High school students share State Science Fair projects
Marshalltown High School students Maddison Wignall and Molly Finn told the Board about their experiences presenting research at the State Science & Technology Fair of Iowa.
MHS Extended Learning Program teacher Susan Fritzell told the Board the students have worked all year on their research and were selected out of 100 projects to be presented in seminar. Each placed sixth in their divisions.
At the State Science Fair Wignall also was an honorable mention in the medicine and health category and Finn placed second in physics.
Wignall researched the effects of contact lens solution on the antibacterial properties of natural tears. Finn researched the effects of arm size and placement on a dancer’s pirouette turns.
Their research will be on display in MHS Room 106 during the Community Open House Thursday, April 14.
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MHS Community Night 2011
Marshalltown High Schools is once again opening its doors for Community Open House Thursday, April 14, 2011, from 1 to 7 p.m.
This is the second annual Community Open House, a chance for parents and community members to tour the school, see learning in action, and take part in a variety of activities that illustrate the wide array of services and opportunities MHS has to offer.
During the school day (1-3:30 p.m.) there will be opportunities to observe classes in session. Beginning at 4 p.m. there will be information booths from community agencies, as well as information about MHS programs like dual credit and the Healthy Kids Act. The MHS Library will also host the Scholastic Book Fair from 4 to 7 p.m.
From 4 to 7 there will also be activities throughout the building, including a school history scavenger hunt, plant sale, I-JAG bake sale, and fine arts demonstrations to name a few. The Student Senate and Bobcat Boosters will also have Bobcat gear for sale.
Tours will be available throughout the day.
All guests will be entered in a drawing to win a 2011-2012 Bobcat Activity Pass and those completing a brief survey will receive a free ticket to the Bobcat Boys Soccer home games that evening.
More details can be found at http://www.marshalltown.k12.ia.us/mhs/believe.html
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Budget approved
The Board of Education approved an $89 million budget for 2011-2012.
The budget leaves the tax rate at $17.84 per $1000 taxable valuation and is based on 0 percent allowable growth from the state legislature.
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District joins Urban Education Network as associate member
The Board approved joining the Urban Education Network as an associate member Monday night.
The UEN is comprised of the eight largest school districts in Iowa. By becoming an associate member MCSD is able to participate in lobbying efforts, attend the annual meeting, and have job alike opportunities for administrators to shadow individuals in similar roles in other large districts.
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Bids approved for MHS second floor classroom addition
Hay Construction was awarded the contract to build the second floor classroom addition at Marshalltown High School Monday night.
Hay had the lowest bid at $1.7 million. Work will begin as soon as school is out this spring.
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Bids approved for MHS west entrance landscaping work
The Board approved a project to improve the landscaping near the main entrance to Marshalltown High School.
Graff Landscaping, LLC, of Toledo was awarded the project to remove existing turf and install professional grade paving brick landscaping to three green areas at the west main entrance. Red color brick will be used to spell out MHS BOBCATS in the design.
All work is scheduled for completion before the start of school in the fall. The cost is $36,400.
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Notes from the Superintendent
By Dr. Marvin Wade, Superintendent of Schools
This evening the Board accepted an invitation for the Marshalltown Community School District to become an Associate Member of the Urban Education Network of Iowa (UEN).
Establishing this relationship with the UEN does not affect our affiliation with the Iowa Association of School Boards or School Administrators of Iowa – it merely provides us an opportunity to work more formally and closely with other districts having similar demographics and challenges. Partnering with the eight largest school districts in the state will allow us to benefit from a shared lobby, work sessions around timely issues, and job-alike meetings with peers having comparable responsibilities in the other districts.
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Notes from the Board
By Kay Beach, Board President
It was both entertaining and encouraging to listen to MHS science students Maddison Wignall and Molly Finn as they described their Science Fair projects this evening. These young ladies are prime examples of the opportunities that our high school students have to go above and beyond the basic scope of their classroom studies. Their presentations were based on questions from their own inquiring minds about their own lives. They brought science from the realm of the academic to the practical; they brought relevance to their education. They are prime examples of what can happen when young minds are engaged in their classroom experiences. They are members of the student body at Marshalltown High School—where it is quite possible to achieve both education and distinction!
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The Board Report 