STRAFFORD R-VI SCHOOL DISTRICT YOUR SCHOOL NEWS

Transcription

1 STRAFFORD R-VI SCHOOL DISTRICT YOUR SCHOOL NEWS FEBRUARY/MARCH FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT BY JOHN COLLINS, SUPERINTENDENT The third quarter of the school year is upon us as the new year begins. The second semester seems to always go by so fast. With spring break beginning on March 9 and the MAP testing in April just around the corner, the spring activities will be in full swing in the coming weeks. The construction of the new elementary is still on target for completion by July As soon as the new elementary is completed, we will begin work on the new entrances to the high school and middle school buildings as well as the renovation to the old elementary building. Included in this edition of the Your School News you will find many upcoming dates for district events. In addition, I would like to remind all students and parents of the upcoming MAP testing that our students will be taking part in during the month of April. The MAP tests are very important, not only for the students, but also for our district. The MAP tests allow us to gauge how well our students are learning and our teachers are teaching. The MAP tests also allow us to evaluate our curriculum to identify any weak areas. Thank you for your continued support for the Strafford R-VI Schools! MARK YOUR CALENDARS FEBRUARY 13 NO SCHOOL STAFF DEVELOPMENT FEBRUARY 16 NO SCHOOL DISTRICT OFFICES CLOSED MARCH 6 END OF 3RD QUARTER MARCH 9-13 SPRING BREAK KINDERGARTEN SCREENING Kindergarten registration for the school year will begin on March 2. If you are a Strafford resident and your child will be five years old before August 1, 2015, please sign up for a screening date and time by using the link on our school website at For parents who do not have access to the internet, there will be a computer in the early childhood office that can be used daily from 8:00 am-2:30 pm. Screenings are scheduled to begin on Monday, April 27 and will conclude on Friday, May 1. These screenings will take place at the early childhood center. You will need to have proof of residency, the child s birth certificate and an updated immunization record on the day of screening. If you have questions, feel free to contact Christy Willis, elementary counselor, at ext INSIDE THIS ISSUE: DISTRICT NEWS 1 EARLY CHILDHOOD AND ELEMENTARY 2 MIDDLE SCHOOL 3 HIGH SCHOOL 4 ATHLETICS 5

2 PAGE 2 Strafford Elementary and Cogdill Early Childhood Center MICHELLE GARDNER, PRINCIPAL KARIE JULIAN, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL YOUR SCHOOL NEWS Teachers and students are finding themselves working diligently toward their goals for the third quarter. Second semester tutoring has begun. Elementary yearbook forms have been sent home and orders are being taken until February 6. The yearbook has all full color pages. To order the basic yearbook the cost is $15.00; a personalized cover copy is $ Checks are payable to Strafford Elementary School. If you need an envelope, please contact the office. The early childhood center and elementary buildings will be offering parents and students the opportunity to send their valentine(s) a lip-shaped lollipop with a Happy Valentine s Day message to be delivered during their classroom parties. Lollipops may be purchased for 50 cents each. Order forms will be sent home with students and MUST be returned by February 9 for order fulfillment. Classroom valentine parties are scheduled for Thursday, February 12 at 2:00 pm (with the exception of fourth grade which will be at 1:00 pm). Our grade level spelling bee finals also happen in February. The first day for these will be Friday, February 20 with fourth grade at 8:30 am and second grade at 1:00 pm. The third grade finals will be on Friday, February 27 at 8:30 am. Spring pictures are scheduled for Wednesday, February 25. Watch for flyers for background selections and poses to come home soon. Students will take an individual and group photo. Each student will receive a free classroom photo. Preview packets will be sent home for purchasing. We have two great musicals on the spring calendar where students will showcase their musical talents. Second grade will be on Thursday, February 26, with first grade following on Thursday, March 26, both at 7:00 pm in the auditorium. Students should arrive at 6:45 pm. Mark your calendars for our annual Spring Carnival on Thursday, March 5, from 5:00-7:30 pm. We have many fun activities planned which includes a cake walk, face painting, inflatables, cookie decorating, pizza, cotton candy, snow cones and more! Watch for more details in a flyer to come home soon. Don t forget to spring forward on Sunday, March 8, by setting your clocks forward one hour as daylight saving time comes to an end. Just a reminder, school will not be in session March 9-13 for spring break! PRESCHOOL ENROLLMENT FOR Preschool registration for the school year is currently underway! Screenings are scheduled for April If you are a Strafford resident and your child will be four years old before August 1, 2015, please sign up for a screening date and time by using the link on our school website at If you have questions, feel free to call the early childhood center at ext

3 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 PAGE 3 IT S GREAT IN THE MIDDLE MARCIA CHADWELL, PRINCIPAL SHANE PIERCE, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL Our fifth grade students will be participating in DARE graduation on Monday, February 23 at 1:00 pm in the auditorium. Students met with Officer Wagner weekly throughout the first semester to learn about the dangers of drug and alcohol abuse. Each student wrote an essay about the information that they learned over the course of the semester. Five students will be chosen to read their essays during the graduation. Middle school yearbooks must be ordered by February 25. Order forms are available in the office. The cost of a yearbook begins at $ Yearbooks can also be ordered online at Spring pictures will be taken on February 26. Inter- State Photography will be taking our student photos. Flyers will be sent home with students and may also be picked up in the office. After pictures are taken, proofs will be sent home and parents may then order from the proofs. The middle school Career Fair will take place on Friday, March 6. Students will have the opportunity to hear from many people in the community from a variety of career paths. Our middle school counselor, Morganne Tiller, is coordinating this event. If you would like to volunteer to be a speaker during this event, please contact her at ext Save the date! Mark your calendars for the upcoming 8 th Grade Celebration. The celebration is scheduled for Tuesday, May 12 at 6:00 pm in the auditorium. More information about the celebration will be available as the end of school draws near. FFA WEEK SMS AND SHS FFA MEMBERS FEBRUARY DETAILS AT CAREER DAY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED The elementary and middle school Career Day will be held the afternoon of Friday, March 6. If you would like to volunteer to speak at the Career Day please contact Christy Willis for the elementary at ext or christyw@straffordschools.net or Morganne Tiller for the middle school at ext or morgannet@straffordschools.net. STRAFFORD SCHOOLS SPECIAL EDUCATION The Strafford R-VI School District special education department provides all information regarding the program for the public on the school website at You can find this under the Public Notices section on the main district webpage. For questions, please contact special education director, Dawnielle Baker, at ext or dawnielleb@straffordschools.net.

4 PAGE 4 HIGH SCHOOL NEWS BRETT SODEN, PRINCIPAL MIKE WILSON, ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL YOUR SCHOOL NEWS The students and staff had a strong finish to the first semester of the school year. Grade reports were sent out on January 9. There were 202 students (56%) out of 360 total students on the honor roll for the first semester. The breakdown of the honor roll is as follows: 43 students on the Superintendent s Honor Roll (4.0), 54 students on Principal s Honor Roll ( ), 22 students on Faculty Honor Roll ( ) and 83 students on Basic Honor Roll ( ). We had 65 students receive perfect attendance first semester. Many of our students are in the A+ program which requires 95% attendance throughout the entire high school career. The A+ program reimburses students college tuition up to two years or six semesters if certain requirements are met through their high school career. Seniors are preparing for graduation on Thursday, May 14. We encourage all seniors and their parents to check the guidance office web site regularly as scholarship opportunities are added frequently. The graduation ceremony will be held at High Street Baptist Church. It is time to order yearbooks. Student s pre-ordered yearbooks during the first semester and Josten's mailed out bills over Christmas break. You can pay for your yearbook by visiting If you have any questions, please feel free to call the high school office. Our clubs and athletic programs have been very busy. We feel it is very important for every student to be involved in at least one club or sport during their high school years. Congratulations to our scholar bowl team for their performance in the Waynesville tournament. The team had wins over: Iberia, Sullivan, Clever, Rolla, Dixon, and Central. Our team was represented by Emily Underwood, Zane Tranmer, Faith Wen and Debbie Wen. Debbie also earned all-tournament honors. Eight students attended the Missouri International Thespian Society State Conference with Mrs. Gibson. It was a three day event where students were able to attend workshops, see shows produced by other schools, compete in different events, and network with colleges and theatre conservatories. Congratulations to the boys basketball team and coaching staff. They played in the championship game of the blue division for the first time in school history and brought home a second place trophy. ATTENTION SENIOR PARENTS The deadline to order a senior yearbook ad is Friday, March 27. Photos, message and payment are also due with the order. Please contact Valerie Poynor, valeriep@straffordschools.net, to place your order. MASKED! COURTWARMING WEEK The high school basketball courtwarming festivities will be held February Spirit week will begin on Monday, February 9. The boys basketball home games will be on Friday, February 13 against Skyline. The coronation ceremony will be between the JV and varsity games. All SHS students are invited to the courtwarming dance on Saturday, February 14 from 8:00-11:00 pm in the multi-purpose room.

5 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2015 PAGE WINTER/SPRING ATHLETIC INFORMATION DATE SPORT PLACE TIME OPPONENT 02/02/2015 Jr. High Boys Basketball Home 6:00 PM Skyline Jr. High School 02/02/ Girls Basketball Away 6:00 PM Pleasant Hope High School 02/03/2015 Jr. High Boys Basketball Away 6:00 PM Springfield Catholic Jr. High School 02/03/ Boys Basketball Home 5:00 PM Pleasant Hope High School 02/05/ Boys Basketball Away 6:00 PM Springfield Catholic High School 02/05/ Girls Basketball Home 6:00 PM Forsyth High School 02/06/ Boys Basketball Away 6:00 PM Stockton High School 02/07/2015 Freshmen Boys Basketball Away TBA Morrisville Freshmen Tournament 02/07/2015 Varsity Boys Basketball Away TBA Jefferson City Helias Shootout 02/09/ Girls Basketball Home 6:00 PM Spokane High School 02/11/2015 Jr. High Boys Basketball Away TBA MLC Tournament at Fair Grove 02/13/ Boys Basketball Home 5:30 PM Skyline High School 02/17/ Boys Basketball Home 5:00 PM Marionville High School 02/19/ Girls Basketball Home 6:00 PM Fair Grove High School 02/20/ Boys Basketball Away 5:00 PM Fair Grove High School 02/21/ Boys Basketball Home TBA District Tournament 02/21/ Girls Basketball Home TBA District Tournament 03/20/ Baseball Away 4:30 PM Hollister High School 03/21/ Softball Away TBA Marionville Invitational 03/23/ Baseball Away TBA Clever Right off the Bat Tournament 03/23/ Softball Away 4:30 PM Conway High School 03/24/2015 Jr. High Baseball Home 4:30 PM Hollister Jr. High School 03/27/2015 Jr. High Baseball Home 4:30 PM Billings Jr. High School 03/30/ Golf Away 9:00 AM Lebanon Boys Classic 03/30/ Track Away 4:00 PM Republic Meet 03/30/ Baseball Home 4:30 PM Skyline High School 03/31/ Softball Home 5:00 PM Marionville High School The spring sports schedule is not complete at this time. Please check the school website at for further updates. SPRING COMMUNITY BLOOD DRIVE Friday, March 6, :00 am-3:00 pm Max Evans Gym Sign-up to donate with Valerie Poynor at valeriep@straffordschools.net. Walk in donors are welcome! Hosted by the high school student council and the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. HOME SCHOOL INFORMATION NEEDED The district is attempting to determine how many home schooled students reside in the Strafford School District. If you are currently home schooling your child or children and reside in the district please contact Vicki Tate in the central office at ext Thank you for your cooperation.

6 Elementary: UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS February 26 2nd grade Musical 7:00 pm in the Auditorium March 26 1st grade Musical 7:00 pm in the Auditorium Middle School: February 21 5th & 6th Grade SCMMEA Honor Choir at SBU High School: February 28 Mid-Lakes Conference Band & Choir Festival at Pleasant Hope March 6 Pittsburg State Jazz Festival March 7 Drury Jazz Festival Sound FX - Webb City Show Choir Classic March 28 District Band and Choir Solos and Small Ensembles STRAFFORD R-VI SCHOOLS 201 W. MCCABE CARRIER ROUTE PRESORT NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 15 BOXHOLDER

7 Elementary: UPCOMING MUSIC EVENTS February 26 2nd grade Musical 7:00 pm in the Auditorium March 26 1st grade Musical 7:00 pm in the Auditorium Middle School: February 21 5th & 6th Grade SCMMEA Honor Choir at SBU High School: February 28 Mid-Lakes Conference Band & Choir Festival at Pleasant Hope March 6 Pittsburg State Jazz Festival March 7 Drury Jazz Festival Sound FX - Webb City Show Choir Classic March 28 District Band and Choir Solos and Small Ensembles STRAFFORD R-VI SCHOOLS 201 W. MCCABE NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 15