Bobcats Making Headlines

Marshalltown High School senior Mai Mome, center, was reunited with her parents recently after 10 years apart. Pictured with her are her father Aye Maung Maung and mother San Mya Mya. Mai Mome fled Burma as a refugee.

Mai Mome fled Burma as a political refugee with her brothers and had to leave her parents behind 10 years ago. She spent time in refugee camps in Malaysia and Thailand.

She eventually arrived in the United States and then in Marshalltown with her two brothers in March 2013 and enrolled in Marshalltown High School. Mai arrived knowing only how to speak Burmese and has worked her way into a National Honor Society student at MHS. The English Learner program at MHS has helped her through this process.

Earlier this month, she was reunited with her parents Aye Maung Maung (father) and San Mya Mya (mother) after 10 years apart as her parents were finally able to complete the immigration process to the United States.

At first Mai Mome didn’t recognize her parents at O’Hare Airport in Chicago.

“Finally, we saw them and we were all crying,” Mai Mome said. “It’s like a dream.”

Her parents are proud to see their daughter plans to graduate from MHS this May and wants to study nursing at Marshalltown Community College.

“They are happy and proud that I can go to high school and graduate and get a better life,” Mai said.

Mai has been trying to help other refugees get acclimated to the community because she knows how tough it is. She works as a community navigator and helps translate at the Ethnic Minorities of Burma Advocacy and Resource Center (EMBARC) in Marshalltown.
“I’ve been there so I know what they need and how they feel,” Mai Mome said of helping other refugees.

On March 18, Mai brought her parents to meet her science teacher at MHS, Mike Loupee. Loupee had glowing things to say about his student.
“I am proud of you,” Loupee told her as he met her parents.

Marshalltown High School senior Mai Mome talks to her parents and MHS science teacher Mike Loupee during a visit to the school on March 18.

Other MHS staff remark on Mai Mome

Meri Edel, counselor:
“Mai Mome has been an exemplary member of National Honor Society. She completes many service projects for the community cheerfully and willingly. She is conscientious about attending meetings, or, if she cannot due to other commitments, she always comes and speaks to me face-to-face. She spent a semester in the Counseling Office as a pass runner for us and did a fantastic job. She is reliable, smart, kind and honest.

Samantha Nolte, English Learner teacher:
“She has definitely grown as a learner.”

Kathi Hale, English teacher: “She is in my English 12 class and talked often about her trip to pick up her parents. She was so excited to see them. Her responsibilities as a student are met with confidence and skill. She is the best!”

Brenda Sjoblom, math teacher:
“Mai Mome is in my Algebra 2 class and she does an exceptional job! She is super conscientious and goes out of her way to make sure she talks to me every day even if it is just a ‘see you.’ She advocates for herself and is not afraid to ask questions.
Last week when she knew she was going to miss class to make the trip to Chicago to pick up her parents she made up everything she was going to miss while she was gone before she actually left. That included a quiz and a test. She came up with the plan to come in the Friday afternoon of conferences and worked.
She always diligently takes notes during class and utilizes them while she is working on the assignment. Great work ethic!
I can’t say enough good things about Mai. She is a great girl.”

Woodbury Elementary School fourth graders Daniel Corona and Destiny Perez are pictured with the new Tubano drum at the school. It was purchased via a donation made to Iowa schools from actor and Iowa native Ashton Kutcher.

Hollywood actor Ashton Kutcher has not forgotten his Iowa roots, which is a good thing for students at Woodbury Elementary School in Marshalltown.

Kutcher announced recently he was funding 131 Iowa school projects listed on the donation website DonorsChoose.org. On that list was the request of a $300 Tubano drum from Woodbury music teacher Sarah Wherry. Wherry originally thought it was a hoax when she received the notification her request had been funded.

“It’s super cool,” she said.

Wherry received the African percussion instrument this week and it’s already in use in her teaching of world music at the school. The reaction from the students has been positive.

“They’re pretty excited,” Wherry said.

In a video released online, Kutcher said his teachers made him who he is today so he wanted to support classrooms in Iowa. Many celebrities donated to schools across the country through DonorsChoose.org earlier this month in what they called #BestSchoolDay.

To view the video from Kutcher talking about his donation to Iowa schools, visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1ydU6ZBK8U

Lenihan Intermediate School students are participating in a book swap this week at the school.

Lenihan Intermediate School students have looked over tables full of books in excitement this week in room 302.

The students took part in a book swap as they donated their own books and were able to choose different books to take home. Hundreds of books were available for the students, which were also donated by Lenihan staff.

With spring break starting March 24, Lenihan instructional coach Erica Finders said this is a perfect time to get books in the hands of students.

“So they can read these books over break,” Finders said.

This is the first time Lenihan has had a book swap and it came about from an idea from a teacher. Finders said they hope to offer a similar book swap before summer break.

The Marshalltown High School Jazz Band/Show Choir Blast is Tuesday, March 22 at 7 p.m. at the MHS/Community Auditorium. Admission is $5 Adults/$3 Students (K-8); Activity passes will be honored.

The concert will feature both MHS Jazz II, under the direction of Brett Umthun, and MHS Jazz I, under the direction of Bret Lee, each performing several selections.

The concert will conclude with the MHS Show Choir and Show Band, South Side Transit, performing their full competition set from this season. Choir director is Amy Ose.

Lenihan Intermediate School students took part in a dodgeball tournament at the school on March 18.

Lenihan Intermediate School held a March Madness-style dodgeball tournament over two days at the school recently. The tournament was in celebration of meeting goals in grades, behavior and attendance.

Mr. Raul Arevalo’s homeroom class won the fifth grade and Mr. Brandon Goldman’s homeroom class won the sixth grade tournament.

Lenihan Physical Education teacher Matt Butler said this tournament helped motivate students in the third quarter of the school year to reach goals that were set.

“This event really pushes the students to do well,” Butler said.

Jean Klosterman, right, of the Marshall County Farm Bureau talks to families at Rogers Elementary School during healthy learning night on March 17.

Rogers Elementary School held a healthy learning night as part of its Family Learning Center on March 17. The event featured information on Rogers school programs then rolled into a fitness and nutrition fair, which drew dozens of people.

The informational portion of the event featured information on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) from school counselor Mark Church, Title I reading from teachers LuAnn Lura and Chris Lester Tullis and an online fitness program from physical education teacher Nicole Boliver.

The fitness and nutrition fair featured displays from Central Iowa Healthcare dieticians, a Hy-Vee dietician, Iowa State University Extension, Marshall County Farm Bureau and Mid-Iowa Community Action. Displays focused on healthy eating ideas.

The event was part of the Carol M. White Physical Education Program (PEP) grant for health and fitness.

Cast members from the Marshalltown High School spring musical “Mary Poppins” are pictured during a dress rehearsal. In the front row, from left, are Nick Cooper as Bert, Lexi Jones as Mary Poppins, Frank Iole as Michael Banks and Bell Russell as Jane Banks. The show is Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19, both at 7 p.m at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

Marshalltown High School will present the spring musical “Mary Poppins” on Friday, March 18 and Saturday, March 19, both at 7 p.m. at the MHS/Community Auditorium.

The musical focuses on the arrival of the magical nanny Mary Poppins to the uptight Banks family. It is based on the popular Disney movie and a series of children’s books by P.L. Travers.

MHS senior Lexi Jones plays Mary Poppins. Other lead characters include Nick Cooper as Bert, Jacob Rachuy as Mr. George Banks, Hannah Shirar as Mrs. Winifred Banks, Frank Iole as Michael Banks and Bell Russell as Jane Banks.

The musical is directed by Marshalltown High School teacher Rebecca Erickson. It will include a pit orchestra under the direction of MHS teacher Brett Umthun. Teacher Amy Ose serves as the vocal director.

Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children (kindergarten through eighth grade) with activity tickets honored.

Cast
Bert……….Nick Cooper
Mary Poppins……..Lexi Jones
George Banks……..Jacob Rachuy
Winifred Banks……..Hannah Shirar
Michael Banks………Frank Iole
Jane Banks………….Bell Russell
Katie Nanna…………Carissa King
Mrs. Brill………………Isabella Pedersen
Miss Lark……………..Erin Duffy
Robertson Ay………..Trey Quick
Bank Chairman………David Braga
Von Hussler…………..Ben Heckner
Northbrook…………….Luke Pedersen
Bird Woman………….Eva Hernandez
Mrs. Corry…………….Kassie Wilkins
Miss Andrew………….Sydnie Wohlert
Statue………………….Damond Jones
Policeman…………….Matt Waldon
Neleus…………………Trey Quick

Ensemble, Toys, Bank Clerks, Customers, Park Goers, Chimney Sweeps:
Amber Bullock, Mackenzie Moyer, Olivia Stone, Matt Waldon, Ben Heckner, Trey Quick, Luke Pedersen, Isabella Pedersen, Damond Jones, Carissa King, Sydnie Wohlert, Hadley Wagner, Erin Duffy, Ashley Macbeth, Eva Hernandez

Pit Orchestra
Director…..Brett Umthun
Piano Accompaniment……..Brianna Yates
Keyboard…………….Annie Grieshop
Reed 1………….Mary Sutton
Reed 2………….Jacqueline Wahl
Reed 3…………..Krystal Randall
Trumpet 1……….Bret Lee
Trumpet 2……….Jordan Smiley
Horn 1…………….Heather Lee
Horn 2…………….Olivia Arneson
Trombone 1……..Collin Krukow
Trombone 2………Cole Keeler
Cello………………..Ryan Anderson
Bass………………..Victoria Johnson
Percussion 1……….Joshua Arment
Percussion 2………David Barlow

Crew
Director…………Rebecca Erickson
Vocal Director…..Amy Ose
Choreographer. …Amanda Loomis
Stage Manager……..Julieta Cano
Assistant Stage Manager………..Valerie Ramirez
Light Board………….Anna Marie Carlson
Assistant Light Board……..Jaimen Rivera
Sounds Board……….Madeline Jelken
Stage Crew………….Mollie McLain, Kaelin Lents, Ben Harrison, Jocelin Guzman

The Marshalltown Community School District Board of Education has selected McPherson & Jacobson, L.L.C., Executive Recruitment and Development to assist in the important task of selecting superintendent candidates for the board to interview.

Community members are invited to provide valuable input into determining the qualities of the next superintendent. The community meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, March 29 at 5:30 p.m. in the Marshalltown High School/Community Auditorium. Consultants from the search firm will be present to gather input from the community. This meeting is open to any patron who wishes to provide input. Spanish interpreters will be available.

Individuals who are unable to attend one of the public meetings will have the option to respond to the same input questions online. These questions will be available at www.macnjake.com or the Marshalltown Community School District website under the link “Superintendent Search” on the homepage or at www.marshalltown.k12.ia.us/search.html . The questions will be online from March 29 through April 5.

Information on the search timeline and other details about the search process is currently on the Marshalltown Schools website.

Three leaders in the Marshalltown Police Department spoke about their careers to students in the Extended Learning Program at Lenihan Intermediate School on March 15. Pictured from left, are Sergeant Rick Bellile, Chief Mike Tupper and Captain Chris Jones.

Three leaders in the Marshalltown Police Department stopped by Lenihan Intermediate School on March 15 to take part in the Extended Learning Program’s monthly after school career chat.

Chief Mike Tupper, Captain Chris Jones and Sergeant Rick Bellile talked to the students about life as a member of the police department.

“All of us got into law enforcement for about the same reason – we wanted to help people,” Tupper said.

All three said being in law enforcement is very rewarding work, as they are able to make a difference is people’s lives. They also love that every day is different, which can make it both challenging and exciting.

The three also talked about some of their most challenging incidents, how they use science to solve crimes and how being a police officer is not like what is portrayed on television.

On the topic of careers, Tupper told the students to follow their passion. “Find something that you are passionate about and that you love to do,” he said.

Career chat is organized by ELP teacher Vanessa Engel.

State Individual Speech Contest competitors from Marshalltown High School include: front row, from left, Isabella Pedersen and Mackenzie Moyer. Back row, Megan Emerson, Elliot Weidenaar and Hadley Wagner. State was held at North Scott High School in Eldridge on March 12.

Five Marshalltown High School students had successful showings at the State Individual Speech Contest on March 12 at North Scott High School in Eldridge, hosted by the Iowa High School Speech Association.

Senior Megan Emerson received Division 1 ratings in original oratory and poetry. Senior Elliot Weidenaar received an overall Division 1 rating in literary program. Junior Isabella Pedersen received Division 1 ratings in original oratory and Division 2 ratings in solo musical theater. Sophomore Hadley Wagner received a Division 2 overall rating in solo musical theater. Freshman Mackenzie Moyer received Division 2 ratings in after dinner speaking.

The group qualified for state after all receiving Division 1 ratings at the district speech contest held at MHS on February 27.

The group is coached by MHS teachers Brianna Yates and Jocelyn Frohwein. Yates said while none of the MHS students received the all-state designation at state this year, they still did a great job.

“It was a fun day,” Yates said.