Local school board members are dedicated citizens who carry out the truest form of representative government—volunteer public service. School board service is perhaps the purest expression of grassroots democratic principles upon which our nation was founded.

In these challenging times, school board members are called upon to be the policy makers for our school district and are often called upon to make tough decisions. The week of January 22 through January 28, 2006, has been declared School Board Recognition Week by the Missouri School Boards’ Association. It’s a time for educators and citizens across the state to salute these unpaid volunteers who serve public education on behalf of their communities. It seems fitting that at least once a year we thank them for their time and dedication.

Being an effective school board member is no easy task. Lay school leaders need to be knowledgeable about many complex educational and social issues. Board members govern individual school districts, establish local policies, approve educational programs, provide necessary physical facilities, hire the superintendent, and share in costs by raising necessary local funds along with state funds to operate district educational programs.

School board members’ service ensures that decisions about our public schools are made as close to the needs of our children and communities as possible. Further, our local board members serve as examples for our young people of the excellent tradition of volunteering that is a hallmark of our society.

School board members face challenges every day. For their untiring personal dedication and commitment to public service, let’s give our school board members a hand.

Curtis Gordon, President

4 Years Service

Doug Clarkson, Vice President

7 Years Service

Roger Thompson, Secretary

3 Years Service

Brent Hettinger, Treasurer

5 Years Service

Traci Hill, Member

1 Year Service

Matt Reeves, Member

2 Years Service

Brad Smith, Member

6 Years Service

Brashear PTS will be holding its annual Chili/Soup Supper on February 10, 2006 (Homecoming), from 4:00-7:00 p.m. The normal cafeteria will not be open. Soda, water, candy, and popcorn will be available after the start of the girls game. The cost will be $4.00 for adults and students in grades 7-12, and $2.50 for students in grades K-6 and under. This includes a bowl of chili/soup, dessert, drink, and refills. All money raised will help to fund the PTS scholarships awarded each year as well as other school needs. We appreciate your support of this event.

The Family Advocacy Project will be offering Positive Parenting Classes during the month of February. These classes are made possible with a grant from 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.

Topics of discussion will be: Sensitive Parenting, Communication, Boundaries, Discipline, Self-Esteem and Healthy & Happy Children.

These classes will be held February 2, 7, 14, 16, 21, and 23 at 6:00 p.m.

Kirksville Area Technical Center has numerous community education classes available to the public. Enrollment began Monday, January 23 and classes for the spring session begin February 20, 2006.

Courses will be offered in the following areas:

Health Occupations Computers

Business Technical

Youth Classes Personal Enrichment

Online Courses Safety for Children

Pilot Ground School

You may register in person or by phone at the Community Education Office at the Kirksville Area Technical Center, 1103 South Cottage Grove, Kirksville, MO, between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. The phone number is 660-665-2865.

For a listing of courses available, you may contact Kirksville Area Technical Center, the High School Office at Adair County R-II, or by visiting the KATC website at http://www.kirksville.k12.mo.us/Tech_Center/index.html and clicking on the link for Community Education.

The Adair County R-II 77th Annual Invitational Tournament will be held from Monday, January 30 through Friday, February 3 at the Brashear High School Gymnasium. We will host teams from Douglass, Knox County, and Novinger. The game schedule will be as follows:

5:00—Novinger vs. Douglass—Boys

6:30—Brashear vs. Knox County—Girls

8:00—Brashear vs. Knox County—Boys

5:00—Douglass vs. Knox County—Boys

6:30—Novinger vs. Knox County—Girls

8:00—Brashear vs. Novinger—Boys

5:00—Brashear vs. Douglass—Boys

6:30—Brashear vs. Novinger—Girls

8:00—Novinger vs. Knox County—Boys

First team listed will be the home team. Admission fees for the tournament will be $2.00 for students, $3.00 for adults with a maximum of $8.00 per family. The family rate is for parents and children only. It does not include grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc. Admission for senior citizens will be $1.00. We hope to have good community support, as we always have, for the tournament games. We wish for each team to play their best, and may the best team win!

This year we have had three candidates file for the two available positions on the Adair County R-II School Board. Those who have filed include incumbent Brad Smith, incumbent Roger Thompson, and Robert Kelsey. Please remember to vote on Tuesday, April 4, 2006 for your local Board members. If you are not a registered voter, the last day to register to vote in the general election is Wednesday, March 8.

We would like to thank:

Rick, Denise and Chrissy Brown for their donation of 101 Quick Fixes

Around the House and

in memory of

Max and Grace Laird

Jerry and Martha Reese and family for their donation of The Art of New Mexico in memory of Lucia Freeman

Dennis and Diane Bradley

for their donation to the school’s scholarship fund in memory of Max Laird and Doris Mountain.

Books and scholarship donations 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 the school at 323-5272.

(WeBLOG) A Web site that contains dated entries in reverse chronological order (most recent first) about a particular topic. Functioning as an online newsletter, blogs can be written by one person or a group of contributors. Entries contain commentary and links to other Web sites, and images as well as a search facility may also be included. (Definition from TechEncyclopedia at www.techweb.com)

This sounds like a wonderful communication tool but, as with most things, blogs have the potential for misuse.

What if a blog site has been set up to allow teenagers to post their most intimate thoughts and photographs online? No big deal, right? Kids have been doing this for years. But what if these online activities may affect not only their safety, but also their academic and professional lives?

Besides the most obvious danger—adult stalkers enticing teenagers into face-to-face meetings, college admissions officers and future employers can also read personal information posted online.

Be advised, other adults do read the sites as well. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children reported 1,224 incidents last year of "online enticement" of children by adults and estimates that one in five children gets sexual solicitations online.

Personal information can also be used for commercial purposes. These blog sites can sell information about students to marketers and can use and display their contributions, including photos.

Here at Brashear schools we are concerned with these alarming statistics and are dedicated to educating our students about the dangers and safety issues regarding Internet usage.  Mrs. Grissom, K-12 guidance counselor, has been utilizing a program called i-SAFE.  i-SAFE is a national program that strives to educate students, parents, and the community about internet safety. 

In a survey given to Brashear 6th grade students, 25% said they have chatted online with someone they'd never met face-to-face. 50% reported being fooled by someone’s age online, 50% have been asked to meet someone they didn't know face-to-face and 50% of them have lied about their age to get into a website.

The risks and threats are very real in our area.  Mrs. Grissom will be doing a parent i-SAFE training in the sixth grade classroom on Friday, February 17th at 5:00 p.m.  You will be able to learn how to monitor what your children are doing on the Internet.

(Excerpts for this article have been taken from www.washingtonpost.com)

Heart disease and stroke are America's No. 1 and No. 3 killers. The K-6 students will be participating in Jump for Heart on February 14, from 3:15-4:15 p.m. in the Elementary Gym. They have a $1,000 goal. They will be receiving their collection envelopes soon. If you can help us reach our goal or would like to volunteer to help that afternoon, we would appreciate it.

Thank you,

Mrs. Lisa Fisher

The Tiger-Pride 21st CCLC Program would like to thank everyone who donated items to be sold at our holiday Silent Auction. Thanks to local business sponsors as well as Stacey Mihalevich, Robin Taylor, Kara Heimer, Shirley Baker, and Diane Bradley. Thanks also to those who purchased items. We were able to raise approximately $250.00 to go toward future Tiger-Pride needs.

Thanks again!

NATIONAL SCHOOL

COUNSELING WEEK,

February 6 - 10

"COUNSELORS: CHANGING LIVES, BUILDING FUTURES"

National School Counseling Week, sponsored by the American School Counselor Association (ASCA), will be celebrated from Feb. 6-10, 2006, to focus public attention on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within U.S. school systems. National School Counseling Week highlights the tremendous impact that counselors can have in helping students achieve school success and plan for a career.

The special week honoring school counselors provides recognition for school counselors who implement comprehensive school counseling programs, a vital part of the educational process for all students as they meet the challenges of the 21st century. School counselors seek to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and complement comprehensive school counseling programs, and help students become productive members of society. Comprehensive developmental school counseling programs are considered an integral part of the Adair County R-II educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school.

School counselors are actively engaged in helping students examine their abilities, strengths, interests and talents; work in a partnership with parents as they encounter the challenges of raising children in today's world; focus on positive ways to enhance students' social/personal, educational and career development; and work with teachers and other educators to provide an educational system where students can realize their potential and set healthy, realistic and optimistic aspirations for themselves. Professional school counselors are certified, experienced educators with a master's degree in guidance and counseling. The combination of their training and experience makes them an integral part of the total educational program.

"Every day, school counselors work with school counseling programs that address the personal/social, academic and career needs of all students," said Pamela Gabbard, ASCA past-president. "Their ultimate goal is to enable all students to achieve success in school and to become responsible and productive members of our society."

Any parent or other community member with specific questions or concerns about school counseling programs should contact the individual counselor at his/her school. More general information can also be found on ASCA's Web site, www.schoolcounselor.org

The American School Counselor Association is the national organization representing the school counseling profession. ASCA focuses on providing professional development, enhancing school counseling programs and researching effective school counseling practices. With this weeks theme, CHANGING LIVES, BUILDING FUTURES, ASCA emphasizes its commitment to all school counselors and all students.

Homecoming Week is February 6-10th. Activities will include the following:

Monday - Rival Day - Dress up like Atlanta Hornet fans and we'll spend the rest of the week "Swatting the Hornets"

Tuesday - Western Day - "Rope in the Hornets" - wear your western clothes

Wednesday - Hawaiian Day - "Lei Down the Competition" with your Hawaiian clothes

Thursday - Fake an Injury Day - Our school wishes the Tigers good luck by saying "Break a Leg, Tigers"

Friday - Spirit Day - "We've Got Spirit, How 'Bout You?" Support the tigers by dressing in orange and black.

Please keep in mind the dress policy. Hats may be worn as long as they fit with the days' theme and as long as, if asked to remove them, students do so. Costumes must not interfere with the educational environment and should be consistent with the school dress code.

Prizes will be awarded each day by the Varsity Cheerleaders to those who participate in activities. Points will be awarded and the spirit stick will be handed out on Friday at the Pep Assembly.

There will be an all school assembly at 2:40 p.m. on Friday. The community is invited and encouraged to attend.

Friday: Scrambled eggs & sausage, toast/Pizza, corn, fruit, ice cream, milk

Friday: Breakfast bites/Taco pie, refried beans, corn, ice cream, milk