Today is the 158th school day (out of 171 student attendance days). We have completed 92% and have only 2 more weeks of school left in the 2023-2024 school year! The final student attendance day for the school year will be Friday, May 24th, 2024.

As we move into the final weeks of the school year I would like to take this opportunity to recognize and celebrate some important upcoming events. First, Teacher Appreciation Week is observed May 6th - 10th providing us an entire week to acknowledge and thank our teachers for their dedication and commitment to educating our students. Our teachers go above and beyond on a daily basis to ensure all of our students receive the support they need academically, socially and emotionally. Festus R-VI continues to be blessed with an exceptional group of educators who impact and change lives each and every day. They do “Whatever It Takes” to elevate our students to the “Next Level” and for that we are thankful. In recognition of Teacher Appreciation Week my monthly Senior Spotlight includes the normal senior interviews but it also has a bonus section with several students who volunteered to share stories of teachers that have had a positive impact on them as Festus R-VI students.

Speaking of our Seniors - I would like to take a moment to remind our senior class and their families of some important dates. Friday, May 17th will be the seniors last day of school and we will host senior awards night that evening beginning at 7 pm in the Performing Arts Center. Sunday, May 19th will be Baccalaureate at 7 pm also in the Performing Arts Center. Finally on Tuesday, May 21st at 7 pm at Tiger Stadium we will say one last goodbye to our graduates at the Graduation Ceremony. Please check your email. Dr Shininger has sent detailed information about all of the upcoming senior events. I would like to Congratulate each of our graduating seniors and wish them the very best on their future endeavors.

We will also host the Kindergarten Promotion ceremony that morning Tuesday, May 21st in the Performing Arts Center. The last day of school will be Friday, May 24th and it will be an early release for all students.

There are several school staff celebrations this month.

School Principal Day - (May 1st) - We celebrated the dedication and commitment of our school principals. They are critical in nurturing our learning environment for all students.

School Lunch Hero Day - (May 3rd) - We celebrated the importance of our heroes in the lunchroom. Our dedicated staff serve breakfast and lunch each day. They ensure our students are fed and ready to learn. They play an important role in the education of our students.

Teacher Appreciation Week - (May 6th-10th) - This celebration provides us an entire week to acknowledge and thank our teachers for their dedication and commitment to educating our students. Our teachers go above and beyond on a daily basis to ensure all of our students receive the support they need academically, socially and emotionally. Festus R-VI continues to be blessed with an exceptional group of educators who impact and change lives each and every day.

School Nurse Day - (May 8th) We celebrate our School Nurses. They are foundational to our safe and healthy school environment. They daily manage our health needs and guide health initiatives throughout our district.

School Communicator Day (May 10th) - Mr. Kevin Pope is our Communications Coordinator and plays a vital role in keeping families, staff and our community informed and connected with our school. Yet, often, his hard work happens behind the scenes. That’s why School Communicators Day is so important—it’s a chance to recognize these unsung heroes.

School Speech Language Pathologist Day (May 18th) - These professionals are integral in helping our students overcome communication barriers. They provide tools to help students communicate effectively.

Mental Health Awareness Month - As we enter Mental Health Awareness Month, I encourage you to take time for yourself. As educators, always caring for others, it's easy to become consumed by our profession, often neglecting our own mental health in the process. Our well-being not only impacts our personal lives but also profoundly influences our ability to educate and care for others. And if we want our students to thrive, we must remember to put our oxygen masks on first.

We are grateful and thankful to each one of the groups recognized this month. Our school would not operate at such a high level if it was not for the continuous efforts of each one of the groups. Thank you !

With only 14 more days left in the regular school year it is almost time to shift our focus to Summer School 2024. This year, summer school will utilize Festus Elementary (incoming K-4th), Festus High School (5-8th), and Festus High School (9-12th). As always, our summer session will provide opportunities for fun and exciting course selections. However, there will also be remediation opportunities for our students that need additional assistance. The Summer School session will be May 30th – June 27th, 2024. Enrollment and registration information can be found here.

We are interested in your thoughts about your experience with the Festus R-VI School District. A parent/guardian survey will be sent to each family (by email and REMIND) on Monday, May 13th. The survey will be open until the last day of school on Friday, May 24th. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey.

Graduation has been set for the Class of 2024. An initial date is set for 7pm on Tuesday, May 21st, 2024 at Tiger Stadium. However, in the event of inclement weather, the ceremony will be moved to Wednesday, May 22nd, 2024 (at Tiger Stadium). If inclement weather occurs again on Wednesday, May 22nd the ceremony will move to Jefferson College with limited seating.

All families, new and returning, must register students online through our Infinite Campus Student Information System. ANNUAL PROOF OF RESIDENCY is required for ALL families. Required paperwork must be completed and turned in for your child to continue to attend Festus R-VI School District. Proof of residency is a state law required by all public school districts to ensure resident students are being educated in their appropriate school districts. Annual Proof of Residency is a required part of the process (acceptable documents for proof of residency include: Utility bill, Mortgage papers, Rental agreement, Property tax statement, Occupancy permit ) Online Registration will be open at the beginning of July. You will receive notification when the system opens. Please make sure your child is registered prior to August 2nd to ensure they are included in class rosters for the 2024-2025 school year.

The Festus High School production of "Seussical" is nominated for Outstanding Musical by the St. Louis High School Musical Theater Awards. 44 St. Louis area high schools entered the competition. Festus was one of five to receive a nomination in its budget category. Cait Vandewiele from the Fox Performing Arts Charitable Foundation was at the high school on Tuesday, May 7 to present a nomination medal to theater director Mr. William Borgmeyer and the entire Theater Department. The St. Louis High School Musical Awards will be held May 24 at the Fabulous Fox Theater.

The theater department wrapped up the year with Frozen Jr. the weekend of May 2-4. Kindergarten and first grade classes were treated to a performance during school on May 3.

Dr. Ruess along with all members of the R-VI Board of Education broke ground on the new Middle School Expansion on Friday, April 19. The entire 4th grade was also there because those students will be the first class to use the expansion as 6th graders when it opens in the fall of 2025.

The Intermediate School students received MAP medals on April 22. Any student who scored proficient or advanced on last year's MAP test received a silver or gold medal. Students who showed significant growth from year to year received bronze medals.

On April 22, 3rd grade students paraded through the elementary school to chants of "Go 3rd grade, go 3rd grade." Before the parade, the students got a pep talk from Dr. Siefert. The talk and parade are just a couple of ways the elementary uses to encourage 3rd graders to do their best on the MAP test.

Every month, Mrs. Amy Horrell, the Coordinator of Staff and Student Wellness has been sending a health newsletter. To cut down on the number of messages you receive, Mrs. Horrell's monthly newsletters are included as part of my newsletter. You can read it below.

The district will host sports and marching band physicals on campus for students who must have physicals to participate in band and sports beginning in the fall. Click on the dates below to schedule your appointment:

July 9, 2024

July 11, 2024

July 23, 2024

July 25, 2024

I have enjoyed interviewing our seniors each month this school year. I have a couple of special guests joining me today to close out our monthly newsletter. Today I have Saigel Mickan and Ryan Valleck.

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, there is a special addition of the “Senior Spotlight” that consists of several students sharing their thoughts about teachers that have made a difference in their lives while attending Festus R-VI School District.