Annual program reviews were the emphasis of the Ava R-1 School Board agenda Monday evening during the regular monthly session of the board. The board convened on Monday as the standard third Thursday meeting was canceled last week due to inclement weather. Annual program reviews accepted during the meeting included…
These students made up the Wasola School, grades 1-8, in 1955-56. The photo was in a collection loaned to the Herald by Bill Walls, of Ava. His sister, Sue Walls Hartgraves helped us with the identification. Pictured are, from left, top row: Freeman Miller, teacher (deceased, Beverly Snelson, Douglas Jones (deceased),…
These students made up the Anchor School, grades 1-8, in 1949-50. The photo was in a collection loaned to the Herald by Bill Walls, of Ava. His sister, Sue Walls Hartgraves helped us with the identification. Pictured are, from left, top row: Lela Spurlock (deceased), teacher, Murl Robertson, Phyllis McBride, Marvin…
Spring is quickly arriving and with the season comes many activities for Ava High School students. One major event is prom. Year after year, the cost for hosting the event continues to increase. As a result, more fundraising is needed. This year, the Ava High School Junior Class will be…
Ozark Action, Inc. (OAI) is accepting applications for enrollment in the Ava Head Start Center. Children must be 3 or 4 years old on or before July 31, 2013. Other eligibility criteria include family income, location, and special needs. Interested parents and guardians should contact the Head Start Center, 683-5217…
Elementary Principal Will Retire The Ava R-1 Board of Education met in special session Monday night to finalize the funding for renovations to the football field complex, and other capital improvements. Dr. Brian Wilson, superintendent, reported that the board approved the “Authorization of Lease/Purchase” to refinance current projects and issue…
As the Ava High School FFA Chapter prepares to celebrate National FFA Week next week, members have prepared a report of the past year’s activities. This week’s Douglas County Herald also contains pictures from the past year as well as information about the chapter and its officers. The Ava chapter…
Over the past two weeks, Ava FFA has competed in Area Proficiencies and Degree Selection. Results from Area Proficiencies are Ciara Bray, 1st place in Equine Placement, which advances to State, and James Elijah, 1st place in Dairy Placement, also advancing to State. In Proficiencies, only 1st place advances on…
Ava Superintendent Dr. Brian Wilson confirmed Wednesday afternoon that varsity girls’ basketball coach Clint Gazette has resigned his coaching and teaching duties at Ava High School. The resignation was submitted Tuesday and is effective immediately. Dr. Wilson said the resignation will be presented to the Board of Education when they…
Ava Kiwanis Club presented Terrific Kids awards at Ava Elementary School Monday afternoon. The Terrific Kids are, from left, front row: Kaitlyn Lumley, Preston Marriott, Macee Breeding, Abbygail Williams, Harley Davidson, Claire Levan, Ethan Nelson, Tiger Perryman. Row 2: Justice Wilderson, Susie Bell, Quin Breeding, Qwynn Gieber, Carson Pollard, Mahala…
By Sarah and Chris Sacco, Ava Band Directors Wow!!! It has been quite the fall season for the Ava Pride Band Department! The students hit the ground running this fall and still haven’t stopped! The fall began as it always has, with a successful marching season. The band performed at four…
By Sue Curry Jones Moving forward in the process to remodel the Ava R-1 School District Athletic Complex, board members further discussed options for the proposed site. However, it was evident last Thursday evening, if the board chooses to make the plan a reality, there will be many options to…
Ava Elementary School will kick off the WATCH D.O.G.S. (Dads Of Great Students) program on Thursday, Jan. 31, at 6:30 p.m. in the elementary cafeteria. The kick-off night will feature a Dads and Kid’s Pizza Night for students and fathers and father-figures of Ava Elementary. This special program is the…
This architect’s drawing of the revamped Ava football complex shows the main entrance on the northeast corner and the field house with dressing room facilities for football and softball or baseball on the northwest corner…
The 2013 U.S. Army All-American Bowl Selection Tour will visit Ava High School, on Friday, Nov. 2, to select saxophone player Jimmy Roffmann to the U.S. Army All-American Marching Band. Ava High School will honor Roffmann before his fellow band members, classmates, fans and family during an assembly in the…
The Norwood School Board met Wednesday, Oct. 17. The agenda was adopted and the consent agenda items were approved. Superintendent of Schools John Eaton reported on budget, utility usage and other district business. Jared Terry, elementary principal, reported on enrollment and other news from EC-5; and Brian Wilbanks, high school…
The Skyline R-2 Board met in regular session on Thursday Oct. 18, with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In new business: five program evaluations were presented and approved. The Library Media Center has added 474 books in the last two years through various programs.…
Music was a focus of the Ava R-1 Board of Education’s October meeting Tuesday night. Elementary music teacher Barbara Deegan, middle and high school band teachers Chris and Sarah Sacco, and high school vocal music teacher Michelle Wolfskill were recognized by building administrators and the Board of Education. Elementary Principal…
The Ava R-1 Board of Education met in regular session last Thursday night with all board members present. Much of the meeting focused on new mandates from the State Department of Education regarding teacher evaluations and student assessment tests. Dr. Brian Wilson, superintendent, told the board much of this is…
The Norwood R-1 School Board met Wednesday, Sept. 19, at the school. The agenda was adopted and the consent agenda items were approved. John Eaton, superintendent, reported on budget, utility usage and other district business. Jared Terry, elementary principal, reported on enrollment and other news from EC-5. Brian Wilbanks, high…
Homecoming Week is under way Sept. 24-28, with the Homecoming football game on Friday night. The theme for Homecoming is “Game On!” Theme days include: Monday – Gear Up! Students wear the jerseys of their favorite players or represent their favorite team. Tuesday – Fake Injury Day. Wednesday – Family…
High Schools Compete in Statewide Battle of the Belt Competition JEFFERSON CITY – Early autumn battles between high schools normally remind you of the gridiron. Battle of the Belt, a high school seat belt challenge, brings a different twist to high school rivalries. This statewide competition gives Missouri high schools…
The Skyline R-2 School Board met in regular session on Thursday, Sept. 20 with four members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In old business the board reviewed and approved the 2012-2013 bus routes. In new business, Matthew James, auditor, presented the 2011-2012 audit report. Mr. James…
Ava fourth grade students have been studying about the American flag, and last Friday afternoon veterans from the VFW performed a flag retirement ceremony for the students. The ceremony was held on the front lawn of the Ava Elementary School at the flagpole. The purpose of the ceremony was to…
No School Bears Den will not be in session on Friday, Aug. 31 or Monday, Sept. 3. Learn to Fly! Learn the basics of flight, physics, study of weather, geography, maps, radio communications, mechanics of engines, and aviation career possibilities. Use flight tools in planning actual cross-country trips. Students successfully…
Ava R-1 is now in full operation for the 2012-13 school year, and according to building administrators, the new term sailed into action with a well-organized start –– it was a smooth beginning for everyone. During the August board meeting held last Thursday, each principal reported a successful beginning to…
Pre-enrollment for new and transfer students entering kindergarten through grade 12 at Ava Public Schools will be held on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 2 and 3. Students will be enrolled from 9 a.m. to 12 noon and from 1 to 3 p.m. on those days, in the middle school/high school…
No Child Left Behind Is Left Behind By Sue Curry Jones With the 2012-13 school year fast approaching, Ava R-1 School Board members met Tuesday evening to discuss items for the ensuing year. During the meeting, the board focused primarily upon program updates, leave pay, and committee assignments for the…
Thornfield R-I School will hold a new student registration day on Thursday, Aug. 2, from 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. The school is also hosting an open house on Thursday, Aug. 9, from 5:00 – 6:30 p.m.…
By Sue Curry Jones Ava R-I School board members adopted final budget figures for the upcoming 2012-13 school term last Thursday. As predicted by Dr. Brian Wilson, superintendent, the 2012-13 financial plan offers little flexibility for upgrades, or wiggle room for changes during the school year. Nonetheless, decisions were quickly…
By Rebecca Neal, Chapter Reporter On May 21 and 22, the Ava FFA chapter went to Branson to celebrate the end of the year by rewarding the most active FFA members with the Spring Participation Trip. On Monday, the 24 members and advisors attended Silver Dollar City for the day.…
By Sue Curry Jones Executive session of the Ava R-1 school board meeting last Thursday encompassed hiring six teachers for the 2012-13 year. The board also acknowledged three letters of resignation, including one from elementary kitchen manager, Karan Vinson, who retired this year. Resignations were also received from Jacqueline Carl,…
Caring Kids have been been very busy the last month of school Jana Hesterlee arranged for a work night for the kids at the Ozark Food Harvest. Students bagged donation bags, picked up trash in the parking area, stocked the pantry and carry donations into the warehouse. At the Heart of…
Included in the list, Ava R-1 High School and Norwood High School received Bronze rankings among the best high schools in the nation. Awards based on proficiency standards and college preparation. U.S. News & World Report announced last week that four Missouri schools ranked among the best high schools in…
By Kendra Schuster, Student Development Vice President, and Rebecca Neal, Co-Reporter On Friday May 4, the Ava FFA Chapter held its Annual FFA Awards Banquet in the High School Cafeteria. It started at 6:30 p.m. and ended at 8:30 p.m. The President of the FFA, James Elijah, welcomed everyone and…
Commencement exercises for the Ava High School class of 2012 will be held Saturday evening, May 19, beginning at 7 p.m. Weather permitting, the graduation program will be held at the football stadium. Classes were dismissed for summer vacation at 12:30 Wednesday. Other senior activities, including the Honor Awards Program…
A Huge success! Almost 200 mothers, or other special guests, and sons attended at the Mother-Son Outdoor Adventure at the Ava R-I Sports Complex on May 3rd. This event was a huge success because of the cooperation of our volunteers from the Missouri Department of Conservation, United States Forest Service,…
The baccalaureate service for the Ava High School class of 2012 will be held this Sunday evening, setting in motion the graduation process for 96 seniors. Ava High School has announced the names of honor graduates for the class of 2012, including the Top Ten Percent. The class is represented…
The Ava High School golf team traveled to Willow Springs last Tuesday, April 24, and took first place. Ava came in with a combined team score of 168, well under Houston 186, Licking 188, Willow Springs 193, Liberty 202 and Alton 211. Individual scores for Ava were Tristan Haltom 38,…
The Skyline R-2 Board met in regular session on Thursday, April 20, with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. On April 5, the board met for a short reorganizational meeting. Wroy Roworth was elected president; Tim Scrivner, vice president; James Brixey, treasurer; and Dana Smith…
The Norwood R-1 School Board met Tuesday, April 17. The agenda was adopted and the consent agenda items were approved. John Eaton, superintendent, reported on budget, utility usage and other district business. Dana Webb, elementary principal, reported on enrollment and other news from EC-5. Marcella Swatosh, high school principal, reported…
Sally Dickinson created the Blue and Gold Ava Bear stadium blanket shown in the picture, to be given away as a fundraiser for the Ava High School Band. The band color guard is shown in the picture above, and in the center in the photo at left is Faunlee Smith,…
By Sue Curry Jones In closed session last Thursday, Ava R-1 school board members accepted the retirement resignation of Beverly Johnson who has worked in the school district for 41 years. Johnson has plans to remain in the current position through the month of July and help finalize the year-end…
Mother-Son Outdoor Adventure Bears Den will be sending home invitations to Pre-K through 6th grade boys for them and their moms, or special person for this special evening together. May 3rd from 6-8:00PM at the Ava R-I Sports Complex, mothers and sons will take part in a bonfire cookout, archery…
Two Ava R-1 School teams competed Saturday, April 14 at the Destination Imagination State Tournament on the Missouri Southern State University campus in Joplin. Destination Imagination’s educational goals are to foster creative and critical thinking, to develop teamwork, collaboration and leadership skills, and to nurture research and inquiry skills involving…
The Skyline R-2 School District will have P.A.T., Early Childhood and kindergarten screenings for children from birth through age five April 30 – May 4. Preschool students already enrolled in Skyline will be screened during school hours when there is an opening. Screenings are a free service offered to anyone…
The Norwood R-1 School district will have P.A.T., Early Childhood, and kindergarten screenings for children from birth through age 5 May 7-11. This will be the only screening dates for next school year. Screenings are a free service offered to anyone in the district regardless of whether you choose to…
The Bradleyville Elementary School will be hosting a kindergarten screening for all upcoming 2012-13 kindergarten students. This event will be held on Tuesday, April 24, from 8:20 a.m. to 2:40 p.m. at Bradleyville School. Parents and children will be able to: • Meet the kindergarten teacher, school nurse, and elementary…
The Skyline R-2 School Board met in regular session on Thursday, March 22, with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. There was no old business on the agenda to be discussed by the board. In new business, the board discussed the insurance rates that were…
The Ava R-l School District will be holding a Preschool Enrollment day on Thursday, April 12 in the Performing Arts Center. This enrollment is for children who will turn 3 or 4 before Aug. 1, 2012. Enrollment packets may be picked up at the elementary office prior to enrollment day.…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava R-1 School Board met on Thursday, March 15, with the main thrust of attention focused on the decision to desist from rehiring certain teachers and staff members due to budget constraints next year. During closed session, a motion to re-hire four teachers and one…
Alexandria, Va. – The National School Boards Association’s Center for Public Education released today a new report, “Is high school tough enough?“ finding that U.S. students benefit from a rigorous high school curriculum, but access and equality to advanced programs continue to plague many schools. The report reviews the research…
The Skyline R-2 Board met in regular session on Thursday Feb. 23, with four members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In old business the board discussed the possible revenues and expenditures for 2012-13. Items for the budget that were discussed had to do with the revenue…
The Norwood Board of Education met Wednesday, Feb. 15. The agenda was adopted and the consent agenda items were approved. John Eaton, superintendent, reported on budget, utility usage and other district business. Dana Webb, elementary principal, reported on enrollment and other news from EC-5. Marcella Swatosh, high school principal, reported…
The Bears Den hosted the Daddy & Daughter Dinner on Tuesday, Feb. 21. This event was originally scheduled for Valentine’s Day, but was rescheduled due to inclement weather. Approximately 300 pre-kindergarten through 6th grade girls and their daddys or special guests enjoyed an evening filled with dinner, music, and dancing.…
As the 2011-2012 school year progresses, 13 Ava High School students are making progress in their own way – through the creation of the annual Ava High School yearbook, known to many as the Docomo. Students in Mrs. Chelsey Gilmore’s desktop publishing class are given the task each year to…
The Ava High School speech and drama department will present “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow” in March. Under the direction of speech and drama instructor Jason Macy, a cast of two dozen Ava High School students are currently spending long hours preparing for the first presentation on March 16. Performances…
Votes were unanimous to re-hire the administrative staff at Ava R-1 last Thursday evening during the closed session segment of the board meeting. School principals and administrators gaining approval for the ensuing year are high school principal Teresa Nash, assistant principal David Williams, special education director Connie Lee, elementary principal…
Ava FFA recently competed in Area Proficiency Awards and reviewed applications for Area and State FFA Degrees. A proficiency award recognizes a member based on their SAE or Supervised Agriculture Experience Program and is broken into 45 different categories. At the area level, 1st 2nd and 3rd are recognized. If…
Ava Middle School students Rachel Taylor and Mashala Gunning, Bears Den class, Caring Kids is collecting donations for Ozark Haven Rescue. They are taking new/used leashes, collars, and beds. They will also collect feeding supplies, food, bleach, etc. You can send donations to the high school library. Ozark Haven Rescue…
As part of the Ava R-I School District’s Bears Den after-school program, students enrolled in the Caring Kids/Agents of Change middle school class have been learning about and participating in a variety of community service projects. On Monday, Jan. 23, students assisted in serving dinner to residents of the Heart…
Ava High School’s 2012 Hoopcoming will be held this Friday night, Feb. 3. In preparation for the big night, king and queen candidates have been named and the theme for the week has been set. This year’s Hoopcoming theme will be “Monopoly”, and each day has a different emphasis keeping…
By Sue Curry Jones A decision to broaden the scope of student drug testing was approved by the Ava R-1 School Board in a 7-0 vote last Thursday evening during the board’s regular monthly session. According to motions presented by board members Pat Henry and Marsha Aborn, the upgraded screening…
Ava Victory Academy is the recipient of five grants from the White River Valley’s Power-Up Grant Program. Each award is for $500, and the money will be spent on improvements to classrooms. According to the school the grant money will be used as follows: In the classroom of kindergarten teacher,…
HS Intruder Training During recent teacher in-service training, Ava R-I School District faculty and staff received school intruder response training from Strategos International on how to handle various intruder situations. Teachers role played several situations and devised plans to protect students in the event of such a crisis. Strategos trainers…
The Skyline R-2 Board met in regular session on Thursday Dec. 15, with four members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In old business the board discussed the Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP) with revisions being suggested. In new business the board voted to pay for cell…
By Sue Curry Jones Continuing to keep school board members updated on proposed funding for fiscal year 2013, Superintendent Brian Wilson reported no decisions have been forthcoming on the issue and even though two bills have been filed for legislative consideration, the process still remains in limbo. Wilson explained two…
Bears Den wishes to extend holiday cheer to the Ava community by offering Polar Express Family Nights at the Ava Performing Arts Center on Dec. 19 and 20. The night will be filled with events centered around the popular children’s book, The Polar Express, by Chris Van Allburg. Parents and…
The 2011-2012 school year started off with a bang for the Ava Pride Band. Everywhere they went the band was met with challenges and left a success! Both as a band and individually the students of the Ava Pride Band had a fall to remember. The successes started with their…
All Aboard the Polar Express Bears Den wishes to extend holiday cheer to the Ava Community by offering Polar Express Family Nights at the Ava Performing Arts Center on Dec. 19 and 20. The night will be filled with events centered around the popular children’s book, The Polar Express, by…
The Ava High School Leadership Class went to two local churches on Sunday, Nov. 20 and presented the Friday Feast backpack program. Lucas Tabor and Mikali Elliott spoke at the Southern Baptist Church and Zach Leonard, Kody Kutz, Kattie Balassone and Kayla Dougherty presented at St. Leo’s Catholic Church. The…
As noted in the Bears Den Parent Handbook: “The program is in session Monday through Friday at all schools. Limited transportation will be provided on the days the Bears Den is in session. (There is no Bears Den on vacation days.) The Bears Den will be open for one hour…
Students from Ava R-1 Elementary, Plainview R-8, Skyline R-2, and Ava Victory Academy traveled the path from the farmer’s field to the playing field when University of Missouri Extension’s Food Adventure came to town last week on Thursday and Friday, Nov. 17 and 18. Along the way, students learned answers…
By Sue Curry Jones Last Thursday Ava R-1 School Board members met to conduct the monthly business session of the board. During the evening, board members approved several school program reviews and evaluations, and adopted budget modifications for fiscal year 2013. School financial obligations and student programs that were reviewed…
District wide student enrollment has reached over 426. During the first week, average daily attendance has exceeded 250 students. The Bears Den program runs from after school until 6:20 when buses leave campus. Student fees are on a sliding scale based on free/reduced lunch status: $1 daily fee for full…
Bradleyville School will be hosting a Veterans’ celebration at 1 p.m. on Nov. 11. Each and every person who has served or is serving in the military is encouraged to attend this program. The school also invites you to bring any family members or friends who would like to come.…
Ava High School’s Fall Renaissance Assembly was held Tuesday afternoon in the Performing Arts Center to recognize students’ academic achievements for the spring semester of the 2010-11 school year. Announced at the afternoon assembly were winners of White Cards, Blue Cards and Gold Cards, based on students’ grade point average,…
Starting Tuesday, Nov. 1, Ava R-I School District students, home schooled, and private schooled students are invited to be a part of a new after school program called The Bears Den. The Bears Den is a 21st Century Community Learning Center for all students grades PreK – 12th! The Bears…
Informational meeting on funding will be held Oct. 27 at the Ava Performing Arts Center By Sue Curry Jones Budget reductions and modifications for fiscal year 2013 were the central focus of the Ava R-1 School board session last Thursday evening. A basic overview of the school’s economic conundrum was…
Ava High School began conducting Project Life Guard on Oct. 4. The program will run for 21 days, ending Oct. 28. The FCCLA club (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) is sponsoring the event this year and the students of 2nd block Family & Consumer Sciences health class are…
Ava R-I School District, private, and homeschooled students have the opportunity to attend the Bears Den beginning Nov. 1. During Parent/Teacher Conferences on Oct. 27, a series of 10-minute informational meetings will be presented in both cafeterias at the top of every hour. Afternoon snacks and an evening chili supper…
The Ava R-I School District will be hosting 1st Quarter Parent-Teacher Conferences on Thursday, Oct. 27, from 1-8 p.m. Students will have a half-day of classes, and will be released at 12:45. Elementary teachers, as well as middle and high school Advisory teachers, will be scheduling parent conferences. First quarter…
By Sue Curry Jones Ava R-1 School Board members received a detailed follow-up report on lightning damage that occurred at the school campus during a recent storm. Repair and replacement costs cited at the meeting last Thursday evening were presented as $55,798; however, this amount was not a final figure…
Next week, Sept. 19-23, will be Homecoming Week at Ava High School with special Spirit Week activities planned every day. The theme for Homecoming will be “Adventures in Wonderland” with special days focusing on Alice In Wonderland topics. For example, Monday will be Pajamas Day. (As Alice gently falls asleep…
Ava High School will once again host a college fair for high school students in the area on Tuesday, Sept. 6. At the fair, students will be given the opportunity to visit with representatives and collect materials from over 50 different colleges and branches of the military. Ava High School…
Plainview School will be celebrating Grandparent’s Day, Friday Sept. 9. All grandparents are invited to come at 11 a.m. to eat a sack lunch, then spend the afternoon doing different activities with their grandchild. Please contact the school at 683-2046 for more information or to let them know you will…
The Skyline R-2 Board met in regular session Thursday, Aug. 18 with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. Under old business, the board voted and approved setting the tax rate levy at $2.8759. Under new business, the board approved the propane bid from Titan for…
By Sue Curry Jones The 21st Century grant program, an initiative that runs five years, has been awarded to the Ava R-1 School District and according to school officials, during the first year of the program, the district will receive $445,000 to supplement opportunities for students. Under the grant, funding…
Town & Country Bank welcomed Ava teachers and staff back to school last week with a complimentary breakfast Monday, Aug. 15. “We appreciate this group of hardworking people who give so much time and energy to our children and grandchildren,” says Town & Country Bank Branch Manager Doran Coberly. “This…
In case you haven’t noticed, summer vacation is just about over. Most area schools are preparing to return to classes next week, and with that comes a shift in activity schedules for just about everybody. Skyline R-2 School will start classes on Monday, Aug. 15. The day will begin with…
Ozarks Technical Community College is offering a new agriculture degree for the first time this fall. The College’s turf and landscape management program and current agriculture courses are merging for several reasons. “We felt it would give agriculture students who were planning to transfer to a four-year school more options…
The educational challenge of the 21st century has motivated Mt. Zion Bible School to uphold their standard of excellence that has earned them Quality status for the seventh year consecutively. Using the individualized Bible-based curriculum of Accelerated Christian Education (A.C.E.), the school focuses on Christian character training and outstanding academic…
All 7th and 8th grade girls interested in playing volleyball this year are reminded that they must have their sports physical before the first day of school. Coach Ann Leonard says, “We will have practice on the first day of school, Wednesday, Aug. 17, right after school.” Practice will run…
Academy wins True Value Foundation’s “Painting a Brighter Future” grant. A fresh coat of paint brightens up any room, and this summer Ava Victory Academy has received up to 40 gallons of paint to refresh its learning environment. Ava Victory Academy was selected as the winner of a paint grant…
Education data released in new interactive system Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Missouri has just released information stating that students are making steady academic gains, and state education officials say they are generally pleased with the overall performance on this year’s Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests. Preliminary results released…
Norwood School will hold open house tonight (Thursday) from 5 to 7 p.m. All parents are invited to come play an active role in their child’s education. You will be able to meet the entire staff, including the district’s new superintendent, John Eaton. Other activities will include: Take a Walk…
August is here and it is time to start thinking about going back to school. Area schools are announcing open enrollment dates for students who are new in their respective district this year. Enrollment dates in the Ava R-1 School District are Thursday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5. This…
Ava Victory Academy has set Wednesday, Aug. 17, as the first day of classes for the 2011-12 school year. A.V.A. recently took a huge leap forward when the school became accredited through the Missouri Nonpublic School Accrediting Association. Administrator Teresa Bruffett says that while the Department of Elementary and Secondary…
Skyline R-2 School would like to invite parents to come by the school on Aug. 4 and 5 for “Open Enrollment” from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m. If your child has transferred to the Skyline District or is a new student, please drop in and fill out the enrollment and…
The Skyline R-2 School Board met in regular session on Thursday, July 21 with five members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. There was no business to vote on under the topic of old business. However, it was reported that the Foundation Board met for its first…
Parents of students who are new to the Ava R-1 School District this year are reminded that Thursday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5, have been designated as dates for enrollment of new and transfer students. Students in kindergarten through grade 12 who were not attending school here last spring…
The decision to purchase a new scoreboard for the Ava football field was only one of the determinations reached Tuesday evening by the Ava R-1 Board of Education. The choice was made so a new LED scoreboard will be in place for the fall football season this year. The $30,000…
Amanda Hill Sims, of Mansfield, a local teacher at Norwood High School, was chosen to participate in the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) scholar program this summer. Sims was selected for the honor from a national pool, and has just recently attended one of 20 study workshops offered by…
Ozarks Technical Community College was the site for emergency medical technicians and paramedics from Cox Hospitals to take part in simulated emergency training Thursday. The technicians faced four emergency scenarios ranging from a five-year-old child with an ear infection reacting to medication to a 59-year-old man with chronic obstructive pulmonary…
Area schools have announced their revised free and reduced price policy for school children unable to pay the full price of meals served in schools under the National School Lunch Program and the School Breakfast Program.Local education officials have adopted the following family-size income criteria for determining eligibility: Household …
Thursday, Aug. 4, and Friday, Aug. 5, have been designated as dates for enrollment of new and transfer students at the Ava Public Schools. Students in kindergarten through grade 12 who were not attending school here last spring should plan to attend this pre-enrollment. School personnel will be on hand…
The Skyline R-2 Board met in regular session on Tuesday, June 28, with five members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. Old business: The board was presented with a final copy of the 2010-2011 budget. After a discussion of the revenues and expenditures the final budget was…
By Sue Curry Jones The Ava R-1 School Board met last Thursday evening in the newly appointed board room located in the east building of the high school campus. The board had a quorum with six of the seven members at the meeting. Johnny Burkdoll was absent. For the ensuing…
Some 15,000 athletes will descend upon Houston, Texas for 14 days June 16-30. Among those will be Ava resident and high school teacher Coach Liz Kyger. To qualify for the National Senior Olympics, an individual must be 50 years old or older and place 1st, 2nd or 3rd in a…
Students entering kindergarten this fall are invited to attend the last two weeks of Ava Summer School, June 20-July 1. During these final two weeks of summer school, incoming kindergarten students will be able to meet some of the kindergarten teachers, fellow students and other elementary staff. Students will enjoy…
Ava Victory Academy would like to announce a change in hours of operation for students enrolled in Nursery (6-weeks old) through Kindergarten. The new hours will be from 8:15 a.m. – 3:45 p.m., rather than the previous 3:30 p.m. The Academy does have open enrollment for the Early Childhood Department.…
Project Graduation 2012 has had two organizational meetings so far to get fundraising started. The City of Ava has allowed the committee to run the concession stand at the little league baseball/softball fields this summer. Game nights and the class list have been divided up among parents who are in…
Randy Spurlock, a member of the Ava R-I Board of Education, has been elected to the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s Board of Directors. Spurlock will serve as the Region 15 Governmental Relations Chair on the MSBA Board of Directors. The Missouri School Boards’ Association is a private, not-for-profit organization based…
By Sue Curry Jones Ava R-1 School Board met for a special meeting Monday, June 6, and voted to hire OPAA Food Management to provide food service for the 2011-12 school year. The other company in the running, Fresh Ideas Food Management, who had also submitted a bid proposal for…
Marcella Swatosh, principal at Norwood High School since 2004, was recently recognized during the annual Spring Conference of the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. Swatosh was named Principal of the Year at the Lodge of Four Seasons as part of the MASSP / Virco Inc. / NASSP (National Association…
Summer School at the Ava R-1 School District will be held daily from June 6 – July 1, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Breakfast and lunch meals are free to students. Limited bus routing will be offered to families. Buses will run routes on main highways. Parents will need…
Ava High School students Seth Evans and Hannah Johnson, and Bakersfield High School students Chelsea Johnston and Chase Sigler, have been selected to participate in the first class of the South-Central Student Leadership Initiative, designed to develop skills to create future community leaders for the Ozarks region. The students from…
Danny Letsinger, commander of American Legion Post 112, announced this week that Branson Crewse, a home school student, has been selected to attend the 72nd session of The American Legion Missouri Boys State The program will be held June 11-18 on the campus of the University of Central Missouri in…
Ava Victory Academy bid farewell to the eighth-grade and senior classes of 2011 on Friday, May 13. Kaylor Walker, daughter of John and Gwen Walker, and Anna Hailey, daughter of Cindy and the late David Hailey left junior high behind and became high schoolers, while five seniors left high school to become…
By Shelby Gray College of the Ozarks student Arayna McElvain of Ava, along with 17 other C of O students, will accompany six WWII Veterans to France, Belgium, Luxembourg and Germany. The trip, which will last from June 2-16, will provide students with the experience of a lifetime, as the…
MARSHALL — Dr. Sharon Weiser, chief academic officer for Missouri Valley College (MVC), has announced the spring 2011 Dean’s List. The requirements for the Dean’s List are a 3.3 or higher grade point average; at least 12 graded hours for the semester; and no “D,” “F,” or “Incomplete” grades for…
The Skyline R-2 School Board met in regular session on Thursday, May 19, with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. Under the topic of old business, the board was presented with a preliminary budget for 2011-12. Revenues and expenditures were discussed. The board will vote…
The Norwood R-1 School Board met May 11. The agenda was adopted and the consent agenda items were approved. Superintendent Don Forrest reported on budget and insurance changes for 2011-12. Dana Webb, elementary principal, reported on testing, staff training and kindergarten screening. Marcella Swatosh, high school principal, reported on professional…
Budget issues continued to be the underlying theme of the Ava R-1 School Board on Monday, May 16, when the group met for the regular business session in May. During the evening, decisions were finalized for the ensuing school year; however, one key item, the selection of a food service…
NEWS FROM 1ST GRADE No article was submitted this week, however, we do look forward to future articles. NEWS FROM THE 8th GRADE No article was submitted this week, however, we do look forward to future articles. NEWS FROM 12TH GRADE Senior year is the best year ever! It’s bitter…
Commencement exercises for the Ava High School class of 2011 will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Ava High School football field. A roster of 100 seniors will march across the stage to receive their diplomas, marking the end of an era for both the students and their…
The May luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce was held at the gazebo in the center of the square Tuesday. Chamber board members cooked and served hamburgers and hotdogs in appreciation to the local business community. The meal also included cole slaw, potato salad and baked beans.…
The Ava High School class of 1981 is planning a 30-year reunion on June 17 and 18. The reunion will be preceded, however, with a float trip by class members on May 21 at Dawt Mill. The official reunion will start with a mixer at Springfield Brewing Co., on June…
Wendy Thompson, Lynda Clouse and Julie Taylor attended the Missouri Association of School Librarians Annual Spring Conference held April 17-19 at Tan-Tar-A in Osage Beach. The theme for this year’s conference was “Focus on the Future.” Marilyn Johnson author of This Book is Overdue! How Librarians and Cybrarians Can Save…
The Skyline R-2 Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, April 21, with all seven members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. A report was given on the reorganizational meeting which was held on April 7. Officers elected at that meeting included Tim Scrivner, president;…
Baccalaureate services for the 2011 Ava High School graduating class will be held this Sunday evening. Baccalaureate sets in motion the graduation process which will conclude on Saturday, May 14, when diplomas are presented to the 100 members of the senior class. The baccalaureate service, sponsored by the Ava Area…
By Ashton Davis, Chapter Historian On Friday, April 29, approximately 175 FFA members, parents, and guests gathered to celebrate the successes from 2010-2011. President Courtney Levan welcomed all those in attendance and Brittany Maggard provided invocation. Following the meal of steak or chicken, au gratin potatoes, green beans, corn, hot…
The 107th Alumni Banquet of Ava High School will be held this Saturday, May 7, in the high school cafeteria. The program and meal will begin at 6 p.m. Advance tickets are still available and can be purchased today at Ava Drug, Town and Country Bank and the Douglas County…
Each week the Douglas County Herald will feature a grade from each building to highlight as a feature in this School Section. All articles are written by students in the grade level highlighted. We thank them in advance for their participation NEWS FROM KINDERGARTEN Children in kindergarten were asked this…
Kindergarten screening will be held Tuesday, May 10, at Plainview R-8 School. If you live in the Plainview School District and have a child who will be 5 years old before Aug. 1, 2011, please call the school at 683-2046 between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to set up a…
Each week the Douglas County Herald will feature a grade from each building to highlight as a feature in this School Section. All articles are written by students in the grade level highlighted. We thank them in advance for their participation NEWS FROM 4th Grade I’m Haley. I’m in 4th…
It was standing room only last week when concerned citizens and students filled every available space in the administration building during the monthly meeting of the Ava R-1 School Board. The meeting was held on Wednesday, April 20, instead of the usual third Thursday of the month, and for the…
NEWS FROM 3rd Grade I am having a good year in third grade. We are preparing for the map test, we have been doing lots of math this year. The best thing that I like about third grade is that I have friends. Did anyone know that we had a…
By Abby Dean, Chapter Reporter Ava FFA attended State FFA Convention April 13, 14, and 15, 2011 in Columbia. Receiving Proficiencies awards were James Elijah in Diversified Livestock Placement, Jordan Evans in Small Animal Production, Shady Flippo in Equine Science Entrepreneurship, and Courtney Levan in Specialty Animal Production. Shady Flippo…
Norwood School Board Meets in Regular Session The Norwood R-1 Board of Education met on April 13. The agenda was adopted and the consent agenda items were approved. Don Forrest, superintendent, reported on the budget, scoreboard advertising and funding projections for 2011-12. Elementary Principal Dana Webb reported on Education Week…
The Ava Middle School boys’ track teams participated in a nine-team meet at Mountain Grove on Thursday, April 7. Results for Ava athletes were as follow: 7th Grade Boys: Shot Put: Cody Johnson 2nd; Zach Hunsaker 4th. Triple Jump: Hunsaker 4th, Nate Bray 5th. 1600 Meter Run: Hayden Schuster 5th.…
Ava Advances To DI Global Finals The Ava R-1 Schools Destination Imagination teams competed Saturday, April 9, in the Missouri Destination Imagination 2011 Affiliate Finals Tournament presented by Missouri Creative Adventures, Inc. The competition was held on the campus of Missouri Southern State University, Joplin. Team ‘TARDIS” members are: Johnnie…
Skyline R-2 School will be conducting preschool screenings for 3 and 4 year olds. Please call the school office and make an appointment for incoming preschoolers or new kindergarten students. Reserve your time slot during the week of May 2 through May 6 by calling the office at 683-4874. You…
Students at Ava Middle School, grades 5-8, will be doing MAP testing during the last two weeks of April, and parents can help their student children perform their best. The Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) grade level assessments testing helps the local school, as well as the state, determine how well…
Students of the Month from Ava High School and Ava Victory Academy were recognized at the Chamber of Commerce luncheon meeting Tuesday. Ava’s recognized students are Dustin Davis and Kristen Hastings. Recognized from Ava Victory Academy was Lee Schmidt. Each student was presented a savings bond by Great Southern Bank.…
The Bradleyville Elementary School will be hosting a kindergarten screening for all incoming 2011-2012 kindergarten students. This screening will be on Tuesday, April 19, from 8:20 to 2:40 p.m. at Bradleyville School. Parents and children will be able to: • Meet the kindergarten teacher, school nurse and elementary principal; • View…
Ava High School FFA and Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will host a blood drive in Ava on Wednesday, April 20. Donors will be received at the Ava Performing Arts Center from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. CBCO has issued a Code Yellow Alert for Type O Negative blood,…
NEWS FROM 1st Grade In first grade we have been learning a lot. This week we have been learning about clouds. There is a cloud called Cumulo-nimbus it represents rain. We learned that there are eight planets. Saturn is the most colorful Planet and Pluto is a dwarf planet. First…
NEWS FROM 2nd Grade I like spring because flowers come out and you get to pick them for your mother. Spring is my favorite because leaves start to grow. I like Spring because you get to spend time with your friends. I love spring it is so cool. – Alyssa…
Boys & Girls Club of Sedalia Middle School wins grand prize. JEFFERSON CITY Mo – Almost 690 students from 33 Missouri elementary and middle schools helped fight litter by participating in the 2011 “Yes You CAN Make Missouri Litter Free” trashcan-decorating contest. The annual contest is sponsored by the Missouri…
According to Missouri Department of Social Services, Missouri Children’s Division Management Report, from May 2009 through April 2010 there were 18 confirmed or substantiated cases of child abuse in Douglas County. That averages more than one case per month. Many more cases were reported but could not, for whatever reason,…
The 110th Seymour Annual Alumni Banquet will be held Saturday evening, May 28, in the high school/middle school cafeteria. Doors will open at 5 p.m., and food service will begin at 6 p.m. The cost is $20 at the door, no advance tickets will be sold this year. However, reservations…
Missouri’s lawmakers introduced a bill that would eliminate teacher tenure and change the way teachers are evaluated and paid. Currently, it takes a Missouri teacher five years to gain tenure, which is longer than any other state. Once a teacher is given tenure, he or she cannot be removed from…
Ava Elementary kindergarten and pre-school enrollment and screening will be held Tuesday, May 10 and Wednesday, May 11 at the Performing Arts Center located on North Jefferson Street beside the Ava High School. Screening times on each day will be from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. If your child will…
A total of 28 math and science students recently traveled to Salem high school to compete in the annual SCA Math and Science Relays. Ava students competed in contests ranging from physical science to calculus. Each category had 32 students competing and any student scoring in the top 10 in…
ATLANTA, Ga. – Ava High School teacher Michell King was recently selected as a Claes Nobel Educator of Distinction by The National Society of High School Scholars (NSHSS). A role model to pupils, Mrs. King was nominated by student Richelle Lynae Pettit for outstanding dedication and commitment to excellence in…
Ava FFA has been competing in several career development events and technical skills assessment recently and has placed at several events. Members have traveled to Pleasant Hope, Willard for Area XII Contest, McDonald County, Crowder Aggie Days, Comstock in Nevada, MSU Horse Clinic, College of the Ozarks, Sparta, and Rogersville.…
NEWS FROM 4th GRADE In the forth grade hallway we are learning about geometry. In geometry we are learning about rays, lines and line segments. We are also learning about semetry. Semetry is when something can fold-up and be excaly the same on both side and it has to be…
By Sharon Marler Secretary/Reporter On March 15, 18 members met at the Mtn. Grove Senior Center. After prayer and the pledge, Sharon Marler read the minutes from the November 2010 meeting. A motion was made by Wilma Hutsell to accept the minutes and seconded by Ruby Ely. Sue Durden gave…
The Norwood School Board met in regular session on March 16. The agenda was adopted and the consent agenda items were approved. Superintendent Don Forrest reported on budget and funding projections for 2011-12. Dana Webb, elementary principal, reported on professional development and attendance. Marcella Swatosh, high school principal, reported on…
The Skyline R-2 School Board met in regular session on Thursday, March 17, with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. Under old business, board member Tim Scrivner presented the Imagination Library Program. The program is sponsored by Dolly Parton and the Dollywood Foundation and provides…
Ava R-I School district will be hosting a banquet in honor of this year’s retirees on Friday, April 8, at 6:30 in the MS/HS Cafeteria. Honorees include Mary Kay Davidson, David Davidson, Darlene Davis, Lennie Johnson, Robert Rogers, Mark Wendler, Gina Clinkingbeard, and Suzette Litwiller. Tickets for this dinner will…
By Keith Moore Herald Editor The Ava R-1 School Board adopted the 2011-12 calendar at last Thursday’s regular monthly meeting and changed the dates for two April meetings to accommodate a board member’s schedule. During the closed session following the regular meeting, the board employed Monty Valentine as maintenance supervisor…
The fifth annual Ava High School Alumni Basketball Games will be held this Saturday night, March 26. The women’s game will begin at 6 p.m. followed by the men’s game at 7:30. Games will be played in the Ava High School gymnasium. Last year more than 40 former AHS players…
The Community Foundation of the Ozarks awarded $5,000 to the Dora R-3 School Foundation for successfully completing the Harry Cooper Supply Company Campaign for the Ozarks to build long-term education funding through philanthropy. The Dora R-3 School Foundation and the school district raised $10,123 to receive the matching funds through…
Ava High School’s first annual FCCLA Culinary Contest was thoroughly enjoyed by the contestants and the judges. Students met after school on Friday, March 11, to compete. The rules stated teams must make two appetizers. One must be meatball(s) and sauce and the other was the team’s choice. Team 1…
NEWS FROM 3rd GRADE This week in third grade we have been working hard to get ready for the MAP test. We are practicing lots of math and our teachers are working very hard to make us ready for the MAP test. The MAP test is a little scarey but…
NEWS FROM 2nd GRADE We learn this in second grade. We learn about money. We try to count it very good. We learn about shapes. We practice our spelling words. We have a good teacher. We learn about being a good person. We read a book about soccer. We read…
Half-Day of Classes Scheduled for Thursday, March 17th for Parent/Teacher Conferences No School on Friday, March 18 – Spring Break Snow Make-Up Day Monday, March 21st – Classes will be in session on this day! Seniors 2011 – Newsletter Available Online! http://www.avaschools.k12.mo.us/District/News/130931-Seniors-2011-Newsletter.html For More Information check out our website at…
Ava High School held the winter Renaissance awards program Monday morning in the Performing Arts Center. This program recognized achievements of students for the first semester of the 2010-11 school year. The Renaissance program recognizes not only academic success, but also rewards students for attendance and for improvement in various…
NEWS FROM FIRST GRADE We are doing fantastic in first grade. We have been reeding a lot and been pasing quezes. Our spellings words have long in in them. In math we have doubles plus one and shoping at our store. We lernd that if March came in like a…
The Norwood R-1 School Board met Wednesday, Feb. 16, in regular session. The agenda was approved and the consent agenda items were approved. Superintendent Don Forrest reported on the budget, daycare and transportation funding. Elementary Principal Dana Webb reported on professional development and attendance. Marcella Swatosh, high school principal, reported…
The Skyline R-2 Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, Feb. 17 with five members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. Under old business the board continued discussions on next year’s budget and also discussed how this year’s budget is progressing. They talked about whether…
Members of the Ava High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) Chapter attended the 2011 Missouri District 14 Leadership Conference held on Feb. 18 at Missouri State University – West Plains. FBLA is a career and technical student organization for all high school students participating in business programs. More…
The Ava R-1 Schools will host the March luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce. The meeting will be held at 12 noon on Tuesday, March 8, in the Decker Library on the high school campus. Parking is available on the south side of the high school or…
On Feb. 16, Ava FFA hosted the February blood drive in conjunction with the Community Blood Center of the Ozarks. A total of 85 donors participated in the blood drive in the Performing Arts Center, and 70 usable units of blood were collected. Donors included: Josh Dewaard, Cheyanne Russ, Hannah…
This week the Ava High School FFA Chapter joins FFA chapters across the county in observing National FFA Week. The local chapter has many activities going on this week, and stays busy throughout the year with various activities of the organization. Following is a recap of some of the year’s…
Four students competed in Area Competition with their Proficiency Awards on Feb. 16. Proficiency awards are based on a member’s SAE, or Supervised Agriculture Experience, in areas of placement or entrepreneurship in a wide variety of categories. In order to advance to state a student must win their proficiency category.…
By Sue Curry Jones In the Ava Board Spotlight, the R-1 board recognized technology director Jon Doane and staff for hard work and dedication in providing Ava schools, students, classrooms, staff and teachers with support and up-to-date technology. On behalf of the board, school board president Jeff Davis presented Doane…
“Infinite Potential” is the theme of National FFA Week 2011. The Ava High School FFA Chapter will observe the national celebration Feb. 20-26 with a number of activities planned each day. On Sunday, the FFA Chapter will attend church services at Highway Church of the Nazarene. Monday is Boots and…
Ava High School will celebrate Hoopcoming coronation this Friday night during the boys’ Ava-Houston basketball game. Coronation will conclude a week of activities which include special Spirit Days, centered around a Hollywood theme. Hoopcoming candidates include queen candidates Kristen Hastings, Lindsey Armour and Kalynn Miller; and king candidates Cody Heriford,…
Ava R-1 Superintendent Brian Wilson met with MoDOT personnel here last Thursday afternoon and made an appeal to delay the closing of the Cowskin Bridge on Highway 14. The Cowskin Creek bridge is one of six scheduled for replacement in 2011, but the only one that will adversely affect Ava…
Governor Jay Nixon has proclaimed the week of Jan. 23-29 as School Board Recognition Week. Missourians benefit every day from the dedicated energies and countless hours devoted by a group of more than 3,600 men and women in every community across the state. These public servants are elected by local…
Community Blood Center of the Ozarks will hold a blood drive Thursday, Jan. 20, at Ava Victory Academy, 1005 NW 12th Ave., in Ava. The blood drive will be conducted from 1:30 to 6 p.m. CBCO recently issued a Code Yellow Alert for Type O Negative and A Negative blood,…
Sheriff Chris Degase personally conducted tours of the county jail for three Ava High School health classes during the school day on Monday, Dec. 13. Sheriff Degase informed the students about the bond issue, prisoner facilities, career options in law enforcement and the duties and dangers of our county law…
The Skyline R-II Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, Dec. 16 with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In new business, the board voted to accept the following program evaluations: school climate dealing with student and staff recognition; health, which has been…
The Ava R-I Board of Education approved several program reviews and discussed capital improvement projects for the coming year at their regular meeting on Thursday, Dec. 16. In communications, the board announced that they attended the Missouri School Board Association conference at Tan-Tar-A on Oct. 22-24. Superintendent Brian Wilson said…
The Ava R-I Board of Education discussed budget concerns and a recently-developed athletic facility study at a special work session on Dec. 8. The first order of business was a new superintendent evaluation tool. The board chose a new tool from four options, said Superintendent Brian Wilson. “The one they…
On Tuesday, December 14 at 6:30 p.m. the Ava Pride Band Department will be presenting their winter concert “Jingle ALL The Way” at the Ava Performing Arts Center. Featured during the concert will be the Jazz Band, Beginning Band, Sixth Grade Band, Middle School Band, the Ava Pride Color Guard,…
United States Army Specialist Matt Buchanon stopped by Ava Victory Academy on November 21. Spc Buchanon is the son of A.V.A. second grade teacher Ms. Williams He, his wife and four of their children, along with a grandchild, were here for Thanksgiving. He talked with students from first through fourth…
Ava Victory Academy students recently competed in the sixth annual ACSI College Preparatory Championships at Southwest Baptist University on November 18 and 19. Some of the local students who placed in one of the competitions are as follows:…
During the November all-school chapel service, Ava Victory Academy students chosen by staff as exhibiting the most self control were as follows:…
The Ava High School science department takes a hands-on approach to connecting students to classroom concepts. Biology students of Mr. Jeff Tabor and Mrs. Jackie Carl took the opportunity of one of our finer fall days to travel to local creeks to take water samples testing for phosphates, nitrates, dissolved…
The Ava R-I Board of Education reviewed several programs and received one resignation at their regular meeting on Nov. 18. In communications, the board received a note from Peggy Taylor, past president of the Missouri School Board Association, thanking Ava for hosting the Region 15 conference. Board Spotlight The Ava…
Students at Ava Victory Academy recently competed at the ACSI College Preparatory Championships at Southwest Baptist University on Nov. 18-19. Many A.V.A. students placed in their categories and are pictured below.…
Ava R-I School Board Members Jeff Davis, Bill Philpott, Randy Spurlock, Pat Henry, Johnny Burkdoll, Regina Porter and Larry Silvey, as well as the Ava Superintendent Dr. Brian Wilson, attended the 2010 Annual Conference sponsored by the Missouri School Boards’ Association in cooperation with the Missouri Association of School Administrators.…
The staff of the Ava High School Echo would like to invite you to check out their November issue that is coming together online. Due to the new format, students are now able to post stories as they write them, so from week to week you will notice new stories…
By Jessie Eubanks The Ava Pride Band had an eventful season, competing in marching competitions in Paragould, Arkansas on October 9, Ozark Mountain Marching Festival in Reeds Spring on October 16, and the Festival of Champions in Warrensburg on October 30. The show this year featured selections from the musical…
Rebecca Shields and Sarah Copeland of Ava High School will be marching in the Macy’s Great American Marching Band on Thanksgiving Day in New York City. Shields, an AHS junior, and Copeland, an AHS sophomore, will both be a part of the flag core selected to represent Missouri as they…
Sarah Key, leader of the Missouri PreSchool Project at Ava Schools, received Honorable Mention in the Missouri School Boards’ Association FutureBuilders Early Childhood Education Program of the Year Award. This award is designed to reward public school districts that have implemented programs to advance quality early educational opportunities for children.…
The Skyline R-II Board of Education met in regular session on Tuesday, Oct. 19 with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In new business, auditor Matthew James came to the meeting and discussed the 2009-2010 audit. A few items that he pointed out in the…
As thousands of American soldiers face the risk of personal injury and even death, a group of Ava High School students is spearheading a service project to offer something back to those soldiers recovering from tragic injury. In the Brooke Army Medical Center of Fort Sam Houston near San Antonio,…
In celebration of the community they serve, the Ava R-1 School District will be hosting an event to promote community and school collaboration this Friday. On Friday, October 29, from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ava Schools will be providing a carnival-like atmosphere of games, food, and activities at the…
Every fall, high school students from area Christian schools come to the Southwest Baptist University campus to compete in the ACSI College Preparatory Championships. The Association of Christian Schools International strives to enable and equip Christian educators and schools worldwide to effectively educate children and young people with the mind…
The Ava R-I Board of Education met in regular session on Oct. 19 with all members present. Ava FFA 75th Anniversary During the communications portion of the meeting, board members Randy Spurlock and Johnny Burkdoll presented some information on the FFA group’s 75th anniversary celebration. Seventy-five years ago, 33 young…
As part of the Missouri School Improvement Program review taking place this year in the Ava R-1 School District, students, school employees, and parents are being asked to participate in an Advanced Questionnaire survey. This survey, in the hands of district parents, will provide feedback, allowing the Ava R-1 School…
First quarter is ending and the Ava R-1 School District is inviting parents and guardians to attend this year’s first district-wide Parent-Teacher conferences. Classes will be dismissed at 12:40 p.m. next Thursday, October 21 to allow teachers time to meet with parents from 12:45 to 8 p.m. Ava Elementary teachers…
In celebration of the community they serve, the Ava R-1 School District will be hosting an event to promote community and school collaboration. On Friday, October 29, from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., Ava Schools will be providing a carnival-like atmosphere of games, food, and activities at the Ava R-1…
On Saturday, Oct. 9, Ava Victory Academy held a Chili Supper and Bluegrass/Gospel singing to raise funds for new heating/air conditioning units. The event raised over $1,000. Lost Hills, Harlan Davis and Home Town Express, and Rick Dietz and Heath Roberts performed for the attendees. The event was very well…
This fall, Ava R-1 students received 576 new books from First Book, a national non-profit organization, in partnership with national retailer Target. The books were donated in celebration of the launch of the new Target Read With MeSM initiative, which aims to help more U.S children read proficiently by the…
HOUSTON – Lots of children experience anxiety over tests, but they – and their parents – can deal with it through the right attitude and taking care of their physical health, said a Baylor College of Medicine psychiatry professor. Kids should understand that nervousness about a test is a normal…
Ava football fans who made the long trip to Oregon County last Friday night were treated to an excellent football game, and came away with the bonus of a win as the Bears defeated the Thayer Bobcats 30-16. A week ago the Bears threw only one pass in the entire…
The Skyline R-2 School District will hold a meeting to consult with private, parochial, and homeschool student representatives located within the school district on Oct. 21, at 8:15 a.m. The meeting is scheduled to conduct a census of students with disabilities and gain input about need for services to determine…
The Ava R-I Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, Sept. 16. Ava will be hosting the Region 15 meeting for the Missouri School Board Association today (Thursday). Randy Spurlock gave an update on the policy review committee. The committee will next meet on Sept. 27, and will…
Ava Victory Academy has signed a Dual Credit Agreement with Southwest Baptist University which will enable high school students at the academy to simultaneously earn high school and college-level course credit. This agreement will provide high-performing high school students an affordable opportunity to experience high-quality college level courses. Only junior…
Ava Victory Academy recently received a donation of “gently used” computers from a business in Springfield that was updating their technology. Jon Doane, along with several students, volunteered their time to install operating software on the computers and run cables to each classroom. This donation has allowed each classroom to…
The Skyline R-2 Board met in regular session on Thursday, Sept. 16, with six members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In old business the board approved the Budget Message that was presented for the 2010-2011 budget. The board then discussed how the new bus routes were…
The Norwood School Board met on Sept. 20. The agenda was adopted and consent items approved before reports from the administrators. Superintendent Don Forrest reported on roof repairs and possible reimbursement. Elementary Principal Dana Webb reported on professional development and attendance. High School Principal Marcella Swatosh reported on the District…
Students of the Month at Ava High School and Ava Victory Academy were recognized at the September luncheon meeting of the Ava Area Chamber of Commerce. Each of the students recognized was presented a $50 savings bond by Great Southern Bank. September’s Student of the Month for Ava Victory Academy…
Coach Daniel Swofford, the football team, and the entire Ava High School student body are looking to “Put the Tigers on Ice” come this Friday night at the 2010 Ava High School Homecoming football game. The theme for Homecoming 2010 is “Fire and Ice” in which students have focused their…
Ava Elementary will be holding a Scholastic Book Fair Sept. 27-29, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily, and Thursday, Sept. 30, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. The Book Fair will be held in the elementary library. The public is invited to attend. There will be a Literacy Night in the Performing Arts…
Students in Grades 9-12 are urged to enter the Voice of Democracy Essay Contest sponsored by the Ava Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) of the United States Post 5993 and the Ladies Auxiliary. The essays are due to the Post before Nov. 1, 2010. The National Commander’s Theme this year…
By Whitney Keith The Ava R-I School District will soon be trying to fit another day onto the 2010-2011 calendar. The district received a letter from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) that the district was short one day in the required number of days in session last…
JEFFERSON CITY –– Randy Spurlock, vice-president of the Ava School Board, has been selected to serve on the Missouri Public Education Vision Project. Spurlock serves on this project with approximately 100 other school board members and superintendents from across the State. These education leaders gathered Monday, Aug. 30, in Jefferson…
The Ava R-I Board of Education set the district tax levy at $2.75 per one hundred dollars of assessed value before their regular meeting on Aug. 19. The tax levy has been at $2.75, the minimum allowed for a district to continue to receive their full amount of state funding,…
The Norwood R-1 School Board met on Aug. 17. Administration reports included: –Superintendent Don Forrest reported on bus loading, routes and safety procedures; –Dana Webb, elementary principal, reported on MAP scores and professional development; –Marcella Swatosh, high school principal, reported on district testing data and upcoming events. The board approved…
Last year, thousands of Missouri students raised funds to fight heart disease and stroke through research and education by participating in the American Heart Association’s Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart events throughout the state. In total, more than $1.1 million dollars were raised at more than…
The Missouri School Boards’ Association and the Missouri Department of Public Safety have announced the formation of the Center for Education Safety (CES). A joint effort of MSBA and the State of Missouri, the CES will work with Missouri pre-K to 12 schools and higher education, both public and private,…
The Skyline R-II Board of Education met in regular session on Thursday, Aug. 12 with all members present. The consent agenda items were discussed and approved. In old business, the board approved a modified Career Ladder plan for the 2010-2011 school year since the state will not be supporting that…
The Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education annual conference in Springfield, Missouri, was held July 26-29, 2010. At the conference LeeAnn Tomlinson was elected President/President Elect of the Missouri Educators of Family & Consumer Sciences, MoEFACS, division for the 2010-2011 year. Tomlinson is currently employed by the Ava R-1…
The Missouri Retired Teachers Association and Public School Personnel (MRTA) will honor its 2010 MRTA Distinguished Retiree at its annual meeting to be held Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 14 and 15, at the Capitol Plaza Hotel, 415 W. McCarty, Jefferson City. Nominations for this award are accepted from retired educators…
Three staff members from Ava High School presented at the national professional development conference hosted by SREB, Southwest Regional Education Board, in July 2010. Raising the Bar: Rigor, Relevance, & Relationships was presented by Teresa Nash, Airin Roberts, and Clint Gazette. “This class is going to be tough, but it…
Susan Keith, a teacher at Hartville High School, recently completed a week-long seminar at the New England Culinary Institute of Montpelier, Vt. The seminar, co-sponsored by the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, provided training in food safety & sanitation, nutrition in menu planning, pastry, Italian and Chinese cuisine. Teachers who…
The 2010-2011 school year will have many new improvements to focus on furthering student achievement. One of the newest changes that will affect all students and staff of the Ava R-1 School District is the new district-wide early release. In order to provide teachers professional development time during the contract…
New student enrollment at Bradleyville School will be held Tuesday, Aug. 10, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Students being enrolled will need to bring their birth certificate, immunization records and verification of residency (rental contract, utilities bill, etc.) Please call 796-2288 for further information.…
By Whitney Keith Ava Middle School students will be greeted by a new face when they come back to school next month. Cody Hirschi was hired in the spring as the new middle school principal, replacing Nathan Houk, who is staying with the district in a teaching capacity. “I hope…
[audio:http://www.douglascountyherald.com/wordpress/WS119369.mp3] Career Ladder was the hot topic of conversation when the Ava R-1 Board of Education met for their regular meeting on July 22. Alison Decker, who is a member of the district’s Career Ladder committee, spoke to the board about concerns that the committee had over the new Career…
New student enrollment, kindergarten to 8th grade, at Plainview R-8 School will be Wednesday, Aug. 4 and Thursday, Aug. 5, from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students will need to bring their birth certificate, Social Security card, immunization records and verification of residency (rental contract, utilities bill, etc).…
Ava Public Schools will be holding pre-enrollment for new and transfer students Aug. 3 and 4. This pre-enrollment is for students in kindergarten through grade 12. This enrollment of students will be held at the Ava middle school/high school cafeteria, located behind the administration offices at 507 NE 3rd St.…
Skyline R-2 School will be holding open enrollment Aug. 3 and 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students who have not attended public school before will need to bring shot records, birth certificate and Social Security card. Students who will be entering kindergarten will also need to have a…
Thornfield R-I School will have new student registration on Thursday, Aug. 5, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Open house will be held at Thornfield School on Thursday, Aug. 12, from 6 to 7 p.m.…
COLUMBIA, MO — A festive evening featuring the world premiere performances of pieces by seven composers culminated a week of concerts, workshops and related activities at the inaugural Mizzou New Music Summer Festival, which was held July 12-18 in Columbia, Mo. The Mizzou New Music Summer Festival is part of…
By Whitney Keith The Ava R-I School District welcomed a new leader on July 1. Dr. Brian Wilson took over as superintendent this month, and is starting to get settled in and learn the ropes. He said that he was drawn to Ava due to its location and the community.…
Ava Victory Academy students recently competed in the South-Central ACSI (Association of Christian Schools International) competition at Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Missouri. The academy competed with students from Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri, and were very happy to place first in Algebra 2 and second in Pre-Calculus, both…
Ava Middle School football coach Jeff Pool announced that he will be holding football camp next week for boys who will be in seventh and eighth grade this fall. The dates of the camp will be Monday, July 26 through Thursday, July 29. The camp will be held at the…
