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Bobcat University brings math, literacy lessons, community activities to Marshalltown students

T-R PHOTO BY ADAM SODDERS - One feature of Bobcat University is the community activities students experience. On Monday, students at Woodbury got to take swimming lessons at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA. Other program activities include horse riding, bowling and creating art.

The first-ever session of Bobcat University is about halfway finished and students said they’ve enjoyed the educational and community activities provided by the summer program.

“I think it’s going great, we have great teachers in our district who we’ve collaborated with to provide the math and reading to all of our students,” said Mid-Iowa Community Action Summer Learning Coordinator and Marshalltown School Board member Karina Hernández. “The kids have been having a lot of fun learning reading and math and in the afternoons — they are also going out in the community and having enrichment activities.”

On the academic side of the program, elementary students get lessons in math and literacy. District staff and practicum students from Iowa State University, Upper Iowa University and Viterbo University work to deliver the programming.

The digital programs Lexia Reading Core 5 and ST Math are also used. Students are familiar with those programs from the regular school year.

Students invited to the program are considered at-risk, meaning they need additional support to reach math and reading proficiency standards. Bobcat University is based on the former Rogers University program and is also meant to help curb summer learning loss.

A total of 264 students are enrolled in the program which covers all six of the Marshalltown Community School District elementary buildings. The first three — Woodbury, Rogers and Franklin elementary schools — will hold programs five days a week until July 6, excluding July 4.

“I think it’s beneficial for the students,” said MICA program assistant Jane Sun-Miller. “I’ve been walking around to the classrooms, I can see the students are really learning, they’re engaging and the teachers here … have really good classroom management.”

The students said they’ve had good experiences with the program so far.

“I like to read,” said kindergartner Paola Velazco. She said she likes the literacy activities she does in the classroom.

Velazco said she also enjoyed making a pink mask during the art trip to the Iowa Valley Community College District Orpheum Theater Center.

Playing and experiencing community activities have been third-grader Elias González’s favorite parts of the program.

“I like going to recess and going to do fun things,” he said.

González said he enjoyed riding horses at Rapha Reins Inc., which provides equine therapy and learning services.

Fellow third-grader Jennifer Magara also said “going to the horse ranch” has been a highlight of Bobcat University. She said she had never ridden a horse before.

This week, all three will be taking swimming lessons at the Marshalltown YMCA-YWCA.

“There is learning in all activities that they do,” Hernández said. “A lot of it is just the awareness of what the community has to offer.”

She said next week will be the last for the first summer session of the program. The second session will run July 16-Aug. 10 and will offer the same opportunities to students at Hoglan, Fisher and Anson elementary schools.

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Contact Adam Sodders at

(641) 753-6611 or asodders@timesrepublican.com

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