycling, tennis, soccer, track and field, swimming and volleyball.

The group said this is a way to get the Student Senate more involved in the community and not just the school.

“Student Senate has not been involved in the community as much as we would like to be,” said Isabella Pedersen.

The opening ceremony will be at 6 p.m. on July 22 at the MHS Roundhouse with the closing ceremony at 5 p.m. on July 24 at the MHS track.

Registration forms can be picked up at the Sports Page store in the Marshalltown Mall, the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA or accessed by visiting https://sites.google.com/a/marshalltown.k12.ia.us/marshalltown-olympic-games/registration. Fees vary depending on the sport.

Proceeds from the events will go to help fund clubs at MHS and toward a yet-to-be determined community project. The group is also looking for volunteers for the events.

For more information on volunteering, email mtownolympics@gmail.com.

Community Olympics Schedule of events

‪July 22
Opening Ceremony, 6 p.m. MHS Roundhouse

July 23
Cycling, 7:30 a.m. – Bike path starting at little league diamonds
Tennis, 10 a.m. – MHS tennis courts
Soccer, 10 a.m. – Marshalltown Area Soccer Club fields
Track and Field, 4 p.m. – MHS track

‪July 24
Volleyball, 8 a.m. – MHS Roundhouse
Swimming, 10 a.m. – Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA
Closing Ceremony, 5 p.m. MHS track

Rollie Ackerman

Rollie Ackerman has been named the next athletic/activities director at Marshalltown High School. Ackerman has served as athletic director at Grundy Center for the past 13 years and also taught and coached throughout his 21 years at the school.

Ackerman said he is excited to get started at MHS.
“I am extremely honored and humbled at the opportunity,” Ackerman said. “I was very impressed with the professionalism shown during the interview process and felt very welcomed all throughout.”

He looks forward to learning more about the district and the people who make the activities work.

“It is an exciting challenge that I look forward to and I am looking forward to meeting with the coaches, sponsors, ticket takers, scoreboard operators, and all the other people involved who make activities programs occur, and who make possible the opportunities for Marshalltown students to be a part of,” Ackerman said.

Ackerman holds a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa and a master’s in educational administration from the University of Iowa.

Ackerman begins his duties at MHS on July 1, taking over from Craig Huegel who has taken a position at a different district. Ackerman’s appointment is on the agenda for board approval during the June 6 school board meeting.

Miller Middle School teacher Carmen Heald is pictured talking to her Spanish literature class recently. Several members of the eighth grade class earned the opportunity for college credit in Spanish after taking a test.

A group of students at Miller Middle School are proving the dual language program is paying off for them.

The students have been learning Spanish and English concurrently since they attended the dual language program at Woodbury Elementary School.

The group took the Spanish College-Level Examination Program (CLEP) test allowing them the opportunity to receive college credit. Scores earned by 17 students will translate to full credit once their results are accepted at their college of choice.

For example, if they attend Marshalltown Community College after graduating from Marshalltown High School, this group already would have 12 college credits in Spanish course work. As an eighth grader, they would have already earned credit in Elementary Spanish I & II and Intermediate Spanish I.

Marshalltown Schools English Language Learners Coordinator Rachel Inks said, “This test is a culmination event of the dual language program and allows the eighth graders to explore a third language while enrolled at MHS.”

Carmen Heald teaches the literature course in Spanish and is proud of her students’ achievement.

Miller teacher Vince Milot said, “This success really underscores the commitment of the district to our ELL and non-ELL students in bilingual education, the efforts of teachers and administrators in making that program work, and, of course, the hard work of these great kids.”

Pat Rial

Pat Rial has been promoted to be the next principal of Miller Middle School. Rial has served as associate principal at Miller for the past two years.

He has previous experience in leadership roles in the Fort Dodge Community School District and teaching experience at Fort Dodge, Davenport, Saydel and Houston, Texas.

Rial will replace current Miller Principal Jacy Large on July 1 after Large accepted the superintendent position at West Marshall Schools.

“I am excited to keep moving forward with the great students, parents and staff at Miller,” Rial said. “I’m proud and thankful to be chosen to lead Miller Middle School.”

Rial has a master’s degree in administration/principalship and a bachelor of arts degree in physical education, both from the University of Northern Iowa. He holds a teaching endorsement from Coe College.

Rial’s appointment is up for school board approval at the June 6 board meeting. There were more than 30 applicants for the position. Six finalists were interviewed by school district leaders, Miller staff and students and two members of the school board.

Fisher Elementary School students Brody Lang, right, and Katelyn Schwartz await the next class submission for the school’s time capsule during an assembly on May 31.

It was time to pack up the school supplies for the summer on the last day of school at Fisher Elementary School on May 31. Students also packed one more thing away that won’t be open for 25 years during an all-school assembly.

Students put together a time capsule with items from each class such as posters, written material and other information on what currently goes on at the school and the community.

Fisher Principal Vicki Vopava then locked up the crate.

“It will be open in 2041,” said Fisher fourth grader Brody Lang, one of the leaders of the project. “I will be 35 (years old).”

The project was led by the Fisher Extended Learning Program students and teacher Deb Christenson.

“This is a snapshot of what the district looks like right now,” Christenson said.

Superintendent Dr. Marvin Wade attended the assembly and met with students previously as they got ideas for what to put in the time capsule.

School volunteer David Martin of Faith Church, left, is thanked by Rogers Elementary School Principal Dr. Mick Jurgensen during a special assembly on May 31 at the school.

Before summer break could start, Rogers Elementary School held an end-of-the-year assembly on May 31, which honored dozens of students and some key volunteers at the school this year.

A set of community members who have volunteered at Rogers were recognized by Principal Dr. Mick Jurgensen including Cheryl Ridenour, Dylan Does, John Johnson and David Martin and other members of Faith Church.

Martin and Faith Church members have volunteered and donated supplies to the school for several special family nights.

Ridenour is a volunteer who Jurgensen called an “amazing supporter of Rogers” for several school events. She also serves as a church liaison between the school and two of the school’s newer church partners.

Does, of Restore Church, has organized Boy Scouts events at the school, served as DJ for a family night dance and has donated items to the school.

Johnson reads books to Rogers students regularly and has donated books to the school. Both Martin and Does are graduates of Rogers Elementary School.

The assembly also honored students for perfect and near perfect attendance, physical fitness goals reached and other honors achieved during the school year.

John Johnson

Cheryl Ridenour

Dylan Does