Dear VHS Students and Families,

Welcome to the very first edition of the VHS Tiger Roar. I’m excited to introduce this newsletter as a way to keep you connected to all the great things happening here at VHS. Whether it’s important academic updates, upcoming events, student achievements, or reminders to help us all stay on track, the Tiger Roar is your one-stop source.

Our goal is to make sure everyone—students, parents, and staff—feels informed, supported, and part of our vibrant Tiger community. We’ve got a lot to be proud of, and even more to look forward to.

Thank you for your continued support of Versailles High School. Let’s keep working together to make this an outstanding year!

TIG!!!

VHS would like to welcome the following new staff members to the building.

Eric Tyler and Krystalyn Bauer will be joining our science department. Eric spent last year teaching at Capital City while Krystalyn is reigniting her teaching career. Valaine Evans will be teaching Geometry for us this year after spending some time as a paraprofessional in our district. Beth Busick is one of our new counselors. She has previously worked at Macon County R-IV. Daniel Stantorf is coming to us from Clinton. He will be teaching PE and coaching football this year. Finally, Abbi Burge will be teaching English for us this year. Abbi is a 2022 graduate of VHS. We are excited to have each of these talented individuals join the Versailles High School team and look forward to the positive impact they will have on our students and school community.

On Tuesday, May 13, the Missouri State Legislature passed Senate Bill 68, which requires all public school districts in Missouri to adopt policies restricting and banning student cell phone usage during the entire school day, including passing periods and lunch.

In compliance with this new law as well as to promote an effective learning environment free from distractions, Versailles High School will implement a building-wide cell phone policy starting on the first day of school. Under this policy, students are prohibited from displaying or using personal communication devices during the school day. A personal communication device is considered any portable electronic device that is used to initiate, receive, store, or view communications, information, images, or data electronically. Such devices may include cell phones, smartwatches, personal laptops, tablets, video game devices, and other portable media players.

If a student is using their cell phone or another personal device during the school day, the following consequences may occur:

1st Offense: Confiscation. May be picked up by student. Warning.

2nd Offense: Confiscation. Must be picked up by parent/guardian. 2nd Warning.

3rd Offense: Confiscation. Must be picked up by parent/guardian and 1 day ISS

4th Offense: Confiscation. Must be picked up by parent/guardian, 2 days ISS and phone/electronic device not allowed at school.

Subsequent Offenses: 5 days of ISS and phone/electronic device not allowed at school.

Students who refuse to surrender their device when asked will face additional disciplinary action.

If families need to get a message to their student during the school day, they can call the high school office at (573)378-4697, and the message will be delivered. Students will still have access to their school-issued email via their school device.

We recognize that this policy represents a substantial shift for students, families, and staff. Nevertheless, we are confident that this measure is both necessary and beneficial. The presence of cell phones and other personal electronic devices during the school day has increasingly contributed to diminished academic engagement, disrupted social dynamics, and reduced overall focus in the classroom. By limiting these distractions, we seek to foster a more focused, respectful, and academically enriching environment for all students.

As always, the academic success, safety, and well-being of our students remain our highest priorities. We are committed to maintaining clear communication and providing the necessary support as we transition into the implementation of this policy.

Quizzes, tests, projects… oh my! Don’t let deadlines pounce on you out of nowhere. This section is your go-to spot for what’s coming up in class—big assignments, key test dates, and everything in between. Stay sharp, Tigers, and stay ahead!

Get ready to meet the stars of VHS! This section is all about celebrating the amazing students and staff who go above and beyond to make our school community something special. Each issue, we’ll shine a bright light on a standout student or an exceptional staff member who's making waves—whether it’s through academics, leadership, creativity, or simply spreading positivity in the halls. Their stories inspire us, and we can’t wait to share them with you. Who will be in the spotlight next? Stay tuned, Tigers!