Thursday, December 5:

Community Forum #2

Community Author Event

Monday, December 9: 

School Board Informational Session

Tuesday, December 10:

School Board Candidate Filing Opens

Wednesday, December 11:

2nd & 3rd Grade Winter Concerts

Sunday, December 15:

6th-12th Grade Winter Concerts

Monday, December 16:

School in Session

Wednesday, December 18: 

Hallsville Intermediate 4th & 5th Grade Honor Choir Concert

Board of Education Meeting

Thursday, December 19: 

Last day of school before winter break

Friday, December 20 - Wednesday, January 1: 

Winter Break

Tuesday, December 31:

School Board Candidate Filing Closes

Thursday, January 2: 

School Resumes, Beginning of 3rd Quarter

You can view the district calendar online here  or subscribe to the calendar here.

You can subscribe to the District and Athletics & Activities events and calendar  here.

Hallsville Families & Community Members,

The Hallsville Board of Education invites you to a second community forum to discuss the proposed no-tax-rate-increase bond for the April 2025 ballot. The forum will take place tomorrow Thursday, December 5, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the secondary cafeteria.

During the forum, we will share updated conceptual designs and cost projections prepared by Klingner & Associates based on feedback from the first community meeting, identified community needs, and anticipated funding for capital improvements. These updates include:

• Campus parking and traffic flow improvements
• A two-classroom addition to the primary school
• Construction of multipurpose sports field
• Additional campus safety and facility improvements

We hope you’ll join us to learn more and provide your valuable input.

Sincerely,

Tyler Walker

Superintendent of Schools

We’re excited to introduce the Hallsville Alumni Spotlight in our ENews! This feature highlights Hallsville High School graduates who have made a difference in our community or excelled in their fields. Each month, we’ll share inspiring stories that showcase the Hallsville spirit.

Know an alum who deserves to be recognized? Let us know—we’d love to share their story!

Dorothy Mae McKenzie grew up in Hallsville and graduated from Hallsville High School in 1955. There were 18 students in her graduating class, twelve of them are still living.

How did Hallsville School prepare you for life?

I was active in sports during school, playing basketball in junior high school and high school. I averaged 40 points a game. Playing sports in school led me to continue being active. I was an avid bowler and I am in the Columbia and Missouri Bowling Hall of Fame. I also enjoyed playing in the Show-Me Games.  

What kind of post high school training or schooling did you have?

After high school, I worked at Barnhart Laundry and then started working at Columbia Auto Parts in 1958. I worked there for 60 years and retired when I was 83 years old.

What is a favorite memory from school at Hallsville?

I was a little mischievous in school. I had a niece that was the same age as me in school. My favorite memory is my niece and I skipping school.

What are you doing now that you are retired?

I am active in many activities in Hallsville. I am president of the Hallsville Historical Society and have been a member since 2000. I have been president of the Hallsville Alumni Association for 20 years. I attend Park Lane Community Church. On the Inner Church Council for Hallsville, I am also president.

What part of Hallsville did you take with you?

The main lesson that I learned from Hallsville is to be loving and caring. I know that it is important to think of others and to help my community.

What advice would you give students today?

You should always be kind and considerate to others. Respect your parents and have the Lord in your life.

A reminder that school is in session Monday, December 16. Winter break begins Friday, December 20.  Students will return from break on Thursday, January 2. You can view the district calendar here.

The Hallsville School District encourages qualified persons interested in running for a position on the School Board to file to be a candidate in the April 8, 2025 election. Filing for positions on the Hallsville R-IV Board of Education will open at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 10, 2024. Filing will close at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 31, 2024. The election will be held April 8, 2025. 

The Hallsville Board of Education will also host a School Board Informational Session on Monday, December 9, from 5:15 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. in the primary school cafeteria. Community members interested in running for the school board are encouraged to attend to learn more about the role and responsibilities of a board member.

Interested persons must file, in person, at the office of the Superintendent located at 411 E. Highway 124, Hallsville, Missouri, during regular business hours Tuesday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Candidates will be listed on the ballot in the order of filing. Filing will not occur on days that the school district is closed due to inclement weather. Hallsville School District administrative offices will be closed from December 20, 2024, through December 30, 2024. Two persons will be elected for three year terms as members of the Board of Education. 

District Address 
411 E. Hwy 124 
Hallsville MO 65255 

Filing Hours

• December 10, 2024, 8am-5pm 
• December 11-13, 2024, 8:30am - 3:30pm 
• December 16-17, 2024, 8:30am - 3:30pm 
• December 18, 2024, 8:30am - 5:30pm 
• December 19, 2024, 8:30am - 3:30pm 
• December 20-30, 2024, Closed for Winter Break 
• December 31, 2024, 4:00 pm-5:00 pm

Qualifications include: A school board member must be a U.S. citizen, a resident taxpayer of the district or voters of the district in urban districts, a resident of Missouri for at least one year, and at least 24 years of age. Candidates must also be current on state and local taxes; have not been found guilty of or pled guilty to a felony under Missouri or federal law; are not registered or required to register as a sex offender; and have filed required campaign documents for all previous campaigns, if any. Additional resources for school board candidates can be found online at Missouri School Boards’ Association, including  A Candidate’s Legal Guide to Running for the School Board and  How Do I Become A School Board Member?

Hallsville Schools invites all students, families, and community members to a special Community Event with author Tom Phillips tomorrow, Thursday, December 5, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. in the intermediate commons. Mr. Phillips, author of The Curious League of Detectives and Thieves series, will share insights on reaching readers, including those with learning disabilities like dyslexia. Students in grades three through five have enjoyed his first book during their building-wide read-aloud this semester—don’t miss this exciting opportunity!

Save the date for the 9th Annual Hallsville PTO Trivia Night at the Bob Lemone building on Saturday, February 8. Tables of 8 are available for $160. All money raised goes back to the schools through field trips, technology, scholarships, and more.  Registration forms will be available after the beginning of the year. 

Email hallsvillepto@gmail.com  with any questions. Save the  date, come out for a great night, and support the Hallsville PTO !

We would like to invite our students, families, and community members to the Hallsville School District winter  concerts. Thank you to our music educators, Mr. Weston Richardson, Mrs. Susan Lewis, and Mr. Ryan Lewis, for preparing our students for these performances.

Hallsville Primary School: 2nd Grade

Wednesday, December 11th

6:00 PM 

Primary Gym

Hallsville Intermediate School: 3rd Grade

Wednesday, December 11th

7:00 PM 

Primary Gym

Hallsville Middle & High Schools: Winter Concerts

Sunday, December 15th 

6th Grade: 2:00 p.m.; 7th & 8th Grade: 3:30 p.m.; High School: 5:30 p.m.

West Gym

Hallsville Intermediate School: Intermediate Honor Choir Musical

Wednesday, December 18th 

6:00 PM

Intermediate Commons

As scholarship season kicks off, we’re seeking community support to help our graduating seniors succeed! Local scholarships make a huge impact, and we’d love your help in celebrating the Hallsville High School Class of 2025. Families, businesses, or organizations can sponsor a scholarship starting at $250 and your tailored criteria. 

If you are interested in sponsoring a local scholarship, please contact Rachel Sides at rsides@hallsville.org or complete the form below by Wednesday, January 15. Thank you for helping us support our seniors and their bright futures!

PROGRAM EVALUATIONS

The Board approved the Health Services Program  and Curriculum & Assessment Program  evaluations. Each evaluation includes program goals, evidence of change, concerns, and future recommendations. 

HHS EMBEDDED MATH CREDIT PILOT PROGRAM

The board approved Hallsville High School’s proposed  embedded math credit pilot program and guidelines. They anticipate serving 5-10 students the first year and will provide those students with another option to receive an applied mathematics credit. In addition to the use of the ACT WorkKeys Mathematics Assessment, each student who completes the program will also have passed the mathematics portion of the ACT WorkKeys, which serves as an Industrial Recognized Credential. 

CSIP BALANCED SCORECARD

Mrs. Esquivel provided an overview of the district’s  Balanced Scorecard for our Continuous School Improvement Plan (CSIP). The Balanced Scorecard was developed as a tool to track progress on the specific goals outlined in our CSIP. It serves as a dynamic monitoring system to align our school improvement efforts with both state and district priorities, ensuring a structured approach to meeting student, staff, and schoolwide success measures. Additional information on the scorecard can be found on the  district report. 

HHS PBIS Tier 1 Implementation Efforts

HHS continues its PBIS Tier 1 implementation efforts with support from a dedicated team of teachers, counselors, and administrators who guide the process and complete key evaluation tools like the Tiered Fidelity Inventory. Common expectations have been established for shared spaces, and teachers have used the same template and positive language to craft classroom expectations. The new incentive program has successfully rewarded nearly 75% of students for positive behaviors, with prizes including premium parking spots, event vouchers, free lunches, and treats for high-achieving study halls. These efforts align with the district's CSIP goals to promote a positive school environment. 

SCHOOL SAFETY

The district is interested in adding a two-door entrance system to all of our main entrances. This item could appear on the April ballot. The two-door system acts as a buffer between the outside and the interior of the school. 

SEPTEMBER POLICY UPDATES

The September 2024 policy updates reflect, for the most part, enactments this session in the Missouri legislature. This is the second reading of policy and regulation updates. Policies go into effect after a second reading and approval by the Board of Education. 

JOHN T. BELCHER SCHOLARSHIP

Each year, the Missouri School Boards Association (MSBA) awards seventeen scholarships to Missouri high school seniors. One scholarship winner is selected from each of the seventeen MSBA-designated regions of the state. Those seventeen winners then compete for one larger scholarship. There were eleven John T. Belcher scholarship applications this year, and the Board selected Kaden Thompson’s application to be submitted to MSBA.