Higbee R-VIII School District

Attention Junior High & High School Athletes and Families! Go Tigers!

We are excited to introduce the newest member of our Tiger family for the 2025 - 2026 school year! Please help us give a big warm welcome to Hannah Bartolacci.

A busy school year is right around the corner! Be sure to mark your calendars and keep an eye on your mailbox and email for important information about student registration details. Go Tigers!

If your child is interested in participating in band next year—whether they are a returning member or would like to join for the first time—please reach out to our new band director, Stephanie Kauth-Farnen, at sfarnen@higbeeschool.com. There will also be a band meeting at the school on 8/1 at 5:00. Instrument choice will be discussed at that time.

If you signed up for the Free Food Program please be at the Higbee R-VIII School District every Tuesday at 10AM beginning July 1st, 2025.

School shopping just got a whole lot easier! Higbee School is excited to once again provide the majority of school supplies for all students for the upcoming 2025-2026 school year. This helps ensure every student has what they need to start the year off right while easing the burden on families. We are proud to support our students and community in this way. Here's to another great year ahead! GO TIGERS!

FYI: New weight room is ready for action! All further summer weights sessions will be held in the building behind the school. REMINDER: Summer Weights Schedule Monday/Wednesday AM Session: 6-7 PM Session: 4-5 Tuesday/Thursday AM Session: 6-7 PM Session: 5-6 🐅Go Tigers! 🐅

🐐✨ SAE Spotlight: Hailee Aldridge ✨🐐 Today’s SAE visit was with Hailee Aldridge, and her Goat Production project is full of personality—especially thanks to one very vocal goat named Mr. Einstein! Hailee cares for multiple momma goats and their babies, spending her time each day making sure everyone is fed, watered, groomed, and exercised. Her goats enjoy the luxury of grazing freely outside the pen all day, living their best lives! But Hailee’s love for animals doesn’t stop with goats—her small farm also includes chickens, ducks, and guineas, all under her daily care. She plans to continue growing her goat production SAE throughout high school, and it’s clear she has the passion and dedication to do just that. Amazing job, Hailee! 🐐🐓🦆 #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #GoatProduction #SmallFarmLife #MrEinsteinTheGoat #FFAinAction #LearningByDoing

🌶🍅 SAE Spotlight: Brayden Thornton 🍅🌶 Today I visited Brayden Thornton to check in on his Vegetable Production SAE, and it’s safe to say things are growing fast—literally! Brayden started his project by heading to Lowe’s and picking out three different vegetables: Mr. Stripy tomatoes, jalapeños, and lunchbox yellow peppers. Just a week ago, he planted these small vegetable starts in pots—and as you can see in the pictures, they’re already taking off! 🌱👏 Brayden is already thinking ahead and wants to switch things up next year by possibly raising a goat or two and even showing them at the fairs next summer. Great job, Brayden! Keep growing and keep setting new goals — we can't wait to see where your SAE journey takes you next! 🐐🌿 #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #VegetableProduction #GrowingGoals #FromGardenToGoats #FFAinAction #LearningByDoing

Any FFA members that would like to help with the Friends of the Higbee FFA Derby Saturday please contact Ms. E at aeckstein@higbeeschool.com. We are looking for students to help with putting trash cans out, helping with the gate, setup, take down, etc.

SAE Spotlight: Quintin Deschu Today’s SAE visit was with Quintin, and his project falls under Diversified Small Animal Production — and when we say diversified, we mean it! Quintin raises just about every animal you can think of, including Kunekune pigs, donkeys, goats, chickens, and even a pesky peacock who definitely keeps things interesting! Every day, Quintin ensures all his animals are well taken care of — from feeding and watering to cleaning pens and providing daily care. His commitment and work ethic are truly impressive! Quintin plans to continue growing and learning through this project throughout his high school years, and we can’t wait to see how it develops. Great job, Quintin — keep up the awesome work! #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #DiversifiedSAE #SmallAnimalProduction #FFAinAction #LearningByDoing #FutureFarmer

SAE Spotlight: Jaelyn Jennings Today I had the pleasure of visiting Jaelyn and her incredible Poultry Production SAE project! From start to finish, Jaelyn does it all — she hatches her chicks, raises them with care, and transfers them into the coop with her flock, which now totals 52 chickens! Jaelyn is hands-on every single day, ensuring her birds are happy and healthy. Her chickens enjoy a special diet that includes oyster shell crumbles and a dash of red pepper flakes as a little treat — talk about high-quality care! She plans to continue growing this project throughout her high school years, and with her dedication and attention to detail, there’s no doubt her flock will keep thriving. Awesome work, Jaelyn — keep it up! #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #PoultryProduction #FromChickToCoop #StudentSuccess #LearningByDoing #52AndGrowing

SAE Spotlight: Martina Roberts Today I had the pleasure of visiting Martina for her Equine Science SAE! She currently cares for five horses and one very attention-seeking donkey, and her passion for animals truly shines through. Every day, Martina dedicates her time to feeding each of her horses a specialized diet, grooming them, and training—especially with her barrel racing partner Lucy and her newcomer, Ace. She’s been developing her SAE since 2021 and has already competed in numerous barrel racing competitions across the state. Let’s all wish Martina good luck as she heads to her next big event: the ICRP 3rd Annual “La Viva Taco” Open and Salsa Sprint next weekend! Your dedication and drive are inspiring, Martina — keep chasing those barrels and dreams! #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #EquineScience #BarrelRacing #FutureChampion #LearningByDoing #LaVivaTacoRace

SAE Spotlight: Taylor Perkins Today’s SAE visit was with Taylor Perkins, and her project is truly one-of-a-kind! Taylor helps her parents with their business — Perkins Heavenly Danes — where she cares for and trains four purebred Great Danes. In these photos, you can see Taylor working with her dog, Jose, practicing how to properly stand for showing. Her dedication and attention to detail are impressive! What makes Taylor’s SAE even more unique is that she takes her training skills on the road, competing in dog shows across multiple states. It’s a perfect blend of responsibility, passion, and performance. Please join us in wishing Taylor good luck as she heads to the Premier Dog Show in Michigan! We’re so proud of you! #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #PerkinsHeavenlyDanes #SAEspotlight #FutureChampion #LearningByDoing #DogShowLife

SAE Spotlight: Nevaeh Sullivan Today I visited Nevaeh Sullivan to check in on her Poultry Production SAE! Nevaeh does a fantastic job raising her flock, which includes chickens and two very spoiled ducks. She makes sure her birds are cared for daily and takes great pride in their wellbeing. In addition to raising poultry, Nevaeh is also running the business side of her SAE by selling farm-fresh eggs to the community. If you're looking for quality eggs, you know who to contact! Great work, Nevaeh — your dedication and entrepreneurial spirit are egg-cellent! #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #PoultryProduction #EggBusiness #StudentSuccess #LearningByDoing

SAE Spotlight: Lily Stoebe Today I had the opportunity to visit Lily Stoebe for her SAE project! Lily helps her grandpa, Doug Bennett, with his business — Bennett Deck & Fence. Her current responsibilities include job site cleanup, sweeping, and assisting with general maintenance tasks. Lily has big goals for the future and hopes to expand her skillset by learning framing, electrical work, and roofing as part of her continued SAE journey. It’s inspiring to see her dedication to learning and growing in the trades! Great job, Lily — keep up the hard work and keep reaching for those goals! #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #LearningByDoing #SAEinAction #FFAForward

SAE Spotlight: Jayla Schaedel I had a great visit today with Jayla Schaedel to check in on her SAE project! Jayla has planted and is currently caring for 100 candy onions as part of her Supervised Agricultural Experience. She's responsible for everything from planting to harvesting, and she’s doing a fantastic job! Looking ahead, Jayla plans to expand her project by growing other vegetables such as peppers and tomatoes, continuing to build her knowledge and skills in horticulture. Way to go, Jayla! Your hard work and vision for growth are impressive! #SAEVisit #HigbeeFFA #LearningByDoing #SAEproject #FutureGrower

Higbee's Track & Field's season has come to an end. Congratulations Ronnie Welch on your accomplishments and good luck with all future endeavors! While these athletes didn't close like they had hoped, the process to get to post season was tremendous! There's a fire lit and we're ready for next year! If you're interested in track, please feel free to reach out to me at amccauley@higbeeschool.com This summer there will be many great opportunities for Higbee athletes! Let's be proactive by showing up motivated to get better! 🐅Go Tigers! 🐅

What a night! FBLA hosted the annual end-of-year MS dance that gave our Tigers one last chance to come together, laugh, and celebrate. It was the perfect way to wrap up the school year with friends and fun. Congratulations to Jeremiah and Lexi for being voted King and Queen. 👑