Scott County R-IV School District
We’ve heard your questions, and we want to help clarify any misconceptions. Here are answers to some of the most common concerns:
❓ Why does my child have to come to school sick?
The district does NOT encourage students to attend school when they are sick. Student health always comes first.
However, under Missouri law, any day a student is not physically present counts against their attendance rate, even for illness.
If illness causes a student to fall below the attendance requirement for a field trip, dance, or event:
Families may request an appeal
Major medical conditions are considered
Doctor documentation may be reviewed by the attendance committee before a final decision is made
❓ What if my child doesn’t meet the attendance rate for a field trip or event?
Families will be notified in advance if a student does not qualify.
If absences are due to a major medical condition, parents should email the building principal to request a review. A team (principal and other team members as outlined in the building’s student handbook) will examine attendance records and documentation before making a decision. The team will review the third-party documentation to determine the eligibility of the student through the definition of a "major medical condition."
❓ Why aren’t doctor notes considered “excused” absences?
Missouri DESE does not recognize doctor notes as excused absences for attendance credit.
That means:
All absences must be reported to the state
The district cannot remove absences from a student’s attendance rate
Doctor notes are still important and are considered during appeals and reviews.
❓ Is attendance just about funding?
Missouri law requires students to be:
Physically present
Under the direct supervision of a Missouri-certificated employee
Only time a student is actually in school can be counted toward Average Daily Attendance (ADA) for state funding.
❓ Why does it count against my child if the nurse sends them home?
If a student leaves school early due to illness, the absence must still be counted for attendance purposes.
However, nurse-sent dismissals do NOT disqualify students from field trips or extracurricular activities.
🎓 A+ Program Attendance Requirement
Per Missouri DESE: Students must maintain 95% attendance overall in grades 9–12 to qualify for the A+ Program
✅ The Bottom Line
• Student health always comes first
• Attendance reporting is required by Missouri law
• Major medical situations are reviewed individually
• Appeals and documentation are available when needed
If you have questions, please contact your child’s building principal.
#HawkNation
https://www.youtube.com/live/4hbSUPv6uHA?si=_C68jh6OS5js8C1e
Dr. Kolwyck
The Big Smiles Dental team will be here next month. Parents who may not have registered, but wish to, can click on this link below to register their child to be seen.
They will be on site 12/4, 12/5, and 12/8-12/12.
www.MySchoolDentist.com
Dear Parent/Guardian:
The district is taking part in the Missouri School Climate and Culture Survey. Results from this survey will be used as part of the school improvement review during the 2025-2026 academic year. As part of this process, parents, students, and school employees are asked to complete surveys regarding the programs and services available to students voluntarily.
Please take a few minutes to answer the survey at the link provided. Responses from all parents will be anonymously summarized and will become part of a report for the school district. The school district will use this report in the development of school improvement efforts.
If you have more than one child in school, please complete a survey for each child. The surveys will be processed so that school officials receive reports about each building in the district.
The questionnaires contain demographic and opinion questions. You have the option not to respond to any item or not to complete a survey at all.
Thank you for your help.
Dr. Kolwyck
Direct Link to Survey: PARENT SURVEY
Hawk Nation! Have a great weekend! No school tomorrow or Friday, except for high school CTC students. Conferences start at 12:45 pm for all schools. #HawkNation
Dear Parent/Guardian:
The district is taking part in the Missouri School Climate and Culture Survey. Results from this survey will be used as part of the school improvement review during the 2025-2026 academic year. As part of this process, parents, students, and school employees are asked to complete surveys regarding the programs and services available to students voluntarily.
Please take a few minutes to answer the survey at the link provided. Responses from all parents will be anonymously summarized and will become part of a report for the school district. The school district will use this report in the development of school improvement efforts.
If you have more than one child in school, please complete a survey for each child. The surveys will be processed so that school officials receive reports about each building in the district.
The questionnaires contain demographic and opinion questions. You have the option not to respond to any item or not to complete a survey at all.
Thank you for your help.
Dr. Kolwyck
Direct Link to Survey:
PARENT SURVEY
QR Code + Authentication Code (PICTURE ATTACHED):
Using the QR code will require an authentication code to begin the survey.
SCOTT CO. R-IV Authentication Code: 5WU3CJ
If you do not see the QR code, you may need to right-click to download the image.
#HawkNation
Scott County R-IV School District has a Second Certified School Safety Specialist
Dewey Heppe of the Scott County R-IV School District has received certification as a School Safety Specialist.
Dewey Heppe attended the recent School Safety Academy hosted by the Missouri School Boards’ Association’s Center for Education Safety. The event, held from September 15 -17, 2025, in Cape Girardeau, is designed to train and certify school safety coordinators in comprehensive school safety planning and development. School safety personnel from multiple school systems throughout the state attended the academy at no cost to local school districts. “It’s essential that students, teachers, and staff are in a safe learning environment,” Center for Education Safety’s Chief Operating Officer John McDonald said. “Schools must have processes and protocols in place and have trained staff to respond accordingly to ensure our students can focus on learning,” he added.
Topics at the School Safety Academy included support systems for addressing behaviors, legal aspects of school safety, trauma-informed schools and mental health resources, intervention and de-escalation strategies, emergency preparedness and plan development, behavioral risk and threat assessments, cybersecurity fundamentals, and more.
The CES School Safety Academy provides the foundational training necessary to certify school safety coordinators, with plans to expand to more advanced training and certification as the program develops over the coming years.
Football game—7 pm. Against the NMCC Eagles.
Coronation will be at halftime
HOCO Theme: “Road to Victory!”
Dress-up days are:
Tourist Trap - Tuesday
Construction Zone - Wednesday
National Park Stop - Thursday
Final Destination Friday
Dance is in the High School Multipurpose Room on Saturday from 7:00 to 10:00 pm
$5 Dance entry
Dress for the dance is casual. Nice jeans are allowed, but cannot have holes.
Friday Class Colors:
Freshman-Gold
Sophomores-maroon
Juniors—white
Seniors—black
Go Hawks! #HawkNation
