Bobcats Making Headlines

More than 200 people attended the Marshalltown Schools preschool family night on April 14. The event was held at Lenihan Intermediate School with all current Marshalltown Schools preschool students and their families invited.

“The event was a success,” said Emily Banks, Preschool Program Coordinator for the Marshalltown Community School District. “We had students from all six elementary preschools and St. Paul’s four-year-old program.  It gave families an opportunity to interact with the preschool teachers, play games, eat pizza and enjoy activities.  We were able to highlight one of our STEM activities – a Bee BOT that students program using their coding skills. As the preschool students and their families left for the evening, they chose a free book, so they could continue learning at home.”

For more information on the preschool program in Marshalltown Schools, contact Emily Banks at 641-754-1000 or at ebanks@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

Awarded-winners from Marshalltown High School from the CIML conference art show held April 13 at Waukee High School are pictured. Front row, from left, Ashley Macbeth, Molly Bach and Anna Marie Carlson. Back row, Ellyn Boland, Tori Vaudt, Luis Hernandez and Michael Snyder. Not pictured is Rosi George.

Marshalltown High School art students competed in the CIML conference art show on April 13 at Waukee High School. Students from MHS placed in nine different categories and had a student take home the student choice award.

Award winners from MHS included: Ashley Macbeth, blue ribbon-student choice award; Molly Bach, blue ribbon-design; Anna Marie Carlson, honorable mention-ceramic sculpture; Ellyn Boland, honorable mention-printmaking; Tori Vaudt, honorable mention-acrylic painting and honorable ,ention-watercolor; Luis Hernandez, 2nd honorable mention-digital altered photo; Michael Snyder, honorable mention-graphic design; and Rosi George 2nd honorable mention-ceramics.

All MHS entrants in the CIML art show

Blue ribbon winners from MHS Ashley Macbeth, left and Molly Bach.

The Marshalltown High School football team will once again offer to do yard work and other spring cleaning tasks as part of the Rent-A-Bobcat fundraiser. Pictured are current players, from left, Jake Streeter, Kody Ricken and Avery Brooks.

Marshalltown High School
Bobcat Football 2016

2nd Annual “Rent-A-Bobcat” Spring Clean-Up

Saturday, April 23 and Saturday, May 7
8:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.

• Money raised will offset the costs of summer football camps for student-athletes who sign up to volunteer and to support the purchase of new equipment and uniforms.
•  Clean up dates are scheduled for April 23 and May 7. There will be two shifts, 8:00 a.m. – Noon and 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.
• Players will be available for hire to assist with tasks, such as yard work, cleaning, painting, and heavy lifting.
• Community members may hire two players for up to four hours @ $100 or four players up to four hours @ $200.
• Players can be hired in back to back blocks, if the players are available.
• To schedule workers contact Kate Lamb at klamb@marshalltown.k12.ia.us or phone 641-754-1142 in the High School Activities Office or Don Knock, Head Football Coach at dknock@marshalltown.k12.ia.us .

Miller Middle School students Trevor Ketcham, left, and Jay Drummer displayed at the science fair on April 1 at Iowa State University.

Six Marshalltown High School students traveled to Ames to compete at the Iowa State Science and Technology Fair held in ISU’s Hilton Coliseum on March 31. The following day, April 1, four Miller Middle School students competed in the junior high division of the science fair.  These students had spent the majority of the year designing and conducting independent experiments based on a scientific question they had posed. They shared the results of their research at the science fairs.

MHS entries:

In the Microbiology category:
Mary Drummer – “Effectiveness of Cinnamon Extract For Killing Pathogens in Fruit Juice”
Ben Harris and Hadley Wagner – “The Effects of Saliva on Bacteria”

In Behavioral Sciences:
Fatima Perez Negrete, Stella Roseburrough Borras, and Jane Ragland – “The Effects of Labels on Perceptions of Cake”

Mary earned honorable mention in the Microbiology category

Miller entries :

In Astronomy, Earth, and Environmental Sciences:
Isaac B. Lopez – “Effects of Blade Angle on Wind Turbine Energy Production.”
Jillian Lang – “Feel the Energy with Colors”

In Behavioral and Social Sciences:
Trevor Ketcham and Jay Drummer “Fontology: The Effect of Font on Student Achievement”

MHS students who displayed at the science fair at Iowa State include, front row, from left, Fatima Perez Negrete and Mary Drummer. Back row, Stella Roseburrough Borras, Jane Ragland, Hadley Wagner and Ben Harris.

Isaac B. Lopez from Miller Middle School

Jillian Lang from Miller Middle School

Marshalltown Police Officers AJ Accola, left, and Wyatt Shelangoski spoke to first graders at Hoglan Elementary School as part of a community helpers program at the school on April 12.

Community helpers converged on the four first grade classrooms at Hoglan Elementary School on April 12 to describe their jobs and answer questions from students.

The helpers included Dr. Kerri Metzger from McFarland Clinic, Dr. Ashley Ladehoff from Animal Clinic The Vet, Officers AJ Accola and Wyatt Shelangoski from the Marshalltown Police Department and Firefighters Jason Johnston, Kerri Larsen and Captain Scott Doe from the Marshalltown Fire Department.

Hoglan teacher Emily Templeton said the classes just finished up a unit about community helpers and they decided to invite these groups to help the students experience these helpers in real life.

Dr. Kerri Metzger from McFarland Clinic

Dr. Ashley Ladehoff from Animal Clinic The Vet

Kerri Larsen, left, and Jason Johnston from the Marshalltown Fire Department.

Teacher librarians Sue Cahill, left, of Woodbury Elementary School and Jeni Sloan of Hoglan Elementary School received Outstanding School Library awards from the Iowa Association of School Librarians on April 4.

Sue Cahill and Jeni Sloan, teacher librarians from the Marshalltown Community School District, have been recognized by the Iowa Association of School Librarians and received the Outstanding School Library Award at the IASL Conference in Des Moines on April 4, 2016.

Cahill is a teacher librarian at Woodbury Elementary School and Sloan is a teacher librarian at Hoglan Elementary School.

The Outstanding School Library Award recognizes school libraries from across the state of Iowa. Applicants must complete a checklist that demonstrates competence in four areas. These areas include: qualifications of staff, teaching and learning, library management and administrative support. An essay including the library mission, four exemplary moments from the library, and an explanation of how their school library has had a positive impact on student learning is also part of the application process.

“It is exciting to have teacher librarians from Marshalltown apply for and receive this award for the second year in a row,” said Alicia Patten, Fisher Elementary teacher librarian and IASL Awards Chair. “Both Sue and Jeni are advocates for school libraries and education. We are grateful for their dedication to students and libraries.”

MCSD teacher librarians Sue Inhelder, Erin Faas and Beth Steffa were recognized with the award last year.

Miller Middle School students Mackenzie Peter, left and Emily Diggins rehearse a scene from the upcoming production of “Charlotte’s Web.” The play will be held at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 at the Miller auditorium. Admission is free.

Miller Middle School students will present the spring play “Charlotte’s Web” at 7 p.m. on Thursday, April 14 in the Miller auditorium.

It is based on the children’s classic penned by E.B. White.  It is directed by Miller teacher Katie Sawer. Admission is free.

The cast and crew includes:

Cast:

Narrator         Samuel Wilder
Wilbur            Mackenzie Peter
Fern                Hailey Hovey
John                John Whitmore
Avery              Dakota Bills
Harriet            Savanna Calkins
Lurvy              Reena Pearson
Goose              Aurora Jennings
Gander           Nyapukah Gatwech
Sheep             Gabby Perez-Gonzalez
Templeton     Abby Murty
Charlotte        Emily Diggins
Mr. Carter      John Whitmore
Auntie             Dakota Bills
Spectator 1    Reena Pearson
Spectator 2    Samuel Wilder
President       Nyapukah Gatwech

Crew:

Donovan Gavagan                 Maggie Stansberry
Payton Eigenburger

Marshalltown High School Associate Principal Deb Holsapple displays a cap and gown. The school is looking for donations of used caps and gowns to allow those who can’t afford to buy new ones to participate in the graduation ceremony.

Marshalltown High School is seeking graduation cap and gowns to be used by future MHS graduates. Donations are sought of used cap and gowns as many graduates cannot afford to buy new ones.

“Our hope is to have some available for both male and female students who could not otherwise afford to purchase a cap and gown,” said Meredith Goldman, social worker at MHS. “We would like to eliminate this as a barrier to graduation ceremony participation.”

Cap and gown donations would need to match the current graduation colors. Anyone interested in donating can provide the cap and gown to Meredith Goldman at Marshalltown High School. For more information call her at 754-1130, extension 1077 or email mgoldman@marshalltown.k12.ia.us.

The 2016 graduation ceremony is at 2:30 p.m. on May 22 in the MHS Roundhouse.

Students from Marshalltown High School who participated in National History Day projects include, front row, from left, Ryne Downey and Jacqueline Wahl, Back row, Madeline Jelken, David Wahl and Victoria Johnson.

Miller Middle School and Marshalltown High School students competed in the National History Day AEA 267 West regional held at Central College in Pella on March 30. In NHD, students complete a research project centered around the current theme. This year’s theme is “Exploration, Encounter, Exchange in History.” After researching, students can work as individuals or groups to show their findings in the form of an exhibit, website, documentary, performance or research paper.

Students from MHS who competed were:

Jacqueline Wahl and Victoria Johnson – group exhibit -” The Telegraph: An Exploration of a New Information Exchange.”

Ryne Downey and David Wahl – group exhibit – “Encountering Conflict in the Exploration of Aviation: Wright Brothers vs Curtiss.”

Madeline Jelken – individual website – “Emma Goldman: The Great American Instigator.”

Jacqueline and Victoria were chosen as one of the top two entries in their category of group exhibit and will next compete at the state level on April 25 in Des Moines at the Iowa Events Center.

Ryne and David received “honorable mention” in their category.

Students competing from Miller Middle School were:

Mia Barajas, Molly Sickles and Kaylee Foth- group documentary- “Triumph through Tragedy:  Christa McAuliffe and the Teacher in Space Program.”

Victor Zavala Livengood- individual exhibit- “Lorenzo de Zavala.”

Mary Kate Gruening- individual website- “The Underground Railroad.”

Emily Manis & Laura Arneson- group exhibit- “The Orphan Trains.”

Emily and Laura received “honorable mention” in their category.

These students all completed their projects as part of the Extended Learning Programs at MHS and MMS.

Miller Middle School students Emily Manis, left and Laura Arneson are pictured with their award-winning National History Day project titled “The Orphan Trains.” The duo won an honorable mention at the regional event held March 30 at Central College in Pella.

Representatives from Marshalltown High School’s Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) group received an award from Governor Terry Branstad on April 6 in Des Moines. Pictured, from left, are MHS Principal Jacque Wyant, MHS teacher Laurie Rink, Mike McDermott and Meagan Dorsch (from sponsor Verizon), Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds, Colin Lura, Chu Htoo, Branstad, Deshonna Garth, Triston Cullor, Bobby Dennis (ACCESS) and Angel Ramirez.

Marshalltown High School was recognized as one of 11 high schools in the state for its implementation of the Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) program on April 6.

The program trains students at MHS to serve as mentors for freshmen. It started at MHS this school year and has grown to 64 mentors.

The recognition ceremony was held at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden and featured Governor Terry Branstad, Lieutenant Governor Kim Reynolds and Alan Heisterkamp from the University of Northern Iowa Center for Violence Prevention.

MHS students in attendance who are part of MVP included Angel Ramirez, Colin Lura, Chu Htoo, Triston Cullor and Deshonna Garth.

Accompanying the group was MHS Principal Jacque Wyant, teacher Laurie Rink, Bobby Dennis of ACCESS (Assault Care Center Extending Shelter & Support) and Mike Schlesinger of the Times-Republican, who is involved in the Not In Our Town anti-bullying initiative.

Rink said the student mentorship program has really made a difference at MHS.

“They are taking serious that they are having an influence on freshmen,” Rink said.

Prior to the recognition luncheon, the group of students and two MHS staff members made a stop at the State Capitol building to learn about the legislative process and tour the iconic structure.