Top Stories from LPS
Upcoming Calendar
Monday, January 18, 2016 - Martin Luther King, Jr. Day - Schools Closed
Tuesday, January 19, 2016 - Board of Education Meeting (7 p.m.) 
LPS Now Offers Sprigeo Reporting System in All Secondary Schools
When LPS secondary students returned to class for second semester yesterday, they discovered we now have available a new, online system students can use to report bullying incidents and school safety threats. This system, called Sprigeo, has been piloted in a few of our schools in recent years, with positive feedback. Therefore, our district's Safety and Security Committee made the decision to implement the system district-wide in our secondary schools.
 
Click here to read a document providing additional information on Sprigeo.  There will be several ways for our students to use the system, and we plan to promote it using several methods, including posting the link on building websites and with posters in secondary buildings.
 
With the safety of our students while at school the top priority at LPS, we are excited to have this new tool accessible to us and want to encourage students to take advantage of this system, if necessary.
Next Coffee with the Community Thursday, January 21
Join us at 10 a.m. on Thursday, January 21, for our next Coffee with the Community.  Dr. Jeremy Tucker, LPS Superintendent, will be our guest speaker.  His topic will be 2nd Semester at a Glance.  We look forward to seeing you in the 3rd floor Board Room at the LPS District Administration Center, 8 Victory Lane, Liberty!
LPS News to Know
Board of Education Election Information
Liberty 53 School District will accept declaration of candidacy from any person interested in running for a position on the Liberty School Board in the April 5, 2016, election. Persons interested may file at the Liberty Public School District Administration Center located at 8 Victory Lane, Liberty, Missouri.
 
Filing will begin on December 22, 2015, at 8 a.m. and will continue during the district's regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.  Candidates should enter the building through the east entrance doors.  Filing will not occur on days that the school district's offices are closed due to inclement weather.  Filing will not occur on the following holidays when the school district's offices are closed:  December 24, 25, 31, 2015, and January 1, 18, 2016.  Filing will end on January 19, 2016, at 5 p.m.
 
There are two positions available with three-year terms.
Northland CAPS Open House
Will you be a high school junior or senior for the 2016-17 school year? Do you enjoy working with students from other districts and business partners from the real world of work? Are you eager to solve real problems in a fast growing business outside of the high school walls?  If so, join us at 6 p.m. on January 20 for the Northland CAPS Open House at the Gladstone Community Center, 6901 N. Holmes St., Gladstone. You will be able to talk with other students currently enrolled in Northland CAPS, visit with instructors, and learn more about the program.  
Strands for the 2016-17 school year include: Engineering/Advanced Manufacturing, Global Business/Entrepreneurship, Global Logistics and Transportation, Medicine and Healthcare,
and Technology Solutions. Click here to sign up now, if you are interested, as seating is limited.
For more information, click on this link: www.northlandcaps.org or call 816-977-8111. 
Changes in Immunization Requirements for 2016-2017
Beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, all incoming 8th graders will be required by law to receive the Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine. This change also requires all incoming 12th graders to have 1-2 doses of the Meningococcal Meningitis vaccine, depending upon when the initial immunization was given. Please contact your school nurse for additional information.
Staff/Student Recognitions
Band Students Selected to UMKC Honors Band Weekend
Congratulations to the following SVMS and HMS band students on their selection to the UMKC Midwest Honor Band/Orchestra Festival and Symposium!
 
South Valley Middle School Students:
Flute: Sarah Kane  
Clarinet: Teona Abuselidze, MaKenna Pipes, Emma Skinner
Tuba: Nick Bogaard
Percussion: Timmy Fuller, Monica Rosa
 
Heritage Middle School Students:
Clarinet: Olivia ZImmerman, Hunter Aikmus
Trombone: Austin Burnett, Jacob Dillbeck, Chloe Roffmann, Claire Mason
Percussion: Samantha Medley
  
Students will participate in clinics/rehearsals and perform in concert on Sunday, February 14, at the University of Missouri-Kansas City.  Being selected for this event is a very high honor!
Student Artwork Exhibit Featured at January 8 First Fridays
Advanced art classes from both Liberty North High School and Liberty High school recently participated in a city-wide art competition to celebrate the cultures and cultural influences of the countries of the Americas.  Student artists, families, teachers, and the public are invited to view the finalists on display at ArtsTech/KC, 1522 Holmes St., from 4-8 p.m., during the January 8 First Fridays.  
Warren Hills Treble Makers Invited to Perform at Tan-Tar-A
The Warren Hills Treble Makers, an auditioned group of 4th and 5th grade students from 
Warren Hills Elementary School, has been selected in blind auditions to perform at this year's 
Missouri Music Educator Association Conference. Their performance will take place January 28th at Tan-Tar-A Resort and marks the first time an elementary school ensemble has been
chosen to represent Liberty Public Schools at this prestigious event. Congratulations to the
Treble Makers and their director, Jennifer Patterson!
Blue Jays Cheer Earns Bid to Nationals
Earlier in December, the Liberty High School varsity cheer team competed at the UCA Regional Competition at Staley High School. The team took 1st Place and captured a bid to the National High School Cheerleading Competition in Orlando, Florida.  The varsity team also walked away with two additional awards:  Best Stunt Sequence (all girl) and the Sportsmanship Award.  This will be the 5th time the varsity team has been invited to compete at the National High School Competition.  Congratulations, and good luck representing LHS in February! 

Members of the team include:  Annabelle Anderson, Cynthia Barker, Grace Buehler, Sam Butcher, Elise Ciferri, Taja Dotson, Molly Filger, Meghan Fullerton, Skyler Galvin, Kelsi Garrett, Tally Hill, Olivia Hoseth, Avery Hunt, Maddy Kudrna, Katie Lamb, Taylor Lee, Desirae Leeson, Lauren Potts, Jackie Quigley, Mitchelle Rader, Jessica Shepherd, Hunter Siegfried, Meg Weaver, Nicole Wood, Bailey Wynn, Sabrina Zern, Lindsey Zoz.
The team is coached by assistants Daisy King and Madison Young and head coach Brenda Moats. 
Liberty High School Football All-State Honors
Early in December, the Missouri Football Coaches Association met to select their All-State Football teams for the 2015 season.  Liberty High School sophomore running back, Robert Rawie, was selected 2nd Team All-State as a Returner.  Earning 1st Team All-District honors were senior linebacker, Jackson Barnes, and junior defensive end, Bennett Swope.  Also receiving 2nd Team All-District recognition was senior defensive back/wide receiver, Xavier Hinkle.
Five LHS Football Players Selected to Academic All-State
Senior linebackers, Jackson Barnes and Matt Gastner, junior defensive end, Bennett Swope, junior defensive back, Kaiden Hulett, and sophomore quarterback, Ryan Potts, were named to the 2015 Missouri Football Coaches Association Academic All-State Team.  Players selected to the team were required to fulfill 2 of 3 academic criteria. They must have above a 3.5 GPA, score above a 25 on the ACT, and be in the top 10% of their class.  Players must also be in grades 10-12 and a starter on offense/defense or be a punter or kicker in 70% of the games.  At the end-of-year banquet, 39 varsity football players were recognized as having above a 3.0 GPA at Liberty High School. 
Upcoming Events
LHS Incoming Freshman Parent Night January 19
Tuesday, January 19, the Liberty High School Counseling & Social Work Department will be hosting their annual Incoming Freshman Parent Night for current 8th grade students who will be attending LHS next school year and their parents. The evening will take place at Liberty High School from 6:30-8 p.m. and will begin with a presentation by LHS counselors outlining the enrollment process, course sequencing, graduation requirements, and post-secondary planning.  A student session, led by representatives from the school's Link Crew program, will also take place at this time.  

From 7-8 p.m., there will be an Academic and Activities Fair to give parents and students an opportunity to meet with teachers from a variety of academic departments at LHS and receive information about classes, pre-requisites, and more.  Information on clubs, sports, and other extracurricular activities will also be available.  Please direct any questions about this event to Scott Gillespie.
LHS Annual Financial Aid Night
Liberty High School will host its annual Financial Aid Night on January 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the LHS Little Theater.  Parents of seniors are encouraged to attend this informational meeting, which will cover details about the Liberty Local Scholarship Program, as well as tips for completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).  The general program will conclude at 7:15 p.m., followed by an optional Q&A session with a financial aid expert. Immediately following this event, our Wellness Night will be held in the Library Media Center from 7:15-8:30 p.m.  Additional details on both events may be found on the LHS Counseling website.  Should you have more questions, contact Melanie Prince, LHS Counselor.
Winter Volleyball League
Liberty Juniors is offering a winter volleyball league for those in 3rd-7th grades.  Liberty Juniors provides skill training and develops fundamentals, while offering a game-like atmosphere. The league will meet at Liberty Middle School on Sundays from 3-4:30 p.m., beginning January 17th, and will be 8 sessions long. Cost is $90, which includes a team t-shirt.  Deadline for registration is January 13th.  Openings are limited for this session, so please complete the registration form by clicking here as soon as possible.  Please contact Erica Bruggemann if you have any questions. 
District/Community Events
Liberty Community Health Action Team
Would you like to be more involved in the health and happiness of your child? Join an LCHAT (Liberty Community Health Action Team) taskforce!  Liberty Public Schools is part of a coalition of public and private organizations, including Clay County Public Health Center, Liberty Hospital, and the City of Liberty, working to improve the health and wellness of the community as a whole. We need active parents who have the drive to impact the health of our youth. Contact LCHAT Project Coordinator, Kate Lesnar, 816-595-4213, to find out more. You may also visit the LCHAT website.
QuickNews Bulletin Board
In an effort to make our Liberty Public Schools e-newsletter, QuickNews, a concise publication in which subscribers may read in timely fashion, district/community announcements will be advertised in the main QuickNews section for a maximum of two weeks.  After this period of time, announcements will be transferred to our QuickNews Bulletin Board, which is located on the LPS website provided at the link below. In addition, the Bulletin Board may include announcements not meeting the criteria to be placed in this publication. The addition of the QN Bulletin Board allows them to now be publicized. This bulletin board will continuously be updated throughout the week, and announcements will remain until they expire by date. To access this page, simply click here. 
 
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8 Victory Lane, Liberty, MO 64068
816.736.5300