DE SOTO DIGEST De Soto School District #73 Volume 23, Number 2, October 22, 2015 Superintendent’s Message Dear Patrons, Students, Parents, and Staff, posted on the website. Also, I want to commend our student body for demonstrating responsible behavior We have experienced a successful start The school facility projects are in the both at school and while attending school to the new year as the first quarter came construction bidding phase. The Board of activities. You are doing a great job in to a close on October 16, 2015. Our Education will award the Vineland projects representing our school and community students and staff are working hard to in November and the JH and HS projects in and have continued to impress visitors to ensure that we reach our goal of improved December. The district has completed the our school system. performance. Recently, we received the new HVAC boiler system at Athena as well Annual Performance Report (APR) from as the paved roadway for parent pickup Finally, I want to thank our staff for your The Missouri Department of Elementary and some ceiling tile asbestos removal. positive attitudes and outstanding work and Secondary Education. This report is a We anticipate that all projects will be ethic. Thank you for your commitment summary of important data and indicators completed by January 2017. to our kids. It is essential that the school, that helps our school to measure how parents and community at large partner well we are doing. The district has earned On behalf of our Board of Education, I together to achieve our mission to ensure enough points to maintain the Accreditation want to thank parents and patrons for the learning, growth and success for all Status. While we are maintaining our high degree of parent and community students in a safe environment. academic goals in some areas, we have involvement. Many of you contribute in a identified weaknesses in our curriculum variety of ways by volunteering your time, I hope you enjoy this issue of the Digest alignment and the state assessment. energy and resources to make our school highlighting several of our students’ Teacher curriculum and data teams are a better place for our students to live and successes. working to improve the alignment and learn each day. In October, the board Dr. Trisha Burkeen strategies to increase learning. A more recognized the parent groups for their Sincerely, Superintendent detailed report of school performance will volunteer efforts. be provided in the school report card and Dr. Trisha L. Burkeen Facilities Update Elementary. Another project that just Homecoming 2015 started the last week in September was the installation of four (4) new boilers at Athena Elementary. This spring we will be replacing the Dedicated Outside Air Systems (DOAS) units. Finally, the district was able to complete a tile project in the Kindergarten hallway at Athena as well. Thank you to the De Soto Community for this great opportunity. Check out #votepropkids on Twitter for updates of the Bond Projects. Vineland and Secondary Campus Bond Issue Projects Ready to Bid Above, De Soto High School Retiring In an effort to be fiscally responsible, Homecoming Queen, Brooke Kirby, district administration has been in and King, Matt Zerillo, help the 2015 communication with KRJ architectural Princess, Marley Ponzar, and Prince, firm and their current progress on the Eric McClinton, throw candy to the design drawings, as well as watching the crowd at the Homecoming parade on Dr. Clint Freeman local economy. Administration believed Oct. 9. Assistant Superintendent it to be more economically responsible to Top right, the Vineland Dragonettes, separate the projects in an effort to acquire with Coach Richardson perform for Bond Issue Projects Underway at a competitive bidding process. the first time as a team. Athena Bottom right, the Senior Class of 2016 With the passage of the April 2015 Bond huddle on the gym floor at the Pep Issue, the De Soto School District was able See FREEMAN, Page 2 Assembly. to start on some of the smaller projects this summer, most notably was the asphalt paving and retaining wall behind Athena 2 DE SOTO DIGEST OctoberMay 30, 22, 2013 2015 Freeman Continued from Page 1 On September 17, 2015, the De Soto Board of Education approved the recommendation to proceed with separate bids (Vineland Campus projects first and then secondary campuses projects a few weeks later). This will allow the district and their architectural firm an opportunity to understand the current economy pricing and allow for modifications to be made, if needed; therefore, below is the timeline for the Vineland Project. The projects on the secondary campuses will be going out to bid in early November (more information to come). Vineland Project Timeline Oct. 1, 2015 Advertise Bids Oct. 8, 2015 Advertise Bids Oct. 8, 2015 Vineland Project will be out to bid. Nov. 5, 2015 Bids are due. Nov. 19, 2015 De Soto Administration will be making a recommendation to the Board of Education. Pictures of BOND Project updates Are You Ready for the All Call? As the winter season is approaching rapidly, at Athena Elementary Campus it will be time for the calls that students love: “No School.” In an effort to make sure that De Soto School District database including Parent Pick-up and new is updated with current contact information (phone numbers) A TEST School Reach boilers. Phone call will be conducted on Monday, November 2, 2015; the message will be How many years have you taught? sent out at 7:30 p.m. If you do not receive 2 years the test message, please send your updated Where did you get your teaching degree? contact information to Karen Robinson Missouri State University at 636-586-1040, ext. 250, so that the Where did you grow up? database can be updated. District Notice St. James, MO Where do you live now? The De Soto School The outskirts of Bonne Terre De Soto #73 Schools Gets Prepared District #73 does not discriminate What made you pursue a teaching career? Safety of our students is top priority. We on the basis of race, color, national Teaching is in my blood. I have always wanted to be all must get better prepared for major origin, gender, disability or age a teacher. Music adds the benefit of teaching multiple earthquakes, and practice how to protect in its programs and activities. subjects all wrapped in an exciting package. ourselves when they happen. The purpose Inquiries related to District programs New to the district: Spouse’s name: of the ShakeOut was to help people and and to the location of services, activities and Samantha Boyer The wonderful, Darrell Boyer organizations do both. You could be facilities that are accessible by persons with Traveling Elementary Children (names, ages): Dogs-- Riley, 8; Bentley, 1 anywhere when an earthquake strikes: disabilities may be directed to the Music Teacher Goal for first year in De Soto: To instill in my students at home, at work, at school or even on De Soto School District Central a love for music and for them to grow as individuals. vacation. De Soto School District, along Office, 610 Vineland School Road with millions of people worldwide, De Soto, MO 63020, or by telephone at practiced how to Drop, Cover, and Hold (636) 586-1000. on October 15 during Great Shakeout How many years have you taught? Earthquake Drills. I spent last year teaching English in Colombia, South America. Breakfast is FREE!! The De Soto Digest is a Where did you get your teaching degree? De Soto School District provides free Hope College in Holland, Michigan. breakfast for all students K-12. Currently, publication of the De Soto Where did you grow up? breakfast is provided to grades k-6 in School District. Elmhurst, IL – a western suburb of Chicago. the cafeteria at both elementary schools, Where do you live now? as well as the secondary campuses. Crystal The district encourages students to eat To reach the editor, Fawn What made you pursue a teaching career? breakfast. Studies have shown students I am passionate about learning and making a difference who eat breakfast perform better in school. Ponzar, you may email: in students’ lives! New to the district: [email protected]. Goal for first year in De Soto: Steve Skawski Substitute Bus Drivers Needed Generate enthusiasm for the foreign language program Spanish Teacher Please contact Michelle Lebel at 636-586- mo.us, or call 636-586- and help students become autonomous language 1078 ext. 3 1050. learners! OctoberMay 30, 22, 2013 2015 DE SOTO DIGEST 3 Staff Working to Address Curricular Gaps As October comes to a close, I made several years ago to shift Biology arts and math that required a higher level would like to share some information on testing from the freshman level to the of comprehension. Every district in the state testing and what we are doing as a junior level. The same decision was made state had to work in their own way to district to increase student achievement. for American Government last year at De prepare students for these new hurdles so The Missouri Assessment Program or Soto High School. The intent of moving it is certainly not an excuse. Instead, the MAP includes grade-level tests, End of the assessments to the junior level was to change to online testing is just considered Course tests, and MAP-A or alternative allow students more time to understand a small variable we must address as assessments. Grade-level testing involves components of a subject. Although the a district to ensure students have the grades 3-8 in English language arts and change was made to benefit students in computer competency skills needed to math each year as well as science tests in the long run, there are short term costs.