Shining Brightly
Page Four: The Class of 2025
Pages Seven & 14: Graduates Irhad Sehovic and Alexis Clemons
Woody Babb, President
Sarah Reece, Vice President Jeff Preisack ’83, Member Shannon Kohler, Member
Board of Education
Michelle Padgett, Member
Laura Van Zale ’83, Member
Stephanie McCreary, Member
District Administration
Amy Ruzicka Superintendent of Schools (314) 256-8601
Dr. Chel’Lee Whitten Assistant Superintendent (314) 256-8658
Anna Barton Director of Instructional Effectiveness (314) 256-8601 ext. 8088
Preston Sterett, ‘05 Director of Business & Finance (314) 256-8687
Kim Arnold Director of Human Resources (314) 256-8605
Stephen Terrill Marketing and Communications Coordinator (314) 256-8115
Early Childhood Center (314) 256-8630
Christina Ly ’99, Principal
Amra Hadzic, Administrative Assistant
School Hours: 8:05 a.m. - 3:25 p.m.
Office Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Elementary (314) 256-8620
Aaron Kohler, Principal Dr. Amanda Middendorf, Assistant Principal
Amber Callahan, Assistant Principal
Mirsada Becarevic, Administrative Assistant
Kimberly Moreau, Administrative Assistant
Christine Kohl, Administrative Assistant School Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 3:21 p.m. Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m. Junior High (314) 256-8690
Daniel Bieser, Principal
Dr. Andrew Mertens, Assistant Principal
VICC Transportation (314) 721-8657
Kelly Stahlhuth
District Activities Director (314) 256-8664
Barbara Shetley District Registrar (314) 256-8100
Kari Wolford ‘03 Transportation Supervisor (314) 256-8601
Fadil Hamidovic Director of Technology (314) 256-8611
Dr. Monika Hasanbasic ELD Director (314) 256-8600 ext. 2304
Sanela Jugovic, Administrative Assistant Cantrece Novak, Administrative Assistant School Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 2:36 p.m. Office Hours: 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. High School (314)256-8660
Eric Lawrence, Principal Dr. Alyssa Stock, Assistant Principal
Mike Will, Dean of Students, Athletic Director
Sandra Schacht, Administrative Assistant
Lauren Champion ’07, Administrative Assistant
Melissa Godat, Registrar School Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 2:36 p.m. Office Hours: 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Alumni Association (314) 256-8660 ext. 8617
Sally Wear ’58 Alumni
Bayless is published multiple times a year to inform the public about what is occurring at the Bayless Schools — including student achievements, happenings in the classroom, involvement in the community and more. Please submit any questions, comments or letters to Stephen Terrill, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, 9296 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO, 63123, 314-256-8115 or at: sterrill@bayless.k12.mo.us
Bayless School District does not discriminate in its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law. Inquiries related to District programs may be directed to Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator Mrs. Kim Arnold at 314-256-8605, 9296 Gravois Road, St. Louis, MO 63123. The Bayless School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
From the Board of Education President
Dear Bayless Community, Unlimited potential. That’s the first thing that came to mind when I arrived at Bayless in 1991. I was a young art teacher with four years of experience under my belt from two different districts. Although I enjoyed my time with those schools well enough, they were not places I could call home, to settle down and raise a family. While not from St. Louis originally, I spent summers here during my college years and became familiar with the county. Bayless seemed small compared to other districts in the metropolitan area and certainly needed a lot of work, but I found it charming and the students a joy to teach.
With the hard work of dedicated teachers, staff, administrators, board members, parents, and patrons of our community, we have since created a school that shines brightly and is the envy of many in the St. Louis area. Since retirement, I joined the Board of Education and I referee a lot of volleyball… boys’ and girls’ high school, club, and college. I get to meet people from all over the area and there’s not a week that goes by that I don’t talk to someone who has a strong connection to Bayless. They marvel at the things we have accomplished.
Over the years, I’ve compared Bayless’ success to that of the sculpture David — Michelangelo’s famous masterpiece. The block of marble he used was flawed and had been rejected by at least two other sculptors due to its challenges. However, Michelangelo saw the unlimited potential in the flawed marble and painstakingly transformed it into the iconic work of art it is today. Although, the artist has long since passed, his magnum opus shines brightly for the world to admire.
From the Superintendent
Dear Bayless Community,
As Board President Woody Babb reflected, Bayless has never been content with “good enough.” What began as a district full of potential has become a place that not only shines, it leads.
The 2024-2025 school year was a powerful reminder of what happens when a community comes together with shared purpose. Our students reached new heights — from state championships and national essay awards to historic performances in music and athletics. Staff were recognized at the state level, not only for their excellence, but for the deep care they show each day. Our graduates, many of whom are featured in this issue, are leaving Bayless prepared, empowered, and ready to contribute to a changing world.
This issue also highlights the ways we’re building for the future — literally. From a transformational addition at Bayless Junior High to thoughtful renovations across all campuses, every project reflects our promise to create safe, modern spaces that honor our past and equip students for what’s ahead.
Like the block of marble, the story of Bayless is a tale of those who cared deeply about the children of a flawed school and worked tenaciously to create a place of learning worthy of them.
There came a time that “It’s good enough for Bayless” was no longer acceptable. The success we have experienced did not happen overnight and the Board of Education, administrators, teachers and staff continue to strive for a better Bayless. Our district has been shining brightly for many years now. Schools from around the Missouri and across the U.S., as well as those from other countries, have looked to Bayless as a model of how to be successful. We have achieved great things and provided tremendous opportunities for our students, but there is still a lot of work to do.
As we celebrate the end of one school year, Bayless will be working hard to prepare for the next one. We must always keep preparing students for success… our kids deserve that!
Woodrow Babb President, Bayless Board of Education
As we turn the page to summer, we do so with pride in how far we’ve come and excitement for what’s next. Thank you for your continued support, partnership, and belief in our mission. Together, we are building a better Bayless and shining brighter with each passing season.
With pride and gratitude,
Amelia Ruzicka Superintendent of Schools
Bright Futures:
The Class of 2025 by the numbers
The Class of 2025’s savings through STLCC are calculated from the average cost of courses at a four-year public university in Missouri. Thirty-one students participated in the Early College Program, which allowed them to be fully enrolled at STLCC while still working towards a high school diploma. Others took dual credit courses, which are single courses that count both towards a high school diploma and college credit.
If you are interested in supporting a scholarship for Bayless students, contact Alumni Association President Sally Wear at swear@bayless.k12.mo.us or (314) 256-8600 ext. 8617.
Senior Scholarships
Alumni Scholarships
Amila Ahmetovic, Muhamed Bektic, Brianna Bradford, Tracy Nguyen, Samuel Reece
Patricia (Stech) Blassie Scholarship
Selma Jugovic
Classes of 1960 – 1969 Scholarships
Amaal Ali, Anesa Kugic, Selma Kugic, Anima Le, Tuong Le, Miranda Limbaugh, Minh Nguyen, Piyawit Sriphrakhun, Jason Winkeler, Ephraim Yangango Champion Family Scholarship
Deja Pierre-Foster
Eirich Brothers Scholarship
Selma Hadzic
Alma Goggin Medical Scholarship
Ajla Hadzalic
Kerley Family Scholarship
Edward DesRoche
L.I.S.A. Scholarship
Amila Ahmetovic, Selma Jugovic, Irma Sisic, Amber Tran
Lillian/James Newsom Memorial Scholarship
Parker Hearn
Schmitt Scholarship
Kevin Pho
Uthoff Scholarship
Amina Murgic
Markus Family Scholarship
Alannah Henson
Anna Wear Scholarship
Brayden Driskell
Frieda Wohlschlaeger Scholarship
Lubna Amin
Sally Wear Award/Scholarship
Irma Sisic
Class of 1964 Scholarship
Damira Mahmutovic
Graduates of 72-75 Golden Scholarship
Marion’tae Hawkins
Affton-Lemay Chamber of Commerce Scholarship
Emir Dizdarevic
Bayless Academic Foundation Scholarship
Selma Jugovic
James D. Wilde Memorial Scholarship
Aidan Kaufmann
Bayless Music Boosters Scholarships
Selma Jugovic (Vocal) Tracy Nguyen (Insturmental), Amber Tran (Jerry Garrett)
Bayless Education Association Scholarship
Wyatt Martin
Bayless Educational Support Team Scholarship
Selma Jugovic and Amber Tran
Chapter EA Philanthropic Educational Organization Scholarship
Amber Tran
Southern Commercial Bank Legacy Scholarship
Tracy Nguyen
Senior Marion’Tae Hawkins with the group from the 72-75 Golden Scholarship.
Six minutes of choir class with Tamara Simmons, BSD Teacher of the Year
When you enter into one of Tamara Simmons’ choir class, the first six minutes immediately orient you to foundational music knowledge.
Most days there’s a short work of music theory — identifying pitch letters, rhythm, solfege and key signatures. Other days you listen to Simmons giving a short burst of music and having to figure out by ear what pitch it is.
While relatively straightforward, it has become a very important part of music at Bayless. Having those building blocks of music theory help her students shine brightly.
“It uses academic vocabulary but it also strengthens the skills they need for foundational singing,” Simmons said.
That exercise — which Simmons presented on at the Missouri Music Educators Association’s annual conference and has been invited to do the same at the Missouri Choral Directors Association’s conference in July — is one of the many things that led to Simmons being named the Bayless Teacher of the Year.
Simmons has done an incredible job with students at Bayless, helping them shine brightly and find their voice, both in music and in life.
To name a few of her recent successes — last year she was nominated for Best Vocal Direction by the St. Louis High School Musical Theatre Awards for her work with
the spring musical Little Shop of Horrors and Class of 2024 Graduate Ava Eckhard was nominated for best lead actress. This year senior Selma Jugovic was named to the Missouri All-State Choir, which was a first in Bayless history, and John McCreary and Zoe Childs entered the Missouri Choir Directors Association Sight-Singing Bee after perfect scores during All-District auditions.
Going back to her own time in high school, choir was a place for Simmons to learn and grow.
“Choir (in high school) was always just where I belonged,” Simmons said. “It’s where I gravitated towards. If I was upset — that’s where I went. If I was having a good time that’s probably where I was.”
She has translated that feeling into her teaching style, and it opens up opportunities for students to try new things they maybe did not have the confidence for in the beginning.
“You could line up flutes and one person can make very similar sounds — because the flute is the instrument,” Simmons said. “But with the voice it’s personal. No two voices are exactly the same. I’m an identical twin, and we don’t sound exactly the same. (Because of that) making relationships with students is really important. If we don’t have a positive relationship, they will not feel comfortable enough to try new things and really learn their own voice.”
In her mind, a good work ethic paired with a supportive relationship will carry a student far.
“We have a lot of students who feel that they can’t sing, and I tell them ‘I’ll be the judge of that,’” Simmons said. “We have lots of kids who come in and maybe they struggle with certain concepts, but ultimately the success of a singer boils down to a positive work ethic.”
Simmons has an abundance of stories of students who worked very hard and became very successful both in class and in competitions, and is excited to help even more young Bronchos shine brightly.
Simmons giving her acceptance speech at the district’s Recognition ceremony in April.
Distinguished Bronchos
Rising Star: Katie Eskildson
The Rising Star Award goes to a teacher in their first three years of teaching. Katie is a second-grade teacher in her second year and is off to an incredibly strong start. She develops engaging lessons, maintains high expectations and is committed to growing as an educator.
Staff Person of the Year: Gona Al-Sewari
As a cafeteria aide, Gona is a great part of Bayless Elementary, working to help students in the lunch room and building connections between students and staff. She has taught our staff simple greetings in Arabic, making the front office more welcoming to everyone who comes through our doors. Her hard work has made a big impact on the school!
Broncho Award: Crisi Ly
The Broncho Award is given for outstanding achievement or service to the Bayless School District Community. Crisi was nominated by a large number people across the district for her willingness to help and support Bayless students and staff. From her work in the Early Childhood Center, operating scoreboards at sports games, driving a moving truck for the band, and more — there’s no task too big, no detail too small for her.
Volunteer of the Year: Laura Merello
Laura tutors math students at Bayless High School. She has a gift for explaining challenging concepts with patience and clarity, ensuring that every student feels supported — especially those who may struggle or need extra encouragement. She works closely with our English Learner students, pulling small groups to provide personalized help and fostering confidence in their abilities.
On Fire For Good Award: Bob Cornell
This award is a part of Bayless’s partnership with St. Louisan John O’Leary, who has a major movie coming out about his life in the fall. For the past decade, Bob has exemplified leadership both inside and outside the classroom, creating lasting opportunities for student growth, teamwork, and personal development. He plays a very important part in the caring culture at Bayless Elementary through music and good instruction!
Portrait of a Graduate: Alumni
Portrait of a Graduate: Irhad Sehovic’s role at Microsoft and being “The Harvard Man”
Many who were around Bayless in the early 2010s remember Class of 2014 Graduate Irhad Sehovic.
Born in Germany to Bosnian refugees and a St. Louisan since age four, he made headlines when he was accepted to Harvard.
Over a decade later, he’s building the digital world we interact with daily as a Global Citizen and Senior Product Manager for Microsoft Azure — which is the company’s cloud computing platform. The group is on the cutting edge of technology with things like AI, machine learning, application development, cloud storage, and quantum computing and has data centers worldwide.
Even from a young age, people could tell Sehovic had the chance to do shine brightly. In elementary school he spent time in the MindGlo program, which is a supplementary program for gifted students. At Bayless Intermediate (now part of the unified Bayless Elementary), he started a school newspaper, using his time in MindGlo to prepare it.
“That was life-changing,” Sehovic said. “To go in and do stuff that’s outside of the curriculum and tickle the parts of my brain that I didn’t get from class really accelerated my learning.”
Sehovic stayed involved as he grew up — with band, soccer, volleyball and many other extracurriculars. He invested heavily in DECA — a career and technical student organization. As a senior he competed nationally with his friend Mirhad Osmanovic in Atlanta and Anaheim.
The seeds for him to become “The Harvard Man” were planted as he got closer to graduation.
Sehovic always knew he would go to college, but didn’t
have a preferred spot. The biggest consideration was affordability for his family. During his search, he attended an event with student representatives from a variety of prestigious universities. A Harvard student spoke, and through that experience he learned a school like Harvard was possible.
“It was at that point I realized I didn’t have anything to lose by applying,” Sehovic said. “The worst case, I get into a nearby school.”
The affordability question was answered by a policy many Ivy League schools have for financial aid. If your household income is below a certain threshold, tuition and more will be free. The current threshold is $200,000.
With questions answered and a path revealed, he began to build his application. He took the ACT multiple times to improve his score, completed the SAT Subject Tests, collected letters of recommendation, wrote an essay and more.
After submitting, all he could do was wait.
Sehovic admits he couldn’t concentrate on his classes the day acceptance emails were sent out. In the last class of the day, he told his teacher the email could come any minute. He logged onto the classroom’s computer and waited. The school day came to a close, and he had to log out of the computer and log into his email on a classmate’s phone. The bell rang.
Still no email.
Then, it came — the famed Veritas logo and an acceptance message.
Sehovic was going to Harvard.
Everyone — his family, Bayless and St. Louis as a whole — invested in his journey. A Bosnian exchange student at UMSL heard about his story, and filmed a short documentary called “The Harvard Man,” which is where the nickname comes from. Several local media outlets ran stories on his family and his own experience. He was the pride of Bayless, and about to start at the oldest higher education institution in the United States.
When he got to Harvard and started classes, he was surrounded by people much like himself.
“It was amazing — every single student was a valedictorian,” Sehovic said. “You’re now in this pool of people who are ultra-competitive, great minds, critical thinkers.”
The Bayless cultural experience was immediately applicable to Harvard. While his study habits had to change to handle the transition from high school to one of the world’s premier universities — Bayless’s diversity prepared him for the many cultures he got to interact with.
“Harvard is a very, very diverse place,” Sehovic said. “Many people from many backgrounds. For me it wasn’t a shock — at Bayless I had friends from all over the world. For a lot of students it was (a shock).”
He did his concentration in economics, crediting his time in DECA as a spark. He finished with a “High Honor” designation, which includes writing a thesis as an undergraduate. At the same time, he earned the equivalent of a minor in astrophysics.
Much like how his transition to Harvard happened as high school ended, Microsoft became a possibility in the latter half of his undergraduate work.
He interned in the company’s Finance Rotation Program the summer before his senior year. Before he left, he was given an offer to return, and accepted. He graduated Harvard in the spring, and became a rotation analyst in the corporate finance division in September
2018.
In July 2020, he transitioned to a Finance Manager role with Azure, overseeing things like expansion into new markets and hardware investments.
Sehovic developed a keen interest in the Azure product itself while on the finance team. Others around him noticed, and before long he transitioned to Senior Product Manager for Azure Storage.
In his current role, Sehovic helps design the machines that go into Azure data centers, which store massive amounts of information accessible via the cloud.
“My job is to make sure we’re putting the best drives into our data centers, so that we can make sure to bring the price of every gigabyte you store on the cloud to a profitable level,” Sehovic said. “My day to day involves talking to engineers that build the product on Azure. com, coders and people with industry experience on the best way to compress gigabytes and storage, and doing math in Excel and other programs to make sure the machines we build are the best machines Microsoft can have.
“We don’t want machines that are too big to fill, or too small and fill up quickly, we want machines that are fast so when you pull up an image on a website it’s there at the snap of your fingertips and you’re not loading like back in the dial-up days.”
While it is a complicated engineering task, both of Sehovic’s areas of study at Harvard come into play often. His work with astrophysics taught him math to go into both sides of the issue. And when engineers want to expand into new technology, he’s there to make sure those decisions make business sense.
“What I learned in economics, and in DECA, is to make sure to understand what the business rationale behind your product is,” Sehovic said. “When I wrote my thesis I had to interview people and ask them about the effect an idea would have, and being able to argue that and have sound rational judgment for the goals you’re trying to accomplish helps me so much in those situations.”
As he is accomplishing great things, Sehovic carries parts of himself that were built both at Bayless and in the St. Louis Bosnian community. His time at Bayless let him experience cultures from all over the world, giving him a great perspective that translated well into being a Global Citizen. His experience of speaking Bosnian, visiting the country, going to mosque with friends and family, and having a rooted sense of identity has been dear to him.
The next time you load a website on your phone, just know there’s a good chance a Bayless graduate helped get it to you.
Irhad and classmate Andrew Preisack film the construction of Bayless Field during the Bayless TV class.
Irhad holds an award he won from a DECA Competition.
TITLE TIME: Bayless scholar Bowl wins BsD’s first Mshsaa state chaMpionship
In only the third year of the program’s existence, the Bayless High School Scholar Bowl Team won the Class 4 State Championship on May 10 at Mizzou. Scholar Bowl is a knowledge-based competition governed by the state athletic association. Teams of four are asked a wide array of general knowledge questions, with a correct answer being worth ten points. In Missouri play, a correct answer can lead to a three-part bonus question that is open first to the team that answered the toss-up correctly, then the other team. Think Jeopardy, but more in-depth.
The team’s journey to the Final Four began early in January with a trip to the NAQT Small-School National Tournament in Chicago. Bayless sent two teams to compete against other top schools in the country. Through the course of the tournament, Freshman Jacob Darnell was given the Rising Star Award, which is given to the best underclassmen in the competition. He was the No. 1 freshman in the entire tournament.
Team Captain Jules Schrader led the starting squad that featured junior Elmedin Karamovic, sophomore Nolan Carstens, Darnell and alternate Brianna Bradford.
The district tournament was also a tough road. Bayless played Lutheran South in the semifinal round, who is also a frequent competitor at the NAQT Tournament in Chicago. Winning that game 450-260, they then had a monster matchup in the district championship against Priory. Priory won the 2024 State Championship in Class 5, but was moved down to Class 4 this year. The team continued its strong play and won 430-280. After a two-gamesto-one sectional win against Oak Grove, they were going to the state finals.
Bayless played in the Final Four on the same day as the state title match. The opening round featured matches against Fulton, Clever and Oak Grove. While the Bronchos lost the first round-robin match against Fulton, they handily beat Clever and Oak Grove to get to the championship match. In the game, they avenged their earlier loss by answering 25 more questions than Fulton.
Coaches Bob Efken and Dan Carstens have built a wonderful program in a short time that has the chance to shine brightly for many years to come.
The Scholar Bowl team holding the Class 4 trophy in Columbia.
Captain Jules Schrader accepting the first place trophy. (Photo From MSHAA)
The championship trophy.
ON THE PODIUM:
Two Bronchos compeTe aT sTaTe Track meeT
Capping off a season where the BHS track team broke countless school records and won numerous medals, two athletes ran and threw at the State meet in Jefferson City. Senior Autumn Gidcumb placed 13th in discus, and Freshman
From Sliding Into Kindergarten, Fifth Grade Bridging and Eighth Grade Promotion, the end of the school year is a great time to celebrate students shining brightly!
Gabrielle Campbell won the silver medal in the 400 meter dash, coming only 0.02 seconds behind first place. Campbell also placed fourth in the 800 meter dash.
Bayless Buildings and Grounds
Thanks to the generosity and trust of our community, Bayless School District has made significant progress in improving our facilities and grounds. These upgrades reflect our commitment to safety and function, and also a vision for the future — one in which our buildings evolve to meet the needs of students today and tomorrow. From the completion of the significant Bayless Junior High School addition to restroom renovations at Bayless High School and outdoor improvements at the Elementary, each project is a step toward creating an environment that supports growth, opportunity, and long-term success for our students, staff, and community.
Probably the most visible recent change is the major expansion of Bayless Junior High School. The addition doubled the size of the original building and now allows us to support all junior high students and programs under one roof. This has created a more unified learning environment and provides opportunities for better scheduling, more collaboration among teachers and an increased sense of community among students. The design of the addition was carefully planned to complement the original 1932 structure designed by architect Marcel Boulicault under President Franklin Delano Roosevelt’s Works Progress Administration. With complementary brickwork,
Honoring the past, looking towards the future
rooflines, and windows, the building now blends old and new in a way that respects its heritage while meeting the needs of modern education.
At Bayless Elementary, recent upgrades focused on outdoor access and student safety. These changes have improved traffic flow, enhanced accessibility, and made the outdoor spaces more usable and secure. In addition, a new outdoor water fountain, outdoor classroom seating spaces and landscaping improvements have enhanced student experiences on the playground and during recess. These changes may seem small on their own, but together they help create a more functional and welcoming space for children to learn and grow.
Bayless High School also saw important interior renovations. Several outdated restrooms were modernized to meet today’s standards, and a new school nurse’s office was created to better support student health and wellness. Perhaps most importantly, BHS now features a newly designed secure entry vestibule. This entrance allows staff to monitor and control visitor access throughout the day, improving overall safety without sacrificing the welcoming atmosphere that defines Bayless schools.
Across all our buildings, we’ve made major investments in safety and security infrastructure, including upgraded entryways, improved lighting, and surveillance systems. These enhancements allow us to provide safe, secure learning environments without losing the identity of our buildings.
Why are these changes so important? Because the quality of our facilities directly impacts the quality of the learning experience. Students are more likely to thrive in clean, well-maintained, and thoughtfully designed spaces. Classrooms that are safe, comfortable, and well-equipped support better concentration, improved behavior, and higher
Bayless Junior High, complete with the 30,000 square foot addition of classrooms, a library, cafeteria and more.
Much
the
academic performance. The same is true for teachers and staff — when their workspaces are functional and updated, it helps them to better focus on instruction and supporting the needs of our students.
Over the past decade, Bayless has made it a priority to continuously improve our campuses. These changes have not only enhanced student learning environments, but they’ve also opened the door to expanded opportunities in academics, athletics and the arts. New and improved spaces allow for more extracurricular activities, updated learning resources, and better facilities for sports and performance programs. These changes reflect our goal to provide a well-rounded educational experience that shines brightly and meets the needs of today’s learners.
Students
While we’re proud of the work that’s been done, we know the work is far from finished. As we look to the future, our Facility Advisory Committee has already begun reviewing campus-wide needs. Some of these needs are obvious, like our aging HVAC systems at the elementary school which are nearing the end of their service lives. These systems are inefficient, require significant maintenance, and are more costly to operate than newer systems. Replacing them will help lower energy costs and create more consistent indoor comfort for students and staff.
We also recognize that some of our classrooms, especially those built in past decades, are in need of renovation to meet modern teaching needs. As our academic and extracurricular programs grow, we’re also facing space limitations in several areas. Whether it’s a need for additional special education classrooms, updated science labs, or flexible learning spaces for small groups, we are continually exploring ways to ensure that our schools grow alongside the students they serve.
Just as we have with past projects, we will continue to prioritize smart, efficient and high-value solutions. We know that every dollar spent on facilities comes from taxpayers who want to see meaningful and lasting results. That’s why our approach balances long-term planning with shortterm needs, ensuring that each project serves both today’s students and tomorrow’s generations.
The rear yard of the eastern side of Bayless Elementary.
of the photo features
still-in-progress improvements like a new outdoor classroom space, new entryways, as well as improvements made to handle rain during downpours.
presenting a science project in the BHS Library, which has also been rennovated recently.
On to College
Two high-achieving athletes from Bayless High School signed to continue their playing careers in college. Gracianaelle Ladouceur signed to play volleyball at Jefferson College, and Mya Dodson signed to the Webster University Track and Field Team.
Grace racked up multiple South Central Athletic Association Player of the Year awards in both volleyball and basketball, as well as the Class 3 AllState Volleyball team, likely the first female athlete from Bayless named to an all-state team. Mya earned multiple first-team all-conference awards from the SCAA, in both volleyball and basketball.
The Glory of Missouri
On April, 14 seniors from Bayless High School and 14 eighth graders from Bayless Junior High were honored through the Glory of Missouri Awards. The students were selected for their representation of the fourteen virtues inscribed in stone in the Missouri House of Representatives chamber in Jefferson City: Knowledge, Liberty, Equality, Law, Justice, Fraternity, Education, Progress, Honor, Truth, Virtue, Temperance, Enterprise and Charity. Each student was presented with a signed House Resolution by local representative Bridget Walsh Moore.
Fifth Grade Student wins writing contest
For the second year in a row, a fifth grade student at Bayless is the winner of the state wide Elks Americanism Essay Contest. Christian Roberts-Jones was surprised by members of the Affton Elks in April with a plaque and a check for his writing.
Christian now is in the running for the national contest, which will be announced in the summer at the Elks’ national gathering.
Christian joins Milica Mitrovic, who won last year, as Bayless students to win the Missouri contest.
Grace signing her letter of intent with her mother.
Mya signing her letter of intent with her family.
Members of the Affton Elks presenting Christian with a plaque.
Christian with his mother, members of the Elks and assistant principal Dr. Middendorf.
Rep. Walsh Moore and Senior Amaal Ali
Rep. Walsh Moore and eighth grader Colin Hambidge
Nurses win state awards
All of the photos we took during graduation week are in a Google folder that can be found at this QR Code!
Bayless is proud to announce that two of its nurses have received prestigious awards from the Missouri Association of School Nurses (MASN).
District-Lead Nurse Becky Hovis has been awarded the “Outstanding Service of a School Nurse (RN)” Award, and Elementary Nurse Stephanie Averbeck received an Honorable Mention for the “Outstanding Service of an LPN” Award.
The MASN oversees school nurses across Missouri and presents six major awards each year. Hovis’ award honors a school nurse for their exceptional contributions to their school, district, or state organization. Averbeck’s Honorable Mention Award features some of the best LPNs in Missouri.
“We are grateful for Nurse Hovis and Nurse Averbeck, whose dedication and compassion provide our students with exceptional care every day,” Superintendent of Schools Amy Ruzicka said. “Their unwavering commitment to the health and well-being of our school community shines brightly, making them truly deserving of this state-level recognition.”
Their work is very special to the staff at Bayless Early Childhood Center and Bayless Elementary, where Hovis and Averbeck’s office is.
“These two nurses embody excellence, compassion and dedication,”
Principal Aaron Kohler said. “Becky Hovis and Stephanie Averbeck are a reminder of the immeasurable value school nurses bring to our students’ lives every day.”
Portrait of a Graduate: The weather with meteorologist
Alexis Clemons
Class of 2017 graduate Alexis Clemons Shines Brightly as a meteorologist for NBC Connecticut. She spends her days forecasting in one of the larger television markets in the country and being a Critical and Creative Thinker. Her elementary-school self may not have been as enthusiastic about the job.
Clemons was a sixth grader in 2011, when severe weather was a constant threat in Missouri. 2011 is one of the most tornadic years in recorded history. St. Louis had its fair share of severe thunderstorms, and Clemons was terrified of them. She remembers one that happened during school very clearly.
“We were all in class together, and you look outside — on the playgrounds, trees were almost sideways because of the wind, the sky was green, and my heart just completely sunk,” Clemons said. “We went into the hallway, and I just remember being completely terrified. I remember thinking to myself, ‘I cannot go through this mentally every single time a storm rolls through.’”
On the advice of a friend, she began to learn everything she could about storms to help take away the terror. One of the first storms she learned about was the Tri-State Tornado, a 1925 tornado that began south of St. Louis in Reynolds County, crossed through southern Illinois
and finally ended in Indiana. After a while, she fell in love with weather science.
“It was a passion for keeping people informed and safe,” Clemons said. “If it can help me, it can help other people. I always loved watching the meteorologists on TV, and that gave me comfort. That’s what I wanted to do.”
Her zeal did not wane during her time as a Broncho. After graduating in 2017, she attended meteorology school at Mizzou, which, despite Mizzou’s large enrollment, had smaller class sizes that made her feel right at home.
“It was like my own mini-Bayless,” Clemons said, comparing the size of her classes growing up and her meteorology classes in college. “I wanted to have that big school experience, so Mizzou was that great stepping stone for me. But the program itself was so small. Like at Bayless, everybody knew everybody and we had the best time.”
Clemons benefitted from Mizzou’s owner-
ship of NBC 8 KOMU, which is an NBC Affiliate station owned by the university. The station has several full-time anchors, meteorologists and other staff, but students comprise a large portion of the workforce.
The opportunities with KOMU meant Clemons got on-air experience as a weekend weathercaster before she finished school. She graduated with a large amount of on-air experience — something news stations look for in applicants.
After graduating, Clemons went to KODE/ KNSF (NBC) in Joplin, Missouri, to be a Weekday Morning Meteorologist. Starting there, she worked to develop herself into a trusted source of weather information, much like the meteorologists she watched growing up.
“Meteorologists get the (reputation) that we’re right 50% of the time,” Clemons said. “That’s always the joke, and I’ve heard it a lot. We have to be honest. If there is uncertainty in the forecast — I’m going to tell you. If we’re expecting a little more sunshine that day, that normally means temperatures will warm up.”
After Joplin, she moved to Madison, Wisconsin to be the Weekend Morning Meteorologist at WKOW (ABC). Her most recent move was to Hartford, Connecticut to join NBC Connecticut.
Moving from the Midwest to the Northeast came with a new understanding of how weather impacts local economies. For example, St. Louis frequently gets snow that melts when a warm front moves through. In Hartford, however, winters often stay cold for much longer. The city thrives on winter tourism and other winter-related industries.
Despite the new weather conditions in the Northeast, a big part of her job remains the same — being someone the community can trust. She and her fellow meteorologists have access to some of the most advanced weather data and systems available, and Clemons gets to be the face of a scientific community dedicated to helping people. And due to the advancement of technology and media, communicating the information they collect goes beyond a midday
“When my mom and dad would be getting us ready in the morning, they just threw the morning news on and said ‘hey, watch the morning weather to figure out how to dress for the day,’” Clemons said. “That’s what I did. Kids nowadays don’t necessarily do that — they look at apps.”
Because of this, Clemons frequently uses social media to provide another point of connection with her audience. She is very active on her Facebook page, providing updates on conditions around Connecticut. Clemons said she frequently gets messages from people when a made-up forecast calling for outlandish weather circulates online. Her presence on social media helps alleviate some of that.
The most important part of the expanded reach provided by social media ties back to what got Clemons into meteorology in the first place — severe weather. In a world of expanding media, local news stations are still the best source of immediate, accurate weather information when a severe storm occurs.
Wild weather is a part of life. But behind it all, Clemons is there forecasting, presenting on air, reaching people online, and being a Critical and Creative Thinker.
newscast.
Clemons standing next to Joe Broncho during her senior year.
Decorating graduation mortarboards has become a regular tradition at Bayless. These are some of the best from the Class of 2025!
Once a Broncho, Always a Broncho:
A wonderful part of the Bayless community is graduates who come back to teach and shine brightly in their home schools. We are excited to tell you about three more coming this fall!
Allison McManus, High School Teacher
Allison graduated with the Class of 2008 and has built an impressive educational resume — she has spent several years teaching in the Hancock Place School District. Her extensive experience makes her a valuable addition to the teaching staff at Bayless High School.
Brandon Gaffney, Elementary Teacher
Brandon graduated with the Class of 2017 and went on to attend Missouri State University. After completing his degree, he began his teaching career at Nixa Public Schools, located near Springfield, Missouri. Brandon is highly regarded by his colleagues in the Ozarks, and he is excited about the opportunity to make an impact with the Bronchos at Bayless Elementary this fall!
Lyna Le, Elementary Teacher
Lyna Le graduated with the Class of 2020, and attended school at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. She was very active in extracurriculars like choir, sports and more during her time as a student, and she is ready to start her teaching career in her elementary school!
9296 Gravois Road
Saint Louis, Missouri 63123
p. 314.256.8600 - f. 314.544.6315
Website: baylessk12.org
Read the magazine digitally at: issuu.com/baylessschools
Where’s Joe Broncho?
Joe was hiding on one page in the last issue of . In that issue, Joe was on page seven in a photo of a junior
high student walking across the stage at promotion. Can you find Joe the ONE time he appears in this issue?
New PriNciPal of the Year
Bayless has many great educators, including High School Principal Eric Lawrence, who was named New Principal of the Year by the St. Louis Association of Secondary School Principals this spring.
The award is for principals in their first years as a middle or high school principal, and given to a leader who embodies integrity, innovation and a steadfast commitment to creating a positive school culture. Mr. Lawrence received nearly 20 nominations from Bayless staff, a record amount for the award. He was surprised by the whole school when representatives from the SASSP came to honor him. You can see a video of the surprise by scanning the QR Code.
