Bulldog Bytes
A Newsletter for Employees of the Mexico59 April 6, 2016
Prop KIDS passes; Prop 3 fails
Yesterday's election, a classic example of "you win some, you lose some." We are thrilled with the passage of the bond issue and truly want to thank everyone who helped make it happen, especially the members of the For Mexico Kids campaign committee. As for losing on the tax levy, we will regroup, discuss as a board of education, and decide on a future course of action.
As superintendent, I appreciate everyone's efforts on behalf of both issues. Losing the tax levy is not an indictment of teachers or schools. It "is what it is" as a certain retiring Director of Maintenance and Operations likes to say:). Again, thank you for your support. Education is the profession that makes all other professions possible. You folks are great.
Kevin Freeman, Superintendent of Schools
https://goo.gl/zLNQcH
Congratulations to McMillan Elementary - One out of Eleven in the nation to receive the Wahl Foundation Grant
The Wahl Foundation, in partnership with the National Association of Elementary School Principals (NAESP), has awarded one of its $2,000 “UNthink My School” grants to McMillan Elementary School, Mexico Public School #59.
Principal Rebecca Moppin, Ed.S says, “These funds will help us pilot a Summer Reading Initiative to help reach the needs of our students and the community at a greater capacity. I have a team of dedicated teachers who will go out into the community and visit with a core group of students weekly focusing on reducing the summer slide that we sometimes see over the summer. My team will leave books that our students can read independently each week for 6 weeks, ensuring that there are opportunities to continue practicing the strategies we focus on as a district. In addition, each week the students get to pick a book to keep and add to their library at home, making the program a win-win for everyone. The implementation of a program like this is several things to our community: It's new, it's innovative and it's an outreach program that reaches not only students but the families as well. Never has something like this been done before and so to be the one to help implement this would be wonderfully fulfilling for not only us as educators but for the community as well. The possibilities for future extensions of the program is phenomenal, it’s something that the community businesses can really get on board with. The program covers so many elements missing in our community. It can literally be life changing to our students and their families. We appreciate and value the opportunity to implement such a change and be the change agents our community needs.”
The Wahl Foundation launched “UNthink My School” as a way to reward elementary schools that approached a challenge with a creative solution. The grant was created as a way to reinforce themes in Erik Wahl’s book, UNThink: Rediscover Your Creative Genius. The foundation also offered one $20,000 grant and nine other $2,000 grants.
“Reading the hundreds of grant applications we received, we were filled with gratitude and hope for the future of education. The time and attention the principals, teachers and students alike put into the application process was inspiring,” said the Wahl Foundation Executive Director Tasha Wahl. “It was extremely difficult to choose between so many innovative ideas. We based our final decisions on the applicant’s creative concept for how to ‘UNthink’ their school environment and how they integrated their school community and neighborhood demographics in the projects.”
To learn more about the Wahl Foundation and its work to foster innovation and help the underserved, visit www.thewahlfoundation.com.
Employees with Level Changes
If you are planning on turning in paperwork for a level change, it needs to be turned into the Superintendent's office.
In order to move on the salary schedule the deadline for level changes are:
a. June 30, 2016 for teachers on July 1, 2016 contracts
b. August 5, 2016 for teachers with August 2016 contracts
The Horizontal Level Change Forms can be accessed through the Document Center. You will also need to attach an original transcript with the form.
A Night of Qualifiers
Mexico High School Theatre Department presents…
A Night of Qualifiers
Featuring
The District Champion One Act Play
! Artistic Inspiration
and
The District Champion Reader’s Theatre
“The Brother’s Grimm Spectaculathon”
Also performing…
Andrew Kristofferson- District Champion Humorous
Leon Brown & Andrew Kristofferson 2nd Place Duet Acting
Lina Gravemeyer- District Champion Dramatic
Brooke Ransom- National Qualifier Original Oratory
Kylie Yeast- National Qualifier Humorous
Emmons Hall
Wednesday, April 13
7:00 PM
ADMISSION- Free-will Donations
Wednesday, Apr 13, 2016, 07:00 PM
Mexico High School, North Wade Street, Mexico, MO, United States
Benefits meetings April 24 and 25 with MMEBG
Monday and Tuesday, April 25 & April 26, 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm at Mexico Middle School Cafeteria.
Julie Koirtyohann with Sundvold Financial will be presenting information on Health Insurance.
Click here for the open enrollment information. This form will be used this year instead of the paper form. You can only answer the questions once.
Bulldog wrestlers compete at Nationals in Virginia Beach
Ekern 5-2 5th place ALL AMERICAN
Patton 2-2 Did not place
Nichols 3-2 Did not place
Jones 2-2 Did not place
Lee 3-2 Did not place
Spring Sports are in full swing
Bowls for BRIGHTfutures
Mexico Middle School Art Department, Mexico High School Art Department, and Mexico High School FCCLA (Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America) will be hosting a first time event called "Bowls for BRIGHTfutures". The event will take place on April 6th from 5:00-7:00 pm in the Mexico High School Cafeteria. Attendees will choose a bowl handmade by MMS & MHS art students, and then eat a meal from the bowl, which is theirs to keep. For a meal, there will be soups handmade by FCCLA students and chili donated by Jackson Street Diner. Everyone is welcome to attend.
There will also be other art items available for raffle. All proceeds benefit BRIGHTfutures Mexico. For more information, contact Alicia Pigg at apigg@mexico.k12.mo.us or Jo Ann Diffenderfer at jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.usWednesday, Apr 6, 2016, 05:00 PM
639 North Wade Street, Mexico, MO, United States
Transfers Request Process
Teachers: There is no longer a March 1st deadline to request a transfer to another building. Instead, all openings will be handled on a case-by-case basis.
Process: (Transfer requests are now done on TalentEd. No paperwork needs to be sent to the principal)
A. If an opening becomes available in your own building that you are interested in, you just need to talk to your principal about the process.
B. If an opening becomes available in a different building, then you need to fill out an internal application in TalentEd so that principal and Central Office know you have an interest.
There are no guarantees on transfer requests. Every situation is different and we will try to do what is best for kids in the long run.
Please contact Bethany Collins if you have questions on filling out an internal application. x2401.
Mexico School District 59 Position Openings
Bulldog Bytes
Email: jdiffenderfer@mexico.k12.mo.us
Website: www.MexicoSchools.net
Location: 2101 Lakeview Road, Mexico, MO, United States
Phone: 573.581.3773
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mexico-School-District-59/692521830775778
Twitter: @MexicoMoSchools