Wildcat Thursday Thread
Dr. Keith White 5/20/21
We have had a great school year and finished Wildcat Strong!
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our parents and guardians for the opportunity to educate your children this school year and for supporting our Diamond R-IV schools. I would also like to thank our community members for the many contributions, both of time and money, to support each program our students were fortunate enough to be a part of. Equally, I would like to thank all of our Diamond R-IV Board of Education members, administrators, teachers, and support staff for all of your hard work to help make this a great school year. In the unprecedented COVID-19 Pandemic school closure last spring and events leading up to today I was reminded many times that it takes our entire community to help our schools be successful. You all are my first official group as the Superintendent and are truly special to me. I have challenged our entire school district and community to BE THE CHANGE and thank you all for being flexible and willing to do what was needed. I have enjoyed the ups and the downs throughout this school year through many sports competitions, academic achievements, fine arts, and practical art demonstrations and displays. I have observed many examples this past year that set our community and school district apart to make us Wildcat Strong!
I would like to share a great quote that encourages me in my role from Theodore Roosevelt titled The Man in The Arena; “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.” Additionally, our leadership team is doing a book study in the book Extreme Ownership written by retired Navy Seals and author’s Jocko Willink and Leif Babin and a quote jumped out that has been an encouragement for our leaders to BE THE CHANGE; “Once people stop making excuses, stop blaming others, and take ownership of everything in their lives, they are compelled to take action to solve their problems!”
There were many great learning opportunities and activities happening throughout our schools every day this school year and I saw many examples of people doing everything they could to help our students succeed. Please continue to follow our Facebook pages, Twitter, and website for updates and information. Below you will see a few examples of the many great things going on in our district. We have had a great school year and look forward to improving daily for each Diamond R-IV student and staff member to BE THE CHANGE to prepare for the upcoming 2021-2022 school year! hope everyone has a great summer and we look forward to continuing to work hard all summer to help our school district to be ready to welcome our students back in the fall to be Wildcat Strong!
Dr. Keith White, Superintendent
We have hosted four great Comprehensive School Improvement (CSIP) and Strategic Planning meetings this past in March and April!
This Tuesday we held our district End of Year Staff Luncheon and Celebration!
It is not too late to sign up for summer school this June!
Wildcat Spotlights!
Lady Wildcat Softball (20-2 record) won their Quarterfinal game last Thursday and will play in a MSHSAA Final Four game this Friday against Potosi (25-3 record) at the Killian Sports Complex in Springfield, MO!
We held graduation for the Class of 2021 Seniors on May 7th and it was a great success. Congratulations Seniors!
Kindergarten Graduation was a great success!
Congratulations to DHS students Tessa Shaw, Justice Atchison, and Abigail Guatney for being published or displayed at Crowder College!
DHS Science Teacher Laurea Patterson, received a $5,000 grant through WGU Missouri’s “Fund My Classroom” initiative!
Congratulations to DHS senior Cassie Giles who placed third in the Javelin and junior Chase Housh who placed third in the 400 Meter Run at the MSHSAA Sectional Track Meet and will compete at the MSHSAA State Track Meet this Friday!
Diamond FFA hosts year end banquet and awards ceremony!
DMS Track Team wins first place SWC Track Meet!
District Project Updates
Elementary Para Position, Substitute Teachers, Bus Drivers, & Custodians needed!
Diamond Elementary is currently seeking an individual who loves kids and wants to make a difference in their lives as an Educational Paraprofessional. If you or you know of someone who has at least 60 hours college credit and would be a great team member for the DES team please complete an application online at diamondwildcats.org, click on the JOB OPENINGS tab, and contact the DES office at 417-325-5189.
Do you know someone interested in becoming a substitute teacher and do not have 60 hours of college courses yet? No problem as DESE has modified the requirements due to COVID https://dese.mo.gov/educator-quality/certification/substitute-teachers. If you are interested in daily making a positive difference in our schools for students go to diamondwildcats.org and click on the JOB OPENINGS tab. Follow the instructions and fill out an application for SUBSTITUTE TEACHER. You will be able to attach your sub certificate from DESE to the application. Once the application is complete, well will send the applicant an employment packet and once returned, they will be added to the district sub list.
If you are interested in being a bus driver or custodian for the Diamond R-IV School District, please follow this link: https://diamond.tedk12.com/hire/index.aspx.
COVID-19 Dashbaord
Dr. Keith White
Email: kwhite@diamondwildcats.org
Website: https://www.diamondwildcats.org/
Location: 401 South Main Street, Diamond, MO, USA
Phone: 417-325-5186
Facebook: facebook.com/DiamondWildcats
Twitter: @DiamondSchoolD1