District Prepares for Inclement Weather
Pleasant Hill R-III School District encompasses approximately 75 square miles. During inclement weather, road conditions usually vary widely from one area to another. This sometimes makes for a difficult decision on whether to close or delay school. Last year the District developed snow routes for use when necessary.
A snow route is a modified bus route that generally runs on main roads rather than side streets or through neighborhoods where driving a school bus may not be possible during severe weather. Snow routes will be used when main roads are clear enough for safe travel but side roads are not as clear. If snow routes are in effect, some students will have to catch their bus at alternate stops. On snow route days, to avoid confusion, students will be returned after school to their snow route stops regardless of changes in the weather. Although snow routes were never utilized last year we intend to have them available for use in certain situations.
The decision to use snow routes, cancel, or delay school is made by 5:30 am. The district will then contact the emergency notification center who contacts TV broadcast stations. R-III families and staff members will also be notified by ADT, the recorded phone service. Parents are urged to provide schools with updated information for any phone numbers that change throughout the year. Please note that school closing information will not appear on the district website.
Attendance must still be taken on these days but we encourage parents to use their best judgment in deciding if they should bring their children to a bus stop or school. We also encourage inexperienced school age drivers to ride with adults or on the bus during this time. These situations disrupt family schedules and we appreciate your patience during severe weather conditions. We recognize the importance of having children in school on a regular schedule with quality learning time, but be assured our top concern is always the safety of students and staff.
Dismissals for unexpected circumstances will be made up in the following order: May 21, Jan. 18, Feb. 15, Mar. 31, Apr. 1 and May 24. Days cancelled in excess of six will be added to the end.

APR 2009
The preliminary Annual Performance Report (APR) was released recently. Congratulations to the entire staff are in order because our district, for the fifth consecutive year, met 100% of Missouri’s performance standards. The administration and Board greatly appreciate your effort and focus on improved instruction during the past years.

There are 14 performance standards which include MAP/EOC testing for Math and Communications Arts in grades 3 - 11, ACT, advanced courses, career education courses, college placement, career education placement, graduation rate, attendance, and AYP (federal) subgroup achievement. The Pleasant Hill R-III School District met 14 of 14 standards. These standards measure most areas of the educational process and meeting all 14 confirms the commitment and dedication of our teachers, support staff, administrators, and students year after year. We are extremely proud of everyone involved.

Our challenge, as always, is to continue moving forward. Principals will continue working with staff to review and revise Building Improvement Plans that directly address student achievement. Using the most recent assessment data, continuous planning will include revisions in curriculum, professional development, instructional strategies, etc. I encourage everyone to work with your principals and be active participants in this improvement process.

Our entire district and community should be proud of the newly released achievement report with our school meeting all state standards. Congratulations and thank you for your dedication and continued support to the students of Pleasant Hill.

High School FallMusical
Pleasant Hill High School departments of theatre and music will be bringing the Broadway classic Once Upon a Mattress to the Pleasant Hill Performing Arts Center November 12-14 as the 2009 Fall Musical Production.

First Day Enrollment
The first day enrollment for 2009-2010 showed 2,199 students were counted on the August 18, 2009 opening day.

District Welcomes New Staff
Staff vacancies and reassignments within the district have allowed seven new staff members to join the district this fall. They will begin new teacher workshops on Aug. 10.

Primary School
Staci Moore will serve as Speech / Language teacher. She brings 7 years of experience and holds a Master of Science in Speech Language Pathology from University of Central Missouri and a Bachelor of Science from the University of Missouri - Kansas City.

Kerri Kay will serve as a 1st grade classroom teacher. She completed her student teaching with the Pleasant Hill School District. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from the University of Central Missouri.

Elementary School
Karen Hesse will serve as a Special Services paraprofessional. She holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Central Missouri and is currently employed at Price Chopper, Pleasant Hill.

Intermediate School
Kari Barger has taken the position of Secretary. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Central Missouri. She has substituted for the District since 2003.

Tammy Prewitt will serve as Speech Implementor at the Intermediate, Middle and High Schools. She has been a Special Services paraprofessional with the district for the past 5 years.

High School
In his first year of teaching, Wesley Thompson will serve as a Biology teacher. He student taught General Biology, Applied Biology and Chemistry with Salina High School in Salina Kansas. He holds a Bachelor of Science from Kansas Wesleyan University.

Trina Rogers has been an educator in the Iowa Public School system for the past twenty years. She will teach Algebra and Basic Geometry. She holds a Master of Science in Education from Southwest State University and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Iowa State University.

District
Bringing 20 years of experience to the District, Tom Hardy will serve as part-time ESL teacher. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Fine Arts from William Jewell College and a Master of Science in Curriculum / Instructions from Emporia State University.

Mike Wheeldon and Tom Stathas will serve as custodians for the district.

Goppert Foundation donates to Education Foundation
Mutual interests and cooperation resulted in benefits for kids recently when the Goppert Foundation donated over $50,000 to the Pleasant Hill Education Foundation.  The funds were put to immediate use with the purchase of playground equipment at three buildings of the Pleasant Hill School District.    The new equipment is expected to be installed soon, hopefully for the start of school next month.  Pictured at the presentation of the check for $50,771.59 are (l) Doug Goppert, president of the Pleasant Hill Bank; Jackie Emo, school district liaison for the Pleasant Hill Education Foundation; Tom Goppert, treasurer for the Goppert Foundation; and Jenny Gentry, vice-president of the Pleasant Hill Bank.

District attendance lines
To report an absence this year, please call the district attendance lines.
Please leave student’s name, grade, reason for the absence, parent’s name and phone number.
Contact the Primary School 987-9201, Elementary School 987-9202, Intermediate School 987-9203, Middle School 987-9204 and High School 987-9205.

District Receives Accreditation with Distinction
The Pleasant Hill R-III School District was recognized for receiving Accreditation with Distinction in Performance by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education during a banquet March 19 at the University of Central Missouri. Pictured are, left to right, Tony Stansberry, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Area Supervisor; Assistant Superintendent Dr. Becky Gallagher; CTA President Nicole Albin; Heidi Atkins Lieberman, Assistant Commissioner for Special Education, Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education; and Julie Blaine, Director of the Central Regional Professional Development Center.

Rooster Alerts
The Pleasant Hill R-III School District is continually striving to improve communication between the school and parents. You may sign up to receive Rooster Alerts on your cell phone or email.  This service will enable school personnel to notify parents by sending a text message or email within minutes for emergency information, school closings, early dismissals and event reminders. To sign up please visit the District website www.pleasanthillschools.com and click on ‘rooster alerts’. This service will be initiated as a pilot program in the High School for Activities and  Athletics information. This service is sponsored by the Pleasant Hill Bank

Please check your cell phone plan for any text message fees your wireless provider may charge. This is a SPAM-free application. Your name and personal contact information are protected and will remain private.

R-III School District to use ‘snow routes’

Pleasant Hill R-III School District encompasses approximately 75 square miles. During inclement weather, road conditions usually vary widely from one area to another. This sometimes makes for a difficult decision on whether to close or delay school. Beginning this year, on a trial basis, the District will utilize snow routes when appropriate.

A snow route is a modified bus route that generally runs on main roads rather than side streets or through neighborhoods where driving a school bus may not be possible during severe weather. Snow routes will be used when main roads are clear enough for safe travel but side roads are not as clear. If snow routes are in effect, some students will have to catch their bus at alternate stops. On snow route days, to avoid confusion, students will be returned after school to their snow route stops regardless of changes in the weather.

Depending on where you live, a snow route may or may not be necessary.

The decision to use snow routes, cancel, or delay school is made by 5:30 am. The district will then contact the emergency notification center who contacts TV broadcast stations.  Parents/guardians will also be notified by SchoolReach, the recorded phone service. Parents are urged to provide schools with updated information for any phone numbers that change throughout the year.

Attendance must still be taken on these days but we encourage parents to use their best judgment in deciding if they should bring their children to a bus stop or school. We also encourage inexperienced school age drivers to ride with adults or on the bus during this time.

These situations disrupt family schedules and we appreciate your patience during severe weather conditions. We recognize the importance of having children in school on a regular schedule with quality learning time, but be assured our top concern is always the safety of students and staff.

Children’s Vision Law
According to Senate Bill 16, enacted in 2007 every child enrolling in a public school kindergarten and new enrollees in first grade must receive a comprehensive eye examination from a state-licensed optometrist or physician. The cost of the exam is the responsibility of the parents. By January 1, 2009 parents and guardians shall provide to the school district proof of the required vision exam or a statement that they are opting out of the exam. The form to be used for completing this vision exam is available on the district website at www.pleasant hillschools.com. For more information, please visit the Missouri Optometric Association’s website www.moeye care.org.

RevTrak
Pleasant Hill R-III School District is providing new ways for parents to pay for meals in the Cafeteria. Parents may now pay with VISA or MasterCard, debit or credit cards for these items. RevTrak is a source for convenient, secure meal account management.  We make it easy to apply funds to your account and check your account balance.  No more worrying about having cash for meals – RevTrak has you covered!   No more lost or stolen lunch money.  Convenient, easy and secure... prepaying with RevTrak makes your life easier. The Pleasant Hill R-III School District will still continue accepting cash or check for meals in the cafeteria, however PHSD is expanding the options for our patrons by offering this convenient service with two options for payments.

Internet Payments:
Pleasant Hill R-III has established a Web Store to accept payments over the Internet. The District has contracted with a company named RevTrak to provide a secure site for making payments. The ease of paying online is further enhanced when parents access the website and see a familiar shopping cart. Parents may add to their student’s Cafeteria Meal Plan at the parent’s convenience. In fact, they can pay for each of their students at any campus, all in the same shopping cart.
You may access the Web Store through the District website at http://www.pleasanthillschools.com. The District home page has a direct link to the Web Store or you may go to the Food Service webpage at http://www.pleasanthillschools.com/Food%20Service.htm and access the link there.

For the Future:
RevTrak, the processing company chosen by the District, allows expansion of the Web Store, preauthorized payments and in person payments with minimal effort. Right now the choice of products is limited to the cafeteria meal plan but the District will evaluate the response from parents and the efficiencies of the payment methods for the District. If these test products work well, the District may expand the offerings

Parent Link
Parent link is a website that allows parents to view students attendance, grades, homework and lunch account balances. If you would like to sign up for Parent Link, the form is available on our website at www.pleasanthill schools.com.
If your email address has changed from previous years, you will need to fill out a new form so that we may update your account.