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November 5, 2020
In This Issue
Employee Surveys Open Through 11/3
Snow Days
Get FREE Newspapers for Your Classroom!
Employee Assistance Program Service Summary
Nominate a RepMO Hero!
Thankful Thursdays
Elementary VIRTUAL Book Fairs November 9-22
Meal Applications & EC/Elem Tech Forms Needed!
Positions Needed: PLEASE SHARE!
District and Community Announcements

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As a reminder, the Staff Communicator will be distributed each Thursday that school is in session. Archives can be found HERE.
Employee Surveys Open Through November 13
If you haven't provided us feedback yet, there's still time to do so! Our employee surveys will close at midnight on Friday, November 13.

Snow Days
Winter weather season is quickly approaching! The Republic School District will continue with the "snow day policy" we have utilized for the last few years. Should winter weather and/or poor road conditions impact our ability to have school in person, we will implement a snow day like we have done in the past.
Get FREE Newspapers for Your Classroom!
Republic teachers can get the local newspaper delivered to their classroom weekly through The Greene County Commonwealth's Newspapers in Education program.

NIE introduces newspapers to young readers and helps teachers bring the community into their classrooms.

Classroom subscriptions will be delivered weekly through April. Newspapers are offered on a first-come, first-serve basis; so, don't wait to sign up!

To sign up, email [email protected] with your name, school and how many copies you will need each week. Digital subscriptions are also available.

**This is a wonderful partnership the Greene County Commonwealth offers to our classrooms. We just ask that if you choose to use this service, you keep in mind the nature of content that can sometimes be included might not be appropriate for every grade level. Thank you!**
Employee Assistance Program Service Summary
As a reminder, the services detailed in the below graphic are available at no cost to our employees through Anthem.

Nominate a RepMO Hero!
Don't forget to nominate a CLASSIFIED employee for the November RepMO Hero of the month! CLICK HERE for the nomination form!

We'll be sharing out about the October RepMO Hero winner and nominees soon!
Thankful Thursdays
Throughout November each Thursday we will be sharing out "shout outs" we receive from patrons thanking our teammates! Be watching our social media pages!
 
Elementary VIRTUAL Book Fairs November 9-22
The elementary Scholastic Book Fair is back November 9-22! While the Fair will be exclusively held online this year, we still plan on making it a fun and joyous experience for our kids. Features include:

**Visit one of our school's online store links for a large selection of books at great prices!
**Browse titles by grade and meet popular authors all from the comfort of home!
**Every dollar you spend will benefit our school directly (25% back in rewards!)!
**This is a great opportunity to shop for holiday gifts!
Meal Applications & EC/Elem Tech Forms NEEDED!
WE NEED YOUR HELP! 
Although ALL STUDENT MEALS ARE FREE through the end of the school year, the free/reduced meal status of our students provides many other opportunities outside of meals. The percentage of students who qualify for free/reduced meals in our district allows our schools to receive important federal funds. Because of the free meal program many of our families have not completed the meal application this year and therefore, we're at risk of losing important funding that supports student literacy growth, Leader in Me resources and various programs that provide needs for our most at-risk learners. 

Also, as we continue to grow our technology capacity for our EC and elementary students and prepare for any potential need to use school devices at home, a technology form for every student needs to be on file with the school. As a reminder, our hope is to stay in phase 1 of the RepMO Return to Learn plan as much as possible this school year. However, it's important for us to all be prepared in the case that a phase movement is needed. 

ACTION STEPS!
Students will receive both of these forms (secondary only the meal application) at school on October 26. Please complete them and return them by November 24. Even if you've already completed these OR do not plan to use the meal benefit, please do so. Our goal is to get 100% of these forms returned by November 24.

If you need another copy of the form please see the below links:

Thank you in advance for your help in completing and returning both forms by November 24!

**Take note: This effort looks a bit different for Sweeny Elementary.


Positions Needed: PLEASE SHARE
To assist the district in being able to stay in phase 1 of the RepMO Return to Learn plan, we are in need of substitute teachers and bus drivers. The district is taking the following steps to keep students in seated learning during the substitute shortage:
      • Eliminated District trainings for teachers to be absent
      • Eliminated building trainings for teachers to be absent
      • Have other personnel covering classrooms when an absence is not filled
      • Helping PENMAC advertise for Republic substitutes
      • Working with local universities to encourage student teachers to sign up with PENMAC
      • Encouraged new pathways to substitute certification through a 22 hour training course
Please share the below information with anyone you feel would be a good fit!
District and Community Announcements
Upcoming Dates
November 13: End of Progress 4 (RMS & RHS)
November 18: End of Progress 2 (Elementary)
November 19: Board of Education Meeting, 7:00 p.m. at Central Office
November 20: Progress 4 Reports Distributed (RMS & RHS)
November 25-27: District Closed, Thanksgiving Break

*Reminder that every Friday during the school year full day preschool-12th grade students are released one hour early for teacher collaboration time.
For questions or comments please contact me via email or by calling 417-732-3605.
  
Sincerely,
  

Josey McPhail

Director of Communications
Republic School District