The Rocket Review
Monthly Newsletter Update: November 2025
Dear West Nodaway Families,
As we approach the winter season, I want to take a moment to share important information regarding inclement weather procedures to ensure the safety of our students and staff.
Inclement Weather Procedures With colder temperatures and the potential for snow, ice, or other hazardous conditions, we prioritize making timely decisions about school closings or schedule changes. Our goal is to notify the media by 6:00 a.m. for full-day closings or delayed openings. However, decisions will be communicated as soon as they are made, based on anticipated unsafe conditions. If road conditions are deemed unsafe for bus travel due to snow, wind, or drifting, we will close school or adjust schedules accordingly. Please note that during inclement weather, bus routes may run late, so we ask for your patience and understanding.
How to Stay Informed To ensure you receive the latest updates on school closings, delays, or other announcements, please take advantage of the following resources:
- Rocket Alerts (Text Notifications): Keep your current phone number on file with the district to receive timely text alerts.
- West Nodaway District Website: Visit our official website for updates.
- Social Media: Follow our West Nodaway Facebook page for real-time announcements.
- Local Media Outlets:
- TV Stations: KQ2 (Channel 2)
- Radio Stations:
- KNIM - Maryville (97.1 FM & 95.9 FM)
- KMA - Shenandoah (960 AM & 99.1 FM)
- KKJO - St. Joseph (92.7 FM & 105.5 FM)
- KVCV/KRNW - Maryville (90.5 FM & 106.7 FM)
- KAAN - Bethany & Cameron (95.5 FM & 100.1 FM)
AMI Days The district will again employ AMI (Alternative Method of Instruction) days this year.
Stay Connected Your child’s safety is our top priority, and we are committed to keeping you informed. If you have any questions or concerns about our inclement weather procedures or any other district matters, please don’t hesitate to contact my office or stop by for a visit.
Thank you for your continued support of West Nodaway R-I Schools. Together, we’ll navigate the winter season safely and keep our focus on providing a great education for our students.
Elementary News As we transition from the vibrant month of October, we reflect on the successful completion of our Parent-Teacher Conferences and the joyous Halloween celebrations. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our dedicated faculty and committed parents for prioritizing these conferences, achieving near-perfect attendance. This remarkable participation underscores the value our community places on educational excellence and collaborative engagement in our students’ academic journeys.
With November’s arrival, we anticipate a shift in weather patterns, marked by cooler temperatures and the adjustment of clocks for Daylight Saving Time. To ensure our students’ comfort and safety, we kindly request that parents dress their children in weather-appropriate attire. While many students prefer lighter clothing year-round, the colder days necessitate jackets, coats, gloves, hats, and long pants to protect against chilly conditions, particularly during outdoor activities or bus travel. Our commitment to student well-being includes maximizing outdoor recess opportunities when the wind-chill temperature exceeds 25°F, and we ask for your support in preparing students with suitable clothing to fully participate in these enriching experiences.
We are thrilled to announce our upcoming Math Night, hosted in collaboration with Northwest Missouri State University. This engaging event will feature interactive booths designed to foster mathematical curiosity and enjoyment, facilitated by university students. Join us on Tuesday, November 4th, from 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM in the elementary gymnasium for an evening of educational games and delightful refreshments. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to explore mathematics in a dynamic, hands-on environment.
Please note that school will remain in session on Monday, November 24th, prior to the Thanksgiving break. We will observe closures on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and the following Monday to allow our community to celebrate the holiday. On behalf of West Nodaway Elementary, we extend our warmest wishes for a joyful and restful Thanksgiving.
Should you have any questions or concerns, we encourage you to contact your child’s classroom teacher or myself. We are here to support our Rocket Family and ensure a positive educational experience for all.
Warm regards,
Dr. Barnes
Superintendent, West Nodaway R-I School District
Another month under our belts! How is it November already? And how is it second quarter already? Thanksgiving break will be here soon!
October was another busy month. Here are some of the highlights:
- The high school volleyball team hosted a Pink Out night to support breast cancer
awareness. Over $1200 was raised for the cause!
- Parent-teacher conferences were held. Our numbers were down a little from last
year, but we still had almost 20 parents attend and over 30 grade cards picked
up from the office.
- The high school volleyball team finished with another best record in Thunder
history and had the most wins for either school since before 2008, which was as
far back as I could find. We finished 18-9.
- Both volleyball and football had several athletes selected to the All-Conference
team and volleyball had a few selected to the All-District teams.
- FCCLA kids attended their first Regional meeting at NW-they learned a lot and
are very excited for the year.
- 6 FFA students had the opportunity to attend the National FFA Convention in
Indianapolis.
- We had 46 junior high and high school students with first quarter perfect
attendance.
Our overall attendance for the month of October was 97.65%. Please continue to hold
your student to a high standard and ensure they are in school on a regular basis.
Please continue to check the school calendar for important dates such as grade checks
and activities.
In addition, its important you stay current on your students’ grades thru the parent portal
in Infinite Campus. Grade checks will occur every two weeks. Below are the tutoring
hours that are available for the JH/HS students.
Tutoring Hours:
- Math - Daily 7:15am-7:45am, Wed/Thurs 3:45pm-4:30pm
- Science - Daily 3:45pm-4:30pm
- Social Studies - Tues/Wed/Thurs 7:15am-7:35am; 3:45pm-4:25pm
- Music/Band - Wed/Thurs 3:45pm-4:45pm
- College Apps & Scholarships - Daily 7:00am-7:30am, 3:45pm-4:45pm
Finally, if you have any questions or concerns, please give me a call, email, or stop in
the office.
Mrs. Livengood
Thank you to those that took advantage of our Flu shot clinic here at school on October 20th. We gave 20 Influenza vaccines to students and families.
Big Smiles Dentist will visit on December 11th. Watch for permission slips coming home soon! Online registration is also available: https://www.myschooldentist.com/WOWNMO_schsrm
Thank you for following up on vision referrals, I’ve been noticing some awesome new glasses around here!
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, khoyt@wnrockets.com, 660-725-4126
Thank you to the 21 parents who stopped by the high school office and picked up their 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 such as 4-year plans, A+ hours, and College and Career field trips. For those high school parents who were unable to stop by the office, copies of A+ information was provided to students in the program. Please 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: Second and third quarters bring an opportunity for me to work with junior high students on study skills, critical thinking, and careers once a week. Coming up early in November, 7th Grade will tour some businesses in Burlington Jct. to see what types of jobs are in the local area. We will walk from the school out to the businesses and back so students need to dress for the weather and wear good walking shoes.
High School: October and into November is a peak time for students to explore careers and colleges. Missouri Western, North Central, Northwest, and US Air Force were at school to speak with interested juniors and seniors. Mizzou and Tarkio Tech will be here in November. Juniors attended “My Success” event in St. Joseph where they had the opportunity to speak with area businesses and colleges as well as have some hands-on experiences in various career fields through virtual reality and other simulations. Interested seniors attended a college fair at Northwest and toured campus. To end the month, 12 juniors and seniors took the ACT test here at West Nodaway as another step towards planning for opportunities after high school.
College and Career Mondays: So far there have been two career field trips on Mondays. The first one focused on alternative energy and we toured Tarkio Tech’s windmill program and visited Enel Green Power. Our stop at Golden Triangle ethanol plant was cancelled due to weather so we took a detour to Maryville Fire Department and learned about emergency response to fire and medical calls. The second trip closed out October with a visit to AgriVision in Hamburg, IA, Southeast Community College in Milford, NE, and NMC CAT Dealership in Lincoln, NE. Eight students attended the trip to learn about diesel mechanic opportunities and see West Nodaway alum, Andrew Lightner! The trips are designed for junior high and high school students to explore career opportunities in the area and learn about educational requirements. Students 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 or to learn about jobs otherwise not considered.
RootEd: Our new RootEd Advisor, Mrs. Jones, has met with seniors during 1st quarter to help them apply to colleges and prepare for post high school opportunities. Mrs. Jones took two seniors to Northwest for “Business Majors” day where they sat in college classes, spoke with professors, and learned about the requirements of a business major. Additionally, some students went to “Build My Future” event in Bethany, Mo where they obtained hands-on learning in trade jobs such as welding and construction. Another small group is going to North Central in early November for “Nursing and Health Sciences” day to learn about the various certifications and degrees offered.
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