Written by
Beth Farrar, SMT Writer
Essex, Missouri - Welcome back to school! Elementary Principal, Cara Merritt, is excited about this school year. The elementary has already been very busy since school has started in August. The teachers have worked hard to prepare their classrooms and lesson plans and the students are adjusting well to their new classes. The elementary students and teachers have already taken school pictures, practiced fire and other safety drills, started a Science Club, hosted an Open Library evening event, celebrated Grandparents Day, and visited the St. Louis Zoo as a reward for their excellent and outstanding MAP Test scores. And they have only been in school for a few weeks!
As the fall season comes quickly for all of the elementary students, they will be able to look forward to more exciting events. Parents and students will be able to receive weekly newsletters released each Friday so they can mark their calendars and stay informed. Many of the district events and important dates will be listed on the school website.
“I would like to thank all of our staff, students, and parents for all your hard work,” Cara Merritt stated. “You are the reason our school is such a wonderful place. I appreciate all your support and value your input. If you have any questions, suggestions, or concerns, feel free to contact me. Go Rebels!”
The Rebels in the high school and junior high building have also tackled this school year with a running start and it has started off great! Mrs. Cindy Rhodes, the high school and junior high principal, would like to congratulate all of the students, staff, and parents on their excellent MAP and EOC scores. The students that scored Proficient or Advanced on either of the tests will be taking the annual trip to the ST. Louis Zoo tomorrow, Wednesday, September 25th. The entire building (7th through 12th grade) will also be rewarded with a dance that will take place during school hours on Friday, September 27th from 9:30am to 11:30am (school will be released at noon after lunch is served) to celebrate Richland’s excellent scores and their rank in the state of Missouri.
Mid-quarter has quickly arrived for the Rebels and staff so the progress reports will be in each and every Rebels’ mailbox soon. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if any parent has questions or concerns regarding grades or classroom performance. Tutoring sessions can also be set up for the student in the afternoon if necessary.
The Richland Rebel family would like to welcome Adam Touchette, Hannah Gregory, Stefanie Dennison, Kyle Carter, Amanda King, Stephanie Raymer, Beverly Hampton, Ginny Jansen, and Candy Harper. The Rebels are looking forward to having a wonderful year with all of you.
Richland recently was approved for a USDA grant for new playground equipment. Our groundskeeper and handyman, Calvin, has been hard at work constructing a pavilion on the elementary playground. As the year progresses, each stage of the project will be completed and before long, Richland students will be playing on the new equipment.
With new changes going on, it is important to note that Darren Basler, the agriculture teacher, and the FFA club have been approved for an enhancement grant that will allow Richland’s FFA to acquire new technology, including new TVs, laptops, and iPads, along with new power tools for the shop, and a brand new John Deere 4320 tractor, that was delivered on Tuesday from Greenway Equipment Sales in Sikeston.
The Rebels are already off to a good year, but it got even better when the results of the EOCs and the MAP Tests came in. Richland’s overall APR score from last year was 87%, but this year, they raised it up to a 94%. The school board wants the chance to tell everyone how proud they are of Richland and to keep up the good work for the rest of the year!
Submitted by Jill Temples
SMT Writer
For the past nineteen years, Wendy's Restaurants have teamed up with the Heisman Memorial Trophy Committee to create the Wendy's High School Heisman Award. The award honors both male and female high school students who excel in academics, athletics and student leadership.
Criteria for Application
We want applications from both male and female student athletes who exhibit excellence in the classroom, on the playing field, and within their communities. Eligibility for application is limited exclusively to men and women whose senior year of high school is the 2013–2014 academic year, who have at least a “B” grade average, and participate in at least one of 27 sports. We want to hear from all student athletes who work hard, are dedicated, and have become role models for underclassmen.
The Application Process
A student begins the application process by creating an account on the Wendy’s website. Students will establish their own User ID and password, which will be required to log in, as often as needed prior to the deadline, to complete the application.
Once the account is created, the student can launch the online application. At the initial launch, the student must answer eligibility questions.
Eligible students will then proceed to the remaining sections of the application. They will describe their school involvement, athletic participation and leadership, and relate experiences from community involvement activities.
In addition, the student must provide an accurate email address of a school official who will log in to review the application and its contents, and confirm its accuracy.
All of this must be done prior to 5:00 p.m., central time, October 2, 2013.
Applicants should plan on submitting their application in September to allow time for the review.
The reviewer must submit by 5:00 p.m., central time, on October 4, 2013.
If you are one of our first 25,000 applicants you will receive a Wendy’s gift card worth $10 – $50.
School Winners – One male and one female from every school will be selected as a school winner and will receive a certificate and a Heisman letterman patch.
State Finalists – 1,020 state finalists will be made up of 20 finalists (10 males and 10 females), from every state and the District of Columbia. State Finalists will receive a bronze medal, a Heisman letterman patch, and a $25 Wendy’s gift card.
State Winners – 102 state winners will be made up of one male and one female from each state and the District of Columbia. State Winners will receive a silver medal, a Heisman letterman patch, and a $50 Wendy’s gift card.
National Finalists – 12 national finalists will include one male and one female from each of the six geographic Heisman regions. National Finalists will receive an invitation to the Heisman Memorial Trophy Weekend, including the National Awards Banquet in New York City on December 13th, a gold medal, a Heisman letterman patch, a $2,000 donation to the winners’ high school, and a $100 Wendy’s gift card.
National Winners – Two national winners will be made up of one male and one female from the 12 National Finalists. National Winners will receive national recognition during ESPN’s college Heisman Trophy Presentation, a Wendy’s High School Heisman Trophy, a Heisman letterman patch, a $10,000 donation to winners’ high school, and a $500 Wendy’s gift card. National Winners will be announced nationally on ESPN2.
For more information visit:
http://www.wendyshighschoolheisman.com/applicants/how-to-apply/
Submitted by Jill Temples
SMT Writer
The Hagan Scholarships are for high achieving students in need of financial assistance in order to attend college. These students will graduate from a public high school located in an eligible state and in a county having fewer than 50,000 residents.
Each Hagan Scholarship will help pay the unmet financial need of the recipient, up to $5,000 per semester.
The dollar amount of each scholarship will be determined each semester by HSF by totaling the actual cost for Tuition and Fees, estimated cost for Room and Board published on the college or university website, plus $500 for Books and Supplies; then, deducting one-half of the dollar amount of the recipient’s FAFSA Expected Family Contribution (EFC) and the dollar amount of ALL grants, scholarships, awards and waivers obtained by or awarded to the recipient. Personal and transportation costs are the responsibility of the recipient.
Parents must pay their FAFSA EFC, if any, at the start of each semester in order to be eligible for funding of a Hagan Scholarship. If full payment of the EFC is not required due to receipt of other scholarships, grants, awards and waivers the recipient will not be eligible for funding of their Hagan Scholarship for that semester.
Requirements for scholarship:
-Recipients must attend a mandatory free summer workshop prior to the start of each academic year of college.
-Recipients must work a minimum of 240 hours of supervised paid employment in the twelve months prior to the start of each academic year of college and provide proof of employment to HSF.
Each scholarship is renewable for up to seven (7) additional semesters if the recipient fulfills the renewal criteria, attends the mandatory workshops, and fulfills their Schwab Account responsibilities, regardless of recipient's unmet financial need.
Eligibility Requirements
-Must be a resident of an Eligible State.
-Must have attended as a junior and senior an Eligible High School.
-Must be a student in the 2014 high school graduating class.
-Must have achieved a high school GPA of 3.50 or higher.
-Must have scored 23 or higher (composite score) on the ACT.
-Must enroll in a four year college the first semester after high school.
-Must work 240 hours in the twelve months prior to start of college.
-Must complete the FAFSA in 2013 using 2012 Tax Return Information.
-Must provide a complete copy of the FAFSA Student Aid Report (5 or 6 pages.)
- FAFSA Expected Family Contribution (EFC) must be less than $7,500.
- Must apply for eligible Federal and State grants.
- Must not have been convicted of a felony.
Applicants must mail a complete Scholarship Application Package to HSF by November 15, 2013.
For more information on this scholarship: http://haganscholarships.org/index.php
Submitted by Jill Temples
SMT Writer
The College JumpStart Scholarship is an annual, merit-based competition -- financial need is not considered -- that is open to 10th-12th graders, college students and non-traditional students. The main requirement is that you are committed to going to school and can express your goals for getting a higher education.
The first place prize is a $1,500 scholarship to help cover educational expenses. This award can be used at any college or university in the United States.
The deadline for the competition is October 17, 2013
To apply for the College JumpStart Scholarship you must meet the following requirements:
-High school 10th-12th grader, college student or non-traditional student;
-Attend or plan to attend an accredited 2-year, 4-year or vocational / trade school in the U.S.
- Be committed to using education to better your life and that of your family and/or community.
-U.S. citizen or legal resident;
For more information visit: http://www.jumpstart-scholarship.net/
Submitted by Jill Temples
SMT Writer
The Horatio Alger Association is accepting applications from high school seniors of the Class of 2014 for the Horatio Alger Scholarships.
To apply for the Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs, the following items must be completed by October 25, 2013:
-Online application
Support Form. Online form completed to support the adversities listed by the applicant.
High School transcript. Uploaded or mailed.
Online Certifications Form. Must be completed online by the applicant's high school counselor.
Income Verification. Applicants must provide a copy of the first two pages of their parent/guardian's 2012 individual federal tax return (1040, 1040A, 1040 EZ or 1099 SSA-Social Security Tax Form) or tax transcript.
To be eligible to apply for the Horatio Alger Scholarship Programs, applicants must meet the following criteria:
-Be enrolled full-time as a high school senior in the United States, progressing normally toward graduation in spring/summer of 2014 with plans to enter a college in the United States no later than the fall following graduation.
-Exhibit a strong commitment to pursue and complete a bachelor’s degree at an accredited non-profit public or private institution in the United States (students may start their studies at a two-year institution and then transfer to a four-year institution.)
-Demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income is required.)
-Be involved in co-curricular and community service activities.
-Display integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity.
-Maintain a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
-Be a United States citizen.
For more information visit: https://www.horatioalger.org/scholarships/
