Bobcats Making Headlines

Emerson/Fisher employee Samuel Ibarra tutors math to students at Lenihan Intermediate school on Feb. 23. Emerson/Fisher staff visit Lenihan weekly as part of this tutoring program started this school year.

A new tutoring program is bringing business professionals and sixth graders together for shared learning and community connections.

A group of 26 Emerson Process Management/Fisher Division staff, mainly from the Governor Road plant, visit Lenihan Intermediate School weekly to tutor reading and math to several sixth graders. This initiative started as a community effort project from Emerson/Fisher led by school board member Ross Harris of Emerson/Fisher, his co-worker, Lynn Jensen, and Lynn’s wife, Connie Jensen, a paraeducator at Lenihan.

Lenihan teachers are reporting increased student achievement scores in reading and math in part due to the tutoring.

Building relationships
Aside from the learning, Lenihan teacher Brandon Goldman said students get a chance to ask questions of the volunteers about their jobs and realize what they are learning applies in the business world. “They’re building great relationships with community members,” Goldman said.

Emerson/Fisher staff are also reaping the benefits of the program, according to Lynn Jensen.
“They love it,” he said. “It’s invigorating for them. They all come back smiling.”

Lynn Jensen said the program was started on the belief of giving back to the community.
“I’ve always been a strong believer that we need to give back to our community,” he said.

Program growth
Harris and Lynn Jensen are looking for continued growth in this program in volunteers from Emerson/Fisher.
“Next year I hope we can get 30 to 40 people out here to volunteer,” Harris said.

Harris also would like to encourage other businesses in town to start similar tutoring programs at other schools in Marshalltown.

Members of the leadership team of the Marshalltown Area Health Careers Club from Marshalltown High School are pictured at health careers high school in San Antonio earlier this month.

Nine Marshalltown High School students who have leadership roles in the Marshalltown Area Health Careers Club made a trip to San Antonio to learn more about health career options on Feb. 1-7.

Led by MHS Dean of Students Dan Terrones and other MHS staff member Meredith Goldman, the group took a road trip to the Texas city.

One main stop in San Antonio was a health careers high school (Northside),which serves 850 students. This school provides a route for those looking to get into health careers.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for them,” MHS student Gaby Hernandez said of the students at that high school.

Fellow MHS student Carrie Heddens agreed.
“It showed how many different career paths are out there,” Heddens said.

The students hope to bring back some of the things they learned at the health careers high school to MHS.

“We are going to see what we can incorporate at Marshalltown High School,” Terrones said.

The group also saw health careers in action at a military hospital, the Center for the Intrepid.

Bonding time

The group also made time for some fun, whether at Sea World or dancing on the famed San Antonio River Walk. These activities helped the group build stronger bonds.
“We were all friends before we went on the trip but we are better friends now,” said student Samantha Lammert.

The MHS counseling office is working to provide career paths for students focusing on the medical field, so they can get a focus on this work in high school.

Community partnerships

The Health Careers Club also has strong community partnerships, especially with Central Iowa Healthcare, which funded the trip, and with McFarland Clinic and Iowa Valley Community College District.
Terrones said there is a community need for jobs in the medical field and the over 40 members of Health Careers Club continue to learn about what’s out there.

“Clearly, we know that there are many unfilled jobs out there in the medical field,” Terrones said.
The group also plans to present some ideas to the school board at a future meeting.

Amanda Thill reads a book with her daughter Averie during the Cafe Hoglan event at Hoglan Elementary School on Feb. 19.

Café Hoglan, a before school gathering of parents and students for reading and a light breakfast, returned to the school on Feb. 19.

The event drew 90 parents and other visitors. Parents were able to read books with the students and learn more about what goes on in the classrooms from their teachers. Free books were also handed out at the event for students to take home.

There was also a session for parents to learn more about the school.

Registration for preschool and kindergarten students in the Marshalltown Community School District for the 2016-17 school year will be from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 27, 2016 during the Healthy Family Fair at the Marshalltown Mall (2500 S. Center St.).

Preschool registration is for children 4 years old on or before Sept. 15, 2016. Kindergarten registration is for children 5 years old on or before Sept. 15, 2016.

Preschool
For preschool there is no registration fee or monthly tuition. Bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate. Preschool is offered in the morning or afternoon four days a week at all Marshalltown elementary schools and at St. Paul’s.

Kindergarten
For kindergarten registration there is a $40 registration fee (cash or check only). Bring a copy of the child’s birth certificate and immunization records.

For more information on this registration, visit the Marshalltown Schools website at www.marshalltown.k12.ia.us or call 641-754-1000. Registration for grades 1-12 will be in June.

Emerson/Fisher professionals, from left, Rachel Kenney, Leah Stanley and Cherra Meloy talked to students at Lenihan Intermediate School on Feb. 16. The presentation was part of a Career Chat series at the school.

Three professionals from Emerson/Fisher talked about their careers and their company to Extended Learning students at Lenihan Intermediate School on Feb. 16 as part of Career Chat.

Rachel Kenney, Cherra Meloy and Leah Stanley presented history about the company, talked about their roles and gave advice for the students.

Kenney is North America Parts Manager, Meloy is Senior Materials Engineer and Stanley is Rotary Products Marketing Director for the control valve company.

As part of their talk, the group presented what they called “skills for success.” They told the students these skills are: to sharpen written communication, presentation skills, work well with people, learn problem solving and a foreign language.

Kenney told the students one of the keys to finding a fulfilling career is following their passion.

“Find something you love and that you’re passionate about and the rest of it will fall into place,” Kenney said.

Career Chat is organized by Lenihan Extended Learning Program teacher Vanessa Engel.

Teams sharing first place in the Lenihan Intermediate School gravity cruiser challenge are pictured with their cruisers and trophies on Feb. 12. Pictured, from left, are Blake Jensen, Dayanara Martinez, Lizbeth Mora Montiel, Eric Ocegueda, Rogelio Garcia, Victor Bravo, Rylie McMullen, Lisbeth Santacruz and Brealyn Anderson.

Lenihan Intermediate School sixth graders took part in the gravity cruiser challenge on Feb. 12 in the school’s gym. The challenge had groups of students building gravity cruisers, a prototype toy as part of a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) project in their science classes.

The students competed to see how far each of the cruisers could travel using a lever and weight system.

“Our students spent approximately six weeks working in groups to design and build a prototype toy for a fictitious toy company,” said Jenny Allen, instructional coach at Lenihan. “The most challenging, and frustrating, aspect of this project was figuring out how to power the toy with a lever and weight system.”

First place finishers in the categories of morning science class and afternoon science class were awarded trophies, while second through seventh place finishers in each category were awarded ribbons.

Taking first place in the challenge were three teams including students Blake Jensen, Dayanara Martinez, Lizbeth Mora Montiel, Eric Ocegueda, Rogelio Garcia, Victor Bravo, Rylie McMullen, Lisbeth Santacruz and Brealyn Anderson.

George Funk waves as he poses for photos during the Roundhouse court dedication ceremony for the former coach and athletic director on Feb. 12.

Stories were shared and a storied history of Bobcat athletics was celebrated during the Marshalltown High School basketball games on Feb. 12. It was the 51st anniversary of the first game ever played in the MHS Roundhouse.

A highlight of the Roundhouse celebration was the dedication of the court to former athletic director, boys basketball coach and Bobcat legend George Funk. Funk coached the boys basketball team for 26 years (1963-1989) and was athletic director for 31 years (1968-1999).

Several members of the state champion 1966 Bobcat team coached by Funk were in attendance and joined him at midcourt during the dedication ceremony. Dozens of other alumni came to the event as well to see Funk, who inspired so many Bobcats through the years.

George Funk Court is now in script at two ends of the court. It will be permanently painted this summer. Roundhouse renovation donors were also recognized at the celebration.

To view a video of the dedication ceremony, click here.

Kynlie Ladehoff receives congratulations from Principal Jacy Large during the Miller Middle School academic awards night at the school on Feb. 11.

Hundreds of students from Miller Middle School were honored for academic excellence and perfect attendance during a special awards night on Feb. 11.

Seventh and eighth grade students who have earned a B average in the first semester and those who had all A’s in the first semester were honored.  Students who had perfect attendance throughout the semester were also recognized. The event was hosted by Miller Principal Jacy Large and counselor Rachel Meckley in the Miller Auditorium.

The night also included music by the Miller Jazz Band led by Michael Albarracin, and student videos from KBRM and Bobcat News facilitated by staff members Lucas Johnson and Lindsey Roberts.

On Feb. 12, 1965 the Marshalltown High School Roundhouse hosted its first basketball game, with the Bobcats taking on Ames.
In honor of the 51st anniversary and as a way to celebrate the renovated Roundhouse, there will be special events on Feb. 12, 2016 as part of the girls and boys basketball games that night against Ames.

Funk recognition
A special recognition will be held between the varsity girls and boys games at approximately 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12. The ceremony will be held to name the court in honor of Bobcat athletics legend George Funk. Funk is the former boys basketball coach and athletic director who was instrumental in moving Bobcat athletics forward in many ways. There will also be a recognition event of Renovate the Roundhouse donors in between varsity games.

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS – MHS Roundhouse
Friday, Feb. 12
Roundhouse tours available before and during games
4:45 p.m. – Junior varsity girls basketball game vs. Ames
6:15 p.m. – Varsity girls basketball game vs. Ames
7:30 p.m. – Recognize “It’s Our House” donors and George Funk court dedication ceremony
7:45 p.m. – Varsity boys basketball game vs. Ames
Halftime of boys game – Recognition of Bobcat alumni

Saturday, Feb. 13
4 – 5:30 p.m. – Tours and shoot-around at the Roundhouse

Lenihan Intermediate School honor roll students are congratulated by staff members during a special recognition ceremony on Feb. 9 in the Marshalltown High School/Community Auditorium.

Lenihan Intermediate School held an event to honor hundreds of students on the honor roll during its annual “Hats Off To Our Scholars” event on Feb. 9 at the Marshalltown High School/Community Auditorium.

The event featured students on the gold honor roll (who had all A’s on semester grades) and the silver honor roll (all A’s and B’s) from grades fifth and sixth.

The event was hosted by Lenihan Principal Kyle Young, who told the students he was proud of them.

Several other members of the Lenihan staff shook hands with the honor roll students on stage as their names were announced. A full house crowd of family and friends witnessed the event.