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Update on Quarantine Procedures: New quarantine documents were submitted to the district from the Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) which indicate that quarantine is not required if the student/teacher has had COVID-19 illness within the previous 3 months, AND has recovered AND remains without COVID-19 symptoms for the full 14 days past the last date of exposure to the case. Documentation of a positive test (such as PCR and antigen) required. (August 17, 2021)
Back to School Tip 4
Middle School Open House
Teachers are back!!!! The teachers and staff returned to school today! It is going to be a great year! Let’s go. #strongertogether
Back to School Tip 3: Have you logged in to your Lumen Parent or Student Portal lately?
The Maries County R2 welcomes Samantha Eads as our new Title 1 teacher at Bland Middle School . Let's get know her shall we?!?
Ms. Eads attended high school in Licking, MO...a small town similar to Belle. Afterwards for college she attended Hannibal-Lagrange for 1 year, and completed the remainder of her degree at Drury University. Ms. Eads graduated with a Bachelor's of Science in Elementary Education. As she attended college she substitute taught in the St. James and Rolla school districts. After graduating she received a job offer at Cuba Middle School and taught 6th grade math there for 6 years.
Ms. Eads recently moved to Belle in June and already loves the small town atmosphere. It greatly reminds her of where she grew up. She and her boyfriend share three girls together ages 3, 6, and 7 years old. In her spare time she loves to spend time with family, stay active, and decorate cakes. Ms. Eads has also accepted the head coach position for high school cross country and head middle school track.
When asked about her favorite education quote she said the following, "Every child deserves a champion – an adult who will never give up on them, who understands the power of connection and insists that they become the best that they can possibly be. "
We are lucky to have Ms. Eads in our middle school, and excited she chose Maries R2 as her new home. WELCOME!
Back to School Tip 2: Verify your child’s transportation to and from school. If your student is in the Elementary, please make sure your teacher knows how they are getting to and from school. If your child is in Kindergarten, please talk to Tony Gieck (Transportation Director) at Open House to verify addresses. If your student is in Middle School or High School, please let the office secretary know if there are transportation changes . If your student will be riding the bus this year, they are required to wear a mask on the bus. If they will not be riding the bus and are normally on a route, please let Tony Gieck know they will NOT be riding so the route times can be changed for the other students on that bus.
Back to school Tip 1
Transportation Regulations, Rules, and Safety Precautions have changed! Please visit the transportation portion of the website or the school Facebook page to see a video walking through the changes. A short list is as follows:
- Everyone on the bus must wear a mask
- Students will sit in family units and use the same seats daily
- Drivers will excuse students one at a time
- AND more!
Our BMS Leadership Team: (Denise Edwards, Meagan Fisher, Nicole Golden, and Donna Palmer (not pictured Brian Kaestner) met yesterday (8/12/21) to generate energy and ideas to keep making our Middle School Bland Best. Step 1: Tuggie and Joe's for Breakfast. Step 2: Collaborating in the BMS Think Tank (D. Edward's Room). Main Goal: To CONNECT all student activities, teacher instruction/resources, BMS Procedures, and communication to every stakeholder to our BMS Mission: Building, Eager, Academically, Responsible, Students and our Maries R2 Vision: "Educating individual students for 21st century challenges". We are excited and looking forward to a great year!!!
New Student Enrollment
If you are new to the district or have a Kindergarten student who has not yet been enrolled, New Student Enrollment is being held today in all three of our buildings. Please remember to bring the name, address and phone number for your previous district so that we can request your student records. You will also need to bring a utility bill that includes your PHYSICAL address to verify that you live within the school district boundaries. We will also need a copy of your students immunization records. If you have questions, please contact:
Elementary 573-859-3800 extension 1302
Middle School 573-859-3800 extension 1001
High School 573-859-3800 extension 1201
Parent Portal Notification Letters have been sent out via Lumen to the email addresses that we have on file. If you do not receive the email or have issues logging in, please send an email to tbenson@mariesr2.org.
Happy Birthday Missouri
Any High School student wishing to be involved in eSports please attend the first practice August 17th, at 10am. Students will meet at the High School Office.
Softball practice has started for the 2021 Season. #letsgotigers
The Safe Return to in-Person Instruction and Continuity of Services Plan has been amended. Per CDC requirements, all students and staff who ride the bus will be mandated to wear a mask on the bus. Masks will be available on the bus each morning and afternoon. We want to make sure you have time to make alternative arrangements for getting your child to and from school if you need to.
As of today, masks are optional, but recommended per CDC guidelines, in the classrooms, lunchrooms and spaces where social distancing is not available.
Please look for additional information as we get closer to the start of the school year. Please email Dr. Basham if you have additional questions - lbasham@mariesr2.org.
How about a Flashback Friday to 2002. Recognize anyone? #proudofouralumni
The Maries County R-II School District has an opening for a paraprofessional position for the 2021-2022 school year. Candidates must have at least 60 college credit hours, be able to clear a federal and state background check and obtain a substitute certificate. The position is a full time position with benefits. Applications can be completed on-line at www.mariesr2.org. Please contact Kesha Sanders at kesanders@mariesr2.org/573-859-3800 ext. 1500 with any questions. Thank you!
Our bus drivers will be at the Open House at Bland on August 18 and the Open House at Belle on August 19. If you have questions about bus pick-up times, bus drop-off times or routes, please make plans to visit with them at Open House.
