The history of our district is deeply rooted in the St. Marys community, beginning with a dedication to education that stretches back over a century. Through the insightful research of 7th-grade student Kalvin McCullough, we celebrate the history of the earliest schools in St. Marys.

The History of the St. Marys School

By Kalvin McCullough, Current 7th Grade Student

The first school to open in St Marys was the St. Mary’s Catholic School in 1885. It opened as the first parochial school in Warren County. Most students came from out of town to attend the school so they took the local train in Sunday night, Stayed at the boarding school for the week, then returned home by train on Friday night. The school shut down in 1919 when plans to build a new school were discussed.

The St Mary’s Consolidated School was opened in September of 1921 on the east side of town. There were about 8 teachers in both high school and elementary teaching about 165 enrolled students. The first school bus for St Marys was operated by Theodore Lippold, it was simply a horse drawn wagon with 2 benches for students to sit on but on the rainy days, due to mud, students had to walk to school on foot.

After a long day of classes, students were hungry. So, local townswomen started the school lunch program in late 1945, and was known as a “type A” lunch as it met all government standards. The cooks made almost everything in the kitchen, unlike the processed food seen in schools today. Want extra? No problem, the cooks loved such a supportive audience and usually obliged.

In 1960, St. Mary’s and Martensdale had to merge due to state legislation. The school in St Marys was used as a grade school for the new district and still had the old gym, (Made in 1958.) In 1984 a bond was issued to build a new elementary wing and gym in the Martensdale school which ended the old school in St Marys. It was knocked down in 1994 and some play equipment was moved to Lake George to be enjoyed by more children. The front lawn of the school is now the city park, with the bell, flagpole, and St Marys from the top of the old school still sitting there till this day.

From the old gym to the bell in the park, our old school stands as a connection to our communities proud past. We know that it wasn’t just built with bricks and stone, but as a symbol of our communities dedication to the education of generations of the past, and to come.

We are now accepting applications for Open Enrollment for the 2026-2027 School Year.

If you live outside the boundaries of the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District and wish to have your student be a Blue Devil next year, you must complete this application by March 2, 2026.

Download an Open Enrollment application here:

2025-2026 Open Enrollment Application

If you have questions, please contact us at 641-351-7400.

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District wishes all of our students, families, and staff a safe, restful, and joyous Thanksgiving Break!

Important Dates for Thanksgiving Break

Please note the following schedule for the upcoming holiday:

• Thanksgiving Break: Wednesday, November 26 – Friday, November 28
  • There will be no school for students or staff during this period.
• School Resumes: Tuesday, December 2
  • We look forward to welcoming all students back to school on this day.

District Office Closures

Please be aware of the following office schedule:

• Wednesday, November 26: All Martensdale-St. Marys CSD Offices will be CLOSED.
• Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving Day) & Friday, November 28: Offices will remain closed.

Regular office hours will resume when school is back in session on December 2.

We encourage everyone to use this time to connect with family and friends and enjoy a well-deserved break. Your dedication to the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is deeply appreciated.

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District has reinforced its commitment to student well-being by releasing a compelling video featuring both students and staff. The video, spearheaded by groups like the Student Council and National Honor Society, delivers a singular, crucial message to every member of the Blue Devil community: "You matter," and "Your mental health matters."

The initiative is a proactive step to ensure that all students know they have a supportive network within the school walls. The video includes messages from administration, teachers, the school nurse, and students, all emphasizing the importance of seeking help.

We encourage all students and families to view the full video to hear these important messages from our MSTM community.

YOU MATTER - MSTM MENTAL HEALTH VIDEO

Ways to Reach Out & Find Support: If you or someone you know is struggling, please utilize the resources available both at our school and in the wider community:

MSTM Guidance Counselors:

- Emily Wood (7-12 Guidance Counselor)

- Gabrielle Stonebrook (Elementary Guidance Counselor)

MSTM School Nurse:

Lynn Wente (Available by calling 641-351-7400 x526)

UnityPoint Health-Eyerly Ball Individual Counseling (As listed on the MSTM website)

External Resources: 211:

A free, comprehensive information and referral system linking Iowa residents to health and human service programs.

Your Life Iowa:

A valuable resource for mental health support.

National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) - Iowa

We constantly monitor current conditions and the forecast for inclement weather.

Through this process, we consult with the National Weather Service, the Iowa Department of Transportation, and other local schools. While every situation is different, we will do our best to communicate changes to the school schedule due to weather in a manner that provides as much advance notice as possible.

In general, we will work to decide before 9:00pm the night before, no later than 5:30am the morning of, or by 11:00am for an early dismissal.

Communication Plan

When a decision is made, we will communicate accordingly:

MSTM Staff

• We will initiate our phone tree among District leaders who will then communicate directly with their teams.
• We will e-mail all staff using their mstm.us e-mail account.

MSTM Students and Parents

• We will initiate communication with all families via JMC in the format of a text message, phone call, and e-mail.
• We will post the information to the district website.
• We will post the information on these X (Twitter) accounts: @MSTMSupt and @MSTM_BlueDevils
• We will share the information with these media outlets:
  • WHO Radio 1040am
  • WOI TV Channel 5
  • KCCI TV Channel 8
  • WHO TV Channel 13

District Services

Bus Routes

When we have a 2-hour weather delay, bus routes will coincide with this delay and buses will pick up students 2 hours later than their normal pick-up time. When we have an early dismissal, bus routes will coincide with the early dismissal in that buses will pick up students from school earlier than their regular dismissal time and will drop off students earlier than their normal drop-off time.

Daycare Services

• If school is delayed, Daycare services will open as scheduled unless there is an issue with the building itself.
• If school is dismissed early, Daycare services will be offered for 90-minutes unless otherwise communicated.
• If school is cancelled, Daycare services will be cancelled.

School Start Times

When there is a 2-hour delay, school will begin at 9:55am at both the Elementary and Junior High School / High School.

4-Year-Old Preschool will follow the Elementary Schedule.

3-Year-Old Preschool will operate an adjusted schedule from 9:55am – 12:15pm.

In most instances, we will utilize 1:00pm as our early dismissal time for weather-related dismissals.

Activities

• If school is delayed, morning activities are cancelled.
• If school is dismissed early, a decision on activities will be left to the discretion of the Superintendent.
• If school is cancelled, all activities are cancelled with limited exceptions left to the discretion of the Superintendent.

The Martensdale - St. Marys Cross Country Teams will compete in the 2025 State Cross Country Meet on Saturday, November 1, 2025.

The Girls Team members include: Maclaine German, Karson Oberender, Penelope Wearmouth, Elizabeth Moore, Isabel Gonzalez-Munoz, Ella Cassady, and Jaina Gladson.

Isaiah Wheeldon qualified as an individual for the 2025 Boys State Cross Country Meet.

Here is some pertinent information regarding the State Meet:

APPAREL

Apparel for the 2025 State Cross Country Meet is now available. Support both the Blue Devils as they prepare to compete for a state championship.

APPAREL LINK: https://stores.inksoft.com/MSTMXC/shop/home

All orders are due by Monday, October 27, 2025 at 11:59 PM

MEET SCHEDULE: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 1, 2025

2:00—Class 1A Girls

2:45—Class 1A Boy

3:30—Class 1A Awards Ceremony

The State Cross Country Meet Central is now live and contains all the information for the 2025  IHSAA & IGHSAU State Cross Country Meet.

STATE MEET CENTRAL

The State Cross Country Meet Central is now live and contains all the information for the 2025  IHSAA & IGHSAU State Cross Country Meet.

IHSAA State XC Meet Central: https://www.iahsaa.org/cross-country/state-meet-central/

IGHSAU State XC Meet Central: https://ighsau.org/2025-cross-country-tournament-central

Follow these three links and the MSTM Activities social media pages for all updates.

TEAM AND SPECTATOR PARKING AND ADMISSION:

All spectators kindergarten and older must purchase a ticket. Children not yet in school will NOT require a ticket. Cost is $13 per day ($3 goes to the City of Fort Dodge Parks and Recreation for Parking). Tickets will be available for purchase on Bound only. - Tickets will be available for purchase on Monday 10/27/25.

Ticket Link: Bound Tickets

AWARDS CEREMONY

The Class 1A Awards Ceremony will be held at the Clubhouse at 3:30pm.

COURSE MAP

You may view the course map here: State Cross Country Course Map

Need a second chance at those school photos?

Elementary Picture Retake Day is coming up!

When: Friday, November 14, 2025

If your student was absent or you'd like retakes, remember to bring your original picture package if you have one.

You can also view and order photos online using your Picture Day ID: EVTFMVMQ4 mylifetouch.com

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District has started integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools into its educational framework, following the approval of the MSTM Artificial Intelligence Guidebook by the MSTM Board on June 9, 2025.

This strategic implementation supports the district's mission to Inspire. Challenge. Grow. by preparing students with crucial future workplace skills and enhancing the overall learning experience through responsible technology use.

1. Educational Use: Focused on Literacy and Efficiency

The district's approach to AI is governed by the core principle of Responsible Use. AI is viewed as a supportive tool to be used under human oversight, not a replacement for critical thinking or teaching staff.

For Students: Building AI Literacy through Personalized Learning

Student use of AI is strictly controlled and occurs under the direct guidance of a teacher. The primary goal is to foster AI literacy—the essential skill of using these tools responsibly and critically, including content verification.

• Approved Tool: MagicSchool AI
• Application: Teachers leverage this tool to provide personalized feedback on student writing, generate custom study guides, and differentiate lesson materials to better meet individual student needs and learning paces.

For Staff: Increasing Instructional Time through Efficiency

Teachers are using AI to streamline administrative and planning tasks, thereby freeing up more valuable time for direct student engagement and instruction.

• Approved Tools: Gemini for Education and MagicSchool AI
• Application: These tools are used for the efficient drafting of lesson plans, creation of differentiated instructional materials, and quick summarization of documents.
• Training: To ensure effective and compliant usage, Teachers and Staff have been receiving training on AI usage during Professional Development Days, a practice that will continue throughout the school year.

2. Safety, Privacy, and Oversight

The MSTM AI framework is anchored by firm commitments to Data Privacy and ongoing human oversight.

• Board Approval: The Guidebook's approval establishes a unified, secure, and transparent policy for all AI usage across the district.
• Vetted Platforms: MSTM exclusively uses vetted, education-focused platforms that adhere to strict data privacy and security standards.
• Monitoring and Review: Strict monitoring processes are in place to track usage and ensure a safe, appropriate online environment and adherence to academic integrity policies.
• AI Support Team: A dedicated team of administrators provide continuous oversight, reviews usage reports, and ensures compliance with the established policies.

The complete MSTM Artificial Intelligence Guidebook is available on the district website for all community members to review.