The Annual Performance Report (APR) shows the district’s status on the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP) Performance Standards. For all districts, the APR is intended to serve as an annual status report on the MSIP Performance Standards and as a planning tool for improvement efforts. The report is intended to further assist districts as they refine improvement plans for all students.

The APR allows us to know where we are in the "eyes" of the state department and it provides us with insight on the direction we need to take for the future.

The report measures the district in each of the following twelve categories. Each of the 12 Performance Measures for K-12 districts will be designated either "Met" or "Not Met" according to the published Scoring Guide for that school year.

14 out of 14 performance standards were met as criteria for the Missouri School Improvement Program through the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

We are very pleased to have achieved this high mark. As pleased as we are with these results, we know that there is still room for improvement and we plan to look closely at the results and make plans to address areas of need.

Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) is another gauge by which a school district can measure progress. The Annual Proficiency Target, a tool used by the Federal Government to determine if a school is meeting the guidelines of the No Child Left Behind Act, increases each year until 2014 when 100% of all students will be proficient in Communication Arts and Math.

This year the Annual Proficiency Target for Communication Arts was 34.7%. 44.1% of our high school students and 53.3% of our elementary students tested proficient. The Proficiency Target for Mathematics was 26.6%. 55% of our high school students and 60% of our elementary students tested proficient.

Although we are currently performing at an outstanding level thanks to the dedication of parents, students, and staff, there is always room for improvement. I look forward to continued success and praise your combined efforts that led us to this truly remarkable accomplishment.

The Family Advocacy Project will be offering Positive Parenting Classes during the month of January 2007. These classes are presented by the Adair County Juvenile Office and the Children’s Trust Fund of Missouri. They are free to anyone who wishes to attend. The classes will be held at 1400 S. Boundary in Kirksville.

These classes will be held January 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, and 24 beginning at 6:00 p.m.

To register please call Karen Phipps, Coordinator at (660) 665-4224.

The district is offering surplus property for sale via an online auction in January. To access the online auction website, go to our home page at http://brashear.k12.mo.us/ and click on the GovDeals Icon (this icon will be available in January).

Offered for sale:

1993 Ford 53-Passenger Bus with a 5.9 L Diesel engine, 5-speed transmission, in running condition.

Approximately 150 square feet of Somerset Hardwood Oak Flooring (Builder’s Grade) – Natural Color – Finished.

Additional information and pictures are available on the GovDeals website. The auction will be open from January 5, 2007 through February 6, 2007.

All items sold AS IS WHERE IS. Adair County R-II School reserves the right to reject any and all bids and to withdraw from sale any of the items listed.

The date and time for inspection of the items is scheduled for January 5, 2007 through February 6, 2007, from 9 AM to 11:30 AM or 12:30 PM to 3 PM. Please call 323-5272 to set up an appointment for viewing the items.

School districts shall prepare and publish, prior to December 1 of each school year, a school accountability report card for each attendance center in the district. These reports shall be made available to all district patrons and to every household with a student enrolled in the district.

The district report card is now available at: http://dese.mo.gov/planning/profile/rc001092.html

If you would like a copy of this report card, contact the district office at 323-5272.

We would like to thank:

Travis Freeman for his recent donation of books in memory of his wife, Lucia. The collection, valued at over $1000, included 87 volumes of books, many of them richly illustrated with photographs.

Titles include:

The library is open to the public Monday through Friday during school hours and at other times through special arrangements. We invite you to come in and browse our stacks.

Books make a lasting tribute to the memory of our loved ones. If there is someone that you would like to memorialize in this way, please contact Denise Brown, Library and Media Specialist at 323-5272.

Judge Garry Lewis for his donation to the scholarship fund in memory of Connie Lewis.

A donation has been made to the Scholarship Fund honoring the School Board for their service to the community. Thank you, Doug Clarkson, Curtis Gordon, Brent Hettinger, Traci Hill, Matt Reeves, Brad Smith, and Roger Thompson.

Locust Hill Church for their donation of $200 to serve the needs of students in our district.

Donald Thompson, Doug Clarkson, and Doug Thomas for reworking the ball field. Thank you also to Roger Thompson for allowing us to use his equipment.

Tiger Pride will be working the concession stand during the basketball games on January 31 and February 22. Parents, please mark these dates on your calendar. More information will be coming home with your child(ren).

Homecoming apparel may still be ordered until Thursday, January 11. Please make checks payable to Brashear School. The company has let us know that the youth dark gray short sleeve shirts are not available but you can order these youth shirts in an oxford (lighter) gray.

10 Ways to Make It a Great Day

Every day has the potential to be a good and, in some cases, a great day for you. Few of us get up in the morning thinking that we want this to be a bad day. Yet in many cases the day turns that way because of a person, or an event, or because we worry about something in the future.

Every day there are numerous people or events that can prevent us from having a good day if we let them. The key is not letting them "steal your day."

In many cases we cannot control what happens to us, but we can control how we react to these events. Lao-Tzu, a Chinese philosopher said: "He who conquers others is strong; he who conquers himself is mighty."

Below are some ideas to help you stay positive and focused on making your day great.

1. Smile, laugh and encourage others

2. Meet each day with enthusiasm and determination

3. Be honest with yourself and others

4. Set goals and take action on your dreams

5. Manage your time or be mismanaged by it

6. When in doubt LISTEN and learn

7. View change as an opportunity for growth

8. Eliminate excuses

9. Don’t find fault - find a solution

10. Count your blessings

This Is Your Life! Your Goals! Your Success! You Are A Winner!

Ideas to Help:

For the next three days write down the events or people that contributed either positively or negatively to your day. What did you learn?

Highlight one item from the above list and work on it for an entire week. The following week take a second item and work on that area. Continue to work on one item per week. Repeat as needed.

Things to Think About:

Are there particular people or events that seem to frequently impact your day negatively or positively?

Mrs. Grissom

Our school district has earned the state’s "Distinction in Performance" award for our academic achievement and progress during the last school year (2005-06). This award is presented annually by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The Distinction in Performance award is based on the 14 academic performance standards that are now used in the accreditation of K-12 school districts. For the past five years, the award was based on 12 standards. The criteria were modified this year to reflect changes in the state’s MAP testing program. A standard also has been added to provide a measure of "adequate yearly progress," which is one of the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind act.

To qualify for the award this year, K-12 districts had to meet 13 out of 14 standards, including all of the MAP-based measures.

Beginning this year, a district may be recognized for distinction based on high achievement or on improvement. To meet the "high achievement" standard, a district must meet at least 12 of 13 performance indicators at a prescribed level.

Under the state’s accreditation process, known as the Missouri School Improvement Program (MSIP), each school district is evaluated at least once every five years. The Distinction in Performance award is based on the same criteria used in the accreditation process, but it provides an annual confirmation and recognition of a district’s consistent performance.

Congratulations to the staff, administration, students, parents and Board of Education. Your dedication and hardwork are paying off with big dividends.

Over the past semester, Brashear High School students got their first look at the new PASS program. The program differed from the ZAP program in that one missing assignment didn’t automatically cause a student to serve a detention. The PASS program was targeted at students that were receiving Ds or Fs and required them to serve a set number of days in the program. With all new programs, time is needed to work out any bugs that might be associated with implementing a new program. After careful review, a number of changes will be made to the PASS program for the second semester. Starting second semester, only students with Fs will be required to stay for extra help. Although we recognize that students with Ds would benefit from the extra help, we are no longer requiring students who receive a D to stay for PASS. Please remember, any student wanting to stay for extra help is always welcome in the PASS program. The second change is that PASS will only be on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. This is a change from having it every day. The goal is to have at least two teachers on duty these days to lessen the amount of students in the PASS room. Next, students that can show that their grades are above a 60% will be released before 10 days. These changes are designed to focus on the students with the greatest needs.

Performance and Achievement System for Success (PASS) Program

Approved by the Board of Education on December 18, 2006

In Effect: 1/3/06

Mission: To develop and implement a system to provide "extra help" on an as needed basis, to enable all students to achieve and succeed as we raise academic standards and enhance the educational program at Brashear High School.

What: 60 minutes of "extra help" provided by teaching staff at BHS.

When: It will begin after the first 3-week progress reports are issued during first quarter and run for the rest of the school year. PASS opportunities will be scheduled after school on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 3:15 – 4:15 or as arranged by the PASS teacher.

Who: Any student who receives an "F" at the time of progress reports will be required to attend PASS. Students failing one class will be required to stay 2 days a week for three weeks. Students failing two or more classes will be required to stay three days a week for three weeks. Students with one "F" may get out of PASS whenever their grade is above an "F." Students with multiple "F’s" must complete a minimum of three nights of PASS and show evidence that their grades are above an "F" in order to be released from PASS.

Teachers may assign a student to PASS if they are behind in their class or if their grade drops below 60% at anytime during the quarter.

Failure to attend a PASS will result in consequences. These could include but are not limited to: reassignment to another PASS session, detention, ISS, OSS, or Saturday School.

Our school is a small community, and even in a small community crime such as stealing can take place. We do have consequences for those caught stealing, but the problem we often face is not having proof of who took something. It's easy to point fingers and start rumors, it's another thing to prove who stole something. In all the cases where something was stolen, the victim had left the item in a purse or a backpack hanging on the coat rack, or in an unlocked locker. Thieves are opportunistic people that take advantage of a situation. Remind your children that if they have something of value that they would be upset if it were stolen, that they should not leave it in an unlocked locker or unattended. Locks can be rented from the office for a dollar. Students should practice the combination before putting the lock on. Locks can be a hassle, but not as much as having your things stolen.

Mr. McHenry

High School Principal

Congratulations to the following students for their selection to the 2007 Northeast Missouri Junior High District Honors Band: Abigail Wheeler - Clarinet, Cierra Hines - Bass Clarinet, Jay Scudder - Alto Saxophone, Sydney Slavin - Trombone, and Abby McKim - Percussion.

These students will audition for chair placement and rehearse on January 6 and perform in concert on February 17 at Centralia High School.

Monday: French toast sticks, syrup/Tenderloin, french fries, baked beans, apple, rice krispie treat, milk

Monday: Cereal, toast/Hot ham sandwich, tater tots, vegetable, fruit, pumpkin bar, milk

Friday: Breakfast burrito/Walking taco, refried beans, lettuce, fruit, peanut butter bar, milk

Monday: Sausage & egg biscuit/Lasagna, bread sticks, vegetable, fruit, cottage cheese, cheesecake, milk

Monday: Muffin, fruit/Grilled cheese, chili or tomato soup, corn, orange, cheesecake, milk

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