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Mason City Community School District |
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New Opportunities in Welding Come to Mason City High School
Thanks to the collaborative effort from local community partners, Assa Abloy/Curries, Stellar Manufacturing, and IMT Mason City High School will launch a new welding program set to start in the second semester of the 2023-2024 school year.
Recognizing the growing demand for skilled trades and the importance of providing educational opportunities, these community leaders have generously contibutued resources, expertise, and support to establish a state-of-the-art welding program at Mason City High School.
The program aims to equip students with hands-on experience in welding techniques, safety protocols, and industry-specific skills. The goals of all parties involved are for students to get hands-on knowledge that can help prepare them for existing jobs in North Iowa and give them the critical thinking skills to help them in an ever-changing job environment.
Our business partners believe in investing in the future workforce and providing students with pathways to success. Mason City Schools and our community partners hope to bridge the gap between education and industry needs, ensuring students are well-prepared for careers in welding and manufacturing.
This collaborative effort underscores the commitment of these businesses to the communities they serve and their dedication to the students and families of North Iowa.
As a school system, we are excited about the new welding program's opportunities for students, emphasizing the importance of industry partnerships and many opportunties in the North iowa area for Mason City High School graduates.
Mason City Community Schools is grateful to Assa Abloy/Curries, Stellar Manufacturing, and IMT for supporting our new welding program. This program will not only enhance our students' educational experiences, but also contribute to the economic vitality of North Iowa. The collaboratioin between school district and these community partners exemplifies the power of partnerships in fostering educational opportunities and workforce development.
Sincerely,
Pat Hamilton
Superintendent of Schools
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In an effort to be prepared for upcoming winter weather, Mason City Community School District will be sending a TEST alert via email, text, call on Wednesday, December 7, 2023 at NOON to all parents/guardians and MCCSD staff listed in Powerschool.
If you do NOT receive the TEST alert and feel you should have, please contact your student's building office to update your contact information.
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Riverhawks Flying High Feature | |
Salvador Montes-Clausen, an 8th grade student at John Adams Middle School, has been honored as Iowa's Youth Citizen of Character for 2023 by the Iowa Character Award. | |
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The Iowa Character Award recognizes Iowans of exceptional character as displayed through consistent and noteworthy contributions to society. The award was established in 2005 by the Gov. Robert D. and Bille Ray Center at Drake University, which is also home to the Character Counts! Program. Click HERE for more information.
Salvador is among the youngest recipients of the award, which is open to youth ages 10-19; and is believed to be the first recipient of an Iowa Character Award from Mason City. The MCHS Student Senate received an Honorable Mention as a Student Organization of Character in 2022, for their work to guide the student body, faculty and staff through the process of selecting a new mascot.
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Salvador has been actively involved in community efforts toward inclusion, diversity and equality since early childhood, including volunteerism and public speaking in a variety of settings that combines their personal experiences with their vision for a better, kinder world.
Despite being so young, Salvador has already spent years advocating for a more inclusive, diverse, and equitable community through organizations such as Mason City Voices for Inclusion. Their efforts include researching and writing speeches to educate audicences on issues of concern, and meeting with elected officials and candidates to advocate for equality.
At John Adams Middle School, Salvador was recently elected to serve as iJAG president and is active in orchestra, student council, chess club, science club, and was selected to sing in the North Central Iowa Honor Choir this fall. Outside of school, Salvador is active in programs at Stebens Children's Theater, MacNider Art Museum, The North Iowa Youth Center, and enjoys drawing, beadwork, and piano. Salvador is also currently writing and illustrating a graphic novel about his experiences as a middle school student and youth activitst.
As a child of a former international human rights worker and a Central American civil war refugee, Salvador hopes to participate in study or volunteer abroad opportunties some day. He is also very interested in interfaith dialogue, world languages and cultures, genetics and bioethics, and global human rights as possible areas for future study.
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Congratulations to Salvador on this incredible achievement and honor. We are so proud of your accomplishments and hard work. | |
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Students in Ms. Cronbaugh's 3rd grade class at Harding Elementary recently earned a special treat. They have been working super hard on their iReady math lessons so they could fill the "mug." In order to do that, they needed to pass 100 lessons at 100%. DONE!
To celebrate, students enjoyed hot cocoa and had fun ordering "Starbucks Style."
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Hoover Elementary held their November PBIS Assembly on Tuesday, November 21. We have been practicing our PBIS expectations in all of our classrooms. Any student who had not received a referral for the month of October had their name entered into a drawing to PIE A TEACHER OR STAFF MEMBER! The students whose names were drawn got to choose who they wanted to PIE!
The assembly also included celebrating our fall fundraiser success. The top-selling individuals and classes were announced.
The following classrooms received awards:
3rd - Miss Fredrickson's Class - Popcorn Party
2nd - Miss Goosen's Class - Ice Cream Treat Party
1st - Mrs. Markwardt's Class - Pizza Party
We reached our fundraiser goal and the money raised will be used to purchase picnic tables for the courtyard and new recess equipment for snow and games! Thank you to all who participated and supported us!
To close our assembly, any student who sold at least one fundraising item had their name entered into a drawing for the PRINCIPAL LIMO FOR A DAY and they all got to take part in DUCT TAPING MRS. GRIMM TO THE WALL!!
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Jefferson goes Casual for a Cause!
The month of December, Jefferson staff are offered the option to go Casual for a Cause for a donation to a local organization or charity. The staff pay $30 to wear jeans to work for the month of December. This year, those funds are going to MC Market. Both Jefferson and Roosevelt have an MC Market, which is a mini food pantry that helps to supply food to families over each weekend. Students take a rolling suitcase filled with food they can have at home. Families are always thankful for the assistance. Jefferson Elementary was able to donate $715 to MC Market for the holiday season. If you or someone you know would like to give back this holiday season to provide for local children click HERE.
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John Adams Middle School students in Ms. Johnson's computer science class recently did a unit focusing on coding Drones to fly. The first lesson was simply an aerial show. Students had to set codes so the drones would fly in a given area and not run into anything. They programmed the drones to do flips, move forward, backwards, up, down, turn, and rotate. The expectation was for students to write a program that flew the drone for one to two minutes while performing these movements. | |
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Students were then challenged to program the drone to take off and land in particular spots in order to form the shape of a triangle, and then a square.
The third lesson required students to program the drone to fly through two hula hoops, turn 180 degrees, and then fly back through the hoops before landing at the starting point. Some of the students added flips to their program to add a little excitement. Others challenged themselves and programmed the drones to fly through four hoops, making multiple turns, and establishing just the right speed and distance to make it through.
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The fourth and final lesson allowed the students to free fly the drones. They could set up an obstacle course or just learn how to fly the drone manually.
Students used a drag and drop program called Tynker to establish their code. They had to determine the speed to set their drone, how many seconds it would take to fly from one point to another, turns, and how to avoid collisions with objects. Ms. Johnson was pleased with how well the students did with learning coding, speed, and timing of the drones. The students thoroughly enjoyed this unit and learned so much about not just flying a drone, but everything involved in making that happen!
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Lincoln Intermediate
The Lincoln Intermediate 6th graders built structures out of spaghetti and marshmallows. They tested them in a simulated earthquake on a shake table. Students used a number of skills which included teamwork, creativity, and problem solving!
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Lincoln Intermediate would also like to recognize that our food service staff is so great! They go above and beyond to ensure each one of our students is not hungry, is healthy, and has a good day. It takes one caring adult to connect students at school and we have connection builders in all of our spaces. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to our students! | |
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Pictured left to right: Samantha Billings, Vickie Dietrich, Teresa Logan, Tara Hill,
Valerie Olson, Cindy Alm-Lipp
Not pictured: Sheri Hickey
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Mason City Alternative School | |
The Mason City Alternative School held its annual Thanksgiving Feast before break. Good food and great company were enjoyed by all who attended! | |
In parts of Germany, St. Nicholas Day is celebrated on December 6 as part of holiday festivities. While traditions vary greatly among families, students in MCHS German participate in a simple, but fun way. Students bring a shoe to school by December 5. In class, they write letters to St. Nicholas. Those letters are placed in their shoe, which would normally be set outside the door. Since that wouldn't be very practical for the German students, their shoes are lined up by the window in hopes that St. Nicholas comes overnight and brings treats. He hasn't let the students down yet, because our German students are awesome! | |
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Congratulations to MCHS Sophomore Kaitlyn Thangaraj for being selected as the Northeast District Officer for the Iowa Association of Student Councils. She will spend the next two and a half years serving in this position. Kaitlyn will begin by attending the state and district officer training in January and then be responsible for yearly conference planning and attend many other leadership events in the coming years. Mason City High School has truly proven to be a leder for Northeast Iowa with consistent selection for this honor.
Way to go Kaitlyn! We are so proud of you and thank you for representing the
Mason City Riverhawks!
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Pinecrest Center students have been spending time at HyVee East ringing the bell for Salvation Army. They spent two Mondays in November and two Mondays in December representing Mason City Schools for this wonderful cause. Thank you to Mrs. Gourley for settingup this service project for our students! | |
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Roosevelt Elementary students welcomed the NIACC boys basketball team into their gym just before Thanksgiving break to celebrate all their great behavior and accomplishments. Students enjoyed slam dunk and 3-point contests where Roosevelt staff squared off against the NIACC players. Even though they gave their best effort, the Roosevelt staff could not compete with the NIACC basketball team, who ended up victorious. Students enjoyed the show and ended the day with cookies for all their hard work.
They also celebrated 4th grader Jacob Bonwell on his first place finished at State bowling!
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Administrative Center
Vic Bezdicek is the Assistant Supervisor of Facilities for Mason City Schools. He has been with the district for 23 years. Vic attended school in SW Minnesota and NIACC. Some fun facts about Vic are that he enjoys rock climbing and windsurfing.
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Harding Elementary
Julie Fritz is the school nurse at Harding and Hoover. She has been with MCCSD for eight years. After graduating from Newman High School in 1984, she attended Iowa State University for a year before transferring to NIACC where she graduated from the ADN Nursing program in 1988. What Julie loves about MC Schools are the students that she takes care of every day. She enjoys the relationships she has built with not only the students, but the parents as well. The hugs and thank yous she receives daily from students and staff ensures her that she is where she needs to be. A fun fact about Julie is that she afraid of heights, but in 2020 she went skydiving and jumped out of an airplane at 13,000 feet! BEST experience ever!!
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Hoover Elementary
Lisa Christianson is the administrative assistant at Hoover Elementary. This is her 23rd year with MCCSD. Lisa grew up in Mason City and graduated from Newman High School. She lives in Northwood with her husband, Dean, and has a grown son, Kyle, and three beautiful granddaugthers. Lisa loves MC Schools because it offers so many opportunities for our students whether they are starting preschool or walking across the stage at graduation. We have so many staff involved in making their futures brighter and amazing. She loves to see the kids come through the door each day with smiles and ready to learn. Lisa knows that at Hoover, we strive to make a difference in all of the kids' lives. A fun fact about Lisa is that she loves doing morning announcements when Mrs. Grimm is gone. She only loves it because of the jokes! She often starts laughing before she can tell the punch line!
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Jefferson Elementary
Emily Younke is a K-2 special education teacher at Jefferson Elementary. She started with MCCSD in 2007. Emily graduated from Newman Catholic before earning her bachelor's from the University of Northern Iowa and master's from Buena Vista Univeristy. She loves MC Schools because of the amazing students who make her job as a teacher exciting and rewarding. She adds that we truly learn and grow as a family. A fun fact about Emily is that she loves to travel. Her goal is to eventually visit all 50 states and she is well over halfway there!
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John Adams Middle School
Robert Meier teaches 8th grade science at John Adams Middle School. This is his 7th year with MCCSD. After graduating from Osage Community Schools, Robert attended the University of Northern Iowa where he received his Bachelor's in All Science Education. He also received his master's from Iowa State University in Educational Leadership and Policy. Robert really enjoys teaching at MC Schools because of the students. It is always an honor and privilege to work with them on a daily basis. A fun fact about Robert is that he has served as a volunteer firefighter for over 20 years, retiring at the rank of Captain.
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Lincoln Intermediate
Taylor Hovenga is a paraprofessional in the Connections classroom at Lincoln Intermediate. She has been with MCCSD for three years. Taylor is a graduate of Hampton-Dumont High School. She loves MC Schools because of the vast diversity. It is welcoming for all students and staff. Taylor says the best thing about Lincoln is the great atmosphere. Everyone is smiling and able to help out when needed. An interesting fact about Taylor is that she attended four different high schools.
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Mason City High School
Andi Ludwig has been a physical education teacher at MCHS since 1997. After graduating from Ackley-Geneva High School, she started at Iowa State University then transferred to the University of Northern Iowa where she earned a degree in physical education. She continued her education, earning a Master's in Physical Education from UNI and another in Educational Leadership from Buena Vista University. Andi loves MC Schools because they are constantly finding ways to support students and help them find success. She said they take pride in creating opportunities for students to grow and explore. Andi enjoys traveling, doing outdoor activities and describes herself as an eternally optimisitic Detroit Lions fan.
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Roosevelt Elementary
Alicia Lief is a special education teacher at Roosevelt Elementary. She has been with MCCSD for over 20 years. Alicia is an MCHS alum and graduated from the University of Northern Iowa with her teaching degree. She loves working for MC Schools because the people are the best. The teachers, support staff, and administrators are completely invested in the students. We do way more than teach! Alicia grew up in Mason City and is proud to be raising her own kids, both at MCHS now, in this community and in our schools! Some fun facts about Alicia are that she loves to read and camp with her family.
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MCHS Junior Claire Sampson is one of those kids who was born into 4-H. She was at her first fair at six weeks old with her older 4-H siblings. Claire is part of a four-generation
4-H family (mom, grandma, and great-grandma). Claire has embraced many of the opportunities available in this organization including leadership, communications, community service, and learning through numerous project areas. Her favorites are her dog, horticulture, food and nutrition, clothing, and communications. She is actively involved in her local club, the Mason City Challengers, as the club president. Claire is on the county Teen Council, and just this year was selected to be part of the State 4-H Council through an application and interview process.
Claire has been selected to exhibit various exhibits at the Iowa State Fair, including a working exhibit, educational presentation, and extemporaneous speaking.
Other highlights of her lifetime of 4-H were visiting the State Capital on Legislative Day and sharing her passion for climate change, leading workshops on clothing, various bus trips, State 4-H Conference, working at the Iowa State Fair, and most recently ending up in the ER at a State Council retreat when she sprained her ankle swing dancing!
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Keep reaching for the stars, Claire! We are so proud of all your accomplishments and can't wait to see what your future holds! | |
MCCSD Virtual Backpack
Make sure to check out the Virtual Backpack website! Here you will find events, camps, and opportunities for students and their families from district and community organizations.
Click HERE to check it out!
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Mason City CSD Employees-
Mason City Community School District has partnered with Buena Vista University to offer you and your family affordable education opportunities!
- The Board entered into this agreement with BVU at their meeting on November 20
- The savings offered through the partnership is available for spring semester which begins January 8, 2024.
- Benefits offered through the partnership are available to current BVU students enrolled in eligible programs.
Click HERE for more details!
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Girls Wrestling
*Varsity Girls Wrestling Champions at Independence Invitational:
Kyleigh James & Layla Phillips
*Varsity Girls Wrestling Champions at the Riverhawk Invitational:
Kallie Gibbons, Kyleigh James, Layla Phillips, & Aniyah Smith
Cheerleading
*Emma Bocanegra & Macy Schlitter were selected as All-State Cheerleaders
They will perform in March at the State Boys Basketball Tournament
Boys Basketball
*9th Boys defeated Des Moines North
Girls Basketball
*Varsity defeated Des Moines North
Swimming
*Michael Johnson won the 100 Butterfly in Mason City vs. DM Roosevelt Meet
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Congratulations to the MCHS Boys Bowling team who crushed the school record with a high score in a Baker Game. The team rolled a 287! Team members include Ben Ritzert, Noah Fierova, Hunter Fierova, Michael Solberg-Maas, and Bergen Klaehn. | |
Congratulations on your successes and achievements! #WingsUp | | | | |
