Fulton Focus
For the parents and patrons of Fulton Schools
November 6, 2015
A message from the Superintendent
Dear Parents and Patrons,
Many of you are aware of the District’s recent all staff professional development day for Active Shooter Training. This bi-annual, eight hour training required by Missouri Statue was provided by the Callaway County Sheriff’s office. We are extremely fortunate that Sheriff Crane has made Active Shooter Training a priority to provide our training. Our day was full with classroom sessions and active role playing scenarios. Later this fall Officers will continue working with individual building faculty and staff to refine security processes. Plus all Bus Drivers are participating in specific activities and strategies for safe school transportation.
Even though this week was focused on active shooter scenarios, the district does practice safety throughout the year. Continually, we plan and practice for various disasters such as fire drills, tornado drills, earthquake drills and bus emergency evacuations. Each building also has specific plans to secure (lockdown) in case of threats outside or inside the building.
Since your approval of the 2010 Bond Issue, we have been able to ensure all classroom buildings and school buses have camera monitoring systems used both for security and daily monitoring. All classroom buildings have controlled, limited access through the use of camera systems and electronic key cards. Effective operation of these items requires greater internal technology infrastructure and staffing to maintain and operate the systems. And, entrances to classroom buildings have protective film to decrease any effect of shattered glass.
Safety also extends to ensuring students arrive at school and return home safely. At this writing, with the outdoor temperature in the mid 60’s it is hard to think in a few weeks we will be monitoring weather for the ability to get to and from school. We strive to make the decision prior to 6:00 a.m. should school be canceled due to inclement weather. Announcements will be made through text messages, voice calls, posted on www.fulton58.org, Facebook and local stations, KRCG, KOMU and KMIZ. If inclement weather causes mid-day cancelation we will notify you as previously described. Specific bus snow routes will be posted on the Fulton web site in a few days.
Your district staff strives to ensure your students’ safety. Thank you for sending great kids for us to work with!
Jacque A. Cowherd, Ed.D.
Superintendent
FHS Constitution Project Places 1st in Region!
Way to Go, Fulton High School Constitution Project Team! On Wednesday, FHS received word that the Constitution Project Team placed 1st in the Regional Competition!
In the last two weeks, the students travelled to St. Louis to investigate the crime scene and were in the Court Room at the University of Missouri to try the case. The Team will move on to the State Competition next week. Further details are unknown at this time.
The Constitution Project gives students a mock crime scene to investigate, report about and eventually try in a mock trial, all under the mentorship of local professionals in the fields of crime scene investigation, journalism and trial advocacy. Started in spring 2011 at Houston (Missouri) High School by Texas County Associate Circuit Judge Doug Gaston, the competition last year included more than 150 students from 12 schools in three regions.
This year's competitors were chosen based on school district excellence, capability in teaching the three disciplines of the competition and student aptitude. In addition, to be chosen, each community was required to pledge commitments from the school, local judges, law enforcement, media and attorneys.
"We are thrilled to have so many outstanding students from these excellent schools competing in the Constitution Project this year," Judge Gaston said. "In addition, the selection of these schools means that many professionals in their communities have pledged to volunteer their time and talents to mentor students about their profession and the importance of our constitution to the nation. We are so proud of and grateful to them and our schools, and we are excited to kick off this fall's competition."
Winners will be named at the team and individual level for each discipline. Individual award winners will receive $1,000 scholarships from sponsoring organizations. Statewide cosponsors of the project include the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Missouri Sheriff's Association, Missouri Police Chiefs Association, Missouri Press Association, Missouri Broadcasters Association and The Missouri Bar.
Certain competitors also will be selected to be Constitution Fellows. Constitution Fellows in journalism will spend a day at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism; fellows in crime scene investigation will spend a day at the Missouri State Highway Patrol's crime lab in Jefferson City; and fellows in trial advocacy will spend a day at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Law. Along with these organizations, the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg also is a co-sponsor of the Constitution Fellowships.
To learn more about The Constitution Project, please visit https://www.courts.mo.gov/civiceducation/pages/const_proj_home.html.
Fulton Hornet Band
by Kelly Neudecker
The Fulton Hornet Marching band has wrapped up another successful competitive marching season. The band starts each year working on music and drill in the summer. This year, the band had two full weeks of camp before school started. Once school gets going, the band comes in every morning at 7:15 and works until the end of first hour. The band plays at all the home football games and travel to different competitions on Saturdays (giving up their whole day).
Feeling extra ambitious this year, the band kids gave up four Saturdays in a row to compete in four different marching festivals. They got their feet wet and did an awesome job in Wright City at the Wildcat Marching Festival. In the parade, the guard earned Outstanding Guard, the band placed first in their division, earned Outstanding Visual in their division, and earned the Parade Grand Champion trophy. The color guard (who works after school several days a week in addition to the early morning rehearsals) competed in the Indoor Guard competition and earned first place overall. On the field, the band earned second place in their division.
For their second marching festival, the band got up early the day after homecoming to travel to Monroe City for the 2nd Annual Black and Gold Classic. The Fulton Hornet Band placed first in parade and second on the field. The guard placed second in their indoor guard competition.
One of the band’s favorite marching festivals is CMU Band Day. Not missing a beat, the band kids got up early (again) to head to Fayette where they placed second in street and field, the color guard placed 2nd on their indoor performance, and the guard earned Outstanding Color Guard on the street.
On October 17, the band kids finally got to sleep in a little before traveling to Quincy, Illinois for the 20th Annual Octoberfest. The band marched in a two mile parade and earned Novice Division Champion, a Gold Award, and Outstanding Medium Size School. On the field, the band earned fourth place in the Intermezzo Division, a Silver Award, and second place in the Medium Size School division. Needless to say, when they arrived home at 1:20 in the morning, the kids were exhausted!
The Fulton Hornet Band often competes against bands that are from much larger schools, as the band competes in Class 4 which includes high schools with enrollments ranging from 604 to 1,237. While it can be intimidating to see a band that is twice your size roll up with five buses, or with a semi-trailer as their support vehicle, our kids hold their heads up high and know that with hard work and determination, the band can put on a performance of which they are very proud.
Even though the competitive marching season has ended, a record number of kids (35!) are signed up to start working in the Fulton Hornet Jazz Band. This ensemble meets before school three days a week from 6:45 am to 7:30 am. And they love it!
In the last four years, the high school band has grown from approximately 60 members to 86 members. The interest in band at the middle school has gone up significantly as well, allowing us to add an assistant director, Ms. Sara Glynn, to the staff this year. We are super excited to have her with us and we are looking forward to a successful concert season!
Red Ribbon Week
What is Red Ribbon Week all about and how did it begin?
The National Family Partnership provides drug awareness by sponsoring an annual National Red Ribbon Week Celebration. Red Ribbon Week is a week in October set aside to spread awareness about how drugs and alcohol can crush your dreams. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America. In 1988, the National Family Partnership sponsored the first National Red Ribbon Celebration. Today, Red Ribbon Week serves as a catalyst to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities.
In Fulton Public Schools grades K-8, Red Ribbon Week is a big deal. There are activities and lots of hype all week. One day during the week, all students take a pledge and sign a banner saying they will remain drug free. Each day, the counselors designate a theme and students and teachers all join in on the fun by dressing up each day while raising awareness at the same time. Each building used these themes in some way this year.
Band Together Against Drugs—Dress like a Rockstar
Hairs to a drug free life—Crazy Hair Day
Team up Against Drugs—Wear your favorite jersey day
Don’t let drugs ruin your DREAMS—PJ Day
Drug Free Hornet for Life—Black and Gold
I "Mustache" you to be Drug Free—Mustache Day
I have the Power to be Drug Free—Super Hero Day
Enlist in the Fight against Drugs—Camo or Military Day
Bartley Elementary has the tradition of bringing the FHS Band to the school to play and the high school students—role models to the younger students—tell them why they have chosen to be drug free and what they would lose or couldn’t do if they chose the other route. High School students also went to FMS to serve as role models of being drug and alcohol free.
Red Ribbon Week works a lot like everything else our students learn in school; it takes repetition and practice to master. Even though almost every youth in Missouri has participated in Red Ribbon Week for many years, we can’t stop now. Each year, we need to wash those crazy socks and costumes and help our students learn a little more about substance abuse while reminding them that living drug free is one of the most important choices they can make in their lives. Thanks for helping Fulton Public Schools make Red Ribbon Week a success!
Important Dates
Monday, November 9 No School (Teacher Professional Development)
Wednesday, November 11 Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. FHS Library
Wednesday, November 25-Friday, November 27 No School Thanksgiving Break
Monday, December 7-Winter Choir Concert 7 p.m. Allbritton Theater
Wednesday, December 9-Board of Education Meeting 7 p.m. FHS Library
Saturday, December 12-Chamber Singers Concert 4-5:30 p.m. Church of St. Mary, the Virgin, Aldermanbury
Tuesday, December 15-Holiday Band Concert 7 p.m. Roger D. Davis Gymnasium, FHS
Friday, December 18-No School (Teacher Professional Development)
Monday, December 21-Friday, January 1-No School Winter Break
Monday, January 4-Classes Resume
Fulton Public Schools
Email: ksnethen@fulton58.org
Website: www.fulton58.org
Location: 2 Hornet Drive, Fulton, MO, United States
Phone: 573-590-8000
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Fulton-Public-Schools-298183414812/?ref=bookmarks