Maries Co. R 2 Community Newsletter

* Links to Board of Education Documents

* Gallery Pictures

* Shout-outs

* Gifted Education Program Evaluation

* Special Education Program Evaluation

* Policy Updates

* BCBA makes donation toward unpaid lunch accounts

* The new preschool full day option started at the Elementary. They are fully enrolled. Additional students are now being given the opportunity for a half day program with Mrs. Koch. We really believe that our community will benefit from our preschool options to ensure more students are ready for Kindergarten!!

* Our Sophomores visited RTI/RTC for a Career Expo. It is a great opportunity for them to see what options are available in regards to Career Technical Education programs.

* Middle School Volleyball held tryouts and are getting ready for the season.

* MS Band had four students who competed at the Middle School Honor Band.

* Hank Stratman was named Ramey MVP at the Harrisburg Shootout.

* Hank Willis was named to the Belle Tournament All-Team.

* BHS Tigers took 3rd place at the Belle Basketball Tournament.

* All the 8th grade students passed the Constitution Test required by DESE.

* Elementary students were recognized as Good Citizens with their families!

* Parents As Teachers held a family night.

February 8 - Homecoming

1:00 JV; 2:15 Homecoming Coronation; 2:45 Girls Game; 4:30 Boys Varsity; Dance 6:00

February - 8:00 am start Kindergarten and Preschool Screening

February 20 6:00 - Elementary Make and Take Family Night

February 25: Board of Education Meeting

March 1 - FCCLA Tea Party

March 8 - Senior Trip Pasta Dinner

Board Documents can be found here.

Cash Lacy was sworn in as the 2025 Student Advisor to the Board of Education. He will advise the board from January to December 2025. He will receive a $1000 scholarship in May 2026 for his service to the Board and community. We look forward to his collaboration with the Board of Education.

Mrs. Moore has been serving as our Gifted Educator during the current school year.

The goals for the Gifted Program are:

1. 80% of middle school and high school students will demonstrate self-

directed learning by pursuing a self-chosen research project.

2. Increase the number of students who remain in the program in the middle school. This will be accomplished by more conversations with classroom teachers of the importance of students participating in order that their learning needs are met.

3. Elementary students will demonstrate more confidence and risk-taking

skills in order to pursue leadership positions as they grow through the school years

We want to thank Mrs. Moore for her service to this district! She announced at the Board Meeting her intent to retire (again) at the end of the school year.

The complete Gifted Program Report is available here.

Our Special Education Department consists of 15 district employees and 6 service contractors (speech/langauge, physical therapy, occupational therapy, vision therapy).

Strengths of the program:

Providing students with differentiated/specific instruction regarding their individual needs

Individualized progress monitoring

Collaboration with parents and teachers regarding students’ needs

Goals and Growth Opportunities:

Goals: To increase student participation in the regular education setting; to increase student iready and MAP testing scores; to increase student goal progress on their specific IEP goals; increase special education staff retention to address growing needs in special education; increase overall student achievement

You can find the complete Special Education Program Report here.

Jesse Kelly and Ashley Harris, members of the Belle Community Betterment Association, presented a check to Bobbi Robertson, Maries R2 Elementary Principal, on behalf of the Belle Christmas Parade winners. The parade winners were: 1st Place: Belle Fair Board, 2nd Place: Cristian Curtis - Rolla, and 3rd Place: Tonya Jacquin - Shelter Insurance. All three winners donated their prize money to help students in need. As a result, BCBA is donating $225 to cover negative lunch balances at Maries R2 School on their behalf. Thank you to all those that participated and helped with the parade, and to the winners for thinking of others and putting our community first!

We are so thankful for our community partnerships! Thank you for supporting our students and families!

Kindergarten Screening for the 2025-2026 school year is being held on February 17 from 8:00 to 3:30. Appointments can be made by contacting Summer Buechter at 573-859-3800.

Preschool Screening for the 2024-2025 and the 2025-2026 school year are being held on February 17 from 8:00 to 3:30. Screening is required to attend one of our preschool options for next year. There are still available half day preschool opportunities for the current year. This screening will be needed for current year enrollment as well.

The Board of Education approved the following policy updates. This was the third reading of the policies. The full policies can be found in the district board policies on the website (mariesr2.org).

Policy 1422 - Advertising/Signage on District Property

New policy prohibits unauthorized placement of signage on district premises and provides guidelines of selling advertising rights on scoreboards, etc.

Policy 4560 Post-Retirement Options

A recent amendment of the PSRS rule involving certified staff post-retirement compensation necessitated an update renamed as Post-Retirement Options. This changed the earning possibility of a retired teacher from 60% of the minimum teacher's salary to 133% of the Social Security earnings limit for a person at full retirement age if they are working in a PEERS eligible position with the school district. It also changes the maximum salary to $29,685.60.

Policy and Regulation 6325 - Artificial Intelligence

This optional policy is to provide guidance as Al becomes increasingly included in instructional activities.

Hayden is a freshman at Belle High School. She plays volleyball, is on the cheerleading team, and is on the dance team. Hayden works very hard in all of her practices and is a leader at practices, games, and in the classroom. We are happy to have her at Belle High School.

Please join me in recognizing and celebrating staff members of the Maries Co. R 2 School District and the measures that they take to care for our students each and every day.

If there is a staff member that you or your child would like to recognize (teacher, bus driver, principal, counselor, secretary, para, nurse, custodian, lunch lady, etc.) please complete the Shout -Out Form https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSexqKxOksre8dCEyUCrhfdpkZsIxdE9P3eAzxYMBBpIeVYxXA/viewform?usp=sf_link

Mrs. Robertson - I would like to thank Mrs. Robertson for ALWAYS going above and beyond for all kids and their families. She is a great leader!

Mrs. Lockard and Mrs. A Bush - Thank you for making sure our families were safe during the smoke emergency!

Tony and Travis - Thank you for working so hard to remove ice and snow during the snow storm and getting us back to school safely!

February 2- February 14: Student Council TJ's Pizza Sales (Contact Mrs. Rose or Ms. Bonham for more information)

February 8 - Homecoming (Student Council is selling shirts. Contact Ms. Bonham for info)

March 1 - FCCLA Tea Party

March 8 - Senior Trip Pasta Dinner (Contact Mrs. Mouser or Mr. Walker for more information)