Bowling Green R-1 School District

A huge THANK YOU to our amazing community partners! 🎒✏️ Today, we had a wonderful visit from Penny Dixon with NECAC! She stopped by Frankford to generously donate school supplies for our students as we gear up for a great year. We are so incredibly grateful for this support! 📸 Pictured (Left to Right): Superintendent Dr. Jeff Jennewein, Penny Dixon (NECAC), and Frankford Elementary Principal Terri Bird. Thank you, Penny and NECAC, for investing in our students! #Frankford #CommunitySupport #ThankYou #NECAC #SchoolSupplies #BetterTogether #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture

🐾 **The countdown is officially ON, Bobcat Nation!** 🐾

Our dedicated team is prepped, passionate, and ready to welcome our students back this Monday!

Before the school doors open and that Bobcat pride takes over, make sure to relax and enjoy these last few days of summer break.

Have a safe and fantastic weekend, Bowling Green—we’ll see you bright and early Monday morning! 🎓✨

#BobcatPride #BackToSchool #BowlingGreenR1 #BobcatNation #HaveAGreatWeekend #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture

🎉 Student Showcase Spotlight: Congratulations to Senior Cole Niemeyer! 🎉 At the August 18 Board of Education meeting, Bowling Green High School senior Cole Niemeyer was officially recognized during the Student Showcase for his remarkable academic and leadership achievements! Pictured with Cole is his business teacher and FBLA sponsor, Danielle Robinson, who showed up on his big night to cheer him on! 📸 Here is what makes Cole's accomplishments so outstanding: * State & National FBLA Leadership: Cole was elected FBLA State Secretary in Spring 2026, represented BGHS at the National FBLA Convention in San Antonio, Texas over the summer, and is serving as a Missouri FBLA State Officer for the 2026–2027 school year! * Top-Tier ACT Score: He earned an incredible ACT composite score of 35 in June 2026—marking one of the highest recorded scores in BGHS history! * AP Exam Perfection: He achieved perfect scores of 5 on both his AP Government and AP Psychology exams last school year! Please join us in celebrating Cole for representing Bowling Green High School with distinction, and a huge thank you to Mrs. Robinson for her dedicated mentorship and support.

🎉 **DISTRICT PRIDE!** 🎉

Bowling Green R-I School District has officially received the highest possible federal rating from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) for 2026 under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)! 🏆

Not only did our district earn the top designation of **"Meets the Requirements and Purposes of the IDEA,"** but we achieved a **PERFECT score of 4.0 out of 4.0** across every single evaluated performance area! 🎓✨

**Our Perfect 4/4 Scores Include:**

* 🎯 Special Education Audit & Financial Compliance


* 📈 Graduation & Dropout Rates


* 📝 Assessment Participation & Proficiency


* ⏱️ Evaluation Timelines & Postsecondary Transition Planning


A huge shoutout to Special Education Director Dr. Malinka Buchanan, and our incredible teachers and support staff for their incredible work ensuring every student succeeds! 👏❤️🖤

#BGBobcats #BowlingGreenMO #SpecialEducation #ExcellenceInEducation #DESE #StudentSuccess#NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture

🎉 WELCOME TO THE TEAM! 🎉

Our new teachers are back on campus this week, and the energy is incredible!

A HUGE shout-out to our Director of Curriculum, Courtney Young, for preparing a dynamic and highly effective onboarding agenda to set our new team up for success. 🌟

Please join us in giving a warm welcome to our newest educators:

✏️ Charlie Bowen – 8th Grade Math

✏️ Zoe Brandenburger – 2nd Grade

✏️ Amanda Cannon – High School Biology

✏️ Alexis Ince – High School Art

✏️ Kelley Lewis – Pre-K

✏️ Mandy Pepper – Special Education

✏️ Bridget Turner – 2nd Grade

It’s been an action-packed week from Tuesday through Thursday! Our new staff took a facilities tour with Dr. Hunter, worked with the District of Continuous Improvement (DCI) team on high-yield instructional strategies, and participated in essential sessions covering technology, library resources, and mentorship programs.

🍕 Special Sponsor Appreciation: A giant THANK YOU to United Credit Union for treating our new team to a delicious lunch on Wednesday, August 12th! We truly appreciate your generous support of our school community.

Help us welcome our new team in the comments below! 👇

#WelcomeToTheFamily #NewTeacherOrientation #ExcellenceInEducation #CommunityPartners #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture

🐾 Big Bobcat welcome to our incoming 6th graders! 🐾

Yesterday, Principal Kim Luebrecht and our middle school team welcomed the newest Bobcats for Bobcat Academy! 🎉

Transitions to middle school can come with a few nervous butterflies, but hosting this session before day one is such a game-changer. Together with parents, our students got a head start on:

📍 Drop-Off Logistics: Clear maps and routines to make day-one arrivals smooth and stress-free.

💻 Tech & Tools: Getting prepped on Chromebooks, Infinite Campus, and student email.

📋 Keys to Success: Going over expectations for attendance, dress code, phone policies, and keeping in "Good Standing."

A huge thank you to Principal Luebrecht, our dedicated staff, and the amazing parents who partnered with us to make this event a success.

We can already tell this 6th-grade class is going to accomplish great things. We can’t wait to see everyone back in the halls! 🎓✨

#BobcatPride #MiddleSchoolTransition #BobcatAcademy #BackToSchool #ParentPartnerships #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture

JOIN US IN CONGRATULATING DR. MALINKA BUCHANAN!
We are thrilled to announce that our Director of Special Services, Malinka Buchanan, officially defended her doctoral dissertation on August 5th!
Her research, titled “Exploring Teachers' Experiences with Response to Intervention (RTI) Before A Special Education Referral" reflects her deep commitment to supporting our educators and ensuring every student receives the tools they need to succeed.
Defending a dissertation is a massive milestone that takes years of dedication, passion, and hard work. We could not be prouder to have her leadership and expertise guiding our Special Services department.
Please join us in the comments below in congratulating Dr. Buchanan on this incredible achievement!
#EducationLeadership #SpecialServices #DoctoralDefense #DrBuchanan #ProudDistrict #NewYearNewGoalsBrightFuture

26-27 Vacation Planner

District Leadership Volunteers at Pike County Fair 🎟️

New Year, New Goals, Bright Future! As we gear up for an incredible school year ahead, members of our Board of Education and Superintendent kicked off the season by volunteering at the main gate of the Pike County Fair taking tickets and greeting families! Thank you to everyone who stopped by to say hello—we loved seeing so many of our students, staff, and neighbors enjoying the evening together as we prepare for a great year ahead.

BGR-1 Families,

Due to hazardous weather conditions, Bowling Green R-1 will dismiss early today at 11:00 AM. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and we want to ensure everyone gets home safely.

Please make any necessary arrangements for your child’s early dismissal. If you have questions, feel free to contact your child’s school.

Thank you for your understanding.

Bobcat Family,
The Bowling Green R-1 School District is proud to introduce Dr. Jeff Jennewein as our next superintendent. Dr. Jennewein will officially begin his role with the district on July 1st for the 26-27 school year, and we are excited for our community to get to know him.
Dr. Jennewein brings a strong background in education and leadership. He currently serves as the superintendent of the Cole County R-1 School District, where he has spent the past four years. Before that, he worked as an administrator in the Jefferson City School District, gaining experience in a larger system and working with a wide range of students, staff, and programs.

Throughout his career, Dr. Jennewein has focused on improving opportunities for students while supporting teachers and being responsible with district resources. In his current role, he has helped expand academic programs by introducing Advanced Placement courses and dual credit opportunities so students can earn college credit while still in high school. He has also worked to strengthen support systems for students, helping increase graduation rates and improve overall academic success.

Dr. Jennewein believes strongly in investing in teachers and staff. He has worked to increase salaries, provide professional development, and create systems that give teachers time to collaborate and grow. He also values clear and consistent communication with families and the community, making it a priority to keep stakeholders informed and involved.

In addition to academics, he has supported growth in extracurricular activities and student involvement, recognizing that schools play an important role in the overall development of young people. He has also successfully led efforts to improve school facilities and manage finances in a way that supports long-term stability without placing unnecessary burden on taxpayers.

What stood out throughout the hiring process was Dr. Jennewein’s ability to connect with people, his practical approach to problem-solving, and his clear commitment to doing what is best for students. He understands the importance of community in a district like Bowling Green and is eager to listen, learn, and build strong relationships.

Dr. Jennewein shared that he is honored for the opportunity to serve Bowling Green R-1 and looks forward to becoming an active part of the community. He and his family are excited to get involved, support students, and continue the strong tradition of excellence that already exists in the district.

Please join us in welcoming Dr. Jennewein to Bowling Green. We are confident that his leadership will help move our district forward while staying true to the values that make our community special.

Congratulations to High School Principal Joe Chinn for winning the Emerging Principal of the Year award for Northeast Missouri!

BGR1 Families,

At a special Board of Education meeting this evening, the Board of Education approved my resignation effective June 30, 2026. This was not an easy decision, but one I believe is best for my family as I transition out of public education.

I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity to serve this community and work alongside such dedicated staff. Over the next few months, I look forward to continuing our work together and finishing the year strong for our staff and students.

Thank you for your support of Bowling Green R-1.

- Nick Larson