SG R-II Connection

Good afternoon, SG R-II families,

What a fantastic last day of school! From the moment our buses rolled in this morning, our Dragons were buzzing with excitement—and that energy carried us straight through the afternoon dismissal. It’s been a joy to see the enthusiasm your children brought to their classrooms each day and the growth they’ve experienced this year. We’re also deeply grateful for your partnership and support throughout the school year—it makes all the difference.

As we head into summer, I hope your family can rest, recharge, and spend time with the people and activities that bring you joy. Whether you’re traveling, tackling a good book, or simply enjoying a slower pace, do whatever helps you return in August refreshed and ready for another great year.

Looking ahead, I am thrilled that our new Early Childhood Center will be up and running for the 2025-2026 school year. Finishing touches will continue through the summer, and we hope to announce a ribbon-cutting event and tours soon. This purpose-built space will support play-based learning, early intervention services, and a smooth transition into kindergarten—an investment that will shape our students’ experiences for years to come.

I also want to extend a special congratulations to the Class of 2025—your perseverance and accomplishments inspire us all, and we can’t wait to see what you achieve next!

Enjoy your well-earned summer break, Dragons. We’ll see you in August!

Dr. Paul Taylor

Superintendent

Early Childhood Center:

• The Early Childhood Center is under construction, with a floor plan for 10 classrooms for preschool and Early Childhood Special Education students; spaces for Parents as Teachers, occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy; a kitchen, a multipurpose room, a sensory room, a nurse’s office; and more.

• Construction Progress:
• See some recent construction progress photos here.
• Asphalt and concrete work are nearing completion, and curbs are finished.
• Playground equipment installation is complete, with pour-in-place to follow.
• Training has been completed on the kitchen appliances and equipment.
• Water damage from the leak has been fixed.
• To address any potential runoff associated with the Center on the district-owned property, crews will be installing a detention basin that would accommodate the current center (and possible future expansion).
• Classroom furniture is in! Each classroom teacher was able to choose pieces from a given selection, making each classroom unique while all keeping a unified feel.

• Pick-Up & Drop-Off:
• Dr. Taylor mentioned that questions have popped up regarding additional traffic from the Early Childhood Center on the narrow streets near the drop-off and pick-up times for Ste. Genevieve Elementary. He mentioned that the parking lot was configured in order to alleviate as much traffic from the road as possible during drop-off and pick-up times, as well as to keep the personal vehicles in an area away from the Early Childhood Special Education bus loading and unloading area. In addition, many families will utilize the aftercare service and won’t be picking up their child around the same time as school lets out. He also reminded everyone that the first few weeks of school are always a challenge with timing, drop-off and pick-up. Families are excited for their students and want to see their kids off to school, and this year will be no different. However, families and bus routes start to get into a routine a few weeks in, and the district will address any issues as they arise.

• Maple Drive:
• The district has received many questions regarding the possibility of extending Maple Drive out to intersect with Highway 61 and installing a stoplight at the junction. The field is owned by MLC (previously Mississippi Lime), and this endeavor would necessitate a partnership that included Mississippi Lime, the county, the city, the school district, the Special Road District, Citizens Electric and MoDOT. Dr. Taylor shared that the district is onboard with this project and would love to sit down with all of the entities involved to discuss this possibility, as it would benefit so many in the area.

• Coming Up:
• Summer school for Early Childhood will begin June 16.
• The July 22, 2025 Board of Education Regular meeting will be the first meeting to be held at the Early Childhood Center.
• We’ll be looking at possible dates for a ribbon-cutting event and tours for this summer.

• Now Taking Applications!
• The new center is scheduled to open for the 2025-2026 school year, and is now taking preschool applications for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. See tuition rates here. Click here to apply.

Ste. Genevieve Elementary:

• The design of Ste. Genevieve Elementary’s new gym and on-grade, ADA-accessible entrance with offices can be seen here. A rendering of the exterior of the new addition can be seen here.

• Construction Progress:
• See some recent construction progress photos here.
• Measurements have been made for the green metal panel installations at the entrance.
• Flooring systems are underway with tile in the bathrooms and vinyl for the office floors. Epoxy floors have been installed in the bathrooms.
• Flooring in the new gym addition has commenced, with the sub floor being installed.
• Crews are working on lighting in the corridor area and vestibule.
• Renovation of the old gymnasium has begun, and this area will become two classrooms for the upcoming school year.

• Coming Up:
• Kenzie Wolk will be designing and installing a mural in this space! More info to come.
• This project is anticipated to be completed sometime in June.

Wrestling Facility:

• The most recent floor plan for the wrestling facility can be seen here, and includes a practice wrestling area, office and storage space, locker rooms and restrooms, and a golf simulation room, as well.
• Plans are underway, with discussions among Taylor Engineering, KRJ Architects and Brockmiller about a retaining wall along the edge of the existing parking, the height of the foundation walls, fill and dirt, sloping along the back, etc.
• The building will be situated parallel to the parking behind the PAC.
• This project will go out to bid in the beginning of June.
• The Ste. Genevieve Elementary addition is slated to be finished in June, when crews will hit the ground running on breaking ground on the wrestling facility.

Field Lighting:

• Pausing the athletic facility project until a large-enough alternative location could be identified has also allowed us to address additional Prop SG improvements. This includes investing in field lighting updates for both the downtown ball fields and the football field.
• Over the last few weeks, the new lighting system from Musco has been installed along the football field. This purchase includes a 25-year warranty, and the inclusion of remote LED drivers, which allow for easier maintenance since the driver is housed at the bottom of the pole rather than at the top.
• Previously, the football field lighting operated at 30 footcandles and is now upgraded to 50 footcandles. This significant improvement addressed the outdated and unreliable lighting systems, which include warped poles, aged wiring, and expensive bulb replacement and operational costs. The new lights come from the factory pre-aimed, based on our field’s specs and the measurements taken initially. Using a laser, installation crews point the lights to the 50-yard-line to dial them in. The result is an evenly illuminated field— no dark spots or inconsistent lighting.
• This investment not only modernizes the district’s facilities but also reflects a commitment to long-term sustainability and safety.
• Director of Athletics Dr. Jeff Nix and members of our Technology Department recently met to run through the lighting system’s capabilities (color changes, timed to music, etc.). We’re excited to get our activities rolling in the fall!

• If families completed the 2024-2025 Free & Reduced Lunch application before the end of the school year, there is a 30-day grace period at the start of the upcoming school year to complete the 2025-2026 application.

• Families should complete the 2025-2026 Free & Reduced Lunch application, which will be available on the district’s website and in the Power School Parent portal after July 1, 2025, and will also be shared with families in the district’s summer mailer. All families are encouraged to complete an online application instead of a paper application if they are able. The online application will be available under Forms, 25-26 Free/Reduced Lunch Application. We will share several reminders with families over the summer. For assistance or questions, please call 573-883-4500 ext. 2008.

🚌 Ever wondered what it’s like to drive a school bus? Now’s your chance!

Join us for “Come Drive a Bus” Day on June 7! We'll be at the Bus Depot from 8 to 11 a.m. (behind Save-a-Lot).

Whether you're curious or considering becoming a driver, this event is a great opportunity to get behind the wheel—no prior experience needed. Our team will be on hand to guide you through the process and answer any questions.

✅ No CDL required to participate

✅ Buses are automatic—no stick-shift!

✅ Safe, supervised, and fun

Stop by, give it a try, and learn more about how you can make a difference in our students' lives. We hope to see you there!

Graduation was held on Saturday, May 10, at 8 p.m. in the Peggy J. Johnson Gymnasium. Approximately 122 students participated in the Graduation Ceremony, and 125 of 127 students received their diplomas. Our last two seniors are scheduled to earn their final credits this summer. Congratulations to our Class of 2025!

Check out the Board Briefs and the Board Minutes from the Tuesday, May 20, 2025, Board of Education Regular Meeting. The Board Briefs are an unofficial document that includes more context and details than our official Board Minutes. All Board documents, such as the Board Minutes, the presentation and these Board Briefs, are located on the “Board of Education” page of our district's website.

The new Early Childhood Center will be open for the 2025-2026 school year. We are now taking preschool applications for next school year. See Tuition Rates here. Click here to apply.

Make sure to watch for the summer mailers heading to homes in July! This packet will include essential information for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year.

• Families, if you missed the Kindergarten Registration and screening for your child, please call the elementary office to enroll your child for the 2024-2025 school year:
• Ste. Genevieve Elementary: 573-883-4500 ext. 3
• Bloomsdale Elementary: 573-883-4500 ext. 4

• Children age 5 prior to Aug. 1, 2025 are Kindergarten eligible

• Ste. Genevieve Elementary Parents As Teachers also offer FREE Community Developmental Screenings year-round for all children within district boundaries ages 3 months to 5 years. Screening is the process of measuring a child's general health, vision, hearing and development. The areas of development focused on during this screening are motor, language, concepts, social/emotional, and adaptive. To schedule a screening, call PAT at 573-883-4500 ext. 2424.