VASHON’S BASKETBALL TEAM IS NUMBER 2 IN THE STATE!

Vashon High School’s basketball team is ranked number 2 in the state after losing to Poplar Bluff High School by the score of 71-56. “We represented St. Louis Public Schools and the city very well this year,” said Coach Floyd Irons. “We congratulate the winning team and we appreciate those who supported us.”

SOLDAN HIGH SCHOOL CELEBRATES 95 YEARS

Soldan High School observed 95 years with a star-studded event held on March 12.
Alumni, current students and community leaders participated in a day of exciting events including the school’s first Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Here are the Hall of Fame inductees:

Shirley Armstead- Special Agent, U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration, St. Louis Division.
Catherine Pfeiffer Chambers- 102 year-old former Soldan Teacher.

Ron Himes- Founder and Producing Director, St. Louis Black Repertory Company.
A.E. Hotchner- Noted author and co-founder of Paul Newman’s Own Foundation.
Stan Kann- Renowned organist with the Fabulous Fox Theatre.
Dr. Lee Liberman- Former president of Laclede Gas and active St. Louis civic leader.
Virginia Mayo- (deceased) Famed film and television actress and comedienne.
I.E. Millstone- Prominent businessman and noted St. Louis philanthropist.
Wilbert Sanders- Former Soldan coach.
Dr. Henry Shannon- President of St. Louis Community College System.
Wayman Smith- Retired vice president of corporate affairs for Anheuser-Busch Companies and civic organizer.
Dr. Charles Stith- Former U.S. Ambassador to Tanzania.
Thomas Lanier, a.k.a. Tennessee Williams- Internationally recognized Pulitzer Prize- winning playwright.

FORD OFFERS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ENVIRONMENTAL CONTEST

The Ford Motor Company is sponsoring an elementary school contest concerning environmental issues. The winning classroom will receive $100,000 to go towards their school. For more information, call Kevin Burke at 949-223-2327 or view their website at: www.nationalgeographic.com.

SLPS MAGNET SCHOOL LOTTERY IS SET FOR MARCH 15

The wait is almost over for those students who want to attend St. Louis Magnet Schools. The drawing for seats will be held at 9 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, at the Board of Education headquarters in room 108. Interim Superintendent Pamela Randall will start the computerized lottery.

St. Louis Magnet Schools have been a drawing card for thousands of city and county students.
Last year, 4,342 applications were submitted. The anticipated seats to be filled this year are between 1,200 to 1,500 according to Lou Kruger, director of the Recruitment and Counseling Center. “A slight increase in applications is encouraging because numbers have fallen the past two years,” he said.

Students can choose from a wide array of academic themes such as general academics, math-science technology, gifted education, visual and performing arts, computer animation, early childhood, military, and international studies. Applicants who cannot be placed into any of their choices will be placed on a waiting list according to their priority and pick number. For more information, call Lou Kruger at 345-5201.

LONG COMMUNITY EDUCATIONAL CENTER ; A CULTURAL MECCA

Long Middle Community Education Center, located south of the Bevo Mill community, is home to 13 ethnic groups. Students have the opportunity to participate in after-school enrichment programs including Aikido, basketball, computer technology courses, drill team, drama, fencing, football, modern dance, science, track and volleyball.

Each month, students demonstrate what they’ve learned by participating in various performances. For more information about the school’s resources, call Patrice Crotty at 353-1034.

APPLAUSE CORNER…

Dr. Ruth Mach, Assistant Superintendent for Elementary Schools, was elected Vice-President for Truman State’s Board of Governors…Congratulations to Gateway Institute of Technology for collecting $650 for Tsunami victims and raising $929.29 for Pennies for Patients sponsored by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society…Students at L’Ouverture Middle School also raised $300 for Tsunami victims…The 2005 Middle School Basketball League Champions are the McKinley Lady Cougars and the Humboldt Jaguars…Mark
Twain students Marci Woods and Travis Pearson are first place winners in the St. Louis Rams Black History Month Essay Contest.

SLPS STUDENTS BUILD IMPRESSIVE ROBOT FOR REGIONAL COMPETITION

When it comes to building robots, the St. Louis Public Schools are making impressive strides.
Students on the SLPS Robotics FIRST team 931 competed with some of the state’s most talented students at the St. Louis Regionals on March 10-12 at the St. Charles Family Arena. A total of 52 students, 49 from Gateway Institute of Technology and 3 from Central Visual and Performing Arts, competed in the competition. The robotics team was led by Frank Dressel, Gateway’s math teacher and robotics/engineering coordinator. Students have amassed almost 3,400 hours assembling their robot, GEARMO, which stands for Getting Excited About Robotics by Motivating Others. GEARMO, powered by a 12-volt battery and weighing less than 130 pounds, is powered to move and lift game pieces almost 12 feet high. “We use six channels to drive the robot and raise the arm,” said Dressel. For more information, call Mr. Dressel at 776-3300.