@classmethod
def parse_date_string(cls, date_str):
    """
        Classmethod that takes a date from Metron's REST API and splits it into it's components
        """
    day = None
    month = None
    year = None
    if date_str is not None:
        parts = date_str.split('-')
        year = parts[0]
        if len(parts) > 1:
            month = parts[1]
            if len(parts) > 2:
                day = parts[2]
    return day, month, year
