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

The final Cardinal Connection of the 2024-2025 school year should be hitting district mailboxes soon. Click the Link for a sneak peek: https://5il.co/3fujn

Huge thanks to Cardinals in Action for sponsoring Seniors Chalk Your Spot. The student parking lot is now 90% art, 10% questionable doodles. Only 1 day left, Class of 2025—don’t slip on the chalk on your way to greatness! #WeAreLawson

Community Input Meeting Announcement The Lawson School District invites all members of our school community to attend an important Community Input Meeting focused on gathering feedback related to school climate, culture, and community perceptions. Purpose: We are seeking your input to better understand the attitudes, experiences, and concerns within our schools. Your feedback will help guide thoughtful adjustments to our district's strategic goals and ensure they align with the values and needs of the entire community. Whether you're a parent, student, staff member, or community partner, your voice is crucial in shaping our future. Why Now? While the school year may have concluded, it’s important for us to gather feedback during a time when families, staff, and community members have the opportunity to reflect on the past year without the immediate pressures of the school calendar. This timing allows us to hear honest and thoughtful perspectives that can inform our planning for the next school year. Your input will play a key role in shaping decisions that impact the future of our schools, and we want to ensure we hear from as many voices as possible. Date: Thursday, May 22, 2025 Time: 7:00 PM Location: Lawson High School – Library Media Center We encourage you to join us and contribute your ideas, suggestions, and insights to help build a stronger, more connected district. Together, we can ensure our schools are the best for every student and family. Dr. Stephenson Superintendent of Schools Lawson R-XIV School District

Due to last week's lightning strikes, we will adjust the start times of the remaining home baseball games to 4:00 p.m. for varsity, with JV to begin immediately after. We are still making modifications to the district baseball tournament, which will be hosted in Lawson on May 16, 19, and 21.

SW Construction Progress Update We’re excited to share that the SW Main Entrance construction project continues to move forward right on schedule. Several major phases have recently been completed, including the flat work, rough-in plumbing, structural steel installation, and roof decking. These milestones represent significant progress toward our overall goals. We also want to acknowledge that the construction process has come with its share of noise and disruption. We are incredibly grateful to our students, teachers, and staff for their continued patience, flexibility, and resilience during this time. Thank you, as always, for your ongoing support of our school community. We’ll continue to provide updates as we move into the next stages of the project. We look forward to the improvements this work will bring for our students, staff, and families. #WeAreLawson

Happy Bus Driver Appreciation Day...Help us give a big THANK YOU to our superstar bus drivers! They’re up early, out late, and always ready to roll—whether it’s a regular school day or a road trip to the next big game. Thanks to their dedication and care, our Lawson Cardinals get to compete, learn, and grow every day. You are the wheels beneath our wings, and we’re so grateful for everything you do! #WeAreLawson

It's always a great day to be a Cardinal...but it's better WHEN YOU'RE HERE!!! 2025-2026 Openings. * Elementary Special Education *Elementary Classroom *Middle School Paraprofessional Click the link to learn more and apply. https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/page/employment-page

📣 Reminder: There is NO SCHOOL today, Friday, April 18, and Monday, April 21! Wishing all our families a wonderful and relaxing Easter Weekend! 🐰🌸

April 2025 Board Spotlight - Celebrating Sophia Cook – 2nd Place Winner in the Missouri Peace Officers Association Essay Contest As part of our April Board of Education meeting, we proudly recognized Sophia Cook, an exceptional middle school student who earned 2nd place in the Missouri Peace Officers Association Essay Contest—a prestigious statewide competition. Sophia's essay, which addressed three societal issues she believes are facing the youth of Missouri, was selected 2nd out of 152 essays submitted by students representing 32 school districts across the state. Her writing demonstrated not only impressive skill and clarity but also a deep awareness of the challenges impacting her generation and a passion for positive change. Sophia’s voice stood out as thoughtful, courageous, and solutions-driven—qualities that reflect the heart of both strong writing and strong leadership. We are incredibly proud of her for this achievement and the meaningful perspective she brought to this statewide platform. 👏 Please join us in congratulating Sophia Cook on this outstanding accomplishment!

🌟 April 2025 Board of Education Spotlight 🌟 Celebrating Our FCCLA State Qualifiers As part of our April Board of Education meeting, we proudly recognized the outstanding accomplishments of students from both our Middle School and High School FCCLA (Family, Career and Community Leaders of America) chapters. These remarkable students earned the opportunity to compete at the FCCLA State Leadership Conference in March 2025, showcasing leadership, creativity, and a deep commitment to their futures, families, and communities. 🎓 Middle School State Qualifiers These students represented our district with pride and excellence at the state level, participating in competitive events that developed their communication, teamwork, and leadership skills. River Coffman, Chasyn Campbell Braxton Vosika Janie Braune Joanna Wood Taylen Vaughn Kylie Barker Avery McPherson Haley McCrary 🎓 High School State Qualifiers Our high school FCCLA students also demonstrated exceptional drive and professionalism as they competed in advanced leadership and career-focused events. Kadance James - National Qualifier Allison Hochwender - National Qualifer Bailey Payne Allison Koeberl Becca Lafferty Benjamin Mayne Adi Enyeart Emily Whitworth Teddy Thomas Caitlyn Cline Ella Ripley We commend each of these students for their achievements and thank our dedicated FCCLA advisors for the time, energy, and heart they invest in guiding these future leaders. Their success reflects the strength of our district’s commitment to personal growth, leadership, and real-world learning. 👏 Congratulations to all of our FCCLA students—you make our district proud! 🌟

Lawson R-XIV School District Announces New Board Member and Reorganized Board Leadership Lawson, MO – April 16, 2025 – The Lawson R-XIV School District is pleased to announce the swearing-in of a new member to the Board of Education, as well as the reorganization of board leadership for the 2025–2026 term. At the reorganizational meeting held on Wednesday, April 16, Mrs. Amber Brice was officially sworn in as the newest member of the Lawson R-XIV Board of Education. Also sworn in was returning board member Mr. Rob Kellam. As part of the annual reorganization process, the Board of Education elected the following members to serve in leadership roles for the upcoming term: *President: Mr. Rob Kellam *Vice President: Mrs. Ashley Sullard *Secretary: Mrs. Kayla Anderson *Treasurer: Mrs. Sharon Joy Dr. Stephenson, Superintendent of Schools, expressed appreciation for both the outgoing board member, Mr. Dwayne Peoples, and the incoming members, stating: “We are grateful for the service of all who dedicate their time to the governance of our district. As we welcome new leadership, we remain focused on our mission of preparing students for lifelong learning, achievement, and citizenship by providing outstanding educational opportunities for every student in the Lawson R-XIV School District.” The district looks forward to a productive and successful year under the guidance of the newly organized board. The Lawson Board of Education meets on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. in the Lawson High Library Media Center.

Lawson R-XIV School District Recognizes Dwayne Peoples for His Dedicated Service Lawson, MO – April 16, 2025 – The Lawson R-XIV School District proudly recognizes and expresses its sincere appreciation to Mr. Dwayne Peoples for his years of service as a valued member of the Lawson R-XIV School Board. Mr. Peoples has been an integral part of the board, contributing his time, leadership, and steadfast commitment to the students, staff, and families of the Lawson community. His service reflects a deep passion for public education and a tireless dedication to the success and well-being of every student in the district. Throughout his tenure, Mr. Peoples played a key role in numerous district initiatives and decisions, including the approval of expanding the district's career and technical programming to include Agricultural Education and FFA, as well as the creation and expansion of the early childhood preschool program. These are just two examples of how Mr. Peoples has positively impacted the educational experience in Lawson. His thoughtful approach, collaborative spirit, and unwavering focus on student achievement have left a lasting impression on the district. Dr. Stephenson, Superintendent of Schools, shared, "Dwayne has been a strong advocate for students and staff alike. His leadership and service have helped shape the direction of our district, and his legacy will continue to influence our schools for years to come." The Lawson R-XIV School District is grateful for Mr. Peoples' years of commitment and wishes him all the best in his future endeavors.

Generation: Vampire Generation: Vampire April 24, 25, 26 - Doors open at 7, show starts at 7:30 Students $3, Public $5 High school is a pain in the neck. It can really make you feel like a zombie. Even more than usual, when a new girl and her friends move to town and start causing trouble. When a tight group of friends has one of them sucked into this bad crew they think it’s bad news, but they don’t know how bad. This new girl, she’s a vampire! It’s up to Mary and her friends to save Vanessa from the clutches of a 1000-year-old vamp and her minions of darkness. It’s a comedy, action, horror adventure that will have you screaming. Written and Directed by Matthew Sanchez

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - High School Teachers Attend Real World Learning Summit Lawson High School Teachers Attend Real World Learning Summit in Kansas City, representing their school community at the Summit, which was held in Kansas City on Thursday, April 10. The Real World Learning Summit is a regional gathering of educators, administrators, business leaders, and community partners focused on transforming education through real-world experiences. The Summit aims to align classroom instruction with the skills, knowledge, and mindsets students need to succeed in college, career, and life. Those participating in the event and pictured L/R, Dr. Michael Stephenson - Superintendent of Schools, Mrs. Katie Martin - Family and Consumer Sciences, Ms. Anna Triplett - Agricultural Education, - Lisa Glenn Business & School to Career Coordinator, Mr. Rodney Foster - Robotics, Mr. Karen Johnson - Library Media & Yearbook, Mr. Matt Sanchez - Theater and Mr. Daniel Petet - High School Principal, to part in a full day of exploring new strategies to engage students through internships, client-connected projects, certifications, and other real-world learning opportunities. "We're thrilled to participate in a summit that puts students at the center of innovation," said Dr. Stephenson, "Superintendent of Schools." "The learning and engagement with other school districts gave us a chance to bring back new ideas that can impact our classrooms and prepare our students for life beyond high school." By attending the Summit, these educators and our school district are taking an important step toward ensuring that all students graduate with valuable, marketable experiences and a clear path to their future. For more information about the Real World Learning Summit, visit https://realworldlearning.org/.

Your Cardinals stay perfect in conference play with a road victory over North Platte. #WeAreLawson 11 - 2 Overall 3 - 0 KCI Conference

Dear Lawson Families, As we approach the final stretch of the school year, we thank you for your continued support and partnership. Every day of school matters, and strong attendance—right up to the very last day—helps ensure your child finishes the year on a high note. The next six weeks of the 2024-2025 school year are packed with valuable learning, final projects, celebrations, and important preparation for next year. When students are present and engaged, they remain connected with their teachers, classmates, and the learning that supports their long-term success. Let’s work together to make these final weeks count! Please continue to encourage your child to attend school every day, arrive on time, and stay focused until the end of the school year. Your support makes a big difference. Thank you for helping us finish the year strong! Dr. Stephenson #AttendanceMatters #SuccessStartsWithShowingUp

Exciting Progress at Southwest Elementary! We’re thrilled to announce the successful completion of the demolition and footing phase for the new office suite and main entrance at Southwest Elementary! This marks a major milestone in our project, bringing us one step closer to a safer, more modern, and welcoming space for our students, staff, and families. Stay tuned for more updates as construction moves forward—great things are happening! #SouthwestElementary #BuildingForTheFuture #ProgressInMotion

It's always a great day to be a Cardinal...but it's better WHEN YOU'RE HERE!!! 2025-2026 Openings *MS Special Education (Grades 5-6) *Elementary Classroom (2nd Grade) *Early Childhood Classroom (PreK) *MS Math (Grade 6) Click the link to learn more and apply. https://www.lawsoncardinals.org/page/employment-page

Click to Review the March 2025 BOE Meeting Recap. https://5il.co/3bigh