November 16, 2011

Top Stories from LPS

Thanksgiving Break Set for November 23-25

 Here is a reminder that Liberty Public Schools will be closed Wednesday, November 23 - Friday, November 25, for Thanksgiving Break.  Classes will resume on Monday, November 28.  Due to the holiday break, QuickNews will not be distributed next week.  This publication will return on Wednesday, November 30.  On behalf of everyone from Liberty Public Schools, have a safe and restful Thanksgiving break!

Know Where to Go for School Cancellation Info

It is hard to believe, but winter is just around the corner, and with winter usually comes inclement weather conditions in and around the Liberty area.  Liberty Public Schools would like to make sure all of our District families have several outlets to keep you informed should school need to be dismissed due to weather conditions.  Below are the various methods in which school dismissals will be communicated:

QuickNews

QuickText
LPS Facebook Page
LPS Twitter Page
District Website Homepage

KLPS-TV Channel 18 Information Screen
Local Kansas City Television/Radio Stations

Board Candidate Workshop Information

Liberty Public Schools will be offering a Board Candidate Workshop Monday, November 21, at 5 p.m. This workshop will be held at the District Administration Center, located at 650 Conistor, and is intended for individuals interested in obtaining information on Board member directorship. The annual Board election will take place on April 3, 2012 when Charlene Armitage's seat and Mattie Ransom's seat will be open.  Each will be three-year terms. Filing for these positions will begin Tuesday, December 20, 2011. If you have any questions, please call Sandra Cockrum, Board secretary, at 736-5301. 

Other LPS News to Know

Kid's First Town Hall Meeting

Thursday, November 17, at 7 p.m., the Liberty Council PTA and Missouri PTA will host a Kid's First Town Hall meeting at the Liberty School District Administration Center, 650 Conistor.  As in past years, all of our state and federal representatives have been invited to attend, and we expect to have a full panel of guests.  In order to have an effective meeting, and impress upon our elected officials that both parents and teachers in the Liberty School District believe quality education is a high priority, we need your attendance.  Investing in the education of all our children is making an investment in our country's infrastructure.  What sort of education students receive today will directly affect the jobs they will be qualified to hold in the future.  We live in a global society, and our children must be prepared to compete in that environment.  Decisions made at both the state and federal levels impact significantly the means and tools available for school districts in all areas of education, from bricks and mortar, to curriculum taught in the classroom.  Plan to set aside an hour of your time on November 17, and join us as we put Kid's First.

Coffees With the Community Returns November 29

Liberty Public Schools will host its informative series, Coffees With the Community, on Tuesday morning, November 29, at the District Administration Center, located at 650 Conistor.  The event is scheduled to take place from 9-10 a.m.  This month's topic will be "Internet Safety:  Keeping Your Child Safe in Cyberspace".  Presenting will be LPS Student Resource Officer Heather Massey.  To see previous Coffees with the Community from this school year, click here.   

Upcoming Events

Purchase a Care Bag for Finals
The LPS Orchestra Booster Clubs are offering care bags for teachers and students that will be delivered December 16, 19, and 20 during fall semester finals. Care bags can be purchased for only $5. They include snacks, a drink, pencil/pens, and personal note from you. The order deadline is December 2. Net proceeds will benefit the Orchestra Boosters. To receive the flyer, click HERE.

Sophomore Parent and Student Night Information

Current ninth grade students and their parents are invited to the annual Incoming Sophomore Parent and Student Night on December 6 at Liberty North High School and Liberty High School. Students and their parents should attend their designated high school based on district boundaries. Information will be provided on the registration process, graduation requirements, and additional high school opportunities. The evening will begin at 6 p.m. at Liberty North High School and 6:30 p.m. at Liberty High School. Questions may be directed toward Dana Combs at Liberty North and Brenda Wiederholt at Liberty High. Boundary questions should be directed to the LPS Transportation Department at 736-5360.

Blood Drive to Take Place at LNHS

The AP Biology and Medical Interventions classes at LNHS are hosting a blood drive with the Community Blood Center on Friday, December 9.  Please consider helping to make our first blood drive a success by making your appointment to save a life today.  The drive will take place at Liberty North High School (located at 1000 NE 104th St.) from 7 a.m.-3 p.m.  If you would like to make an appointment to donate, click here.

LNHS Friday Night Madness Coming Friday Night!

LNHS Friday Night Madness is a first year event showcasing the LNHS men's and women's basketball teams for the 2011-2012 season.  Join us in the auxiliary gym from 7-9 p.m. this Friday, November 18, for the first taste of Eagle's basketball!  The event will include all levels, and both varsity teams will get scrimmage time, but there will also be midnight madness events such as a 3-point competition and a dress up competition.  Also, there will be a fundraiser event put on by the parents of the basketball team called hoops for soups.  They will be serving soups, a drink, and a dessert for $5 from 6-8 p.m.  Hope you can make it!

Student and Staff Recognitions

LNHS Cross Country Perform Well at State

The Liberty North Boys and Girls Cross Country teams ended their season November 5 on a high note, competing at the State Championships in Jefferson City.

In the boys race, both Eagle competitors were seniors, and both were able to beat the odds to come in higher places than they were ranked.  Senior Max Jobson took an impressive 2nd place overall to multiple State Champion Drew White from Festus. Senior Colton Stenner took 69th place. Max was expected to get 8th and Colton 96th. Great racing guys!

The girls beat the odds as well.  Led by a second straight Cross Country (4th overall) All-State performance by sophomore Sammy Laurenzo who earned 5th place.  Freshman Stephanie Boan also earned All-State honors, placing 11th overall.  Junior Molly Hertz was able to finish in the top 50 with a 48th place performance.  Way to go Eagles!  You represented us well!

This past weekend, the Greater Kansas City Cross Country Coaches Association honored several of the Liberty North Cross Country athletes. 
Making its first team selections were Sammy Laurenzo and Stephanie Boan, along with Max Jobson.  Honorable mention selections were Molly Hertz and Ty Hughes.  Congratulations!

Liberty North Speech and Debate Results

Congratulations to the following students from the Liberty North Speech and Debate team for placing at the Raymore-Peculiar tournament:

1st Student Congress- Arianna Skindell

2nd Lincoln Douglas Debate- Mackenzie Barnes

2nd Radio Speaking- Arianna Skindell

3rd Policy Debate- Brigitte Tripp/Taylor Watson

3rd Prose- Kenny Tran

Congratulations to the Liberty North speech and debate students that placed at the Grandview Novice 8 round tournament.

5th Public Forum Debate- Dylan McCloskey/Hannah Larkin

6th Public Forum Debate- Arianna Clark/Jacob Ewing

7th Public Forum Debate- Rachel Kirch/Macey Shannon

7th Lincoln Douglas Debate- Kenny Tran

7th Policy Debate- Derek Rogers/Regan Hill
 

Liberty High School Speech and Debate Results

Congratulations to the following students who placed at the Ray-Pec varsity speech and debate tournament last weekend:

Ryan Anders/Sami Cintron (3rd - Duo Interpretation)

Spencer Nelson/Bethany Nelson (4th - Policy Debate)

Sam Tallant/Zach Green (4th - Policy Debate)

Julie Staszko (5th - Original Oratory)

Hannah Goodwin (6th - Humorous Interpretation)

Model UN Teams Take Top Honors

Congratulations to the Liberty High School and Liberty North Model UN teams. Competing at the Park University Model UN Conference on Friday, students discussed issues ranging from microfinancing and the eradication of poverty to the right to food.  Liberty High School took home more than half of the awards, including the top overall delegation, as all five delegates for France received Outstanding Delegate Awards.  Individual Outstanding Delegate were awarded to:

Liberty High School

Max Accardi, France

Eric Luan, India

Jessica Gehrig, France

Simone Stewart, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Alex Bisges, France

Bethany Nelson, Bosnia & Herzegovina

Jaci Gilchrist, France

Mack Yi, India

Michael Hoppenrath, France

Helen Alpern, Syria

Outstanding Newcomer Award--William Xiao, Syria

Liberty North

Mack Barnes, United Kingdom

Melissa Stockwell, Spain

Outstanding Newcomer Award--Quinn Mars, South Africa

District/Community Events

Kansas City Classic High School Dance Competition

The Liberty Sapphires and Larkspur Dance & Choreography would like to invite the Liberty community to attend the first annual Kansas City Classic Dance Competition. The competition will be held at Liberty Senior High School on Saturday, December 3.  Performances will start at 9:30 a.m. and run all day long.  High school dance teams across the metro area will be performing pom, dance, hip hop, mix, prop, and kick routines throughout the day.  The Liberty Sapphires would like to thank the Liberty School District and community for helping make this day possible!  Please feel free to contact Maggie Willis for further information.  The Sapphires hope to see you on December 3!    

QuickNews Bulletin Board

In an effort to make our Liberty Public Schools e-newsletter, QuickNews, a concise publication in which subscribers can read in a timely fashion, district/community announcements will be advertised in the main QuickNews section for a maximum of two weeks.  After this period of time, announcements will then be transferred to our new QuickNews Bulletin Board, which is located on the LPS website provided at the link below. In addition, there are other announcements that have, in the past, not met criteria to place in this publication.  The addition of the QN Bulletin Board will allow them to now be publicized.

This bulletin board will continuously be updated throughout the week, and announcements will remain until they expire by date.

http://www.liberty.k12.mo.us/news/quicknews/quicknews-bulletin-board

LPS Mission  

Through our collective best, we do whatever it takes to inspire and equip every learner to find their voice and realize their unlimited potential.

LPS Vision 

As stewards of discovery, we will embrace innovation to instill a passion for life-long learning that will best serve our nation and the world in the 21st century.

LPS Core Values 

· Learning is our priority

· Respect is our norm

· Excellence is our expectation

· Collaboration is our culture

· Integrity is our foundation

What's Included in this Issue

Other LPS News to Know

QuickNews Bulletin Board

Dates to Remember

Monday, November 21
Board of Education meeting
(7 p.m.)

Wed., Nov. 23 - Fri. Nov. 25

Thanksgiving Holiday 

Monday, December 19

Board of Education meeting
(7 p.m.)

Tuesday, December 20
End of First Semester

Wednesday, December 21

Winter Vacation begins