School News

Kensie Darst’s best advice to high school students gearing up for their first semester of college may be common encouragement, but it’s held true for her – don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Darst, from Aurora, Mo., followed her own advice when she made the decision to step foot on the University of Missouri campus this past fall...

Academic honor rolls for Truman State University in Kirksville for the spring 2020 semester have been announced. Four bi-county students qualified for the President’s List for earning a perfect 4.0 grade point average. They were: Emily Wren, Aurora; Brittain Cooper and Abby Kranz, Monett; and Alexa Day, Mt. Vernon...

The Missouri FFA Association awarded Mount Vernon FFA a Gold Emblem, a Top Chapter Award. Only 10 percent of state chapters receive a top chapter designation each year. Model of Innovation winners and rankings will be announced at a summer event. The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. ...

Blake George Wright, of rural Verona, has won the Missouri FFA Dairy Production Entrepreneurship Pro-ficiency Award. Wright, a senior at Monett High School, is the son of Larry and Jodi Wright. He is a member of the Monett FFA Chapter. His advisor is Lyndsey Rector...

The Missouri FFA Association announced Ashley Freiburger, of the Verona FFA Chapter, as one of four finalists for the State Star in Agriscience. The other finalists are Haylee Draper, Maysville FFA Chapter; Destinie Tunis, Eldon FFA Chapter; and Jacob Toombs, Bolivar FFA Chapter...

Several area FFA members have received the state's highest FFA honor. Dash Ballay, of Monett, has received the State FFA Degree, the highest degree members can receive at state level. The Monett FFA member is one of a record 988 degree recipients receiving the honor...

Olivia Carnes, of Mount Vernon, has won the Missouri FFA Food Service Entrepreneurship and Placement Combined Proficiency Award. Carnes, a senior at Mount Vernon High School, is a member of the Mount Vernon FFA Chapter. She is the daughter of Steve and Leigh Ann Carnes. ...

The Missouri FFA Association awarded Aurora FFA a Gold Emblem, a Top Chapter Award. Only 10 percent of state chapters receive a top chapter designation each year. Model of Innovation winners and rankings will be announced at a summer event. The National Chapter Award Program is designed to recognize FFA chapters that actively implement the mission and strategies of the organization. ...

Preschool through sixth grade students in the Purdy school district received a surprise in their supplemental education packets during the second week in April, thanks to the generosity of several local businesses. First grade teacher Chelsea Bennett wanted to do something to keep her students engaged and reading during Purdy’s wellness break, made necessary by the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic...

The science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) strand of GO CAPS at Monett High School gathered in a Zoom conference call recently.

First semester honor roll has been announced at Monett High School by Principal Stephanie Heman. A total of 107 students earned top honors by qualifying for the All-A honor roll. The following students were named to the All-A honor roll: Seniors – Alicia Adams, Nathan Arnall, Riley Brown, Alice Camp, Xavier Carlill, Britney Cash, Rebecca Clark, Kelsey Dalton, Ashlie Gaches, Kaesha George, Zoe Gilbert, Jonathan Hughes, Stacy Hurtado, Ashley Kurima, Kassie McCallister, Cole McCollough, Alisa Moua, Abigail Patton, Emily Payne, Ximena Rivas, Karina Salas, Parker Schoen Alex Sparkman, Amy Tsai and Blake Wright.. ...

Twelve students from Pierce City High School were inducted into membership of the National Honor Society in a ceremony held at the school Thursday, March 5.

Basketball 2020 Homecoming festivities were held February 21st at Aurora High School. Members of the Royal Court were assisted by last year’s royalty:

FBLA students from Aurora recently attended the FBLA District V Workshop in Cassville. Drury University staff from the Monett campus conducted the workshop on “Leadership.”

The Monett FFA held its annual barn warming on Feb. 28 at the Scott Regional Technology Center. Students played games, including “horse races,” shown with Christian Bellville and Kimberly Long in a dead heat.

The Singing Saints choir from St. Paul Lutheran High School in Concordia will present a concert at 7 p.m.

Winners have been named in the sixth annual Aurora Rotary Speech Contest at Aurora High School.

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen Students of the Month for February.

Purdy Elementary School has presented character medals to 18 students for exhibiting respect.

Students from Trinity Lutheran School were recognized for qualifying for the A/B Honor Roll for second quarter.

Purdy Elementary Principal Julie Dalton is pleased to announced students who earned character medals in January for learning acceptance.

Nineteen Trinity Lutheran School students earned High Honors on the All-A honor roll for second quarter.

The Trinity Lutheran School Math League was honored for their achievements. 

Trinity Lutheran School honored top readers for the month of January at a recent chapel service. 

Eight students from Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt earned perfect attendance recognition for the second quarter.

The Monett Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution held its annual award ceremony for high school good citizens on Saturday, Feb. 8, honoring Madry McCrackin, Cassville High School; Wyatt Hoppes, Exeter High School; Zolanna Simpson, Wheaton High School; Jonathan Hughes, Monett High School; and Rachel Jimenez, Southwest High School...

Five Purdy Elementary vocalists represented Purdy Schools in the newly formed Elementary All-State Honor Choir which performed on Jan. 22 for the Missouri Music Educators Association annual conference at Lake of the Ozarks. Purdy was one of only three schools to bring five or more vocalists to the event. ...

Truman State University has released its academic honor rolls for the fall 2019 semester. Brittain Cooper, of Monett, was named to the Presidents Honor Roll having achieved a 4.0 grade point average. Students earning a 3.5 to 3.99 grade point average were listed on the honor roll. They include: Abby Kranz, of Monett; Lauren Seifried, of Aurora; and Alexa Day, of Mt. Vernon...

The Purdy High School Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) chapter was well-represented at the District 5 Leadership Conference, held at New Site Baptist Church in Monett on Feb. 11. A total of 17 Purdy FBLA members placed in the Top 10 in their respective competitions, with nine competitors advancing to the State Leadership Conference competition April 19-21...

Officials at Pierce City Middle School have announced the names of students listed on the A/B Honor Roll for the first semester of the 2019-2020 academic year. They are: Lauren Blackburn, Lucas Brown, Riley Brown, Bryson Burch, Dalton Carver, Jake Cox, Sabella Dehaven, Kylie Dewitt, Triston Dilley, Carder Eaton, Lexie Eaton, Luke Eaton, Bethany Faminoff, Sonnie Ferguson-Winfrey, Kenyen Finley, Rex Forsyth, Savanna Graessle, Kalynn Graham, Jackson Gray, Emily Haase, Jacob Heeter, Landyn Himes, Lydia Holmes, Lydia Hopper, Addison Iman, Carson Jespersen, Kate Johnson, Levi Knight, Maggie Langford, Liliana Lasker, Jacob Lawrimore, Molly Leavitt, Steven Leavitt, Julianna Livesay, Hunter Martin, Alyssa May, Savanna McAdoo, Autumn McMillan, Kyler McWilliams, Erik Medel-Ortiz, Harper Merritt, Matthew Murray, Abby O’Hara, Rylie O’Hara, Izabylla Pack, Jack Parrigon, Kaden Pham, Aiden Poage, Brenna Poage, Shaye Prater, Sophia Prater, Annie Rakoski, Ayla Renkoski, Michael Russo, Elsie Salazar, Jaxon Turner and Stella Yonker.. ...

Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt honored second quarter outstanding students at the conclusion of chapel service on Jan. 8.

Kora Kelleher, a Purdy Elementary fifth grade student, won the school’s annual Spelling Bee for grades 4 to 6 on Jan. 30.

As the school year passed the halfway point, Verona Elementary Priincipal Melody Whitehead announced the honor roll for the second quarter. Named to the A honor roll were: Second grader Maria Vargas; fourth graders Gabe Compton, Jareckza Alvarado; fifth graders Zachary Freiburger, Caiden Hillhouse, Melinda Martinez, Gillian Mattox, Kayla Nungaray, Isabella Porras, Alex Snow and Henry Reed; and sixth graders Lillian Ayres-Brayfield, Ka'leah Cohen, Connor Erwin, Chloe Frias, Jacob Hinkle, E.J. ...

The JROTC drill teams from the Scott Regional Technology Center in Monett brought home a third place trophy from competition at the second annual Broken Arrow Drill Meet in Broken Arrow, Okla., on Jan. 25. The Scott Tech cadets competed against 12 other Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps JROTC programs. Scott Tech had teams compete in the unarmed and armed drill, color guard, inspection, and physical fitness team categories...

Monett R-1 Board of Education members received recognition during the annual School Board Recognition Week, held Feb. 9-15, as proclaimed by Missouri Governor Mike Parson and sponsored by the Missouri School Board’s Association.

First-year members of the Purdy FFA chapter attended the annual Greenhand Conference, hosted by the Missouri FFA state officer team, on Jan. 9. At the conference, members split into groups to develop teamwork and leadership skills and to discover the many opportunities FFA has to offer. Members also had the chance to hear a motivational speech from FFA State Vice President Jessica Janorschke...

The second quarter honor roll for Purdy Elementary School has been announced by Principal Julie Dalton. The following students were named to the A honor roll: Third grade — Quentin Dodson, Lauren Lamp, Alison Logan, Paige Ozbun, Karson Rosewicz, Xander Dodson, Whitney Haworth, Ziva James...

After a six year absence, members of the Purdy High School Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) returned to the District STAR (Students Taking Action With Recognition) competition on Jan. 30 and won medals for their efforts. Makayla Mazza won a gold medal in her division in the Focus on Children event. She will represent Purdy at the State STAR Events competition in March...

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen Students of the Month for January. Students exhibited the characteristics of being hard working.

Tracy Gail Roberts, of Monett, earned a Master of Healthcare Administration from Park University in Parkville during commencement exercises held Dec. 14, 2019, at Community of Christ Auditorium in Independence. She was one of 470 students eligible to participate in the ceremony...

Sixteen students at Trinity Lutheran School in Friestatt qualified for the A/B honor roll for the second quarter.

Nineteen students at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt were recognized for earning high honors on the all-A honor roll for the second quarter.

Seven students at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt had near perfect attendance during the second quarter for missing less than half a day.

Eight students at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt had perfect attendance during the second quarter.

Outstanding students of the second quarter have been named at Trinity Lutheran School in Freistatt.

Around 400 speech and debate students from across southwest Missouri gathered at Monett High School on Friday and Saturday for the 59th annual Priscilla Bradford Speech Tournament, hosted by the MHS speech and debate program. Approximately 200 volunteer judges from the Monett community assembled to assess the competitors in 11 events for a total of 44 rounds...

Purdy Elementary School has awarded medals for character development in December.

Officials at Monett Elementary School have chosen Students of the Month for December.

Work by media students from throughout the region received recognition at the 23rd annual Southern Media Showcase at Missouri Southern State University on Thursday, Dec. 5. Close to 300 high school students gathered for the presentations and awards.

The Monett High School Concert Band under the direction of Philip Soule was the last of six bands performing in the marathon winter band concert Dec. 10 at the MHS Performing Arts Center.