The first quarter of the 2024-2025 school year seems like it flew by faster than summer break. This issue "Hawks Quarterly" will recognize our great principals, student participation, weather delays or cancellations, and more.
Scott County R-IV School District
First Quarter of 2024-2025
Principal Appreciation Month
During the first quarter the buildings' celebrated School Principal Appreciation Month. Mr. Winberry, Mr. Hopkins, and Mrs. Bickings are excellent school leaders. This issue highlights their educations and career paths.
Mr. Winberry
Mr. Hopkins
Mrs. Bickings
Mr. Jerry Winberry received a bachelor’s degree in both Criminal Justice and Sociology from Southeast Missouri State University in 2000.
He began his educational career in the Sikeston R-6 School District in 2006 as a special education teacher. He joined the New Madrid County R-1 School District in 2008 at Lilbourn Elementary where he spent eight years as a special education teacher.
After several years of teaching, he returned to school and earned a master’s degree in Special Education in 2011 and an Educational Specialist degree in Administration in 2014, both with honors, from Southeast Missouri State University. He transitioned to the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the R-1 district in 2016 before taking over as the Dean of Student Activities/Athletic Director in 2018.
Mr. Winberry joined the Scott County R-IV School District in the fall of 2023 after accepting the Kelly High School principal position.
Dr. Kolwyck stated, “The school district appreciates Mr. Winberry’s dedication to student success through new and innovative learning opportunities for all.”
Mr. Josh Hopkins graduated high school and immediately started pursuing a degree in education. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Education from Culver-Stockton College and a master’s degree in K-12 School Leadership from William Woods University.
After graduating from Culver-Stockton, he entered the field of education as a PE/Health teacher at Palmyra School District. In 2010, Mr. Hopkins moved to the Carrollton School District and accepted the K-6 PE position at Carrollton Elementary.
The Hopkins family moved back to southeast Missouri in 2012 and he started his ten-year stint at Sikeston Public Schools. During his time at Sikeston, Mr. Hopkins was a PE and Weight Training teacher, as well as a coach for multiple sports.
Mr. Hopkins accepted the Kelly Middle School Principal position in 2022 and is currently in his 20th year as an educator.
Dr. Kolwyck stated, “Mr. Hopkins is an excellent leader who has high expectations. He strives to ensure that all students have the opportunity to learn and grow. Mr. Hopkins works tirelessly to support his faculty and staff to create the best working learning environment for everyone.”
Mrs. Kari Bickings graduated from Thomas W. Kelly High School in 2001 and immediately pursued a degree in Education from Southeast Missouri State University. After graduating with her degree, Mrs. Bickings began her career at Kelly.
Throughout her 19 years with the district, Mrs. Bickings has taught 6th, 7th, and 8th grades as well as served in the roles of middle and elementary principal. During that time, she continued her education by earning a M.Ed. and an Ed.S. in Educational Leadership.
Dr. Kolwyck stated, “Mrs. Bickings is passionate about learning and works hard to support the students and staff. She bleeds maroon and gold. We are grateful for her leadership over the past 11 years as a building principal.”
FIRST QUARTER STUDENT PARTICIPATION
The first quarter of every school year is packed with many opportunities for students to participate and be involved with the school. This year added another opportunity during the first quarter, girls high school volleyball. In addition to high school girls volleyball, the traditional activities of ms/hs football, ms/hs cross country, hs softball, hs competition cheer, hs/ms sideline cheer, ms girls basketball, and marching band were just a few of the sports and activities for Kelly students to be involved.
The district believes in providing a variety of opportunities for students to be active during their time at Kelly. In addition to all of the sports and activities mentioned above, each school has many clubs and organizations for students to participate. The high school's BETA, STUCO, Drama, FTA, FCCLA, FCA, and FFA are samples of the options for students when they enter their final four years at Kelly. The middle school offers BETA, STUCO, Drama, STEM, Pep, and FCA for students to be involved. The middle and high schools are not the only time students can get involved. The elementary school starts offering opportunities in third grade with BETA Club.
During the first quarter over 40% of the entire student body for middle school and high school were either practicing for a sport/activity or working on club/organization projects. Moving into the second and third quarters, basketball, wrestling, and volleyball take the stage for high school and middle school. The coaches and sponsors will continue to highlight their successes on social media, look forward to those posts.
Weather Delays or Cancelations 101
We are entering that time of year where the weather is unpredictable. Over the past month we have experienced highs in the 80s and lows in the 30s.
This time of year is notorious for fog delays. For those who don't remember, on November 13, 1978 the district and community experienced a tragic loss from a bus accident during extreme fog. Since that time, it has been common practice for the district to call one, two, or three hour delays for dense fog.
The threshold for the district to call a fog delay is measured by sight in utility poles along the most traveled routes to school for busses. If possible and necessary, the decision makers work together early in the morning (4:30 am - 6:15 am) to gather data using utility pole visibility of one, two, or three poles. The threshold is to have three poles of visibility in a majority of the traveled routes. The call to delay is strictly a judgement call and is taken very serious by all administration.
Other winter weather, such as ice or snow, also create dangerous travel conditions that may cause school to be delayed or canceled. The transportation administrative team follows similar procedures to determine if school should be delayed or canceled. It is possible that parts of the district are safe and other parts are not. If that is the case, the district team will always err on the side of caution and make the best decision for everyone's safety.
Overall, weather events could cause a change in the school day or even the calendar for the year. The district will always try to communicate as early as possible if the school time/day will be changed in any manner. The district will communicate through social media, television, website, application, emails, and cell phone.
The team must make a decision no later than 6:30 am on the day of school in order to release busses to begin their routes. The first bus leaves school between 6:35 am - 6:40 am daily. If unforeseen changes in weather occurs after 6:40 am, unfortunately "wheels are in motion" to begin the school day.
This information is provided to help you understand the process and protocols to unplanned weather events that interrupt the regular school day. If you have any questions, please feel free to email Dr. Bradley Kolwyck at bradley.kolwyck@kellyhawks.org.