Rocket Review

December

1st: Tarkio Technology Institute Representative Visit, 3:15 PM
7th: Second Grade's Day in the Lunch Room
9th: Community Blood Drive [West Nodaway High School], 2:00-7:00 PM

10th: JH/HS FFA Meeting, Chili Supper, and Gingerbread House Wars; 12:00 PM
12th: Staff Development Day
12th: High School Band Concert (6th-12th Grades), 6:30 PM
14th: NWMSU Christmas Play for Elementary, 8:30 AM
14th: West Nodaway Board of Education Meeting
15th: Elementary Music Concert (PK-5th Grades), 6:30 PM
19th: Important - West Nodaway Classes in Session
19th: Elementary Formal Christmas Dinner
21st: End of 2nd Quarter and 1st Semester
21st: Christmas Break Begins, Dismiss at 3:40 PM

• When your child is unable to attend school, please notify the appropriate school office by 9:00 AM. When your child is seen by a physician, please ask for a doctor's note so we can verify attendance. Thank you! (Elementary: 725-4126, High School: 725-3317)
  
  
• If you would like to be added to West Nodaway's "Rocket Alert" list, please contact the high school office. Parents and guardians are automatically added to the system. It's a great way to keep updated with current happenings!
  
  
• If you know of anyone that would like to sign up to receive this monthly newsletter, please call the high school office at (660) 725-3317 and provide their email address. We look forward to sharing this information with you all each month!
  
  
• Make sure you "like" and "follow" us on Facebook (@WestNodaway) and Twitter (@WNRockets)! We send out lots of information about upcoming events, cancellations, and fun school activities.

Did you know there is a food pantry in town, sponsored by the First Christian Church of Burlington Junction? It is located at 211 East 3rd Street, and you can contact them by phone at (660) 253-0823. The West Nodaway Food Pantry is open every Tuesday from 4:00-6:00 PM, and there are Wal-Mart drops on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th Wednesdays of each month. Please don't hesitate to stop by if you need assistance!

Merry Christmas to All!

In less than three weeks, we will have competed the 1st half of the 22-23 school year. It does seem that the time has flown quickly. I want to thank all of the wonderful staff members at West Nodaway for their hard work on behalf of district students.

As the year progresses, I want to encourage you to come out to a school activity and support the students in the events they represent the district in. Both the boys and girls basketball teams have made it to the championship of the PVI Tournament and will play at Bearcat Arena for 1st place. The HS Christmas Concert will be held Monday, December 12th @ 6:30 p.m., and on Thursday, December 15th, the elementary concert will take place at 6:30 p.m.

If you wish to discuss any matters in regard to the district, please stop by the office. Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Dr. Barnes

I would like to start by wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! I am so grateful for opportunity to be principal at West Nodaway where I get to work with so many wonderful students, staff, and parents. It really is great to be a Rocket!

We have several things happening in the elementary building during the month of December. All these events truly make this month move very quickly.

I would like to congratulate our November Character students of the month. Congratulations to Rhett Cowden and Mayci Hanig. They received the most character stars for "Gratitude" and will be treated to lunch off campus with Mr. Conn.

The Elementary Student Council has been working hard to provide some fun activities for students in December. They have selected dress-up days, and we will be sending that information out very soon. Student Council is also hosting a food drive. Please keep your eye out for opportunities to donate. We will be holding class competitions to see who can collect the most items.

Wednesday, December 2nd will be our 2nd grade lunch day.

6th grade students will take part in the JH/HS Band Concert being held on Monday, December 12th 6:30pm in the HS gym.

On December 14th, NWMSU will be putting on a play for all elementary students in the elementary gym. We will also have "Small Mall" where students can bring money to purchase small gifts for families and loved ones. Additional information will be sent home closer to the 14th.

The elementary music concert will be held on December 15th at 6:30pm in the High School gym.

Monday, December 19th, the elementary will hold its Formal Christmas Dinner for all our elementary students.

As December ends, so does the 1st semester of the school year. Teachers will be wrapping up assessments and end of term grades. Student grade cards will be sent home in January after we return from break. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the classroom teacher or myself, and we will do whatever we can do help.

Have a wonderful Christmas and Happy New Year, Rocket Family!

Mr. Conn

Greetings all,

In the next week or so, we will publish the list for the first semester finals schedule. It is hard to believe we are almost at the end of the first semester. I have been in and out of all classrooms several times this semester, and I am encouraged by the hard work our teachers and students are doing.

Semester finals will take place over just two days, Dec 20th and 21st. If students do not have to take the final, they do not have to be at school and slips will be sent home in this regard.

Our last day for classes this semester will be a full day on December 21st. As always, if you have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Merry Christmas!

Dr. Barnes

• Our illness at school has improved. We seem to be over the wave of strep throat.
• Attached is a quick reference table for influenza as we're headed into peak season.
• We also still have several new winter coats available if anyone is in need of one!
• On January 19th, KidSight will be back for PreK, Kindergarten, and 1st for photo vision screening.
• We'll kick off our Kids' Heart Challenge in February.

The character word for November was "gratitude," which means being thankful. However, it's much more than being thankful for one item or person, but rather thankful for the entire process or group of people that assisted you along the way. Elementary students used this character word to examine how thankful we should be for all the workers involved in our daily lives. From simply purchasing something at the store, or coming to school each day, there are multiple people (seen and unseen) who have worked hard for each of us. Students did a great job brainstorming all the different people involved and the types of jobs they hold. We ended the month making a gratitude mural of the school representing all the people that make the environment successful.

Junior High: 7th Grade has career exploratory each Tuesday and have been participating in one critical thinking exercise, learning one study skill, and working on a career task each day. The students were placed into four groups with a different business startup concept where they had to decide what would make the business successful, what qualities they want in an employee, and interview questions to ask. Each student "applied" for a job, and the students then conducted mock interviews for each business.

High School: 9th and 10th Grade students were presented an "Early Outreach" program to start the wheels turning when thinking about post-secondary options. Whether 2-year, 4-year, military, or apprenticeship, plans need to be thought about early and often before Senior year. Students did a great job asking questions, and some have had follow-up conversations with me related to college sports, scholarships, jobs, etc. It's wonderful to see the forethought taking place as students think about their future. 11th Grade students will close out the month learning about Missouri Boys State and Missouri Girls State. This would be a great opportunity for any student interested in additional leadership venues and/or a resume builder for scholarships.

Tarkio Tech will be here December 1st to talk with interested 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students about VoTech and post-high school options. 11th and 12th Grade dual credit students will be registering for spring classes in December. Please talk with your student about course options. Seniors have received 61 different scholarship applications, along with numerous college specific application/scholarship details. Some deadlines have already passed, so it's best to start on these soon!

- Lani Clayton, School Counselor

Do you need a carpentry project completed, but just can't find the time? The Ag Power and Technology students in Mrs. Honan's class at West Nodaway will build it for you, for just the cost of materials! Ethan Rohr and Jodi Andrews, our student carpenters, are willing to do small to medium sized projects. If you have any questions, or if you have a project in mind, please contact them via email or phone.

Email: ROCKETSBUILD@GMAIL.COM
Call or Text: (660) 725-7023

Website: wnrockets.com
Location: 17665 US Hwy 136, Burlington Junction, MO 64428, USA
Phone: 660-725-4613
Twitter: @WNrockets