SENECA, MO - The Seneca R-VII School District is excited to announce the hiring of Will King as the next Principal of Seneca High School. A familiar and trusted leader in the Seneca community, King is a 1995 graduate of Seneca High School and brings more than two decades of experience serving Seneca students and families. “Will King is a proven leader who has consistently built a strong culture and climate while maintaining high standards for learning,” - Dr. Brandon Eggleston “Will King is a proven leader who has consistently built a strong culture and climate while maintaining high standards for learning,” said Dr. Brandon Eggleston, Superintendent of Seneca R-VII Schools. “Seneca High School has a long-standing tradition of excellence, and I know Mr. King will not only continue that momentum, but also strengthen the great work taking place for our students, staff, and community.” King currently serves as Principal of Seneca Intermediate School, a position he has held since 2016. He began his career in the Seneca School District more than 23 years ago as a math teacher at Seneca High School. After two years in the Chadwick School District as an Athletic Director, Head Boys Basketball coach, and teacher, King returned to Seneca in 2004, where he taught math and physical education. He also served as Head Boys Basketball Coach from 2004–2022. King holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Math Education from Missouri Southern State University, a Master’s Degree in Administration from William Woods University, and a Specialist Degree in District Administration from Arkansas State University. “I consider myself truly blessed that most of my career has been spent in the Seneca School District,” - Principal, Will King “I consider myself truly blessed that most of my career has been spent in the Seneca School District,” King said. “Seneca is a special district and community - full of tradition, pride, and class. I believe strongly in positive relationships and collaboration, and I am excited to begin this new role by partnering with our outstanding high school staff as we continue preparing students for success beyond high school.” King and his wife, Lisa, are proud members of the Seneca community. Lisa has served as an administrative assistant at Seneca Elementary School for 18 years. Together, they have three daughters: Addie (‘19), Mallorie (‘22), and Jolie, who is currently a 10th grade student at Seneca High School. Will and Lisa are also proud grandparents to four grandchildren. King will officially begin his duties as principal on August 1st. See the attached PDF press release.

Seneca R-7 School District Notice of School Board Candidate Filing The Seneca R-7 School District encourages qualified individuals interested in serving on the Board of Education to file as candidates in the April 7, 2026, election. Filing will take place at the Superintendent’s Office, located at 914 Frisco Street, Seneca, MO 64865. For additional information, contact Dr. Brandon Eggleston at (417) 776-3426. Filing Period: Filing opens December 9, 2025, at 8:00 a.m., and continues during the district’s regular business hours, Tuesday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Filing will not occur on days the district’s central offices are closed due to inclement weather, nor during district holidays and breaks from December 19, 2025, through December 30, 2025. On the final day of filing, December 30, 2025, the district office will be open from 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and filing will close promptly at 5:00 p.m. There are three (3) positions available, each serving a three-year term.

The mission of Seneca School District is "Every child, every day, whatever it takes". SHS's Seneca Strong event is an excellent example of this mission statement. Every student in SHS had the opportunity to participate in Future-Ready activities on October 1st. Seniors attended a College Fair, ate in a dining hall and participated in a photo scavenger hunt on MSU campus. Juniors completed the ASVAB, listened to the wisdom of an adult panel regarding career paths and life in general and participated in team building activities or listened to a Job Center speaker on options other than college. Sophomores completed the PreACT and toured the Joplin Advanced Training & Technology Center. Both Juniors and Sophomores were treated to a catered lunch. Freshmen heard from the Job Center speaker and toured Pitt State, eating in their dining hall. The "whatever it takes" included a large number of adults investing time and effort in order to make this happen. The students were provided a great lunch by the Wyandotte tribe; teachers served as sponsors, test proctors, bus drivers and panel speakers; Pittsburg State University and the Advanced Technology Training Center hosted our students providing tours; Nixa High School included our students in their Regional MOACAC College Fair; A MO National Guard member set up team building activities (despite the government shut down); several community members served as panel speakers and the Job Center representative presented to both the Freshmen and Juniors. This was created by the High School's Assessment team and organized by the Counseling office, including the rootEd advisor. THANKS to all involved!

Welcome back, SHS students and families! We’re gearing up for another great school year, and here’s everything you need to know to kick things off smoothly — from schedule pickups to Chromebook checkouts, fees, and schedule change info. 📅 Schedule Pick-Up Dates TUESDAY, AUGUST 12 Seniors🕘 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM📌 Must bring proof of senior shot WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 13 Juniors🕘 9:30 AM – 11:30 AM Sophomores🕐 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM THURSDAY, AUGUST 14 Freshmen 🕘 9:00 AM @ Freshman Orientation 🕕 6:00 PM @ Open House 👉 Freshman Parents:You must attend one of the parent meetings on 8/14 🕘 9:00 AM or 🕕 6:00 PMto get your student's Chromebook before the first day of school. 💵 Pay Fines & Fees Early! Avoid the lines! You can pay fines and fees early (Mon–Wed) to speed up schedule pickup and Chromebook checkout. Less stress = more success. 📝 Schedule Change Info 11th–12th Graders Forms available any time after schedule pickup, except Thursday 8/14 Parent/guardian signature required Only 1 form per semester allowed Requests not guaranteed (depends on class size) All changes must be done by Friday 8/22 No changes after this date! 9th–10th Graders Forms available on the first day of school Parent/guardian signature required Only 1 form per semester allowed Requests not guaranteed All changes must be done by Friday 8/22 No changes after this date! 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Senior Parent Meeting 📅 Thursday, August 21🕡 6:30 PM Come get key info to help your senior finish strong!

ELECTRONIC PERSONAL COMMUNICATION DEVICES The Missouri Legislature passed a new law (Senate bill 68) requiring all school districts to adopt clear policies restricting student use of personal electronic communication devices during the school day. This includes passing periods and lunch. The law, which aims to reduce distractions and improve student engagement, takes effect on the first day of this school year. The following is a quick look at what you can expect this year. 1. Students may not use cell phones, earbuds/wireless headphones, smart watches, or other personal electronic devices at any point during the school day, including transitions, lunch, and other non-instructional times. 2. Students in grades 5-12 will be issued locks and lockers to store their device during the academic day. 3. Considerations will be made for students with specific educational or medical needs as outlined in a student’s IEP, 504 plan or individual health plan. 4. In the event of an emergency, protocols are in place at every school. Staff are trained to respond quickly and communicate effectively with students and families. In any crisis, student safety will always take priority over device expectations. We recognize that our students will be adjusting to these new expectations in the first days of school. You can support them by having conversations now about what will be expected. We look forward to working together with you to help our students learn and build productive and healthy technology habits.

Get Ready, Seneca! Your Back-to-School Schedule for August 2025 is Here The summer is flying by, and a new school year at Seneca High School is just around the corner! To help students and families prepare, the official back-to-school schedule for August 2025 has been released. Mark your calendars for these important dates and events. A Big Day for Freshmen and Families: Thursday, August 14 The high school journey begins for the newest class of students with a full day of orientation and meetings. Freshman Orientation: The day kicks off at 9:00 AM with Freshman Orientation. Ninth-grade students will meet at the Old Gym, while parents have a dedicated meeting at the New Gym. Open House: Later that evening, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, all Seneca R7 buildings will be open for the annual Open House. This is a great opportunity for students and parents to tour the facilities and meet the staff. Freshman Parent Meeting: For those who couldn't make the morning session, there will be another Freshman Parent Meeting at 6:00 PM in the New Gym. Freshman parents are strongly encouraged to attend one of these two meetings. Show Your School Spirit: Saturday, August 16 Get into the school spirit at Tribe Night! Join students, staff, and the community at the SHS Football Field from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM for an evening of fun and excitement as we gear up for the new year. The First Day of School: Tuesday, August 19 The first official day of the 2025-2026 school year is Tuesday, August 19. The school day will run from 7:40 AM to 3:25 PM. Attention Senior Parents Looking ahead, there will be a Senior Parent Meeting on Thursday, August 21, at 6:30 PM in the New Gym. This is an important meeting to discuss the year ahead for the graduating class. For the most current information and any updates, please visit the Seneca R-7 School District website at senecar7.com or follow Seneca High School on Facebook. The school is located at 1110 Neosho Street, Seneca, MO 64865.

School Supply List 1 box of facial tissues 1 package of baby wipes (for hands/faces, refills are acceptable) 3 packages of 5 oz. plastic drinking cups 1 bottle of Elmer's glue 1 large Elmer's glue stick 1 pair of 5" blunt tip scissors 2 EXPO fine tip black dry erase markers 1 package of CRAYOLA markers (classic colors) 2 boxes of LARGE (not jumbo) CRAYOLA crayons 1 4-pack of Play-Doh 2 plastic pocket folders 1 backpack (big enough to carry folders/projects)

Get ready to kick off the new school year! Here are the key dates and events to get your Seneca Intermediate student prepared for a great year ahead. Meet Your Teacher at the Open House Mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday, August 14th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM for the Seneca Intermediate Open House. This is a "come and go" event, so you can drop in whenever is most convenient for your family within that two-hour window. Most importantly, this is when your student will find out who their teacher will be for the upcoming school year! It's the perfect opportunity to see the school, meet the staff, and get excited for the year to come. Celebrate at the Back to School Bash Join the Seneca community for a fun and festive Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 16th, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at the Seneca Park. This free event is hosted by the dedicated Seneca PTO and is a wonderful chance for students and families from all Seneca schools to connect before classes officially begin. It's a great way to celebrate the end of summer and the start of a new academic year together as a community. First Day of School The first day of classes for all students will be on Tuesday, August 19th. We look forward to welcoming everyone back for another fantastic school year

The start of the new School Year is fast approaching. This is a busy time for parents and school staff as well. With this in mind it is important to note that the staff sections of the website have not yet been updated for each school or the District as a whole, therefore some staff information may be outdated therefore incorrect. If you need assistance the best course of action is to reach out to the main number of the building you need and let them direct you. Here is a list of our school contact information.

Seneca Intermediate School Official Supply Lists The new school year is just around the corner, and it's time to get prepared! To help our families get a head start on back-to-school shopping, we have compiled the official supply lists for the 2025-2026 academic year at Seneca Intermediate School. Below you will find the detailed lists for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. Please note any specific details, such as quantities, colors, or sizes. 4th Grade Supply List 1 - pencil pouch (NO BOXES) 12 - Expo markers 1 - composition notebook 1 - 2 inch binder 1 - 1.5 inch binders 1 - folders with brads 1 - Lysol wipes 2 - box of tissues 2 - set of headphones or earbuds 1 - Pack of WIDE ruled paper 48 - Pencils 5th Grade Supply List 2 - set of earbuds 2 - 1 subject spiral notebooks or composition books with holes 1 - 2 subject spiral notebook 1 - 2” Ring Binder (hardback) 1 - pkg. of 5 pocket dividers 1 - pkg. of 4 dry erase markers 1 - 3 ring pencil pouch 1 - 5” Fiskar scissors 1 - Highlighters (optional 3-4 assorted colors) 1 - Disinfecting wipes 3 - boxes of tissue 1 - 12 ct. Colored pencils 1 - take home folder 3 - Pkg. #2 pencils-24 count 2 - Package of pencil cap erasers 1 - package of WIDE ruled paper 2 - Glue Sticks 6th Grade Supply List 1- zip binder 2” at least 1 - zipper pouch for binder 1 - 1 ½” - 3-ring binder 5 - Pocket Dividers for binder 4 - sets of Earbuds 6 - Kleenex boxes 3 - Clorox Wipes 6 - 3-prong pocket folders 12 - EXPO markers - ALL BLACK 3 - pack of highlighters 6 - composition books 48 - Pencils 1 - Package of pencil cap erasers Art Supplies- (1) package of #2 pencils (1) set of colored pencils We recommend labeling all personal items with your child's name. We are looking forward to a productive and exciting school year with our students.

SENECA, MO – Voters in the Seneca School District have approved a $9 million bond issue. The measure passed without an associated tax rate increase. The bond funds are allocated for the construction of a career education center on the main school campus and the addition of a storm shelter at Seneca Junior High School. Currently, the district's agricultural education building is located off-campus, and the junior high utilizes its basement as a severe weather shelter. According to Superintendent Dr. Brandon Eggleston, planning for these facility projects originated as part of a district long-range plan developed in 2017. He indicated that funding was the remaining step required to proceed with the plans. This is the second no-tax-increase bond issue approved by Seneca voters since 2017. The school district reports being in the preliminary stages of moving forward with the projects funded by this latest bond. The stated target for project completion is prior to the 2026-2027 school year. "It means a lot to our students, it means a lot to our school board, it means a lot to our teachers and everybody that works here that we know our community and our citizens they support us," Dr. Eggleston stated. "This town is so special, people care about the school, they want their kids to be in great places and taught by great people and we’re all thankful for our community.”

The Seneca Highschool is thrilled to celebrate a major achievement by one of our outstanding students! We are incredibly proud to announce that Camden Steadman was awarded the prestigious Golden Lion Scholarship at Missouri Southern State University (MSSU) during a ceremony on June 10th. The Golden Lion Scholarship is a highly competitive award that comes with a $5,000 prize to support students in their academic journey. Camden's hard work, leadership, and commitment have truly shone through, earning him this well-deserved honor. This is a fantastic accomplishment that reflects not only on Camden's personal dedication but also on the supportive community of teachers and peers at our school. Please join us in extending a huge congratulations to Camden Steadman! We are excited to see all you will accomplish at MSSU and beyond. Read the full story on FourStatesHomepage.com