From Plinko Prompts to Postcards: A New Haven Elementary School Experience

The Middle School Experience

In this episode of Shamrock Stories, Mr. Peirick talks with four eighth-grade New Haven Middle School Students of the Month about highlights from the year and what they’ve learned from the middle school experience. They discuss activity days, as well as clubs like Outdoors Club, National Junior Honor Society, student council, and yearbook. The students share favorite spirit days, lock-in activities, and favorite classes, plus reflections on sports seasons. They also describe the ICAP process for high school planning, what they’ll miss about middle school, what they look forward to in high school, advice for younger students, and what it meant to be selected as Student of the Month. 00:00 Meet the Students 00:57 Year Highlights 01:50 Activity Days Explained 03:38 Clubs and Leadership 05:48 Spirit Days and Lock In 08:34 Favorite Classes 09:52 Girls Basketball Season 12:03 Boys Basketball Season 13:35 Volleyball Season 14:33 High School Transition ICAP 16:48 What You'll Miss Advice 19:49 Track Season Preview 22:01 Student of the Month Pride 24:09 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

March 2026 School Board Meeting

In this episode of Shamrock Stories, Superintendent Dr. Hoener and district leaders recap the March 11, 2026, New Haven School Board meeting. Mrs. Otten's updates include kindergarten and early childhood screenings with Lions Club support, Read Across America activities, music programming at Powell Symphony Hall, and preparations for MAP testing. Mr. Peirick highlights events such as cheer camp, homecoming, honor society inductions, library partnerships, and Scholar Bowl success. Mrs. Hoener reviews recent state and national competitors, continued student participation, the softball co-op with Herman, upcoming baseball and track events, booster club mouse races, and academic and postseason awards. Dr. Hoener outlines legislative concerns (HB 2872 reading retention, Hancock Amendment changes, and April Prop T tax freeze impacts), projected budget deficits, facility RFP approvals, a new copier RFP, and the purchase of a new tractor. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:50 Kindergarten Screening Highlights 01:52 Family Events and Reading Week 02:39 Elementary Learning and Testing Prep 04:13 Summer School Registration 04:32 Secondary School Celebrations 06:40 Activities and Athletics Update 10:43 Legislative Bills to Watch 17:32 Budget and Financial Outlook 21:36 Facilities Plan and Summer Projects 23:32 New Business and Equipment Purchases 25:40 Staffing Updates and Closing

February 2026 School Board Meeting

In this episode of Shamrock Stories, New Haven School District administrators recap the February 18th school board meeting and share updates from both buildings. At the elementary, students participated in Olympic-themed library activities, a family reading night with author Maureen Lewellen, a schoolwide “Read With Your Principal” challenge, the Hearts Across America postcard project, and celebrations for the 100th day and Valentine’s Day. The secondary campus highlights include an Air Force Academy acceptance, FBLA advancement, chocolate art, a distracted-driving simulator, and homecoming. Dr. Hoener reviews a financial report, legislative update, facility and flooring bids, a softball cooperative with Hermann, the 2026–27 calendar changes, and current district job openings. Mrs. Anderson discusses special services programming and staffing. 00:00 Welcome and Agenda 00:38 Elementary Highlights 01:27 Reading Challenge and Postcards 02:28 Valentine and Q-U Wedding 03:02 Secondary School Update 04:47 Finance and Legislative Update 08:47 Facility Plan and Bond Limits 12:09 Bids and Flooring Upgrades 13:40 Softball Co-Op with Hermann 15:48 Special Programs Overview 20:35 Next Year Calendar Changes 23:23 Job Openings and Wrap Up

From Plinko Prompts to Postcards: A New Haven Elementary School Experience

Mrs. Otten, principal of New Haven Elementary in the New Haven School District (New Haven, Missouri), hosts an episode of the Shamrock Stories podcast featuring fourth- and third-grade classroom activities. Fourth-grade teachers Mrs. Parmentier and Mrs. Walters discuss preparing students for MAP testing. They describe using a pop-up Plinko prompt system as a randomizer to select weekly writing prompts. Third-grade teachers Miss Bunch and Miss Miner describe starting a Hearts Across America project after Christmas break to collect postcards from all 50 states. The initiative has received 100+ cards and was featured on News Channel 4. 00:00 Welcome and Introductions 00:48 Fourth Grade MAP Writing 02:15 Plinko Prompt Routine 04:46 Building Independence Fast 09:35 Favorite Genres and Examples 13:56 Third Grade Postcard Project 15:01 Exploring Places with Google Earth 18:29 Community Buzz 22:41 Gratitude and Wrap Up

January 2026 School Board Meeting

In this episode of Shamrock Stories, school district administrators from New Haven provide a detailed recap of the January 14th Board of Education meeting. Key topics include various surplus items coming up for bid, professional development activities, recent student and faculty achievements, and the purchase of land by the school district. The episode also highlights upcoming infrastructure projects and discusses the district's new electric bus grant. Additionally, the administrators delve into possible cooperative agreements with neighboring schools for extracurricular activities. The next Board of Education meeting has been rescheduled to February 18th. 00:00 Introduction and Meeting Overview 00:35 Surplus Items and Auctions 01:15 Professional Development Day Recap 02:30 December Activities at Elementary School 03:31 Middle and High School Highlights 05:45 Financial Report and Land Purchase 07:56 Old Business: Heating and Bus Grant 17:22 New Business: RFPs and Softball Interest 22:04 Conclusion and Next Meeting