Fordland Focus

Fordland Families,

As we enter November, I’m reminded once again of how quickly the school year seems to move. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, I hope the upcoming break brings time for rest, family, and reflection. This time of year also brings the reality of winter weather. While we hope for a mild season, please take a moment to review our snow day protocol below so you’re familiar with the process behind school closure decisions.

Before we shift fully into winter activities, I want to highlight a few outstanding accomplishments from the past month. Our Fordland Marching Eagles concluded an exceptional season—one of the strongest in program history. In addition to a remarkable run across their earlier competitions, the band earned 1st in class and 1st overall at the MSU Homecoming Parade, along with Outstanding Color Guard, Outstanding Precision, and Outstanding Showmanship/Spirit. These honors reflect not only the band’s talent but also their character, sportsmanship, and commitment to excellence. We are incredibly proud of the standard they continue to set for our district.

Cross country wrapped up the fall season at the state meet, where all five runners finished in the top 100! Our runners represented Fordland with grit and determination. Their hard work across the season has made this one of our strongest cross country years to date.

In addition to our student achievements, we are proud to share two significant district accomplishments this month. Fordland earned an 88% APR score, the strongest since the implementation of MSIP6. This growth was driven by major gains at the elementary level, 96% excellence at the high school, continuous improvement standards at 100% across all buildings, and strong attendance and engagement districtwide.

We are also excited to celebrate Fordland High School being ranked #5 in the Ozarks Region (Missouri & Arkansas) by MoneyInc. This recognition highlights the hard work of our students and staff and reflects the high expectations and community support that make Fordland such a special place.

As always, thank you for your continued partnership. Strong schools are built on strong relationships between home and school, and our Fordland community continues to demonstrate what that collaboration can achieve. We are grateful for your support as we move into this season of gratitude.

Let's have a #BannerYear!

Sincerely,

Dr. Stephanie Vickers

Superintendent

Fordland R-3 Schools

Meet Coach Hartman! He teaches PE and Strength and Conditioning at Fordland Elementary and Fordland High School. He is also our assistant basketball coach and junior high baseball coach. Coach Hartman has been with our district for 1 year. He is described as an energetic and enthusiastic teacher who leads by example, encourages students to stay active and give their best effort. Coach's kid-centered approach makes PE a positive learning experience for all students!

His favorite thing about working at Fordland is the people he works with and the students he interacts with each day. He also enjoys a 4-day work week. It all makes Fordland a special place.

Q: What's something you can't live without?

A: "Sports, there is always something you have never seen happen."

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you're not at work?

A: "Enjoy down time with family, play golf and go to sporting events."

Q: Who is your biggest inspiration?

A: "My mom, who taught for 33 years before retirement."

Q: What advice would you give our students?

A: "Don't skip an opportunity that you will regret later."

Meet Mr. Schreiner! He is our High School Custodian. Mr. Schreiner has been with our district for 13 years. He is described as patient, kind and adaptable. His favorite thing about working at Fordland are the people, especially the students. If it weren't for them, his job would be dull. He gets to meet each student at some point, whether it's in the hallways, games, etc. He also believes each teacher and administrator is special and he loves being able to help wherever it's needed.

Q: What is your favorite thing to do when you're not at work?

A: "Help my wife live her dreams at our event venue, Cedar Hill Farm Events in Fordland."

Q: What's something you can't live without?

A: "Some might say, Dr. Pepper, but really I can't live without the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the only reason I'm here."

Q: Tell us something that might surprise you.

A: "I am a classically trained baritone opera singer in my past life."

Q: What advice would you give our students?

A: "Be respectful and kind to your teachers and classmates. Life is hard, but your kindness and understanding can go a long way to make their day better."

Have you ever wondered what goes into the decision-making process for a superintendent when it comes to calling off school? It is definitely a complicated decision and not taken lightly. We understand the last-minute impact is has on our Fordland families and aim to consider all factors in a careful yet timely manner so families can make other arrangements. Here are some action steps taken during the process:

National Weather Service Calls: Our NWS office holds conference calls for area superintendents at 4:15 am if bad weather is moving in. These calls are informative and give us a better idea as to when inclement weather will arrive in Fordland and how roads will be impacted.

Transportation: Before making a decision, I drive around Fordland to check the road conditions. This process usually begins the night before or in the morning around 4:30 am or earlier if there's no weather call. My goal is to drive part of every bus route so we have a good idea of what road conditions will be like for our bus drivers, student drivers and parents. My own children attend Fordland Schools too, so I would never want to put any of our students, including my own, in a dangerous situation.

Communication: When school is cancelled, we communicate it to our families in multiple ways. You should receive a telephone call, email, notification (if you have the Fordland app), and it is also posted to our social media sites-Facebook and X. If you have not received school communication this year, please call our offices and we'll make sure that your contact information is updated in our system. School day closings will also be posted to KY3. Ideally, we would love to communicate cancellations to our families the night before, however this is not always possible since weather doesn't always match the forecast.

Make-up Days: With our current calendar, we have built in enough hours to forgive two snow days. After that, we will start making up snow days on Mondays. In addition, we have the option of AMI. AMI days will only occur if we have more than 8 snow days. Your child's school will communicate the AMI plan in December. Please see the school calendar below for the order of make up days vs forgiven days.

Feel free to reach out if you have additional questions regarding snow days. Thank you for your support.

Website: https://www.fordlandschools.org
Location: 1230 School Street, Fordland, MO, USA
Phone: 417-767-2298
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087640789888
Twitter: @FordlandR3Scho1