This year’s Jackson High School graduating seniors will march onto the school’s football field to receive their diplomas Thursday, May 21. As usual, the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau has been reserved in case of inclement weather.
The Jackson R-2 Board of Education set the date of graduation at its Jan. 12 meeting. While snow days could affect the last day of school for other students, graduating seniors will be done May 21.
In a related matter, the Board held a public hearing prior to its meeting to discuss the 2015-16 school calendar. A public hearing is required when the beginning of a school year is more than 10 days prior to the first Monday in September. No one from the public spoke at the hearing.
The Board approved a calendar that had received overwhelming support from teachers. It will be very similar to this year’s calendar.
The next school year will begin Thursday, Aug. 13. Winter break will be Dec. 19-Jan 4. Spring break will be March 24-29, 2016. School will tentatively end next year on May 19. Snow make-up days will be March 18, 24, 29, May 20, 23 and 24, 2016.
In other action:
• Board recognized: The Board was formally thanked during this January meeting in honor of School Board Recognition Week. The actual week will be Jan. 25-31, as proclaimed by Gov. Jay Nixon.
Board members received gift cards from the CTA and gift bags from the student congress at West Lane Elementary. Also a video was shown in which students and staff members from West Lane offered thanks to the School Board.
• Student recognitions: The Board recognized the JHS varsity football team for being district champions, Jackson All-State Band students and Jackson All-State Choir students. It was announced that Jackson seventh-ninth grade choir members will sing the National Anthem at the St. Louis Cardinals home game on Memorial Day.
• Online testing: Assistant Superintendent Dr. Beth Emmendorfer informed the Board that preparations are being made for third-eighth graders to take their end-of-year MAP tests online. High school students already take their end-of-year exams online, she added.
• Cancer awareness: The basketball team will focus on cancer awareness Jan. 20-30, with a dinner catered by Fazoli’s Restaurant Jan. 24 and a silent auction Jan. 30. Proceeds from these events will go to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Emmendorfer announced.
• East Elementary construction: Superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson reported that workers “are making very good progress” on the East Elementary construction project. They are working inside, where the cold weather has not hindered them. “It’s getting to the fun stage now. You can see where things are going,” he said.
• Next meeting: The next R-2 Board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Feb. 10.
