ST. LOUIS BOARD OF EDUCATION ROLLS OUT EDUCATION COVENANT

The St. Louis Board of Education rolled out its Education Covenant with the goal of increasing student achievement on every grade level. The covenant has five guiding principles which are:

Principle I: Academic Achievement
Principle II- Safe and Orderly Environment
Principle III- Community Collaboration
Principle IV- Equity
Principle V- Efficient and Effective Support Operations

Accompanying each principle are attainable goals that serve as the framework for moving the district forward.

Core beliefs serve as a catalyst for directing the district towards success.

These core beliefs are:
*All children can learn, regardless of their socioeconomics status, race or gender.
*The African American achievement gap can be eliminated.
*Parents must be included in the education process.
*Competent, caring, properly supported teachers are essential to student learning.
* The community must be involved in encouraging high achievement for all children.
* The St. Louis Public Schools are obligated to help students overcome any obstacles that may hinder their learning by forming partnerships with the entire community.

The plan will serve as a roadmap for placing all resources toward greater academic achievement. The ultimate goal is to improve academic performance.

As a result, ten community meetings were held at five St. Louis Public Schools on November 14 and 15. Community members offered ideas regarding how to raise the academic performance of all students.

Superintendent Williams believes it takes everyone in the community to improve the district. “It’s my job to make sure the school district reaches its goals,” he said.

SLPS PRODUCES EIGHT WINNERS IN GATEWAY ARCH CONTEST

Eight St. Louis Public Schools students are winners in the Jefferson National Parks/Gateway Arch Art Contest. The contest, entitled “The Gateway Arch: A Child’s Perspective,” inspired hundreds of city and county students to enter their artwork in the competition. Students submitted their art illustrations that depicted the symbol of the Arch and characterized America’s westward expansion during the nineteenth century, which paved the way for St. Louis to become the Gateway to the West.
The exhibit is on display through December. “Students were judged on their artistic interpretations of the Arch and their experiences with the monument,” said Linda Krailberg, SLPS art supervisor.

The winners are:
First place: Emily Forsyth, fifth grade, Gateway Elementary (Debbie Stockhausen, art instructor); Patrick Lehnhoff, eleventh grade, Central Visual and Performing Arts High School (William Perry, art instructor).

Second place: Emily Goodwin, fifth grade, Gateway Elementary (Debbie Stockhausen, art instructor); Tam Nguyen, third grade, Scruggs Elementary school (Anne Knisley, art instructor).

Third place: Alba Stavri, tenth grade, Metro Academic and Classical High school (Tom Tobias, art instructor); N’dea Collins-Whitfield, sixth grade, Carr Lane Visual and Performing Arts Middle School (Dr. Sylvia Saddler, art instructor).

Honorable Mention: My Chau Nguyen, ninth grade, Metro High School (Tom Tobais, art instructor);

Nayvitd Rodriquez, and Japheel Ledguise, fifth graders, Ames Visual and Performing Arts Elementary School (Anne Wirthlin, art instructor).

EMERSON DONATES $100,000 IN SCHOLARSHIPS TO PREPARE SLPS STUDENTS FOR SUCCESS

Qualified St. Louis Public Schools students who have an interest in obtaining a degree in a technical field from Ranken Technical College can receive impressive scholarship funds.
The scholarship program is a collaborative effort between St. Louis businesses, neighborhood associations and the St. Louis Public Schools. The participating neighborhood associations are Vandeventer Citizens for a Better Community, the Fountain Park/Lewis Place Association and the Jefferson/Vander-Lou Association. In the spring of 2006, three freshmen candidates from the district will be chosen as potential scholarship recipients. During their senior year, if they have met the requirements, they will receive up to $11,000 in scholarships.

KUDOS CORNER…

We applaude Dorris J. Walker-McGahee, Coordinator of the Family Literacy program and President of the Parent Assembly. She was elected Chairperson of the National Coalition of ESEA (Elementary, Secondary and Education Act)…Kudos to fifth grader Christina Nguyen. The University of Missouri-Columbia selected the Gateway Elementary student’s holiday design card… Walbridge Elementary teacher Millicent Smith received the WalMart Teacher of the Year Award…Barbara Brown, social studies teacher at McKinley CJA, and Rose King, curriculum coach at Yeatman-Liddell Middle CEC, were recognized as the American History Teachers of the Year. Also, McKinley’s librarian Marsha Merry, Rose Nester, music teacher at Euclid/Washington Montessori Complex and Jo Ann Lombardo, sixth grade communication arts teacher at Bunch International Study Middle School, were selected to receive the Emerson Electric Excellence in Teaching Award…

ATTENTION ALL SLPS TEACHERS!
If you are interested in having your classes participate in the St. Louis Black Repertory Company’s education programs or attending student matinees, call Rita Washington at 534- 3807, ext. 235.