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May 14, 2020
In This Issue
SURPRISE Appreciation Parade for Dr. Wistrom's Retirement
Employee Children Enrollment Information
Student Item Exchange
Familiar Faces in New Places
RHS Class of 2020 Related Events
Summer School
Kindergarten Screening Rescheduled
Free Meals
Employee Volunteer Form
Summer Pay Dates
Summer Reading Program
Community Resources

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We hope this message finds you and your family doing well! This will be the last regular Staff Communicator of the school year. However, we will share information as needed and will have at least one issue in June and July. 

Although this school year did not end how we anticipated, we'd like to thank you again for your resilience and dedication to those we serve. Below you'll find details regarding end of year and summer topics.
SURPRISE Appreciation Parade for Dr. Wistrom's Retirement
Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Chance Wistrom announced his retirement from public education in December 2019. Under his leadership the district has seen a great deal of growth and the attainment of many goals. While our current circumstances regarding social distancing don't allow us to host a traditional retirement celebration at this time, we want to invite you all to join us for the next best thing to honor Dr. Wistrom...

A SURPRISE Appreciation Parade!

On May 18 from 4:00-6:00 p.m. at RHS decorate your vehicles, display signs, play music and wave at Dr. Wistrom as you drive through the RHS parking lot to thank him for his service to Republic School District!  While everyone is invited to come as their schedule permits, each building/department is coordinating a time to come together as a team. Please take a look at the communication your principal or department leader shared with you.

To keep the parade going and to adhere to social distancing guidelines, please stay in your vehicles during your time on campus and no parking will be permitted.

Yes, we said SURPRISE! We've done our best to keep Dr. Wistrom in the "dark" about this event so please don't mention this event to him if you happen to see or visit with him over the next few days!

WHEN: Monday, May 18 (rain date May 19, same time)
TIME: Come and go 4:00-6:00 p.m.
WHERE: Republic High School (see map below)

Employee Children Enrollment Information
Employees who...
reside outside of the Republic School District (non-resident) boundary that would like to enroll their student(s) in our district.  A new form needs to be submitted every school year.

OR

live within the Republic School District boundary, but desire their student(s) to attend an elementary site other than the building boundary in which you live.  A new form needs to be submitted every school year.
 
If either of these situations applies to your family, please complete an Employee Student Enrollment Request form found HERE. Send the request form to the Department of Federal Programs and Student Support Services who will then notify you once your request is processed. Please note the review process could take up to a week.

Student Item Exchange
EC-11th Grade Students: Each building has created a process for students to both drop off items that belong to school (Chromebooks, library books, etc.) along with pick-up personal items (school supplies, medications, etc.) currently at school. This will take place during the weeks of May 11 and 18. Communication from your school building about specific dates and details has been distributed.  
Familiar Faces in New Places
Please join us in congratulating Dustin Prest who has been named our district Custodial Director beginning later this month and Carrie Vasquez who has been named the new Food Services Director beginning July 1! Mr. Prest currently serves as a Head Custodian at McCulloch Elementary and Mrs. Vasquez is the Food Service Department Secretary.
RHS Class of 2020 Related Events
Graduation Events: RHS enjoyed hosting a drive-through graduation event on Saturday, May 9. Professional photos can be downloaded for free at https://brashers.shootproof.com/.

In addition, a traditional graduation ce remony has been scheduled to take place on Saturday, August 1, 2020 at JQH Arena on the MSU campus beginning at 1:30 p.m.
Baccalaureate and Project Graduation events will also take place. Details are still being determined.

Prom: RHS will plan to host a traditional prom on Friday, July 24 as long as social distancing guidelines will allow. RHS administration continues to work with the student prom committee to determine a location and other details of this event. Once determined, they will be shared.

Summer School 
Virtual summer school will be offered for students currently in grades 6-11 beginning May 27. Registration details were shared with RMS & RHS families. The deadline was May 8.
Our ability to offer seated summer school opportunities at school for students is still to be determined as it is dependent on social distancing requirements. If we are able to offer seated classes this summer, they will take place in July. In order to hire the required teachers, implement the needed curriculum, complete the registration and paperwork process and to meet student needs we will need to make a decision about hosting seated summer school by Memorial Day. This decision will be made in consultation with our local health department and other regional, state and federal agencies. We will continue to keep our employees and families informed of our decision process.     
Kindergarten Screening Rescheduled
Kindergarten screening dates have been rescheduled per the below dates. Screening times will be between 8:45 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Starting Thursday, May 14 our schools will be contacting families to reschedule. However, families are welcome to contact the office to set a time as well. Anyone who has not previously scheduled an appointment is encouraged to contact our schools as we have plenty of openings and want to screen as many students as possible!

For a full list of details and steps needed to take to get students ready for kindergarten visit https://www.republicschools.org/kindergartenscreening.

July 22 - Sweeny Elementary 732-3670
July 23 - Schofield Elementary 732-3610
July 27 - Lyon Elementary 732-3630
July 29 - Price Elementary 732-3690
August 3 - McCulloch Elementary 732-3620
Free Meals through June 19
Republic School District will continue providing free, daily grab-and-go lunch and breakfast (for the next day) pick-up at RMS and other designated locations across the community for Republic children through June 19. Distribution at RMS is Monday-Friday, 11:30-12:30 p.m. and 11:00-11:30 a.m. at the following locations:
Alpine Village
S. Lewis Street in Battlefield near the Prairie Oak Village Apartments
Old Stone Apartments
Hines Street Pharmacy
Calvary Baptist Church

Employee Volunteer Form 
The form found at the below link was created to provide an opportunity for any district employee that would like to volunteer to assist during the COVID-19 school cancellation. If you are interested in volunteering, please complete the form. Volunteers are being contacted as needed. Thanks to those who have already answered the call to pitch in!

Summer Pay Dates
Take note: If we are able to host additional summer school options in July this document will be updated with an additional date to compensate employees for this work. 
Summer Reading Program
Community Resources
Republic area churches and organizations are mobilizing to provide various resources for citizens. Further details can be found at 417OUTREACH.COM. 
For questions or comments please contact me via email or by calling 417-732-3605.
  
Sincerely,
  

Josey McPhail

Director of Communications
Republic School District