January is flying by with lots of activity at all our sites as we wrap up the first half of the school year and now start the second half. Our classrooms are busy with mid-year progress checks, intervention updates, Professional Development, and of course working through our standards. Our students are very busy with winter activities and are showing Tiger Pride and representing Marshall well in many ways. I’m excited to share a few highlights from January at our schools with you this month.

The Positive Behavior Interventions & Supports (PBIS) model at Park Side, known as Tiger Pride, has made a significant impact on student behavior and the overall school culture since its implementation. By emphasizing prevention and positive reinforcement, the program has effectively reclaimed valuable instructional time and bolstered both academic and social goals. Our Social Emotional Learning (SEL) teachers also play a vital role by providing essential skills and individualized support to students, enhancing their overall success.

We are excited to announce that Ties and Tiaras, the annual father/daughter dance at Park Side, is scheduled for Feb. 21, starting at 6:30 p.m. To register, please connect with Community Services.

Mid-Year testing is currently underway. The DIBELS testing has been completed, and we are utilizing that data to monitor student growth and placement in interventions. The NWEA testing is also concluding, providing us with valuable insights into individual student progress so far this year.

We are pleased to report a fantastic first semester at MMS, characterized by high morale among students and staff. Our BARR program has successfully reduced Level 3 and Level 4 behaviors through increased staff supervision and administrative presence. However, we have observed a slight uptick in Level 1 and Level 2 behaviors. Daily attendance remains steady at 93-96%; however, 15% of students are chronically absent, prompting us to send out “letters of concern.” Additionally, we are addressing missing assignments by notifying parents of students with over 10 missing assignments in an effort to reduce this number.

The High School 2025-2026 registration book is in the final stages of completion, with staff reviewing it and suggesting final updates. We will be meeting with our eighth-grade students from various feeder schools during January and February to initiate the registration process; current high school students will be registering soon as well.

As part of our BARR program initiatives at the high school, we continue to track various types of student data. We frequently share the percentage of students passing all their classes; however, student attendance remains a crucial predictor of success. We are monitoring weekly attendance for each grade level, focusing on those who are chronically absent (10% or more) and those absent 25% of the time or more.

Our Autos and Manufacturing courses are thriving as students work on various projects. The new CNC mill has arrived and is currently being assembled, which will significantly enhance our Manufacturing program and provide students with exposure to the machining industry. A CNC Plasma table has been ordered and will arrive soon. Our center is transitioning towards becoming a manufacturing hub with the goal of developing a small student-driven business to create a variety of products for sale. Students in our CNA program recently completed their course with sixteen hours of clinicals at the Dawson nursing home, which graciously allowed our students to gain this valuable experience. Some elementary classrooms recently decorated a tree topper for the Pride in the Tiger Foundation at the Christmas Tree Walk, while another wrote thank-you notes for donations and created “calm down” sensory bottles for each student. Their dedication and creativity have positively impacted our school community.

Families and high school-aged MPS American Indian students received information from the district about the SMSU event “It Begins With Us,” featuring Dr. Anton Treuer, a Native American author and Professor of Ojibwe at Bemidji State University. The AIPAC will support family and student registration requests for this event.

Marshall Boys Basketball hosted a successful Hoops Invitational Showcase over the holiday break, featuring 24 games across SMSU and MHS facilities. This event not only celebrated basketball but also allowed the Speech team to manage concessions to help fund their trip to Harvard. Thank you to everyone involved in planning and executing this event! We are thrilled to report a 6% increase in registrations for the winter season activities compared to last year.

Marshall Gymnastics recently hosted its annual Winterfest Gymnastics Invite, welcoming several Big South teams, This event celebrated athleticism and sportsmanship. MHS Dance placed second at the Big South Meet last week and they continue to grow and achieve higher scores at each competition. The dance team also performed at the boys’ basketball game last week, delighting our fans. Our winter sports teams have had an exceptional season, with Wrestling, Girls Hockey, Boys Basketball, and Girls Basketball all ranked in the top 10 — a testament to their hard work, talent, and dedication. Notably, the 9th-grade wrestling team made it to the state event in Mora, where they earned the state runner-up title. Hockey Coach, Cassi Weiss, achieved her 100th career win this week. Congratulations to her and the program for reaching new heights.

Thank you for your continued support and engagement in our school community.

— Jeremy Williams is superintendent of Marshall Public Schools.