Simple Pleasures

Even in these days of fast paced technology, kids still enjoy the simple pleasures of life. Several of our elementary field trips capitalize on this.

Crawdads. It is hard to believe that these clawed creatures bring such pleasure, but the kids were having a grand time on Tuesday searching for the critters in all sizes and observing them in make-shift aquariums, along with minnows, snails and tadpoles. (Our creek time is a "catch and release" program and no actual wildlife was harmed in the making of this memory.)

Deer. Turtles. Fish. Frogs. Spotting these animals along the hiking trail at the Nature Center takes a keen eye, patience and a little self-discipline in the talking department.

A hill. A grassy hill. What is better on a summer day than a quick roll down a grassy hill? It has become a KES tradition of sorts when visiting the Living Memorial Park to enjoy a roll down the hill. And, why not? (It's fun!)

Watch me! Watch me! Watch me!

If I had a nickel for everytime I heard this on Friday, I would be very rich! "Watch me (fill in the blank)!" was echoed frequently at the pool, just before the students performed amazing feats of underwater bravery and other stunts!

Speaking of watching, twice last week, I was asked by parents, "How do you actually watch 100 kids at the pool?" I thought I would share our secrets here.

First, we have an incredible number of rules and procedures for the pool and we tell the students up front exactly what we expect. We have great kids and they do rise to high expectations and, for the most part, do exactly as they are asked.

We prevent loss of items by leaving all our outer clothes on the bus. Students are only permitted to bring a towel, sunscreen, money and shoes onto the pool deck. They put their items in a designated area and are not allowed to leave items anywhere except the designated area. They purchase food and eat it in the concession area and responsibly clean up any mess or trash.

Also, we swim test the kids before they are allowed in or on the deck around the deep end of the pool. Once they have passed the swim test, we mark their shoulder with an X. We keep track of who has passed and we mark them with an X the following week. Several students passed the swim test so far this year that were not able to last year. For these kids, the X is a badge of pride and accomplishment.

We are in the pool actively interacting with the children. The kids enjoy the attention and we are close enough to see and hear what is necessary to keep kids safe. We require students to walk when they are on the deck and we do sit students out if they are behaving in an unsafe or inappropriate way.

Finally, when it is time to go, it is time to go!!! All students are expected to exit the pool immediately, get their shoes on, pick up their towel and get in their class lines when the announcement to do so is made. Each teacher makes sure that all students are in line before we go to the buses and then roll is called by name before the buses leave. The students know that the more efficiently they can get themselves together to be ready to leave, the more time they get to spend swimming the next time.

The bottom line at the swimming pool is that students need to stay safe and the teachers and I work hard to ensure this is the case.

Catch the Reading Bug!

"Catch the Reading Bug" which is our summer library program kicked off yesterday. The students enjoyed learning more about bugs from guest speaker, Randy Dietz. Other activities including making "marshmallow bugs" to eat, creating worm paintings (no real worms were injured during the course of this activity), listening to a read aloud selection, playing games and, of course, a great opportunity to check out books.

Speaking of books, can you believe how excited these boys are about an alien book from the library?

Don't bug me...I'm going to summer school!

We have been having an awesome time at summer school! The KES students received their summer school t-shirts this week and they have been a hit. Kindergarten students can still purchase one for $5.00. The first through fourth graders' shirts were covered through their activity fee. Swimming is coming up tomorrow!

Summer Reading and Library Programs

Don't forget that the elementary school has two great programs to keep kids reading all summer long! The Splash Into Summer Reading program encourages all students who will be in grades K-5 next school year to read and record 1000 minutes of reading during the summer to attend the Splash Bash when we return to school in August.



The "Catch the Reading Bug" summer library program kicks off on Wednesday, June 4th from 12:30-2:30 and continues for 6 weeks. It is the Wednesday field trip for KES summer school students, but you don't have to be enrolled in summer school to attend. Also, students who read and record at least 400 minutes in the "Splash..." program and return the certificate signed by a parent to the library program can receive a free Scholastic book. Door prizes (books) are drawn weekly and students who attend 5 of 6 weeks of the library program will be invited to stay overnight at a special party. The program is designed for students who will be in grades K-5 next school year, but younger siblings may come, if they are accompanied by a parent. Younger children are not eligible for the overnight party.



Click the embedded links or the links in the list to the right for more details about each program.

Thank-you, Tanger Outlet Center!

The Kirbyville School District wishes to thank the Tanger Outlet Center for their generous donation of $1, 200 to each building through the Tanger Bucks program. Each time a coupon booklet was sold during the past year, a portion of the proceeds were donated to each school. Tanger Outlet Center will continue this program next year as well!

Summer School

Kirbyville Elementary and Middle School have started summer school, but it is not too late to enroll. Students who will be in grades K-8 next school year are eligible. Buses will run within the district and breakfast and lunch are provided for all students at no charge.


Students do not have to live in the Kirbyville School District to attend, but there is not bus transportation available outside the district.


The summer school program offers academics at all grade levels in the mornings and field trips to various area destinations in the afternoons. Field trip destinations include the Branson Rec Plex for swimming, Skateworld, Springfield Nature Center, movies, IMAX theatre and much, much more. There is a field trip fee of $25 at the elementary school and $30 at the middle school.


Students who will be in K-4th grades next year are at the elementary school and students in 5th -8th grades will be at the middle school. Call the elementary school at 334-2757 or the middle school at 348-0444 for more information or to enroll.

Welcome to the Kirbyville R-6 Blog!!!

I would like to welcome everyone to the new Kirbyville R-VI blog. Hopefully, this blog will be a tool to share information of interest to the Kirbyville School community and a way to have an ongoing, interactive vehicle of communication in our community. Please feel free to comment to any posts with positive or helpful statements or questions. Of course, any topic that is confidential or related to an individual student or a personnel matter is not appropriate in this venue. Those situations should be directed to the Kirbyville school personnel responsible for your type of concern.

Anyone can add comments to existing posts, but you would like to be a blog author, please contact me via email.