Now is a great time to feature our new JAG class. Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) is a state-based national non-profit organization dedicated to supporting young people of great promise. Mr. Jarvis Reed has received extensive training on how to make our program a success. Our JAG students receive instruction during one class period a day on various topics such as interviewing skills, interpersonal skills, and career options. This post highlights Nathan Parker, our JAG essay contest winner. Nathan and Mr. Reed were invited to a ceremony at the Missouri State Capitol. In one particular picture, you will notice Nathan holding an ornament that the JAG class made from scratch for the First Lady, Teresa Parson, to place on her Christmas tree. We are so proud to have this program at Alton R-IV! If you would like more details on this program, please visit jag.org or Governor Parson's FB page.
Good News------Alton R-IV has been notified by the USDA that the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) meal service format has been extended from December 31, 2020 as it was currently scheduled to run, to now be extended through the end of the academic year in May of 2021. Alton R-IV has completed all required paperwork to participate in this program through May of 2021 and every student on the Alton R-IV campus will remain eligible for free breakfast and free lunch meals on a daily basis through the end of the 2020-21 school year.
An individual that tested positive for COVID-19 was last on the Alton R-IV campus October 29, 2020. Another individual that tested positive for COVID-19 was last on the Alton R-IV campus November 6, 2020. There are a limited number of individuals with direct contact that will need to quarantine. These individuals have been contacted and provided specific guidance.
An individual that tested positive for COVID-19 was last on the Alton R-IV campus November 4, 2020. There are a limited number of individuals with direct contact that will need to quarantine. These individuals have been contacted and provided specific guidance.
Congratulations to our 2020 Alton Elementary Christmas candidates! #AltonElem
Juniors that submitted laundry soap orders will need to make arrangements to pick up their orders on Monday, November 9th after school in the high school gym. If you have any questions email nataliemyers@alton.k12.mo.us
Don't forget Veterans Day Assembly on Wednesday, November 11th. Doors will open at 1:00pm for Veterans, family and community. The program will officially begin around 1:15pm to accommodate students watching in their classroom. Community can also watch on the district Facebook page.
As indicated in an earlier post, it’s National Principals Month!
We are featuring Mrs. Melinda Langston, Alton Elementary principal. Mrs. Langston has been in our district since 1997! She has received all three of her degrees from Arkansas State University. She started out at Alton Elementary as a sixth grade teacher. After many years teaching she moved to the position of Alton Elementary librarian. Mrs. Langston has held many roles in the district, including that of PDC chair and being a member of the career ladder committee. This is her fourth year as an elementary principal.
She is known for her success in fundraising and is always looking for ways to make the school more inviting. She makes ALL of the students feel loved and is always willing to listen to her teachers when they are struggling. Even though Mrs. Langston resides in Arkansas, we have always felt blessed that she chooses to drive a little further to be an Alton Comet. Thank you, Mrs. Langston!
As indicated in an earlier post, it’s National Principals Month!
We are featuring Mrs. Stephanie Miller, Alton High School assistant principal. Mrs. Miller has been an Alton Comet since day one of Kindergarten. Graduating from Alton High in 1993, she went on to get her bachelor's degree from Arkansas State University and master’s degree from William Woods University. She chose to come back to Alton to start her teaching career. Over the past 23 years, Mrs. Miller has taught JH math, PE, Health, and Alternative School. Mrs. Miller has spent many years coaching girls basketball and softball. In addition to her current position as assistant principal she is the athletic director and A+ Coordinator.
Mrs. Miller spends many hours at the school. She truly wants our school to be the absolute best. She has one of the more difficult tasks in our district; handling discipline. You never hear her complain about anything and she is always eager to help. Thank you for your dedication to Alton R-IV and being a true Alton Comet!
Through visionary leadership and tireless pursuit of success for each student, principals guide and support their schools in ways large and small every day. And as we faced new challenges presented by COVID-19, our principals came through when it mattered most. National Principals Month is our way of honoring their dedication and thanking them for all they’ve done.
We are featuring Dr. Joby Steele, High School Principal. Dr. Steele has vast experience as both an educator and an administrator. He started his career at Alton High in 1993 as a social studies teacher. During the next ten years, he spent eight of them teaching and two as a high school counselor. In 2003, Dr. Steele moved to the Alton Elementary as the principal. He remained there for five years before moving to West Plains as an assistant principal for four years. Dr. Steele came back to Alton High in 2013 and has served here ever since! Dr. Steele has earned various degrees from Arkansas State University, William Woods University, and Lindenwood University.
Dr. Steele is a pillar in our community. He also serves as the minister at Macedonia Baptist Church. You will find him involved in many community activities. He is known for his caring responses to individuals and his exemplary way with words. He knows just the right thing to say when someone is in need. We are very thankful to have Dr. Steele at Alton R-IV. His dedication to our school and community is appreciated. Thank you, Dr. Steele!
We are celebrating Red Ribbon Week in the Middle School and High School!
Mrs. Holesapple's 3rd grade class would like to thank their community partner Burger Palace for providing pumpkins to each student and for providing money for each student to shop the book fair. We so much appreciate you.
Junior class is once again selling 5 gallon buckets of laundry soap to raise money for prom! This fundraiser will help cheapen prom ticket cost for all students. Get with any Alton junior or email Mrs. Myers at nataliemyers@alton.k12.mo.us for more info!
Alton R-IV will still be conducting Parent Teacher Conferences as scheduled on October 22, 2020. However, as are many things in this year of COVID, the format and details will be a little different this time around. No parents will be attending meetings in-person on campus.
Teachers will facilitate the traditional Parent-Teacher Conferences in one of three methods: email, phone call, or video conference.
At the elementary level, homeroom teachers will be reaching out to their various sets of parents to both determine the style of the meeting, as well as the exact time. At the high school level, we are asking parents to make the initial contact directly by email to the specific teacher or teachers they would wish to meet with and then set up the exact details and time. All faculty emails can be found at this link: https://www.alton.k12.mo.us/staff
At the October 8, 2020 Alton R-IV BOE Meeting, three days of student attendance were approved to be added back into the 2020-21 School Calendar: Friday, November 20, 2020, Monday, January 18, 2021 and Monday, February 15, 2021. These make-up dates will account for the dates of August 25, 26, and 27, 2020 when Alton R-IV was temporarily closed with students not present on campus and we had not yet activated our AMI-X remote learning process. AMI-X was actively in place on August 28 and 31, as well as September 1, 2, and 3, 2020 and those days do not have to be made up since remote learning occurred per DESE guidelines.
Alton Elementary Book Fair is coming soon! Please check out the following link for important information about the fair.
https://bookfairs.scholastic.com/bookfairs/cptoolkit/homepage.do?method=homepage&url=altonelementaryschool2
#RedRibbonWeek will be held October 26-29 @AltonElem. We encourage all students to participate and take the pledge to stay drug free!
The Book Fair is coming soon!
Alton Elementary Library
October 19-22
8:00-3:00
Don’t forget, tomorrow is picture day! It’s also fall sports pictures, so don’t forget your uniform.
Seniors, you will take your individual pictures first thing in the morning. When everyone is finished, we will take the 2021 SR photo and the charter seniors photo.
Senior athletes, you will take your individual banner picture and your group banner picture tomorrow afternoon.