PA NTHERPRIDE

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GOT A STORY?

Bond IssueBy M aggie M artin

Volume 9, I ssue #6

SUBMIT A STORY TO KARA CLAYPOLE CLAYPOLEK@POLO.K12.MO.US OR YSEE CHOROT CHOROTY@POLO.K12.MO.US

EDITOR OF THE PANTHER PRIDE

BY THE 20TH OF EACH MONTH!

NONPROFIT

U.S. POSTAGE

PAID PERMIT NO. 31

The Polo Newspaper is proud to present a bond that was voted on by the Board of Education that will change our community for the better. Along with providing money for classrooms and security, it also doesn?t increase your taxes! It truly will be a huge step in improving the Polo school district if passed. Here are some more details about the bond and how it will upgrade our town.

The Polo R-VII Board of Education voted unanimously (7-0), at their January regular Board of Education meeting, to run a ?No Tax Increase? bond issue at the April 3, 2018 general election. This bond issue would generate $1,845,000 dollars for capital improvements at the school.The bond issue does not require a tax increase, but it does need 57% voter approval for passage.The school district?s levy will remain unchanged at a total tax rate of $4.6071(Operating Rate of $3.5108 and Debt Service Rate of $1.0963). The $4.6071 tax rate has been consistent since the 2011-2012 school year.

According to Superintendent, Dr. Beverly Deis, ?The funds from this bond issue would be used to fund capital projects like facilit ies and equipment. The bonds

cannot be used for regular operational costs like salaries or supplies. This past fall, the school held strategic planning meetings where students, staff, parents, and patrons discussed areas of improvement and goals for the school. Many of those items mentioned will be included in this bond issue.?Dr. Deis added, ?The next opportunity for a ?No Tax Increase Bond? Issue will be in 2033, which is 15 years down the road.?

Mr. Ross, High School Principal, said, ?The specific ballot language will include improvements for the Polo School including a new band room, new choir room, renovation of the cafeteria, new infrastructure for technology, repairing and/or replacing roofs and HVAC systems, installing security cameras, and expanding parking for the school.? Mr. Ross added, ?The strategic planning meetings were beneficial because the stakeholders were able to give us feedback and input on the improvements they felt were needed for our school.?

The many positive benefits this issue will provide, we encourage Polo citizens to help support the community by voting. If you want to improve our school district, spread the news attend the April 3, 2018 general election!

Post al Pat ron Polo,MO 64671

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TRACK RIBBON CUTTING - PG 4DEAR MAGGIE- PG 6BLACK HISTORY MONTH- PG 3BOE CANDIDATE INTERVIEWS- PG 2-4WHY TO CARE FOR A TRACK- PG 7SCOREBOARDS- PG 7-9STUDENT DRUG POLICY- PG 5STATE WRESTLING- PG 8SCHOLAR BOWL AND VFW ESSAY- PG 8

"Food Dr ives" Our Com m unit y Service Project s

By Ysee Chorot

The Polo St udent Council t r ies t o do dif ferent com m unit y service act ivit ies t hroughout t he school year . The 2017-2018 school year wasn?t any dif ferent , w it h t he focus t o help our local food pant ry. In Decem ber , t he st udent council along w it h t he ?Think Local? organizat ion, headed by Penny Copeland and Am y Tem plet on, host ed a ?Hunger

Gam es?. In which every grade was a ?dist r ict ? and com pet ed t o see who could collect t he m ost cans. The t h ird graders were t he w inners. In February, STUCO decided t o do a Can The Door in t he 7-12 building. Each classroom would have a box t o put cans in, and if st udent s brought 219 cans t o t hat classroom , t he door would be blocked and all classes

in t hat room would be canceled for t he day. If a classroom did not have enough, t hey could negot iat e t o t ake cans f rom anot her t eacher ?s room . Five doors were blocked t h is year ; Mrs. Ross, Mrs. Snodgrass, Mrs. Rardon, Mr . Pick rell, and Mr . Pr ice, al low ing m ore 1095 cans collect ed. Our local food pant ry, Chr ist Cupboard, was very t hank ful for t he large donat ions. The Polo St udent Council would l ike t o t hank all fam il ies for t heir suppor t .

sessions I attended include expanding the cafeteria, fixing roof issues, an addition to the school to provide better facilit ies for music/band/others while also adding several needed classrooms, security cameras, and better perimeter fencing). I believe in spending appropriate amounts on facility upgrades, maintenance, and extracurricular activities. There needs to be a good balance, over time, of appropriation of funds to all areas of the school's education of the students. I volunteered my time helping out with investigating the potential implementation of security cameras at the school. I'd like to see the cameras, and other needed security improvements, be implemented.

Our second candidate is Kyle St it h :

1) Give a short biographical sketch about yourself; ties to the district and community.

My family moved to Polo in the fall of 1998 when I was in the second grade. Instantly I knew I wanted to be a part of this community for the rest of my life. I think it was a ?God thing?. I graduated from Polo High School as the valedictorian of my class in 2009. I received my doctorate degree in Pharmacy from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in 2015 and obtained my Funeral Director?s license that same year. In September of 2015, I purchased Bailey & Cox Funeral Homes in Polo and Lathrop. I married my wife, Erin in 2016 and she works with me side by side at the funeral home. We live above the funeral home. Currently I am the president of Stith Family Funeral Home, Clinical Pharmacy Solutions and Stith Memorials. I also serve as vice-president of the Caldwell County Health Department Board, serve the Polo Education Foundation and have served on the Caldwell County Nutrition Center Board. I am a member of the Polo Masonic Lodge and serve on several area cemetery boards. I am the co-pastor of the Polo United Methodist Church and drive bus route 21 for the school district. I have a special place in my heart for the community of Polo and the Polo R-VII School District. I care deeply about the present and future of them.2) Why are you running to be a member of the Polo R-VII School Board?

I am seeking re-election for the board because there are still things I feel need to be accomplished. We have GOT to put education as our NUMBER ONE priority. I have always been a voice for education and will continue to do so. Please consider voting for candidates that feel the same way. I am running because I care deeply about this district, the students, faculty/staff and the community!

3) Why would you be a valuable asset to the Polo R-VII School Board?

I feel I would be a valuable asset to the Polo R-VII Board of Education for another three years because I always make independent decisions based on the impact of all stakeholders (students, faculty, staff, district, community, parents, patrons and taxpayers). I?m not afraid to ask questions and be the resistance (if need be). I will never be influenced by administration or other board members as long as I believe in my heart that my decisions are what is best for

With election season for Polo?s School Board getting close, we have taken the liberty of interviewing candidates for the positions. School boards are responsible for setting goals for student achievement, being the governing voice of the community and the school, and for acting as a watchdog in order to ensure your tax dollars are put to good use. In other words, it is important to select the right people for the job.

Without further ado, here are the questions and answers from the first candidate, Mark Kipping:

1) Give a short biographical sketch about yourself; ties to the district and community.

I grew up on a farm near Carrollton, then went to college and earned a Computer Science degree from Missouri University of Science and Technology (Rolla). I worked at Hallmark Cards for 25 years, during which I gained a lot of knowledge about finance, management, problem solving and technology. I now farm (corn/soybeans) and am raising my two boys, who are in 3rd grade and Kindergarten.

2) Why are you running to be a member of the Polo R-VII School Board?

I?m running for the school board because I feel I could add value to our community by serving on the Board. I?d like the opportunity to use my skills for the benefit of our community by serving on the Board.

3) Why would you be a valuable asset to the Polo R-VII School Board?

I believe the business and management skills I have would allow me to serve the school district well. At Hallmark, I managed multi-million dollar budgets and helped keep a large part of their computer infrastructure running. I have strong skills in the following areas: financial management, project management, contract negotiation and management, vendor relationship management. I am ITIL v3 certified in Incident, Problem, Change, Configuration, and Asset Management. I will use my skills, good morals, logic, and common sense to help guide the Board to do what is best for the students, school, and community.

4) If elected, what would you like to see happen within the Polo R-VII School District?

I would like the budget, policies, and procedures of the school district to reflect the beliefs and values of our community. We must spend our tax dollars in a manner that is financially responsible and ensures our children receive the best education we can provide them. I've encouraged the current Board to adopt a random drug testing policy. Our school must do its part to solve any drug issues our community may face. I believe the track project could have been implemented in a better manner than it has been. I believe my contract negotiation and management skills would have helped make that project be executed better than it has been. Hopefully, the bond that is up for renewal is passed, and several of the items the community would like to see happen can be implemented (some items discussed in the CSIP planning

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Board Candidat e Int erviews

By Ashley Fost er

Mark Kipping

all stakeholders and what the majority of the patrons want. I encourage you to look at my voting record. No matter what, I always put EDUCATION FIRST. Sports are fun, keep kids active and teach leadership; however, they should NEVER take precedence over education. Unfortunately, on the board I have seen sports take precedence time and time again. I would estimate that we spend 65% (if not more) of board time talking about sports. I would like to see that drastically reduced. Education, Education, Education, Education is and always will be my focus. We are a Board of Education not a Board of Sports.

4) If elected, what would you like to see happen within the Polo R-VII School District?

As a district we have been able to increase teacher?s salaries, remain financially sound and keep a positive budget. As a board member I will do everything I can to see this continue. I also think we need to begin aggressively saving for potential education funding cuts. I want to see money spent on education in lieu of sports. Also, a goal of mine is to see the roof of the school covered in solar panels. I think there is a great potential for savings on electricity and the possibility of selling electricity back to the ?grid.?

Third candidate we have is Penny Copeland:

1) Give a short biographical sketch about yourself; ties to the district and community.

Hello-My name is Penny Copeland, I am the daughter of Joe and Kay Pitman, the wife of Chris Copeland and the mother of 4 daughters, all 4 raised in our Polo School District, 2 are still students at Polo.

My husband and I both graduated from Polo, and we live on a farm 5 miles outside of town. My family attends the same small church I grew up in, Prairie Ridge Christian Church.

I?m very active in our school district, I was an officer on the Elementary PTO for 15 years. I have continued to volunteer at our school any way that I can. Besides elementary activities, I?ve helped in the past to organize After Proms for the high school students. Currently, being a co-founder of our THINK LOCAL community driven group, a group that tries to encourage our students to be committed to their families, to their communities and to their school, we have been organizing events the past 4 years to inspire school spirit and also working hard to get our local businesses and our community involved.

I honestly love kids, and I might have been born with a double dose of ?caring? but I was raised to do everything like I am doing it for Christ...if I am elected to our Polo School Board, I would do my best to always keep that same passion in every decision I would help make.

2) Why are you running to be a member of the Polo R-VII School Board?

I?ve wanted to run to make a difference for years, as I stated before, I?m very active in our school. I?ve worked with some really great parents, teachers, and administrators in those 20 years.

I?ve seen things at times I?ve wanted changed, or things I think that we could do better, big and small. I?ve listened and I?ve learned. I have gotten to a point in my life that I feel lead to run, more of a purpose to make a change.

I saw this quote ?And that is how change happens. One gesture. One person. One moment at a time.? I don?t remember who said it, but it inspires me. I think in life we have to make a choice to make things better, and I?d like to make our school a better place. I think we as a people need to thank our teachers more, a simple gesture don?t you think? Who works harder than someone that feels appreciated? I think we could thank our staff more, yes it?s a job, but there are members of our staff that are such a blessing to us here at our school, our secretaries, our lunch ladies, bus drivers and janitor staff! These wonderful people touch your children?s lives daily and they do an incredible job. Tell them! In school?s all over this land, I think some of our teachers may have lost their fire, and need encouraged. I think some work too much, and others could do more. I want our teachers here at Polo to want to go above and beyond, and I want our students to know the importance of their education, and to also know we as a school district are giving them the best one we can to our ability, this should be everyone's top priority! If I was allowed to serve on the board, I would like to make some changes of course, but I would also like to use my time to encourage our staff and our students, so they make a difference in each others lives, and then go out into this world and make a difference there.

3) Why would you be a valuable asset to the Polo R-VII School Board?

I have good relationships with the administration, and staff and most of all I feel like the parents and students here at Polo know that I care about them and our school by my actions, not just by words I could put in the paper.

I think we are lacking a woman?s spirit and point of view on the board. A woman tends to ask more questions, I?m not afraid to ask, and then ask a few more if I think it is necessary.

I feel like I could bring knowledge to the table that some of our members might be lacking. Since I am involved day to day, I know most of the teachers by their names, I know what they teach...I know what they coach. I?ve had children in the district over a 20 year span...I know which teachers send emails, I know the ones that tutor, I know which ones are sponsors of organizations, I know if most have children. I think all of this is very important. Who would want to work anywhere, where the people that make the decisions that affect your life, don?t even know your name? I?d like to help the board members with that knowledge.

I think I am a good judge of character and have a lot of good old fashion commonsense. Everyone that knows me, knows that I?m chatty, yes, but I hope to use it as an asset, I?m easy for people to talk to and easy to approach. I try to be positive Penny, but I also hold people accountable for their actions and I tell the truth, even when I know it may hurt.

4) If elected, what would you like to see happen within the Polo R-VII School District?

Better communication, accountability, rules followed, and discipline applied. Questions answered when asked, opinions of others listened to and chain of command respected.

I?d like to see more school spirit, I?d like to have a few things

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Board Candidat e Int erviews Cont inued

Penny Copeland

brought back, some as simple as the announcements read to the students, and a class sponsor rotation, this might seem unimportant to some, but sometimes it?s the litt le things that make something better. I?d like for this school that I love to be the very best it can be...to be the best place for our kids to get an education, the best place for our teachers to want to work. I want the people to say ?OUR SCHOOL? with pride, and make it the best we can by working together, we have such a short time on this earth to make a difference.

Please vote for me on April 3rd. Thank you.

Our final candidate that submitted responses is Josh Fit zwat er .

1) Give a short biographical sketch about yourself; ties to the district and community.

My name is Josh Fitzwater I?m currently running for Polo School Board. I am a 1998 graduate of Polo High School, and work at Contrast Equipment in Kansas City. My wife Ashley is a 2001 graduate of Polo High School. We have two children who also attend Polo, Kendyl a 4th grader, and Gavin a freshman. During the summers I volunteer my time coaching baseball at the Polo ballfields and currently serve on the PAO board. My family and I are lifelong members of the Polo and Mirabile communities, and we love everything about small town living.

2.) Why are you running to be a member of the Polo R-VII School Board?

I am running for Polo School Board, because I want to see Polo School succeed. I want to keep with traditions, but I also continually want to look for ways to make Polo better. I want to be part of the decision making that will impact all of our kids in the community. I want to be the voice of our community members, voting on what 's good for the school, community and most important our kids and their futures.

3.) Why would you be a valuable asset to the Polo R-VII School Board?

I believe I would be a valuable asset to the Polo School Board , because I not only live in the district, I have children who are both very active at the elementary and high school levels. I support our Polo Panthers and attend most all extracurricular activities at the school, and many away activities also. I understand the current issues that the teachers, coaches and students face. I am approachable and always open to discussion with not only members of the community but also faculty, and students about any concerns they may have. I also understand the tough decisions the current Polo School Board has had to make, if elected I understand that there will be a lot of changes in the upcoming year that we would all need to work together to get accomplished.

4.) If elected, what would you like to see happen within the Polo R-VII School District?

What would you like to see happen? I?m your voice, the only agenda I have for getting elected to the school board is wanting to see Polo School succeed.

Academics are very important, I want to make sure we are giving our teachers and kids the tools they need to excel

academically. I also would like to see Polo offer more dual credit classes, I?ve had many in the community express the need for this to me. I think anytime we can give our graduates a hand up we should, whether they are going to college or going straight into the workforce.

As for athletics which is also a concern for many, I will start by saying I'm a huge Panther Fan, I love to support our Polo Panthers in all sports whenever possible. I believe that all of our athletics programs teach many valuable skills, such as leadership, accountability, teamwork, and school pride. I think in a time where many schools are cutting programs, we need to support our clubs such as Band, Student Council, FFA, Academic Team, FCA, FBLA, NHS to name a few, these are all great leadership opportunities for our kids and are a great way to keep our kids busy, doing positive things in our communities.

We also need to keep our facilit ies up to date and make sure that all repairs, and all contracted out work is finished in a timely manner. I know over the past few years the school has implemented many new security procedures, and I feel that we need to continue to do whatever is necessary to keep all of our kids safe.

I hope to have your support on April 3rd

Thank you Josh Fitzwater

Now that you?ve learned more about our candidates, we hope you will at least consider coming out on April 3rd and voting! These sorts of decisions will affect your child(ren)?s school life, after all. Good luck to all the candidates, and we thank them for taking the time to answer our questions!

Board Candidat e Int erviews Cont inued

Track Ribbon Cut t ing Cerem ony

By Ysee Chorot

The t rack is done! We would l ike t o invit e all m em bers of t he Polo com m unit y t o at t end our r ibbon cut t ing cerem ony on Thursday, March 29t h at 3:30pm . In t he m ean t im e please run, jog, and walk away on a wonder ful f lat , sof t sur face. Anyone m ay use t he t rack except dur ing t rack pract ices and t rack m eet s. Pract ices norm ally run f rom 3:30-5:30 pm Monday t hrough Fr iday dur ing t he m ont hs of March, Apr i l and May.

Josh Fitzwater

School Board Approved A St udent Drug Policy

All students in the Polo R-VII School District who choose to participate in extracurricular activities are entitled to do so in a drug-free environment. Student extracurricular activities provide experiences and opportunities that are not included in formal courses of study. They permit students to apply knowledge acquired in various courses and to gain real-world experiences. Our student activities program is based on the needs, talents and interests of the students. The student activities programs, in addition to the regular instructional program, allow for a well-rounded, balanced education and a higher degree of success in school both academically and socially.

Participation in extracurricular programs is a privilege and carries with it the responsibility to adhere to high standards of conduct, refraining from the use of alcohol, illegal drugs, synthetic drugs and prescription drugs without a valid prescription. To assist students in making healthy and safe choices, the district will require students and parents/guardians to consent in writing to random drug testing as a condition of participation in covered activities for grades 7-12. Covered activities include all extracurricular activities, including sports teams, student organizations and clubs, attendance at school sponsored dances and parking on the Polo R-VII School District parking lot. The main goal of this drug testing program is not to levy discipline, but to educate students regarding the serious problem of drug and alcohol abuse and to inform parents of risky behaviors concerning such use. Another goal of this program is opening the lines of communication between students and parents about the serious matter of drug and alcohol use and abuse and to offer support for those who may need it.

As such, drug counseling and assistance programs will be required of any student who has a positive drug test under this policy. Any costs for assistance or enrollment into any drug counseling sessions will be exclusively the responsibility of the student or parent/guardian.

This policy does not affect other policies and practices of the school in dealing with drugs or alcohol use or possession where reasonable suspicion is obtained by means other than the random sampling discussed here. All students involved in the covered activities will be included in the random pool for testing throughout the school year.

Definitions

Covered Activities B Missouri State High

School Activities Association (MSHSAA) sanctioned activities, extracurricular activities and parking privileges. MSHSAA Activities B Activities regulated by the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA).

Extracurricular Activities B District-sponsored activities that take place outside of the regular course of study in school and will include attendance at school-sponsored events, athletic events, dances and field trips.

Parking Privilege B Parking on the Polo R-VII school parking lot.

Participant B Any student in grades 7-12 who is involved in extracurricular activities or any student who wishes to obtain a student parking pass.

Drug Test B A scientifically substantiated method to test for the presence of illegal drugs or alcohol as determined by a urine test.

Illegal Drugs B The synthetic or generic equivalent or derivative drugs that are illegal under federal, state or local laws, including but not limited to marijuana, alcohol, heroin, hashish, cocaine, hallucinogens, depressants, and stimulants not prescribed by a physician for the user.

Illegal drugs include steroids and steroid derivatives or related substances that are not prescribed by a physician for the user. This term shall include, but shall not be limited to, all drugs listed on the Narcotic Drug Act, Section 195.101, RSMo, and Section 202 of the Controlled Substances

Act, 21 U.S.C. 812.

Non-Negative Drug Test B Any test showing an initial positive result that has not been verified.

Positive Drug Test B A toxicological test result that is considered to demonstrate the presence of an illegal drug or the metabolites thereof using standards customarily established by the testing laboratory administering the drug test. The term alternatively may be referred to as a

Apositive,@ a Apositive test@ or a Apositive result.@

Confidentiality

All records related to random student drug testing shall be kept in confidential files separate from a student 's permanent educational records. Test results shall be released to school personnel only as needed to implement this policy.

Enrollment Period

The enrollment period will occur two times each school year. The first

enrollment period will begin the first day of school for students and will be for one week (7 days). The second enrollment period will be at the beginning of the second semester for one week (7 days). Any student wishing to participate in extracurricular activities or have parking privileges on school grounds shall enroll during the designated enrollment period. Students may not opt out of the program and then opt in at a later date. New students to the district will be given a one-week (seven-day) enrollment period when they begin classes.

Consequences

Consequences shall be cumulative from grades 7-12. A positive test through this random drug testing program will not result in suspension from school or academic sanctions. The district will not report results to law enforcement. Students who test positive through this random drug testing program will be excluded from participation in covered extracurricular activities as follows:

First Offense B All students with a positive drug test will be excluded from participation in all covered activities and privileges for a period of 15 days from the date the school is notified of the test results. The student may not attend practice sessions or team functions or sit with or participate with fellow participants during activities. All students with a positive drug test shall be required to attend a minimum of five hours of licensed counseling that specifically addresses drug/alcohol abuse, at parent/guardian expense. The counselor, with the legal consent of the parent and student, is to provide a written report of completion of the drug/alcohol counseling program to the school. Students also must participate in all random screenings for the remainder of the school year at the expense of the parent/guardian.

Second Offense - A second positive test will result in the student being ineligible to participate in all covered activities for 180 calendar days from the date the test results were determined. All students with a second positive drug test shall be required to attend a minimum of 15 hours of licensed counseling that specifically addresses drug/alcohol abuse, at parent/guardian expense. The counselor, with the legal consent of the parent and student, is to provide a written report of completion of the drug/alcohol counseling program to the school. After any student presents a positive test for illegal

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substances, he or she must participate in all random screenings for the remainder of the school year at the expense of the parent/guardian.

Third Offense B A third positive drug test will result in the student being ineligible to participate in all covered activities for the rest of the student 's enrollment in the Polo R-VII School District.

Refusal to Submit or Falsifying Results

A student refuses to submit for drug testing when he or she fails to provide adequate urine for testing when notified of the need to do so or engages in conduct that clearly obstructs the testing process.  A student who refuses to submit to testing or takes deliberate action to falsify results may still be disciplined under the district 's discipline code for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.  A student who takes deliberate action to falsify results may also receive additional disciplinary consequences. If a student does not provide a urine specimen in three hours, the district will follow DOT protocol by giving the student up to five days to have what is called a Ashy bladder examination@ (at parent/guardian expense) to determine if there is a valid medical reason for not voiding in the three-hour time frame. If the student does not have the exam or if there is not a valid medical reason, then the test would be deemed positive.

Suspicion-Based Drug Testing

Suspicion-based drug testing, unlike random drug testing, may only be used when there is reasonable suspicion that the student is under the influence of or has recently

Dear Maggie,

Dear Maggie,

I have been having a real problem w it h m y t eachers. I believe t hat t hey don't underst and exact ly how I l ike t o do t heir assignm ent s. They have us doing it a cer t ain way t hat I just do not underst and. When I f igure out how t o do it m y own way, t hey said you can't do it t hat way and it sucks. Can you help m e please?-revEnosrePt seBehT

DEAR REVENOSREPTESBEHT- Unfortunately, I can?t really help you with this teacher dilemma. No matter what teachers do, we students have to respect their ideas and assignments (even though they suck) because, at the end of the day, the teacher is the one giving you the grade. So even though you don?t like the assignments, my advice is to power through, and if you really don?t understand you should seek help from a tutor or someone else that is qualified. Also, it would probably help if you were respectful to your teachers, at least they won?t try to make your life terrible.

Dear Maggie,

Welcome to Dear Maggie, a spinoff of Dear Abby, a newspaper column that readers would send anonymous questions to. The reader would then get the answer to their question with advice on what to do. Now, without further ado, here it is!

Dear Maggie,

So t h is new t ide pod challenge is sweeping t hrough t he school and everybody 's t alk ing about it . My f r iends have been pressur ing m e t o t ry it and I don't know what t o do. They say it t ast es l ike rainbows but I?m not sure since I've also heard it ?s not so great for you. To t ide pod or not t o t ide pod is t he quest ion.-2021Tidepodk id

DEAR 2021TIDEPODKID- It sounds like your friends are trying to kill you. Even though tide pods look like huge gushers, they are not safe for consumption. The tide pod challenge is a meme, and by the time you are reading this, the meme has probably been dead for several weeks. Don?t die along with the meme, I too heard that they taste like rainbows. However, if you want to taste the rainbow so badly, eat some Skittles instead.

consumed alcohol or any drug prohibited by district policy. Students testing positive will be disciplined in accordance with the district 's discipline policy and may also be excluded from extracurricular activities as determined by the district. A student who refuses to submit to testing may still be disciplined under the district 's discipline code for being under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

* * * * * * *

Note: The reader is encouraged to check the index located at the beginning of this section for other pertinent policies and to review administrative procedures and/or forms for related information.

Adopted: 02/20/2018

Cross Refs: IGAEA, Teaching about Drugs, Alcohol and Tobacco

IGD, District-Sponsored Extracurricular Activities and Groups

Legal Refs: U.S. Const., amend. IV

Board of Educ. of Ind. Sch. Dist. No. 92 of Pottawatomie County v. Earls, 536

U.S. 822 (2002)

Vernonia Sch. Dist. v. Acton, 515 U.S. 646 (1995)

School District of Polo R-VII, Polo, Missouri

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Why To Care For The TrackBy Fran Esry

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I have taught here for 20 years. I am very proud of all the improvements that I have seen through the years. It?s wonderful to drive into the parking lot every day and see that beautiful new track sitting just west of the parking lot. You see I?m a track mom. My girls ran track in high school and college. When they were training and home on the weekends they would drive to nearby towns to practice on a track. Two places they did not go were Cameron?s track and Chillicothe?s old track. Their surfaces were uneven with holes in spots, it was dangerous to run a workout, fearing they would get injured. Those tracks wore down prematurely due to misuse. People don?t realize the damage that can occur on a track from a baby stroller or bike wheels, any wheels in general. If it has wheels on it, it does not belong on a track. The track surface is not designed to support the stresses that are created by tire friction. A track is designed for running, jogging, and walking. Running shoes, cross-training shoes and tennis shoes are appropriate for track use. All of these shoes have a flat sole surface. Hiking boots, cowboy boots and heels should not be used on a track. I know our track athletes and coaches are excited to train on an actual track starting this year, let?s make sure they get to train on it for years and years to come. Help us preserve our track! Please follow the rules.

Black Hist ory Mont hBy Ashley Fost er

In 1929, t he f ir st celebrat ion of Af r ican Am er ican hist ory and cult ure was creat ed in t he form of a week-long celebrat ion called ?Negro Hist ory Week.? Today t here is an ent ire m ont h dedicat ed t o t he subject . Since 1976 (when Black Hist ory m ont h began t o be recognized), t here has been a t hem e every year for specif ic Af r ican Am er ican cont r ibut ions t o U.S. h ist ory; t h is year , t he t hem e is ?Afr ican Am er icans in Tim es of War .? So, suit ably, I f ind it f i t t o go t hrough a few achievem ent s of Af r ican Am er icans in war fare.

A m ore fam ous exam ple of such would be t he 54t h Massachuset t s, an all-black infant ry t hat fought for t he Union dur ing t he Civil War . These brave soldiers fought for t he f reedom of t heir people know ing fu ll well t hat i f t hey failed t hey would be slaught ered or ot herw ise sold back int o t he slavery t hey had escaped f rom . The m ost fam ous bat t le engagem ent t hey?d ent ered was t he Bat t le of For t Wagner , where while t hey did not m anage t o gain cont rol of t he for t , t hey fought valiant ly and were r ight fu lly acclaim ed in ret urn. One of t he sergeant s who t ook par t in t he bat t le, Wil l iam Harvey Carney, was even awarded t he Medal of Honor , m ak ing him t he f ir st Af r ican Am er ican t o receive such.

The 369t h Infant ry, anot her m ost ly Af r ican Am er ican regim ent , was act ive in bot h Wor ld War I and Wor ld War II, t hough it is m ore w idely known for it s involvem ent in t he form er . The unit was placed under French com m and in 1917, where t hey spent over six m ont hs in com bat , accum ulat ing f if t een hundred casualt ies in t ot al. Dur ing t h is t im e, t hey gained t he nicknam e ?The Har lem Hellf ight ers? because of t heir per form ances at Chat eau-Thier ry and Belleau Wood. Well over one hundred m em bers were awarded bot h Am er ican and French m edals for t heir work dur ing t he war and t hey were welcom ed back hom e t o New York w it h a parade in 1919.

As st at ed, t hose were just a few exam ples of Af r ican Am er ican cont r ibut ions t o war fare, t here are m any, m any m ore t han t h is. Hopefully, t h is ar t icle was able t o t each you som e t hings about black hist ory and inspire you t o do som e research on t heir achievem ent s t hroughout Am er ica?s hist ory and t he wor ld?s, as well.

William Harvey Carney- photo taken from norfok.gov

Dat e and Verses

Score Win/Loss

2/2/18 @Braymer 41-25 Loss

2/8/18 vs South Harrison

48-35 Win

2/9/18 vs St. Joseph Christian

60-52 Win

2/12/18 vs Concordia

45-27 Loss

2/13/18 @Tina-Avalon

36-35 Loss

2/15/18 @Braymer 54-42 Loss

2/19/18 vs Stanberry (District Tournament)

61-18 Loss

High School Lady Pant hers Basket ball

High School Pant hers Basket ball

Dat e and Verses

Score Win/Loss

1/19/18 @Princeton

64-46 Loss

1/22/18 vs Mound City with Craig

47-46 Win

1/25/18 vs Mid-Buchanan

54-36 Loss

1/27/18 vs Jefferson

63-38 Loss

2/2/18 @King City 70-63 Win

2/8/18 vs South Harrison

64-50 Loss

2/9/18 vs St. Joseph Christian

61-60 Loss

2/12/18 vs Concordia

64-63 Win

2/13/18 @Tina-Avalon

55-33 Win

2/15/18 @Braymer 65-51 Loss

2/21/18 vs Princeton (District Tournament)

61-58 Win

2/23/18 vs Mid-Buchanan (District Tournament)

55-50 Loss

Wrest l ing Scoreboard

Name Weight wrestled 2017-2018 Record

Trysten Wolf 126 16-27

David Harris 152 23-17

Aaron Latimer 170 6-39

Wyatt Segar 132 52-9

Joseph Hilburn 160 42-19

Congrat u lat ion are in order !

High School Spor t s Scor e Boar ds

If you hadn't heard Wyatt Segar and Joseph Hilburn were 2017-2018 wrestling state qualifiers. Hilburn, 160 weight class, had an incredible district tournament, where he lost his first round and had to wrestle back winning 3 matches finishing on top of two higher seeded opponents. His last match wasn't the win he wanted but finishing fourth and advancing on to the state tournament where he finished 1-2.

Wyatt Segar went undefeated at the district tournament earning him the title of 132 Class 1 District 3 tournament. Segar won by decision over Austin Bowman (Richmond) (Dec 4-3). This win makes Wyatt only the fourth district champion in Polo Wrestling history. The 2018 State Tournament went not as planned but well for Wyatt bringing home a "cookie" or 6th place medal. Ironically, how the brackets set up Segar lost by decision to Bowman of Richmond to get sixth place. Both wrestlers showed how determination and grit will bring success at the end of a season. Congratulations to both on a great season.

This pictures was taken right after Wyatt Segar won his match to get into the medal rounds. As you can see the state tournament was a fight.

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Congratulation to Steven Knotts and Alina Hays on their individual medals at the North Andrew Tournament. The High School Scholar Bowl team is answering right along. Half way through their conference season the team is 4-0. The team had a 3rd place finish at North Andrew tournament and a 4th place finish in the Central High School Tournament. The team had an elite 8 appearance at the Smithville Tournament. Keep up the great work!

Annual 7th & 8th grade VFW essay contest was held again this year with Polo doing well. Pictured are local winners Cierra Stigger, T.J Stigger, Lucas Curp, Breeanna Ellington, Ariel Pilger, and Jordan Carter. A special congratulations to Lucas Curp for moving on to the district level.