De Soto #73 School District
610 Vineland School Road De Soto, MO 63020
Sportsmanship Beyond the Scoreboard!
Last night, our De Soto Middle School football team walked away with more than just a win against Hillsboro—they showed what it truly means to be a Dragon!
Following the game, our players made a point to walk over to the Hillsboro bench to shake hands with an injured player who was unable to join his teammates on the field.
This simple act of kindness and respect speaks volumes about the character of our student-athletes. Winning games is great, but showing compassion, respect, and sportsmanship is what truly matters!
We couldn't be prouder of these young men for representing De Soto with such class!
Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon!
Last night, our De Soto Middle School football team walked away with more than just a win against Hillsboro—they showed what it truly means to be a Dragon!
Following the game, our players made a point to walk over to the Hillsboro bench to shake hands with an injured player who was unable to join his teammates on the field.
This simple act of kindness and respect speaks volumes about the character of our student-athletes. Winning games is great, but showing compassion, respect, and sportsmanship is what truly matters!
We couldn't be prouder of these young men for representing De Soto with such class!
Once a Dragon, Always a Dragon!
Dragon Families: Important Schedule Reminders!
Thursday, October 15 – End of 1st Quarter!
Friday, October 16 – EARLY RELEASE DAY!
Please plan accordingly for the following early dismissal schedule:
High School & Middle School: 11:40 AM
De Soto Intermediate: 12:30 PM
De Soto Primary: 12:50 PM
Early Childhood Center (ECC):
Full-Day: 12:25 PM
Half-Day AM: No School
Half-Day PM: No School
We appreciate our Dragon families for helping us make dismissal run smoothly!
October is School Principals Month!
This month, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible principals who lead our schools each and every day!
Our principals wear many hats—leaders, problem-solvers, encouragers, supporters, and champions for our students and staff. Their dedication, leadership, and commitment help make our schools great places to learn, grow, and succeed.
Throughout October, we’ll be celebrating our principals and thanking them for all they do for our students, staff, families, and the entire Dragon community!
Happy School Principals Month!
This month, we are proud to recognize and celebrate the incredible principals who lead our schools each and every day!
Our principals wear many hats—leaders, problem-solvers, encouragers, supporters, and champions for our students and staff. Their dedication, leadership, and commitment help make our schools great places to learn, grow, and succeed.
Throughout October, we’ll be celebrating our principals and thanking them for all they do for our students, staff, families, and the entire Dragon community!
Happy School Principals Month!
Learning through a little experimentation!
Ms. Anderson’s FACS class recently put their kitchen skills—and creativity—to the test with an experimental Rice Krispies Treats lab!
Students brainstormed what they thought the correct measurements should be for each ingredient and then put their ideas to the test. The lab provided a fun, hands-on way to demonstrate the importance of recipes, accurate measurements, and following directions when cooking and baking.
The good news? All of the Rice Krispies Treats were yummy! The lesson? They may not have all turned out quite like students expected—and that’s exactly what made this experiment such a great learning experience!
Sometimes the best lessons come with a sweet treat!
Ms. Anderson’s FACS class recently put their kitchen skills—and creativity—to the test with an experimental Rice Krispies Treats lab!
Students brainstormed what they thought the correct measurements should be for each ingredient and then put their ideas to the test. The lab provided a fun, hands-on way to demonstrate the importance of recipes, accurate measurements, and following directions when cooking and baking.
The good news? All of the Rice Krispies Treats were yummy! The lesson? They may not have all turned out quite like students expected—and that’s exactly what made this experiment such a great learning experience!
Sometimes the best lessons come with a sweet treat!
WE’RE HIRING BUS DRIVERS!
The De Soto #73 School District is looking for Full-Time and Substitute Bus Drivers to join our Transportation Team!
Help us safely transport our Dragons to and from school each day while making a difference in our school community.
Full-Time Bus Drivers
Substitute Bus Drivers
Interested in joining our team? Apply today!
Have questions? Contact April McKinney at mckinney.april@desoto.k12.mo.us or at 636-586-1078.
Come drive with us and make a difference for our students!
A huge shoutout to our Middle School Cheerleaders!
After every game—whether they’re cheering at home or away—our cheerleaders take time to pick up trash in the stands before they leave.
It’s their way of giving back to the communities that welcome and support them, and we are so proud of them for showing that being a Dragon is about more than what happens during the game.
Thank you, ladies, for leading by example and representing De Soto with pride!
After every game—whether they’re cheering at home or away—our cheerleaders take time to pick up trash in the stands before they leave.
It’s their way of giving back to the communities that welcome and support them, and we are so proud of them for showing that being a Dragon is about more than what happens during the game.
Thank you, ladies, for leading by example and representing De Soto with pride!
Calling All Career Day Presenters!
De Soto Middle School is looking for community members and professionals to share their careers with our students during our annual Career Day!
Friday, April 9, 2027
This is a great opportunity to inspire, educate, and make a difference by giving students a firsthand look at different careers, career paths, and the skills needed for future success.
Interested in presenting? Contact Kerri Lawson at 636-586-1030 ext. 4216 or lawson.kerri@desoto.k12.mo.us.
Real people. Real jobs. Big impact. Help us introduce our students to the many possibilities waiting for them in the future!
De Soto Middle School is looking for community members and professionals to share their careers with our students during our annual Career Day!
Friday, April 9, 2027
This is a great opportunity to inspire, educate, and make a difference by giving students a firsthand look at different careers, career paths, and the skills needed for future success.
Interested in presenting? Contact Kerri Lawson at 636-586-1030 ext. 4216 or lawson.kerri@desoto.k12.mo.us.
Real people. Real jobs. Big impact. Help us introduce our students to the many possibilities waiting for them in the future!
Happy Custodian & Maintenance Appreciation Day!
Today, we celebrate the incredible custodial and maintenance staff who work hard every day to keep our schools clean, safe, welcoming, and running smoothly.
Much of what they do happens behind the scenes, but their impact is felt throughout every building in our district. From early mornings to late evenings—and everything in between—we appreciate their dedication and all they do for our students and staff.
Please join us in saying THANK YOU to our amazing custodial and maintenance teams! We appreciate you!
Today, we celebrate the incredible custodial and maintenance staff who work hard every day to keep our schools clean, safe, welcoming, and running smoothly.
Much of what they do happens behind the scenes, but their impact is felt throughout every building in our district. From early mornings to late evenings—and everything in between—we appreciate their dedication and all they do for our students and staff.
Please join us in saying THANK YOU to our amazing custodial and maintenance teams! We appreciate you!
Celebrating Our K-12 ELA Curriculum Writing Team!
At the September Board of Education meeting, we were proud to recognize the dedicated educators who served on our K-12 English Language Arts Curriculum Writing Team.
Over the past two school years, this team has spent countless hours collaborating to update and revise our district’s ELA curriculum. Their work helps ensure that all students have access to a rigorous, guaranteed, and viable curriculum aligned with Missouri Learning Standards.
Please join us in recognizing:
Faith Wilkerson
Tiffani Fluck
Courtney Brown
Melissa Humphres
Amber Bayless
Kylie Bell
Madison Baur
Katie LaMar
Kelly Formann
Melanie Downs
Stacee Delarber
Jessica McWilliams
Aimee Orrick
Angela Gagnon
Margaret Carr
Betsy Weber
Heather Bourisaw
Robert Humphres
Jessica McCarty
Jeremy Gagnon
Madilyn Overmann
Elizabeth Saylor
Andrew Holland
Haley Fowler
Angela Burke
Amber Morgan
Helene Hodak
Cadence Pruitt
Anthony Werner
Kirsten Wilson
Macy Moore
Suzanne McClinton
Amy Hickman
Thank you to each of these educators for sharing their expertise, time, and passion to strengthen teaching and learning throughout our district. Your work will make an impact on our students for years to come!
At the September Board of Education meeting, we were proud to recognize the dedicated educators who served on our K-12 English Language Arts Curriculum Writing Team.
Over the past two school years, this team has spent countless hours collaborating to update and revise our district’s ELA curriculum. Their work helps ensure that all students have access to a rigorous, guaranteed, and viable curriculum aligned with Missouri Learning Standards.
Please join us in recognizing:
Faith Wilkerson
Tiffani Fluck
Courtney Brown
Melissa Humphres
Amber Bayless
Kylie Bell
Madison Baur
Katie LaMar
Kelly Formann
Melanie Downs
Stacee Delarber
Jessica McWilliams
Aimee Orrick
Angela Gagnon
Margaret Carr
Betsy Weber
Heather Bourisaw
Robert Humphres
Jessica McCarty
Jeremy Gagnon
Madilyn Overmann
Elizabeth Saylor
Andrew Holland
Haley Fowler
Angela Burke
Amber Morgan
Helene Hodak
Cadence Pruitt
Anthony Werner
Kirsten Wilson
Macy Moore
Suzanne McClinton
Amy Hickman
Thank you to each of these educators for sharing their expertise, time, and passion to strengthen teaching and learning throughout our district. Your work will make an impact on our students for years to come!
Celebrating Our Math Curriculum Writing Team!
At the September Board of Education meeting, we were proud to recognize our 4th Grade Math Curriculum Writing Team for their dedication to supporting student learning across the district.
Over the summer, these educators dedicated their time to completely rewriting our 4th-grade mathematics curriculum. They worked together to analyze instructional needs, realign materials, and ensure our curriculum provides students with the support they need to master key math concepts.
Their hard work helped ensure our students and teachers were set up for success from the very first day of school!
Please join us in congratulating:
Heather Bourisaw
Robert Humphres
Rebecca Johnson
Carly Selsor
Christy Portell
Christina Trent
Brandy Zoph
Betsy Weber
Alison Crostic
Tarrole Milfeld
Thank you for your expertise, collaboration, and commitment to providing the best possible learning opportunities for our Dragons!
At the September Board of Education meeting, we were proud to recognize our 4th Grade Math Curriculum Writing Team for their dedication to supporting student learning across the district.
Over the summer, these educators dedicated their time to completely rewriting our 4th-grade mathematics curriculum. They worked together to analyze instructional needs, realign materials, and ensure our curriculum provides students with the support they need to master key math concepts.
Their hard work helped ensure our students and teachers were set up for success from the very first day of school!
Please join us in congratulating:
Heather Bourisaw
Robert Humphres
Rebecca Johnson
Carly Selsor
Christy Portell
Christina Trent
Brandy Zoph
Betsy Weber
Alison Crostic
Tarrole Milfeld
Thank you for your expertise, collaboration, and commitment to providing the best possible learning opportunities for our Dragons!
Excellence On and Off the Field!
At the September Board of Education meeting, we proudly recognized the 2026 De Soto Varsity Baseball Team for earning the Team Academic Excellence Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)!
To qualify for this national honor, teams must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Our Dragons finished with an impressive 3.37 team GPA!
Even more impressive, De Soto was one of just 320 programs nationwide and one of only 15 programs in Missouri selected for this recognition.
Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches for demonstrating that excellence extends beyond the field and into the classroom. We are proud of the hard work, dedication, and commitment represented by this award!
2026 Varsity Baseball Team:
#2 Brenton D.
#3 Shayne S.
#4 Colin C.
#5 Will W.
#6 Blake C.
#7 Khali G.
#8 Reid D.
#10 Owen W.
#12 Levi M.
#14 Austin M.
#15 Kyle C.
#17 Trey B.
#20 Noah P.
#21 Tanner B.
#23 Carston S.
#24 Connor H.
#35 Brian B.
#44 Nate C.
Coaches:Kyle Huey, Head Coach; Tom Hurt, Matthew Maxwell, Levi Loughridge, Briar Fischer, Levi Fischer, and Drew Hardin, Assistant Coaches.
Pictured: Coach Huey, Owen W., Kyle C., Noah P., Brian B., and Coach Hurt.
Congratulations, Dragons!
At the September Board of Education meeting, we proudly recognized the 2026 De Soto Varsity Baseball Team for earning the Team Academic Excellence Award from the American Baseball Coaches Association (ABCA)!
To qualify for this national honor, teams must maintain a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Our Dragons finished with an impressive 3.37 team GPA!
Even more impressive, De Soto was one of just 320 programs nationwide and one of only 15 programs in Missouri selected for this recognition.
Congratulations to our student-athletes and coaches for demonstrating that excellence extends beyond the field and into the classroom. We are proud of the hard work, dedication, and commitment represented by this award!
2026 Varsity Baseball Team:
#2 Brenton D.
#3 Shayne S.
#4 Colin C.
#5 Will W.
#6 Blake C.
#7 Khali G.
#8 Reid D.
#10 Owen W.
#12 Levi M.
#14 Austin M.
#15 Kyle C.
#17 Trey B.
#20 Noah P.
#21 Tanner B.
#23 Carston S.
#24 Connor H.
#35 Brian B.
#44 Nate C.
Coaches:Kyle Huey, Head Coach; Tom Hurt, Matthew Maxwell, Levi Loughridge, Briar Fischer, Levi Fischer, and Drew Hardin, Assistant Coaches.
Pictured: Coach Huey, Owen W., Kyle C., Noah P., Brian B., and Coach Hurt.
Congratulations, Dragons!
September is Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month, but suicide prevention is a year-round commitment.
The work of showing up for one another doesn’t end when September does. Every month of the year, we can make a difference by checking in, listening without judgment, recognizing when someone may be struggling, and helping connect people with support.
Together, we can help build a community where no one has to face difficult moments alone.
Stronger Together: Connect. Support. Prevent.
Learn more about suicide prevention and how you can help:
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior/prevention
If you or someone you know needs immediate emotional support, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
The work of showing up for one another doesn’t end when September does. Every month of the year, we can make a difference by checking in, listening without judgment, recognizing when someone may be struggling, and helping connect people with support.
Together, we can help build a community where no one has to face difficult moments alone.
Stronger Together: Connect. Support. Prevent.
Learn more about suicide prevention and how you can help:
https://www.samhsa.gov/mental-health/suicidal-behavior/prevention
If you or someone you know needs immediate emotional support, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.
WE’RE HIRING BUS DRIVERS!
Join the De Soto #73 School District Transportation Team and help us safely get our Dragons where they need to go each day!
We are currently looking for Bus Drivers to join our team.
Interested or have questions? Contact Transportation Director April McKinney at mckinney.april@desoto.k12.mo.us for more information.
Come drive with us and make a difference for our students!
Homecoming Spirit Starts Early!
A big THANK YOU to our De Soto High School students who went out of their way this morning to give our Intermediate and Primary students a warm Homecoming welcome!
There’s nothing better than seeing our Dragons come together across all grade levels to celebrate school spirit and make our younger students feel special.
Thank you, DHS students, for starting Homecoming morning with smiles, excitement, and plenty of Dragon Pride!
Happy Homecoming, Dragons!
A big THANK YOU to our De Soto High School students who went out of their way this morning to give our Intermediate and Primary students a warm Homecoming welcome!
There’s nothing better than seeing our Dragons come together across all grade levels to celebrate school spirit and make our younger students feel special.
Thank you, DHS students, for starting Homecoming morning with smiles, excitement, and plenty of Dragon Pride!
Happy Homecoming, Dragons!
IT’S HOMECOMING DAY, DRAGONS!
The big day is here! It’s time to show your Dragon Pride and celebrate Homecoming!
Homecoming Parade: 3:00 PM on Main Street
Football Game: 7:00 PM at JC Culwell Stadium
REMINDER: Today is an Early Release Day for ALL schools!
DHS & Middle School 11:40 AM
Intermediate: 12:30 PM
Primary: 12:50 PM
ECC Full Day: 12:25 PM
ECC Half-Day AM & PM: No School
Wear your green, cheer loud, and join us for a great day celebrating our students, schools, and community!
GO DRAGONS!
The big day is here! It’s time to show your Dragon Pride and celebrate Homecoming!
Homecoming Parade: 3:00 PM on Main Street
Football Game: 7:00 PM at JC Culwell Stadium
REMINDER: Today is an Early Release Day for ALL schools!
DHS & Middle School 11:40 AM
Intermediate: 12:30 PM
Primary: 12:50 PM
ECC Full Day: 12:25 PM
ECC Half-Day AM & PM: No School
Wear your green, cheer loud, and join us for a great day celebrating our students, schools, and community!
GO DRAGONS!
Come join us for a fun community ceramic painting event while helping support our DHS Art Club students and their Chicago trip! Open to the community! All ages are welcome. Children are welcome to participate when accompanied by an adult.
Spots are limited! Registration and payment are due by October 9th to reserve your spot.
Choose your favorite ceramic piece, paint it, and we’ll take care of the glazing and firing! Your finished piece will be ready for pickup on October 30th.
Questions: Reach out to Megan Sutton at sutton.megan@desoto.k12.mo.us
Come paint, have fun, and help us get our Dragon artists to Chicago!
Spots are limited! Registration and payment are due by October 9th to reserve your spot.
Choose your favorite ceramic piece, paint it, and we’ll take care of the glazing and firing! Your finished piece will be ready for pickup on October 30th.
Questions: Reach out to Megan Sutton at sutton.megan@desoto.k12.mo.us
Come paint, have fun, and help us get our Dragon artists to Chicago!
Dragonettes Take the Spotlight!
At last week’s Board of Education meeting, students from De Soto Intermediate did a fantastic job presenting to Board members and community members about the Dragonettes program at De Soto Intermediate!
Our students represented their school and program with confidence and enthusiasm, sharing more about what makes the Dragonettes such a special opportunity.
Great job, Addison H., Baylee S., and Raelyn R.! We are proud of you and the wonderful job you did representing De Soto Intermediate!
At last week’s Board of Education meeting, students from De Soto Intermediate did a fantastic job presenting to Board members and community members about the Dragonettes program at De Soto Intermediate!
Our students represented their school and program with confidence and enthusiasm, sharing more about what makes the Dragonettes such a special opportunity.
Great job, Addison H., Baylee S., and Raelyn R.! We are proud of you and the wonderful job you did representing De Soto Intermediate!
Celebrating Outstanding Achievement!
At last week’s Board of Education meeting, De Soto Intermediate recognized four students for an incredible accomplishment on the Spring MAP assessment — earning a PERFECT SCORE!
Esau F. — Perfect Score in Math
Maverick T. — Perfect Score in ELA
Kai O. — Perfect Score in Math
Reid S. — Perfect Score in Math
Their hard work, focus, and dedication truly paid off. We are so proud of these students and their outstanding achievement!
Congratulations, Dragons!
At last week’s Board of Education meeting, De Soto Intermediate recognized four students for an incredible accomplishment on the Spring MAP assessment — earning a PERFECT SCORE!
Esau F. — Perfect Score in Math
Maverick T. — Perfect Score in ELA
Kai O. — Perfect Score in Math
Reid S. — Perfect Score in Math
Their hard work, focus, and dedication truly paid off. We are so proud of these students and their outstanding achievement!
Congratulations, Dragons!
September is Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month.
Connection matters.
A call. A text. A simple check-in. An attempt to reach out. These may seem like small gestures, but for someone who is struggling, they can mean everything.
Taking the time to ask, “Are you okay?” and truly listening can remind someone that they are seen, valued, and supported.
And if you are the one struggling, reaching out is an important step. You don’t have to navigate a difficult moment alone.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.
Call or text 988
Chat at https://988lifeline.org/
Reach out. Check in. Stay connected.
Connection matters.
A call. A text. A simple check-in. An attempt to reach out. These may seem like small gestures, but for someone who is struggling, they can mean everything.
Taking the time to ask, “Are you okay?” and truly listening can remind someone that they are seen, valued, and supported.
And if you are the one struggling, reaching out is an important step. You don’t have to navigate a difficult moment alone.
The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7.
Call or text 988
Chat at https://988lifeline.org/
Reach out. Check in. Stay connected.
HOMECOMING Reminder!
Dragon Nation, get ready for a great day of school spirit and community pride on Friday, September 25!
Early Release for All Schools
Early Release Times:
• DHS & Junior High: 11:40 AM
• Intermediate: 12:30 PM
• Primary: 12:50 PM
• ECC Full Day: 12:25 PM
• ECC ½ Day AM & PM: No School
Homecoming Parade: 3:00 PM
Football Game: 7:00 PM
REMINDER: There is NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, September 28, due to teacher professional development meetings.
We can’t wait to see our students, families, alumni, and community come together to celebrate Homecoming!
Go Dragons!
Dragon Nation, get ready for a great day of school spirit and community pride on Friday, September 25!
Early Release for All Schools
Early Release Times:
• DHS & Junior High: 11:40 AM
• Intermediate: 12:30 PM
• Primary: 12:50 PM
• ECC Full Day: 12:25 PM
• ECC ½ Day AM & PM: No School
Homecoming Parade: 3:00 PM
Football Game: 7:00 PM
REMINDER: There is NO SCHOOL for students on Monday, September 28, due to teacher professional development meetings.
We can’t wait to see our students, families, alumni, and community come together to celebrate Homecoming!
Go Dragons!
