There will be two open seats for the Board of Education election on April 3, 2007. The incumbents are Brent Hettinger and Matt Reeves. Those elected will serve three-year terms. The first day for candidates to file is Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 8:00 a.m. The last day for candidates to file will be Tuesday, January 16, 2007 at 5:00 p.m.

A candidate must be a U.S. citizen, a resident taxpayer of the Adair County R-II School District, have resided in the state of Missouri for at least one year preceding the election, and be at least 24 years of age.

Candidates may be required to file a financial interest statement and must agree to obtain 16 hours of credit in school boardmanship within 12 months of the election.

Interested candidates may pick up filing materials in the Superintendent’s office beginning on Tuesday, December 12 at 8:00 a.m. The superintendent’s office will be closed December 21 – January 2 and therefore will not be accepting candidates filing on those dates. Regular business hours will resume on Wednesday, January 3. On January 16, the office will remain open until 5:00 p.m. for filing purposes. Questions? Call the Superintendent’s office at 323-5272 during regular business hours.

Citizens have until Wednesday, March 7, 2007 to register to vote in the April general election.

Congratulations to Christina Scudder for earning 2nd Chair 3rd Clarinet in the 2007 Northeast Missouri All-District Band. Christina was one of 18 clarinetists selected from the nearly 40 from all over Northeast Missouri that auditioned on November 11 in Moberly. In addition to participating in a rehearsal and concert with the band on January 13, 2007, Christina is now eligible to audition for the Missouri All-State Band on December 2.

The annual Brashear Music Department Christmas Program will take place on Tuesday, December 19, at 7:00 p.m. General Music Classes from grades K - 6, the Elementary and Junior/Senior High Bands and the Junior/Senior High Chorus will present traditional and some less common holiday music from all over the globe for your enjoyment. The public is invited and encouraged to attend.

As the winter season approaches, we are reminding parents and students to listen to the local media stations to check on "early dismissals" and/or "no school" bulletins. This information will be given to KTVO television, KHQA television, WGEM television, KIRX radio, KTUF radio, KRXL radio, KRES radio of Moberly, KMEM radio of Memphis, and KZBK radio of Brookfield. These stations will present dismissal information as soon as decisions have been made. Please do not call the school.

The Student Council will be conducting a penny drive from December 4 to December 15. The proceeds will go to the Salvation Army. The class that can raise the most "pennies" will be treated to pizza. Because this is a "penny" drive, only pennies will count towards a class’s total. All other change/bills will count off of a class’s total. Make sure to put your nickels, dimes, quarters or dollars in the other classes’ cans to make their totals go down.

The Tiger Pride Before- and After-School Program provides a safe and caring environment for elementary students in grades K-6. The purpose of the program is to foster academic and social growth in addition to providing a much-needed service to the district.

Volunteers and mentors are an integral part of this program. We would enjoy any special hobbies or interests that you would like to share with these students.

Our program is open from 7:00 to 8:00 a.m. and 3:15 to 5:15 p.m. You may contact Diane Bradley, Shelly Shipman, or Wendy Kerby for more information.

We are excited about the opportunities that this 21st Century Community Learning Center Tiger Pride Program provides for our students, families, and community.

For most of us, the upcoming holiday season is the beginning of weeks of nonstop celebratory eating. Starting in November and continuing through January we gather with friends, family and coworkers to celebrate Christmas/Hanukkah, New Year’s, and the Super Bowl. On average, Americans gain 4 to 7 pounds during this time! The good news is that it is possible to enjoy the holiday festivities and stay healthy by following a few sensible strategies.

Be realistic. Make it your goal to maintain your weight over the holidays. Attempting to diet will most likely lead to failure, guilt and added stress. No gain in weight is a huge accomplishment!

Plan ahead. Don’t skip meals on the days of parties and holiday gatherings. Instead, eat small meals at regular times.

Be choosy and make calories count.

Balance your choices. Fill your plate with lower calorie foods.

Get enough sleep and get daily physical activity!

Happy Holidays!

Nurse Sheri

Friday: Cereal, toast/Corn dog, chips & cheese, vegetable, fruit, pudding, milk

Monday: Egg & cheese omelet, toast/Hot ham sandwich, tater tots, vegetable, fruit, pumpkin bar, milk

Monday: Breakfast burrito/Garlic cheese bread, lettuce, corn, cottage cheese, peaches, cookie, milk

Monday: Pancake, sausage/Grilled cheese, soup, vegetable, oranges, cheesecake, milk

State law (Section 160.522) requires the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to publish an annual "report card" about each school district, each school building and each charter school. The reports provide all of the data required by state law, plus information required by federal law (No Child Left Behind).

The district report card is now available at: http://dese.mo.gov/planning/profile/001092.html. If you would like a copy of this report card, contact the district office at 323-5272.

Diane and Dennis Bradley for their donation to the scholarship fund in memory of Robert "Dale" Elsea.

Tom McKim, Curtis Gordon, Roger Thompson, Brent Hettinger, Brad Smith, Doug Clarkson, Sam Smith, Daniel Smith, Tammy Gordon, Brandon Gordon, Nick Gordon, Jeff McHenry, and Randy Dodsworth for helping with the eat shack renovations that have continued this fall.

This winter, protect your child from unseen dangers.

With colder weather approaching, symptoms such as headache, fatigue, dizziness, and nausea might be more than the flu.

Carbon monoxide, an odorless, tasteless and invisible gas from fuel-burning appliances, is responsible for more deaths than any other single poison.

In the United States, nearly 4,000 children are treated in emergency rooms yearly for exposure to carbon monoxide.

"Because of their higher metabolic rates, children are more vulnerable than adults to carbon monoxide poisoning," says Laura Fitzmaurice, MD, division chief of Emergency Medical Services at Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics. "The best way to protect your child is to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning in your home:

Have a qualified technician check all fuel-burning appliances in your home, such as oil and gas furnaces, gas water heaters, gas ranges and ovens, gas or kerosene space heaters and fireplaces.

Install carbon monoxide detectors on every floor of your home. Check the batteries monthly.

Never let your car idle in the garage. Even if the door is open, fumes can quickly contaminate the air in your home.

Make sure any room with a space heater is properly ventilated.

Never use gasoline-powered engines such as mowers or snow blowers in enclosed spaces.

(Article reprinted from Missouri Association of Rural Education, Fall 2006 Newsletter)

Parents, do you expect to qualify for the Earned Income tax Credit (EITC) this year?  It can reduce the tax you pay when you file your federal income tax return.

But you may not have to wait till tax time.  If you qualify for Advance EITC, your employer can add advance payments to your take-home pay, every payday.  That could help ease the burden of meeting day-to-day expenses.

Find out if you qualify for Advance EITC.  Ask your employer for Form W-5, Earned Income Credit Advance Payment Certificate.  If you qualify, return the completed form to your employer.  Any questions?  Call 1-800-829-3676 for free IRS Publication 596, Earned Income Credit.  Or visit the IRS Web site at www.irs.gov.

We would like to thank Steve Harvey for his donation of Taste of Home Celebrations Cookbook and Cool Stuff and How It Works.

The library has purchased a copy of the Willmathsville Sesquicentennial book created by Anita Story available for checkout.

Are you looking for the perfect gift for someone who has everything? Remembering a family member or friend who won't be with you this season? How about donating a book to the library in their honor or memory? Our students always appreciate the gifts we receive. Please contact Denise Brown at 323-5272 ext. 39.

November 27-December 2 Novinger Tournament—There TBA

1 Elementary November Awards Assembly—Here 2:45 p.m.

2 All-State Band Auditions at Columbia—There 9:00 a.m.

4 Busy Bees—Here 8:30-11:00 a.m.

5 Varsity Basketball w/ Linn County—Here 6:00 p.m.

9 K-6 Tiger Cheer Camp—Here 9:00-11:30 a.m.

11 Busy Bees—Here 8:30-11:00 a.m.

12 Varsity Basketball w/ LaPlata—There 6:00 p.m.

13 Lunch w/ the Principal K-1

14 Lunch w/ the Principal 2-3

14 Varsity Basketball w/ Milan—Here 6:00 p.m.

15 Lunch w/ the Principal 4-6

15 Christmas Dance—Here 8:00-11:00 p.m.

18 Busy Bees Christmas Party—Here 8:30-11:00 a.m.

19 Christmas Program—Here 7:00 p.m.

20 Second Quarter Ends

20 Early Dismissal—12:45 p.m.

21-January 2 NO SCHOOL—Christmas Vacation

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