Maries Co. R 2 Newsletter

I hope by now everyone has found our Facebook and Instagram page and downloaded the district app. We share regularly on those sites the amazing learning that is happening in our buildings.

Thank you to our parents, families and community for supporting our students, staff and our school. We are very proud of all of the partnerships with our community.

Dr. Lenice Basham

Superintendent

Recognition of Students: Elementary - Larry Keeney; Middle School - Autumn Kramer; High School - Allyson Bartner

Mrs. Baldwin shared her Middle School report. Mr. Haslag shared the High School report. He also shared current data on their building goals as of 1st quarter. Mrs. Sanders shared SE data for the month.

Dr. Basham talked about the vaping epidemic in the Middle School and High School. The board policy on tobacco and vaping use was shared with parents via the website and facebook. It was shared with district staff via email. Signage will be posted about not using tobacco or vaping products on school grounds by anyone. Cessation services will be required for students caught with tobacco or vaping products during the ISS consequence.

The High School eSports Team discussed their team and activities. Mr. Walker, Esport sponsor, did a great job of describing the skills acquired through participation in the program.

The migrant, foster, homeless and ELL programs were reviewed. Liaisons for these programs are: Foster (Mr. Haslag) and Homeless (Mrs. Feeler). The secretaries, counselors and principals do a great job of making sure new students get the proper paperwork to complete during the enrollment process.

The Board approved the use of EdCounsel as the district attorney.

The board approved the addition of a mid day preschool transportation route for preschool students. Mrs. Koch and Ms. Smith will get information from parents on needed pickup and dropoff. We very much appreciate the boards support of our early childhood programs.

The Board approved the candidate filing period for Board Member elections. We have two board members who are up for re-election in April (Joey Butler and Dawn Hicks). The candidate filing period begins on December 17 and ends on December 28 this year.

The board accepted bids for 4 welders that were placed on surplus at the previous meeting.

The board rejected the bid for wall repair as the bid did not clarify the project that was bid on.

Resignation was accepted for Amy Holland, Middle School Paraprofessional.

The next Board of Education meeting will be held November 23, 2021.

A key to student success in school is a strong home-school connection, and parent teacher conferences are one of the most important events that we host to support the connection. We would love to have 100% of our students families come in for conferences. We want to brag about your student to you and talk about all they are learning! Hope to see you at the conferences!

The increased use of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has reversed a trend of declining teen tobacco use in Missouri. Data shows nearly one in four high school students use e-cigarettes and half of these students tried to quit using tobacco products in the last year. 1 E-cigarettes contain nicotine, a chemical that is highly addictive. Not only does the use of these products increase the risk for addiction, but it may also worsen chronic health conditions, like asthma, which put students at risk of increased absenteeism and lower academic performance.

We need your help - please make sure that if you are at a school event or picking up a student at one of our campuses - that you do not use tobacco or vaping products on school property.

Beginning last week, students who are caught with tobacco and vaping products will complete a tobacco cessation program online as part of a consequence for having the products at school.

A link to a video about vaping is below. If you are unaware of the health risks to your student from vaping or smoking, we encourage you to watch the video.

https://letsgo.catch.org/pages/CMB-Parent-Resources

Kisha Woodruff had a Donors Choose Project funded. (Kindergarten)

Kassi Mauer had 2 Donors Choose projects funded for coffee supplies for the library coffee bar and button/pin maker which the kids made 200 buttons in the first week. (HS Librarian)

Karen Hance had a webinar on making writing more fun and engaging for her students. I applied for and received a grant for reflex math for this year. I am doing training for it this weekend, and then we will be able to use it in class. (4th grade)

Jennipher Adams, Sonya Hance, and Bobbi Robertson are working with professors at Washington University in St. Louis to better serve their students in science. Fifth Grade Science is working with Stan Slaughter and Katy White on the unit, Food Too Good To Waste based on MO Science Standards The unit began mid quarter with classroom experiments and lessons culminating in a final project.Participants are given the opportunity to purchase $200.00 of materials for the classroom to support student learning related to composting & recycling to reduce waste being sent to landfills. Jennipher Adams and Mareta James are colorabrating hoping the project will give students experiences in composting and make them more environmentally aware. Two compost bins were selected and sent to the high school agriculture department. Over the winter high school students will compost waste from the cafeteria and use it for spring planting. All hope this will be a sustainable project. (3rd, 4th and 5th grade)

Mr. Mertz wrote a grant for new welders for the shop. (HS Ag)

Sunshine Shanks and Beckie Lansford are taking a course called Letrs. They have had their first class and are excited about the next one in November. (Elementary Title 1)

Jennifer Giesey had a webinar hosted by Todd Nesloney about successful parent teacher conferences. (2nd grade)

Post season recognition includes:

Softball:

All Conference:Gracie Rehmert, Ryleigh Long, Natalie Gehlert, Emma White

Nevaeh Kinsey- Honorable Mention

1st Team All-District: Ryleigh Long, Natalie Gehlert

2nd Team All-District: Gracie Rehmert, Emma White

1st Team All Region- Natalie Gehlert

2nd Team All Region- Ryleigh Long

Volleyball:

All District: Hali Naber

All Conference: Lauren Prigge, Maddie Rohrer, Emily Helmig, and Hali Naber

Over the last 5 years, we have been focused on:

1. Student Performance

2. Highly Qualified Staff

3. Facilities, Support and Instructional Resources

4. Parent and Community Involvement

5. Governance

Student Performance: We have a 90% average graduation rate from the last three years. We will continue to put strategies in place for improving this rate. Our offerings and participation in Dual Credit courses at the High School continue to increase. We currently have 21 students taking 39 Dual Credit courses. These students will earn college credit for the course and be able to transfer those to the college they attend - decreasing the number of courses required to graduate from college. Our career education courses continue to have increases in student enrollment (Business Education, Family and Consumer Science Education, Agriculture Education). We also have 15 students who are attending Rolla Technical Center each day.

Our Elementary and Middle School students are using IReady assessments and lessons to increase their academic skills in reading and math. This allows teachers to evaluate student progress weekly. MAP and EOC scores will be available at Parent Teacher conferences if you have not yet been given your students scores from last year. The data will not be released until December 1 for the grade and building information. We provide tutoring in all three of our buildings for students who are not making adequate progress toward standards in their coursework. Our teachers are doing an amazing job of assisting our students in being successful in and out of the classrooms.

We will continue to work on and monitor these focus areas as we implement a new 5 year plan.

Belle High School started its own team with the beginning of the school year. Mr. Walker, BHS Art Teacher, currently serves as the Coach for the team. The students meet a couple times a week and compete against other schools across the state. Two members of the team attended the most recent Board Meeting and talked about the program. Increased social opportunities and being part of a team are a big reason for members to join.

The students currently are using switch devices to compete in games. Collaboration and team work are essential in the program.

If you have questions about our Esports team, please reach out to Mr. Walker at cwalker@mariesr2.org or our High School Principal at ghaslag@mariesr2.org. The district is very excited for this new opportunity for students.

November 8 - FASFA Night for Seniors 5:00 in High School Library

November 8 - 19 - Chair Auction at Bland Middle School (See district Facebook page for additional information about this fundraiser.)

November 11 - Picture Retakes and Fall Sports Pictures for Bland Middle School

November 11 - Veteran's Day Assembly

November 16 - Mid-Term Grades for 2nd Quarter for 6-12th grade

November 18 - Bicycle Safety Day for Belle Elementary

November 22 - SCHOOL IN SESSION ON MONDAY

November 22 - STEM Day for Belle Elementary Students

November 23 - Annual Turkey Trot at Middle School

November 23 - Winners of Bland Middle School Chair Auction Announced

November 23 - November Board of Education Meeting 7:00

Email: socialmedia@mariesr2.org
Website: mariesr2.org
Location: 503 3rd Street, Belle, MO, USA
Phone: 573-859-3800
Facebook: facebook.com/mariesr2