HEALTH CARE CAREER FAIR IS SET FOR NINTH AND TENTH GRADE STUDENTS

Students who are beginning to think about their future career plans have the opportunity to attend a Health Care Career Fair Wednesday, March 9, 8:30 a.m. at St. Louis Community College at Forest Park.
The fair will draw both city and county high school students. The purpose is to provide ninth and tenth graders information and resources about a variety of careers available in the health care industry. Students will talk with professionals representing nursing, physical therapy, respiratory medicine, surgery and other health areas. “Teachers will be given a packet of materials to share with their students about a variety of health careers, educational requirements and opportunities in the future job market,” said Cathy Gutjahr, career education program coordinator. The event is sponsored by the St. Louis Health Care Workforce Partners. For more information call Gutjahr at 345-5715.

WANTED: PE TEACHER OF THE YEAR

If you teach physical education and are interested in the PE Teacher of the Year award program, contact Dave Cook at 345-4416 or for an application log onto www.slps.org.

BUDER SCHOOL DEDICATES LIBRARY IN MEMORY OF PATRICIA BECKWITH

Buder Elementary School dedicated its library
in memory of former assistant superintendent Patricia Beckwith. The dedication was held March 2 at 10 a.m.

Mrs. Beckwith was a celebrated educator in the St. Louis Public Schools for 28 years. During her career, she served as a teacher, reading specialist, instructional coordinator, administrative assistant and principal.

Monica Isaac, principal of Buder, remembers her as a hard worker dedicated to children. “For the first time, I encountered an environment where the leader truly set the tone in the building. It was apparent by the conduct of the staff and students, the practices and procedures that were in place and the level of academic success that the students have experienced over the years,” Isaac said. “Mrs. Beckwith knew that in order to improve children, you had to provide resources to improve the adults who work with children directly.”

U.B.U. LOUNGE IS NOW AT CLEVELAND NJROTC ACADEMY

Cadets at Cleveland NJROTC Academy are now enjoying their new U.B.U. Lounge. The open house was held March 1. The new eatery is sponsored by ARAMARK School Support
Services. For information, call Leslie Fowler at 381-4155, etc. 246.

NOMINATIONS ARE BEING ACCEPTED FOR SUMNER HIGH SCHOOL HALL OF FAME
The annual Sumner High School Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held May 12, 9:30 a.m. at the school. Nominations are being accepted for graduates who are well known in their respective fields, serving their local or national communities and reflect a positive public image. Deadline for submitting an application is March 25. Applications may be received from librarians Lula Palmer or Lula Simmons. They can be reached at 371-1048, ext. 317.

NEW WORKBOOK EMERGES FROM SLPS ENRICHMENT PROGRAM

SLPS students and teachers inspired Inda Schaenen to write her newly published book entitled Word for Word. Schaenen developed this method of nurturing writing skills with students she formely taught at Laclede, Lowell, Banneker, Sigel and Gundlach Schools. “The games, activities and conversations about what it means to write have helped my students produce thoughtful, authentic pieces of writing,” she said. “Word for Word puts kids in touch with their own voices as writers, something the day-to-day pressure of mandated curriculum can make challenging sometime.” For more information about the book, call Springboard to Learning at 543-4337.

CULTURAL ACADEMY IS LOOKING FOR YOUNG STUDENT POETS

The first annual “Express Yourself” youth poetry contest will be held from 5- 8 p.m., Saturday, April 9 at the Vaughn Cultural Center. The event is sponsored by the Cultural Academy. All 6th , 7th and 8th grade students are eligible. The deadline is March 21. “We are promoting literacy and the arts as well,” said Sinita Wells, co-founder and director of the Cultural Academy. “We are particularly interested in adolescent students because we believe they have something important to say.” For more information, contact Sinita Wells at 479-9071 or visit their web site: www.thefamculturalacademy.org

APPLAUSE CORNER…
Dr. Thomas Cason, principal of Soldan International Studies, will receive the MetLife Foundation Ambassador’s Education award. The award will be presented to him during a school assembly, Tuesday, March 8, at 9:10 a.m. Be on the lookout for Gateway Elementary Idol-Best of the Best competition. The best student singers will compete on April 28 and May 12. For event times, call music teacher Dan Rhoten at 241-8255.

IMPORTANT NOTE…
Effective March 1, the www.slpsbenefits.org web site is no longer available. Employees may now access benefits information through www.slps.org.