Strafford Community,

As we are just days away from Christmas, I want to thank each of you for your support of the school district, but more importantly, for your support of the Strafford R-VI students. We truly live and work in a great community – there are few places where families are fortunate enough to live in a community that values family, friends, education and its community as much as Strafford.

Our schools finished the fall semester strong academically. Many of our students participated in Christmas events such as plays and performances, athletic events, and giving back to the community. Again, this is why our community is so great – helping neighbors in need and giving back to those who are less fortunate. What makes it even more genuine is the look of pride on the faces of our students as they volunteer or perform on stage in front of their classmates, parents, guardians, grandparents and the neighbors.

It is such a privilege for me to represent Strafford Schools at state meetings or professional development with other Missouri superintendents. By comparison, I am always amazed by how giving and supportive the community of Strafford is. We truly live in a great community. Each day, you see people throughout the school district giving back to the community and helping people in need.

DeAnna, DeLainie, Dawson, and I would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thank you for allowing me to serve as Superintendent in the best school district in the state. On behalf of the Strafford Schools Board of Education and staff, I want to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Please have a safe and relaxing break and we look forward to seeing everyone on Monday, January 3, 2022. The spring semester is extremely important as the district continues to provide a "Culture of Learning!”

Striving to Serve,

Dr. Mark D. Hedger, Superintendent of Schools

Strafford Families--

We are excited to share that Strafford R-VI School District has been granted approval to offer “Alternative Methods of Instruction” or AMI days during the 2021-2022 school year. This plan will allow the opportunity for all students to be engaged in meaningful learning on inclement weather days or emergency days when conditions prevent district schools from being in session. Parents will be informed when an AMI day has been scheduled.

WHAT DOES ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF INSTRUCTION (AMI) MEAN?

AMI simply allows for the continuation of learning when students miss days of regular instruction due to district closure for inclement weather. Students will have the opportunity for skill reinforcement, remediation and enrichment through electronic or conventional paper lessons. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has granted the Strafford R-VI School District five days (36 hours) this school year on which students will be expected to continue learning off-site (home, etc.). Some benefits of an AMI day include: assisting in eliminating gaps in learning by providing learning activities and reducing the need for days to be added at the end of the school calendar.

How Will AMI Days Work?

• We will continue to communicate a snow day as we have in the past, however on certain days, it will be announced that we are not having school due to weather but we are having an AMI Day. It will be announced as AMI Day 1, 2, 3, etc.

• Teachers will use online resources or AMI packets, depending upon the grade level, containing lessons to be completed on AMI days.

• Instructions and information will be provided by your child’s teachers, and students are expected to complete and submit learning activities within three (3) days of returning to school. If you have questions about learning activities, please do not hesitate to contact your child's school or teacher through email as teachers will be monitoring their emails during regular school hours.

IMPORTANT POINTS TO REMEMBER FOR AMI DAYS AT STRAFFORD R-VI SCHOOL DISTRICT:

• Students will NOT attend school on an AMI day. All students will have instructional activities to be completed at home on AMI days.

• AMI days count as instructional days and do not have to be made up at the end of the school year if students and staff complete assigned work.

• Students who do not complete and submit AMI assignments, within three (3) days of returning to school, will be marked absent for the related AMI day.

• The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has allowed five AMI days (36 hours) for the 21-22 school year.

• As we implement this new method, we anticipate that we will learn lessons along the way and make necessary adjustments to improve our AMI plan to best meet the needs of our students. If you have further questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to phone or email your child’s school.

Please note the information below regarding snow routes from Larry Lay, Transportation Supervisor:

Dear Bus Parents,

At times, due to inclement weather and poor road conditions, it will be necessary for us to run a “snow route” with some of our buses. If conditions call for this action, it will be announced by our school communications that we will be having school with snow routes only. Students on snow route buses will be picked up from and dropped off at the designated stops. Parents will need to have their students at the stop in the morning and have someone there to pick up the students at the designated times in the afternoon.

Students will not be allowed off of the bus unless a parent or other designee is there to pick them up. A note for each school year will need to be signed by the parent and building administrator and will be required if other arrangements are made. If a parent or other designee is not at the drop off point and the driver has not been made aware of other arrangements, the student will be returned to school for parent pick up.

The following buses will be using snow routes. You can view the letter for each route below:

Bus #7;

Bus #11;

Bus #12.

Snow route times and pickup/drop off locations for these bus routes will be established by the drivers. Parents will be notified by a letter from the driver. If your student/s do not ride on one of these buses, your bus will run its route as normal. Should you have any questions please contact me.

Larry Lay

Transportation Supervisor

736-7000 ext. 1505

This month school districts and public health agencies across Missouri received a letter from the Missouri Attorney General with significant implications for how school districts and local communities can respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The letter cites a recent court ruling which may prohibit the local county health departments from authorizing local COVID19 mitigation strategies in our schools.

As a result the district SRCSP has been revised. Please know, Strafford School District's number one priority is the safety of our students and staff. The current revised safety plan can be found below. Please understand this is subject to change based on revised guidance and data.

As the first semester draws to a close and second semester begins, we remain focused on providing all students and staff with a safe, healthy learning environment. Our goal is to keep students and staff members safe and healthy and keep as many students learning, in-person as possible.

(Please click the picture below for some resources to help prepare kids for second semester success!)

There are several new staff members at Strafford Schools. Learn more about them in the New Staff Spotlights below:

Congratulations to the SHS Pride of the Tribe Marching Band on winning the 3A Division at the 2021 Downtown Springfield Christmas Parade!

Your Strafford Indians Junior High Girls Basketball teams are Mid-Lakes Conference Champs! Both teams finished the season 16-0, way to go!

Your Strafford Indians Boys Basketball team earned the #4 seed in the Gold division of the 2021 Blue and Gold Basketball Tournament. Please find the bracket below:

Your Strafford Indians Girls Basketball team earned the #3 seed in the White division of the 2021 Pink and White Basketball Tournament. Please find the bracket below:

Congratulations to Christa Duffel on signing to play volleyball for College of the Ozarks next year! Good luck, Christa, the Bobcats are getting a good one!

Congratulations to Evan Helton on signing to play baseball for State Fair Community College next year! Good luck, Evan, the Roadrunners are gettng a good one!

If you are interested in any of the following positions, please click on the picture above to apply through our new online employment system.

Instructional Aides

Full Time Bus Drivers

Substitute Teachers, custodians, and bus drivers

Day Care/POWWOW Staff

The SHS FCCLA chapter has been busy giving and volunteering during this holiday season. At Thanksgiving time, sponsor Jessica Berghager hosted a “baby shower” for the Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks. She successfully collected lots of needed items for the facility from our FCCLA student members. Recently, Mrs. Berghager and her chapter members have volunteered for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign.

This year’s chapter is 52 members strong and is led by Co-Presidents Abby Stow and Alexis Yarbrough. Thank you to Strafford FCCLA for your giving hearts and the volunteer time spent for various local charitable organizations!

Superintendent of Schools

Strafford Schools

Email: markh@straffordschools.net
Website: straffordschools.net
Location: 201 West McCabe Street, Strafford, MO, USA
Phone: 417.736.7000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/straffordpublicschools/
Twitter: @SuptMarkDHedger