Connections

*McEowen 50th Anniversary Celebration next week

*Homecoming success

*Foundation recognizes Excellence in Academics

*District celebrates Arts

*Foundation golf tournament sees large turnout

*FFA alumni invited to 75th Anniversary Celebration

*Points of Pride

*Photos from Around the District

*Bright Futures News & Opportunities

*Board of Education News

*Supporting our Own

*Calendar of Events

*And Much More!

Harrisonville Schools will celebrate the 50th anniversary of McEowen Elementary School’s dedication on Thursday, Sept. 28 from 1-3 p.m. Former McEowen teachers, staff and students are invited to a reception in the school’s library and tours of the building, 1901 S. Halsey. At 2 p.m., a commemorative photo will be taken of those former & current staff members in attendance.

Additional celebrations will include the planting of a tree to mark the anniversary and the burial of a time capsule for the next 50 years.

McEowen Elementary School held a Dedication and Open House on September 9, 1973. The master of ceremonies was Donald Gardner, principal, with remarks by Walter Bruens, superintendent. Robert Atkinson was president of the Board of Education.

The school cost $521,070.33 to build and furnish and was 25,408 square feet with a student capacity of 315.

The first addition to McEowen came in 1999 with a library. Then, in 2002, classrooms were added to the building to bring the capacity to 500 students. With the passage of a bond issue in 2008, the school added a cafeteria, teacher workroom and special education areas. The most recent bond issue - in 2020 - led to a new playground and fencing, office and hallway renovations, and HVAC replacement.

The school’s official name is D.W. McEowen Elementary School. It was named for long-time superintendent D.W. McEowen who served from 1938-1969 as superintendent and for 11 years prior as high school principal.

Below is the program from the dedication of McEowen on Sept. 9, 1973. If you know any family members of those listed, please invite them to our event.

Homecoming day began with pep rallies at both HHS and HMS. At HHS, the pep rally included candidate introductions and games, fall activities' updates, and performances by cheer, dance & Music Makers. See photos here.

The HMS pep rally included recognition of students involved in fall activities- football, cheerleading, volleyball, cross country, robotics, choir, jazz band, and student council. See photos here.

Then, HHS Homecoming candidates visited all our schools - ECC, HES, McEowen, HMS & the Christian School. They had the chance to hug, high five & fist bump all our Wildcats and even got a few photos with siblings, former teachers & friends. See photos here.

The afternoon included our annual community Homecoming Parade. The theme for Homecoming - Happily Ever After - was evident in the entries and first place went to Harrisonville Elementary School with Wildcat softball and the Silver Sensations tying for second. See photos here.

The day wrapped up with the coronation ceremony before the Homecoming football game. Congratulations to the 2023 Homecoming King & Queen - Riley Minsky & Brooklyn Rhoney! Runners-up were Mason Mitchell & Ryley Wood.

Nearly 100 Harrisonville High School students were honored for their academic achievement during the 2022-23 school year on the morning of September 12. The Harrisonville Public School Foundation’s Excellence in Academics program honors students who complete the year in the top 15% of their class based on annual GPA. Those students received the Excellence in Academics medallion presented by HHS Principal Mark Rorvig in the school’s Performing Arts Center.

The first year recipients of the Excellence in Academics honor were Shelbie Anderson, Abby Coffey, Elizabeth Cronk, Ayden Cunningham, Austin Eng, Conner Graves, Kaydence Grigsby, Levi Hall, Dyllan Hemree, Mia Jackson, Ava Kelly, Isaac Lake, Annalise Malicoat, Emily Mercer, Elizabeth Osterberg, Garrett Parris, Conner Peeples, Aiden Pickering, Cole Purtle, Alexis Quinley, Guillermo Ramirez, Anna Rhoney, Bailey Sanders, Jackson Shrout, Trenton Shrout, Justin Skiles, Tucker Snook, Ethan Stone, Scarlett Tracy, Gabrielle Vaughn, and Ben Wooten.

The students earning the Excellence in Academics honor for the second year were Cooper Appleman, Hailey Bagby, Elijah Baker, Addison Billings, Hudson Brannon, Jacki Bundt, Josie Cable, Ray Carter, LeAine Caruthers, Simon Claxton, Audrey Coffey, Mark Derner, Lucas DeVenney, Conner Gillespie, Brierly Hasek, Lillian Hopson, Taylor Jennings, Ayllita Khieu, Tyler Lengemann, Katelyn Miller, Jaeli Mitchell, Jesse Murcia, Kayleigh Norris, Steven Overbay, India Parris, Selah Parris, Olivia Quick, Janetzi Sanchez-Marquez, Callie Shoemaker, Kayden Turner, Madison Verstraete, and Aiden Walton.

Third-year Excellence in Academics recipients were Grace Atkinson, Sydney Ballard, Kenneth Barnard, Ayden Christensen, Alyssa Cox, Miranda Fisher, Chloe Fitzgerald, Lexi George, Dayton Hoffman, Slade Holden, Chloe Jackson, Kyle Malkmus, Kayla Mason, Mckenzie Meeks, Riley Minsky, Mason Mitchell, Eli Norman, Noah Norman, Ann O’Reilly, Brooklyn Rhoney, Cayden Ritter, and Emma Schrock.

Third-year recipients can earn a $500 scholarship from the Foundation at the end of this school year if they complete the year in the top 15% of their class based on this year’s GPA.

The district celebrated its fine arts staff last week during National Arts in Education Week with posts on our Facebook page. We also highlighted a calendar of performances and concerts for the year - see below.

During the week, we also recognized an amazing donation to our Harrisonville High School Theatre Department. Last spring, we received a new wireless audio system through a generous donation from community member Bill Mills. The Shure professional quality system includes 20+ handheld and body pack mics.

Choir Director Kip Mathew said, “We are SO grateful - Mr. Mills' donation will help propel all the events held in the PAC to new heights. And, special thanks to Vista Productions and Ryan Britton of Starlight Theatre for their help with installation and training.”

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation raised approximately $7,000 at its recent Alumni and Friends Golf Tournament. The tournament was part of the Homecoming festivities for Harrisonville High School.

The Foundation will use the proceeds to fund its programming including teacher grants, the Advanced Degree Teacher Initiative, the Excellence in Academics program, and scholarships.

The winning four-some was sponsored by Dr. Shaun & Susan Holden and included George Morse, Greg Morse, Scott Ricker, Scott Welhoff.

In the B Flight, the winning team included Alex James, Jeff Roberts, Chad Middaugh, and Scott Garrie.

Contest hole winners included Men’s Longest Drive, Tanner Sutton; Women’s Longest Drive, Patty Land; and Closest to the Pin, Jeff Roberts.

Ninety golfers competed in the four-person scramble tournament on Friday, September 8.

The True Wildcat sponsors for the event were Church & Dwight and Dr. Shaun and Susan Holden.

The Royal Blue Sponsors included ABBCO, Big Yield, Cass Regional Medical Center, CBIZ, Family Center, Holland’s Auto Sales, and Sherwood Community Bank.

The White/Hole sponsors were The Cider House, Commerce Bank, Edward Jones - George Morse, Harrisonville Kiwanis Club, Harrisonville Rotary Club, LJ Hart, and State Farm Insurance - Steve Croy.

The Harrisonville Public School Foundation is a not-for-profit organization established to support and enhance the educational programs of the Harrisonville School District. For more information on the Foundation, contact Executive Director Jill Filer at 380-2727, ext. 1224.

This year, our FFA Chapter is celebrating 75 years. To commemorate this occasion, we are planning a FFA Member, Alumni, and Supporters Fish Fry on Saturday, October 21 at the Cass Career Center. We will have an open house and fish fry from 6-8pm in a come and go format. At 7pm, we will have a short program with a premier of a short documentary of the History of FFA in Harrisonville. More information will be shared throughout the next two months. Please see the attached flyer for more information. Feel free to share this event with anyone who might be interested. We would love to have anyone who was a former FFA member or supporter attend.

Harrisonville Schools is part of the Sonic Locker Room Radio Program which gives us the chance to shine the spotlight on our Harrisonville High School activities each week. The Harrisonville Wildcats edition of the show will air weekly on Thursdays at 5:08 p.m. on 1160 AM and 99.3 FM. It is also be available online for the school year at https://slr.news/schools/harrisonville. This week's show features football coach Brent Maxwell.

• HHS junior Kayleigh Norris who won the Missouri Southern Stampede with a time of 17:43 yesterday. This is a new school record and the 7th fastest time in school history boys or girls. This is also the fastest time in Class 4 since 2010 according to momilesplit.
• to HMS cross country runner Forrest Thurman who placed 2nd in the boys' A race at Center Middle School this week with a time of 7:33. Haisley Hill placed 5th in the girls' A race with a time of 9:26, and Angela Rodriguez placed 8th in the girls' A race with a time of 9:43.
  

• the Harrisonville High School Students of the Month for September - Brooklyn Rhoney and Riley Minsky. Rhoney and Minsky were nominated by faculty for this award.
  
  

  Brooklyn Rhoney is the daughter of Robert and Jennifer Rhoney.
  
  

  She has been in the top 1% of her class and earned the Excellence in Academics award and academic letters throughout high school. She has played volleyball all four years and earned letters, Academic All-Conference, and Academic All-State honors. In track, Brooklyn has earned letters, All-Conference, All-District, All-Sectional, All-State and Academic All-Conference honors. She earned 7th at State in the pole vault last year.
  
  

  She is involved in Key Club, Scholar Bowl and Student Council. She serves as secretary of Traction and vice president of Science Club. She’s also part of the cast of this year’s musical, Legally Blonde.
  
  

  After high school, she plans to attend an undecided college for engineering and construction management.
  
  

  Riley Minsky is the son of Jeanine Wood and Michael Minsky.
  
  

  Riley has been in the top 15% of his class and on the Principal’s Honor Roll for three years. He took first at state for Educators Rising and earned ninth at nationals. He is the Student Council Executive President and was a Student of the Month at Cass Career Center last year.
  
  

  He served as the Editor-in-Chief of the yearbook as a sophomore and has been a member of Drama Club, Key Club, National Technical Honor Society, and Scholar Bowl.
  
  

  After high school, Riley plans to attend a community college and then transfer to Mizzou.

  Rhoney and Minsky were also crowned 2023 Homecoming king and queen on Friday.
  
  

  The HHS Students of the Month are selected on the basis of character, citizenship, and academics.
  
  

• K-12 students whose art was selected for our Art in Our Community program. The artwork changes monthly and you can find it at Schroeder Chiropractic, Commerce Bank, Culver's, Community Bank of Harrisonville, the Cass County Public Library, the Harrisonville Area Chamber of Commerce, the Harrisonville Community Center, and the district Admin Office.
  

Lunch Buddies

McEowen Elementary's Lunch Buddy program provides a positive adult role model to students in 4th & 5th grade. Twice a month, Lunch Buddies will spend 45 minutes with their student eating lunch, playing games, and talking. Applications are available at McEowen Elementary School. Lunch Buddies will be asked to submit to a background check - the fee is covered by Bright Futures. They will also participate in a one-two hour training session prior to their first meeting. We have a need for at least 10 lunch buddies at this time.For more information, contact Jill Filer - jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org

Classroom Partner

We are looking for businesses/organizations/groups that would like to be a Classroom Partner. Businesses, groups, organizations “adopt” a classroom to build relationships between community members and students to provide examples of positive role models outside the school setting. We currently have 10 teachers in need of a partner.

The program expectation is a minimum of 60 minutes per month in the classroom with students. The partner & teacher plan visits to fit needs of both. Partnerships can involve community service, arts & crafts, learning about a particular topic, or whatever works best. Contact Jill Filer, 380-2727, ext. 1224 or jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org for more information.

The Board met for its monthly meeting on Sept. 19. Agenda items included...

• Approval of a trip for FFA sponsor and students to attend the National Convention.
• A presentation by Harrisonville Public School Foundation President Alice Roach on the organization's support of the district's students and staff.
• A presentation on the possibilities for use of the building located at 402 Eastwood Road

The agenda for monthly meetings is posted the Friday before and full minutes from each meeting are available here.

The Board also livestreams all meetings on the district YouTube channel - www.youtube.com/HarrisonvilleSchools.

Videos of past meetings are available at this link - https://www.harrisonvilleschools.org/Page/940 and on Board Docs.

Sept. 20 - Cass County Health Dept. Immunization Clinic, HHS & HMS (see flyer below)

Sept. 20 - ECC Culver's Night, 5-8 p.m.

Sept. 20 - Parents As Teachers Touch-a-Truck, 6-7 p.m., ECC

Sept. 21 - Parents As Teachers Playgroup, 9:30 a.m., ECC

Sept. 22 - HMS Back-to-School Dance, 6-7:30 p.m.

Sept. 26 - Bright Futures #My42 Day

Sept. 27 - ECC Awards Assembly

Sept. 28 - Parents As Teachers Playgroup, 9:30 a.m., ECC

Sept. 28 - McEowen 50th Anniversary Celebration, 1-3 p.m., McEowen

Sept. 29 - McEowen Positive Action Assembly

Oct. 2 - No School, Staff Collaboration/Professional Development

Oct. 2 - National Custodial Workers Appreciation Day

Oct. 5 - Parents As Teachers Playgroup, 9:30 a.m., ECC

Oct. 6 - National Coaches Day

Oct. 7 - Log Cabin Art Show, Noon-5 p.m., Chamber Office

Oct. 7 - Log Cabin Parade

Oct. 11 - HES Health Fair

Oct. 12 - ECC & McEowen Health Fair

Oct. 12 - Parents As Teachers Playgroup, 9:30 a.m., ECC

ECC Culver's Night

ECC will host Culver's Night tonight from 5-8 p.m. All tips and 10% of proceeds will go to ECC for indoor recess items. Stop by and have you favorite teacher deliver your meal!

Senior Mania Driveway Paw Prints
Support our seniors and show your Wildcat spirit at the same time with a Paw Print Painting at the end of your driveway. You can add your athlete’s number or your house number, too. Paw Print Driveway Paintings are $20 for driveways inside city limits, and $25 for driveways outside of city limits within Harrisonville School district boundaries. All proceeds support Senior Mania 2024 after graduation celebration for our seniors. Fill out the order form below to request yours! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSf7RXeUr9ZbXvAvHWxdfaNbtEPTgND8qly2J2BFw9aLzjHCoQ/viewform?fbclid=IwAR0b1GsFFQaSjQKMkabVp8qrRuMsFLbkHfyVp65mK8kLH3vCs4egKF0zME8

Mini Cheer Clinic

The Harrisonville High School Cheerleaders will be hosting their HHS Cheer Clinic October 4 & 5 from 5:30-7:00 pm! This clinic is open to all future cheerleaders in grades K-6. In addition to the clinics, all participants will perform during halftime of the varsity football game on Friday, October 6! All participants will receive an official clinic t-shirt to wear at the performance! Clinics will take place in the HHS Multi-Purpose Room.

Please follow the link below to complete and pay for your registration. Registration is $35 and due Friday, September 22. Late registrations will not be guaranteed a t-shirt.

https://secure.payk12.com/school/Harrisonville-High-School-/634/item/242110?fbclid=IwAR3FRtZ0dDOM6YXXD70LdQyIINFqRi_U0Nqrf1DFh0NSRUbS_UapIPH65vY

For questions or more information please contact Toby Verstraete at toby.verstraete@harrisonvilleschools.org

The Community Flyers section of this newsletter and the Community Flyers portion of our website include a library of flyers about community events and programs of interest to our families. To have a flyer placed on this page, please email the flyer as a .pdf file to Jill Filer - jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org

• Baby Bounce Storytime. Thursdays at 11am. For babies 0-18 months and their caregiver. CCPL

  
  

• Mystery Makers Mondays! Oct. 2nd & Nov. 6th at 6:30pm. Ages 8-12. CCPL

  
  

• Underground Teen Storytime. 1st Thursdays at 3pm. Ages 12-18. CCPL

  
  

• PokeMondays! Ages 12-18. Mondays 3:30-5:00pm. CCPL

  
  

• Dungeons & Dragons at CCPL. Ages 14-18. 4th Saturdays 2:30-4:30.

  
  

• Dungeons & Dragons Bootcamp! Ages 14-18. Sat. Sept. 23 2:30-4:30pm.

  
  

• Glam-More Shots 2.0! Sept. 21st at 3pm. Ages 12-18. CCPL

  
  

• Girls Who Code. Tuesdays at 5pm Sept. - Nov 2023. CCPL

  
  

• Trunk or Treat on the Square! Oct. 29th 3-5pm!

  
  

• Saturday Morning Cartoons at the Library! 2nd Saturday at 10AM Sept. - Nov. Ages 5-12
  

  
  

• Tech Help for Seniors. Tues. Sept. 19th, 10am - 12pm (30 minute slots). CCPL 55 & Up.

  
  

• Girl Scouts Info Night (K & 1st Grade). Sept. 19th at 5:30 via Zoom.

  
  

• Join Girl Scouts!! See flyer for contact information.

  
  

• Pages in Motion. Mondays in Oct. 10 - 10:45AM. City Park

  
  

• Kids Night Out! 3rd Thursday monthly. 6-9pm @ the H'Ville Community Center

  
  

• ABC Storytime. Wednesdays 9:30 & 11:00AM. CCPL

  
  

• Toddler Time. Tuesdays at 11AM. Ages 18-36 months. CCPL

  
  

This guide explains how to file a complaint about any of the programs that are administered by the

Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (the Department) under the Every

Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA). A complaint is a written allegation that a local education agency (LEA) or the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (the Department) has violated a federal statute or regulation that applies to a program under ESSA. Please see attached for further information.

Email: jill.filer@harrisonvilleschools.org
Website: www.harrisonvilleschools.org
Location: 503 South Lexington Street, Harrisonville, MO, USA
Phone: 8163802727
Facebook: facebook.com/HarrisonvilleSchools
Twitter: @HvilleSchools