Trisha Ross, Jonell Cook to Retire at End of School Year

The Worth County School Board, at their regular November 21st meeting, voted to accept the resignations of Jonell Cook and Trisha Ross. They have done their time as teachers in the state and will retire at the end of the school year. Ross teaches Kindergarten; she has taught various elementary classes at Worth County over the years. Cook is the Family & Consumer Sciences teacher and is the advisor for the FCCLA program.

The board also named Les New as Elementary Coach/Coordinator for the Elementary Basketball Program.

The Career Technical Education Program was rated as “Excellent.” Strengths include opportunities that prepare students for technical fields, increased numbers of students enrolled at Northwest Technical School, and active communication with stakeholders. Concerns listed include opportunities that are limited by the high school daily schedule. Recommendations include continuing to seek input from students, parents, and businesses as to skill sets needed.

The board will open filings for three school board positions beginning December 17th at 8 am and closing on January 21st at 5 pm at the District Board Secretary’s office. The office will be closed from December 20th to January 6th and in the event of inclement weather.

Attendance for Parent/Teacher Conferences for Elementary was 149 out of 150. There were 15 office referrals in the first quarter, down from 30 last year. 141 out of 150 students have 90% attendance or higher. 120 students have 95% attendance or higher. Total attendance was 96.51%, off .56% from last year.

Perfect attendance rolls were released for the first quarter. For Kindergarten, they were Cree Blankenship, Tank Coleman, Hadley Downing, Gwyn Healy, Kyah Joslin, and Teagan Saville. For First Grade, they were Kaeslyn Briner, Mason Gray, Paul Hoff, Alexis Snead, and David Wideman. For Second Grade, they were Briella Benson, Emma Coleman, Kaydence Downing, Jarrett Gilland, Cole Hardy, Londyn Maudlin, Hardie Paxson, and Brooklyn Smith. For Third Grade, they were Bella Blankenship, Tucker Fletchall, Camden Gray, Brock Healy, Mason Hiatt, Kassidy Joslin, Brooke Monticue, Kennedy Murphy, Brianna Riley, and Gracie Thurman.

In the upper elementary levels, getting Perfect Attendance for Fourth Grade were Unique Brown, Wesley Brown, Brynn Chapman, Hartley Fitzgerald, Bentley Frisch, Liam Hayden, Avah Knight, Lola Morin, and Breanna Ray. In Fifth Grade, Kambree Briner, Sara Fletchall, Evalyn Gilland, Kaylee Gust, Keira Hardy, Caleb New, Sumer Riley, Dylan Smith, Ryder Smyser, Emsley Spainhower, and Kristen Tracy got Perfect Attendance. In Sixth Grade, getting Perfect Attendance were Lucas Frisch, Chloe Gladstone, Clayton Hardin, Franklynn Hoff, Brayden Murphy, Riley Ridge, Marissa Schmitz, Reed Smyser, Bailey Steele, Brayden Stevens, and Sawyer Thurman.

“A” and “B” Honor Rolls were released for fourth through sixth grades. Fourth Grade “A” Honor Roll honorees were Paige Chaney, Hartley Fitzgerald, Braelyn Fletchall, Bentley Frisch, JoLynn Hawk, Liam Hayden, Audrey Runde, and Megan Tracy. On the “B” Honor Roll was Trenton Adwell, Unique Brown, Wesley Brown, Dale Deardorff, Avah Knight, and Lola Morin.

On the Fifth Grade “A” Honor Roll was Kambree Briner, Arena Galanakis, Evalyn Gilland, Addison Gray, Krista Monticue, Elivia Moyer, Melissa Mutchler, Caleb New, Cole Ruby, Hayden Sanders, Emsley Spainhower, and Kristen Tracy. On the “B” Honor Roll was Cheyenne Baker, Sara Fletchall, Kaylee Gust, Reyen Hansen, Keira Hardy, Macie Hubbard, Sumer Riley, Ryder Smyser, and Abriana Straughn.

On the 6th Grade “A” Honor Roll  was Jace Cameron, Brayden Combs, Katelyn Fletchall, Lucas Frisch, Chloe Gladstone, Brylea Paxson, Garrett Richey, Riley Ridge, Rylee Ruckman, Marissa Schmitz, Bailey Steele, Brayden Stevens, and Sawyer Thurman. On the “B” Honor Roll were Andrew Griffin, Wyatt Hill, Franklynn Hoff, Brayden Murphy, Conner Pointer, Matthew Ray, Eric Ritchie, and Reed Smyser.

The Elementary hosted a Mad Science Lab in conjunction with the Partnership Library. There were 63 in attendance; a free meal was served, and people participated in science experiments. Fourth, fifth, and sixth graders are practicing for the Math Contest in February.

High School Principal Jon Adwell reported that the FCCLA Food Drive was a successful event. Worth County conducted its annual Veteran’s Day Program for the public and the entire student body. A memorial honoring all Missouri servicepeople who were killed in Vietnam was displayed. Merrideth Spiers was named the Missouri State Winner for the High School Heisman Scholarship. The FBLA had their annual field trip.

The school will offer the ACT on February 25th. Juniors took their ASVAB Tests, which will help them with career exploration.

Eight Worth County FFA members attended the National FFA Convention. Attending were Tate Welch, Wyatt Abplanalp, Jill Hardy, Anna Spainhower, Justina Wimer, EmiLee Brown, Drew Welch, and Merrideth Spiers, Local FFA members traveled with members from other schools, including North Harrison. Tour sites included the Anheuser-Busch Educational Center, Union Station St. Louis, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and Good’s Confectionary. Students also attended an Old Dominion concert and a World’s Toughest Rodeo Event.

A shipment of ferns has arrived for the Worth County Greenhouse.