Bobcats Making Headlines

Miller Middle School Associate Principal Pat Rial, left, looks over at Miller Principal Jacy Large after both took a pie in the face on May 31. They were good sports after a successful fundraiser at the school raised more than $2,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The joke was on Miller Middle School Principal Jacy Large and Associate Principal Pat Rial  at the last day of school on May 31.

And so was the pie.

The pair not only were pied in the face but also had to kiss pigs after a hugely successful fundraiser at the school.

The past few weeks, students and staff raised more than $2,000 as part of a Pennies for Patients campaign for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. If the students reached the goal of $1,000, Large and Rial agreed to kiss pigs and take a cream pie in the face.

Miller teacher Lindsey Roberts said the response to the fundraiser was overwhelming and surpassed last year’s mark by more than $1,500.

“They did awesome,” Roberts said of the students and staff.

The Marshalltown Community School District is hosting registration for students entering 1st through 12^th grade on Tuesday, June 7 and Wednesday, June 8.

Registration times are 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on June 7 and from 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. on June 8.

First through 8^th grade will register at Miller Middle School, 125 S. 11^th St. Students attending high school will register at Marshalltown High School, 1602 S. 2^nd Ave. Students in Marshalltown Learning Academy will register at MLA, 1002 S. 3^rd Ave.

Textbook rental fees are $40 for 1st through sixth grade and $50 for seventh through 12^th grades.

Students new to the school district should bring their birth certificate and updated immunization records. For more information on registration, call the Marshalltown Community School District Central Office at 641-754-1000.

Preschool and kindergarten registration was held earlier this spring. To register for preschool or kindergarten, contact your neighborhood elementary school.

SPANISH

Inscripción para las Escuelas de Marshalltown es el 7 y 8 de Junio

El Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Marshalltown albergara la inscripción para los estudiantes entrando en el 1º al 12º grado el 7 y 8 de Junio.

Las horas de inscripción son a las 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. el 7 de Junio y de las 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. el 8 de Junio.

Primero al 8º grado se inscribirán en Miller Middle School, 125 S. 11th St. Los estudiantes que asistirán a la preparatoria (high school) se inscribirán en Marshalltown High School, 1602 S. 2nd Ave. Los estudiantes en Marshalltown Learning Academy se inscribirán en MLA, 1002 S. 3rd Ave.

Los precios para rentar los libros de texto son $40 para 1º al 6º grado y $50 para 7º al 12º grado.

Los estudiantes que son nuevos al distrito escolar deberán traer su acta de nacimiento y registro de inmunización actualizados. Para más información sobre las inscripciones, llame a la Oficina Central del Distrito Escolar de la Comunidad de Marshalltown al 641-754-100.

La inscripción para el preescolar y el kínder se llevó a cabo a principios de esta primavera. Para inscribir en el preescolar o kínder, contacte la escuela primaria de su vecindad.

Kindergarten classes at Anson Elementary School planted three maple trees near the playground on May 26.

The three kindergarten classes at Anson Elementary School planted a total of three maple trees on May 26 to help provide some shade near the playground area.

Teacher Kate Troskey said this tree planting effort was an extension of Earth Day activities for the group. The classes did a clean up effort around Earth Day last month and then wanted to do more.

The Theisen’s Marshalltown store donated the trees and the students and staff helped place them in the ground.

Troskey said this also corresponds to one of the units the students learned in class this year on plants and trees.

Students in several classrooms at Lenihan Intermediate School enjoyed a Mexican fiesta at the school on May 25.

The Mathias Clement Cove neighborhood of Lenihan Intermediate School had quite the spread for its annual Mexican fiesta on May 25.

It is a way to wrap up study on the country of Mexico and several classrooms got involved along with some help from parent volunteers.

This year the classes invited special guests to take part in the celebration. Staff from Emerson/Fisher who have been tutoring the classes were invited to partake in the festivities.

“We wanted to invite them as a special thank you,” said Lenihan teacher Leah Mattox.

Dozens of volunteers from Emerson/Fisher have been visiting Lenihan regularly as part of the tutoring program started this school year. The program will continue next school year.

Emerson/Fisher employee Julie Hitchins talks to students during the Mexican fiesta at the school on May 25. Hitchins tutors at the school.

Marshalltown High School staff member Jerri Hill is pictured washing flags at the Roundhouse on May 26. The flags were dirtied from an early morning storm on May 26 at Riverside Cemetery. Hill and Tiffany Davis washed approximately 150 flags to get them ready for Memorial Day weekend.

When asked to help, two Marshalltown High School athletic department equipment managers and custodians answered the call on May 26.

More than 200 American flags from Riverside Cemetery, which were put in place for the upcoming Memorial Day holiday, were dirtied after an early morning storm.

A volunteer at the cemetery who knew about the laundry services at the MHS Roundhouse contacted Activities Director Craig Huegel. He agreed and equipment managers/custodians Jerri Hill and Tiffany Davis washed approximately 150 flags starting the afternoon of May 26. Other community members also took flags to wash as well from Riverside to clean more than 200 flags total.

“It’s cool to help them out like this,” Hill said.

Huegel felt a little guilty for not consulting Hill and Davis before agreeing for the flags to be delivered to the Roundhouse laundry room, but knew the pair who he called “awesome” employees would come through.

Riverside Cemetery General Manager Dorie Tammen was grateful for their work.

“How wonderful of them to do that,” Tammen said.

Jerri Hill, left, and Tiffany Davis

Three Franklin Elementary School students led a fundraiser which collected $452 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Pictured, from left, are Jordyn Daggett, Stephanie Lizarde and Ava Lucas.

Three students from Franklin Elementary School led a fundraiser which collected $452 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Jordyn Daggett, Stephanie Lizarde and Ava Lucas organized a face painting booth at Franklin FIT night on May 19 and also accepted private donations as part of this fundraiser.

“It was their initiative and they really enjoyed it,” said Franklin school nurse Carol Barlow.

The girls said their original goal was to raise $300 and they are proud they were able to raise $452.

“I felt grateful that we had a chance to do this because there are kids in St. Jude’s who aren’t as healthy as we are,” Lucas said.

Barlow said FIT (Franklin in Training) Night was a huge success as more than 500 people attended to learn more about ways to stay active and eat healthy. More than 20 prizes were raffled off including a new bike.

Those wanting to donate to this St. Jude’s fundraiser can contact Carol Barlow at Franklin Elementary School at 641-754-1041.

Lenihan Intermediate School students created cards for hospitalized kids as part of a special project on May 24.

Students from Lenihan Intermediate School created hundreds of cards for hospitalized kids as part of an effort from several classrooms May 23 and 24.

The cards will be sent to young people throughout the country through www.cardsforhospitalizedkids.com

“This is to let them know that people care for them and we are thinking of them,” said Lenihan teacher Laura Fricke, who was one of the leaders of the project.

Funding for supplies for the cards was paid for through a $250 Project Jack grant.

It is a pay it forward project done in remembrance of Jack Lindaman. Jack was a 6 year old by that passed away in 2010 from spinal muscular atrophy (SMA). Several pay it forward projects in Marshalltown Schools were done with Project Jack grants this school year.

Anson Elementary School teacher Jessica Althaus guides along kindergarten student Lucia Contreras Ordaz during a book reading at the school on May 23.

Kindergarten students in an Anson Elementary School class taught by Jessica Althaus held a book reading and invited parents on May 23.

This was no ordinary book as it was written and illustrated by the kindergarten students themselves.

The hard cover book is titled “We Love Kindergarten” and featured what each student loved about kindergarten and an illustration from each student in the class.

“We need to celebrate that we are authors and illustrators and that the kids can do it,” Althaus said.

Each student and visitor enjoyed a popsicle as part of the special event.

Woodbury Elementary School students are pictured next to a new raised garden bed at the school.

A lesson in gardening is sprouting before the eyes of students at Woodbury Elementary School.

Students and staff planted two new raised garden beds and plants in pots at the school that were made possible through a One Step Garden grant from Hy-Vee.

“We are planting a salad garden and hope to have produce for the summer,” said Woodbury school nurse Elly Mack. “The students were very excited to get the plants in the ground.  We are watering and caring for them.”

After school is out, Kim Brinkmeyer from Iowa State Extension Center will visit Woodbury on Thursday mornings to have activities related to gardening and good health for students.  These free activities will take place from 9:30-11:00 a.m.

“We also have family and staff volunteers who will come throughout the week and water the plants, weed the garden and collect the produce,” Mack said. “We are excited for our first try at the school garden.”

Aside from the garden, students and staff have also planted 21 trees around the school, with help from Elly’s husband, Mark Mack.

Marshalltown High School freshman Jose Antonio Orozco Beltre has received a master certification in Microsoft Office programs.

Marshalltown High School freshman Jose Antonio Orozco Beltre often wears a T-shirt with the word “Determined” on it. That’s his approach to much of his school work.

It was also his approach as he became the first MHS master in the Microsoft Imagine Academy in certification with Microsoft Office programs. To become a master, students must pass tests on Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint as well as two other Word Expert tests.

“He just kept at it,” said MHS business teacher Ann Heying. “He was just determined and had a goal to be our first master at MHS.”

Jose said “it feels really good” to achieve this type of certification.

This is the third year of the Microsoft Imagine Academy at MHS (formerly IT Academy). It is funded through a grant from the Governor’s STEM Advisory Council.

A total of 88 students have earned the Microsoft Office specialist distinction this school year at MHS, passing a test on Word, Excel and Powerpoint. The Microsoft certification is offered in the Tech Apps II class at MHS.