South Callaway R-II Schools

As we wrap up the first quarter of the school year, I want to take a moment to celebrate the many successes we’ve already experienced together. Walking across our campus, it is inspiring to see classrooms full of engaged learners, athletic fields alive with the energy of competition, and hallways buzzing with the daily activity that makes South Callaway such a vibrant place. The start of this school year has been marked by collaboration, dedication, and a strong sense of community from students, staff, and families alike.

Looking ahead, the remainder of the semester promises to be equally exciting. Our annual Climate and Culture Survey will once again give students, parents, and staff an opportunity to share their voice in shaping our district’s future. Our sports teams continue their seasons with schedules full of opportunities to cheer on our Bulldogs. In addition, we have many public events planned across our buildings—events designed to provide parents and community members with a closer look at the teaching and learning happening every day in our classrooms. These occasions highlight not only the talent of our students but also the expertise and passion of our staff.

I would like to thank everyone for their patience and flexibility as we continue to navigate ongoing construction projects on campus. We know that detours, changes in traffic flow, and shifting schedules can be inconvenient, and we appreciate the understanding of our families and staff. A special word of gratitude goes to our Maintenance Department, whose hard work behind the scenes ensures the safety of our campus. Their daily efforts—always guided by state and federal compliance—make it possible for teaching and learning to move forward without interruption.

Together, we have much to be proud of, and even more to look forward to. Thank you for your continued support of South Callaway R-II.

Yours in Education,

Corey Pontius,

Superintendent of Schools

Welcome to the EC!

It’s hard to believe the first quarter of the 2025-26 school year is already behind us! We are proud to share that the year is off to a smooth and successful start. Our students have settled into routines beautifully, and we are seeing great progress as they build confidence, independence, and a love for learning.

A Strong Start Academically

The Importance of Attendance

Parent Tip: Building Good Attendance Habits

• Set a consistent bedtime and morning routine to help your child feel rested and ready.

• Lay out clothes, pack backpacks, and prepare lunches the night before.

• Schedule appointments outside of school hours whenever possible.

• Remind your child that being at school every day helps them learn and grow.

Looking Ahead

The EC, It Begins Here!

Leigh Dunlap,

SCEC Principal

• October 23- P/T Conferences- Early Dismissal

• October 30- Lead & Treat- join us for a night of learning and Halloween fun!

• October 31- Fall Parties/Trunk-or-Treating- Sign up with your child’s teacher-Early Dismissal

• November 26-28- Thanksgiving Break- No School

• December 19- Winter Parties- Early Dismissal

Music Concert: 10/21 - 6:00pm

Our 3rd grade students Halloween music concert in the HS Performing Arts Center. Music starts at 6:00pm sharp!

Parent/Teacher Conferences: 10/23 - 1:00-8:00pm

Be on the lookout for communication from your child’s classroom teacher. Conferences will be held from 1:00-8:00 pm this fall.

Halloween Class Parties: 10/30 - 2:00-3:00pm

Students will parade through the halls in their Halloween costumes. After the parade parents are encouraged to join the classrooms for a fall party.

Title 1 Lead & Treat Night: 10/30 - 5:30-7:00pm

Join us in the EC building for some Halloween fun. Students can wear their costumes and participate in fun activities and games.

Veterans Day Student-Led Assembly: 11/11 - 8:30am

Please join our district in honoring our Veterans in a breakfast and assembly in the High School. Elementary students will be showcased in the event.

DARE Graduation: 11/25 - 10:00 am

We eagerly anticipate celebrating the graduation of our 5th graders from the DARE program led by our SRO Cody Vandelicht. This program emphasizes our commitment to promoting a drug-free and healthy lifestyle among our students.

Music Concert: 12/16 - 6:00pm

Check out the 4th grade performance of Christmas music in the HS auditorium. The performance will begin at 6:00pm. Come on down the chimney to see a jolly performance!

Parents are always welcome to come eat lunch with your student to celebrate a birthday, special occasion, or just because you love them. We promise not to put you to work while you are here! If you would like to have a school lunch please notify the office before 9:00am the day of your visit. Lunch times are the following:

3rd grade: 10:50

4th grade: 11:10

5th grade: 11:20

Every Child, Every Chance, Every Day!

Adam DuBuque,

SCES Principal

Hello!

October is one of my favorite times of the school year. Homecoming festivities, fall athletics, marching band performances, and the changing of the seasons reminding us just how quickly the year moves along. As we enter the heart of the first semester, I want to take a moment to thank our students, staff, families, and community for the tremendous support you’ve shown to start the year strong.

Our students continue to impress with their commitment to academics, extracurriculars, and community service. Our annual service day is October 10th paired with FFA’s food for America and Special Olympics. We are excited to take some time for our students to give back to our community.

October also brings several exciting opportunities:

• Homecoming Week October 13th - 17th will be filled with spirit days, community events, and the big game under the Friday night lights. We invite everyone to come out and show their Bulldog pride!
  

• Parent-Teacher Conferences are coming up soon. These meetings are a great way to connect with teachers, celebrate progress, and set goals for continued success. Parent teacher conferences will be held from 1:00 - 7:00 PM on October 23rd.
  

As the weather cools, I encourage families to stay connected with us. Check our website and social media pages for updates, reminders, and celebrations. Together, we make South Callaway a special place.

Sincerely,

Tucker Bartley,

SCHS Principal

When people ask me what curriculum work looks like at South Callaway R-II, I often smile and say, “It’s never really finished.” And that’s the truth. Our curriculum is a living system—something we design, implement, monitor, and refine with the same care you might give to a garden. It grows, it changes, and it needs constant attention to thrive.

The process always begins with purpose. Before we dive into learning maps, pacing guides, or resources, we ground ourselves in what we believe about teaching and learning. For us, that means keeping high expectations for every student, building in deep conceptual understanding, and ensuring that what we teach connects from one grade level to the next. These conversations matter because they give us a shared vision. They remind us why we’re doing this work in the first place.

From there, the design takes shape. We plan out what content is taught and when, making sure skills build across the years. Each unit we create is built around the big ideas—what we call enduring understandings—that we want students to carry with them long after the test is over. We also think carefully about how students will show what they know, from quick formative checks to bigger performance tasks. Choosing resources comes later, but even then, we don’t just grab a textbook and call it good. We pilot, we gather teacher feedback, and we make sure the materials support our goals rather than drive them.

Of course, a strong curriculum doesn’t mean much if teachers don’t feel supported in bringing it to life. That’s why professional learning is such a key part of the rollout. We spend time together unpacking the units, looking at student work, and creating lessons. My role, and that of our instructional coaches, is to walk alongside teachers—not as evaluators, but as partners. When I step into classrooms, it’s to listen, to observe through the lens of the curriculum, and to help troubleshoot so that teachers can adapt the materials to fit the students in front of them.

As students begin engaging with the curriculum, we pay close attention to how it’s working. Assessments, both small and large, give us a picture of how kids are progressing. Then we sit down as teams and really dig into the data. Where are students thriving? Where are they struggling? Do we need to adjust pacing, add scaffolds, or rethink an assessment? These conversations feed right back into the curriculum design, keeping the cycle moving forward.

And that’s the heart of it—this work is a cycle, not a checklist. Each year we revisit units, refine them, and make changes where they’re needed. We’ve built structures into our calendar to protect that work time, because without it, things fall through the cracks. Over time, we’ve also worked hard to make sure this responsibility is shared. Teachers and coaches grow into curriculum leaders themselves, which means the process doesn’t depend on just one person—it belongs to all of us.

Even in the middle of all the hard work, we pause to celebrate. We celebrate when a team refines a unit in a way that makes learning click for students. We celebrate when we see growth in assessment results. And we celebrate the moments when students share their learning in ways that show deep understanding and pride. Sharing those stories with our community, our school board, and our families helps keep the energy alive and reinforces that we’re moving in the right direction.

In the end, our curriculum is not a static document tucked away on a shelf. It is a dynamic process that reflects the heart of our mission at South Callaway—to give students the knowledge and skills they need to succeed, not just in school, but in life. I am proud of the work our teachers do every day to make this vision real, and I’m grateful for a district that sees curriculum not as a ceiling, but as a launchpad for student growth. This is just one of the many ways our South Callaway R-II students become the success-ready citizens.

Mary Van Orden,

Director of Curriculum & Instruction

The Special Services department is off to an amazing start in meeting the needs

of our students in a variety of ways. As we wrap up the first quarter and begin the

second, I want to recognize the incredible efforts made by our students, educators, and

support staff to ensure a strong start to the 2025–2026 school year. From

back-to-school transitions to the implementation of IEP supports, it has been a 1st

quarter of growth, learning, and teamwork.

Highlights from Quarter 1

● Successful implementation of IEP goals with student-centered support

● Increased use of assistive technology and accommodations

● Collaboration with general education teachers to promote inclusion

● Parent-teacher communication to support at-home learning

● Continued Professional Development for all special education staff members

● Annual Special Olympics Track and Field Event

● Life Skills classroom hosted a family dinner (breakfast for dinner and it was

delicious!!)

Looking Ahead to Quarter 2

The second quarter brings new opportunities for growth, learning, and collaboration. We

are committed to continuing our support for each student’s individual needs.

Coming Up in Q2:

● Mid-year IEP reviews and progress monitoring

● Focus on executive functioning and organization skills

● Social-emotional learning integrated into classroom routines

● Parent-teacher conferences and updated communication on student progress

Tips for Parents & Caregivers

● Stay Connected: Regular check-ins with your child’s teacher can help keep

everyone on the same page.

● Encourage Independence: Support your child in setting small goals and

celebrating their successes.

● Consistency at Home: Maintaining a consistent routine at home can reinforce

what students are learning in school.

Important Dates

● End of Q1: October 17th

● Start of Q2: October 20th

● Parent Conferences: October 25th

● IEP Progress Reports Sent Home: October 17th

🤝 Thank You!

Thank you for your continued support in helping our students thrive. Your partnership

makes a world of difference. If you have questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to reach out.

Gary Ash, Director

SC Special Services

Greetings!

As the leaves fall, and we begin to hit our stride this school year, the Technology Department has a couple of reminders for you to help your student keep their device running smoothly.

Safe Browsing Habits

This year, YouTube and gaming sites are blocked on student devices to minimize distractions. When we evaluate which sites or categories to block, we sometimes review student browsing histories. In doing so, we’ve noticed attempts to access sites that may host malware or other harmful content. Even so, some students still search for alternatives that may expose them to unsafe or harmful content.

Parents can help by:

• Talking with students about safe browsing habits.
  

• Reminding them not to share personal information online.
  

• Encouraging caution around websites with unrealistic promises.
  

Building good habits now will help students stay safe online for years to come.

Update to iPadOS 26

Apple recently released iPadOS 26, which includes new features and important security fixes. Encourage your student to update soon. Before the end of the semester, the Technology Department will begin requiring all devices to run this update.

iPad Protection Plans

Thanks for reading. Have a great rest of the semester and a happy holiday season!

Chad Hecktor,

Director of Technology

Students should avoid leaving the iPad plugged in excessively. When it reaches 100% it is best practice to unplug the device.

At times, some iPads may become unresponsive. Performing a forced restart (see the diagram) can help restore functionality to unresponsive iPads. This video above - starting at 1:50 -shows how to perform a forced restart on an iPad like the ones students have.

Students should be mindful of the device’s storage space. Some students will unnecessarily use the iPad’s storage space with materials unrelated to school. Lack of storage space on an iPad can lead to degraded performance of the device over time. We will “wipe” devices as needed to clear up storage space.

The South Callaway R-II Transportation Department has had a busy and productive start to the school year!

We are excited to welcome several new faces to our team:

• Katie Inglish, Bus Driver

• Trudy Kemper, Bus Aide

• Melinda Peterson, Bus Aide

Their commitment to student safety and service strengthens our department, and we are glad to have them on board.

What We Do Every Day

To give you a sense of our work:

• We operate 8 bus routes each morning and afternoon.

• These buses travel approximately 645 miles daily.

• We transport an average of 350 students each day.

• In addition, we provide transportation to Jefferson City for Vo-Tech and the Special Learning Center—an added 200 miles daily.

New Trip Bus

In early September, we were proud to add a new trip bus to our fleet. This addition ensures safe, reliable transportation for field trips, extracurricular activities, and athletic events. We look forward to seeing it on the road carrying students to their many events.

Preparing for Winter

As we move toward the colder months, we remain focused on our highest priority—getting students to and from school safely. Weather may change quickly, but you can count on our team to make careful decisions with student safety in mind.

Bus Rider Rules

To keep all riders safe, we ask that families take a few minutes to review bus rider rules with students. At the start of each school year, students sign an agreement to follow these expectations, which are enforced through Board Policy JCCF-R1.

• For a complete review of the South Callaway R-II Bus Rules, see the image below.

• To download a printable copy, visit: https://bit.ly/3RIC0lE

Reinforcing these expectations at home helps ensure every student enjoys a safe, respectful ride.

Join Our Team!

The Transportation Department is always looking for caring, responsible individuals to serve as Drivers or Aides. We are now proud to offer benefits to drivers. If you are interested in joining our team, please contact the Transportation Department for more details.

Together, let’s make every trip to school and home a safe and positive experience for our students!

Michelle Alford,

Director of Transportation

Welcome!

I'm here to support your child -- and your whole family -- so that nothing stands in the way of your child's success in school. Whether it's a small challenge or something bigger, I'll walk alongside you to help find real solutions that make life a little easier.

💬 So, what do I actually do?

I work closely with students, parents, school staff, and community programs to help remove roadblocks that might affect your child's learning, behavior, or well-being. That could mean helping with:

• Food, clothing, or housing needs

• Health care, counseling, or mental health services

• Transportation or attendance issues

• Understanding school expectations and paperwork

• Or simply being someone you can talk to who's here to help

🤝 What does "meeting you where you're at" mean?

It means I don't come in with judgment or a set plan -- I listen first. We'll talk about what's going on right now, what's working, and what areas feel overwhelming. Then, together, we'll find ways to move forward -- step by step.

No concern is too small, and no situation is "too much". If it's on your mind or heart, it matters.

📞 Reach out anytime

• Call 573-200-6719 or 573-676-5225 ext. 5116
• Email cassandra.oliver@sc.k12.mo.us
• Check Our Website at: https://www.sc.k12.mo.us/page/sfcl
• Reach Out by filling out this form: http://bit.ly/4lxTgan

Even if you're not sure where to start, just reach out. I'm here to help your family feel supported, valued, and connected. When families and schools work together, students thrive -- and that's what we all want.

Have a great rest of the summer,

Cassandra Oliver,

SC R-II School Family Community Liaison

Increased Compensation for All Staff - Increased teacher salary by $2,500–$4,000+; increased classified staff salaries at same percentage as teachers; increased administrator salaries, non-contract day pay, homebound instruction rate of pay, plan time pay, and substitute pay.

Enhanced Stipends & Extra Duty Pay - Increased extra duty & coaching stipends; increased athletic supervision pay; and added multiple positions

Leave & Time-Off Improvements -Increased sick leave buyback; decreased teacher contract days; added three holidays for 12-month employees; & established a 38-hour summer workweek for 12-month employees

Tuition & Professional Development Support - Increased tuition reimbursement for tenured teachers (9 credit hours; added tuition reimbursement plan for non-tenured teachers and classified staff. (3 credit hours) .

Career Growth & Recognition -Added Certified Career Ladder, addressed salary schedule “freeze years” from past, and now recognize all years of service from previous employers .

Employee Incentive - $500 employee referral payment, and years of service gift cards

Improved Benefits Eligibility - 25-hour employees now benefit eligible

Continued Health Coverage Support - Continued to pay up to PPO on health insurance, and contributions to HSA.

By Phone & E-Mail

Main Number: 573-676-5225

South Callaway R-II Early Childhood: PAT & Grades PK-2, Dial 1

• E-mail the Principal - leigh.dunlap@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II Elementary School: Grades 3-5, Dial 2

• E-mail the Principal - adam.dubuque@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II Middle School: Grades 6-8, Dial 3

• E-mail the Principal - gary.bonsall@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II High School: Grades 9-12, Dial 4

• E-mail the Principal - tucker.bartley@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II Special Services Department: Dial 5

• E-mail the Director - gary.ash@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II Transportation Department: Dial 6

• E-mail the Director - michelle.alford@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II Athletics Department: Dial 7

• E-mail the Director - tony.brandt@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II Maintenance Department: Dial 8

• E-mail the Director - chad.mealy@sc.k12.mo.us

South Callaway R-II Central Office: Dial 0

• For the General Inquiry & Reception Desk - therese.nichols@sc.k12.mo.us
• For the Human Resources Dept. - debbie.popplewell@sc.k12.mo.us
• For the Accounting Dept. - autumn.young@sc.k12.mo.us
• For the Technology Dept. - chad.hecktor@sc.k12.mo.us
• For Curriculum & Instruction - mary.vanorden@sc.k12.mo.us
• For the Superintendent - corey.pontius@sc.k12.mo.us

Website: www.sc.k12.mo.us. USPS: 10135 State Rd C, Mokane, MO, 65059

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This digital newsletter is published by the South Callaway R-II School District on a quarterly basis throughout the school year. In SY 25-26, newsletters are published on 7/21/25, 10/6/25, 1/12/26 & 4/13/26. A weblink to the newsletter will be sent by SchoolMessenger to parents, by email to employees, and available on the website and all District social media accounts.