Lawson R-XIV School District

Dear Lawson School Community, As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, I am filled with immense gratitude for the opportunity to be a part of our remarkable community. This season reminds us of the collective strength and spirit that defines us. To our students: Your enthusiasm for learning, creativity, and endless courage to try new things are the heartbeat of our school. Thank you for bringing your energy and curiosity to our classrooms every day. You inspire us all. To our dedicated teachers: Your passion, resilience, and unwavering commitment to our students do not go unnoticed. Your impact extends far beyond the classroom, shaping the future of those in your care. Thank you for your tireless efforts. To our supportive parents and guardians: Your partnership is invaluable. Your involvement, encouragement, and trust create a foundation for success. Thank you for entrusting us with the education and well-being of your children. To our hardworking staff: From administrators to custodians, each of you plays a vital role in creating a positive and enriching environment. Your dedication ensures that our school runs smoothly and that our students thrive. Thank you for your often behind-the-scenes contributions. To the entire Lawson community: Together, we form a solid foundation of diverse talents, backgrounds, and dreams. Our devotion to making each other our best makes our school truly special. Thank you for being an integral part of the Proud Traditions and Endless Possibilities together we know as the Lawson R-XIV School District. On behalf of the Board of Education, I wish you all a warm and joyful Thanksgiving. Thank you for being the heart and soul of the Lawson School District, and while we celebrate with family and friends, let us carry the spirit of gratitude. With heartfelt thanks, Dr. Stephenson

What a wonderful turnout for our first Dinner Theater since 2019. It is nice to be back together as a school community. #WeAreLawson

November Board Spotlights: The Lawson Board of Education had the opportunity to celebrate three outstanding groups during this month's meeting. The first group to be celebrated was Southwest Elementary Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run serves students in grades 3-6. The program is in its ninth year here at Lawson. Mrs. Holly Spencer has been the coach/sponsor for all those years. With her group of girls and coaches, they follow a curriculum designed to teach students confidence, positivity, teamwork, and perseverance. This year's group just completed their Final 5K at Swope Park. Pictured: Coach Holly Spencer, Coach Christina Conrick, Lihlie McIntosh, Coach Elizabeth Kanniainen, Coach Stephanie Cotter, Coach Emily Caraway. Middle row, Sienna Blakely, Char Blakely, Colette Knutson, Ady Ramsey, Lakynn Staats. Front row: Lucy Hunter, Brooklyn Braune, Ellie Gable, Evelyn Ouderkirk, Bristol Bain, Aspen Sloop, Lyla Kanniainen, Emma Crawford. Not pictured: Halli Black, Gwen Hargrave, Nellie Trout Our second evening spotlight was on Lawson Central Office staff members Marti, Knecht, and Kayla Anderson. Marti was recently recognized at the Missouri Association of School Business Officials (MoASBO) Conference for completing her Certified School Business Specialist training. Kayla recently took over the School District Student Information System Coordinator (SIS) duties. As the coordinator, she has been responsible for many positive changes to make the district more technology-friendly for sharing and gathering student information with parents. Marti and Kayla are phenomenal assets to our school community, and we are happy to celebrate them. Our final evening spotlight was on our Lawson Community Foundation – Lawson Haunt volunteers. Over the past 10 years, the Lawson Haunt has provided sound, clean, scary entertainment to thousands of people near and far from Lawson through the Fall each year. Every dollar earned from their haunted house has been reinvested into our graduating seniors each year through scholarships. Over time, this group of community volunteers has been estimated to have donated nearly $100,000 from paid admission to the haunted house toward scholarships for graduating seniors attending technical schools, 2-year colleges, and four-year colleges and universities. Pictured: Roxanne Shook, Laura Montone, Chris Buchanan, and Tim Jeffrey. Not pictured: Rhonda Oulman, Jacque Taylor, Jason Montone, John DeFries, and Dale and Connie Stark

We would like to thank our senior citizens who were able to be in attendance today for our 32nd Annual Senior Citizens Luncheon. It's a Great Day to be a Cardinal. #WeAreLawson

Reminder that we will observe Thanksgiving Break next week with No School next Wednesday through Friday. We will see students back in class on Monday, November 27th. Have a very Happy Thanksgiving Cardinal families!

Today was a great day to be a Lawson Cardinal. Happy Veterans Day. 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲💯💯💯

Our 32nd annual Senior Citizen Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Thursday, November 16, 2023, at 12:30 pm in the Lawson High School Commons. Bus Schedule: Apartments at 400 N Clark… 11:45 am. Apartments at 115 S Pennsylvania… 11:55 am. Housing Authority Community Room at 517 N. Doniphan … noon. Senior Citizens Day Room at 201 W. 8th Terrace … 12:05 pm. (Note: Individual transportation can be arranged by calling 816-580-7277) The meal and entertainment to follow are provided at no charge to you. A community service project of the staff and students of Lawson R-XIV School District, Durham School Services, HyVee, and our Local VFW Post 6278

Thank you 🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲🇺🇲 #WeAreLawson

The Lawson Giving Tree - 2023 This holiday season, the Lawson School District and the Lawson Community Foundation have teamed up to support the Lawson Giving Tree’s efforts to provide Christmas to the children within our community. HOW CAN YOU HELP? Tags for items needed will be available at the Christmas in the Park event on December 2, 2023. Tags can also be found at Lawson Nutrition and Dollar General. WHERE CAN I DONATE? Gift donations can be dropped off at City Hall, Lawson Nutrition, and Evans Oil. Items do not need to be wrapped, but we ask that you include the tag you selected with the items purchased. Monetary donations can be made to The Lawson Community Foundation. NEED MORE INFORMATION? For additional information, including a link to the family application and details on how to qualify, check out The Lawson Giving Tree on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1679303402223466/ Direct questions can be answered by Hannah Akey at 210-753-1380 or Tisha Cash at 816-752-3881. Email inquiries can be sent to Lawsonmogivingtree@gmail.com.The Giving Tree - 2023

Join Us for Our Veterans Day Assembly! We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Lawson Middle School and High School Veterans Day Assembly, where we will honor and express our gratitude to the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. This special event is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to show our support and appreciation for our veterans. Date: Friday, November 10th Time: Veterans Breakfast @ 8:30am / Schoolwide Assembly @ 9:30am Location: Lawson High School

2 Weeks from today: Join us as Lawson Theather Presents "The Witches." Performances are Nov. 17th, 18th, 19th We are excited to announce the return of the Dinner Theatre on November 17 @ 6pm. Tickets are $13 - student / $15 public / Preschool Free (Dinner Theater includes a ticket to the show.)

Join Us for Our Veterans Day Assembly! Dear Lawson Community, We are excited to invite you to our upcoming Lawson Middle School and High School Veterans Day Assembly, where we will honor and express our gratitude to the brave men and women who have served and continue to serve our country. This special event is an opportunity for us to come together as a community to show our support and appreciation for our veterans. Date: Friday, November 10th Time: Veterans Breakfast @ 8:30am / Schoolwide Assembly @ 9:30am Location: Lawson High School Our Veterans Day activities will feature: 1. Student Presentations: Our students will present their creative work, including essays, poems, artwork, and musical performances that reflect the importance of Veterans Day. 2. Recognition of Local Veterans: We will recognize and celebrate the veterans within our school community. 3. Patriotic Music: Our school band and choir will perform patriotic songs to pay tribute to our veterans. We encourage our students to invite our veterans to attend our Veterans Day celebration, as this event is not only about acknowledging the sacrifices of our veterans but also about fostering a sense of unity and gratitude. Feel free to invite your veterans, whether family, friends, or neighbors, to join us in this meaningful celebration. We look forward to seeing you at our Veterans Day Assembly as we come together to honor and remember our heroes. Let's make this a memorable and heartwarming event for our veterans and our entire community. We encourage our students to sign up their veterans in the Middle School or High School Offices so we can prepare adequately for a great celebration! Thank you for your support and participation in this important occasion. Sincerely, Dr. Michael Stephenson Superintendent of Schools Lawson R-XIV School District

October Board Spotlights: The Board had the opportunity to celebrate and spotlight three amazing groups during this month's meeting. The first spotlight was on Lawson Middle School's art teacher. Mrs. Catherine Halterman and her Middle School Yearbook staff. She and the students held their annual fundraiser on Friday, October 6. The Yearbook Staff decided on a 'Sports Night' theme. Almost 100 middle schoolers participated in several MS/HS campus activities. The event raised over $580, which will be donated to the Lawson Food Pantry. Student members include Bailey Payne, Braylie Cox, Ella Ripley, Emily Qualman, Josie Holman, Kaydence Hyatt, Kenza Stone, Mariah Jones, Rebecca Lafferty, and Sadie Templeton. The second spotlight was on recognizing Lynn Smithmier. She has recently been awarded the Nationally Recognized Missouri Program (NRM) recognition award. NRM is for individual schools whose school counseling programs have reached an exceptional level of implementation that emphasizes the positive impact of the school counseling program on student success and the school community. This application process began two years ago, and now the Lawson High School Counseling program joins only 22 Missouri schools whose school counseling programs have reached this exemplary level of practice. The final spotlight of the evening was on Mrs. Jennie Phipps for organizing our talented vocal artist to sing our National Anthem throughout the Fall at many of our home sporting events. Participants showing their incredible talents include Mrs. Jennies Phipps, Mrs. Ashly Moore, Ava Briegel, and Aleah and Kailyn Johnson. #WeAreLawson

Join Us for a Community Informational Meeting on the potential for expanding career education offerings in the Lawson School District to include Agriculture Education and FFA! Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2023 Time: 6:00pm Location: High School Commons

The District has emailed a Parent/Guardian Climate and Culture Survey to the provided email on file for your student. We ask you to take a few minutes and complete the survey. If you did not receive the email, please get in touch with the school so we can update your email address.

Reminder that Parent Teacher Conferences are next week, Wednesday evening from 3:30-7p and Thursday from 1-7p. School will NOT be in session on Thursday, 10/19 or Friday, 10/20. Please reach out to our building offices if you have questions.

On Tuesday, the Lawson Blazing Cardinal Marching Band earned 2nd place at the Tournament of Champions Marching Band Festival at Missouri Western State University. You can catch their award-winning show, Moana, this Friday at half-time as we celebrate our seniors as a part of senior night.

We would like your input! The Lawson School District plans to expand our preschool program for the coming school year (2024-2025). Our goal is to seek input from the community. If you or someone you know has a young learner in the 3-4 year old range, please take some time to share or take the survey! Click the Link or scan the QR to access survey: https://forms.gle/dHK2v1MivBVRPX2NA

2023-2024 Priority Goals *The school board will develop a long-range fiscal plan to address employee compensation and facility needs. *Prepare for the long-range facility needs of the District. *Establish a plan to update curriculum offerings to engage students in career exploration. *Establish a plan to update curriculum, assessment, instructional practices, and resources to engage students and increase academic achievement. *Explore expanding Early Childhood Learning Opportunities for preschool-aged students. Click the link to learn more: https://5il.co/268ic

Help us in wishing our Super Star Cardinals a Happy National Custodial/Maintenance Appreciation Day. We are certainly thankful for each of them and the amazing talents they bring each day. #WeAreLawson