4th & 5th graders held their first writing celebration of the year. Students shared their writing pieces and enjoyed treats to help celebrate.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) is testing wastewater at selected schools this year as an early-warning system for fentanyl and other dangerous synthetic opioids.
Wastewater testing samples sewage leaving a building and checks it for traces of drugs people have used. Public health agencies use the same method to track community trends, such as COVID-19 or opioid use, without testing any individual.
How it came about
• Dec. 2025: DPS ran a voluntary pilot with more than 40 districts. Hallsville detected nitazenes in its January 2026 testing.
• June 30, 2026: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed HB 2002 and HB 2008, the state budget bills that fund the program.
• July 22: DESE announced the program.
• Aug. 18: DPS notified superintendents of selected districts. Its vendor, Stercus Bioanalytics, followed up to schedule site assessments.
• Sept. 24: DPS sent the list of participating schools and the testing schedule.
This year: about 164 schools statewide, chosen at random across the nine Highway Patrol troops. Testing runs from mid-September through mid-May at no cost to districts.
Our school was randomly selected
Macon County R-IV was randomly selected by the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the state's Wastewater Testing for School Safety program.
• The selection was random. It does not mean state officials identified or suspected a drug-related concern at our school.
• DPS randomized selections across the nine Missouri State Highway Patrol troops to represent every region of the state.
• We are one of many schools statewide taking part. We were not selected because of a specific incident, allegation or finding involving our students or staff.
How the testing works
The state and its vendor run the testing at no cost to our district, with minimal involvement from our staff.
• What is sampled: wastewater from our building's outside sewer pipe. This is not our drinking water, which is not affected in any way.
• When: samples are collected during school hours only, in several rounds between October and mid-May.
• What it screens for: dangerous synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, nitazenes and carfentanil, and other substances.
• Who handles it: the state's vendor, Stercus Bioanalytics, handles the site assessment, equipment, sample collection and lab analysis.
• We are sharing school calendars, closures and major events with the vendor so samples reflect normal school operations.
What results can and cannot tell us
Wastewater testing shows broad trends. It does not test or identify individual students or staff.
A result cannot tell us:
• who used a substance
• how many people used it, or how much
• whether it was used on school property or during the school day
• where in the building it entered the wastewater
A single result is one piece of information. It does not show widespread use among students, and it is not a reflection of our school or student body.
If a result is positive
A positive result means someone who contributed to the wastewater during sampling hours used a tested substance within the last 24 to 72 hours. That person could be a student, staff member or visitor.
• A positive result will not lead to student investigations, searches or discipline. DPS has said it carries no such expectation.
• We will share the result with our community promptly and in plain language.
• Our focus will be education, prevention and support, not blame.
• Naloxone (Narcan) is available in our district, and staff are trained to use it.
• Students and families who need help can reach our school nurse, Audrey Ford, by calling the school 660-376-6020.
• We will work with the Macon County Health Department on education for students and families.
Results are public records
School-level results can be requested by anyone under Missouri's Sunshine Law, so we plan to share our results before others do.
• DPS reports results publicly by Highway Patrol troop, not by school.
• A records request can still reveal whether a specific school tested positive or negative.
• News outlets or community members may learn of a result before the district announces it. We will be ready to respond quickly and accurately.
Our commitment
Our participation supports what we already do every day: keep students safe and healthy.
• Our response to any result will stay focused on facts, student safety and the wellbeing of our school community.
Wastewater testing samples sewage leaving a building and checks it for traces of drugs people have used. Public health agencies use the same method to track community trends, such as COVID-19 or opioid use, without testing any individual.
How it came about
• Dec. 2025: DPS ran a voluntary pilot with more than 40 districts. Hallsville detected nitazenes in its January 2026 testing.
• June 30, 2026: Gov. Mike Kehoe signed HB 2002 and HB 2008, the state budget bills that fund the program.
• July 22: DESE announced the program.
• Aug. 18: DPS notified superintendents of selected districts. Its vendor, Stercus Bioanalytics, followed up to schedule site assessments.
• Sept. 24: DPS sent the list of participating schools and the testing schedule.
This year: about 164 schools statewide, chosen at random across the nine Highway Patrol troops. Testing runs from mid-September through mid-May at no cost to districts.
Our school was randomly selected
Macon County R-IV was randomly selected by the Missouri Department of Public Safety (DPS) for the state's Wastewater Testing for School Safety program.
• The selection was random. It does not mean state officials identified or suspected a drug-related concern at our school.
• DPS randomized selections across the nine Missouri State Highway Patrol troops to represent every region of the state.
• We are one of many schools statewide taking part. We were not selected because of a specific incident, allegation or finding involving our students or staff.
How the testing works
The state and its vendor run the testing at no cost to our district, with minimal involvement from our staff.
• What is sampled: wastewater from our building's outside sewer pipe. This is not our drinking water, which is not affected in any way.
• When: samples are collected during school hours only, in several rounds between October and mid-May.
• What it screens for: dangerous synthetic opioids, including fentanyl, nitazenes and carfentanil, and other substances.
• Who handles it: the state's vendor, Stercus Bioanalytics, handles the site assessment, equipment, sample collection and lab analysis.
• We are sharing school calendars, closures and major events with the vendor so samples reflect normal school operations.
What results can and cannot tell us
Wastewater testing shows broad trends. It does not test or identify individual students or staff.
A result cannot tell us:
• who used a substance
• how many people used it, or how much
• whether it was used on school property or during the school day
• where in the building it entered the wastewater
A single result is one piece of information. It does not show widespread use among students, and it is not a reflection of our school or student body.
If a result is positive
A positive result means someone who contributed to the wastewater during sampling hours used a tested substance within the last 24 to 72 hours. That person could be a student, staff member or visitor.
• A positive result will not lead to student investigations, searches or discipline. DPS has said it carries no such expectation.
• We will share the result with our community promptly and in plain language.
• Our focus will be education, prevention and support, not blame.
• Naloxone (Narcan) is available in our district, and staff are trained to use it.
• Students and families who need help can reach our school nurse, Audrey Ford, by calling the school 660-376-6020.
• We will work with the Macon County Health Department on education for students and families.
Results are public records
School-level results can be requested by anyone under Missouri's Sunshine Law, so we plan to share our results before others do.
• DPS reports results publicly by Highway Patrol troop, not by school.
• A records request can still reveal whether a specific school tested positive or negative.
• News outlets or community members may learn of a result before the district announces it. We will be ready to respond quickly and accurately.
Our commitment
Our participation supports what we already do every day: keep students safe and healthy.
• Our response to any result will stay focused on facts, student safety and the wellbeing of our school community.
Fall sports photos can be ordered at https://wagner.candid.com/sport .
Select "Bucklin" from the dropdown menu.
Photos will be available for ordering on October 10th.
Select "Bucklin" from the dropdown menu.
Photos will be available for ordering on October 10th.
First graders celebrated another birthday this week!
Anticipated Opening-Food Service Cook
Macon County R-IV School District is looking for a dependable, hardworking individual to join our Food Service Team!
🥗 Help prepare and serve meals to our students
👩🍳 Work in a school environment
❤️ Make a difference in the lives of our students
Interested? Apply today!
📍 Macon County R-IV School District
501 S. Main St. • New Cambria, MO
👉 Visit www.mcr4.k12.mo.us for more information and to apply:
District Information>Employment>Employment Documents>Support Staff Application
Macon County R-IV School District is looking for a dependable, hardworking individual to join our Food Service Team!
🥗 Help prepare and serve meals to our students
👩🍳 Work in a school environment
❤️ Make a difference in the lives of our students
Interested? Apply today!
📍 Macon County R-IV School District
501 S. Main St. • New Cambria, MO
👉 Visit www.mcr4.k12.mo.us for more information and to apply:
District Information>Employment>Employment Documents>Support Staff Application
BMC Practices for Friday 10/2:
HS Baseball @ BHS 3:45 p.m-5:45 p.m. (BT 3:30 MC)
HS Softball @ MC 4:00 p.m-5:30 p.m. (BT 3:45 BHS)
JH Boys BBall @ BHS 3:45 p.m-5:45 p.m. (BT 3:30 MC)
JH Girls BBall @ MC 4:00 p.m-5:30 p.m. (BT 3:45 BHS)
HS Baseball @ BHS 3:45 p.m-5:45 p.m. (BT 3:30 MC)
HS Softball @ MC 4:00 p.m-5:30 p.m. (BT 3:45 BHS)
JH Boys BBall @ BHS 3:45 p.m-5:45 p.m. (BT 3:30 MC)
JH Girls BBall @ MC 4:00 p.m-5:30 p.m. (BT 3:45 BHS)
Congratulations to the Macon County R-IV Students of the Week!
Please note that on Tuesday, October 6th, there will be home games (senior night) at Bucklin for baseball and softball. Both girls and boys JH basketball teams will practice at Bucklin on October 6th. Fall sports pictures will be taken at Bucklin before the ballgames.
TCC Art on the Spot at Truman State University: 6 High School art students went to Truman and created art "on the spot". They were given 2 hours to create an artwork inspired by something they saw on campus. Despite the rain, they had fun and even won some awards.
Piper won Honorable Mention in Mixed Media, Arrow got 3rd place in Colored Drawing, and Jaden received 2nd place in Colored Drawing
Macon County R-IV Students attended the play performance of "The Diary of Anne Frank" at the Maples Repertory Theatre in Macon. In addition to attending the performance they also viewed the traveling exhibit and our Junior High and High School art students had artworks displayed in the lobby of the theatre. The artworks were created in response to specific quotes from Anne Frank's diary.
Special thanks to Regional Missouri Bank for sponsoring our students to attend.
First grade and friends had a fantastic time at the pumpkin patch today despite the rain!
79th Annual Bucklin JH Basketball Tournament T-Shirts Orders are being collected by Mrs. Sheila Jones or Mrs. Barb Moore (main office)
Notice for Thursday, 10/1: Baseball / softball games scheduled for 10/1 have been postponed to a later date. There is no baseball practice, no softball practice and no JH boys basketball practice on 10/1. JH girls basketball will practice at Bucklin on 10/1 from 3:45-5:30pm. Macon County students will return to MCR4 at 5:45pm.
Tonight's baseball game at La Plata has been cancelled. No baseball practice today, all other practices will be held as planned.
1st through 3rd also had a wonderful time at the health and safety fair in Macon this week!
Congratulations to the Macon County R-IV Students of the Week!
4th and 5th grade had a wonderful morning in Macon yesterday for the health and safety fair!
First graders celebrated a birthday today!
Macon Co. R-IV Student Council & NHS members are hosting a Community Spaghetti Dinner with a cake raffle on Saturday, October 3rd in the MCR-IV cafeteria from 6-8pm.
The spaghetti dinner is free-will donation! Sides, drinks, and popsicles will also be provided. Don't forget to pay $1 per cake raffle ticket or $5 for 6 for a chance to win a delicious dessert from NHS members!
Proceeds will go directly to our Student Council and NHS chapter for supplies and field trip expenses. We hope to see you there!
The spaghetti dinner is free-will donation! Sides, drinks, and popsicles will also be provided. Don't forget to pay $1 per cake raffle ticket or $5 for 6 for a chance to win a delicious dessert from NHS members!
Proceeds will go directly to our Student Council and NHS chapter for supplies and field trip expenses. We hope to see you there!
Congratulations to the Macon County R-IV Students of the Week!
