SLPS TO COLLABORATE WITH ST. LOUIS ARTS CULTURAL ORGANIZATIONS

Nearly 50 St. Louis businesses and institutions, including more than 30 arts and cultural organizations, are partnering with the St. Louis Public Schools in a new program designed to boost academic achievement.

The program, called Interchange, will incorporate the arts into the entire curriculum, according to school officials. Ford Foundation is providing the funding of the grant to COCA (Center for Creative Arts), a community-based arts center.

The project began when St. Louis was one of only eight sites selected in January. Interchange is dedicated to enhancing the academic achievement of all SLPS students and will incorporate programming from local arts and cultural resources into most academic subjects taught in kindergarten through 12th grade.

“One of the key principles in our school district’s strategic plan is to foster community collaboration,” said Superintendent Creg E. Williams. “Not only do we welcome Interchange, but we are committed to ensure that this initiative achieves its goal of greater student achievement.”

The initiative will begin in January, 2007.

SLPS STUDENT GOVERNMENT VISIT STATE LAW MAKERS

Superintendent Williams took 17 bright students to meet with lawmakers at the state capitol on March 15. “It’s important that our students understand how the legislative process works,” said Superintendent Williams. The students are members of the district’s student government association.

Students were greeted by state representatives Connie Johnson, Robin Wright-Jones, Yaphet El-Amin, Amber Boykins and state senator Maida Coleman.

Students received a special treat while visiting the Missouri House of Representatives. Speaker of the House Rod Jetton introduced the students and Superintendent Williams during the morning session.

METRO GIRLS BASKETBALL TEAM TAKES STATE CHAMPIONSHIP!

Metro Academic and Classical High School Panthers took the Missouri State Class 2 basketball championship in a final score of 49-44. They beat Clopton High School and finished the season with a 29-3 record.

This is the school’s third trip to the state championship and first title win.

Metro provides a challenging academic curriculum in a college-like setting, for responsible, independent and academically talented students.

SLPS REACHES OUT WITH AGGRESSIVE TEACHER RECRUITMENT PLAN

In an effort to recruit the best teachers to the district, the St. Louis Public Schools hosted its second hiring fair on April 1. Hundreds of potential hirees attended the event.

The school district is in need of outstanding teachers who are qualified to teach all subject areas. However, the critical need areas include math, science, special education, music and art.

COLE SCHOOL CELEBRATES STAR STUDENTS

In an effort to encourage students to continue to soar in their academics and citizenship, Cole School has started a school Spotlight program. On Fridays, six students receive prizes for demonstrating outstanding work in citizenship, academic achievement or attendance.

Congratulations to the following winners:
Vanessa Adams, Vito Dodson, Kellye Taylor, Kentriell Williams, Jameesha Jackson and Antonio Kent.

COLUMBIA SCHOOL ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO EXPLORE THEIR LITERARY TALENTS

Students at Columbia have had the opportunity to learn from author Lynn Rubright. Rubright, the author of Mama’s Window, has been discussing her book with students each week. She is the school’s resident author thanks to COCA, the sponsor of the program.

GATEWAY INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY’S EMT STUDENTS SCORE BIG IN ACADEMICS

Students enrolled in Gateway Institute of Technology’s emergency medical technology courses have put in over 140 classroom hours and more than 24 hours of ride-along clinical hours with the St. Louis Fire Department to meet National Registry and state licensing requirements.

During second semester, students visited various medical facilities in the community to gain practical experience. Currently, students are interning at the fire department, the Veteran’s Affairs Medical Center, Forest Park Hospital and Cuddles Day Care Center.

In addition to donating an ambulance for the program, the St. Louis Fire Department sponsors the project by providing training, exam preparation and equipment loans.

PIRLS COMES TO AMES VPA SCHOOL!

Students at Ames Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School are participating in a special program called PIRLS (Progress in International Reading Literacy Study). PIRLS is designed to measure children’s literacy achievement and collect important information about the students’ home and school reading experiences.

“We were selected by the U.S. Department of Education and because of our willingness to participate in the study, our school received a gold medal,” said principal Javeeta Parks. Vanessa Bett’s fourth grade class and Rise Black’s ungraded class were selected to participate in the study. Students
participated in a reading test and completed
a questionnaire.

KUDOS, KUDOS EVERYWHERE…

Congratulations to the following Central Visual and Performing Arts High School seniors who scored high on the ACT test: Matthew Piva scored 28; Taylor Leonard and Quentin Wilbert scored 25. Also, congratulations to Central VPA junior track star LaJada Baldwin who broke a national record of 58.80 seconds in the 400 meter dash… Kudos to senior Ian Greenlee and junior Patrick Lehnhoff. Their artwork was chosen to be on display at this year’s annual high school exhibition at Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville’s New Wagner Museum…Turner student Tiffany Jaquess received first place for her vocal talents at a Top Ladies of Distinction vocal contest. Turner’s concert band received a superior rating at the SLPS all district adjudication festival. Long Middle School’s eighth grade choir placed first in the same competition…The McKinley Classical Junior Academy’s Goldbug wind ensemble traveled to Jefferson City to represent the school district in the Missouri Arts Day Festival. This was the second year that the band was selected… Beaumont and Vashon High Schools received weight room equipment from the St. Louis Rams. Head coach Scott Linehan presented the gifts to Dave Cook, athletic director for Public High League…Congratulations to eighth grade student Carvon Taylor. Carvon, a student at Compton-Drew Investigative Learning Center, won second place in the Missouri State Poetry contest. His work is entitled “My Teacher Sees Right Through Me”…

Congratulations to Marthayell Hall, second grade teacher at Madison IGE ABI Elementary School. She was selected as “Teacher of the Day” by MAJIC 104.9 FM. Hall is a 22-year veteran teacher…The St. Louis Office for Mental Retardation and Developmental Disability Resources held their 6th annual art competition. Congrats to the following Euclid Montessori School students…first place winner Dominique Murphy, second place, Dahzia McGee and third place, Breea Ward. Honorable mentions are Timothy Mahood, Mia Townly and Gerald Williams…Students at Kottmeyer Early Childhood Center are learning the lessons of perseverance and cardiovascular fitness. They are jumping a lot of rope and are competing for prizes and earning titles for the most improved, determined and creative jumpers. Congrats to second grader Arionna Crawford who has set a new school record for jumping 12 consecutive minutes. Webster Middle School students Erica Cotton and Romando Welch are enrolled in a special program called Byteworks. The program teaches students computer skills and how to earn their own computer. At the end of the program, they will be presented with their own computer… Mann Elementary students collected $300 in honor of the 100th day of school. Proceeds were used to purchase two promise baskets for needy families through the Read and Feed Program…Stix ECC students collected a total of $2,219.21 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. First grade students in room 205 raised the most funds, totaling $474. Their teacher is Janis Biegler… High fives to Ames Visual and Performing Arts students DaVione Johnson and Daveion Perry. They have been selected to sing and dance in the musical production of “Wizard of Oz” this summer at the Muny.