Martensdale-St. Marys Community School News

  • Registration Notice
    Jan 19, 2025 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    School Registration Opens March 3

    Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year opens on March 3, 2025.

    Please register your student entering Transitional Kindergarten, Kindergarten, and Grades 1-12 in a timely manner to ensure that we can properly plan for the 2025-2026 school year.

    MSTM 2025-2026 School Calendar:   MSTM 2025-2026 Calendar

    Key Dates

    March 3:  Preschool Registration Begins

    March 3:  Transitional Kindergarten Meet and Greet – 10:00am – 11:00am (students going to TK in 25-26)

    April 22:  Kindergarten Parent Meeting:  6:00pm

    May 9:  Kindergarten Roundup:  8:30am – 2:00pm

    May 19:  PK Students headed to Transitional Kindergarten will participate in Step-Up at 8:30am


  • Watters, Nehring, Northwick, Nehring
    Jan 17, 2025 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    4 Students Named to Simpson Honor Band

    Four MSTM students were selected to participate in the Simpson Honor Band on Thursday, January 16, 2025.

    Myla Nehring, Kenneth Northwick, Nicholas Schmidt, and Elley Waters all participated in the event.

    Nicholas Schmidt was selected as first chair of the trumpet section.


  • Ashley Kraber
    Jan 14, 2025 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    Kraber Named Business Manager

    On Monday evening, the Board of Directors of the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District named Ashley Kraber its next Business Manager.

    Kraber moves from the Pella Community School District where she serves as a School Business Official. She also works for the North Mahaska Community School District as part of an operational sharing agreement with the District.  Kraber has Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Purdue University and a Master of Science in Accounting from Maryville University.

    Kraber, who takes over for Josh Jacobs who departs the District after just over two years, will begin her work on February 3, 2025.


  • Students looking at Science Project
    Jan 10, 2025 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    MSTM Hosts Science Fair

    Science teachers Ms. Happ and Mr. Sinn hosted their annual Science Fair today at Martensdale-St. Marys.

    This event showcased the work of primarily 7th and 10th grade students, although others in grades 9-12 did participate. 

    Students and community members had the opportunity to see the work of our budding scientists this morning in the gym.


  • Numbers on a chalkboard
    Jan 9, 2025 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    Learn More about Transitional Kindergarten

    Registration for Transitional Kindergarten for the 2025-2026 School Year will open on March 3, 2025.

    Download more information here: TK Flyer

    Overview

    With the 2024-2025 school year, the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District began offering Transitional Kindergarten (TK) as an option to families in a setting like our Kindergarten classrooms. 

    TK is an educational program designed for children who are ready for school but may benefit from an extra year of learning and development before entering traditional Kindergarten.  TK provides a bridge between preschool and Kindergarten, focusing on the social, emotional, academic, and physical skills your child needs to succeed.

    Eligibility

    • To be eligible for TK, students must turn 5 years old by September 15.
    • This program is open to those resident students of the MSTM School District and those that complete open-enrollment paperwork in a timely manner.
    • This program is limited to 20 students.

    Criteria

    These criteria are used to decide on student qualification for TK:

    • Student readiness:  some students demonstrate the need for more development in social or emotional areas.
    • Age:  To be eligible for TK, students must turn 5 years old by September 15.  Often those students with birthdays closer to that September 15 date benefit from TK as it provides more time to grow.
    • Preschool (PK) recommendation:  For those students who attend Preschool at MSTM, our PK teachers will work to shar information with parents regarding the potential benefits of TK for their child.
    • Parent request:  If you feel your child is not ready for Kindergarten, the District will take that into consideration.

    Curriculum

    • The TK program is based on the Iowa Core Kindergarten Standards, and includes focused instruction in literacy and numeracy with a strong emphasis on self-regulation and social engagement.
    • Kindergarten standards, assessment and reporting activities will be applied in the same way as all other kindergarten classrooms; however, the TK teacher will be able to slow the pace of instruction to allow more time to meet the needs of the students.
    • The students will be introduced to kindergarten math & literacy standards, but with the slower pace, we would not expect students to meet all of the kindergarten standards by the end of the school year.
    • Students ARE considered kindergarten students by the State of Iowa and will be required to participate in state-wide kindergarten assessments.

    Questions

    Contact MSTM Elementary Principal Beth Happe at 641-351-7400 x517 or via e-mail at beth_happe@mstm.us.


  • Preschool Registration Opens February 3
    Jan 6, 2025 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    Preschool Registration - 2025-2026 School Year

    The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District offers both a 3-Year-Old and 4-Year-OId Preschool Program.

    Registration for the 2025-2026 School Year for Preschool begins at 9:00am on Monday, February 3, 2025.

    Key Dates

    February 3:  Preschool Registration Begins

    March 3:  Preschool Student / Parent Meet and Greet – 10:00am – 11:00am

    MSTM 2025-2026 School Calendar:   MSTM 2025-2026 Calendar

    Enrollment Priority

    Students will be enrolled in the following order of priority:

    • Students residing in the district.

    • Students with siblings who attend school in the district (district or non-district residents).

    • Students out of the district.

    • Birthdate (oldest students will be given priority).

    3-Year-Old Program

    • Students who are 3 may enroll in the 3-year-old program.

    • This program meets Tuesday – Friday from 7:55am – 11:15am.

    • 3-year-old students are not eligible for district provided transportation.

    4-Year-Old Program

    • Students who are 4 may enroll in the 4-year-old program. Students who turn 5-years old before September 15 must enroll in Transitional Kindergarten or Kindergarten.

    • Classes will meet from 7:55am- 2:15pm on Tuesday – Friday. (Statewide Voluntary Preschool Program) hours only are 7:55am - 11:15 am. Wrap-around care will be provided free of charge between 2:15pm and 3:45pm (the end of the school day).

    • The preschool program will follow the Martensdale-St. Marys CSD school calendar, but the preschool start date may vary.

    • 4-year-old students are eligible for district provided transportation.


  • Open Enrollment Deadline March 1
    Jan 2, 2025 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    Open Enrollment for '25-'26 Now Open

    We are now accepting applications for Open Enrollment for the 2025-2026 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 1, 2025.

    Download an Open Enrollment application here: 

    2025-2026 Open Enrollment Application

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


  • Work in Progress Construction Sign
    Dec 17, 2024 · Martensdale-St Marys Community School District

    Construction Update - December 17

    We passed the Bond Referendum in November – now what?

    Here is a brief overview of where things are at:

    • Final design is underway on the Science Room Renovation.  Bid documents will be shared on January 30, 2025, and bids are due February 27, 2025.  Construction will begin once school is out in May and be complete prior to the start of the 2025-2026 school year in August.

    • We are working on the initial design of the Softball Field which will be constructed on the site of the stadium in Martensdale.  We anticipate work will begin this spring or early summer and be complete in the fall.

    • We are nearing the finalization of a furniture package to be purchased, delivered and installed this coming summer.

    • We are in the initial design phase for the new bus loop and parking lot, the new safe and secure entrance, and the new gym.  We anticipate having design documents complete next fall with bidding in October 2025.  We will then begin construction on these projects in the spring of 2026 with completion in the fall or early winter of 2027.

    • We are in the initial stages of the design phase for improvements in HVAC, electrical services, and fire safety.  We anticipate this work to begin in the summer of 2026 with work complete in the summer of 2027.


About Our Schools

Located just minutes from the Des Moines area, the Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is home to approximately 525 students.  Our Pre-K-12 students attend school in one building located in Martensdale, just east of Interstate 35 near Highway 92.  We are uniquely positioned to offer a public education in a small school atmosphere while still having easy access to all the amenities offered in the Des Moines metropolitan area.

The district encompasses 78 square miles across Warren and Madison Counties and includes the communities of Martensdale, St. Marys, Bevington, Cumming, Indianola, Norwalk, Prole, and St. Charles. Our students come from these areas and many others through open enrollment.

The Martensdale-St. Marys Community School District is community-focused, and we are proud of the opportunities we can offer our students in the areas of academics, performing arts, and athletics.

With the start of the 2024-2025 school year, the District will move to a four-day instructional week with students attending school Tuesday – Friday.