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Plan ahead for winter weather and canceled classes
At Joplin Schools, the safety of our students is our highest priority. However, we also place an equally high value on instructional time, and snow days mean our students are missing out on classroom learning. For this reason, the decision to cancel classes is rarely simple. And, with Missouri weather, it often requires a certain amount of guesswork and faith in weather forecasts.

Below is a reminder of Joplin School's inclement weather protocol:
  • The transportation director checks roads, including side roads, to determine safety of transportation during inclement weather. This generally takes place before 4 a.m.
  • The transportation director shares feedback from the road check with the superintendent and, based on this feedback and current and forecasted weather conditions, the superintendent determines whether classes are canceled. A decision regarding canceling classes will be made by 10 p.m. the evening before or by 4:30 a.m. the day of, when possible.
  • If classes are canceled, that information is shared with staff, parents, and the community through the district's website, Facebook and Twitter pages, local media outlets, and a phone message and text.
Today may be 60 degrees, and tomorrow there may be a foot of snow. It's hard to predict Missouri weather, but planning ahead can help parents and students manage its unpredictability. Taking a few moments now to develop a plan for when school is canceled, especially with short notice, can help parents and students prepare for the dreaded (or beloved) snow day!
Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri provides $18,300 grant to help fund research for strategic plan

CFO donation - strategic plan
Left to right: CFSWMO representatives Nancy Good, Michael Gray, and Stephanie Howard; Board of Education President Jeff Koch; and Joplin Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Norm Ridder
At the Board of Education meeting held Tuesday, Nov. 24, representatives with Community Foundation of Southwest Missouri presented Joplin Schools with a grant for $18,300 to be used to help fund a survey of students, teachers, and the community. The data from this research will be used to inform the district's five-year strategic plan. 

CFSWMO, an affiliate of Community Foundation of the Ozarks, has made more than 90 grants to local nonprofits from its Joplin Recovery Fund totaling $6 million. Thank you for supporting our kids and our community! Learn more at www.joplinrecoveryfund.org.
 
FTC students host Winter Wonderland event for area preschoolers
 
On Dec. 1 and 2, classrooms at Franklin Technology Center were transformed into a Winter Wonderland to the delight of dozens of area Head Start preschoolers. FTC students fed the kids breakfast each morning and then toured them through classrooms to create art, play games, listen to stories, and sing songs.
    
Favorite activities included a mock hockey game in the HVAC lab where students rolled the children around a "rink" in small chairs. The children passed a volleyball back and forth to their teammates and scored points by throwing the ball through PVC pipe goals that the HVAC students constructed. Another favorite - the Auto Tech students had toy cars for the children to drive and a route set up through the class for kids to get their vehicles repaired, washed, and painted. Thank you FTC students for making the holidays special for some of our youngest area residents!

(FTC student Brynn Blotter, SkillsUSA officer and team reporter, contributed to this story.)
 
East Middle School students turn paper into dollars to support Missouri charity
 
Students at East Middle School are raising funds with a few simple, or maybe not so simple, folds of paper. Over the last several days, they have created hundreds of origami paper cranes that they hope will raise $1,000 for the Make-A-Wish Missouri organization. Through Monday, Dec. 7, parents and local residents can purchase these hand-crafted works of art for $1 each to help EMS students reach their school-wide goal and make a wish come true for a Missouri child diagnosed with a life-threatening medical condition. To purchase, stop by East Middle School, 4594 E. 20th St.
Meet Joplin Schools' Eagle of the Week

This weekly honor recognizes Joplin Schools' employees who demonstrate the qualities and behaviors that benefit the day-to-day operations of the district and promote student success. Joplin Schools' employees, parents, and community members can nominate a Joplin Schools' staff member for this recognition.  
  
Joplin Schools Eagle Minute brought to you by:
UPCOMING EVENTS
Dec. 10
South Middle School Drama Theatre presents "A Fairytale Inspired"
6 p.m.
South Middle School
Free admission

Dec. 15
Board of Education Regular Meeting
7 p.m.
Memorial Education Center

Dec. 21-Jan. 4
Christmas Break

Jan. 5
Classes resume
We hope you enjoyed this issue of the Eagle Minute. If there are specific topics you would like to see covered, please email your suggestions to webmaster@joplinschools.org.