Warsaw South Elementary School

Welcome to September, Wildcats! 🌟 Please see the South Elementary September newsletter from our school counselor, Mrs. Daughenbaugh, highlighting this month’s character word: Empathy. Read it here ➡️ https://5il.co/3p2ny.

South Elementary students in Mrs. Harris’ 5th grade science classes had a blast experimenting this week! 👩🏼‍🏫🧑🏻‍🏫 They built bouncy balls and tested how different materials bounced while learning the steps of the scientific method. #WildcatTradition #LearningFun

🌟 Please help us welcome Mrs. Daughenbaugh as the new School Counselor at South Elementary! 🌟

She’s no stranger to the Warsaw School District, and we are so excited to have her supporting our young Wildcats this year. 💚🐾

📖 Read more about her in our newsletter below:

Reminder: The first day of school is tomorrow, Tuesday, 8/19! We can’t wait to see all of our Wildcats back in class. 🐾📚

💉🎒 Back-to-School Health Reminder 🎒💉

As we prepare for the new school year, please ensure your student’s immunizations are up-to-date. This is especially important for students entering Kindergarten, 8th Grade, and Senior Year, since certain vaccines are required at these milestones. Check with your healthcare provider, local health department or school nurse if you’re unsure. Thanks for helping us keep our schools safe and healthy! 💚🐾

#WildcatTradition #HealthyWildcats

Do-Rite will be paving on-site at the HS/JBMS campus this Saturday, Aug. 16th. They are aware of tomorrow morning’s practices, but if you don’t need to be at HS/JBMS on Saturday, please avoid the area. Thank you for your patience and cooperation!

Thank you to everyone that attended our open house! It was great to see everyone. We are excited to see all of our students on Tues, Aug 19th. Thank you for your patience as we work through our final touches on our construction projects!

We'd like to extend a big THANK YOU to Robinson Roofing and Don Jose’s for treating our staff to a delicious lunch during our back-to-school PD day! 🌮 #WildcatTradition #Community

Big thanks to Climalock for surprising our South Elementary teachers with Walmart gift cards! 🤩 Such a thoughtful treat to kick off the school year — we appreciate your generosity and support for our Wildcats! 💚🐾 📸 Our newest team members at South Elementary & the Climalock Team, Mr. Brent Bell and Mrs. Fawn Fajen. #WildcatTradition #Community

🐾‼️Friendly Reminder: Our district-wide Open House is TOMORROW, Thursday, 8/14 from 5:00–7:00 PM! Visit your school, meet your teachers, drop off supplies, and get ready for a great year ahead. We can’t wait to see our students and families as we kick off the 2025–2026 school year!

During Open House:
👉🏼6th Grade Orientation @ 5:45 PM in the JBMS Gym.
👉🏼Freshman & New High School Student Orientation @ 6:15 PM in the WHS Gym.

Our teachers and staff are back and hard at work preparing for another incredible school year! 🎉🐾💚 This year, our theme is “Honoring Tradition, Inspiring Excellence”—celebrating the proud history of Warsaw Schools while striving for even greater achievements ahead. The countdown to the first day is on, and we can’t wait to welcome our students back soon! #WildcatTradition

❇️ Meet Mrs. Johns! ❇️

Please help us welcome Mishelle Johns to her new role at South Elementary as a Special Education Teacher!

Mrs. Johns brings several years of hands-on experience supporting students with diverse needs, most recently serving as a paraprofessional in the Essential Skills classroom right here in Warsaw. She’s currently completing her dual licensure in Special Education and Elementary Education through Western Governors University and is passionate about providing personalized support that helps every student thrive. 💙📘

When she’s not in the classroom, you’ll likely find her diving into graphic design projects, curled up with a good book, or spending time with her husband Aaron and their beloved fur kids. 🐾📚💻

Mrs. Johns is beyond excited to officially step into this new role and continue serving the amazing students and families of Warsaw. We’re so lucky to have her on the team!

Welcome to your new adventure, Mrs. Johns! 🐾💚

❇️ Meet Mrs. DeLacy! ❇️

We’re excited to welcome Mrs. DeLacy to Warsaw Schools as a 4th grade teacher at South Elementary!

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Greenville University and a master’s degree from Olivet Nazarene University. Before becoming a teacher, Mrs. DeLacy spent 12 years serving as a pastor and administrator for The Salvation Army, where she developed a deep passion for building community and supporting others.

Mrs. DeLacy is married and has three wonderful children, along with a cocker spaniel named Brother Bear who loves spending time outdoors. 🐶🌳

Her favorite color? Green—GO Wildcats! 💚 She enjoys music, art, STEAM, and playing outdoor games with her family. A true movie fan, she especially loves science fiction, superhero films, and fantasy flicks. 🎬🦸‍♀️💫

Mrs. DeLacy is excited to meet her students and their families and is looking forward to a year full of learning, connection, and trying new things together.

Welcome to the Wildcat Family, Mrs. DeLacy! 💚🐾

📵 New State Law & District Policy = Cell Phone-Free School Days

A new Missouri law (Senate Bill 68) now requires all public schools to restrict student use of personal electronic communication devices throughout the school day. This new law is reflected in all district handbooks under the Technology F-265-S policy.

🔒 What This Means:
From the first bell to dismissal, students must keep devices powered off and stored in backpacks or lockers — including during:
✅ Class time
✅ Passing periods
✅ Lunch and breakfast
✅ Breaks or recess

📞 Need to Reach Your Child?
Call the school office — we’ll make sure your student gets the message or comes to the office if needed.

🚫 No device use during school hours — including for music, calculators, photos, or messaging.

📱 What Counts as a Device?
Any personal tech used to send, receive, store, or view information, including:
• Cell phones
• Tablets
• Smartwatches
• Gaming devices
• Earbuds/headphones
• Meta/AI glasses
• Laptops

✅ Exceptions Apply When:
Devices are used as required by a student’s:
• IEP or 504 Plan
• Individualized Health or Emergency Plan
• ELL accommodations under federal law
• Or in an emergency, as determined by staff
• OR when a teacher has explicit, pre-approved permission to use them for instructional purposes

🎒 Storage Reminder:
Phones must stay off and out of sight during the day. Any distractions or misuse will result in confiscation. A parent/guardian must pick up the device from the principal’s office.

Thank you for your support as we implement this law and continue promoting a focused, engaging learning environment. 💚🐾

Our administrative team kept the #WildcatTradition alive with a back-to-school BBQ and pool party for district staff and their families this evening! 🐾💚🎉 Good food, great company, and a splash of fun — events like these bring us together and set the tone for a great year ahead! #BackToSchool #Pride #Excellence

🚧 Heads Up, Wildcats! 🚧 As you drive into the District/JBMS/WHS campus, please slow down and use extra caution. ⚠️ Construction crews are hard at work making important upgrades to get everything ready for the start of the new school year! 🏗️ Your patience and safe driving help keep everyone safe as we finish strong. 💪 Thank you! 💚

❇️ Meet Mrs. Lawrence! ❇️ We’re excited to welcome Kylee Lawrence back to Warsaw Schools! She’ll be serving in Social Services across the district, bringing a deep passion for student support and community care. 💚 Mrs. Lawrence is currently finishing her bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science at UCM and holds an associate degree from SFCC. She and her husband have been married for three years and share their home with two adorable pups, Kevin and Winston. 🐶 A proud Warsaw alum, Mrs. Lawrence is thrilled for this “full-circle moment” as she returns to give back to the community that helped shape her. She enjoys hunting, cheering on her favorite sports teams, and relaxing with a good movie. 📣🎬 We’re so glad to have her on board and can’t wait to see the impact she’ll make—welcome home, Mrs. Lawrence! 💚🐾

❇️ Meet Ms. Allcorn! ❇️ Please help us welcome Stashia Allcorn to Warsaw Schools! Ms. Allcorn will be joining the team at South Elementary as a 4th grade teacher. She brings 10 years of experience teaching 3rd and 4th grade in the Warrensburg School District and is now ready to start a new adventure here in Warsaw. 📚 Outside the classroom, she’s a proud mom to two grown children and two adorable pups—a Yorkie and a Shih Tzu. 👩‍👧‍👧🐩 Ms. Allcorn can’t wait to connect with her students, their families, and the amazing staff at South Elementary! Welcome to the Wildcat family, Ms. Allcorn! 💚🐾

❇️ Meet Mr. McCarty! ❇️ We’re excited to introduce Derek McCarty as a new 5th grade teacher at Warsaw South Elementary! This will be his fifth year in the classroom, with previous experience teaching 3rd and 4th grade at a small rural school in southwest Missouri. He earned his degree in Elementary Education from Missouri State University and says he can’t imagine doing anything else! Originally from the Joplin area, Mr. McCarty recently moved to Warsaw to be closer to his girlfriend and her daughter—who he proudly considers family. 👨‍👩‍👧 In his free time, he enjoys video games, reading, collecting vinyl records, and exploring flea markets and antique shops in search of unique finds.📖🎶 Mr. McCarty is excited to join the Warsaw community, build strong connections, and see all the amazing work his 5th graders will do this year! 👨🏻‍🏫 Welcome to the Wildcat family, Mr. McCarty! 💚🐾