Click "View entire message" at the bottom of the email to view all the information included in the Warrior QuickNews.
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Health Services Update: Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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The safety and health of our school communities are of utmost concern as we continue to carefully monitor the spread of the Coronavirus (COVID-19). The Smithville School District (SSD) is closing our schools as a precautionary measure to slow the spread of the COVID-19. The SSD will be closed for 3 weeks, with classes scheduled to resume April 6 unless we communicate otherwise.
This is an unprecedented situation, and we appreciate your patience and understanding as we respond and work to support our students, families, and staff throughout the closure.
Regular communication will continue through our website at
smithvilleschooldistrict.net
as well as our School Messenger communication system. If you have any questions or concerns, please call the District Office at 816.532.0406.
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2020-2021 School Calendar
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The 2020-2021 Smithville School District Calendar is available!
You may notice some changes, like a little later than usual start date (August 25) due to new legislation, and a guaranteed last day of school (before Memorial Day)!
Click
here
for a printable version.
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Mark Your Calendar: Kindergarten Registration
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Hello, Class of 2033! Kindergarten Registration will be held at Grace Community Church April 13-17.
Please call your neighborhood elementary school to schedule an appointment. Please go
here
to view which elementary school your child will attend based on where you live.
Children who reach the age of five (5) before August 1, 2020, are eligible for kindergarten for the 2020-21 school year. Click the image for details.
Eagle Heights Elementary: 816.532.5959
Horizon Elementary: 816.532.4566
Maple Elementary: 816.532.0589
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Administrator Announcements
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The Smithville School District (SSD) is pleased to announce the Board of Education approved two new elementary principals and a high school assistant principal for the 2020-2021 school year.
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Renee Slack has accepted the role of principal for Eagle Heights Elementary. Mrs. Slack is currently the assistant principal at Eagle Heights Elementary. Mrs. Slack has 25 years of experience as an educator; nine of those years were as a principal at Osage Beach Elementary in the Camdenton R-III School District.
“I feel blessed to have been selected to serve in the lead principal role at Eagle Heights next year. I am excited to continue working alongside staff to continue creating a culture that students can thrive in academically, socially and emotionally,” Mrs. Slack stated. “Smithville has a history of excellence and I look forward to working with staff, students, parents and community members to uphold that standard. It is a great day to be a Smithville Warrior!”
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Kristi Mellon has accepted the role of Principal for Horizon Elementary. Mrs. Mellon is currently the principal at Knob Noster Elementary for the Knob Noster Public Schools. She has been in this role for the past five years. Altogether, Mrs. Mellon has 17 years of experience as an educator. Prior to her time at Knob Noster Elementary, she served as an elementary teacher and assistant principal in the Raymore Peculiar School District.
“I am extremely excited and blessed to have the opportunity to join the prestigious Smithville School District as principal of Horizon Elementary School,” Mrs. Mellon stated. “I look forward to meeting the staff and students in the near future and beginning our collaborative work together to ensure excellence for all students. It is my honor to join the Horizon Elementary Team and I look to the future with optimism and high expectations!”
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Rachael Marchetti has accepted the role of assistant principal for Smithville High School. Mrs. Marchetti is currently the assistant principal at Smithville Middle School. She has served in this role for five years. Mrs. Marchetti has 20 years of experience as an educator. She served as a guidance counselor and teacher at Lexington High School, a guidance counselor at Raytown High School, and a 6th grade English language arts and speech/drama teacher at Grain Valley South Middle School.
“My family and I have fallen in love with the people and community of Smithville. I am extremely excited to begin this new chapter at the high school and am honored to continue to serve the students and families of Smithville,” Mrs. Marchetti stated.
Read the full news release
here
.
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Consider joining the Warrior Family! We are currently accepting applications for known vacancies and possible vacancies for the 2020-2021 school year. Learn more about our schools and community by watching
this
video and check out our job listing
here
.
It's a great day to be a Smithville Warrior!
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Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce Community Awards Dinner
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The Smithville Area Chamber of Commerce is preparing to celebrate Community Champions for the fourth year in a row.
Smithville citizens and volunteers play an integral role in the success of our community, and the Chamber feels it is important to recognize Community Champions. Please take time to nominate a Community Champion.
Categories: Smithville Area Business of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Junior Citizen of the Year, Community Service Award, Educator of the Year, Rising Star Award, William E. Parks Legacy Award
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These are the highlights from the March 11th meeting of the Smithville School District Board of Education (BOE).
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- Approve Bills for Payment
- TBS, LLC Consulting Agreement
- February Supplemental Pay
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Recognize High School Wrestling Team
The high school wrestling team finished fourth at state this year. This is the seventh year in a row that the team has placed at state. Coach Middleton, Coach Beasley, and members of the team were present. Congratulations, Warriors!
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Correspondence
Russell Fries and Todd Schuetz recommended that the Board send a card to the family of former Board President, Gene Littrell, who has been diagnosed with cancer.
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- Dr. Kratofil recently pulled together a small group of students in an effort to gauge the attitudes toward diversity among our high school student body (Priority 4).
- The expansion of early childhood programs came up at the Eagle Heights Listening Tour. Several moms encouraged the district to expand services to a paid program (Priority 6).
- The Master Building Plan was addressed later in the agenda (Priority 2).
- Ballot language regarding moving $.10 from debt service to operating was addressed later in the agenda. This would be very helpful in building our reserves back to the 21% required by policy (Priority 5).
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Mr. Krueger shared that the district is actively monitoring the latest information about the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID19) in the United States. While the CDC still considers the immediate health risk from the virus as low, it has also encouraged schools and other organizations to be prepared to respond to potential outbreaks in their communities.
As we move forward, staff, students, and parents are encouraged to monitor the district website and social media channels for any updates.
We also encourage staff, students, and parents to help prevent the spread of any potential illnesses using these steps outlined by the CDC:
- Demonstrate to your child proper hand washing with warm water and soap for 20 seconds. Visit https://www.cdc.gov/handwashing/index.html to show your child a video on proper handwashing.
- Remind everyone to cover their nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and to throw the tissue away and wash their hands after use.
- Encourage children and adults to not touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
- When possible, avoid people who are sick. If someone is sick in your household, stay home and consult your healthcare provider.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces or objects.
As always, in case of an immediate emergency dial 911.
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Comments from the Assistant Superintendent from Academic Services
Dr. Michelle Kratofil
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On March 4, approximately 60 parents and family members attended the inaugural meeting of Smithville Advocacy for Gifted Education which was facilitated by gifted teachers Sarah Young and Ashley McWhinnie. Summer enrichment opportunities, a parent and student library, and program details were shared. At the next meeting on April 29, Dr. Christine Nobbe, Director of Gifted for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, will present. This group was developed to provide gifted parents more opportunity to learn about and provide feedback on our gifted program.
In future Board of Education memos, Dr. Kratofil will include a monthly summary of professional development across the district. It will be for information only unless Board members have specific questions to address in the meeting.
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School counselors, Jennifer Robinson, Jenni Holmberg, Callie Downey, and Christina Hough, were present to answer questions from the Board about the school counseling program. Current practices as well as requirements of MSIP 6, the upcoming state accreditation system, and its impact on staffing were discussed.
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During the month of February, we received $2,049,355.64; making a total of $25,498,922.98 received since July 1, 2019. Expenditures for February were $4,084,586.83, making a total of $20,459,610.94 expended since July 1, 2019.
Patrons can access the revenue report, expenditure report, and check register for the district on the district
webpage
under Departments and Business & Finance.
The current district enrollment is 2,659.
The Smithville Schools Master Facility Plan for 2020-2030 was approved by the Board.
The Board considered the sample August 2020 Zero Tax Increase Bond ballot questions. These questions reflect two requests of the voters - both of which can be done without a tax increase. The first question is a no-tax-increase bond issue for capital projects across the district. The second question is a no-tax-increase transfer of $.10 from debt service to the general operating budget.
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The Board approved the Wall of Distinction application and scoring guide as presented. The first class would be in the spring of 2021 assuming qualifying applications are submitted.
The Board approved an increase to the Board paid medical cap. It will increase to $590 per person for benefit eligible employees from the current rate of $530. Total estimated increased cost of $240,000 which will be reflected in the FY21 budget. For the past five years, the district has averaged 2.584% annual premium increases for the Board provided benefits and 2.199% for each year of the past ten years. Smithville Schools are self-insured for medical and dental benefits through the Self-Insurance Pool of Greater Kansas City.
The Board approved the High School Chromebook 1:1 lease from Firefly computers. These chromebooks were selected based upon feedback from students, which was solicited from the district technology department.
The Board approved the pricing and vendor selection for networking equipment, as presented, for the 2020-2021 school year.
The Board approved personnel recommendations and administrator contract renewals as presented.
Miscellaneous
- The Courier Tribune will host a Candidate Forum on March 31 at 7:00 PM in the Board Room. This event is canceled.
- The Board's spring visit is set for March 24. They will start at Smithville Middle School at 8:00 AM. This event is canceled.
- The Northland Excellence in Education Banquet is scheduled for April 21. Dinner begins at 6:00 with the program following.
- Only two dates remain for the Listening Tour and Key Communicator meetings. A Listening Tour is set for the High School at 7:00 AM on April 2 (this event is canceled), and a Key Communicator meeting will take place at the Middle School on April 8.
- A reception is scheduled for Greg Chastain between the closed and open sessions of the April meeting. Greg is completing his fourth term and this will be his last meeting.
- A budget workshop will take place on May 4.
- The MSBA Spring Regional Meeting is set for April 30 in Blue Springs. Registration begins at 5:45 PM.
Meeting adjourned at 8:51 p.m.
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Sons of the American Legion's Citizenship Essay Contest Winners
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Congratulations to the winners of the Sons of the American Legion's Citizenship Essay contest. The 8th grade students wrote an essay on "What The Pledge of Allegiance Means to Me". Congratulations to Avah Lubbers (3rd), Zoe Yim (2nd), and Ben Murawski (1st).
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"My Favorite Story" Writing Contest
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Mrs. Jamie Luppes entered Adalynn Busick, 5th grader at Horizon Elementary, in the Scholastic Books Club "My Favorite Story" writing contest. Last week they learned that Adalynn's story was selected as one of the top five! Congratulations!
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KC Suburban Conference Blue Division Champions
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Congratulations to the Smithville High School Varsity Scholar Bowl Team for winning the KC Suburban Conference Blue Division Championship on Wednesday, March 4. The Warriors have won the title two years in a row! Team members include: Noah Cline, Alex Sharkey, Colton Roach, Jack Holland, Jacob Wornson, Joel Murphy, Katelin Meek, Morgen Foster, and Joseph Sanders.
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Missouri Dance Team State Finals
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Congratulations to the Smithville Dazzlers on their recent accomplishments at the Missouri Dance Team State Finals Competition.
*3A 1st Place Jazz*
*3A 4th Place Pom*
*3A All Academic Champs*
*3A 5th Place Overall*
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SHS Archery Finishes Strong
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The SHS Archery Team recent competed in the Northland Christian Last Chance Qualifier. This was the last tournament of the season. They had a great season. A total of 8 Archers qualified for the State Tournament in Branson.
- Kierstin Beshears - 1st HS girls, 11th grade girls, Overall girls
- Laney Hancock- 3rd HS girls, 2nd 11th grade girls, 3rd Overall girls
- Joey Engle - 5th HS boys, 2nd 11th grade boys
- Spencer Engle - 3rd 9th grade boys
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SkillsUSA District Contest
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Congratulations to the following Northland Career Centers students from Smithville High School for their recent achievements in the SkillsUSA District contests:
- Nick Blanton - 2nd place, Diesel Equipment Tech; 2nd place Diesel Equipment Tech Info
- Kyler Crabtree - 2nd place, Restaurant Service; 3rd place, Restaurant Service Tech Info
- Cody Fisher - 1st place, Diesel Equipment Tech Info
- Katherine King - 2nd place, Technical Spelling
- Berkley Lindsey - 3rd place, Power Equipment Tech
- Will Roberts - 1st place, Quiz Bowl team member; 2nd place, Criminal Justice Tech Info
- Abigail Schultz - 1st place, Early Childhood Tech Info
- Rose Williams - 1st place, Culinary Arts
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Citizens Bank & Trust presented the Smithville Foundation a check for $2,954.70 at the girls' basketball game on February 13. The funds will be used for student scholarships and teacher grant opportunities. The funds are generated through the Warrior Card program with Citizens Bank & Trust. Since inception, over $65,000 has been donated through the Warrior Card program. Of all 19 branch locations, the Smithville branch is in the top 3 for most donations. Thank you!
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Shop AmazonSmile & Support SSD's Foundation
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Customers shop. Amazon gives.
Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organizations selected by customers.
Consider supporting SSD's Foundation when making your next Amazon purchase. Click the image for details.
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DISTRICT SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
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We are frequently approached by members of the business community wanting to promote their business to the staff of the Smithville School District. We appreciate the services local businesses offer to our community and staff and would like to work together to promote businesses while supporting the students and staff of Smithville School District.
For this reason, we provide a format to assist in the promotion of businesses through our District sponsorship program. The sponsorship dollars will assist in providing staff and student activities, services, or awards in addition to creating ways for you to share and promote your business and services.
Sponsorship and support of the District is available at various levels – bundled or separately.
To learn more about our sponsorship program, click
here
.
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Smithville School District
655 S. Commercial Ave.
Smithville, MO 64089
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