Superintendent's Message for May 2024

Hello, Chargers!!

With about 10 days left in our school year, our focus remains on student learning and finishing the 2023-24 school year strong.  Over the next few days, there will be plenty of celebrations planned to praise the students for all their hard work.  Sunday, May 19th, we will send another group of graduates off into the world to pursue their goals and dreams.  We have cherished our time with many of these students over the last 13 years and hope they will always consider Chariton Community Schools their home.  Please join us at the Charger Dome at 3:00 PM to help celebrate the class of 2024.

School Board Highlights

May is school board appreciation month, and we celebrated it last night with refreshments and cookies before the meeting.  Please take a few minutes to send them a quick email, note, or phone call to tell them how grateful you are they have decided to do this thankless but so necessary job for our school.  You never know the impact of such a small gesture, but I can tell you it is significant to the receiver.  Here is the School Board Agenda which can also be found on our website with other important information about our school district.

Pictured above are our board members receiving their Iowa School Board Association certificate to acknowledge the hard work and dedication required to be a school board member. Pictured from left to right are Ryan Dachenbach, Jarid Howell, Sarah Willis, and Dustin Shivvers. Not pictured is Becky Shelton.

Student Recognition and Accomplishments

Our 8th grade track team set school records in three categories.  The 4X800, Shuttle Hurdle Relay, and the 4x400 meter relay.  Congratulations!

Our High School play was a great success.  This year's performance was “It Happened on Route 66”.  Once again our students did not disappoint with their performance and everyone enjoyed it.  

The FBLA had a great performance at the state contest this year.  Below are the results of the contest. Congratulations to all our students who performed at this level.

Our school’s boardroom got a new sign to help to identify our organization better when we can livestream our meetings.  This sign is extra special because it was made, designed, and hung by our students in Mr. Vernon’s class.  Charger Manufacturing just continues to do great things for our community and school.  

Congratulations go out to Coach Zimmerli and his players for winning the South Central Conference Boys Tennis Championship.  Pictured below are Coach Z and his team.  Well done!!!

The team of Payton Snook, Ava Krutsinger, Sydney Cain, and Abby Chapman had a record-breaking spring in track. This team has not only set the school record in the 4 x 100 relay but also qualified for and ran at the Drake Relays. Just when you think they have done it all, they turn around and qualify for the State Meet held this week in Des Moines.  Well done ladies!!!!

Fellow Charger teams and individuals from both the girls' and boys' track teams will join this talented foursome on the Blue Oval at Drake Stadium in the following events: the boys' 4x800 meter relay, Abigail Chapman in the 100-meter dash, Mason Smith in the high jump, the girls' distance medley relay, the girls' 4x100 team listed above, and Ava Krutsinger in the 800-meter run. Congratulations to all of these participants who made it to state.  

The team of Kyzer Arnold, Kasyn Paige, Brock Oxenreider and Cameron Phipps set a new school record in the sprint medley relay with a time of 1:40.42.  This team broke the record of 1:41.26 set in 2017.  Congratulations!

The Chariton Community Schools Middle School FFA students with their advisor Ms. Stephanie Lukavsky presented to the school board Monday night May 13th.  They highlighted all the great things they have accomplished this year in their program.  Student presenters were Alana Elmore, Cadence Atwell, Landon Atwell & Wyatt Swartz. Job well done!

Looking ahead to 2024-25

It is amazing but we never really stop in the school business.  Our staff will already be attending professional development on May 30th and 31st. We will be implementing a cultural shift and philosophy that has shown great success all over the United States.  It is called Capturing Kids Hearts or CKH for short.  You will be hearing about this initiative next year so I thought I would start to get you familiar with the name.  There will be more to come.  These days are essential opportunities for us to come together as a staff, reflect on our practice, learn from one another, and prepare for the year ahead to serve our students even better. I am excited about this new adventure.  Below are a few things this professional development hopes to accomplish for us and our students.  

Have a great end of the 2023-2024 school year!  

GO CHARGERS AND THINK BIG !!!!  

Mr. Baker  #LBE

Phone - 641-774-5967

Email- brad.baker@chariton.k12.ia.us

Twitter -  @Super_Charger