12,000 Miles. 11 Days. 3 Countries. Countless Memories. 🌍✈️
Our group of incredible high school students, parents, grandparents, and chaperones has returned from the adventure of a lifetime through England, France, and Italy as part of an unforgettable EF Tours educational travel experience!
🇬🇧 In London, they explored world-famous landmarks, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the London Eye.
🚄 Then, they boarded the Eurostar and traveled beneath the English Channel to France, where they took in the beauty and history of Paris — from the Eiffel Tower and Notre-Dame Cathedral to the Champs-Élysées and King Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles.
🇮🇹 In Italy, the journey continued through Rome, the ancient ruins of Pompeii, the stunning art of the Vatican, and even a boat cruise around the breathtaking Island of Capri.
This incredible experience allowed students to see classroom history come alive, engage with different cultures, and make memories they’ll never forget. 🌟
A huge thank you to our chaperones, EF Tours, and parents for supporting opportunities that expand our students' horizons through real-world experience.
#WeAreLawson #TravelingClassroom #RealWorldLearning
🏋️♂️ Middle School Weight Room Construction Has Begun! 🚧
We’re turning something old into something new! Construction is officially underway to transform the former stage area in the middle school gym into a brand-new weight room for our students.
💪 This exciting project gives our middle schoolers a dedicated space to build strength, confidence, and healthy habits using weight equipment generously donated to the district last August.
The No Tax Increase Bond passed in April 2024 made this renovation possible. It’s just one more way our community is investing in student wellness and opportunity.
#WeAreLawson #BuildingTheFuture
🚧 Middle School Office Renovation Is Underway!
We’re thrilled to announce that construction has officially begun on our middle school office renovation project, made possible by our community’s support in passing the No Tax Increase Bond in April 2024.
This project includes:
✔️ A new secure daytime entrance to enhance safety throughout the school day
✔️ A dedicated conference room to better support parent meetings, staff collaboration, and student services
These improvements will help create a safer, more functional space for students, staff, and families. Thank you, Cardinal community, for investing in our schools and future!
#WeAreLawson #SafeSchools #BuildingTheFuture
🎒✈️ Adventure Awaits!
An incredible group of our high school students, along with some amazing parents, grandparents, and chaperones, have taken flight on the trip of a lifetime! 🌍 Over the next 12 days, they will explore the iconic sights, sounds, and cultures of England, France, and Italy, from London’s landmarks to the charm of Paris, the ancient ruins of Pompeii, the timeless streets of Rome, and the spiritual heart of Vatican City.
This journey is more than just travel — it’s about discovery, learning, and creating memories that will last a lifetime. 📚❤️
Safe travels to our world explorers — we can't wait to follow along on your unforgettable adventure! 🇬🇧🇫🇷🇮🇹🇻🇦
#TripOfALifetime #StudentTravel #GlobalClassroom #ChaperoneHeroes
#WeAreLawson
May Board Spotlight: Celebrating the Success of Our Newly Formed FFA Chapter
The Lawson Board of Education proudly recognizes the outstanding accomplishments of our newly formed FFA Chapter, which made an impressive debut at the State Leadership Development Events (LDE) and Career Development Events (CDE) held in Columbia, MO, this past April.
In their very first year, these dedicated students demonstrated remarkable commitment, agricultural knowledge, and leadership as they competed in a wide range of events alongside experienced chapters from across the state. Their performance reflects their hard work and enthusiasm, and the strength of our growing agricultural education program.
State Team Members:
Soils Team: Cooper Stephenson, Wyatt Covey, and Preston Yarbrough
(7th Place State Finish)
Knowledge Team: Bailey Payne, Ben Olinger, Ella Ripley, and Grayson Gadberry
(9th Place State Finish)
Livestock Team: Nolan Olinger, Avah Nigh, Bailey Carroll, and Calvin Jennings
We commend each member of the FFA Chapter and their advisor, Ms. Anna Triplett, for building a strong foundation for future success. This is just the beginning of great things to come! #WeAreLawson
May Board Spotlight: FBLA Student Success at State Competition
The Lawson Board of Education proudly celebrates the incredible accomplishments of our Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) students who competed at the FBLA State Leadership Conference this past April.
These outstanding students represented our district professionally, confidently, and excellently as they competed in various business and leadership events.
Joelle Barker in Journalism and Organizational Leadership
Clara Gilliam (Pictured Right Center) Intro to Business Concepts and Intro to Parliamentary Procedure
Madisyn Nutter (Pictures Left Center and Emerson Yarbrough in Visual Design
(Top 15 State Finish)
We congratulate all participants for their achievements and thank them for proudly representing Lawson High School. Your success sets a powerful example of leadership in action!
#WeAreLawson
May Board Spotlight: Celebrating Vo-Tech Students' Success at SkillsUSA Events
The Lawson Board of Education proudly spotlights the outstanding accomplishments of our high school Vo-Tech students who recently participated in SkillsUSA events.
**SkillsUSA State Medalists:**
Mason McConnell – *Gold, Auto Motorcycle Service Technology* (Pictured)
Mason McConnell – *Gold, Auto Motorcycle Service Tech Info* (Pictured)
Peyton Vosika – *Gold, HVAC Sheet Metal Tech Info*
Payton Vosika – *Bronze, HVAC Sheet Metal*
Aden Brancato – *Bronze, Auto Mobile Electronics Installations*
Jace Hedges – *Gold, SkillsUSA Quiz Bowl (Team Member)*
These talented students showcased their technical skills, creativity, and professionalism while competing in various career-focused categories. Their hard work and dedication reflect the high standards of excellence supported by our career and technical education partnership with the Excelsior Springs Vo-Tech Center.
We congratulate each student on their achievements. #WeAreLawson
May Board Spotlight: Recognizing Staff Commitment to the District Advisory Council
The Lawson Board of Education proudly recognizes the dedicated staff members, Mrs. Jessica Courter - Middle School Representative (pictured), Mrs. Amber Jackson - High School Representative, and Mrs. Crystal Hochwender - Elementary Representative, who have served on the District Advisory Council for the past three years.
The council meets regularly throughout the year with Dr. Stephenson, Superintendent of Schools, to collaborate on ideas and strategies for continuous improvement in the Lawson School District. The goal is to create the best possible learning and working environment for students and staff.
The council members' ongoing commitment and leadership have been instrumental in guiding district goals and ensuring that staff voices help shape the future of our schools. We sincerely thank these individuals for their service, insight, and dedication to the betterment of our district.
#WeAreLawson
May Board Spotlight: Honoring Community Support
The Lawson Board of Education is proud to recognize and thank the Lawson Beehive Masonic Lodge #393 for their generous donation of $1,453.00 to help pay off student lunch debt for families in need.
The Beehive Masonic Lodge has a long-standing tradition of service, charity, and community leadership, and this donation is a powerful example of that ongoing commitment.
This incredible act of kindness directly supports our students and eases a financial burden for many families. It’s a shining example of how our community partners go above and beyond to care for and uplift our schools.
Thank you, Lawson Beehive Masonic Lodge #393, for making a meaningful difference in the lives of our students. Your generosity reflects the true spirit of community! #WeAreLawson
Ticketing for tonight's State Sectional Baseball Game will be done digitally through the MSHSAA. To purchase tickets, follow the link below: https://www.mshsaa.org/Tickets.aspx.
The game will be played at home vs. West Platte with 1st pitch set for 5 pm.
All ticketing for the state baseball tournament will be done digitally through the MSHSAA. Follow the below link to purchase
https://www.mshsaa.org/Tickets.aspx
The sectional round will be home on Tuesday vs. West Platte at 5 pm.
This Memorial Day, we honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice reminds us of the true meaning of freedom. 🇺🇸
#WeAreLawson
Time Change - To avoid conflict with tonight's District Championship game, we will push our Community Input Meeting start back to 7:30pm
Come cheer on the Cardinals baseball team to victory, then head to the high school library to share in the planning for the future of our district.
Summer School begins next week! Our program serves students going into Kindergarten through 8th grade. If your child didn't register, this can be done on the first day! See the details below:
Community Input Meeting: We want your input as we plan for the future! Whether you're a parent, student, staff member, or community partner, your voice is crucial in shaping our future.
Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025
Time: 7:00 PM
Location: Lawson High School – Library Media Center
Congratulations to our seniors on your graduation day! Your hard work, dedication, and perseverance have led you to this incredible milestone. Wishing you all the best as you step into the next exciting chapter of your journey!
#WeAreLawson
Lawson High School's 2025 Graduation will begin at 2pm today. Doors open at 12:30pm. If unable to attend, streaming link is attached below. https://iframe.dacast.com/live/962da0b0f54a0386386836ccb8ef334b/b82a5e4a-86f5-98e2-592e-5f74066965ac
School’s Out – Let the Summer Adventures Begin!
May 16, 2025
Cardinal Families,
It’s official — we’ve crossed the finish line of another school year! Whether your student just mastered the ABCs, tackled algebra, survived Shakespeare, or made it through senior year, we are so proud of every step they took along the way.
As we send them off into the glorious land of summer, we know you’re preparing for a season full of fun, freedom, and probably a few “What do we do now?” moments.
Whether your plans include road trips, camps, part-time jobs, sleep-ins, or simply surviving daily snack requests every 14 minutes, we’re cheering you on.
Thank you for partnering with us this year. Your support, patience, heroism, and survival during morning drop-offs, afternoon pick-ups, and endless cancellations due to Mother Nature's terrible sense of humor during January have made all the difference. You’ve earned this break, too!
Have a joyful, safe, and slightly chaotic (in the best way) summer. We'll be here in the fall — recharged, refreshed, and ready to do it all again...
With 100% appreciation and SPF 50,
Dr. Stephenson
Superintendent of Schools
Lawson R-XIV School District
Tonight, at the district's retirement dinner, we celebrated the incredible careers of three of our beloved educators. With 67 years of service to the Lawson School District, these outstanding teachers have touched countless lives, shaped bright futures, and impacted our school community.
Congratulations to:
Mrs. Deborah Brewer – Southwest Elementary
Mrs. Kristi Dressen – Lawson Middle School
Mrs. Gwendolyn Gilmore – Lawson High School
Your passion, dedication, and heart have helped make our district what it is today. Thank you for the memories, the mentorship, and the magic you’ve brought to our classrooms. You will always be a part of our Lawson family.
Enjoy your well-deserved retirement! #WeAreLawson
