August 31, 2007

THE NEW MISSOURI TEACHER OF THE YEAR IS ONE OF OUR OWN!
Eric Langhorst, South Valley Junior High social studies teacher, is the 2007-2008 Missouri Teacher of the Year.  Langhorst was in Jefferson City Wednesday where a selection committee interviewed the six finalists.  Missouri’s Teacher of the Year automatically becomes a candidate in the national Teacher of the Year program.  Nominations for the award were submitted by 48 public school districts across the state.  Eric is a nationally recognized leader in using new technology for daily classroom teaching and learning.  The announcement was made by Superintendent Phil Wright at a school-wide assembly at South Valley Junior High this morning.  We are so proud of Eric and wish him the best as competes at the national level. Congratulations Eric!  

PATRON SURVEY PROCESS TO BEGIN SOON
What do you think are the strengths and weaknesses of the Liberty School District? How do you feel about some of the ideas being considered to help address the District’s expanding student population? What should the District be concentrating on as it plans for its future?

These and many other questions will be addressed in a telephone survey of 400 randomly selected Liberty citizens. Calls for the 10- to 12-minute survey will begin right after Labor Day and should be completed in about two weeks.

 Patrons with Caller ID should expect to see a 913 area code, although the system may not register “Market Research Associates” as the firm’s professional surveyors call from different locations. The survey will begin with the caller saying “Good afternoon (or evening). I’m (the caller’s name) calling from Market Research Associates on behalf of the Liberty Public Schools.”

If you receive a call, please take part and share your opinions!  We need your input!

 ELEMENTARY PARENTS WILL SEE CHANGES IN FRIDAY FOLDERS
During the past two years we have been working on streamlining the amount of information students take home in their Friday Folders.  The district has listened to principals, PTA representatives, parents and vendors.  A new policy has been put in place regarding the materials distributed this year.  Schools will send home information from the specific school and their building PTA.   Items of interest from organizations such as Boy and Girl Scouts, Liberty Parks and Rec, dance studios, self-defense classes, etc., will be scanned and placed on each individual school Web site as the information becomes available.  This type of “virtual information table” on the Web site will be a more effective way for you to access the materials.  We will also continue to use QuickNews as a vehicle to announce upcoming events or registration dates and times. 

FRANKLIN TO OPEN THIRD ANNUAL PASSPORT TO READING
Students from Franklin Elementary School will gather for a school-wide rally at 5:30 p.m. Friday, August 31, to launch the third annual Passport to Reading/Read-A-Thon program.  This unique fund-raising project will benefit the neighborhood school in Liberty’s historic district and encourage boys and girls to read.

Franklin's award-winning Passport to Reading program is an innovative approach developed by parents, teachers, librarians and school administrators to promote reading and raise money for a wide range of PTA-sponsored activities for Franklin School. Friday's event will mark the beginning of a pledge week when students will ask friends and family to make donations tied to the number of minutes the student reads (or is read to) during the campaign. After the pledge week, the reading will begin with students logging their reading minutes and attending Read-Ins at the school and on the Liberty Square.

In addition to encouraging boys and girls to read and raise funds, Franklin Elementary School's Passport to Reading program was awarded the 2006-2007 Phoebe Apperson Hearst Excellence in Education Partnership Award from the Missouri  PTA.  Franklin's program will be recognized at the Missouri PTA's annual convention in October and featured in the fall issue of Contact, the state's PTA publication.

LIBERTY BLUE JAY SPORTS NETWORK IS BACK!
Just a friendly reminder for all Liberty Blue Jay football supporters that cannot make it to the games in person, the ‘Liberty Blue Jay Sports Network’ provides the opportunity for fans to listen to the games via the Internet at the Liberty Public Schools Web site.  Not only can fans that live in the Liberty community follow the Blue Jays, but so can fans around the country and around the world.  Game number one is this Friday, August 31, as the Jays battle North Kansas City from Greene Stadium on the campus of William Jewell College.  The pregame show starts at 6:30 p.m. with kickoff at 7 p.m.  Access the site at: www.liberty.k12.mo.us/schools-facilities/athletics/lhs-athletics/Bluejays-Sports-Net