The Rocket Review
Monthly Newsletter Update - February 2025
Dear West Nodaway Community,
As we step into February, I want to take a moment to express my appreciation for the incredible support and dedication of our students, staff, and families. Your commitment to education and community spirit continues to make West Nodaway a wonderful place to learn and grow.
This month brings exciting opportunities for our students, from academic competitions to winter sports and school events. I encourage everyone to come out and support our teams, clubs, and activities—it means so much to our students to see familiar faces cheering them on.
Additionally, February is a time to recognize the hard work of our educators and staff, who go above and beyond each day. Their dedication to student success is truly inspiring, and I thank them for their efforts in shaping the future of our young learners.
Looking ahead, we have several key events on the calendar, including parent-teacher conferences, school board meetings, and other activities designed to keep our community engaged. Your involvement in our schools is invaluable, and we appreciate your continued partnership.
As always, my door is open, and I welcome your feedback, questions, and ideas. Thank you for being part of the West Nodaway family—together, we are building a strong foundation for our students’ success.
Warm regards,
Dr. Barnes
Superintendent, West Nodaway R-I
Hello Rocket Families:
Another month down! I can’t believe it's February and Mid-Term is just around the corner! Teachers continue to work hard and prepare our students for the end of year assessments!
There is a lot of sickness going around. Please make sure your student(s) is getting plenty of sleep and drinking lots of water.
January highlights:
- Boys and girls basketball continue to pick up wins. The girls placed 1st in the
Fairfax Tournament while the boys placed 3rd. Lane, Ava, Savanna, and Paige
were all selected to the All-Tournament Team.
- 19 students earned perfect semester!
- JH sports banquet was held January 29th .
- Courtwarming was held Jan 31st at Nodaway Holt.
Make sure to mark your calendars for these important dates:
- February 7-Mid-Term
- February 7-After Prom soup supper
- February 7-MAP/EOC recognition at 6:00 (before the varsity girls game)
- February 15-16-PTO elementary basketball tourney
- February 24-school will be in session
Please continue to check the school calendar for additional important dates such as
grade checks and activities.
In addition, it's important you stay current on your students’ grades through 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
Hello Rocket Family!
Welcome back to a new year and it's still winter. Teachers have sent home AMI (Alternative Methods of Instruction) packets. These lessons and activities are to be used if school is called off for inclement weather or any other reason. The cancellation announcement will specifically state that we are having an AMI day. Students will complete the assignments and turn them back in to their teacher upon returning to school. Teachers will collect the assignments and each student's daily attendance will be calculated based on the completion of the assignment. When we follow this process, the school will not have to make up the missed school day in person. If you have any questions about AMI work, please reach out to the classroom teacher.
In January we held a Book Blast where several students won great prizes and teachers were awarded shopping sprees for their classrooms as well. In a few weeks, every student will receive at least one book and many students will receive more than one book. Thank you to all the parents, teachers, students, and anyone who donated to this cause.
Fifth grade class breakfast will be held on February 4th and 6th grade breakfast will be on February 18th.
Students are being recognized for their success on MAP testing at the high school basketball games on February 7th.
The PTO basketball tournament will be held on February 15th and 16th. This is a big week in the elementary, as we will have a spirit week with dress up days leading up to the tournament and on Friday the 14th we will hold a pep assembly to support our West Nodaway teams.
Friday the 14th is also Valentine’s Day and I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day. I would also like to remind everyone that it is our policy not to accept deliveries for students. Please do not have items delivered to the school or bring them yourselves to be given to students.
As I say nearly every month, please make sure to send students in appropriate warm clothing during the winter months. We will go outside as much as we possibly can and any time the windchill is above 25 degrees. Please make sure students have coats, hats, gloves, and are wearing pants.
Lastly, I would once again remind students and parents of the importance of bus safety. As the winter months have arrived, it's more likely for roads to have snow or ice on them and it is increasingly important that the bus drivers are able to stay focused on the road. Students who are yelling, moving seats, standing, or being a disruption will be given an assigned seat and if the behaviors continue, they will be removed from riding the bus. All students have been taught the bus expectations personally by myself and I will be holding students accountable to those expectations.
If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to the classroom teacher or myself and I will do my best to help you.
Have a great month,
Mr. Conn
February is National Heart Month. Are you taking care of your heart? February is a time when we are all encouraged to focus on our cardiovascular health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Now more than ever is a great time to commit to a healthy lifestyle! I see staff members active in our wellness initiative and several of them take on monthly challenges for their overall health. Our students have some great role models here at school to see what healthy choices and healthy habits look like.
Unfortunately, we do have some illness hanging around. Influenza A, vomiting, and other respiratory symptoms seem to be the majority of our sickness. We try to sanitize as much as possible here but please follow doctor’s notes/school policies to help stop the spread. Fever free without fever reducing medications AND improvement of symptoms must be followed.
We have started working on immunizations for our next school year. The spring Immunization clinic is scheduled for Wednesday April 9th at 1:00pm. This is a clinic where the county health nurse comes to WN to give required immunizations to our current 6th, 7th and 11th graders. My goal is to get everyone completed on this day this year. We’ll mail home permission slips and it will state what your student needs. We can accommodate any need, just let me know so we can get these completed. Incoming Pre-K and Kindergarten students will also need updated immunizations. We have already mailed letters home for these. If you get these before school is out just shoot me a message and I’ll get them recorded and updated.
February is beginning and I’m not sure if January was really long or very short?? Either way, as we bounce back and forth freezing temperatures and warmer days, it’s important to try to maintain consistent schedules. Dual credit students have deadlines for coursework as established at the beginning of the semester, scholarship applications are due on a specific date even if snowing, etc. It is easy to put items on the back burner but in short time days have passed.
This month the Elementary will be focusing on the character word “honesty” during their Character
Strong lessons. We will also take some time to learn about famous African-Americans such as Ruby Bridges and Claudette Colvin who were both school-aged children during the 1950s and 60s. Upper elementary students will work with a partner to conduct research each week during counseling classes and in March they will present their findings. Several students have already inquired about what person they get to research!
I meet with 8th Grade students on Tuesday mornings during 3rd Quarter with a focus on study skills and career exploration. By the end of the quarter, each student will have their 4-year plans in shape and have an idea of what classes and activities they want to take in high school in order to be prepared for their future.
College and Career Monday trips are going again this semester. The next trip is February 10 with a focus on transportation. We will go to Summit Truck Bodies and see custom trucks being built, Gray
Manufacturing and learn about the process of making vehicle jacks and truck lifts, Missouri Department of Transportation to discover various career opportunities, and take a tour of Missouri Western State University. There are two trips being created in March with a focus on law enforcement.
Over 300 scholarship options have been given to seniors so far this year. This list encompasses a variety of career fields and post-secondary opportunities such as 2-year, 4-year, and tech programs so not every student will qualify for each one. There has been more senior interest in scholarships this year than in the past which is great! I was always told “the scholarship guaranteed not received is the one not applied for” so it is refreshing to see students completing applications. I am here to help students search for scholarship opportunities, proofread essays, collect necessary documentation, etc. so don’t hesitate to ask for assistance.
Students involved in the A+ program have been helping in the elementary with tutoring hours and being teacher assistants. The morning mentoring program is going well with 26 high school students involved. It is exciting to see more interest this year in the program and having high school students being positive role models for the elementary. As a reminder, A+ students need to turn in their completed hourly logs each quarter.
Please let me know if there are any concerns or questions you may have.
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
Facebook: facebook.com/WestNodaway
Twitter: @WNrockets