Mrs. Rachel Stanton was named the 2025 Rock Port Elementary Educator of the Year. She is pictured with her husband, Jay, and their sons, Cane, Collin, and Cass. Their daughter, Brea, is not pictured.

 

The 2025 elementary awards assembly was held Tuesday, May 20, 2025, for grades K-5 at Rock Port Elementary.

Dr. Steve Waigand, principal, welcomed everyone to celebrate the accomplishments of students and staff from the 2024-25 school year. He thanked the parents and family members who were present and extended a special thank you to Michelle in the office for all her time and effort into helping prepare for this day.     

The Blue Jay Twirlers performed to kick off the assembly. They are led by Mrs. Palmer and Mrs. Lansdown.

Dr. Waigand then introduced Gena Lloyd and Ellee Lloyd, co-owners of Forest Finds Candle and Soap Company, along with first grader, Cartyr Lloyd, and special education teacher, Ms. Rains. Cartyr, with the help of Gena and Ellee, created a special scent of soap and helped make it for Autism Awareness Month. The proceeds from the soap sales were donated to the school for sensory and movement rooms. Gena and Ellee presented a check to Cartyr and Ms. Rains.

Elementary Student Council Representatives were recognized. They are: Bertie Meyerkorth and Greyson Sperber, fifth grade; Judah Allen and Portia Ingram, fourth grade; and Chase Krutz and Beau Waigand, third grade. These students were responsible for daily announcements, putting the flag out each morning, a Blue Friday spirit wear competition, and running the Energy Bus assemblies as well as Frozen Friday treats each month. They have also answered student questions and feedback from the schoolwide suggestions box.

Accelerated Reader Reading Goals

Students who met their quarterly reading goals through Accelerated Reader were recognized. The following students have met their AR reading goals for three quarters: first grade – Nova Carter, Jeriah Jones, Everett Leseberg, Oaklee Smith, Taelyn Sloop, Elliott Thomas, and Finnley Riley; second grade – Cyrus Herrington; third grade – Sadie Clodfelter and Piper VanSickle; fourth grade – Brantley Garst, Judah Allen, Baylin Lewis, and Vera-Ann Newbanks; and fifth grade – Austin Alexander, Mason Gubser, and Bertie Meyerkorth.

The following students met their reading goal all four quarters: kindergarten – Dash Chamberlain, Cane Stanton, Nolan Waigand, Nora Spiegel, Grayson Wood, and Aitana Jaimes; first grade – Charlie Carpenter, Braeley Cook, Maxon Graves, Naomi Morgan, Elsie Ostrom, Kyler Perry, Kamden Schulte, Jaxson Henggeler, Bradley Howell, Cartyr Lloyd, Zayley Makings, Dakota Melton, Oscar Palmer, Lena Paris, Drey Parsons, Vada Seeley, Willow Smith, and Collin Stanton; second grade – Cole Alexander, Tucker Deatz, Emma Garst, Addaline Larson, Rosie Leichliter, Emersyn Martin, Isaiah Newbanks, Valerie Nielsen, Myla Rogers, Ryne Shrader, Kolcyn Barnes, Sadie Chaney, Lexi Culp, Lucas Gibson, Wynne Griffin, Jersey Jones, Evyr Lloyd, Logan Schlup, Gary Twyman-Eddy, and Josiah Shimmel; third grade – Ryker Driskell, Xander Goolsby, Mason Henggeler, Jaylee Hudson, River McCown, Greenly Moore, Rhett Murphy, Sawyer Proctor, Zoe Riley, Knox Schulte, Ella Sperber, Cass Stanton, Remi Stoner, Beau Waigand, Kendall Wamsley, Gentry Welch, Elsie Gubser, Belle Herron, Layla Hughes, Mason Meyerkorth, Rory Robertson, and Briggs Roup; fourth grade – Aislyn Barnes, Markie Gaines, Maddie Henggeler, Jaylee Wood, Sophia Bare, Izzy Carpenter, Kyler Culp, Blaykleigh Daugherty, Lincoln Leichliter, and Oliver Paris; Collin Frix, Eli Meyerkorth, Kinsley Nuckolls, Lucy Ottmann, Greyson Sperber, Frank Kroeger, Kamryn Lair, and Ashyr Lloyd.

Top Readers

The following students are the top readers based on Accelerated Reader for their classroom: Kindergarten –  Grayson Wood 27 (Mrs. Lawrence) and Cane Stanton 24.5 (Ms. Roup); first grade – Kamden Schulte 119.9 (Mrs. Bredensteiner) and Collin Stanton 113.5 (Mrs. Geib); second grade – Ryne Shrader 137.6 (Mrs. Carpenter) and Wynne Griffin 352, breaking the record of 193.1 set by Frank Kroeger in 2022 (Mrs. Gilson); third grade – Knox Schulte 100 (Mrs. Forehand) and Belle Herron 114.8 (Mrs. Larson); fourth grade – Aislyn Barnes 176.1 (Mrs. Weber) and Lincoln Leichliter 234.9 (Mrs. Wood); fifth grade – Kinsley Nuckolls 159.8 and career points of 919.2 (Ms. Coon) and Frank Kroeger 203.1 (Mrs. Hunter).

1,000 Point Club

Frank Kroeger was recognized for surpassing 1,000 career Accelerated Reader books (total points 1000.8).

Career Point Club Leaders are: 1) Jackson Meyerkorth, 2,077.7 points; 2) Mya Welch, 1,416.9 points; 3) Corbyn Jakub, 1,389.3 points/9,275,687 words; 4) Malachi Skillen, 1,282.2 points/8,624,482 words; 5) Isabella Kroeger, 1181.6 points; 6) Desmond Chaney, 1,073.8 points; and 7) Frank Kroeger, 1,000.8 points (through fifth grade).

Spelling Bee

Frank Kroeger was recognized for being the Maradi Mifflin grades 5-8 champion.

STAR Assessments

The following awards were given to students with superior achievement or superior growth on the STAR assessments for math and reading. Students in grades kindergarten through fifth grade take these assessments 2-3 times a year – the fall, winter, and spring. Students with Superior Achievement scored in the 80th percentile or above on the STAR assessments, placing them in the top 20% of all students in the country that take the assessments. They are: Cole Alexander (Math 94, Reading 88), Sarai Allen (Early Literacy 87), Sophia Bare (Math 90, Reading 81), Aislyn Barnes (Reading 94), Kolcyn Barnes (Math 97, Reading 95), Izzy Carpenter (Math 94, Reading 80), Nova Carter (Reading 90), Dash Chamberlain (Early Literacy 92), Sadie Chaney (Math 81), Braeley Cook (Math 83, Reading 85), Blaykleigh Daugherty (Math 82, Reading 85), Ivy Daugherty (Early Literacy 99), Raylan Daugherty (Math 83), Tucker Deatz (Reading 82), Collin Frix (Math 85, Reading 93), Markie Gaines (Reading 92), Colt Garst (Early Literacy 99), Ryker Gibson (Math 80), Laine Goins (Early Literacy 99), Xander Goolsby (Math 90, Reading 90), Wynne Griffin (Math 90, Reading 97), Mason Gubser (Reading 90), Iris Guerrero (Reading 89), Everly Hayes (Early Literacy 99), Jaxson Henggeler (Math 99, Reading 98), Maddie Henggeler (Math 93, Reading 92), Mason Henggeler (Math 95, Reading 83), Cyrus Herrington (Math 95, Reading 80), Belle Herron (Reading 95), Bradley Howell (Math 98, Reading 98), Layla Hughes (Reading 85), Portia Ingram (Math 89, Reading 96), Dawson Irvine (Reading 92), Jersey Jones (Math 91, Reading 84), Frank Kroeger (Math 80), Chase Krutz (Math 86, Reading 92), Kamryn Lair (Math 88, Reading 90), Addaline Larson (Math 86, Reading 94), Case Larson (Early Literacy 95), Lincoln Leichliter (Math 96, Reading 99), Rosie Leichliter (Math 84, Reading 97), Emersyn Martin (Math 93), Hayes Martin (Early Literacy 99), Jet Masonbrink (Early Literacy 99), Jossalyn McRaven (Reading 97), Paige Mele (Reading 83), Dakota Melton (Reading 94), Bertie Meyerkorth (Reading 88), Eli Meyerkorth (Math 95, Reading 92), Mason Meyerkorth (Math 86), Naomi Morgan (Math 89, Reading 80), Isaiah Newbanks (Math 89), Vera-Ann Newbanks (Math 95, Reading 99), Kinsley Nuckolls (Math 82, Reading 96), Lucy Ottmann (Math 81), Drey Parsons (Math 99, Reading 92), Sawyer Proctor (Math 89, Reading 83), Leyla Radik (Early Literacy 99), Newt Robertson (Early Literacy 96), Rory Robertson (Math 80, Reading 94), Kit Roup (Early Literacy 99), Logan Schlup (Math 91), Kamden Schulte (Math 98, Reading 97), Brewer Shallenberger (Early Literacy 99), Ryne Shrader (Math 98, Reading 94), Willow Smith (Math 81, Reading 96), Ella Sperber (Math 83), Greyson Sperber (Math 84, Reading 90), Nora Spiegel (Early Literacy 99), Cane Stanton (Early Literacy 99), Cass Stanton (Math 90), Ayra Thomas (Early Literacy 95), Elliott Thomas (Math 86), Noah VanGundy (Early Literacy 99), Piper VanSickle (Math 93), Nolan Waigand (Early Literacy 98), Grayson Wood (Early Literacy 99), and Jaylee Wood (Math 83).

Students with Superior Growth scored in the 80th percentile or above on the STAR assessments, placing them in the top 20% of all students in the country for growth from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. Those students are: Hudson Adams (Reading 91), Cole Alexander (Math 95), Judah Allen (Reading 94) Kolcyn Barnes (Math 97, Reading 83), Izzy Carpenter (Math 99, Reading 93), Dash Chamberlain (Reading 97), Blaykleigh Daugherty (Reading 80), Ivy Daugherty (Reading 96), Tucker Deatz (Math 86), Ryker Driskell (Reading 84), Collin Frix (Reading 92), Colt Garst (Reading 93), Emma Garst (Reading 86), Lucas Gibson (Math 92), Laine Goins (Reading 99), Mason Gubser (Math 85), Iris Guerrero (Reading 96), Everly Hayes (Reading 99), Mason Henggeler (Math 83, Reading 89), Belle Herron (Reading 90), Layla Hughes (Math 94), Dawson Irvine (Math 92), Jagger Jones (Math 97), Jersey Jones (Math 90), Kamryn Lair (Math 85), Case Larson (Reading 99), Rosie Leichliter (Reading 96), Evyr Lloyd (Reading 81), Hayes Martin (Reading 99), River McCown (Reading 89), Piper McKinney (Reading 86), Paige Mele (Reading 92), Dakota Melton (Reading 91), Bertie Meyerkorth (Math 99, Reading 98), Eli Meyerkorth (Reading 95), Mason Meyerkorth (Math 97), Abilene Moore (Reading 91), Daxxyn Moore (Math 82), Greenly Moore (Math 90), Gentry Moore (Reading 84), Rhett Murphy (Math 91, Reading 91), Valerie Nielsen (Reading 91), Lucy Ottmann (Math 81), Oliver Paris (Reading 92), Drey Parsons (Math 91, Reading 96), Kyler Perry (Reading 83), Kylie Perry (Math 87), Leyla Radik (Reading 96), Zoe Riley (Reading 82), Newt Robertson (Reading 86), Rory Robertson (Math 85, Reading 85), Briggs Roup (Math 91, Reading 97), Zepplin Roup (Reading 90), Logan Schlup (Math 92, Reading 91), Nash Schomburg (Reading 80), Kamden Schulte (Math 92), Brewer Shallenberger (Reading 98), Willow Smith (Math 81, Reading 99), Ella Sperber (Math 89), Greyson Sperber (Reading 93), Cane Stanton (Reading 99), Cass Stanton (Math 88, Reading 83), Remi Stoner (Math 96), Arya Thomas (Reading 87), Braylon Thomas (Reading 85), Elliott Thomas (Math 95), Noah VanGundy (Reading 99), Piper VanSickle (Math 98), Beau Waigand (Math 88, Reading 86), Nolan Waigand (Reading 98), Gage Werner (Math 98), and Grayson Wood (99).

Battle of the Books

Mrs. Skillen presented Mark Twain Awards. The Missouri Association of School Librarians annually selects Mark Twain Award books. The following students have read five or more of these books this year: Markie Gaines, Kinsley Nuckolls, and Jaylee Wood.

Elementary students competing in the Battle of the Books were – Thirsty for Winning (Lincoln Leichliter) and Curious League of Book Battlers (Aislyn Barnes, Blaykleigh Daugherty, Markie Gaines, Jaylee Wood) – second place overall.

TAG Awards

Mrs. Spiegel teaches the Talented and Gifted Program. To qualify for the Talented and Gifted Program, second through fifth grade students must meet certain criteria. This year, they learned all about Walt Disney and concluded the unit by going on a field trip to The Disney Exhibit at Union Station in Kansas City. They have also done some really cool science experiments each week and spent lots of time on a Civil War Unit. Students in the Talented and Gifted program are Wynne Griffin and Lincoln Leichliter.

March Mathness Awards

Mrs. Gaines shared the winners of the March Mathness competition.

Jersey design contest winners were: kindergarten – Noah VanGundy; first grade – Drey Parsons; second grade – Jersey Jones; third grade – Greenly Moore; fourth grade – Portia Ingram; and fifth grade – Bertie Meyerkorth.

Math facts champions were: kindergarten – Nolan Waigand and Grayson Wood; first grade – Everett Leseberg and Drey Parsons; second grade – Cole Alexander and Kolcyn Barnes; third grade – River McCown and Briggs Roup; fourth grade – Portia Ingram and Louie Leseberg; and fifth grade – Eli Meyerkorth and Nash Schomburg.

Outstanding Educator Award

Each year the school recognizes an educator who has had a profound, positive impact on the lives of our students, fellow colleagues, and community as a whole. This year’s recipient is certainly worthy of the honor and has put countless hours into helping our students succeed. Mrs. Rachel Stanton was named the 2025 Rock Port Elementary Educator of the Year.

Mrs. Wood shared a few thoughts on her time with Mrs. Stanton and the impact she has made for our students and school.

“It is my honor to present this year’s Elementary Educator of the Year Award to my friend and former fourth grade sidekick, Mrs. Rachel Stanton.

“Mrs. Stanton is married to her husband Jay and together they have four children, Cass (who I get to have in my class next year and I am so excited about), Collin, Cane, and Brea. She has served the Rock Port School District as a fourth grade teacher, Title Reading teacher, as well as serving on many committees. I had the honor of working with Mrs. Stanton my first two years at Rock Port in the fourth grade classroom. She was a huge blessing to me. I would have not survived without her.

“I still remember the day she walked into my room to tell me she was taking the Title Reading job. I was sad, she was sad, but I knew the kids were going to be blessed to have her in that position. She has taken on a new role this year and has done an amazing job. She works hard to get kids believing in themselves that they can read and it has become apparent this works with the number of RSPs that have dropped. Mrs. Stanton both in the classroom and now has always wanted the kids to meet their highest potential and she gets it out of them by building a relationship with each one of them.

“When I hear the quote, ‘Education is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting of a fire,’ I think of Mrs. Stanton. She has lit the fire for reading this year for so many students. They have gained more confidence and are reading at a higher level because of her dedication day in and day out.

“I am so proud of Mrs. Stanton for this honor. Her dedication to teaching and unwavering commitment to her students is truly admirable, and we are so fortunate to have her. I know she will continue to grow in her position and make huge impacts on the students at Rock Port Elementary. Thank you for all that you have done for Rock Port and will continue to do for our school district. We are blessed to have you!”

Principal’s Art Gallery

Each year the school recognizes and displays outstanding artwork from our students in the Principal’s Art Gallery outside of the cafeteria. This is a tradition that started many years ago and helps bring the hallways to life. When students graduate from Rock Port they take their artwork with them. Cali Driskell and Avery Meyerkorth were this year’s seniors. The following students will add their artwork to the halls of Rock Port Elementary: Bradley Howell, first grade; Kylie Perry, third grade; Lucy Ottmann, fifth grade; and Maddie Henggeler, fourth grade.

Drawing For $100 Bill

Students earn tickets for a drawing for a $100 bill through hard work and effort throughout the year. Sarai Allen was the winner.

Each year Dr. Waigand presents a summer challenge for students. Students read the book, “Couch Potato,” in Blue Jay families a couple weeks ago and the importance of moving your body and getting outside. His challenge to students is have a Screen Free Day without any screens (phone, tablet, Chromebook, TV).