Sumner student participates in national leadership conference

Kelley Shockley, a senior at Sumner High School, attended the National Youth Leadership Conference in Washington, D.C., in November. She was one of four hundred students chosen from across the nation. The conference exposes high-achieving students to leadership adventures, democratic experiential simulations, famous sites, and meetings with established government leaders. Kelley met with Congressman Clay and Senator Bond, who introduced her on the floor of Congress. Harold Kelsey, Kelley’s social studies instructor, nominated her. The district has not been represented at the NYLC since 1974.

Stowe student demonstrates act of heroism

Reginald Wallace, a student at Stowe Preparatory Junior High School, received a “Do the Right Thing” Award at the ceremony in October. Reginald was honored for his bravery and willingness to help a fellow student in need. When a fight broke out on his school bus, Reginald came to the rescue of a girl who was being beaten by three other students. While others laughed, he protected the girl by using his body as a shield and intercepting the blows.

Kottmeyer receives transportation help

Kottmeyer Big Picture High School received a $1,000 pledge from the Incarnate Word Foundation to purchase bus passes for their students.

Shaw is preparing students to make ethical decisions

Shaw Elementary has implemented the nationwide Learning for Life program to enrich the school’s existing character education initiatives. Learning for Life focuses on character development and career education. Teachers choose from programs that help students develop social and life skills, assist in character and career development, and help formulate positive personal values.

Reading fluency is a priority at Hodgen

This year, Hodgen Elementary made a school-wide commitment to improve student reading fluency. As part of their efforts: All teachers are trained in assessing and helping students with reading fluency; parents are given materials and activities to complete with their children at home; community volunteers add fluency passages to their regular mentoring sessions; older students practice reading with younger students; and all students know their individual reading levels and are tested monthly. As a result, in the first three months of school, student reading fluency advanced an average of 4.5 months. Also, 24% more students scored at or above grade level in reading fluency than they did at the beginning of the school year.

Soldan hosts speakers with a global perspective

International journalist Ruthie Ackerman and award-winning photographer Andre Lamberston will meet with area high school students at Soldan International Studies High School on Thursday, January 17. The two will share their experiences of travelling to Liberia to examine the process of reintegrating – and ultimately rehabilitating –former child soldiers. The program is sponsored by the Soldan Model United Nations Club and the Pulitzer Center’s Global Gateway program.

As part of the Global Gateway project, Soldan Communication Arts teachers Kelly Moore and Dawn McClain created a lesson plan titled " Scars and Stripes: Liberian Youth after the War." The lesson plan is posted on the website for the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. You can view it at http://www.pulitzercenter.org/openitem.cfm?id=725.

In case of a weather emergency
For updates on district school closings due to inclement weather, call 314-345-2466.