And just like that we've ushered in a new school year with our 2024-2025 Back to School Open House! We can't wait to see our students on Tuesday!
We look forward to seeing all of our families tomorrow evening, Thursday, August 15, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. for Open House! Students may bring their school supplies tomorrow night. We hope to see you!
Woohoo!! Way to go Mrs. Brueggemann! Second grade teacher, Liz Brueggemann, won the $500 teacher wishlist from United Bank of Union!
We hope to see all of our new kindergarten students and families tonight!
🗓️It’s time to mark your calendars!!🗓️
We can’t wait to meet our new students and guardians at Open House!🖍️🚌
Thursday, August 15th, 2024 from 5p.m.-7p.m. Feel free to bring and drop off your supplies that night as well. ✏️✂️
Central is excited to welcome Brooke Davis to our staff for the 2024-25 school year!
Mrs. Davis will join our first grade team. She is entering her 20th year of teaching. She previously taught for 19 years in the St. Clair School District. She attended college at Missouri State University. She has been married to her husband Chad for 16 years. They have 2 boys, Jagger (7th grade) and Mathis (5th grade). In her spare time she enjoys spending time with family, hiking, going for runs, and pretty much anything outside. When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I was always proud to be a part of the Wildcat family while I was in school. There has always been an infectious sense of pride and excellence within this district. I know I'll be joining a long legacy of amazing educators at Central Elementary. I'm so excited to be a part of it, again, and come back home!”
Central is excited to welcome Kaitlyn Joseph to our staff for the 2024-25 school year!
Mrs. Joseph will join our first grade team. This will be her fifth year teaching. She previously taught first grade and kindergarten in Nixa and Owensville. She attended college at Missouri State University. She is married to her husband Tyler and they have one son, Nate. In her spare time she loves hiking, being outside, and spending time with family. She also loves to paint and draw. When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I am excited to be closer to home and teach first grade again in a wonderful school district! I am also excited to be in a school district that is welcoming and works collaboratively. I also get to work with my kindergarten teacher (Mrs. Palmer) in the same building!”
Kindergarten families- Save the Date! On Monday, August 5, we hope to see you at "Popsicles on the Playground" from 4:30-5:30 p.m. You will get to meet your kindergarten teacher, meet new friends, and enjoy a popsicle.
While students are with the teachers, parents will meet with the principals in the cafeteria for a Q/A session and then we will all head out to the playground together for popsicles.
The event starts at 4:30 p.m. and we will meet everyone at the main entrance at Central. Hope to see you there!
If you need help with Infinite Campus feel free to join one of these information nights!
Kindergarten Families: Save the Date! We can't wait to meet you on August 5th! Come enjoy a popsicle, meet your teacher, and meet some new friends.
We will meet all families at the main entrance of Central at 4:30 p.m. Hope to see you there!
Central is excited to welcome Mrs. Amanda Simms to our staff for the 2024-25 school year!
Mrs. Simms will join our special education team. She has 22 years of experience as an educator. She has taught 1st grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 5th grade, and Special Education. She attended Central Methodist University and William Woods University. She is married with 3 teenagers! In her spare time she loves to travel. She enjoys going to National Parks and State Parks-hiking and sightseeing! She loves unicorns, learning, and her students!
When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I am excited because Union School District feels like a family! I left my previous school family and am super excited to come to a new one that loves kids!”
Central is excited to welcome Mrs. Elizabeth Hellmann to our staff for the 2024-25 school year!
Mrs. Hellmann will join our team as a Reading Specialist. She has 22 years of experience as an educator. She has taught first grade for 16 years, second grade for 4 years, and was a Reading Recovery teacher for 2 years. She attended college at Missouri State University in Springfield. She is married to her husband Scott, and has two children. Her son Will is a junior at Mizzou, and her daughter Claire will be a junior at New Haven High School. In her spare time she enjoys boating, lap swimming, spending time with my family vacationing and hanging out with my two dogs Daisy and Coco.
When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I am excited to return to Union where I began my teaching career teaching First Grade in 2002. I can't wait to be a part of the Central Wildcats Team!”
Central is excited to introduce Heather Kriete as our office clerk for the 2024-25 school year!
While Mrs. Kriete is not new to Central, she will be transitioning to a new role for the 24-25 school year. We are excited for Mrs. Kriete to serve as our clerk. She previously was a paraprofessional at Central for the past 2 years and was a substitute teacher for 6 years prior. She attended college at Central Missouri State University. Heather has been married for 23 years and has 5 children (Addison, Cameron, Walker, Will, Landry) and 4 dogs (Maverick, Goose, Rooster & Penny). In her spare time she enjoys hanging out with her family!
When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I love my Central family and I am excited for my new role in the office!”
Central is excited to welcome Mrs. Dawn Rice to our staff for the 2024-25 school year!
Mrs. Rice will join the second grade team. She has over 18 years of experience as an educator. She has taught 2nd grade for 16 years, 3rd grade for 1 year, and served as a permanent substitute teacher for a year. She attended college at Missouri Baptist University. She has been married to her husband Rick for 29 years and they have two daughters- Taylor (22) attends Lindenwood University and Natalie (19) attends Mizzou. She also has a tweenie dachshund named Nova. In her spare time Dawn enjoys kayaking, beekeeping, car cruises, and karaoke.
When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I am excited to teach students in my own community!”
Central is excited to welcome Ms. Nicole Brinker to our staff for the 2024-25 school year!
Ms. Brinker will join our 3rd grade team. Nicole is excited for her first year of teaching! She recently graduated from the University of Missouri- Columbia (Go Tigers!). She has a great support team that includes her wonderful parents (Debbie and Matt), brother (Ryan), sister (Madison), future sister-in-law (Kelsey), niece (Mavery), and her boyfriend (Cody). In her spare team she enjoys spending time with family and friends, exercising, and traveling. Fun facts about Nicole: She wrote a book her senior year of high school in Spanish and English, and she was Miss Congeniality of the 2023 Washington Town and Country Fair!
When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I am most excited to join Central Elementary/ Union R-XI School District because it is impressive to see the district's involvement in the community and the opportunities it provides for people to help those in need. My excitement about joining Central is further boosted by the welcoming and family-like atmosphere. Most importantly I am beyond excited to start my first year teaching at Central Elementary!”
The 2024-2025 school lists are ready! Let us know if you have any questions.
Central is excited to welcome Mrs. Evie Dean to our staff for the 2024-25 school year!
Mrs. Dean will join our 4th grade team. Evie attended college at Missouri S & T. This will be her second year as an educator. She previously taught 5th grade math and social studies in her hometown of Cuba. She is married to her husband Zach, and they have one dog named Nala. In her spare time she enjoys reading, trying new restaurants, spending time with friends and family, as well as watching movies and television. She also loves to travel. She recently went on vacation to Italy, which was on her bucket list and a dream come true!
When asked what makes her excited to join Team Central, she replied, “I've heard great things about the Union R-XI district and it was all confirmed during my interview process, as well as training. This school community is so knowledgeable and welcoming! I am excited to see fresh faces, meet my students, learn more as an educator, and be a part of this wonderful community at Central Elementary! Go Wildcats!”
*Summer school families*
Friendly reminder, there is NO summer school next week on Wednesday, 6/19.
#Uproud
We had such a great time with author and newscaster Paige Hulsey today! She shared her new book, A Bad Day Fishing with K-2 and then 3-5 students.
Author and newscaster Paige Hulsey will be at Central this Wednesday, June 12th to share her new story- A Bad Day Fishing. If your student would like a book orders must be placed before noon on Tuesday, June 11th. A cash order may still be placed by sending in $15 to Mrs. Wood in the library (please put your child's name and grade on the envelope).
You can place your order here: https://www.paigehulsey.com/books
(If you place your order online, put your students name and teacher in the note section. It will ask for a delivery address. You can put your own address or school's- 2 E Springfield- but the next page will have a button for pick up deliver and the book will be brought to school on Wednesday. Let us know if you have further questions!)
