• SLPS Spotlight News

    November 9, 2012

     

    *************************************************************************************************************************

    SLPS has important news to share with its community. From recognizing student accomplishments, announcing teacher recognitions and promoting upcoming events, Spotlight News fills a critical role by sharing District news with more than 4,500 people across the city, including reporters, community partners, elected officials, parents, and SLPS faculty and staff.  To submit information to be included in the next edition, please contact Julie Linder by calling (314) 345-2367 or via email to Julie.Linder@slps.org

     

    Important Announcement

    SLPS to Host Family Literacy & Math Celebration on Saturday

    Parents and students in grades 3-8 are invited to attend the St. Louis Public Schools Family Literacy & Math Celebration to learn creative ways to assist their child in understanding literacy and math skills.  Students will also receive extra help in preparing for the MAP tests they will take later this school year.

    Date: Saturday, November 10

    Time: 8:30am until 12:00(noon)

    Locations:

    ·         Carnahan High School of the Future, 4041 S. Broadway

    ·         Gateway Math Science and Technology Complex, 1200 N. Jefferson Ave. 

    ·         Mullanphy Investigative Learning Center, 4221 Shaw Blvd.

    ·         Nance Elementary School, 8959 Riverview Blvd.

    Details:  There will be a FREE continental breakfast served from 8:30am - 9:00am.  Literacy and math sessions begin at 9:15am and run until noon.  Sessions will be taught by current and retired SLPS faculty and staff, including SLPS Teachers of the Year, as well as community experts from organizations such as the Missouri Botanical Garden, COCA, The Magic House, and the Saint Louis Science Center.

    Each of the four school sites will also distribute $3,000 in donated attendance prizes.  FREE childcare will be provided for children ages 2 years old through 2nd grade.

    To download a printable flyer, please click here.

     

    SLPS News

    Washington University Students’ Synapse Education Group Stimulates Brains of Kennard 3rd Graders.

    Students from Washington University leading the Synapse Education Group visited third grade classrooms over a three week period to demonstrate aspects of the neural system. 
     

    Students get to look and hold an actual whole brain and see the physical attributes of the brain.  They participate in a demonstration of the brain’s ability to adapt the sense of vision to changing circumstances, called visual adaptation.  Finally, third graders experience a demonstration of what is sometimes called the “sixth sense,” proprioception.

     
    Proprioception is the body’s sense of where it is in space. 
     
    Washington University’s Synapse Education Program focuses on spreading interest in neuroscience to older Elementary School children. 

     

    Future Trek Program for 6th Grade Students featuring Careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math is Scheduled

    This program has been engaging 6th grade students for 12 years with hands-on demonstrations by featured business professionals who use math, science, and technology every day in their careers.  This is a collaborative project with the St. Louis Science Center, the Academy of Science of St. Louis and the Division of Career and Technical Education of the St. Louis Public Schools. 

     
    Programs will be held on November 8, 9, December 4, 5, and 7.  Each day approximately 100 students will attend the Taylor Science Center and Science Center locations from 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM.  The schools participating this year are:  Compton Drew, Monroe, Mason, Farragut, Carr Lane VPA, Langston, Cote Brilliante, McKinley, Gateway Middle, Nance, Academy of Environmental Science and Math, Long, Fanning, and Lyon Academy @ Blow.
     
    Students may experience being a veterinarian, writing specs for a robot, examining a human brain and heart, solving water pollution problems, discovering the effects of liquid nitrogen on flower petals, learning about the aerodynamics of an airplane, plus many more interesting scientific experiments.  After these hands-on demonstrations, the students participate in a scavenger hunt at the Science Center. 
     
    For more information, please contact the Division of Career and Technical Education, Cathy Gutjahr, Program Manager, at 345-5715.

     

    Congratulations to the following SLPS students who successfully auditioned and made the Metro District 8 Honors Bands and Choir. 

    All-State Ensembles rehearse and perform in January at the annual Missouri Music Educators Association conference.  Many college scholarships are awarded at that time.  The following students will be able to participate at All-State auditions in December at Hickman HS in Columbia, MO.  

    Concert band

    ·         Central VPA- Steven Driskell, instructor

    o   Jasmine Thompson - Alto Sax

    ·         Soldan-Chrisena Brown, instructor

    o   Trevon Johnson - Tuba

    ·         Metro Academic and Classical High School-Marquita Reef, instructor Concert Band

    o   Lucia Vigil - Piccolo but also 1st Alternate Flute

    o   Alex Davis - 1st Bassoon

    o   Willow Pastard - Clarinet

    o   Brennen Dizdar - 1st Clarinet

    o   Khamali Moore - 1st alternate trumpet

    o   Andrew Riggs - Tuba

    Jazz band

    ·         Metro (senior) Khamali Moore - 1st Trumpet

    Concert Choir

    ·         Central VPA-Yvonne Crockett, instructor

    o   Khammerit Bettis*

    o   Brandi Harris-Stokes*   

    o   Crystal Lovings

                (*) indicates also qualified to audition for All-State Choir

     
    Ms. Brandi Harris-Stokes also successfully auditioned for the prestigious Opera Theatre St. Louis’ Artist in Training program.  Participants perform in the Monsanto scholarship contest recital in the spring.

    Bravo!

     

    The St. Louis Rams and the St. Louis Post-Dispatch are pleased to recognize Monroe Elementary as a winner of the 2012 Rams Effect contest.

    The contest, which was to address a very immediate issue in the St. Louis community: obesity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, was awarded to Monroe Elementary for their efforts “Promoting a Safe, Positive, Non-Violent Community.

     

    St. Louis Zoo Visits Kennard

    A team of zoologists from the St. Louis Zoo Outreach Program visited Kennard’s second grade classrooms discussing vertebrate classification, which is part of the life science unit second graders are studying.  Students got a chance for hands on interaction with live animals representing three kinds of vertebrates.  Students got to pet a bearded dragon, an owl, and a hedgehog.  Students were very excited by the presentations and had a lot of questions for Zoo staff members Laura and Tim.  The Zoo Outreach Program is a special service the Zoo offers to schools. 

     

    Upcoming Events

    Northwest to Host Law Day

    Date: Thursday, November 15, 2012

    Time: 9:00- 11:00 A.M.

    Location: Gym and Athletic Field at Northwest Academy, 5140 Riverview Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63120

    Purpose: To introduce students to the many possible careers which are Law-related, we also want to introduce students to schools that are offering training for law-related fields.

    The Participating Career Representatives: FBI, DEA, US Marshalls, Federal Probation Office Washington University School of Law, St. Louis School of Law, ACLU, and many more.

     

    Mann Elementary to Host Annual Target Student Tea Party

    Date: November 16th

    Time: 8:30A.M. 

    Location: 4047 Juniata St.

    Details: Students who made gains on the MAP in Communication Arts and/or Mathematics will be rewarded with a tea party. Girls are asked to wear formal hats and boys are expected to wear ties.

     

    Workforce Ready 2013

    On Friday, November 16, 2012, from 8:00-11:30 a.m., over 400 seniors from Beaumont Technical High School, Clyde C. Miller Career Academy, Gateway STEM High School, and Soldan International Studies High School are scheduled to participate in Workforce Ready 2013, a pre-internship workshop, at America’s Center.  During the workshop, developed by the District’s Division of Career and Technical Education and the CTE Regional Advisory Committee, students will attend three informational sessions presented by representatives from business/industry, postsecondary education, and the SLPS Office of Human Resources.  Topics to be covered are (1) Interviewing Skills and Making that First Impression, (2) Getting Comfortable with the Uncomfortable, and (3) Men and Women on the Job.  Motivational speakers for the event, sponsored by the Saint Louis Community Credit Union, will be Mr. Arthur Shivers and Mr. Sylvester Chisom, owners of Showroom Shine.

     

    Save the date – Central VPA to perform “High School Musical”

    Dates: Wednesday, November 28, 2012 – Friday, November 30, 2012

    Time: Afternoon and evening performances

    Location: Brand new Central VPA Theatre

    Details:  The very talented Central VPA students will have you and your students singing and dancing in the aisles.  Mark your calendars now for this incredible event.  For more information, contact Maggie Schuh (314) 771-2772 x 41211.

     

    News Articles of Interest

    ·         Make a Difference Day

    ·         Health advocacy group rates public school districts for healthy lunches

    ·         Top Holiday Volunteer Opportunities For The Family In St. Louis ...

    ·         School Dodges Mother's H1N1 Vaccine Protest

    ·         School Accreditation and Poverty - St. Louis Public Radio Commentary

    ·         Meet One of the Super-PAC Men

    ·         Mayor Slay’s Holiday Card Content-Submissions Wanted

     

    Photo of the Week

    On Sat., November 3, 2012 Laclede School had an eJob Fair.  The purpose of the eJob Fair was to assist parents and community members with obtaining employment.  We even provided assistance with creating and/or updating resumes and cover letters.  Our computer lab was used to host the event.  Several teachers, the Family and Community Specialist (Shawn Williams) and a computer programmer from Citigroup (Tony Brandon) helped to make this event possible.  There were over 30 parents who attended this event.