Horace Mann & Leet Center Connect
April 12, 2021 Update
Hello Families,
Congratulations!
The new Leet Center construction is creating excitement with the prospects of bringing baby bearcats to our campus and expanding our support to the community. We posted three new faculty positions to help us find new team members to help us in our work: a full-time teacher, a part-time associate teacher, and an instructional aide. We are excited to announce that Mrs. Michelle Vaught was selected to fill the role of our full-time Infant-Toddler Teacher. We know her passion for early childhood and nurturing spirit makes her the right person to care for our youngest bearcats and to guide our Early Childhood practicum students. Please help us congratulate Mrs. Vaught on her new adventure in the Leet Center.
Mrs. Vaught's new role leaves a vacancy at Horace Mann and opens up an opportunity we have been dreaming of for quite some time. Mrs. Vaught helped us this year by piloting additional reading support and new curriculum designs. We value the work she has done for us and we want to expand on the richness of student support we were able to offer our children this year especially in light of the disruptions to learning caused by COVID. Next year, we are pleased to announce Mrs. Andrea Mason will receive a change in title and become our K-6 Curriculum Design and Reading Intervention Instructor. Those of you who know Mrs. Mason know the passion she has for reading and we are thrilled to utilize her reading expertise to help us grow the pilot program we began with Mrs. Vaught. Mrs. Mason will be dreaming with us in the next few months to launch our new programming in the Fall. We know this will be an amazing opportunity for our children to work with Mrs. Mason and opens new field experience opportunities for our practicum students. Please help us congratulate Mrs. Mason on her new adventure at Horace Mann.
Wishing Well!
As many of you already know, Mrs. Nancy Farlow is taking the opportunity to retire after 32 years of service to Horace Mann. We appreciate what she has taught us all about building relationships and creating experiences children will remember forever. Mrs. Farlow considered retirement last year and after how hard our teachers had to work last year due to COVID no one would have blamed her. Thankfully, she decided to stay with us and help our children through a year full of obstacles from COVID mitigation. We appreciate her commitment to the children of Horace Mann and all the extra work she did this year to create positive memories and learning despite the obstacles. Mitigation did not stop this amazing lady from keeping music and movement alive in her classroom along with powerful opportunities for learning. We wish Mrs. Farlow well and knowing how she loves to take trips, we hope to see lots of pictures from her new adventures.
Among many of the disruptions caused by COVID was the postponing and rescheduling of weddings. Fortunately, after some adjustments, Mr. Bryan O'Neal and his beautiful bride were able to tie the knot in August and created a new family. Mr. O'Neal has even more to celebrate this year. Mr. O'Neal was recently accepted by the University of Arkansas to pursue his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership. We know he will be amazing in this program and will do great things in education. In addition, Mr. O'Neal's wife has an opportunity for a new position in education in Excelsior Springs. We are so happy for her but this will require Mr. O'Neal and his wife to relocate to Kearney, MO, and Mr. O'Neal will pursue a career closer to his wife. While we will miss him, we are so happy for Mr. O'Neal and his wife for their new adventure together in their careers and house hunting. Mr. O'Neal was such a support to us during COVID with his knowledge of technology and had an amazing passion for designing new spaces in our school. He leaves a lasting impact and we are so grateful for his work.
Another superstar of our team, Meghan Sheil will be headed off for new adventures as well. Mrs. Sheil has been a strong steady support for the Leet Center for the last 9 years. She also made a dream come true with the Career Closet on campus as well. From its humble beginnings out of her office sharing professional clothes with students for interviews and student teaching, she now operates a fully functional "store" on campus for all employees and students to shop for free when they are in need of the just-right outfit to interview or dress up in. Mrs. Sheil has loved on many years of our children and has touched so many family's lives in her time here. She will be greatly missed.
Thank you families for your continued support. We will continue to keep you updated as we grow our programming and welcome new faculty members to our team. Together, we can...Horace Mann!!
Reminders
- March 29-April 10 Leet Center Conferences
- April 12-23 Horace Mann Parent/Teacher Conferences
- April 15 - Track and Field Day 10am-12pm in Rec Center
- May 7 - No School, Teacher Development
- May 21 - Leet Center Last Day and Early Dismissal
- May 28 - Horace Mann 6th Grade Graduation
- May 28 - Horace Mann Last Day and Early Dismissal
- June 7-July 1 - Summer School
- Lost & Found - Please email LaTessa (latessa@nwmissouri.edu) if you are looking for lost jackets or lunch bags.
- YEARBOOKS ORDERS - If you would like a copy of the yearbook, please send cash or check made out to Horace Mann Laboratory School. The cost is $16.50 and please make sure payment is in an envelope clearly marked with your child's name.
Track & Field Day-April 15th-Families Welcome
Horace Mann will have its annual Track and Field Day on April 15th in the Rec Center from 10am-12pm. We will share the specific times for each grade level as that information is shared by Ms. Gina. Good news! We would like to invite our families to come and watch the fun. Visitors will need to wear a face mask and practice social distancing but we would love to have you there to cheer for the children.
Current 2020-2021 Calendar & Lunch Menus
Horace Mann Enrollment for 2021-2022 School Year
Horace Mann families and any new families with a child entering kindergarten are highly encouraged to sign their child up for summer school. We have a great face-to-face summer program planned with our Horace Mann teachers that will be both academic and fun. See the summer school graphic below for more details.
Horace Mann enrollment forms are already online for families wanting to get a jump on submitting their enrollments.
- 2021-2022 Enrollment - https://www.nwmissouri.edu/horacemann/admissions/index.htm
- Summer School Enrollment - https://www.nwmissouri.edu/horacemann/admissions/summer.htm
Please share your experience with other families in our community to help us continue to grow our enrollment and opportunities at Horace Mann and the Leet Center.
Leet Center families should watch for more communication from Mrs. Rouner for the upcoming school year. Also, our new Infant & Toddler Center is expected to begin July 1st. Any families wishing to enroll in this program or families new to preschool should be encouraged to add their names to our waiting list.
New 2021-2022 School Year Calendar
Also, don't forget that we offer summer school for free in June to all our current families who re-enroll for next year. I will have more information about this next week to allow families to begin signing up. I can tell you that we are planning a STEM-based theme with math, reading, and science intertwined with coding, legos, and more. We hope you will consider signing your child up to attend.
A Note from Parent Advisory Council (PAC)
Hello Parents,
Every family enrolled at Horace Mann and the Leet Center are members of our Parent Advisory Council. We encourage every family to attend our meetings to help in making decisions for our schools.
Our next parent advisory council meeting will be on Thursday, May 6th at 6:30 PM.
President: Sarah Winters
Communications: Chris Kuhlemeyer
Treasurer: Brad Cline
Ways and Means: Jessie Nuffer
Wellness Committee: Jackie Cochenour
New Families Coordinator: Elizabeth Dimmitt
Secretary: Michelle Vaught
Please contact Sarah Winters if you have any questions about PAC participation.
909-519-6036
Horace Mann Laboratory School * Phyllis & Richard Leet Center
Horace Mann Laboratory School is located on the campus of Northwest Missouri State University. Horace Mann is one of only a small number of laboratory schools in the United States. Horace Mann provides a hands-on, project-based learning, individualized approach that is only possible with small class sizes and multiple teachers. Students of all ages make Horace Mann home, from our youngest kindergarten students to University practicum students. Master teachers provide a unique learning environment for all students that include technology, innovative best practices, and exemplary educational experiences. From measuring temperatures and creating data tables at our University Pond, learning about recycling at the on-campus recycling center, roller skating and swimming lessons in Physical Education class, and multicultural education from student organizations on campus, Horace Mann provides the best educational experience for your child.
At the Leet Center, family relationships and children are our passion! At the heart of our learning together, you will find educators who see children as capable learners. Children learn through investigation, exploration, and communication. Our pre-school environment is a natural home-like atmosphere that is filled with inquiry and joy each day.
The Leet Center is also home to our developing outdoor classroom and we believe that all the learning that happens indoors can also be present in the outdoor spaces. Open-ended materials and carefully cultivated spaces provide a place for collaboration, thinking, and representation of ideas. Our learning community includes educators and university students who are working together to listen and learn with children. Children, educators, and families each play an important role in honoring the intellectual and emotional integrity of children.
If you have any questions related to preschool, please contact Cindy Rouner.
If you have any questions related to grades K-6, please contact Laura King
Email: lmking@nwmissouri.edu
Website: nwmissouri.edu/horacemann
Location: 800 University Drive, Maryville, MO, USA
Phone: 660-562-1234
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HoraceMannLaboratorySchool
Twitter: @ourschool