Miller Middle School student Derek Peng is pictured with his Extended Learning Program teacher Ann Jackson. Both were honored by the University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center on October 8.
Miller Middle School student Derek Peng was among the nearly 500 students from Iowa and throughout the nation who were invited to be honored at The University of Iowa Belin-Blank Center’s Recognition Ceremony on October 8 at the Iowa Memorial Union.
Derek was nominated for exceptional performance in the Belin-Blank Center student talent search.
Additionally, recognized students were given the opportunity to honor a teacher they credited for having a profound influence on their lives. Peng selected Ann Jackson, Miller Middle School Extended Learning Program teacher, for this honor.
Addressing the students, teachers and guests were University of Iowa President Bruce Harreld, Dean Dan Clay from the College of Education and Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds.
To keep up with Marshalltown Schools Extended Learning Program news, “like” the new Facebook Page of the MCSD XLP.
Other MCSD Extended Learning Program updates:
A National History Day kickoff event was held October 6 at the State Historical Building in Des Moines. Marshalltown XLP students from Lenihan, Miller and Marshalltown High School participated in an all day event that consisted of a panel of professionals involving the history of Six-on-Six Basketball.
Students then participated in breakout sessions to learn about the different project categories, explored the museum, and conducted research in the library.
Miller Lego League team presents to Representative Mark Smith
Miller’s 8th grade Lego League team, the Robocats, has been working hard at understanding this year’s Lego League theme, Hydrodynamics. All Lego League teams are tasked with identifying a problem related to human’s use of water and then creating a solution for the identified problem.
The Robocats have decided to improve water quality by trying to write legislation that would create a water bottle tax in Iowa. The funds created by this tax would be distributed equally to each of Iowa’s Soil & Water Conservation Districts to help fund water quality initiatives that are endorsed by the Nutrient Reduction Strategy, The Iowa Nutrient Reduction Strategy is a science and technology-based framework to assess and reduce nutrients to Iowa waters and the Gulf of Mexico.
State Representative Mark Smith visited Miller on October 9 to listen to the Robocats’ solution. He offered tremendous insight into the legislative process and offered valuable constructive criticism for the Robocats to consider as they continue their project work. The team also enjoyed showing him their robot and explaining how the table game is played.
