Greetings All!
I hope this writing finds you well. We are having our 1st taste of cooler weather. The district was approved for the school safety grant through the Department of Elementary ad Secondary Education. This was a $50,000.00 grant. As a result of this grant we are installing tinted safety film on all exterior windows. Likewise, locking devices have been installed on all classroom doors should we find the need to shelter in place. Additionally, the grant is being used to replace hollow core doors in the high school. Furthermore, this grant will be used to provide bleed kits as well as corresponding training to staff.
One item on the November Board agenda that I want to make patrons aware of is a presentation by Veregy. Veregy is an energy services company that does many things to include handling construction projects for districts. Veregy will present different budgets to the Board to include various projects that need attention in the district. Some of these items include the roofs of the buildings which are past their life expectancy and have several leaks as well as HVAC, and plumbing issues.
The Board will review cost proposals and determine if they want to proceed forward with a plan to fix the various projects. Should they want to move forward, they will need to consider how to finance the proposed repairs. This will most likely lead to a discussion about the schools bonding capacity.
For explanation purposes I would tell you that the districts levy is made up of two parts. A Levy and a Bond. The levy is permanent and if not renewed the bond goes away. When you look at the West Nodaway Tax Rates by fund the permanent levy is listed as Incidental and the bond is listed as Debt Service. When the Board has the tax rate hearing every year they really set two levies an incidental levy and a debt service levy. These two make up the total levy.
I have used this phrase with you before “Bonds are for Building and Levies are for Learning.” This is a good explanation because the incidental levy pays for salaries and all things learning, while the Debt Service levy pays for building projects. This is why Bonds are usually passed for a specific time period. They are allowed to be added to and extended or may expire.
History and wisdom tell us that a district never really wants to let a bond expire because if you have a major construction issue you will struggle to have the funds to pay for it without a bond. Therefore, just as West Nodaway has continually done the patrons of the district have voted to renew their bond every so many years. Historically for West Nodaway this appears to happen on the average about every 5 years.
If a district has a bond for construction purposes and they wish to add to it or extend the time these items are usually put on a ballot and ran as a no tax increase item. For example the West Nodaway R-I district has .6542 cents in debt service. If patrons voted to extend this for a period of years to pay for a project the levy would stay the same. The time to pay the .6542 cents would just be extended rather than expiring.
The Board will be considering this issue over the coming months and I encourage you to be a part of the conversation and you can learn valuable information and be informed by attending the November Board meeting. It is November the 8th @ 6:00 p.m. in the school library.
With the completion of October we are a few weeks into the 2nd quarter and are experiencing welcoming fall and fall-like weather. Please make sure students come prepared with coats and gloves or whatever protective clothing the weather will warrant. We will be going outside for recess any time the wind chill is above 25 degrees.
We have completed Parent Teacher Conferences and I know that Reading Success Plans were a huge part of many conferences. I would just like to remind everyone that Reading Success Plans (RSP) are now required by law. Part of the process is identifying students who are below grade level, creating goals and interventions, and holding a conference/meeting with parents to discuss the plan. If your student has a Reading Success Plan and you would like to hold more discussions or conversations please reach out to the classroom teacher and we will gladly sit down with you and answer your questions or address your concerns.
We are celebrating Red Ribbon Week October 31st-November 3rd. Tuesday is “Scare” the drugs away! Wear your Halloween costume and this coincides with Halloween and Classroom Parties. Wednesday “Wack” the drugs away, dress wacky or wear mismatch outfits. Thursday is Follow your Dreams, Don’t do drugs. Wear pajamas or comfy clothes. Friday is Rally in Red, Stand Up to Drugs. Wear Red!
Please do not wear face paint or face mask as part of the Halloween Costume.
November 14th will be our 2nd Grade Breakfast Day. Notes will come home with students closer to the date.
Please don’t forget that we WILL be in school on Monday November 20th as this is a short week due to Thanksgiving Break. We will have school on November 20th and 21st and we will be on break from the 22nd-24th. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone. As always, I am thankful to be the elementary principal at West Nodaway R1! If you have any questions or concerns please reach out to the classroom teacher or myself.
Mr. Conn
Thank you to those that took advantage of our Flu shot clinic here at school on October 23rd. We gave 30 Influenza vaccines to students and families!
Big Smiles Dentist was here on October 5th. It was a full day and we were able to see and treat 25 students. They will be back in April for a 6 month visit so get on our list now.
Please feel free to send cough drops and chapstick with your student if needed. These seem to be a hot commodity and we’ve already gone through a big supply here.
We still have new coats, hats and gloves available, send us an email or give us a call if you’d like your student to have one.
Kelli Hoyt
660-725-4126
Thank you to the 17 parents who stopped by the high school office and picked up your child’s grade card during conferences. Even though grades are posted online, there are many other items to discuss about your child’s high school career and I enjoyed talking to each of you about 4-year plans, A+ hours, and College and Career field trips. For those high school parents who were unable to stop by the office, grade cards and copies of 4-year plans have been provided to your student. Please look them over and contact me if there are any questions.
Elementary: To end October and begin November, we had Red Ribbon Week to emphasize the
importance of staying away from drugs/alcohol and making positive choices. Students incorporated
their Character Strong word for October of Responsibility and saw that each of us is responsible for
making choices and those choices have consequences. For the month of November, Character Strong will focus on Gratitude (choosing to appreciate the people and things in our lives). This character trait dovetails perfectly with Thanksgiving just around the corner!
Junior High: 8th Grade students attended Manufacturing Day and toured four different businesses in
Nodaway County. Students were able to learn about job requirements, education, wages, and benefits. We had some great tour guides who were passionate about their job and wanted students to ask questions and learn! 7th Grade students have started working on study skills and critical thinking once a week during second quarter. We will build upon these concepts throughout the rest of the semester and end with a career unit.
High School: All high school students have completed their 4-year plans with short and long term goals. These are fluid documents that we will revisit and update throughout the student’s high school career. Currently there are several students considering technical programs after high school such as welding, carpentry, nursing, and paramedic certifications. I am using these plans to determine field trip and job shadowing opportunities.
College & Career Mondays: On various Mondays throughout the school year, I am creating field trips for students to explore various careers. Two different events have already taken place with students
learning about agriculture and healthcare businesses in the area. In November the trip will be focused on emergency services and December brings diesel mechanics. The trips are designed for high school student participation but if there are spaces available, junior high students are welcome to attend. Students will need lunch money but all other expenses are covered. These trips are great opportunities for students to talk with people working in the career field of interest.
Assembly/Presentation: Grades 7-12 will have a guest speaker on November 2nd featuring John Morello in the one-man show “Dirt.” This presentation has been conducted at several schools across the nation and through a grant, has been brought to the Northwest Missouri area. The topic goes along with Red Ribbon week and focuses on drugs, bullying, and self-esteem. It’s designed to challenge students to think about choices and consequences.
Let me know if you have any questions or concerns about your child.
Mrs. Clayton
District Information
Email: mbarnes@wnrockets.com
Website: wnrockets.com
Location: 17665 US Hwy 136, Burlington Junction, MO 64428, USA
Phone: 660-725-4613
Twitter: @WNrockets
Facebook: @WestNodaway