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September 13, 2016
In This Issue

 




Below you will find news and information about the Republic School District. As a reminder, regular issues of Tiger Talk will be distributed on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of each month during the school year. Two summer issues will be distributed as well.
Grandparents' Night
We are excited to continue the tradition of Grandparents' Night for our preschool through fifth grade students. It is always a pleasure to welcome our students' grandparents and grand "friends" to our buildings! Below is the schedule for this year's come and go events. A free admission ticket will be given to any grandparent and EC or elementary student who would like to attend the RHS football game on Friday, September 16 against Ozark starting at 7:00 p.m. 

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15:
EC Morning Classes: 5:00-5:45 p.m.
Lyon and McCulloch: 5:00-6:30 p.m.
EC Afternoon Classes: 6:00-6:45 p.m.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16:
EC MPP Class: 5:00-6:00 p.m.
Price, Schofield and Sweeny: 5:00-6:30 p.m.
No School September 23 for SI Day
As a reminder, there will be no school for students on Friday, September 23 for a scheduled School Improvement Day. Cub Care is available through the STRIPES 360 program for Kindergarten through 8th  grade families needing childcare. Visit  http://www.republicschools.org/stripes360  for details and to enroll.

 
Emergency Communication: Lockout vs. Lockdown
To appropriately communicate various situations that could potentially take place
 throughout the school year, two specific terms will be utilized: lockout and lockdown. These terms have very different meanings and very different procedures that will take place when implemented. Our goal is to effectively communicate what is taking place in our buildings during these various situations, and we felt these two terms most accurately will help in achieving this goal.  

Lockout
A lockout will take place when there is an incident or situation where there is no direct danger or threat  perceived toward students, employees, or school facilities. Business as usual will continue to take place within our school building walls. However, students are brought inside from any outdoor activities and
doors are additionally secured. 

It is important to note that our buildings operate daily in near-lockout status. Perimeter doors are locked and visitors are screened at the building's entrance.
 
Example of a lockout situation: A neighboring district is in lockdown. As a precaution we may put our buildings into a lockout due to community unrest until the situation is resolved. 
 
Lockdown
A lockdown will take place when there is a situation or the district has received information regarding a potential threat to students and employees. Internal procedures, which are practiced throughout the year, are implemented. Emergency personnel may be called on site to assist.  

Friday Early Release
Each Friday the Republic School District participates in an early release. Weekly release is a research based best practice which allows teachers and administrators time to work together each week in a structured manner. Students are dismissed one hour early each Friday per the below schedule. During this time teachers meet in grade level/departmental teams to focus on instructional practices and responding to student learning needs.  


FRIDAY EARLY RELEASE SCHEDULE:
RHS: 1:30 p.m.
RMS: 1:40 p.m.
Elementary: 2:30 p.m.

Employment Opportunities
Do you or someone you know enjoy working with students? If so, we've got a few employment opportunities available: CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

    
RepMo Ready: 2016-17 School Year
Click HERE to see a larger version.
Last year we announced the district's plan to expand technology in our classrooms called RepMo Ready. In summary, ALL students will have 1 to 1 or 2 to 1 ratios with technology devices by the 2018-2019 school year. We are already well on our way with this progression!  Click on the graphic to the left to see an outline of this plan. 

Last school year we began with providing devices and training to ALL teachers along with numerous pilot classrooms across the district! We are very excited about what's in store for the 2016-17 school year!

In fact, on August 15 380 Chromebooks were distributed to ALL 8th grade students! They underwent device training along with training on digital citizenship, strategic searching and digital organization. We are excited that these 8th graders have been our first students to bring their devices home for school work. 

Over the summer we released three short videos which further explain what RepMO Ready looks like for this school year. Check them out below! 
RepMO Ready: Nuts and Bolts
RepMO Ready: Nuts and Bolts

In summary, adding technology  to our classrooms isn't simply replacing technology  for paper and pencil or textbooks...it's opening our students' learning environment to information beyond the four walls of their  classroom. Technology helps students go deeper  in their knowledge, and also gives them  opportunities to develop 21st Century skills like communication and collaboration. It helps us as a district prepare 
each student for a successful  future, our mission.
 
 
RepMO Ready: Student Safety
RepMO Ready: Student Safety
RepMO Ready: Learning Opportunities
RepMO Ready: Learning Opportunities



            
Individual Student State Assessment Reports
Each spring students across the district participate in state assessments. We have been notified by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that Individual Student Reports (ISR) are available.  During Parent Teacher Conferences, which will be held the week of October 31 (more information to come), individual student reports will be distributed to students who were in grades 3 and 4 that completed the MAP-GLA test last spring. Students who are in grades 5-8 that completed the MAP-GLA assessment last spring will receive individual reports attached to their next progress report from the Republic Middle School.  Students who are now at the high school in grade 9 will receive their reports during an upcoming Monday WIN time.  A guide to interpreting your child's results will also be included in a parent/guardian letter which will also be shared at that time.  If you have any questions or would like to see your child's report prior to the aforementioned distribution times, please contact your child's school counselor.           
Peachjar E-Flyer Service
Peachjar is an online service which houses electronic flyers approved by our district. Each building has a Peachjar page which can be found by clicking on the Peachjar icon on each building page. In addition, optional emails will be sent to parents with these flyers on a weekly basis. For those organizations interested in posting a flyer that meet district policy, please click  HERE
District and Community Happenings

The tradition of Pumpkin Daze in Republic continues on Saturday, October 1. Plan to attend this celebration of fall on Republic's historic Main Street!

Upcoming Dates
September 15: Grandparent's Night at Lyon, McCulloch and EC 
September 16: Grandparent's Night at Price, Schofield, Sweeny and EC's MPP Class
September 16: K-8 Progress Reports Distributed
September 23: No School for Students, School Improvement Day
September 30: RHS Progress Reports Distributed
 
For additional events and dates, visit the district calendar HERE
For questions or comments please contact me via email or by calling 417-732-3605.
  
Sincerely,
  

Josey McPhail

Director of Communications
Republic School District