"Nominating Erin Thornton for the Warrior Ultimate Warrior award is an honor, as her dedication to high school special education is truly inspiring. Making the leap from elementary to high school special education can be a complex transition, yet Mrs. Thornton has handled it with exceptional grace, quickly proving herself to be an asset to her students and school community. She researches, designs, and provides targeted resources and interventions that address the unique learning styles of every student in her classroom. Beyond her academic instruction, Erin goes above and beyond to support her students' social development and approaches challenging behaviors with patience, flexibility, empathy, and consistency. She creates meaningful, real-world experiences that equip her students with essential life skills to serve them long after they leave her classroom. Mrs. Thornton’s commitment, flexibility, heart, and daily efforts make a great impact, and we are grateful for everything she provides to her students each and every day."

"Maple Elementary is thrilled to welcome Ms. Darr to our school community this year! From day one, she has cultivated a remarkably kind and caring environment where every student feels valued, supported, and ready to learn. Her students have quickly become outstanding role models throughout the building, consistently demonstrating the respect, and positive behavior nurtured in her classroom. Beyond her instructional talents, Ms. Darr brings a wonderfully calm and reassuring presence to our halls, establishing strong, meaningful relationships with her students built on trust and mutual respect. We are so fortunate to have Ms. Darr on our team, and we look forward to seeing the lasting impact she will continue to make on her students and our entire Maple Elementary family!"

Attention Warriors! There will be no school on October 29 & 30 due to parent-teacher conferences. We look forward to seeing you back in class on Monday, November 2. Have a great weekend, Warriors!

This award recognizes Dr. Lackey’s strong partnership with the Northland Career Center, his responsiveness to career center needs, and his commitment to supporting career and technical education opportunities for our students. We are proud to see Dr. Lackey’s leadership and dedication recognized!
Congratulations, Dr. Lackey! It’s a great day to be a Warrior!

Screenings cover speech, language, motor skills, concepts, hearing and vision. Parents will also have the opportunity to discuss developmental milestones and recommendations for next steps, if needed.
📅 When: First Wednesday of each month at 9 a.m.
📍 Where: Smithville School District Central Office
📞 Register: Call 816-532-0406
📧 Questions? Contact simons@smithville.k12.mo.us
Help your student get off to a great start! 💚

Happy Way Back When-sday Warriors!
A little glimpse back to 1988. Do you recognize anyone in this photo? Tell us about weights class when you were in school!







Remember these important safety tips:
- Stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
- Watch for students at bus stops and when they are crossing the street.
- Slow down and be alert in school zones and near bus stops.
- Teach students to stay a safe distance from the road while waiting for the bus.
Let’s work together to keep our Warriors safe!💚

"As a newer addition to our HS, Jessica has become an integral part of the school and community. She teaches our leadership class, which puts our Student Council young adults in leadership to positions to help facilitate assemblies, Homecoming week activities including the parade, pep rally, King and Queen nominations, and the dance to name a few. These are all things that take place outside of the 85 minutes of her class time, but she is able to balance this with teaching History. The guidance she provides to our young adults ensures that our students will be ready to lead as they transition and graduate. Because of her thoughtfulness, patience, and desire to build future leaders she is able to help make a positive impact in our district and community. "

"Charlene Noble truly embodies what it means to be an Ultimate Warrior. She is deeply invested in building meaningful relationships with students and approaches every interaction with kindness, encouragement, and a student-centered mindset. Her instruction is driven by data, ensuring that every decision she makes is focused on helping students grow and succeed. Charlene is also an incredibly positive and refreshing presence in our district, always treating her coworkers with kindness and respect. Whether she is leading PBIS initiatives, contributing to curriculum writing, or collaborating to problem-solve for students, she consistently steps up wherever she is needed. Her leadership, compassion, and dedication make a lasting impact on both students and staff."

"Annie is a utility player that gets things done. She answers the phone, greets our guests, is a thought partner, errand runner, organizer, project assistant, spreadsheet and budget queen. She is always upbeat and positive and willing to help anyone with any task. Annie is truly an Ultimate Warrior!"

Happy Way Back When-sday!
📸 A little trip back to Warriorfest 1986. Who do you recognize from this photo?

Open on Wednesday and Saturday! The Warrior Closet is a free program through Smithville School District that provides families with access to school supplies, clothing, hygiene items and other essentials they may need. It is located behind Smithville Middle School in the trailers.
As the weather gets cooler, stop by to find coats, boots, hats, gloves and more for your Warrior student!

"Lance Helton is the definition of an Ultimate Warrior. He is always willing to step in and help students, no matter their grade level or the situation. He treats everyone with kindness, patience, and respect, making each interaction meaningful. Even during challenging moments, Lance remains persistent, focused on finding solutions, and never loses sight of what is best for kids. On the toughest days, his great sense of humor helps lift those around him and reminds us not to take ourselves too seriously. Eagle Heights is a better place because of Lance's dedication, compassion, and unwavering commitment to our students."

"Tessa brings a creative and optimistic approach to her art classroom. Her creativity shines not only in the content but also in how clearly she sets expectations, gives feedback, and uses assessment as an instructional tool. Her class has a "WITH" vibe. It is a class that feels warm, feels safe, and full of learning through art!"

"Celebrating Cassie Gearhart as an Ultimate Warrior is a wonderful way to honor her time, work, and passion for our students in her first year as an Essential Skills special education teacher. Cassie brings patience, flexibility, and kindness to her classroom and building every day, creating a warm and supportive environment where her students truly flourish. She has taken the time to build meaningful relationships with both her students and their parents, laying a solid foundation for long-term success and trust. Throughout the busy school day, her patience and flexibility ensure that her students always have the personalized skills, tools, and resources they need to succeed. Her openness to new ideas and strategies highlights her collaborative spirit and commitment to continuous growth for herself and her classroom. The district is fortunate to have Cassie educating our students, and we are so grateful for her dedicated heart and everything she does. "

"Mrs. Alwes is a positive role model for both our students and staff. She is always there and she has made an impact in our school district and Horizon Elementary. Rather it is delivering content in the classroom to our students, or helping a fellow colleague, Mrs. Alwes is always there! She is a true ultimate warrior."

"Amy's attention to detail and expertise in payroll is unmatched! Her wealth of knowledge ensures we stay in compliance, meet deadlines, and can help employees problem solve through many issues. Over the last year she has taken on an even bigger lead role in benefits management and served as an incredible bridge to our insurance partners. Thanks for making sure we all get paid and have benefits each month Amy!
However, it is the smaller things that many people don't see that make Amy truly a special member of this team. Amy is notorious for bringing in home baked goods, having a fully stocked candy dish, jokes on her board, and consistently organizing our team get togethers. She creates a Central Office family we are forever grateful for!"

There will be no school for students on:
- Friday, October 16th - Staff PD/Work Day

Hey Warriors! This week we are going back to 1996!
Do you recognize any of these girls?

