Shamrock Stories

Mrs. Otten, principal of New Haven Elementary, highlights after-school clubs, noting nearly 50% of elementary students participate. She interviews three students from the new Shamrockin’ Runners, which meets on Mondays to train for the Jingle Jog 5K. Next, students describe Shamrock Singers, which meets to practice for concerts and community events, and Grade School Grannies, meeting every other week to crochet and do plastic canvas crafts. Finally, Leaders of Leaders members promote positivity, make posters, help with school tasks, and represent student voice.

00:00 Welcome to Shamrock Stories

00:49 Meet the Shamrockin Runners

01:39 First Practice Highlights

03:13 Training for the Jingle Jog

11:22 Introducing More Clubs

11:48 Shamrock Singers Routine

14:58 Grade School Grannies Crafts

20:10 Leaders Of Leaders Explained

Mr. Peirick hosts an episode of Shamrock Stories with two groups of New Haven High School juniors discussing student life. Dylan, Lydia, and Lillie (student council president) share student council plans, updates on volleyball tournament successes, Lillie’s softball co-op with rival Hermann, and marching band competition results. They also highlight Shamrock card sales, the October 2 FBLA barbecue, and Four Rivers Career Center programs, plus views on dual-credit workload, homework stress and usefulness, and inspiring teachers. A second junior group (Carter, Jayla, and Emme) discusses swimming intramurals, favorite and hardest parts of school, desired rule changes, myths about high school, advice to freshmen selves, activities, and asks Mr. Peirick about his motivation, coaching, school-year preparation, and path to becoming principal.

00:00 Sponsor Message

00:36 Meet the Students

01:14 Student Council Plans

03:06 Volleyball Season Update

05:14 Softball Co-op Experience

08:12 Shamrock Cards and FBLA

09:12 Four Rivers Career Center

11:48 First Day Back Reflections

15:07 Best Part of School

17:00 Homework Debate

20:55 Teachers Who Inspire

22:34 Teacher Shoutouts

26:25 New Group Introductions

26:43 Swimming Intramurals

27:25 Best And Hardest

28:53 School Pride Standards

30:59 Rumors And Myths

32:37 Advice To Freshmen

36:54 Students Interview Principal

37:02 Principal Interview

45:27 Wrap Up

New Haven School Board Updates: Tax Rates, Libraries, Construction, and Electric Buses

Dr. Hoener is joined by principals Mrs. Otten and Mr. Peirick and librarians Mrs. Frick and Mrs. Westermeyer. They recap August and September New Haven School District board meetings and back-to-school updates. In August, the board set the 2025 tax rates by raising the operating levy to the ceiling of $3.9917 while keeping the debt service levy at $0.75, and prepaid $120,000 on the 2020 bonds; the district’s reserves snapshot on July 1 moved from 52.33% (FY25) to 47.41% (FY26). They highlighted an Aug. 3 scholarship golf tournament raising about $8,800 and community school-supply donations led by the police department and businesses. In September, the board reviewed 55 pages of policy updates, hired Austin Madden as head baseball coach, and heard library reports detailing new book purchases, reading habits, Destiny Discover access, and expanded library programming. The episode also updates bond-related construction, an Ameren grant for three electric buses with infrastructure planned for fall and buses expected next June, online registration challenges, advertising opportunities, and plans to end the community recycling dumpster unless a sponsor is found.

00:00 Welcome and Agenda

00:51 Tax Rates and Bond Levy

03:08 Reserves and ASBR Explained

05:06 Scholarship Golf Tournament

06:02 Back to School Donations

07:33 September Board Highlights

08:04 Library Programs and New Books

10:19 Kids Reading Habits Today

14:55 Modern Libraries and Tech

18:45 Library Beyond Books

20:37 Crochet Club and Family Nights

22:20 Bond Construction Updates

25:44 Electric Buses Timeline

27:11 Advertising Sponsorships

28:29 Online Registration Update

30:57 Recycling Program Changes

33:01 Closing and Next Episodes

In the season three premiere of Shamrock Stories for the New Haven School District, Superintendent Dr. Hoener and principals Mrs. Otten and Mr. Peirick recap a short July 7 school board meeting and share back-to-school preparations for August. The district is moving to online registration through the parent portal and ParentSquare. The principals outline extensive summer cleaning and construction at both buildings, confirm open house on August 19 (elementary 5–7 PM; high school 6–8 PM), fall sports starting August 10, and a high school schedule/registration week August 10–14. They also promote the school board scholarship golf tournament on August 3.

00:00 Season Three Kickoff

00:58 July Board Highlights

01:14 AMI Plan Explained

02:09 Elementary Steps Upgrade

03:21 Tax Levy And New Hire

04:00 Online Registration Rollout

06:09 Elementary Summer Projects

08:54 Secondary Building Upgrades

10:01 Open House And Supplies

11:33 Sports And Schedule Week

12:59 New Family Registration Help

14:27 Golf Tournament And Wrap Up

Mrs. Otten, elementary principal, hosts Shamrock Stories for the New Haven School District and highlights this year’s “A Star Spangled Summer School,” themed around America’s 250th celebration, with activities focused on monuments, national parks, and the 50 states. Students from first and fourth grade share favorite parts of summer school, including trips to the park and pool, extra recess, spirit days, and assemblies.

00:00 Welcome and Theme

00:56 Meet the Students

01:20 Field Trips Park and Pool

01:57 Classroom Learning and Crafts

03:36 Eagles and National Parks

05:32 Summer School vs Regular

06:44 Lunch Recess and Spirit Days

10:16 Final Week Reminders

11:11 New First Grade Guests

11:55 Classroom Fun and Stations

14:56 American Crafts and Landmarks

15:52 Food PE and Wrap Up

The episode of Shamrock Stories recaps New Haven School District activities from April through June, featuring updates from principals Mr. Peirick and Mrs. Otten and a summary of board meeting actions. Mr. Peirick details our eight-day senior trip to major historical and cultural sites from Nashville through Washington, DC and New York City, prom (Megan Horstkamp and Lucas Seitter crowned), and graduation recognizing valedictorian Lucas Seitter and salutatorian Kyle Scheer. Mrs. Otten discusses the spelling bee winner, Sydney Mesker, Career Day, reading night, field trips, MAP testing celebrations, book fair, Special Olympics participation, field day, and kindergarten graduation. Board items cover tuition rate, insurance renewal, deficit spending plans, staffing cuts, a $1,000 base salary increase to $39,500, and multiple bond-funded construction projects, including paving, tree removal, steps, lighting, flooring, safety color-coding, and electric bus infrastructure prep.

00:00 Spring Updates Kickoff

00:45 April Activities Recap

01:38 Senior Trip Explained

08:47 Back Home Sprint to Finish

09:43 Prom and Graduation Wrap

11:03 Elementary Spring Highlights

12:47 MAP Testing and Celebrations

15:32 Field Day and Kindergarten Graduation

16:44 Summer School Fun

18:10 Board Meetings Overview

20:04 Budget Crunch and Staffing Cuts

26:07 Construction Projects Tour

28:53 Elementary Facelift Plans

30:12 Tree Removal

36:33 Safety Upgrades and Electric Buses

39:12 New Hires and Closing Thoughts

In this episode of Shamrock Stories, Mr. Peirick talks with four eighth-grade New Haven Middle School Students of the Month about highlights from the year and what they’ve learned from the middle school experience. They discuss activity days, as well as clubs like Outdoors Club, National Junior Honor Society, student council, and yearbook. The students share favorite spirit days, lock-in activities, and favorite classes, plus reflections on sports seasons. They also describe the ICAP process for high school planning, what they’ll miss about middle school, what they look forward to in high school, advice for younger students, and what it meant to be selected as Student of the Month.

00:00 Meet the Students

00:57 Year Highlights

01:50 Activity Days Explained

03:38 Clubs and Leadership

05:48 Spirit Days and Lock In

08:34 Favorite Classes

09:52 Girls Basketball Season

12:03 Boys Basketball Season

13:35 Volleyball Season

14:33 High School Transition ICAP

16:48 What You'll Miss Advice

19:49 Track Season Preview

22:01 Student of the Month Pride

24:09 Final Thanks and Wrap Up

In this episode of Shamrock Stories, Superintendent Dr. Hoener and district leaders recap the March 11, 2026, New Haven School Board meeting. Mrs. Otten's updates include kindergarten and early childhood screenings with Lions Club support, Read Across America activities, music programming at Powell Symphony Hall, and preparations for MAP testing. Mr. Peirick highlights events such as cheer camp, homecoming, honor society inductions, library partnerships, and Scholar Bowl success. Mrs. Hoener reviews recent state and national competitors, continued student participation, the softball co-op with Herman, upcoming baseball and track events, booster club mouse races, and academic and postseason awards. Dr. Hoener outlines legislative concerns (HB 2872 reading retention, Hancock Amendment changes, and April Prop T tax freeze impacts), projected budget deficits, facility RFP approvals, a new copier RFP, and the purchase of a new tractor.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:50 Kindergarten Screening Highlights

01:52 Family Events and Reading Week

02:39 Elementary Learning and Testing Prep

04:13 Summer School Registration

04:32 Secondary School Celebrations

06:40 Activities and Athletics Update

10:43 Legislative Bills to Watch

17:32 Budget and Financial Outlook

21:36 Facilities Plan and Summer Projects

23:32 New Business and Equipment Purchases

25:40 Staffing Updates and Closing

In this episode of Shamrock Stories, New Haven School District administrators recap the February 18th school board meeting and share updates from both buildings. At the elementary, students participated in Olympic-themed library activities, a family reading night with author Maureen Lewellen, a schoolwide “Read With Your Principal” challenge, the Hearts Across America postcard project, and celebrations for the 100th day and Valentine’s Day. The secondary campus highlights include an Air Force Academy acceptance, FBLA advancement, chocolate art, a distracted-driving simulator, and homecoming. Dr. Hoener reviews a financial report, legislative update, facility and flooring bids, a softball cooperative with Hermann, the 2026–27 calendar changes, and current district job openings. Mrs. Anderson discusses special services programming and staffing.

00:00 Welcome and Agenda

00:38 Elementary Highlights

01:27 Reading Challenge and Postcards

02:28 Valentine and Q-U Wedding

03:02 Secondary School Update

04:47 Finance and Legislative Update

08:47 Facility Plan and Bond Limits

12:09 Bids and Flooring Upgrades

13:40 Softball Co-Op with Hermann

15:48 Special Programs Overview

20:35 Next Year Calendar Changes

23:23 Job Openings and Wrap Up

Mrs. Otten, principal of New Haven Elementary in the New Haven School District (New Haven, Missouri), hosts an episode of the Shamrock Stories podcast featuring fourth- and third-grade classroom activities. Fourth-grade teachers Mrs. Parmentier and Mrs. Walters discuss preparing students for MAP testing. They describe using a pop-up Plinko prompt system as a randomizer to select weekly writing prompts. Third-grade teachers Miss Bunch and Miss Miner describe starting a Hearts Across America project after Christmas break to collect postcards from all 50 states. The initiative has received 100+ cards and was featured on News Channel 4.

00:00 Welcome and Introductions

00:48 Fourth Grade MAP Writing

02:15 Plinko Prompt Routine

04:46 Building Independence Fast

09:35 Favorite Genres and Examples

13:56 Third Grade Postcard Project

15:01 Exploring Places with Google Earth

18:29 Community Buzz

22:41 Gratitude and Wrap Up