Bulldog Bytes
A Newsletter for Employees of the Mexico59 March 30, 2016
Letter to all faculty and staff
Mexico 59 Faculty and Staff:
Today (Wednesday March 30) marks six days till the April 5th local election and this is the last Bulldog Bytes before that day. While I am precluded from using this space to advocate for or against any ballot item, I can provide information.
Mexico 59 School District employees approximately 370 individuals full or part-time (not counting substitute teachers). Of that number, nearly 290 of you live in the district boundaries. Counting spouses/significant others, that is a large block of voters. I urge you to exercise your voting rights on Tuesday and take time to visit the polls to cast your votes.
As you know, the School District has two issues on the ballot. The first is Proposition 3. Prop 3 is an operating levy increase to maintain and improve our programs for students in the district. Over the past three years we have made dramatic improvements in student achievement as evidenced by our jump in Annual Performance Report (78% to 92%). The second is Proposition KIDS (Keep Improving District Schools). This no-tax increase bond issue will fund three storm shelters (McMillan, Eugene Field, Middle School) and improvements to nearly every other building in the district. The flyers for both of these ballot items are at the end of this Bulldog Bytes.
Depending on where you live and vote, you will see some other items on the ballot. The county has a quarter-cent sales tax for five years, which will fund road and bridge maintenance and replacement. There is a city council race in the city limits of Mexico. And you will see one or more versions of sales tax on the purchase of vehicles from out-of-state dealers. The language on this last item is a bit confusing, and you will see this from several entities that receive sales tax revenue (such as the City of Mexico, Audrain County, Audrain Ambulance District and Audrain County Emergency Services). All of these read the same. A “no” vote means things stay the same, the sales tax is collected as it has been for years now. A “yes” vote means the sales tax will no longer be collected.
No matter how you vote, your vote is important. Support our democratic way of life (though my sophomore wants to argue we are not a true democracy – not sure what philosophy 101 of poly-science discussions have been happening in Mr. Barnett’s class! ) by voting on April 5th.
Kevin Freeman
Superintendent of Schools
Support MHS Speech and Debate team and Theatre as they head to state on April 22 & 23 by purchasing and wearing a state T-shirt
This year Mexico High School broke personal records with the largest number of District Champions (8) and State Qualifiers (11) in MSHSAA Speech, Debate & Theatre. In addition, the following weekend 2 of our state qualifiers advanced to Nationals.
These hard working kiddos compete in an academic competition that is not separated by school size. They compete against schools with far more resources and private coaches. And they do it because they love it and love the hard work!
Show your support by purchasing and wearing a State T-shirt on April 22 or 23. Take pictures of you and your friends in the shirt and tweet it to the Mexico High School twitter page (#MexicoMoHS) or post it to the MHS Theatre Department facebook page so the students can see all of your support while they are away at STATE! Include in your comments "Way to Go Mexico!"
Deadline to order the shirt is Friday, April 1. Send all orders and money to Sara Given or Kris Fecht at MHS.
You may choose from the colors above. Please fill out the attached order form and bring it with your payment.
If you are wondering why it says NE before MSHSAA or why there are a variety of mascots with the Bulldog, we have a great answer! In our Northeast District, we choose to become a Northeast team at State. We support the other schools in our District and represent our area vs. competition between schools. So... please help us represent the Northeast at STATE!
Benefits meetings April 24 and 25 with MMEBG
Monday and Tuesday, April 25 & April 26, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm at Mexico Middle School Cafeteria.
Julie Koirtyohann with Sundvold Financial will be presenting information on Health Insurance.
Click here for the open enrollment information. This form will be used this year instead of the paper form. You can only answer the questions once.
Former @mexicohssports Lady Bulldog Danielle Baumgartner gets the win for MU
Raised Bed Garden Workshops
National Technical Honor Society Induction
Easter fun
Hawthorne artists on display at the Audrain County Library
Mexico Women's Club invited Hawthorne artists to display work at the Audrain County Library through the month of March.
Mrs. Slagle and her friends hung our beautiful art around the windows in the Children's department and it looks awesome!!!!
MMS students loving science
Brit Wilson finishes 6th at Flonationals
Super Hero Day at Hawthorne on Friday!
Sports updates on Twitter
The first edition of the first Employee Newsletter called "The Bulletin"
Brandon Eick (MCM 5th grade) was featured in the 1998 edition
Sara (Goucher) Given showcasing Emmons Hall Rennovations
Bowls for BRIGHTfutures
Mexico Middle School Art Department, Mexico High School Art Department, and Mexico High School FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) will be hosting a first time event called "Bowls for BRIGHTfutures". The event will take place on April 6th from 5:00-7:00 pm in the Mexico High School Cafeteria. Attendees will choose a bowl handmade by MMS & MHS art students, and then eat a meal from the bowl, which is theirs to keep. For a meal, there will be soups handmade by FCCLA students and chili donated by Jackson Street Diner. Everyone is welcome to attend.
There will also be other art items available for raffle. All proceeds benefit BRIGHTfutures Mexico. For more information, contact Alicia Pigg at apigg@mexico.k12.mo.us or Jo Ann Diffenderfer at jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.usWednesday, Apr 6, 2016, 05:00 PM
639 North Wade Street, Mexico, MO, United States
Transfers Request Process
Teachers -- it is nearly hiring season again. There is no longer a March 1st deadline to request a transfer to another building. Instead, all openings will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Process: (Transfer requests are now done on TalentEd. No paperwork needs to be sent to the principal)
A. If an opening becomes available in your own building that you are interested in, you just need to talk to your principal about the process.
B. If an opening becomes available in a different building, then you need to fill out an internal application in TalentEd so that principal and Central Office know you have an interest.
There are no guarantees on transfer requests. Every situation is different and we will try to do what is best for kids in the long run.
Please contact Bethany Collins if you have questions on filling out an internal application. x2401.
Mexico School District 59 Position Openings
Bulldog Bytes
Email: jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.us
Website: www.MexicoSchools.net
Location: 2101 Lakeview Road, Mexico, MO, United States
Phone: 573.581.3773
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mexico-School-District-59/692521830775778
Twitter: @MexicoMoSchools