From the Head of School  | Hate is a strong word, and I have found that little good comes from that emotion or corresponding words and deeds. However, permit me to say that I do hate something.
I hate the phrase: "It is just school, not real life."
The phrase is wrong on multiple levels. First off, there is the connotation that school doesn't count. Misleading at best, and I'll leave the arguments here to our college counselor and the seniors who are filling out many of their scholarship applications this week. Second is the connotation that school is practice and life is the real thing. Anybody who works for a living knows that practice is never ending. The phrase "Fake it till you make it" has its own Wikipedia entry. Really.
But what bothers me most is the subtext that for kids life has yet to begin. There are no truer emotions than those of children. The lessons learned in childhood are no less real than those we pick up on the job, nor are the hardships any less painful. If you have any doubt, think back to your own middle school experiences. Tell me that the scars you still feel about an experience or slight are somehow less real because they took place before your "real life" began.
I have been reading a few studies recently that emphasize the tangible impact education has on our lives. Some of you may have read the nice story about a Marshall student posted in the StarTribune recently. Get past the information about hockey and you can see the ways in which Marshall has altered the trajectory of a young man's life. The best part is that this one story is not unique. A short round of conversations with faculty members yesterday uncovered numerous examples of how Marshall made a life-changing impact on a student.
We try to run a school that models the best of what life can be: a group of diverse individuals coming together with a common mission. For the adults in the building, what better way to spend a real life. | Give to the Max Record Results!  | On November 16th, Marshall School made history. Through Give Minnesota's Give to the Max Day, Marshall's generous donors raised $88,000 and placed 13th out of almost 4,000 participating organizations throughout the state! Marshall was one of only two Northland non-profits to place in the top 15 statewide, and the amount raised is four times more than Marshall raised during Give to the Max 2010. A HUGE HILLTOPPER THANK YOU to those who have supported Marshall's innovative curriculum within an environment of excellence.
If you have not yet made a financial contribution to Marshall, there is still time to make your gift before the end of the calendar year. Consider making an investment in the school's continually-improving programs and its talented students by donating here. | Upper School Robotics Grant Received! |  | Marshall School has been awarded a grant by J.C. Penney to fund a robotics program for students in grades 9-12. As a result of this generosity, Marshall has joined the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Robotics Competition (FRC), billed on their website as the “Varsity Sport of the Mind.” On January 7, 2012, Marshall, along with some 2,400 other FRC teams from across the country, will pick up a package of parts and have six weeks to build a robot which will weigh in excess of 120 pounds. Robots are required to perform a series of tasks and compete against one another six at a time. In March, Marshall will compete in the Lake Superior Region Robotics Competition at the DECC. Marshall science teacher and upper school robotics adviser Dr. Wendy Carter notes that during the six-week building period, students will meet daily to design, build and program their robot. Carter adds, “This is the perfect opportunity for students interested in computers, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and/or math to come together and create something incredible. And we have a whole community of supporters behind us, from students at the University of Minnesota-Duluth to current parents to other faculty and staff at the school. It’s going to be great!” Joining FRC is one more step Marshall has taken to continually strengthen its Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) offerings for students. In addition to a middle school robotics program, the school also dramatically redesigned its science curriculum this fall so that all ninth grade students take biology instead of waiting until tenth grade to do so, which is what most Minnesota public schools do. This allows students more time in their junior and senior years to take more honors and Advanced Placement science courses, preparing them well for their college experience. In addition to strengthening students’ understanding of STEM concepts, participation in FRC also enables students to improve their communication and teamwork skills and could ultimately lead to a college scholarship. According to the FRC website, there are almost 130 scholarship providers who will award approximately $14 million in college scholarships to over 600 FIRST participants. Head of School Dr. Mike Ehrhardt notes that “Marshall has taken deliberate steps to provide a unique science curriculum for our students, and joining the FIRST robotics program will give them an important hands-on engineering experience to complement their accelerated classroom learning." |
Middle School Robotics Scrimmage  | Recently, Marshall's two middle school robotics teams competed against three local teams in a robotics scrimmage organized by Marshall math and robotics teacher Anne Castle and a dedicated group of parent volunteers. Click here to view coverage of the event from Northland News Center Click here to view coverage of the event from Fox 21 News Click here to view photos and more from the Parent Pass Blog Teams were judged by local engineers and parent volunteers in four areas—how well their robot completes a series of tasks on the game board, teamwork when given a difficult task, the design and programming of their robot, and their research project, which this year is based on the theme of food safety. Through extensive research and innovative problem solving, each team suggests a solution to a particular food safety problem, and some teams even invent something to solve the problem! Overall, judges are also looking for participants to demonstrate “gracious professionalism,” a spirit of friendly competition and, of course, to have loads of fun. Castle notes, “These activities engage students’ multiple intelligences—it takes mechanical, creative, logical, mathematical, engineering and electrical skills. It’s amazing--kids are so creative and inventive.” According to the First Lego League website, over 198,000 students in grades 4-8 from more than 50 countries participate in over 500 tournaments annually. | Admissions Campus Visit Days--Avoid Waitlists! 
| Marshall School will warmly welcome visiting students wishing to learn more about Marshall's academics, arts, athletics and extra-curriculars on Thursday, December 15 and Friday, December 16. To reserve a spot for your prospective student, please email Amy Geissler in the Admissions Office or call Amy at 218.727.7266 ext. 110. |
Marshall Students Perform in The Nutcracker  | According to the Minnesota Ballet, Marshall School has the most students performing in this year's version of The Nutcracker than any other local school. Enjoy the performances of 4th grader Molly Schottenbauer, 6th grader Erin Rudd, 7th graders Maeve Colclough and Ariana Shimmin, 8th graders Katherine Kropid and Marianne Peterson, and 9th graders Hannah Carpenter and Lillian Sterling this Friday, December 9 at 7:00 pm, Saturday December 10 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, December 11 at 3:00 pm in the DECC Symphony Hall. | Marshall Legends Announce Retirement | 
| Long-term faculty members Chico Anderson (Religion and Ethical Studies, Chaplain) and Dave Homstad (Athletic Director, Football Coach) have shared their intention to retire at the end of the 2011-2012 school year. See the attached letter from Head of School Michael Ehrhardt with the announcement. | You Are Warmly Invited To... | 
| Choir Concert, Monday, Dec. 12, 7:00 pm Band Concert, Thursday, Dec. 15, 7:00 pm What better way to kick off the holidays than with the music department's winter concert series featuring our musicians in grades 7-12? Tickets are $3 and good for both concerts. The concerts are free to all Marshall students and are presented in Marshall's Fregeau Auditorium. A reception in the Gallery will follow each for all attendees!
Winter Holiday Chapel, December 21, 2:10pm
All Alumni and parents of alumni are invited to the Winter Holiday Chapel with a reception to follow in the gallery.
Upcoming Alumni Events
December 22: Celebrate Hilltopper Basketball! 6:30 pm: All alumni are invited to a pregame reception in the Gallery
7:15 pm: Enjoy complimentary tickets to Marshall's Varsity Boys vs. Pine City
Half-time: All alumni are invited to a reception in the Gallery
Celebrate Hilltopper Hockey!
6:30 pm: All alumni are invited to a pregame reception at Mars Lakeview Arena
7:00 pm: Enjoy complimentary tickets to Marshall's Varsity Boys vs. Grand Rapids
Between periods: Reception at Mars Lakeview
December 23:
Alumni Games
Annual Alumni Basketball Game 6:00 - 7:30 pm
Annual Alumni Hockey Game
5:30 - 6:30 pm: 60s/70s vs. 80s
6:45 - 7:45 pm: 90s vs. 00s
| Marshall Ski Camp for Kids and Nordic Alumni Can Help!  | The Marshall Holiday Ski Camp is for children ages 5-12 at all levels of skiing ability! The camp is supervised by the Marshall Nordic Ski Team Coaching Staff, and instruction is provided by current and alumni members of Marshall’s Nordic Ski Team. On the first day, students are placed in small groups based on age and ability, and are assigned instructors who will work with them the entire camp. The instruction is thorough and nurturing – taking skiing students to the ‘next level’ no matter where they start out. Sledding, bonfires with marshmallows, hay rides, hot chocolate and snacks are all included in the fun! The 2011 Camp will be held on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, December 28-30, 2011 from 1 to 4 pm each day at Snowflake Nordic Ski Center. If you have any questions please email Dave Johnson, the Marshall Holiday Ski Camp Coordinator, or call him at 218-348-1338. Register online by filling out the online registration form or download a registration form for the Holiday Ski Camp. Marshall Alumni Nordic Skiers - Contact DJ to let him know you'd like to help! |
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