Bulldog Bytes

A Newsletter for Employees of the Mexico59 09/02/15

Bulldog Bytes

Bulldog Bytes

Bulldog Bytes will be available in your in box each Wednesday (with some exceptions around Christmas & Summer break). Send items to be published to jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.us. These items can be wedding photos, birth announcements/photos, fund raisers for sports and civic clubs, and other district wide communication needs.
2101 Lakeview Road, Mexico, MO, United States jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.us 573.581.3773 MexicoSchools.net

Use Bulldog Bytes for District Wide Communication

If/when you have a message that needs to be communicated to the ~375 employees of Mexico 59, Bulldog Bytes is the only way to do it. Send your information to jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.us or call Jo Ann at x2425.

From Kevin Freeman, Superintendent of Schools

To all employees,

Thank you for taking to heart what I had to say at the opening convocation. I have heard numerous stories of people selecting their 10 kids and setting out to make a difference. I so very much appreciate your dedication to kids! If 10 is a daunting number for you and you just can't seem to get started, find one. Start small. If you don't know who or how, go talk to one of the counselors or principals, I know they have a list of kids that can benefit from your involvement in their life and education. And remember support staffers who are not normally with students, we would LOVE to have you as a lunch buddy with BRIGHTfutures! If you haven't already, please talk with your principal or myself on how this can happen. Thank you, all of you. --Kevin

FORREST T. JONES Representative will be here next week to discuss 403b (retirement investment accounts)

EVERYONE, unless recently hired, needs to meet and sign off with the representative from Forrest T. Jones. Everyone needs to accept or decline!! He will be at all buildings next week with exception of the Central Office which will be 9/15/15.

Tuesday, 9/8: MHS 7:30 am to 3:30 pm

Wednesday 9/9: MMS 8 am to Noon, Early Childhood Center 1-3:30 pm

Thursday 9/10: EF 7:30 am to Noon, Hawthorne 1-3:30 pm

Friday 9/11: McM 7:30 am to Noon, Hart Career Center 1-3:30 pm

Tuesday 9/15: Central Office 7:30 am -Noon

If you have any questions, please contact Ondrea in Payroll, x 2410.

Mexico School District 59 Crisis Communication Plan

Click the above link for the District Wide Crisis Communication Plan. Staff members are also encouraged to save a copy of the link to their computer desk top, tablets and smart phones.

BUS DRIVERS NEEDED

In case you did not know, we need certified teachers as bus drivers. This would be extra money for you and it will also help you when you retire, if you keep it up, as it logs more income for you when reported to PSRS. For more information about becoming a bus driver, contact Curt Jackson x2424.

District Calendar

Wednesday, September 2

8:30am MHS Girls Golf - Paris Tournament

Thursday, September 3

Junior Class Fundraiser Kick-Off Day

9:00am MHS Girls Golf - Kirksville Golf Tournament

4:00pm MHS Girls Tennis vs Kirksville

5:00pm MHS Softball V/JV vs Hannibal

5:00pm MHS Volleyball @ Marshall

5:00pm MHS Boys Soccer vs Battle

Friday, September 4

High School Student Picture Day

2:30pm High School Student Involvement Day

6:00pm MMS - Band playing at MHS Football Game

7:00pm MHS Football Varsity vs Marshall

Saturday, September 5

9:00am School Days Stomp Fun Run, MHS Track

Sunday, September 6

7:00pm Young Farmers Tractor Pull

Monday, September 7

No School - Labor Day

4:30pm MHS Girls Tennis vs School of the Osage

7:00pm MHS Football - JV @ Marshall (updated 8/31/15)

Tuesday, September 8

4:00pm MHS Girls Tennis vs Palmyra

5:00pm MHS Softball V/JV vs Centralia

5:00pm MHS Boys Soccer vs Kirksville

Wednesday, September 9

9:00am University of MO St. Louis College Visit - Jrs & Srs

4:30pm MHS Girls Tennis vs Battle

5:00pm MHS Softball V/JV @ Boonville


Click here for the most up-to-date calendar http://www.mexicoschools.net/calendar-google.php

Mexico School District 59 Position Openings 2015-2016

CERTIFIED

Part-Time Evening welding

Speech Pathologist (4)


SUPPORT STAFF

Bus Drivers & Substitute Bus Drivers

Paraprofessional

Substitute Food Service Workers

Substitute Nurses

Substitute Teachers


The following coaching/extra-duty positions are available for the 2015-2016 school year. Please contact Jeff Anderson x3008 at Mexico High School for additional information.

MHS

Assistant Baseball Coach - MHS

MHS Theater Cookbooks ready to be purchased....Get yours NOW!

MHS Theater Cookbooks ready to be purchased....Get yours NOW!

From Sara Given - MHS Theater Department---It is a great honor to be selected to represent not only our school and community but the state of Missouri at the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland August 2016.

We are in need of your support.


“Dramatically Delicious” is our new cookbook. The entries look AMAZINGLY scrumptious! $15 per cookbook with a 75% kickback to our group traveling abroad.

If you are interested in donating to our group, please contact Sara Given at MHS or Bethany Collins at Central Office.

639 North Wade Street, Mexico, MO, United States sgiven@mexico.k12.mo.us
Missouri Parent Teacher Organization Magazine

Missouri PTA has a monthly magazine. Here is the link to this month's edition with some great information for us all. https://goo.gl/Eg9XIp

Social Media shout outs!


Interview Girl @InterviewGirl


Take The Challenge: #MakeLifeBetterin3Words : Today's Words: Your Future Awaits pic.twitter.com/E0LKNDK0zI


CaseyEchelmeier M.Ed

@CaseyEchelmeier

Practical Ed Tech Tip of the Week – Create Freehand Drawings in Google Slides | Practical Ed Tech ln.is/practicaledtec…

The wellness committee offers incentives for good health this year.

The incentives are:

  • Providing healthy snacks once a month in each building. Look for the red tub in your building workroom.
  • Encouraging regular exercise at least 3 times per week. A google form will be sent out at the end of each month for you to enter the drawing.
  • Health information will be displayed in the workroom of each building and sent out in Bulldog Bytes monthly.
  • Staff members may order a fitbit at a discount. Click here to Fill out the form and return to Nurse Angie at Middle School.
  • Staff members reaching 1,000,000 steps on a computer printable system, can receive $50.00 reimbursement. Must be a printout with your name, dates, and steps. The incentive is from April 1- December 1. Send printout to Angie Anderson at the Middle School.
  • Family Fun Night at the YMCA will be Jan. 3 from 6:00-8:00. Staff and their families are encouraged to come play games, snack and fellowship. Volleyball, pickle ball, ping pong, swimming pool, and racquetball.

Wellness committee offers healthy tips

http://timewellspent.anthem.com/images/cold-flu-bcbs/abcbs-tws-FightTheFlu1214.pdf


http://timewellspent.anthem.com/images/cold-flu-bcbs/bcbs-article-is-it-cold-or-flu.pdf


http://timewellspent.anthem.com/images/healthy-eating-bcbs/choosemyplate.pdf


Reminder: Flu Shots will be administered in October.

Morning bus routes change/update

Effective 9/8/15, some buses' morning pick up times will be five minutes later than before. Click here to check the transportation website for your student's pick up time.

17 Illustrations That Are Incredibly Real For Anyone With Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)

Here is an interesting web post that explains ADD. This is eye opening!

Student Health Screenings to be held at YMCA

Students in grades 1st, 3rd, 5th, 7th will travel to the Mexico YMCA for health screenings. The dates are:

Sept. 3 Middle School

Sept. 10 Hawthorne

Sept. 17 McMillan

Oct. 8 Eugene Field

If you have any questions about this, please contact your school's nurse or Angie Anderson, Head Nurse at x2802.

MHS Cheer Clinic

Friday, Sep. 4th, 3:15pm

639 North Wade Street

Mexico, MO

Contact Linda Mallott at MMS for more information about participation and the required form(s). Elementary students will participate in the cheer clinic at MHS and will be featured at the MHS home game vs. Marshall that begins at 7 pm on 9/4/15.
Get Directions

School Directory is being created for the 15-16 School Year

Bethany Collins is updating the school directory. If you do not want your address and/or phone number listed, please contact her at x2401 or bcollins@mexico.k12.mo.us by September 4th at 4 pm.


Please also remember, if you move anytime during the summer or school year, you need to update your address in HR Portal!

School Days Stomp FUN RUN

Saturday, Sep. 5th, 9am

639 North Wade St. Mexico MO 65265

School Days Stomp Elementary Fun Run at High School Track,September 5, 9:00 a.m. Contact PE teachers at the Elementary School for more information.
Get Directions
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CPI Training Reminder

Wednesday, Sep. 9th, 3:30pm

1200 West Boulevard Street

Mexico, MO

Reminder: CPI physical training is set for September 9 at Mexico Middle School beginning at 3:30 p.m. If you have registered for this class, please remember to have your online training and 3 page test completed prior to this date. You will be required to bring the 3 page test to the physical training for completion verification.
Get Directions

United Way Kick Off

Wednesday, Sep. 9th, 4-6pm

101 North Jefferson Street

Mexico, MO

It is time to kick off the United Way Campaign!


Mexico Public Schools is a top five employer in Audrain County with a little over 370 regular and part-time employees (with another 60+ on our sub teacher list). We are constantly asking for community support. This is one way for us to give back to the community.


United Way supports dozens of local organizations that impact our students and our schools, such as A+ for Mexico Education grants, Red Cross, YMCA, 4-H, Big Brothers Big Sisters and Rainbow House to name a few.


Please consider your support of United Way this year. We have structured the building goals so that approximately $20 per employee will allow the district to meet our overall goal total.


Your building/department goals:

Fall 2015 Goal

CO/Bus.Maint.$880.00

HCC/MEC $600.00

MHS $1,500.00

ECC $280.00

HAW $1,080.00

EF $1,060.00

MMS $1,260.00

McM $740.00

$7,400.00



99% of the funds that Audrain County raises will stay right here in Audrain County.


Some examples of fundraisers in the past have included: jeans days, silent auction. penny wars, carry-in luncheon and an administrator and/or teacher getting a pie in the face.


Payroll Deductions: Please remember: If you are going to donate with a payroll deduction the total amount of months you can donate is no more than 6 months. Any more and it creates a payroll mess. Deductions will begin January 2016.


If you are doing something neat/creative for a fundraiser and want some PR, please let Jo Ann Diffenderfer know ahead of time, it might help the cause.

Get Directions
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Next Step Program Open House at Hart Career Center

Thursday, Sep. 10th, 5-5:30pm

905 North Wade Street

Mexico, MO

This event will be held in Room 27 at the HCC.
Get Directions

Eugene Field Ice Cream Social

Thursday, Sep. 10th, 5:30-7:30pm

704 West Boulevard Street

Mexico, MO

Get Directions

MHS Key Club to host Red Cross Blood Drive

September 23rd from 10-2 is the Key Club's blood drive in the Sports Complex lobby. It will be open to the public. Please spread the word and/or participate if you can. Besides being for the Red Cross, the Key Club seniors could get a scholarship through the Red Cross if we collect enough units.


*Coaches (note from Mrs. Galloway): If you would consider letting athletes participate, they could perhaps be excused from practices that day. If it is a game day I understand them not participating.


Thanks everyone for helping with a good cause!

A+ for Mexico Grant Applications due!

A+ for Mexico Grant Applications need be turned in ASAP. The deadline is September 25th.

Information can be found at http://goo.gl/yjtO44

The application can be found at https://goo.gl/7TDCqz

Nominations are now being accepted for Pioneer in Education Awards

During the Annual Christmas Reception we will present the Pioneer in Education Awards. Employees are encouraged to nominate a retired staff member or former Board of Education member. Nominees must have been retired at least three years.


If you wish to nominate someone, please complete the form below and return to the Board Secretary at Central Office not later than November 15.


These two documents are what you need to submit an application. The nomination form. The list of eligible retirees.


Contact Bethany Collins for more information. x2401

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Help the Dixie Gray Band go to Orlando in 2016

Click the above link for information on the Orlando trip and how you can help.