Top Stories from LPS
Upcoming Dates at a Glance
March 21-25 - Spring Break (no classes)
Monday, May 23 - Tentative Last Day of School (subject to change due to inclement weather days, which are added to the end of the district calendar)
LPS News to Know
2016-2017 District Calendar Revised
The Board of Education approved a revision to the 2016-2017 school calendar at its February 16 meeting, changing the first day of school from August 16 to August 17, 2016.  Click here to view the revised district calendar.  Click here to view the revised calendar for EPiC Elementary.
Advanced Placement Exam Registration Now Open
High school students, currently enrolled in Advanced Placement courses, may now register for AP exams. We strongly recommend that parents and students are both present when registering to ensure that the correct exams are ordered. This year, each AP exam costs $100 with a  $10 registration fee per student. Exam fees may be paid online at the time of registration. Please be sure to have a credit or debit card available before beginning registration if you wish to pay online. Payment may also be made by check, mailed to Total Registration at the address shown on the confirmation page. Students in need of financial assistance may request it during the registration process. Registration is not complete until the confirmation page has been printed.   
 
Registration Websites:
Registration Deadlines:
  • Friday, March 4, at 11:59 p.m. - Registrations and payments after this date will incur a $10 late fee per registration
  • Friday, March 11, at 11:59 p.m. - Registration Ends
  • Monday, March 14, at 11:59 p.m. - Registrations that have not been paid in full will be canceled and no exams ordered
Please contact Dr. Rosemary Camp should you have any questions about AP exams or the registration process.
Time to Enroll Your 2016-2017 Kindergartner Online 
Liberty Public Schools is in the midst of its second year of online enrollment for those families with incoming 2016-2017 kindergartners. Click here for information regarding online enrollment.
Online Summer School Enrollment Open
Enroll your K-8th grader online now for Summer Adventure! Important information, including online enrollment information, may be found on the summer school website by clicking here. 

Summer Adventure 2016 is scheduled to take place June 2-28.  Be sure to follow the LPS summer school program on Twitter at @LPSSummerAdv. 
Kid's Zone Camp Gone Wild
Kid's Zone's Camp Gone Wild enrollment began February 11 and is limited to the first 500 students who are registered. More enrollment information may be found by going to the Kid's Zone website.  

During Camp Gone Wild, campers will enjoy daily field trips, such as movies, swimming, bowling, skating, and gymnastics. Friday Fun Trips will be out of the building going to places like PowerPlay and Worlds of Fun. More activities at the school will include Bricks4kidz, Mad Science, music, crafts, and cooking. Go to the Kid's Zone website (linked above) to register and learn more about Camp Gone Wild.
Cinderella's Closet Prom Dress Drive
Do you have a prom dress just sitting in your closet? Never going to wear it again? Why not donate it and help another student attend prom? The Liberty North Key Club is conducting a Cinderella's Closet Drive. Gently used or new dresses may be donated to help students who might otherwise not be able to attend. Drop donations off in Room 902 at Liberty North or in the Welcome Center!  Click here to view a short Cinderella's Closet video.  Questions?  Contact Kimberly Brownlee.
Student/Staff Recognitions
LNHS ProStart Culinary Team Competes
Liberty North High School's ProStart Culinary team competed in the 1st Annual Bi-State Culinary Competition at Johnson County Community College on January 28. Fourteen teams from career technical and traditional high schools competed, including last year's National ProStart Champions. Liberty North was thrilled to earn a silver medal and ranked 4th in this tough field.  Way to go, team!
Congrats to LHS Scholar Bowl Teams
Congratulations to the Liberty High School Scholar Bowl teams for their performances in recent Suburban Conference Quad Meets! The varsity team placed 8th of 18 teams, and the J-V team placed 7th of 18. Varsity team members are Roman Accardi, Meredith Malone, Madeline Belfonte, Brielle Buntin, Blake Newland, Sam Straub, and Aaron Davis. J-V team members are Ashna Ali, Jackson Witt, and Robert Stepp. The teams are coached by Karla Schaeffer and Trace Larson.
LPS FCCLA Chapters Participate in STAR Events
Three LPS Family, Career, and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) chapters participated in the FCCLA Greater Kansas City Region 14 STAR Events. STAR stands for Students Taking Action with Recognition. Results were as follows:
 
Gold Medalists, Advancing to State Competition
Heritage Middle School, Focus on Children: Tori Copto, Payton Reeves, Kate Balu Shriver
Liberty High School, Entrepreneurship: Brooklyn Balsdon
Liberty North High School, Career Investigation: Elizabeth Rodriguez; Fashion Construction:   Sara Degarmo; Job Interview: Ying Chow; National Prog. In Action: Emily Miller, Dominick Berkstresser; Recycle and Design: Nina Infranca
 
Silver Medalists
Heritage Middle School, Life Event Planning: Addison Beagle
Liberty North High School, Environ. Ambassador: Tinh Nim, Neiko Chacon; Advocacy: Emma Libby, Amber Petty; Culinary Arts: Dallis Smith, Zaria Jones, Victoria Poynter
 
Bronze Medalist
Liberty North High School: Aubrey Larkin
LHS Sapphires Win State Titles
February 20, the Liberty High School Sapphires were named 5A Missouri State Champions! The team won 1st place in the Dance category and 1st place in the Pom category. The two performance scores were combined to secure the overall high point score and state championship title. Along with their athletic talents, the LHS Sapphires also brought home the All-Academic State Championship title with a team grade point average of 3.841. This is the sixth state championship title and eighth all-academic state championship title for the Liberty High School Sapphire program.  
 
Congratulations to the 2016 State Championship Sapphires:  Chloe Balsdon, Taylor Bargfrede, Brynn Baymiller, Sarah Bono, Olivia Book, Hannah Doherty, Kennedy Doherty, Jessie Fullinwider, Chloe Kuchta, Ally Miller, Annie Pottios, Alexa Smith, Taylor Stufflebean, Mary Jane Swetnam, and Alyzza Vitug. The team is coached by Kristen Bosiljevac and Maggie Willis.
LNHS Golden Girls Compete in State Competition
The Liberty North Golden Girls competed in the Missouri Dance Team State Competition February 20th. The team placed second overall in Division 4. Malorie Colby placed third overall in her solo for juniors, and Alaina Lee placed second overall for freshmen.
 
Team members include:  Abbie Benner, Melanie Benner, Malorie Colby, Emily Dillman, Lindsey Downey, Brooke Furness, Alaina Lee, Clarissa Lenger, Lindsay Marvine (captain), Lexi McCann, Jordan McCue, Annalise Pinedo, Courtney Rowe, Rachel Shepherd (captain), and Sophia Spurlock. The team's head coach is Samantha Lyons and assistant coach is Tiffany Cunningham. Congratulations Golden Girls on an amazing weekend!
Finalists in 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program
Dr. April Adams, Liberty High School Principal and Dr. Martin Jacobs, Liberty North High School Principal, are pleased to announce three seniors have been named finalists in the 2016 National Merit Scholarship Program. Congratulations to National Merit Finalists Roman Accardi, son of Ben and Laurie Accardi, Phoebe Alpern, daughter of Ken Alpern and Waiva Worthley, of Liberty High School, and Ying Chow, daughter of Robert and Yun Liu Chow, of Liberty North High School.  

As finalists, these students are eligible to earn one of 8,400 National Merit Scholarships, which are valued at a total of more than $36 million. The pool of semi-finalists represents less than one percent of U.S. high school seniors, and includes the highest-scoring entrants in each state. To read this announcement in its entirety, click here.

Congratulations and best wishes to these outstanding Liberty Public Schools senior students as they continue on with their educational endeavors.  We are proud of you for this national accomplishment!
Upcoming Events
LMS Presents Cinderella
Liberty Middle School presents Cinderella, a timeless tale of wonderful dreams, magical moments, and fairytale endings. The beauty and magic of this classic fairytale is brought to life with wonderful singing and amazing sets and lights. Cinderella is transformed by the fairy godmother from a servant girl's rags into a beautiful ball gown and dances with the Prince. Her jealous stepmother and stepsisters try to stifle Cinderella's dreams while the handsome Prince searches for his one true love. This Rodgers and Hammerstein classic musical includes songs such as, Ten Minutes Ago, In My Own Little Corner, and The Prince is Giving a Ball. This fairytale story will entrance and entertain all ages.
 
Performances are March 10, 11, and 12 at 7 p.m. in the Liberty Performing Arts Theatre. Tickets are just $5 and may be purchased online at showtix4u.com or from Liberty Middle School. You may purchase your own magic wand at any show for just $5!
SVMS Presents Disney's, The Lion King Jr.
South Valley Middle School proudly presents Disney's, The Lion King Jr., the story of a young lion prince living in the flourishing African Pride Lands. Precocious cub Simba spends his days exploring the sprawling savanna grasslands and idolizing his kingly father, Mufasa, while youthfully shirking the responsibility his position in life requires. When an unthinkable tragedy, orchestrated by Simba's wicked uncle, Scar, takes his father's life, Simba flees the Pride Lands, leaving the life he knew behind. Eventually, accompanioned by Timon and Pumbaa, two hilarious and unlikely friends, Simba starts anew, but when the weight of responsibility and a desperate plea from the now ravaged Pride Lands comes to find the adult prince, Simba must take on a formidable enemy and fulfill his destiny to be king.

Performances are March 10, 11, and 12 at 7 p.m. with a special matinee performance at 2 p.m. on March 12. Tickets are $5 and may be purchased in advanced online.  Please go to the LPS Fine Arts website and click on the ShowTix4U logo at the top of the page. Tickets will also be available at the SVMS box office one hour before the start of each show.
AD STEAM Night March 10
Alexander Doniphan will be hosting STEAM Night on March 10 from 5-7 p.m. What is STEAM Night? It will be similar to the Science Nights we have had in past years; however, we will focus on: S (Science), T (Technology), E (Engineering), A (Fine Arts), and M (Math).
 
Activities, experiments and demonstrations will be set up in many of our classrooms and run by the Doniphan staff. This year, families are encouraged to get involved! Families may showcase any of the parts of STEAM. The possibilities are endless!  You can set up unmanned displays and projects, or run manned experiments and demonstrations. Each Doniphan child in a family may set up an individual project or you may do one family project. You may have your display out for the entire two hours, or just for a portion of the evening.
 
Chik-Fil-A will be serving a $6 meal in the cafeteria from 5:30-6:30 p.m. (please pre-pay in the office) and root beer floats will be provided by the PTA. We will also have an open-mic piano set up in the cafeteria! Come and share your talent with us by playing a song! The office will be open on this evening, if you would like to enroll your kindergartner for next fall. This is going to be a great evening!
2016-2017 LHS Sapphire Auditions
For all those dancers interested in auditioning for the 2016-2017 Liberty High School Sapphire Dance Team, please note the following dates. Tryouts will be held March 28-April 1 in the Liberty High School Cokely Fieldhouse.  Audition workshops will run from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on March 28-31. Panel judging will be held from 4-7 p.m. on Friday, April 1.  A required tryout informational meeting is set for Wednesday, March 16, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. in the Liberty High School cafeteria. Please contact Maggie Willis, Kristen Bosiljevac, or Courtney Klepper for more information. Updated audition forms may be found on the homepage of the Sapphires website. 
Preparing for Kindergarten
Liberty's Parents as Teachers is offering Preparing for Kindergarten, an event designed to help families make a smooth transition to kindergarten.
When: Thursday, March 3, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Early Childhood Center, 9600 NE 79th Street, Kansas City, MO 64158
Parents as Teachers hosts this annual event to help parents know more about kindergarten.  A panel made up of district personnel (kindergarten teachers, a counselor, principal, nurse) will talk about kindergarten. This is an opportunity to have questions answered, find out more about the kindergarten experience, and how to help your child make the transition. It is also helpful for those parents who haven't decided whether or not their child will go to kindergarten next year (because of late spring or summer birthdays). This event is for parents only, please. No reservation is required; childcare is not provided.
 
Kindergarten Roundup is March 15th at the elementary school your student will attend in the fall.
LNHS Presents The Boys Next Door March 4 and 5 
Liberty North High School presents The Boys Next Door on March 4 and 5 at 7 p.m. in the theatre. This comedy gives a glimpse into the lives of four intellectually challenged men who live in a group home supervised by a social worker. Their escapades bring laughter and understanding for people who are different than most of us. One of the characters has a poignant storyline that adds depth and humanity to the comedy.
 
Justen Willhite, Noah Graham, Bryce Tinkham, and Thadeus Acha play the men, and Conner Paulson plays their social worker. Regan McKay plays the budding girlfriend of Noah's character, and Holden Walters plays the father of Bryce's character. Other actors include Jamie Allen, Sarah Cowan, Romero Higareda, James Sisson, Sean Peters, and Janessa Johnson.  Sequoia Crisman and Joseph Duncan run the backstage area.
 
David Young directs, assisted by Rebecca Dempsey.  Connor Bush is Student Teacher, and Nathan Meshau is Student Director. Dahiana Barasz coordinated costumes, and James Sisson designed the lighting. Mr. Young's Stagecraft classes built the set.
 
Advance tickets are available online. Just go to the Fine Arts webpage, and click on the ShowTix4U.com logo. Tickets will also be available one hour before the start of each performance at the LNHS box office. They are $10 for adults and $5 for children, students, and seniors.
Women in Engineering Breakfast
Girls (and their moms) in grades 6-8, this is for you! If you are interested in learning more about careers and future trends in engineering, join us for breakfast at Mosaic Life Care, 8880 NE 82 Terrace, KCMO, on Saturday, February 27, from 9-10:30 a.m.  Professionals from a variety of engineering fields will be available to share what their current jobs are, the types of jobs their company hires for, and what skills and education are needed for those jobs.  

Click here to register!  For more information, contact Colleen Jones.
Third Annual TechNight Save-the-Date
Save-the-Date for our Third Annual LPS TechNight
Tuesday, March 15, 6-8 p.m.
Liberty North High School
5th grade through high school students and parents
Click here to view flyer. Questions? Contact Colleen Jones.
 
"By 2018, 1.4 million computing jobs will be available in the U.S., but it is estimated only 400,000 graduates will have the appropriate degrees for those jobs." Cerner
Let's Kick Cancer Out of the Park
Who wants to Kick Cancer Out of the Park? We are looking for kick ball players/teams to take part in the 2nd Annual Relay For Life of Liberty Kick Ball Tournament.
When: Saturday, April 16
Where: Liberty Middle School
Team Registration: $200
For more information, click here. You may also contact Justin Gambill with any questions.         
LHS Spring Testing Care Packages
April 19, Liberty High School's 9-11th graders will spend the majority of the day taking the EOC or the ACT. LHS's practical leadership class would like to make this day a little easier for them by offering a Spring Testing Care Package for $4. The care package will include a snack, water, fruit, a mint, and an optional personalized note. Click here to sign up for a care package for your student(s). Your student is welcome to bring the money to the attendance office or to Room 102.    
District/Community Events
Nursing Careers Workshop
Discover healthcare and lifecare careers that can help you meet your life's purpose and live life well! Learn more about nursing careers at a workshop to be held at White Science Center, William Jewell College, on March 10. Contact Colleen Jones should you still have questions after looking at the linked flyer.
Community Lego Drive
The Liberty Robotics Foundation and the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce will hold a Community Lego Drive February 29-March 11. Do you have Lego pieces that aren't being used anymore?  Just drop them off at the Liberty Area Chamber of Commerce, 1170 W. Kansas St., between the hours of 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday. This collection will be donated to local schools and will help with the implementation of K-5 Project Lead the Way LAUNCH. Students will use Lego pieces for many activities, helping them to become problem solvers and critical thinkers.  
Save-the-Date: Statewide STEM Event for 7th Grade Girls
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, March 23!  The Missouri College and Career Consultants present the first ever Statewide STEM Event for 7th grade girls!  For more information, and a tentative conference schedule with session times and speakers, click here.
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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