New Drug of Choice for Teens

The Springfield paper recently had a front-page article on the growing trend of prescription drug abuse. One in five high school students have abused prescription drugs; "more than the percent of students who had tried cocaine, ecstacy, heroin and meth combined." AND they just get the drugs out of their families' and friends' medicine cabinets and pass them around. Some students become addicted and it can lead to death, the article mentioned a prominent Nixa football player who accidentally overdosed and died. It is breaking school policy for students to have prescription drugs, theirs' or anybody else's, at school and illegal to have somebody else's meds anywhere else. Suggestions to prevent this abuse are 1. keep your medicines locked up, 2. dispose of unused medications and 3. "awareness is key" talk about it with your teens and family and friends your teen spends time with. "A full list of state resources" can be found online at http://dmh.mo.gov/ada/adaindex.htm

Beautiful Fall

WOW! Have you noticed the trees. I've heard of people traveling to New England to see colorful trees this time of year. Aren't we lucky that all we have to do is drive down Main Street to see trees with wonderful fall colors. The mild Fall weather is also causing every one's sinuses and allergies to act up, mine too. I missed four days of school and am sorry if you tried to reach me during that time. I am back at work talking with students, answering phone calls, checking grades, and preparing classroom guidance lessons.

Halloween Dance

The Halloween Dance is Friday, October 29, from 7:00 to 9:00 in the Elementary cafeteria. Admission is $2.00 or $1.00 if in costume. Costumes must be school appropriate and there can be no weapons or fake weapons (Safe Schools Act). Students may bring a two-liter bottle of soda for admission to the dance or they may use a Free Dance pass by scoring proficient, advanced or improved on the MAP test given last Spring. Those passes will be handed out this week.

First Quarter Ends

First Quarter ends Friday, October 15. Students attend school to 12:40. Grade cards will be handed out to students on Tuesday, October 19, hopefully they'll bring them home for you to see. Parent/Teacher Conferences are Thursday, October 21, from 1:00 to 8:00 pm. Students go until 12:40 on Thursday (10/21) and do not attend school on Friday, October 22. Targeted Tutoring is going smoothly on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There were ten sixth graders, three seventh graders and one eighth grader who raised their D or F grades to C's and now have Bulldogs time rather than needing tutoring. I will use the First Quarter grades to assign Targeted Tutoring for the last two weeks of October. I'm hoping more students have raised their grades and get to go to Bulldog time!

Three Weeks Left in the Quarter

Is this quarter flying by or what? Mid-term grades were sent home October 17. Eighty-six students were assigned to Targeted Tutoring on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Students are assigned for two weeks if they have D's and F's. After two weeks all the students' grades are checked and those who need Targeted Tutoring are assigned. The first quarter ends on October 15, and grades will go home the following week. Parent/Teacher Conferences are on Thursday, October 21, from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. You are invited to come and meet with your child's teachers.

Smooth Start & MAP Results sent home

We had a great start to the school year! Sixth graders found their way to their classes and are now getting their lockers open most of the time. Seventh and eighth graders had no trouble getting to classes and very little problems with their lockers. MAP results were mailed home to 6th through 9th graders. Also, eighth graders who took the EOC for Algebra had those results mailed home last week. I've been in the 6th grade English class with a "get acquainted" activity--still trying to learn all the names. Next week we start our Bulldog Days on Tuesdays and Thursdays so there will be 30 minutes at the end of each day for students to get help with their homework or read their AR books.

School Starts Soon

Wow! Where did the Summer go? Can you believe school starts Tuesday, August 17? Students can start paying their $10.00 Technology Usage Fee and pick up their schedules beginning on Wednesday, August 11, from 8:00 to 12:00 and 1:00 to 4:00. Sixth Grade Orientation is Thursday, August 12, at 7:00 pm in the Small Gym. Sixth grades and their parents may pick up their schedules, walk through their class schedule, put supplies in their lockers, and meet many of their teachers. The MS principal and counselor will explain differences between Elementary and Middle School and offer tips for a successful school year. New students and their parents may also attend the Sixth Grade Orientation but their teachers will not be in attendance. Enjoy your last few days off!