SG R-II Connection

Hello, SG R-II Families,

As we transition into the cooler, crisp days of fall, it's a wonderful time to reflect on the changing seasons and all that lies ahead. The vibrant colors of autumn will soon set in, and with them comes the excitement of one of our favorite traditions—Homecoming! This much-anticipated event brings together our entire community, celebrating the pride and spirit that make us so unique.

We also want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for everyone who makes our school district such a special place. From our dedicated teachers and staff to the families and students who bring life to our schools every day, your commitment and enthusiasm are what make this district truly thrive.

Let's embrace this season of change, celebrate our traditions, and continue striving for excellence together!

Warmest wishes,

Dr. Paul Taylor

Superintendent

Flu Vaccine Clinics: Enrollment for Student Flu Vaccine Open Now — Flu vaccines will be available at the SG Campus on Oct. 16, & at the BLE Campus on Oct. 18. The flu vaccine is not mandatory. See how to sign up your child(ren) here either online or using a paper form: https://bit.ly/SGR-IIHealthServices

Homecoming Details: Homecoming will be held the week of Oct. 7- 11! The SGHS Homecoming Parade will be held Friday, Oct. 11 at 5 p.m. To register your group, contact Kyle Schweiss at krschweiss@sgdragons.org or 883-4500 x 2160. See parade details here, and see the 2024 Homecoming Court here.

College & Career Information Event:

• Local businesses are invited to participate in the 2024-2025 College & Career Information Event at the SGHS Peggy J. Johnson Gymnasium on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024.
• Each high school student will be able to explore a broad range of possible pathways through meeting career and postsecondary representatives.
• Registration & Set-Up for Colleges & Businesses: 10 - 10:30 a.m.
• Student Sessions: 11 - 11:45 a.m. (9th and 10th grade students); 11:50 a.m. - 1 p.m. (11th and 12th grade students)
• Any business interested in participating can contact Stephanie Brumfield in the high school’s counseling office by Oct. 16 at 573-883-4500 ext. 2104 or at sbrumfield@sgdragons.org.

Early Childhood Center:

• The Early Childhood Center is under construction, with a floor plan of 10 classrooms, as well as a kitchen, multipurpose room, and more.
• Construction is progressing well with drywall, mudding, and taping underway, along with electrical rough-in and installation of ductwork and piping in the walls.
• The exterior brickwork is also advancing, while site utilities, drains, and concrete patches are being completed.
• Curbs and gutter work are ongoing on the Maple Street extension.
• The fridge, cooler, and hoods have been set in place.

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.
• Crews are currently working on foundations and slabs, finishing the last of the footings.
• The east wall is complete, and work on the west wall will begin soon, while the south wall has reached scaffold height.
• The steps in front have been poured, and the platform construction has started. Floor drain installation started this week, and the team aims to pour the floor within the next two weeks, after which framing can commence.
• The architects are finishing up plans for the gymnasium floor.

Ste. Genevieve Middle School:

• Following an initial inspection earlier this summer, it was determined that a mini split needed to be installed in the mechanical room for the elevator. The necessary updates have been made, and the new addition is awaiting approval of the elevator following a final inspection.
• District staff and Brockmiller Construction are working on the transition area to the nurse’s office on the bottom level. Crews have been mudding and taping and painting the new elevator alcove into the nurse’s office, and the area is substantially complete.

Athletic Facility:

• Discussions are underway regarding location options for the athletic facility, which depend on the results of geotechnical borings. There is a possibility that the wrestling and turf facilities could be housed in two separate buildings.
• Various design elements are being explored, and input from coaches has been shared with the architects, who are incorporating their suggestions.
• The project is still a work in progress, but the hope is to finalize the location within the next few months, allowing for the design of the wrestling area and its transition into the larger athletic facility.

• The Board approved an adjustment to the District Calendar to include an additional half-day (4.5 hours) of weather make-up to remain in compliance with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s (DESE’s) 36-hour inclement weather makeup requirement.
• The back-and-forth terminology utilized by our state legislature regarding school districts counting days versus hours for attendance has led to a discrepancy in many districts’ make-up days in their district calendars. New this year, DESE updated a submission screen that auto calculates inclement weather hours, and many districts found they were now in noncompliance with their make-up days as the calculations showed fewer hours than the 36 minimum.
• Districts are required to have at least 1,044 hours of student attendance in their calendars, with 36 of those hours being counted as make-up days for situations such as inclement weather. Our five make-up days, being 6.5 hours each, equate to 32.5 make-up hours built into our current calendar. The district’s proposal to meet the requirement of 36 hours is to add a 4.5-hour half day on May 29. For students and staff to actually have to attend a half day on May 29, we would have to have at least two traditional snow days, then five AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) days, another three traditional snow days and then one more inclement weather day.
• See the updated District Calendar here.

Check out the Board Briefs and the Board Minutes from the Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, Board of Education Regular Meeting here. This unofficial document includes more context and details than our official Board News. All Board documents, such as the Board News, the presentation and these Board Briefs, are located on the “Board of Education” page of our district's website.

Now that we have two School Resource Officers, we’re ready for double the high-fives, double the school spirit, and double the dedication to keeping our students and staff safe! Please join us in giving Officer Nic Cusanelli a warm welcome as he begins his new role in our school community! If you’ve seen his cruiser around Bloomsdale Elementary in the mornings, Officer Cusanelli has been starting his days on the BLE campus. Recently, senior Olivia Klump designed and printed mousepads for both Officer Clark and Officer Cusanelli in Mrs. Crump’s Marketing Production class.

*Created by Kenzie Wolk for the Bloomsdale Elementary Outdoor Classroom

*Created by Hope Schmelzle for the Commons skylight. Shout-out to Lily Largent, Joleigh Parker, Mrs. Bauman, and the maintenance department for their help!

*Created by Kenzie Wolk for the New MS Gym

*Created by Kenzie Wolk for the Old MS Gym exterior

• New Rates: We have updated our substitute teacher salary schedule! See the 2024-2025 rates here.
• Substitute Certification: To reach the substitute certification requirements, a candidate must either 1) enroll in a 20-hour online course, or 2) have 60 credit hours. Check out more information about the pathways to obtaining a substitute certification below!

Check out our flyer below explaining how SG R-II will communicate with families in case of a safety and security emergency. It is important that families have their contact information updated in the Powerschool Parent Portal to receive important updates from the district and your child’s school.