Principal's Pennings
Principal's Pennings
Report cards and yearbooks may be picked up from the office from 9-12 Monday through Thursday or when other arrangements can be made. You may also access report cards through Educate. It was my hope that we would have the opportunity to come together and sign each other's yearbooks, socialize, and enjoy being around each other. This will not be able to be accomplished though.
Guidelines and Decisions
Since the end of the school year, I have been researching and asking questions about best practices for keeping everyone as safe as possible when we return to school. I have used resources from the CDC, Wisconsin DPI, Georgia DOE, local public school guidelines (Parkhill, NKC, and Liberty), KC Health Department, Platte County Health Department, and many more resources such as these to help formulate our MLA guidelines. I used these resources because they are professional and provide the most up to date information. I have also spoken with adults who work or have worked in the medical field to provide feedback. The US government shared this week that they are preparing to release updated guidelines for schools next week, and I will continue to utilize this information. MLA policies and guidelines are not finalized but will be prior to school starts. All of these policies and guidelines are being put into place to help provide the safest return to MLA that we can provide.
There are many areas of planning concerning returning to school that we are examining. We continue to work on how to provide Before and After School Care, Athletics, lunches, serving high-risk families, and much more. Guidelines and policies put into place will be implemented and created first with the students, faculty, and staff health in mind. Many policies implemented may not be liked but are imperative for safety. One of our school parents posted a meme about not liking and being angry about some of the policies implemented. The same post shared how we as parents should stay positive around our children even when we do not feel like it.
We can work together to share with them how to be positive even when we dislike something. “Give thanks in all circumstances for this is the will of God” continues to be as true as it ever was.
This year's theme is “Sent to Serve.” Service is always going and volunteering somewhere, donating money, helping to clean the house, etc. Service can also mean doing what is right even if we do not like it. As teachers, we are blessed to be able to serve you through education and are looking forward to returning to in person school, August 19th.
MLA May 25th
Last Friday was one of the most interesting last day of school, I have ever experienced. It had a totally different look. Usually we end with Jumpathon, awards, chapel, and end of the school social event. This year had a slightly different look with Zoom chapel, the 7/8 Illusions, Graduates, prizes, and online ice cream social. This 4th quarter has encompassed much of our thinking and memories. The NJHS did an awesome job of coming up with fun at home activities to show our MLA school spirit. We were able to continue to have chapel with all our pastors and a couple of guest pastors. Hard academic work and classroom devotions continued at home. The students really stepped up and did an amazing academic job. Thank you parents for all the hard work that you provided as well.
The first three quarters of the school year were pretty amazing though. We welcomed three new teachers and new classmates. We had an awesome Grandparents Day, Walkathon, Veterans Day program, and Christmas program filled with a joyous message and singing. We competed in two academic meets where we placed 3rd place in both. Our sports teams had fun-filled seasons. Each day we were blessed to hear and discuss the love of Christ.
Joyfully Christian was our theme for 2019-2020. This year's theme was a good reminder of how even in challenging times, we are to rejoice always. Even in times of solitude we are to pray fervently. This year was filled with ups, downs, and all arounds, but we are to give thanks. Some of you might say, why do I do these things, especially when things are not going the way I want them? Later on, in these verses we learn why. “Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.” Many of us know what peace is even though our houses haven’t always been peaceful. The peace that Paul is speaking of means to be made whole, or complete. In our lifetime, we will never fully understand what true peace is. True peace is only found in God. We find peace through prayer, through rejoicing, and through giving thanks. As we find peace in finishing this school year, we can have confidence that it is complete and whole. That the Lord of peace has blessed us with such a wonderful experience, not always pleasant but still wonderful.
Have a wonderful summer!
Have a blessed Memorial Day as we remember those who served and died for our freedoms.
Principal Scott Dixon
MLA Online May 11th
We are entering the last two weeks of regularly scheduled instruction and it feels like the normal crunch time. Assignments are due, graduation plans are being arranged, end of the year activities are modified, Breakfast with Mom is this week, student illusion tricks, and much more. It is still a busy time even though we are not physically in the school building.
There are a couple of big items coming up over the next two weeks.
- Wednesday is Breakfast with Mom. Log in at 7:45 with your child and hear from the NJHS members and enjoy their production
- Next Wednesday (5/20) is Chapel with Pastor Reiser
- Thursday (5/21) and Friday (5/22) from 9:00 to 2:00 will be textbook/Chromebook drop off
- Thursday (5/21) or Friday (5/22) will be 8th-grade Graduation for Graduates and immediate family only.
- Friday (5/22) will be the last chapel of the year and other exciting presentations.
- We are also working on ways for continued reading and doing math over the summer and will be sharing the information as we finalize them.
I am so grateful for the wonderful work by all as we have implemented MLA Online during the 4th Quarter of the year.
Thank you!
Principal Scott Dixon
MLA Online May 18th
This morning it dawned on me that this was the last week of school. This week usually consist of locker cleanouts, awards, Jump for Heart, yearbook signings, an end of the year celebration, and more. This year is going to look a little different though.
We are hoping to be able to provide student yearbooks at book dropoff. We have not received them yet. We will find a way to share them when they arrive. 8th-grade graduation will be held in the school parking lot with some normal parts to the graduation, some parts that will be new, and some that will continue into the future.
Thursday book drop from 1:00 to 4:30 will have a few familiar faces smiling and excited to see you as well as Friday from 10:00-3:00. Friday, we will have end of the year chapel at 9:00 followed by 8th-grade speeches, 7th/8th Illusions, and some prizes.
I am excited for next week as teachers meet to review the year, especially the 4th quarter, and begin planning for the fall. We are ready to see current and new students and their beautiful faces in the classrooms, laughing, smiling, and sharing their knowledge.
I cannot express enough thanks to the students, parents, faculty, and staff for all the hard work that was completed over this last quarter.
- NJHS-Movie and Popcorn Week ending with Icecream Party on Friday.
- Tuesday (5/19) Kindergarten Parade
- Wednesday (5/20) is Chapel with Pastor Reiser
- Wednesday (5/20) will be 8th-grade Graduation for Graduates and immediate family only.
- Thursday (5/21) 1:00-4:30, Friday (5/22) from 10:00 to 3:00, our scheduled times will be textbook/Chromebook drop off
- Friday (5/22) will be the last chapel of the year and other exciting presentations starting at 9:00.
- We are also working on ways for continued reading and math practice over the summer and will be sharing the information as we finalize them.
Blessings,
Scott Dixon, Principal
MLA Online May 4th
It's hard to believe that we have 15 days left in the regular school year. There have been days that seem to fly and those that drag. It has been the most unique school year in my 15 years of education. Even though it has been different, God has continued to bless us. Whether we realized it or not, He was preparing MLA for this 4th quarter. Over the past three years, we have been blessed with an updated reading curriculum, spelling, and math resources that can all be accessed online. Students have become more and more comfortable with their email addresses and how to use Google Drive. Teachers had training on how to use all of these resources. We are all working together to continually nurture our children spiritually, emotionally, and academically.
I expressed at the beginning of MLA Online, that distance learning will reshape education, and I continue to feel this way. I believe that this has forced us to revisit and assess how we educate our students. This situation has provided us with the skills to educate outside the regular classroom. I am confident that when we return to school, many of our students will have shown academic growth and a new sense of ownership in their education. I am also confident that families will be ready for their children to return (wink, wink). As we continue through these last few school days, remember to "Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."
Scott Dixon
Principal