ENews: Tuesday, April 9, 2024

Thursday, April 11: 4th & 5th Grade Concert

Thursday, April 18: Kindergarten Orientation

Wednesday, April 24: Hallsville Safety Meeting

Wednesday, April 24: Board of Education Meeting (date change)

Friday, April 26: HHS Career Day

Sunday, April 28: HHS Prom

Thursday, May 2: Kindergarten Concert

You can view the district calendar online here or subscribe to the calendar here.

You can subscribe to the District and Athletics & Activities events and calendar here.

Thank you to everyone who attended the Solar Eclipse & STEM Science Day yesterday! We were amazed at the large turnout and enjoyed seeing so many students, families, and community members.

Erin Snelling, Hallsville High School biology and anatomy teacher, organized the event and was able to provide over 15 interactive science stations for students to visit thanks to HHS Biology Club student volunteers and district staff members. During the event, students had the opportunity to learn more about the solar eclipse through various craft stations and participate in hands-on learning with microscopes, frog & earthworm dissections, and STEM activities. In addition, all attendees were provided solar eclipse glasses to watch the eclipse safely.

"Yesterday's Solar Eclipse & STEM Science Day was a huge success. Special thanks to HHS Biology Club volunteers and staff. I hope everyone who attended had a memorable experience. It's moments and events like these that highlight the impact of education and community engagement," Snelling reflected.

Hallsville Primary School is hosting its annual Kindergarten Orientation night on Thursday, April 18, from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Incoming kindergarten students and their families can meet with our kindergarten teachers, community support organizations, Title I teachers, and more! Families will also have the opportunity to tour the building, go through the cafeteria line for a special treat, visit the school bus, and more!

Online registration for the 2024-2025 school year is now open! Registration for current students and families involves updating parent and student information in Infinite Campus. All current and incoming families will be required to upload residency verification documents which include:

• Two (2) current and different utility bills (gas, water, or electric) showing the parent/guardian’s printed name and address. Bills must be dated within the last 30 days. Final or disconnect notices will not be accepted.
• Or
• A current rental agreement or closing settlement statement less than 60 days old.

Your information does NOT need to include financial details; these may be covered or deleted. Other bills (e.g. cell phone, cable, insurance) are not acceptable proof of residence. All documents submitted for residency verification must show a guardian’s name and match the in-district address provided.

The junior class of Hallsville High School is hosting Hallsville's Prom Midnight in Paris on Sunday, April 28, at Columbia Country Club. The Grand March will take place at 7:00 p.m., followed by an evening of dancing and refreshments from 7:30 p.m. - 10:30 p.m. Drinks and refreshments will be provided, as well as door prizes for those in attendance. Prom Tickets will be on sale from April 16 to April 26 before school and during lunch.

Hallsville High School is hosting its second annual Career and Service Day on Friday, April 26. Students will participate in mock interviews, a resume workshop, and a college and career expo. In addition, they will spend part of the day out in the community completing service projects.

We are looking for volunteers to join us at Career Day to help our high school students build their career skills and introduce them to the many opportunities after high school. If you want to learn more or participate, please click the button below.

Summer school and Kindergarten Jumpstart registration is quickly filling up! Summer school is offered Tuesday through Friday for students entering 1st-12th grade June 11, 2024, through June 28, 2024, from 8:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:40 a.m. Registration will be open on Monday, March 18.

Kindergarten Jumpstart is a half-day program for students entering kindergarten in the fall of 2024. The program runs from June 18 through June 28. There is a morning AM class from 8:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. and an afternoon PM class from 12:15 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. For the AM class, doors will open at 7:40 a.m.; for the PM class, doors will open at 12:00 p.m.

As we move into the second semester, we will continue to post open certified and non-certified job openings.

Substitute & Full-Time Bus Drivers: Qualified applicants need to have the ability to obtain and maintain a Class B CDL with S and P endorsements. Background check and an annual physicals are required. Drivers are paid per route. Paid training is available for those seeking their CDL certification.

Custodial: This position is responsible for keeping his/her assigned area(s) or building(s) clean, safe, functional and secure in accordance with prescribed and established district policies and standards. The custodian must maintain all assigned areas in a state of operational excellence so that they present no interruptions, distractions or obstacles to the educational program.

Various Coaching Opportunities: The Hallsville School District is seeking highly qualified candidates to fill several coaching positions for the 2024-25 school year. Each applicant should possess strong communication skills, good organizational skills, and ability to work with students, teachers, and administrators.

The April Board of Education meeting has been rescheduled for Wednesday, April 24, at 6:00 p.m. in the Hallsville Primary School cafeteria. When available, an agenda can be found online here.

During a Special Meeting in early April, the Board held elections for president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer. Members listed below will continue to hold the following offices:

Bryan Wildenhain, President

Craig Stevenson, Vice President

Jessica Hassler, Treasurer

Ada Tharp, Board Secretary

Below are highlights of items discussed during the open session on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, Board of Education Meeting. You can read the full highlights here.

RECOGNITIONS

Secondary Assistant Principal Adym Cooney for outstanding work within the building and his work ethic. Mr. Cooley nominating Adym Cooney for the 2024 MOASSP Northeast Assistant Principal of the Year.

HHS Speech and Debate Team was recognized for their season. State qualifiers will attend the State competition in April.

K-5 Art teacher, Anna Horine was recognized for her work on the K-5 Art Show as well as intermediate school building reading specialists: Sarah Rausch, Jolyn Westhoff, Mindy Demsich, and Holly East.

HMS counselor Kayla Lewis was recognized for her hard work assisting our district's students, parents, teachers, and community members. In addition, Hallsville Middle School was recently recognized as one of the recipients of the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Gysbers Comprehensive School Counseling Award.

Mr. Downs recognized the Board of Education for their role within the school community and the support they provide to the students of Hallsville and the district. School Board recognition is held in March, and each year, it is a time to honor the dedicated service of local board of education members. Ag Construction students Brodie Adkins and Gage Hatton made each board member a firepit using the plasma cutting machine and their welding skills.

PROGRAM EVALUATIONS

Each program evaluation reviews strengths, concerns, and future recommendations. The board approved the following program evaluations: Technology Program and Communications Program.

PRELIMINARY FY25 BUDGET

Mr. Hoffman and Mr. Downs plan to present preliminary numbers for the 2024-25 budget at the April meeting; additionally, they expect to present an amendment to the FY24 budget so the foundation for next year’s budget is as accurate as possible. They have calculated preliminary revenue estimates and anticipate increases due to growing enrollment, new construction, and Prop C collections. Paired with a modest FY24 budget surplus, the district is in a favorable budget position. Major requests for next year include a number of new staff positions and an 8.6% increase in our medical insurance premiums for next year. The district expects a decline in interest income, the end of pandemic relief funds, and continued reductions to our federal allocations due to our community’s declining poverty rate. As has been the case in recent years, the district will prioritize wage increases across all staff classifications within the limits of the available revenues.

LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY

Mr. Downs urged the Board to continue monitoring communications (such as those sent by MSBA) on bills as they move through our legislature and engage with our elected representatives as appropriate. March saw a flurry of activity in the Senate, with the expansion of SB727 to a 160+ page education omnibus bill. The bill now goes to the House for consideration. If signed into law in its current form, charter schools may be opened in Boone County, the state voucher program will be greatly expanded, among many other provisions that will have a direct impact on our district. You can read more here.

EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION

Our full-day PreKindergarten and Early Childhood Special Education classrooms participate in the Quality Assurance Report (QAR) program, which is conducted in collaboration with the Office of Childhood and the UMKC Institute for Human Development Early Childhood Innovation Center. The QAR serves as a comprehensive framework outlining the essential elements of early education programs, emphasizing quality interactions, program structure, staff/professional standards, inclusive practices, and engagement. QAR coaches have observed each classroom to gather data for goal setting, action planning, practice-based coaching, and reflection on instructional practices. Over the course of a two-year cycle, our teachers will engage in bi-monthly meetings with coaches to further enhance their practices.

DISTRICT-WIDE POSITIVE BEHAVIORAL INTERVENTIONS AND SUPPORT

(DW-PBIS)

Throughout the school year, our District Leadership Team (DLT) for Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) has been meeting monthly to advance our action plan with the help of four committees: Leadership, Stakeholder Engagement, Training, and Evaluation. Our focus has been on creating comprehensive plans for specific components of PBIS implementation, a process that may seem slow but is crucial for effective districtwide implementation.

NOMINATION TO THE MSBA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board approved Craig Stevenson's nomination for consideration to serve on the Missouri School Boards' Association Board of Directors.

The City of Columbia and Boone County are conducting a county-wide housing study. The study includes gathering feedback from Boone County residents about housing needs, preferences, and challenges. Information gathered from the Community Input Meetings and survey will help inform recommendations to improve housing in Boone County.

HHS Cheer Tryouts:

Sign-ups for tryouts are in the high school office through this Thursday. All participants trying out have to have a parent attend the tryout informational meeting on Monday, April 15th at 7:00pm in the intermediate commons. Tryouts will take place the week of April 22nd.

Boone County Community Services Department Art Contest

The Boone County Community Services Department is seeking artwork from Boone County children and youth to include in their upcoming Annual Report. Submissions will help showcase the vibrant creativity of our community’s young artists. This department plays a crucial role in funding various programs in our schools and community through the Boone County Children’s Servicers Fund. Please take a moment to review the attached flyer and share it with fellow students and families. For any inquiries, feel free to reach out to communityservices@boonecountymo.org.

Youth Shooting Camp:

The Youth Shooting Sports Foundation is hosting a youth shooting camp for students ages 6 through 15 years of age on Saturday, April 13. Registration is free, and can be completed by clicking the link above.

Hallsville Party in the Park & Cornhole Tournament

Grow Hallsville Parks Foundation is hosting its 2nd annual Party in the Park & Cornhole Tournament on Saturday, May 18 at Tribble Park. All proceeds will go towards a Veterans Memorial in Hallsville.

Hallsville Police Foundation Raffle

Hallsville Police Foundation is holding a raffle for four platinum season tickets to Six Flags St. Louis & Hurricane Harbor. Tickets can be purchased at City Hall or though a Police Foundation of Hallsville member.