The book fair is coming soon! Shop early on Grandparents Day next week.
Don't forget to set up your e-wallets here: https:/www.scholastic.com/bf/smithtonelementaryschool1
Don't forget to set up your e-wallets here: https:/www.scholastic.com/bf/smithtonelementaryschool1
This week in STEM...1st grade observed pushes & pulls on the playground, 3rd grade experimented with drops of water on buttons and 5th grade made straw towers.
Start the school year with new gear from our limited time Smithton collection - polos, quarter zips, hoodies, and super-soft tri-blend tees, designed by top graphic artists. This is spirit wear you want to wear! Save 25% OFF sitewide and shop now! https://1stplace.sale/29355
Start the school year with new gear from our limited time Smithton collection - polos, quarter zips, hoodies, and super-soft tri-blend tees, designed by top graphic artists. This is spirit wear you want to wear! Save 25% OFF sitewide and shop now! https://1stplace.sale/29355
Board Brief from our August 2025 board meeting from Dr. Castelli!
Say hello to our 25-26 Smithton School Staff!
Please donate to the FFA Canned Food drive through September 3rd. Drop off in the main entry.
The Character Council is excited to kick off the year with Teamwork Tuesday shirts! Our order form is now open through Friday, 8/22. Staff and Students can wear their shirts every Tuesday.
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeylJJOOBqzTP6VoS6Cr-brmGMLl1IfMgOGhW6FwcZu9ZfrFA/viewform
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeylJJOOBqzTP6VoS6Cr-brmGMLl1IfMgOGhW6FwcZu9ZfrFA/viewform
Baseball & Cross Country Parents!
Due to the forecasted weather, cross country tryouts are canceled for tonight! Tryouts will be held tomorrow 3:30-4:30pm with a parent meeting immediately following.
Baseball practice tonight is moved inside to the main gym! 3:30-5:30pm
Smithton families, place your order for your student's class t-shirt! These shirts are worn several times throughout the year on field trips, field day, summer send-off, some spirit days and several other times!
The store is open through August 31st. Click here to order: https://lottebrookes.com/collections/smithton
The store is open through August 31st. Click here to order: https://lottebrookes.com/collections/smithton
Welcome New Staff Member - Sarah Roscow.
Sarah comes to us from Red Bud where she worked and volunteered for over 10 years working with students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Sarah has her Early Childhood Education degree from Southwestern Illinois College. Sarah lives in Red Bud with her 5 boys (!) - Luke, Logan, Liam, Frankie and Landon. In Sarah's free time she enjoys live music, traveling, STL Blues hockey and Musket football! Ms. Roscow's favorite quote is "When we know better, we do better" - Maya Angelou.
Sarah is excited to work at Smithton School school because she is "looking extremely forward to building positive, meaningful relationships with students and being apart of the incredible energy Smithton radiates."
Sarah comes to us from Red Bud where she worked and volunteered for over 10 years working with students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Sarah has her Early Childhood Education degree from Southwestern Illinois College. Sarah lives in Red Bud with her 5 boys (!) - Luke, Logan, Liam, Frankie and Landon. In Sarah's free time she enjoys live music, traveling, STL Blues hockey and Musket football! Ms. Roscow's favorite quote is "When we know better, we do better" - Maya Angelou.
Sarah is excited to work at Smithton School school because she is "looking extremely forward to building positive, meaningful relationships with students and being apart of the incredible energy Smithton radiates."
Make plans to join us on Sunday, 9/28!
Back to School Information and Reminders. See you Wednesday!
Get your t-shirts and tickets for the 7th Annual Strike Out Cancer Baseball/Softball games at the Gateway Grizzlies Stadium! This is a great event and 100% of proceeds from t-shirt and ticket sales will go to the Jozie Strong Foundation this year!!!
T-Shirt Link - https://www.storessimple.com/spectragraphics/strikeoutcancer
T-Shirt Link - https://www.storessimple.com/spectragraphics/strikeoutcancer
Welcome New Staff Member- Shannon Ortiz.
Shannon is a new paraprofessional and this is her first year in education! Mrs. Ortiz served in the US Marine Corp as as Administrative Specialist and has her BA in English with a minor in Creative Writing from SIUE. Shannon is married to Rafael and has three children - Tyler, Arianna and Emma. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and LEGO collecting; her favorite series is Harry Potter, which she re-reads every summer! Her highest value is in family-time and living in the present with loved ones. Her favorite quote is: "Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it." -Albus Dumbledore
Mrs Ortiz is excited to work at Smithton School "to find my niche within the community and be involved in the best way I know how, through supporting and encouraging our future leaders. "
Shannon is a new paraprofessional and this is her first year in education! Mrs. Ortiz served in the US Marine Corp as as Administrative Specialist and has her BA in English with a minor in Creative Writing from SIUE. Shannon is married to Rafael and has three children - Tyler, Arianna and Emma. Her hobbies include reading, writing, and LEGO collecting; her favorite series is Harry Potter, which she re-reads every summer! Her highest value is in family-time and living in the present with loved ones. Her favorite quote is: "Words are our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both inflicting injury and remedying it." -Albus Dumbledore
Mrs Ortiz is excited to work at Smithton School "to find my niche within the community and be involved in the best way I know how, through supporting and encouraging our future leaders. "
Join us for our first 25/26 school year PTO meeting this Wednesday!
Welcome New Staff Member - Josh Wemhoener.
Mr. Wemhoener comes to us after spending the last 20 years teaching PE at New Athens school district. He received his BS in Kinesiology from SIUE and his MA in Leadership & Administration from McKendree University. Mr. Wemhoener is married to Lanie and has three daughters - Rian (10), Maria (6) & Dylan (4). They live in Freeburg and keep busy at their "ranch" running a boarding facility for horses and raising several of their own.
Josh loves the outdoors and spending time hunting, fishing, golfing and riding horses.
His favorite quote is: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Mr. Wemhoener is excited to work at Smithton "to create a positive, supportive, and enjoyable environment where all students, staff, and families can thrive. I believe in fostering genuine relationships, open communication, and shared commitment to achieving excellence for our district."
Mr. Wemhoener comes to us after spending the last 20 years teaching PE at New Athens school district. He received his BS in Kinesiology from SIUE and his MA in Leadership & Administration from McKendree University. Mr. Wemhoener is married to Lanie and has three daughters - Rian (10), Maria (6) & Dylan (4). They live in Freeburg and keep busy at their "ranch" running a boarding facility for horses and raising several of their own.
Josh loves the outdoors and spending time hunting, fishing, golfing and riding horses.
His favorite quote is: “Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail” - Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Mr. Wemhoener is excited to work at Smithton "to create a positive, supportive, and enjoyable environment where all students, staff, and families can thrive. I believe in fostering genuine relationships, open communication, and shared commitment to achieving excellence for our district."
Welcome New Staff Member - Haunah Vanlaningham!
Mrs. Vanlaningham began her career over 10 years ago implementing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in underserved schools across the area. At Hoyleton Youth & Family Services, she assisted in coordinating two regional grants—Project Safe Neighborhood and the Southern Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force—supporting law enforcement in violence prevention and child death investigations. She also served as a trafficking prevention specialist, providing trauma-informed services in high-risk schools and communities. After earning her Professional Educator License (PEL), she became a School Social Worker, previously working with Mascoutah District. She has her Masters in Social Work from SIUE.
Haunah is married to Kyle and lives here in Smithton with sons Kane (7), Rhett (4) and Konnor (19 mths). In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors with her family - hiking, fishing, four-wheeling, and enjoying time on the water whenever they can.
Her favorite quote is: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Mrs. Vanlaningham is excited to work at Smithton School "because it gives me the chance to serve my own community and make a meaningful impact on students and families I care about. I'm also drawn to the school's dedicated, long-tenured staff and the strong collaboration between teachers, administration, and parents."
Mrs. Vanlaningham began her career over 10 years ago implementing Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) programs in underserved schools across the area. At Hoyleton Youth & Family Services, she assisted in coordinating two regional grants—Project Safe Neighborhood and the Southern Illinois Child Death Investigation Task Force—supporting law enforcement in violence prevention and child death investigations. She also served as a trafficking prevention specialist, providing trauma-informed services in high-risk schools and communities. After earning her Professional Educator License (PEL), she became a School Social Worker, previously working with Mascoutah District. She has her Masters in Social Work from SIUE.
Haunah is married to Kyle and lives here in Smithton with sons Kane (7), Rhett (4) and Konnor (19 mths). In her free time, she loves spending time outdoors with her family - hiking, fishing, four-wheeling, and enjoying time on the water whenever they can.
Her favorite quote is: “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.” — Mahatma Gandhi
Mrs. Vanlaningham is excited to work at Smithton School "because it gives me the chance to serve my own community and make a meaningful impact on students and families I care about. I'm also drawn to the school's dedicated, long-tenured staff and the strong collaboration between teachers, administration, and parents."
Please make note of these important back to school dates coming up. We're looking forward to seeing you soon!
Music and Band Teacher needed! Please share!
