The Hornet Buzz

To empower, enrich, and enlighten students to reach their full potential while respecting our past.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Happy New Year! We hope you had a wonderful Christmas break that seems to have extended itself due to snow! As much as we wanted our students and staff to return today, safety is and will always be our top priority. Our staff is very excited to welcome students back as soon as we can.

As we begin 2025, I want to take a moment to express my sincere gratitude for your continued support and involvement in our school community. We look ahead to another year of growth and achievement.

Thank you once again for entrusting us with your child’s education. Together, we can make 2025 a year of even greater success and opportunity. I am excited to continue working with all of you as we support our students in reaching their full potential.

Wishing you and your family a wonderful New Year!

Ashley Musick

St. Elizabeth Principal

amusick@ste.k12.mo.us

573-493-2246

January 9: GB @ Blair Oaks 6:00

January 13: Homecoming Week begins, GB VS Vienna @ Home 6:00

January 14: Conference Spelling Bee @ Bunceton, BB VS Blair Oaks @ Home 6:00

January 16: Archery at Calvary Lutheran, GB @ Bunceton

January 17: Homecoming--BB VS Vienna @ Home 6:00

Upcoming Events for your Calendar

January 20: No School

Week of January 20: BB @ Iberia Tournament, GB @ Osage Tournament

January 24: Archery @ St. Thomas

February 14: Early out at 12:09 for Teacher PD

February 17: No School

School Closing Information for SY 2024-2025

With winter months comes the possibility of school closures and schedule changes. The decision to close school due to weather conditions is based on one factor: the safety of our students and staff. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about emergency school closures:

How are decisions made about school closures, and how will I know?

The district makes every effort to decide and announce whether to close the school before 6 AM. This plan and review process begins the night before. Once a decision is made, messages will be sent to all families through school Text, Facebook, and local media.

What factors go into the decision?

Weather and road conditions are checked beginning the night before. The school will be closed on days when roads, parking lots, and/or driveways and walkways are considered unsafe for school bus transportation and student travel. Sometimes, blacktop highways are clear, but the gravel roads are not, preventing our buses from driving safely. If a decision is made to have school and run special snow routes, individual people will be notified about the changes. The superintendent makes the decision to close the school as early as possible on the morning in question. In most cases, this will be done before 6:00 AM.

The superintendent gathers as much information as possible before making the decision. The superintendent and transportation director monitor ongoing weather reports, and road conditions from the Missouri Department of Transportation and local and state law-enforcement agencies. “Weather spotters,” such as transportation personnel arriving at school and maintenance crew members assigned to plow the parking lots and sidewalks, are consulted. The superintendent communicates with area school superintendents before 6 AM before making a final decision. If classes are to be canceled, the superintendent will notify local media - television stations between 5 and 6 AM. A text and email alerts will also be sent out using our Hornet Alert System, and a message will be placed on the district's Facebook Page. The following television stations will be notified: KRCG/Channel 13, KOMU/Channel 8, and KMIZ/Channel 17. Please remember that if necessary, our district also implements a 2-hour late start option. Every effort will be made to call a 2-hour late start no later than 9:00 p.m. the evening before. However, there may be times when the decision will be made that morning. Morning delays will be made as early as possible before the Before Care program begins.

NOTE: If you have recently changed cell phone providers, you must sign up again for the Hornet Alert System.

Is there a set temperature that could cause the district to close school?

No. No set temperature would cause the district to close school, but it is one of the many factors, along with road conditions, that are considered when making a school closing decision. Extreme temperatures may cause schools to limit recess and extracurricular activities.

How can I make sure my student is safe?

Since parents are primary protectors, they must decide what is best for their children. In cold weather, students should be dressed appropriately. Please send your child to school wearing appropriate clothing and shoes. No one can predict when a fire alarm might go off or if buildings must be evacuated due to an emergency.

Parents are urged to make arrangements for their children at the beginning of each school year in case of school closures. Children should know where to go if a parent is not home and how to contact parents/guardians. Parent contact information, including work telephone numbers, should be updated with the school office.

Sincerely,

Doug Kempker, Superintendent

Box Tops News

The winning class for scanning the most BoxTops last year was this year’s Fifth Graders! Thank you to all who scanned receipts for Box Tops for our school last year; we earned $163! This money is used for extra classroom materials and activities for our students. Downloading the app is a fairly quick process and taking a picture of your receipts with the app, before you even leave the store if you wish, is a simple habit to get into! They have also made it easier to submit digital receipts.

Step-by-Step Guide to Box Tops App

Step 1: Download Box Tops for Education App and Log in

Step 2: Find a School (Type in 65075, Select School)

Step 3: Complete Profile (Must be 18 to use)

To Earn Box Tops

Step 1: Click Scan (App will guide you through the steps to scan your receipt)

Step 2: Credit a Class (If you choose to)

- After you scan, click the Credit button

- Type your choice of grade level (K-8)

- Click Done/Submit

Tournaments are about to start. Our archers will go to Calvary Lutheran on January 16th and to St. Thomas on January 24th. More tournaments will be scheduled. Our sponsors are Mrs. McDonnell nicole@ste.k12.mo.us and Mrs. Holtmeyer kristen@ste.k12.mo.us.

The girls game against Eugene has been rescheduled for February 21st. The boys game against Iberia for tonight has been canceled and they are working on a make up date.

Here are the upcoming dress up days for January 13-17th!

I have loved seeing kids in the office for positive things!
Congrats to the following students for earning one for December 13-20:

Vincent Ash

Nicholas Hale

Klayton Green

Home Basketball Games: To help with supervision, here are a few reminders: The cafeteria should be off limits during games. Students in grades 6 and below should be accompanied by an adult. If your child is going to play outside during the game, please know they are your responsibility. We are starting to pull out the bleachers by the stage to increase our seating. Please try to avoid sitting on stage--we try to save that for managers, admin, and keep that area free of distraction to our scorekeepers. Thank you!

Change to your child's end of day routine: Please be sure to let the office know of any changes to end of day routine by 2:30. Please know without a note, call to office, or email to teacher, we will have to send them home their normal way. Be sure we are notified if there is a change.

Unprepared: Students in grades 5-12 can be marked unprepared. Once class starts, students are unprepared if they don't have their book, notes, homework, chromebook, or charger. It can also be marked unprepared for an uncharged chromebook. Once a student gets three, a note will go home. Once they receive the 4th, a phone call will be made by me and they will have to serve a detention. More detentions come after the 4th unprepared if more are given. These will restart at semester.

Coats/Jackets: With the change in weather, please make sure your child is coming with a coat or jacket!