This is a continuation of a monthly series from the Network for Educator Effectiveness. We are looking to share the accomplishments, creativity, and good news of our partner districts based on schools’ social media activity. Our hope is to spread positivity and bring even more attention to the amazing work happening in NEE schools.

This month’s blog is all about the happiness that comes with holiday festivities.  We hope you enjoy a quick look at what took place in some of our member schools during November and December.   

  • Not necessarily Halloween, but it’s close enough.  Students at Liberty Public Schools performed “The Addams Family” in mid-November.  
  • Leading up to Thanksgiving, teachers at Houston had some fun with “Pranksgiving” activities. 
  • Lots of cooking was going on in classrooms!  Check out what elementary students at Latham and North Wood prepared for the holidays. 
  • Turkeys took flight, and creativity soared! Third graders at Superior Public Schools engineered turkey-saving contraptions that defied gravity and completed the challenge to save them from becoming Thanksgiving dinner. 
  • The combination of the traditional Thanksgiving meal and the playful interaction with a live turkey created a memorable and unique experience for students at True North School. 
  • The youngest among us got into the holiday spirit!  Four-year-olds from Pattonsburg R-II showed off their Thanksgiving art projects, preschoolers from Giltner Public Schools were all kinds of holiday ready, Crystal City 47 preschool celebrated all they were thankful for with a Friendship Feast, and kids from Lakeland R-3 performed during their Christmas program. 
  • It’s too late for Thanksgiving this year, but in case you need a turkey recipe for upcoming holidays, preschoolers from Dunklin and Osage County provided some wonderful suggestions on how to cook a turkey. 
  • Crowder College raised funds to support their students through this year’s Festival of Wreaths! 
  • The holiday season is all about being kind to one another.  See what students at Gilman City did to rival the Grinch! 
  • Music filled the air this holiday season!  Eldon’s Chamber Choir rang in the holidays with their rendition of Carol of the Bells, School of the Osage students enjoyed performing for community members during a senior citizen banquet, the West Plains and Chanute bands performed in local parades, and band members from Falls City participated in a “Tuba Christmas.”  
  • Art students from both Lee’s Summit and Clever R-V partnered with their local businesses to paint holiday-themed windows, while the Art Club at Richards R-V created a winning snowplow design which was showcased on TV. 
  • Ste. Genevieve R-II hosted a “Days Before Winter Break” calendar for employees to add cheer to the season! Check out their tree competition.   
  • History students at Smith-Cotton High School in Sedalia found an interesting way to combine a review of historical figures and decorating their classroom tree. 
  • Students from Newtown-Harris added style to the season by making some beautiful wreaths.  These would look good on any door! 
  • Festive shirts, delicious sufganiyot, and candle making were all part of Chanukah Week at Katz Yeshiva High School. 
  • Giving is always at the heart of the holiday season.  Students from Arapahoe-Holbrook  organized a Toys for Kindness program, Arnold Public Schools and South Fork Elementary participated in Operation Christmas Child to spread joy and kindness across the globe, and junior high students from Carl Junction collected 3,522 items to support those in need. 
  • Schools love a good door decorating contest.  Check out the decor at Hale R-1 and Marshall. 
  • Leaving you with one final picture.  Here, a student from West Plains captured the spirit of the season as she dressed like a Christmas tree.   

There is so much going on in NEE member schools during the holiday season, and it is wonderful to see.  While we can’t highlight everything, we do want to recognize all our outstanding schools for the work administrators, teachers, support staff, and students are doing each and every day.  Watch for our next blog coming in January as we highlight the beginning of the second semester. 

The Network for Educator Effectiveness (NEE) is a simple yet powerful comprehensive system for educator evaluation that helps educators grow, students learn, and schools improve. Developed by preK-12 practitioners and experts at the University of Missouri, NEE brings together classroom observation, student feedback, teacher curriculum planning, and professional development as measures of effectiveness in a secure online portal designed to promote educator growth and development.