GAINESVILLE R-V SCHOOL DISTRICT
DECEMBER 2019 | DISTRICT NEWSLETTER
"QUALITY LEARNING TODAY FOR TOMORROW"
OUR MISSION STATEMENT
"We will commit our financial, educational, and personnel resources to equip all students with the skills and knowledge necessary to develop to their fullest potential as self-motivated, life-long learners."Website: www.gainesvillebulldogs.com
Location: 422 Bulldog Drive, Gainesville, MO, United States
Phone: 417-679-4200
IMPORTANT DATES
December 21 - January 5: Christmas Break - No School
January 6: Classes Resume - 2nd Semester Begins
January 17-20: No School
January 21: Board Meeting - 6 pm
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DISTRICT SPOTLIGHT - Taking Down Tobacco Program
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90.6% of students 7-12 are reaching the 90/90 goal!
The goal of the 90/90 is to have 90% of our students with a minimum of 90% attendance.
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NEW LOCKERS AT GHS
Our JH and HS students came back from Thanksgiving break to find brand new lockers in the hallways! The efforts in selling the old lockers to help support the PTO's drive for new playground equipment raised over $5,000!
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ACADEMIC TEAM
Gainesville Academic Team attended the 2019 Kickapoo Classic Tournament. Going into Saturday’s tournament, both Gainesville varsity and junior varsity teams were undefeated, beating four conference teams: Hartville, Norwood, Mansfield and Conway. We also played three matches with Bakersfield, winning all.
We knew that going into the Kickapoo tournament would prove to be a challenge, but those are the matches our kids like to play. They were ready. The 2019 Kickapoo Classic Tournament was attended by 30 teams. Our varsity team ended morning matches 5-0, beating Wichita East (215-185), Glendale Red (215-75), Forsyth A (155-145 OT), Clever B (315-90), and Strafford B (190-40). In the Forsyth A game, we led the whole match until Forsyth came back making it a very close game. They correctly answered a tossup, but knew none of the three bonus answers. Luckily, our Abigail Milligan (senior) knew all three — cheers for her research paper on Scientology! — to tie the game. Then, in sudden death overtime, Hunter Webb (senior) came through for the win. The afternoon Championship Rounds proved to be even more competitive. We won our first two rounds against Glendale Blue (230-130) and Forsyth A (275-90) but lost to College Heights A and Springfield Central (who won 1st and 3rd overall in the tournament). We also lost a very, very close match to Strafford A. Gainesville Varsity ended the day 7-3.
Ben Pointer (senior) individually placed 8th (out of 138) overall.
Overall, we won 7th place. Because we placed third among the “small schools” attending, the varsity team qualifies for the Small School National Championship Tournament. This is the seventh consecutive year qualifying for this prestigious position. This year it will again be held in Chicago in late April.
Our junior varsity team also had a good day. It is harder to find good matches for the JV team; half the teams in our conference do not have JV teams. Being a junior varsity team in a tournament like Kickapoo shows a lot of gumption. They were 3-7 on the day, but had four matches that were within two questions, proving the strength of this team.
Two students were unable to attend due to family obligations: Wyatt Alms and Olivia Milligan
Submitted by Academic Team Coaches: Michelle Pointer & Sherri Uchtman
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HIGH SCHOOL & JUNIOR HIGH RECEIVES STEM GRANT
The high school and junior high was honored to receive a $10,000 grant from Missouri S&T to be used to enhance our current STEM efforts. Special thanks to Rep. Karla Eslinger for her role in facilitating this grant.
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JUNIOR HIGH DANCE
The JH Winter Dance was Friday, December 13th. It was glow in the dark themed and very well attended. Thank you to Mrs. Luna and JH StuCo for their hard work in hosting this dance.
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PEP ASSEMBLY KICKS OFF BASKETBALL SEASON
Fun was had by all at this year's pep assembly! We are looking forward to showing our school spirit throughout our basketball seasons.
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TEAMS RECOGNIZED AT RED/WHITE SCRIMMAGE
The JH basketball players, cheerleaders, and cross country runners were recognized as a part of the red white scrimmage. These teams had great seasons and we can't wait to see what they accomplish in years to come.
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FALL SPORTS BANQUET
The HS softball team and cross country runners held their annual fall sports banquet in November. It was a great night to recognize their accomplishments both as a team and individually.
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BAND
December is always a busy month for the band! We have, or will have participated in four performances before Christmas break. The band marched in the Gainesville Christmas Parade on Friday, December 6th. This year the parade was held in the evening so everyone (including the band) enjoyed displaying and seeing the lights of Christmas! The band will travel to Springfield on Saturday, December 14th for the Downtown Christmas Parade. They will also perform in the school Christmas concert on Sunday, December 15th at 3:00.
Submitted by Dr. Sherri Caraway
The GHS band also traveled to Branson to participate in the Branson Adoration Parade on Sunday, December 8th.
The beginning band made their instrumental debut in the Gainesville Elementary School music program on Tuesday, December 10th. They played, "Good King Wenceslas" and "Jingle Bells".
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CHOIR
The Junior High and High School choirs have been busy preparing their selections for the Christmas concert on Sunday, December 15th at 3:00. The combined groups will sing at the Gainesville Health Care Center on Wednesday, December 11th, and the High School Choir will perform for the members of the Lions Club on Thursday, December 12th.
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JV & VARSITY GIRLS BASKETBALL
The Gainesville Lady Bulldogs are 2-3 on the season. Each game has been very competitive. As long as we continue to have the right attitude and work ethic, we will continue to grow and improve throughout the season. Our upcoming games are at Forsyth on Tuesday, December 17th at 6:00 and then a home game against Couch on Thursday, December 19th at 6:00.
Home Games
11-25-19 Gainesville 61 - 49 Bradleyville
12-02-19 Gainesville 41 - 53 Willowsprings
12-05-19 Gainesville 70 - 67 (OT) Koshkonong
Mammoth Spring Battle of the Border Tournament
12-09-19 Gainesville 40 - 48 Hillcrest, AR
12-11-19 Gainesville 38 - 51 Calico Rock, AR
Submitted by Coach Lance West
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JV & VARSITY BOYS BASKETBALL
Boys Basketball Scoreboard
Varsity
Gainesville 58 Bakersfield 56
Gainesville 51 Ava 52
Gainesville 81 Kosh 26
JV
Gainesville 34 Bakersfield 29
Gainesville 24 Ava 54
Gainesville 62 Kosh 39
After 3 games we now have an idea of the areas we need to work on and will strive to improve as we move toward the Cabool Holiday Tournament at the end of December. Our ability to improve on our defense and rebounding will be a big factor in our development as a team. Both teams will get good tests in the Mansfield (VAR, Dec 9-14) and Norwood (JV, Dec 15,16, 18)) tournaments. We also have a home game vs Galena on Dec 17 which is a new addition to this year's schedule. Our district tournament has been set for the end of the year and will be held at Cabool, Feb 22-29. Teams in our district are: Bakersfield, Cabool, Fordland, Hartville, Mansfield, Seymour, and Sparta.
Submitted by Coach Morris Jenkins
Images by Karla Smith Photography
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FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES
Gainesville FCA put a float in this year's "Wonders of Christmas" parade. They won 2nd place and $75 in prize money which they will use to fulfill student needs through the year.
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FFA
Congratulations to Gracyn Blackburn for placing
2nd in the Teach Ag state speaking contest.
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CHRISTMAS PROGRAM
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HOOPS FOR HEART CHALLENGE
On Friday, November 22 our Hoops for Heart Challenge Activity for 4-6 grade students was held. This is an activity coordinated by the American Heart Association to promote heart healthy lifestyles and to help them raise money for research. Our area AHA director, Amy Emery, comes to the school approximately 2 weeks prior to the event to promote the activity with a brief assembly. Students are not required to participate, this is strictly a volunteer activity. Students collect donations for the event and then are allowed to participate in a 2 hour basketball/fitness time where we spend our time doing several fun basketball/movement activities to promote lifetime wellness. This year we had 35 students collect donations and was able to raise $1639 for the American Heart Association. Way to go GES and Gainesville community!
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POPCORN LEAGUE
Our annual popcorn basketball league for Grades 3-6 was held on November 5, 7, 12, 19 and 21. The league is set up to give our grades 3-6 students interested in basketball an opportunity to learn the fundamentals and some basic game concepts of basketball. Our high school basketball team members do the majority of the instruction, coaching, and refereeing, all under the supervision of our high school and junior high coaches. This creates a unique interaction between high school and elementary students and is a very good activity that builds good rapport with our students. It is also an activity that we can offer at no charge to students or parents.
We concluded the league with a recognition night at the December 5th high school game. All popcorn league participants and their parents were admitted to the games free and each participant received a free drink from the concession stand and was introduced on court between the JV boys and varsity girls games. This year we had 75 third through sixth grade participants and 29 high school basketball players that helped with the coaching. Thanks to all who helped with 2019 Popcorn League!
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STUDENT COUNCIL
Sixth grade student council members had the privilege of handing out “Thank You” packets to all the veterans in the Gainesville Nursing Home. The students enjoyed meeting the veterans and learning about each branch that they served in.
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FIRST GRADE
First grade enjoyed listening to Mr. Morris read! Mr. Morris has challenged 1st grade to reach a goal of 10 AR points by December 19th.
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SECOND GRADE
Second grade made Santa Clauses to kick off the Christmas season, as it has become quite a tradition over the last decade. We would like to send good wishes to everyone in our district!
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FOURTH GRADE
Students in 4th grade are busy learning the differences between forms of energy. We did a simple experiment to show how light changes direction by taking a pencil inside of a graduated cylinder filled with water. Students learned what happened when light that is moving through air strikes a transparent solid with a transparent liquid, we see an object as being “bent”.
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"An investment in knowledge pays the best interest."
- Benjamin Franklin