The Rocket Review
Monthly Newsletter Update: October 2025
Greetings All,
Students who are below grade level in reading skills must have a reading plan according to state mandate. We have been completing reading screenings and those students who are below grade level will receive a reading plan. If your child requires a reading success plan (RSP), their classroom teacher will meet with you at Parent Teacher Conferences on October 20th to review this plan with you. It continues to be our goal to provide students the necessary interventions to be successful readers. If you wish to discuss reading success plans do not hesitate to reach out.
Parent Teacher Conferences are Monday October 20th from 12:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. A link has already been sent out for sign ups. If you have trouble signing up please contact the elementary office for help. Our goal is to have 100% participation.
October 8th is teacher night at McDonalds. This is a fundraiser for our Certified Teachers Association. Please stop by that evening and support our teachers as they spend the evening working at McDonalds.
Elementary picture makeups and retakes are on the 16th of October. This is also the last day of the 1st quarter.
We will do Trunk or Treat for Halloween again this year. More information will come out closer to the date. Parents and community members are welcome to attend this event which is held on the track. Only parents who are signed up for class parties will be allowed in the school building to attend class parties.
I would like to thank all individuals who make the West Nodaway Elementary experience a success for our students. If you have questions or concerns, please stop by or call the office.
As I do each year I want to encourage you to come out and support our students in their extra-curricular activities. As you can tell from our numerous lists and calendars there is always some type of activity taking place. I know the students appreciate your support. Have a great October!
Respectfully,
Dr. Barnes
Hello Rocket Family!
It's hard to believe it’s already October! Fall is my favorite time of year! Since our September newsletter, our teachers have stayed busy learning about Dyslexia and Literacy, as well as attending the 275 Conference PD in Maryville where they got to attend various breakout sessions, and network with their fellow teachers.
Homecoming week is here! The kids have been decorating the halls and hanging banners. I love seeing all the school spirit. Our bonfire was held September 30 @ Skidmore and our football boys will play Platte Valley Friday night for a big game. This will be held in Graham.
Students are also staying busy with academics, athletics, and organizations! Our overall attendance has been really good. Please continue to hold your student to a high standard and ensure they are in school on a regular basis.
We are just a few short weeks away from the end of the first quarter. Please check the school calendar for important dates such as grade checks and activities.
Parent-Teacher Conferences will be help on October 20th from 12:30-7:00pm. The MS/HS is an open house style so please come and go as it works in your schedule. Participation in our building has been low the last few years, so I encourage you to attend and learn more about your student(s) academic progress and happenings in the classrooms.
As I shared last month, the JH/HS continues to implement Character Strong during 8th hour every Tuesday. We are also still utilizing Check and Connect. We now have built in time during 8th hour on Fridays for mentors and students to meet.
Please check the school calendar on the website. In addition, it's important you stay current on your students’ grades thru the parent portal in Infinite Campus. Grade checks will occur every two weeks.
Below are the tutoring hours that are available for the JH/HS students.
Tutoring Hours:
- Math - Daily 7:15am-7:45am, Wed/Thurs 3:45pm-4:30pm
- Science - Daily 3:45pm-4:30pm
- Social Studies - Tues/Wed/Thurs 7:15am-7:35am; 3:45pm-4:25pm
- Music/Band - Wed/Thurs 3:45pm-4:45pm
- College Apps & Scholarships - Daily 7:00am-7:30am, 3:45pm-4:45pm
Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call, email, or stop in the office.
Mrs. Livengood
KidSight Vision came and tested all our elementary students and a handful of older students who failed my vision test. We screened 127 students and had 12 referrals, so if you didn’t hear from me your student passed this screening. We are lucky to have the Lion’s Club come provide this service to our students. If you have a student who was referred please get the follow ups scheduled soon! There is financial assistance available so please reach out with any questions.
Big Smiles dental team is scheduled for December 11th, they will be here all day for dental cleanings and simple procedures. Consents will be coming home in November. Online registration is also available: https://www.myschooldentist.com/WOWNMO_schsrm.
We also scheduled our flu shot clinic with Nodaway County Health. They will be here during parent teacher conferences on October 20th from 4-6pm. We’re going to try these outside this year in a drive through style. Come see us outside the elementary, you don’t even have to get out of your car! We are welcoming our community, the more the merrier. Most health insurances cover this expense, however if no health insurance the cost is $20. Permission slips are available now so let me know if you need these ahead of time. This clinic is open to WN staff, students, families, and all community members.
I am in need of adult size large unisex t-shirts for one of our students. If you have any in clean, gently used condition please send them my way. Bonus if they are Thunder or Rocket themed!
Kelli Hoyt
660-725-4126
khoyt@wnrockets.com
October brings many college and career exploration opportunities for students 7-12 to learn outside the school building:
- October 1 – Northwest Business Major Day. Seniors interested in a business degree can talk with professors, sit in a college class, and tour campus.
- October 6 – College & Career Monday field trip to Tarkio Tech, Golden Triangle ethanol plant, and a windmill farm. The event is open to all 7-12th grade students.
- October 8 – Tarkio Technical Institute will be at West Nodaway to speak with juniors and seniors about attending college.
- October 9 – College Fair at Northwest Missouri State University for interested seniors. Students will have an opportunity to talk with over 50 different universities/colleges/tech schools and take a tour of Northwest.
- October 9 – US Air Force Recruiter will be at West Nodaway to speak with high school students about post-graduation options.
- October 10 – Missouri Western will be at West Nodaway to speak with juniors and seniors about attending college.
- October 14 – My Success event at St. Joseph Civic Arena for all juniors. Students will have an opportunity to talk with businesses in each career pathway and participate in hands on activities such as putting on fireman gear and seeing how a pulmonary machine works. This is a great opportunity for students to inquire about job options, skills and education requirements.
- October 16 – Northwest Missouri State will be at West Nodaway to speak with juniors and seniors about attending college.
- October 22 – Build My Future event at Bethany Fair Grounds. Students will have an opportunity to explore trade occupations and talk with potential future employers. Students will participate in hands on activities such VR welders and robotics.
- October 27 - College & Career Monday field trip to Southeast Community College in Milford, NE, AgriVision, and Murphy Tractor. The event is open to all 7-12th grade students.
- October 28 – ACT testing at West Nodaway for interested juniors and seniors.
As a reminder, ACT test prep, college athletics, scholarships, etc. can be located on the counseling
department webpage. You can access this through the West Nodaway homepage and finding it under the “Student Links” section or going to https://wnrocketscounselor.weebly.com All high school students have access to IXL which also provides an online tool to prepare for the ACT.
Sophomores will be attending the Nodaway County Docudrama on October 8. This event is a traffic
crash simulation with the cause being distracted and/or intoxicated driving. The scenario is reenacted by area high school senior volunteers from each school. After the simulation, there will be presentations from area community members who have been personally impacted by the loss of someone from a traffic fatality.
Please contact me if there are any concerns about your child or if there are any questions.
Mrs. Clayton
District Information
Email: mbarnes@wnrockets.com
Website: wnrockets.com
Location: 17665 US Hwy 136, Burlington Junction, MO 64428, USA
Phone: 660-725-4613
Twitter: @WNrockets