McDonald County R-1 School District, 10 Stampede Drive, Anderson, MO (2026)

09/04/2026

🗓️ Long weekend ahead!

Just a reminder for our students, families and staff that there will be no school on Monday, September 7, in observance of Labor Day. 🇺🇸

Enjoy the long weekend, get some rest and spend some time with the people who matter most! ❤️🖤

We'll see everyone back at school on Tuesday!

09/04/2026

What happens when people come together with one goal: making our schools better?

Ideas turn into action. And action makes a difference. ❤️🖤

Last night, teachers, principals, staff members, and community members came together to take a closer look at McDonald County Schools’ Comprehensive School Improvement Plan (CSIP).

But this wasn’t just a meeting about a plan.

It was a chance to look back at the ideas and goals from last year and ask, “What difference are we making?”

📈 Student test scores are up.
👩‍🏫 Teacher and staff retention has improved.
🏫 Our facilities continue to improve.
💡 New ideas are taking shape.

The group also looked honestly at initiatives that were difficult to put into place because of funding or other challenges. Because real improvement means celebrating what works, learning from what doesn't, and finding new ways forward.

And they're not done yet.

Members of the group were challenged to keep thinking, keep asking questions, and bring new ideas to the table later this fall.

Because improving education takes all of us.

Thank you to everyone who gave their time, shared their ideas, and continues to invest in the future of McDonald County Schools.

Together, we're turning ideas into action and building better schools for every child. ❤️🖤

09/03/2026

🎒 Learning How to Be a Learner! ❤️🖤

For our littlest learners, the first few days of school aren't just about ABCs and 123s. They're also about learning the skills that help make learning possible! 🧸📚

Our Pre-K students across McDonald County Schools are busy learning some very important things:
👣 How to walk in line
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 How to share and make new friends
🛝 How to play safely at recess
🪑 How to sit and listen during story time
🙌 How to keep their hands to themselves
👂 How to listen to teachers and follow directions
🏫 How to follow classroom and school routines

These may seem like simple skills, but they're big steps for little learners! Each one helps students become more independent, feel comfortable at school, and, most importantly, be ready to learn.

For example, we recently peeked into Pre-K classrooms at White Rock Elementary and Pineville Primary and saw students putting these new skills into practice. From learning how to line up to listening during story time and making new friends, our youngest students are already learning what it means to be part of a school community. ❤️🖤

Our teachers know that before students can dig into academics, they need to learn how to be part of a classroom community. That's why those first days and weeks are filled with practice, patience, encouragement, and lots of opportunities to learn by doing.

Little skills today. Big learning tomorrow. 📚✨

09/02/2026

🌎🎨 Sometimes learning looks like a map, some crayons, and a little creativity!

Our 4th graders at Anderson Elementary are settling into the school year and getting right back to the business of learning, with some fun lessons! ❤️🖤

In social studies, students reviewed what they already know about the continents and oceans by coloring maps and labeling them. Then, they switched gears for math and tackled several fun “math crafts,” including coloring numbers and grouping pictures to show their thinking. 🔢🎨

Activities like these are especially helpful during the first few days of school. They give students a chance to review important skills, get their brains working again, practice following directions, and build confidence while learning feels fun and engaging.

It’s also a great reminder of the creativity our teachers bring to the classroom every day. A map, some crayons, and a hands-on math activity can turn a review lesson into something students enjoy while still reinforcing important skills. 🌎➕🖍️

We love seeing our teachers find creative ways to help students learn and our students jumping right back into the work of learning!

09/01/2026

🧪 What happens when you turn a 7th-grade science class into a room full of molecules? You get learning in motion! 💨🌊

Students at Rocky Comfort Elementary recently took their learning about the three states of matter off the page and into the classroom.

🔹 Solid: Students grouped together tightly to show how particles in a solid stay close and organized.

🔹 Liquid: They became water, demonstrating how liquids move, create waves and interact when they collide with another body of water or a solid object.

🔹 Gas: Then came everyone’s favorite! 💨 Students moved freely and unpredictably, showing how gas particles spread out, bounce off other particles and objects, and flow freely when an opening is available.

This kind of hands-on learning gives students a chance to see, experience and act out the concepts they are learning. Instead of simply reading about how solids, liquids and gases behave, students got to experience those differences for themselves.

That’s what creative learning looks like in our schools. Our teachers are always finding new and engaging ways to turn classroom concepts into experiences that students can understand, remember and enjoy. ❤️🖤

Sometimes the best way to learn science is to get moving!

09/01/2026

✈️🗓️ PLAN THE TRIP. NOT THE ABSENCE!

September is Attendance Month, and one of the best ways families can support good attendance is to plan ahead!

We know family vacations, weekend getaways, and special trips are important. The good news is that our 2026-2027 school calendar gives families plenty of opportunities to make memories without students missing school. ❤️🖤

Because McDonald County Schools follows a four-day school week, most Mondays are already days off for students. That means families can often plan a quick getaway from Friday after school through Monday without missing a day of class.

Looking for opportunities for a longer trip? Here are some great dates to keep in mind:
📅 September 5-7: Labor Day weekend
📅 October 17-19: Three-day weekend
📅 November 21-30: Thanksgiving break
📅 December 23-January 4: Christmas break
📅 March 19-29: Spring Break
📅 May 26: Summer break begins for students

The key is planning ahead. When families use the school calendar to schedule trips during days students are already out of school, everyone wins!

🎒 Students get to stay in class and keep up with their learning.
❤️ Families get time together and opportunities to make memories.
🗓️ And everyone can enjoy the trip without worrying about missed school days.

Every day in the classroom matters. Even a few missed days can make it harder for students to keep up with lessons, assignments, and routines.

So this Attendance Month, let's make a plan:
✈️ Plan the trip.
🗓️ Check the calendar.
🎒 Protect the school days.
❤️ Make the memories.

Every child. Every day. Whatever it takes.

08/30/2026

A Message from McDonald County Schools:

We want to make sure our McDonald County High School families, students, and staff know that our students are safe, and there is no current threat to McDonald County High School or McDonald County Schools.

On Saturday afternoon, school officials received information that some McDonald County High School students were receiving calls containing a threatening message. We immediately began working with our School Resource Officer (SRO) team and local law enforcement to investigate the situation.

Through the work of local law enforcement, the juveniles responsible for making the threats were identified and located. The McDonald County Juvenile Office is now handling the matter.

We know that hearing about a situation like this can be concerning, especially for parents and families. Please know that the safety and well-being of our students and staff is always our top priority. We take every threat report seriously and work quickly with our law enforcement partners to ensure concerns are investigated and addressed.

At this time, there is no threat to McDonald County High School or the school district, and school will be in session as scheduled on Monday.

We are incredibly thankful for our SRO team and local law enforcement for their quick response and for the care they show our students and schools. We are also grateful for the continued support and trust of our families and community.

Thank you for trusting us with your children. We never take that responsibility for granted.

08/30/2026

📚 REMINDER: SCHOOL IS IN SESSION TOMORROW! 📚

We know Mondays are usually a day off for McDonald County Schools, but tomorrow is one of those occasional five-day school weeks!

📅 Monday, August 31 through Friday, September 4

That means students have school tomorrow AND every day this week! 🚌✏️

So, get those backpacks ready, set those alarms and enjoy the rest of your Sunday! We’ll see everyone Monday morning! ❤️🖤

08/28/2026

📚 A Day of Learning for Those Who Help Our Students Learn

Today, our teachers are spending the day learning, collaborating, and preparing for their students.

Professional development days give teachers time to step away from the daily classroom routine and focus on something just as important: how we can do an even better job helping every student learn and grow.

Our teachers are looking at student data, sharing ideas, working together and finding ways to better meet the needs of the students in their classrooms.

That work matters.

The best teachers are always learning, too. They continue to grow their skills, learn new strategies, and work together to find what works best for their students.

So while students may not be in the classroom today, their teachers are still working with them in mind.

When our teachers grow, our students grow. ❤️🖤

08/27/2026

📚 No School for Students This Friday!

Just a reminder, McDonald County Schools will not have classes for students on Friday, August 28.

Our teachers will be taking part in an important day of professional development and learning to continue growing their skills and finding new ways to support our students. ❤️🖤

We appreciate our teachers’ commitment to learning and to doing whatever it takes to help every student succeed!

Enjoy the long weekend, families! We’ll see everyone back at school on Monday!

McDonald County R-1 School District

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

09/03/2026

09/02/2026

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