Mary Kay Campbell, President Jeanne Schottmueller, Vice President
Dr. Dan Wentz, Secretary Lisa Kickbusch, Treasurer
Dr. Brian J. Gray, Director Jan Schweiss, Director Rená Simmons, Director
Dr. Barry Nelson Superintendent
More than 410 Pattonville High School seniors celebrated earning their diplomas during graduation on May 23. Top, members of the graduating Class of 2024 participate in the traditional cap toss at the end of the commencement ceremony. Left, Abdukodir Djuraev shares the love while walking across the stage at graduation. Above, Guadalupe Rojas Valdez holds her diploma up in celebration.
From the Superintendent Pattonville launches redesigned district website
Pattonville enhances Wi-Fi infrastructure for improved learning, safety
Dr. Barry Nelson Superintendent
Great news, Pattonville community! We are excited to announce that the installation of all necessary hardware for our Wi-Fi upgrade has been successfully completed. This significant enhancement promises a more reliable and efficient Wi-Fi experience for everyone using Pattonville devices, ensuring smoother access to online resources and better connectivity throughout our schools. Key improvements from the Wi-Fi upgrade include:
Improved Wi-Fi Coverage: Our Wi-Fi coverage has been greatly expanded with the installation of new access points cabling and switches, including strategic placements in hallways. This enhancement ensures that every corner of our schools is covered, providing consistent and robust internet access for all students and staff.
Safer Schools: With the upgraded internet, Wi-Fi calling can be used on personal phones in case of emergency. This feature is a crucial addition to our safety protocols, helping to keep everyone in our schools safe by ensuring reliable communication during critical times.
Easier Connections: Connecting to the school network is simpler than ever. We have consolidated our network into a single, easily accessible network named Pattonville Schools. Use the password gopirates to connect all devices to this network, creating seamless access for students, staff and visitors.
Wi-Fi Calling: To facilitate voice calls and messages over Wi-Fi, users need to enable Wi-Fi Calling in their phone settings. Instructions are provided on posters displayed around the buildings, ensuring everyone can set up this feature with ease.
Guest Access: Visitors and guests in our buildings can connect to the Pattonville Schools Wi-Fi using the password gopirates. They will have access to Wi-Fi calling and limited internet services. For guests working in a professional capacity requiring access to YouTube or social media during school hours, special registration is available to grant access as appropriate.
Staff Personal Device Access: Staff members can register their personal devices to receive the staff internet filter, allowing access to social media and other resources. This registration process identifies the device as a known, trusted device on our network, ensuring secure and appropriate access. We are committed to ensuring that our Wi-Fi infrastructure meets the diverse needs of our community. The improved internet connectivity will have a substantial impact on students using iPads or laptops for learning tasks, providing them with uninterrupted access to educational resources and online learning platforms.
Thank you for your continued support in making Pattonville a better place for learning and growth.
Stay connected and stay safe, Pattonville!
The Pattonville School District launched its newly redesigned website on June 14. Last fall, the district surveyed users and learned the community wanted a site that is accessible, searchable and easy to navigate for finding essential resources. Focusing on that, the new website highlights information stakeholders are looking for, including school updates, events and news. Throughout the spring, Pattonville worked to create the new
website that meets the needs of the community’s needs.
To help find resources quickly, students, families and staff now have their own hubs that are intended to be one-stop-shop for information most requested and needed for each group. These hubs are easily accessible in the top navigation of each page. Accessibility is also a focus on the new site, ensuring is available to all. Visit www.psdr3.org to see the site.
Deckelman named principal of Willow Brook Elementary
The Pattonville Board of Education on May 14 approved the selection of Dr. Ashley Deckelman as the principal of Willow Brook Elementary School, effective July 1. Deckelman is currently the assistant principal of Oak Brook Elementary School in the Parkway School District. Also at Parkway, Deckelman served as a first grade teacher at Oak Brook, an administrative intern at Barretts Elementary School and a technology integration specialist across four schools.
Prior to that, Deckelman was a fifth grade teacher in the Rockwood School District and third grade teacher in the Sullivan School District.
Deckelman has a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from Southeast Missouri State University, a master’s degree in administration from William Woods University and a doctorate in education leadership from Maryville University.
Deckelman will fill the position being vacated by Kim Dannegger, who is taking a position as the director of elementary programming in the Wentzville School District.
High school Green Team places first in Green Schools Quest
The Pattonville High School Green Team placed first in the high school division of the 2024 Green Schools Quest. Intended to build a more sustainable community and a greener future, Green Schools Quest (GSQ) is an annual project-based, student-driven challenge where students devise and implement no- or low-cost sustainability projects at their school. During a six-month period, students work with a community volunteer who serves as a Green Mentor and document the impact of their work, including energy savings or increased biodiversity. That project is then judged by an impartial, expert panel of judges from across the country.
“We are thrilled to share this prestigious award is the result of about two years of hard work from student volunteers with a focus on sustainability,” science teacher and Green Team sponsor Lauren Church said. “Thank you for supporting the Green Team! We will pursue state and national criteria in the coming years for Pattonville High School to be recognized as a National Green Ribbon School.”
The Green Team focused on the sustainability work they completed during the 2022-2023 school year, titling their project What’s Old is New Again. The goal of their project was to focus on physical space while improving organizational culture. Because the high school shares a property boundary with the Champ Landfill, the Green Team is focused on reducing landfill waste.
“Many of our action plans have centered around waste diversion and minimization, recycling or reusing all possible materials, composting food waste and utilizing our resources wisely,” the group wrote in a report. “Our long-term sustainability awareness goal at PHS is to have a zero-landfill policy within our building.”
The Green Team volunteers to collect recycling in the building each week. After noting a high percentage of trash left in the recycling bins, the team created an awareness campaign and designed a sign for the bins that better outlined what is recyclable. Students also used recyclable materials to create something beautiful. The team collected paper and reused it to make recycled paper with seeds native to Missouri in it. The Green Team collaborated with other clubs to host a Valentine’s Day fundraiser to sell a small gift along with a note written on the seed paper. They raised $200 to donate to Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital.
The Green Team is also responsible for a composting project between other students and custodial staff. In order to raise funds to host an electronic recycling event, the students developed a sustainable fundraiser where they sold hot chocolate, offering a discount for anyone who brought their own reusable cup.
“The number of projects the Green Team submitted was astounding to the judges and demonstrated an exemplary commitment to biodiversity, climate change reversal, sustainable practices and healthy living for both students and staff,” said Dr. Deborah Rogers Curtis, Green Schools coordinator for the Missouri Gateway Green Building Council.
Maggie McCoy, climate change education coordinator at the Missouri Botanical Garden, was Pattonville’s mentor. Senior Mikayla Jones attended the annual Green Schools Event on April 25 where the award was announced. During the Pattonville Board of Education meeting on May 14, Rogers Curtis presented Church and senior Green Team leader Eliora Adler with a certificate and a hand-blown stained glass trophy made out of recycled glass by local artisans at Third Degree Glass Factory. The award was a reflection of the beautiful, sustainable world the students are creating. The Green Team also received $400 to put toward their sustainability endeavors.
Ashley Deckelman
Pattonville High School science teacher and Green Team sponsor Lauren Church, left, and senior Eliora Adler, center, are presented with a Green Schools Quest award by Green Schools coordinator Deborah Rogers Curtis.
Our Learners Spotlight on
News focusing on students, staff and schools in Pattonville
n a display of environmental awareness and innovation, second graders at Willow Brook Elementary School unveiled a collection of robots crafted from recycled materials to address the issue of littering and to promote recycling.
Teacher Katie Ackman said the activity was sparked by the students’ interest after watching the movie “Wall-E” around Earth Day.
“At the end of the day or during indoor recess, we were watching 15-minute increments of the movie ‘Wall-E,’” Ackman said. “One of my students, Zarhri Spencer, said, ‘Hey, when we finish the movie, can we write about it?’ and that led to another student, Kameron Like, suggesting they create their own robots to address environmental issues.”
The project was not only an opportunity for handson learning but also served as a platform for the students to share their innovative solutions with their peers. Other classes were invited to attend a showcase of the student-created robots.
PARKWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
“We’re telling the other students about our robots,” Spencer said. “My robot’s job is to pick up trash and help the world.”
The students exhibited not only their grasp of scientific concepts but also their dedication to making a positive impact on their environment.
“We built robots that could help the world because there’s too much littering in the world,” said Sydney Kettinger, who named her creation Taylor as a tribute to Taylor Swift. “I can take my robot out on walks because it has wheels made out of toilet paper rolls and it has a box with a hole in it so when I see trash, I can pick it up and put it in the box.”
Like shared that his robot, Nibl’s, was designed to repurpose trash into new, usable objects.
“I came up with the idea to build the robot because I thought there was too much trash,” he said. “This robot can help with that because it takes three seconds and ta-da, it turns the trash into something new.”
Ackman put out a Dojo message and a schoolwide
Second graders earn themed learning day for exhibiting
While most people wait for summer to go camping, second graders at Parkwood Elementary School got a head start by enjoying an adventurous camping day right in their classroom. This special day was a reward because of their behavior in the hallway and their special area classes like art, music and PE.
The classes earned the celebration by showing good behavior and outstanding actions, as well as getting all of the marbles in a Kerplunk game to fall. Teacher Mallory Hamilton said the marbles only fall when students receive a good report or compliment in the hallways, making it a true team effort to earn the reward.
“The Kerplunk game is how I motivate the students,” Hamilton said. “They get to pull a stick every time they get a Good or Super rating during their specials classes. When all the marbles fall, they earn a reward day. This time, camping day was the reward they chose.”
The event featured a variety of camping-themed activities.
“We had the lights down and flashlights out and the students brought in pillows and blankets to make tents at their desks,” Hamilton said. “We had s’mores, watched ‘Curious George Goes Camping’ and played a toasted marshmallow-themed math game. They did all their reading and work by flashlight as well.”
The students were highly engaged, building their own forts with blankets and pillows.
“The kids really enjoyed it and even made their own forts in my room,” teacher Cathy Selleck said. “They spent a good 20 minutes moving their desks and chairs in order to set everything up and figured out how to use books to help keep the blankets up. They even created a bus on their own and pretended to drive down to camp while
email asking for recyclable, clean, non-sharp objects for the students to use.
“They followed the design process from our science curriculum, starting with creating drawings,” Ackman said. “Then they made a playdough prototype and finally got to construct the actual robots and wrote about it. We incorporated our science standards of force and motion and incorporated some geometry concepts in there, too. We got to touch on a lot of subjects.”
The project not only engaged students in hands-on learning but also integrated academic concepts and soft skills, like helping each other and public speaking.
“It was a really neat project that totally came from them,” Ackman said. “That’s what made it special.”
Through their creativity and determination, the second graders hope to make a positive change in the world, one robot at a time.
“We need to make the world a better place and make pollution stop and global warming stop, too,” Kettinger said.
good behavior during year
singing ‘Wheels on the Bus.’” Second grader Brooklynn White shared her excitement about the day.
“We got to pick what we wanted to do and I was really excited about it,” she said. “We did activities, had s’mores, watched shows and talked with our friends. At the end of the day, we even got to play on the iPads.”
White’s sense of community and teamwork was evident in the encouragement of her friends.
“I encouraged my friends to get a Super (rating) every day,” White said. “It’s a class effort, and we all worked together for it.”
Camping day was one of several rewards the classes earned throughout the year, which also included movie day and pizza day.
“We reached our class reward goal three times this year,” Hamilton said. “Camping day was definitely a highlight, and it was a super day for everyone involved.”
Second graders at Parkwood Elementary School participate in a camping-themed activity. Shown are Harmony Guy, back left, and Ozzy Johnson.
Second graders at Willow Brook Elementary School created robots to address environmental issues and presented them to their schoolmates. Right, second grader Sydney Kettinger, left, is interviewed by fifth grader Ambar Zaman about her robot. Center, second grader Rue Miller, left, shows off her robot to third grader Jahkyla Johnson. Far right, second grader Keyonni Hollins designed herself as a robot to show how her robot would move.
greenhouse at the Waste Connections Sustainability Campus next to the school. Left, senior Kyle Brenner, left, helps theater teacher Lara Corvera with her plant purchase. Right, junior Jessica Bae sets out samples of foods made by
PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Plant sale shares items grown in greenhouse
Students in Applied Science and Technology classes at Pattonville High School hosted a plant sale and farmers market at the school’s greenhouse located at the Waste Connections Sustainability Campus. They offered a number of plants, including vegetables, herbs and flowers, and various up-cycled goods.
“All of the plants that are for sale were grown over the course of the semester by the students in our classes,” junior Jessica Bae said.
Prices for products were as marked, with containers ranging from $3 to $10. Fresh herbs were priced at $2 per ounce, while local honey sourced from Champ Landfill Sustainability Campus was available for $5.
Contributions from students in family and consumer sciences teacher Janet Kuhn’s class were also featured.
“The dill to make the dill pickles came from us, and they also prepared compound butters using herbs we grew,” science teacher Amy Schwendemann said. “We are selling those two for $1.”
Recipes and serving suggestions for the lemon dill, cilantro lime and mixed herb compound butters were also available. Bae handed out samples to individuals visiting the sale.
“We grew everything that we’re selling today but the food sciences class used our herbs to prepare the food,” she said. “We’re in a symbiotic relationship all together.”
In total, the classes raised $2,350. Proceeds from the sale will support the greenhouse and Schwendemann’s classes.
“All of the money raised will go back to the students and the class to purchase more seeds, soil or containers and to fund other things for the greenhouse,” Schwendemann said.
BRIDGEWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
HOLMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Students try Mexican foods, traditions
As the school year drew to a close, classrooms across the Pattonville School District were enjoying end-of-year activities to celebrate a year of learning and growth, and Holman Middle School Spanish teacher Alicia Dietz’s classes were no exception. Their festivities reflected the cultures and language they studied throughout the year
At the conclusion of each school year, Dietz visits a local Mexican market to select a variety of authentic snacks for her students to sample. For the 24th year of this tradition, she picked up an assortment of treats from El Morelia Supermercado, a grocery store near Holman. Her selection for students to try included Duvalin candies, Marias Gamesa cookies, Vero Pinta Azul lollipops and more.
“I liked the Corn Brights,” seventh grader Gillian Volz said. “Those were really good. They tasted like Lucky Charms cereal.”
Other snacks favored by students included Churrumais con Limoncito, which seventh grader Bailyn Allen said reminded her of Takis chips with the addition of a lime flavor. The students enjoyed tasting and comparing the different items and learning the names of these snacks, which were new to many of them.
“It’s a chance for them to try foods they’ve never tried before or would never choose on their own,” Dietz said.
The students talk about food throughout the year in their Spanish class, so this day allowed the students to immerse their senses into the subject in a way they could all have fun with. The taste testing was just part of the celebration, as the students also got to take a swing at a piñata during one of their last classes. On the last full day of school, the skies cleared to make the perfect day for Dietz to take each of her Spanish classes outside where they found a sturdy tree branch to tie a piñata to.
“Piñatas are traditionally used at birthday celebrations, so we learned the birthday song to go along with it,” Dietz said. The words were taped to the tree for the students to reference.
Students learned and practiced singing the traditional piñata song in class beforehand and recited part of the lyrics in Spanish to count off each student’s three attempts to swing and break open the piñata.
These end-of-year activities provided a fun and festive atmosphere to celebrate the school year in a way that reinforced topics and lessons they learned about in Spanish class.
Kindergartners explore animal kingdom with research, presentations to classmates
Kindergarten classrooms at Bridgeway Elementary School explored the animal kingdom through research presentations and colorful posters. As part of their science unit on living things, kindergartners worked alongside their classmates in small groups to learn all about a specific animal, focusing on that animal’s diet, habitat and other key characteristics.
Each group prepared to report their findings, pasting papers and pictures on a poster to present and share their newfound knowledge with the rest of the students in their class. Each poster included a photo of the animal, an outline of a plate on which they wrote down and drew what their animal’s diet consists of and a description of the animal’s habitat, accompanied by additional student drawings. Each group’s poster also included a piece of paper with their presentation’s title and featured a special photo printed out of the group members smiling together.
Each group of students came to the front of their classroom to present their posters and new knowledge to their classmates. The kindergartners took turns proudly sharing facts about their animals, ranging from spiders to penguins to axolotls. Each group member shared a different characteristic from their poster, so the classes heard from each other about a wide variety of habitats and diets across the animal kingdom.
Two kindergartners in Christa Griffith’s class,
Greyson Fitzgerald and Khalil Johnson, worked together to create a poster about eagles.
“I liked learning about what eagles eat,” Fitzgerald said. “They eat fish and rabbits.”
Fitzgerald and Johnson also told their classmates why they both think eagles are one of the coolest species of birds, explaining that eagles don’t have any natural predators due to their large size and impressive flying speed. The two students were eager to share both the facts they learned and their personal interest in these animals. Johnson was able to add to his description of eagles based on his own experience seeing one at his home.
“One day I saw an eagle in my backyard and my mom took a picture of it,” Johnson said.
The presentation portion of this project allowed for students to share their enthusiasm and have additional peer engagement as they could be asked questions about their animal. When each student stood in front of their classmates, they had a special opportunity to practice their speaking and presentation skills and feel a sense of pride in their work when they saw their peers eagerly raising their hands to ask questions, showing an interest in what the group was sharing.
This project allowed the kindergartners to learn the science material, practice working on a team and build confidence in their interests and abilities.
Kindergartners at Bridgeway Elementary School explored the animal kingdom through research and classroom presentations. Top, Savannah Bendawald, left, and Nia Steinbeck, right, watch as their teammate Colin Biship calls on his classmate who has a question about worms. Above, from left, kindergartners Michael Moore, Finn Jacobsen and Gabriella Hunter share information about penguins.
Students at Pattonville High School organized a plant sale at the school’s
high school culinary arts students using plants from the greenhouse.
Holman Middle School seventh grader James Stevens Jr. hits a piñata open during a Spanish unit highlighting Mexican food and traditions.
Growing flowers teaches students care for plants
At the Pattonville Early Childhood Center, students in Erika Dietrich’s classroom, nicknamed the lions class, learned about plants and their basic needs like water, sunlight and components of their life cycle to understand how they grow from small seeds to full-sized plants. When they were ready to apply their knowledge and test out their green thumbs, each student received their own seeds to plant a wildflower mix. They scooped soil and dropped the seeds into their own plant containers that each student happily personalized and decorated with markers and stickers.
Over the course of the next few weeks, the students kept up with the necessary maintenance to care for their seeds, making sure they received enough sunlight, watering them and visiting them at the windowsill in their classroom to check on their progress each day. Each of these tenets of care were part of specific routines they practiced.
“Students are learning how to be responsible through caring for their plants,” Dietrich said.
When tending to the plants, the students were guided by instructions they carefully followed from their teachers. At watering time, they took turns carrying their plants outside and used a spray bottle to hydrate their growing flowers. Dietrich would prompt the students with a specific number of sprays to use each day, allowing the students to practice adapting to different instructions while reinforcing their counting skills. The early childhood students were eager to count their sprays out loud, often continuing to count upwards after they passed the spray bottle to the next student in their class.
“I can count up to 100,” early childhood student Seher Kalantri said. “Actually, I can count to 200.”
Every step in the plant care routine students were able to complete on their own nurtured a sense of confidence and responsibility as they learned the importance of consistent and proper care their plants needed in order to see them grow. They learned a tangible lesson about the rewards of patience and commitment when they saw stems sprout from the dirt, leaves branch out and eventually colorful flowers blooming. At the culmination of their work, the students were able to take their plants home on the weekend of Mother’s Day to give to a loved one, making for a very special gift.
ROSE ACRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Students follow
toy drive with playground donation
The new playground at Rose Acres Elementary School that’s being installed this summer is getting a special piece of equipment that was donated by students in the school. A group of students in PEGS (Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students) won a $2,000 grant for their video presentation in the 2023 Leader in Me (LIM) International Speech Contest. Their video focused on the toy drive students in the PEGS did last school year to help students find friends during indoor recess. This natural next step will allow students to make new friends, this time during outdoor recess. Their video submission about the toy drive proved popular. After winning the grant, Dean Dafflitto and Max Schneider were so excited, and decided to take their project a step further.
“We won the $2,000 award for the speech,” Dafflitto said. “We were really happy. Then this year came around, and we had the idea for recess but this time for outdoors.”
It was that idea that led to them deciding to donate their grant money to the playground and choosing to purchase a balance beam. They followed the winning 2023 speech up with a speech this school year about using their grant money for the playground equipment.
“Now that we have real money, we want to do something bigger,” Dafflitto said in the video submission. “We decided we could use our grant money to contribute to the playground. We feel really good to be able to help out our school for all the kids to have fun and a better place for recess.”
The selection for the balance beam came during a meeting with principal Dr. Adam Crnko. Dafflitto and Schneider looked at photos of items that cost $2,000 and ultimately decided on the balance beam because, Dafflitto said, it was the most unique thing they saw.
“It came full circle, which is really cool,” PEGS teacher Robin Chang said. “In the beginning, they wanted to do something they didn’t have the funds for and came up with a fundraiser. This year they had the funds and found a way to use them that was creative because it expanded on their original idea and making an even bigger impact on their school with that. It benefits all of the students.”
Each year, the PEGS students submit a speech to the LIM contest.
“It’s an opportunity for them to use their leadership and find a way to do community service,” Chang said. “They’re thinking of ways they can help and make a difference and not about what they get for themselves. They also get leadership experience and a chance to practice giving speeches and presentations. They get really excited about that whole process. They know the videos are going to be seen and they have a real external audience. That’s really exciting to them. This is a chance to let their voice be heard, practice all of these skills and think about what their role is in the community.”
Watch the 2024 speech at https://bit.ly/PEGSspeech2024.
PATTONVILLE HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Launching rockets teach motion
Pattonville Heights Middle School students had a blast as they launched rockets they designed and built themselves. After wrapping up a unit on force and motion, students used a Pitsco Rocket Kit to bring their creations to life.
“We learned how engine forces push rockets up and talked about the engineering design and the process of building the rockets,” science teacher Hunter Drew said.
The model rockets were launched using electrical charges. The battery heats a wire that ignites the starter, firing the engine and lifting the rocket. After a few seconds, an ejection charge deploys the parachute.
“This is an activity we do every year in eighth grade science,” science teacher Mike Burgio said. “We do a force and motion unit in physics and we save this for the end of the school year because it’s a fun hands-on project with a lot of steps involved.”
Science teacher Kate Weber emphasized the importance of documentation in the project.
“We had students document their step-by-step process using their iPads. From building their rockets, to decorating them and launching them, we had them take pictures and videos to create a report of the process.”
The project spanned about two weeks, with one week dedicated to building the rockets and the following week for launching them.
“We rolled paper around a tube to make the shaft, and we had to make it a certain length and then we hot-glued the fins on, which we cut out using a pattern,” student Brody Schaumberger said. “We had to make the parachute and assemble the engine mount before putting it all together and coming out here to launch it.”
The activity was true rocket science, and some students discovered that their ideas didn’t always lead to successful launches. Student Makhia Williams shared that her group’s parachute design did not work as planned.
“We made our parachute heart-shaped, but it didn’t stay attached,” she said. “We should have made it an octagon to make it wider and it might have worked better.”
Some students added creative touches to their rockets.
“We decorated our rocket’s tail fins with different flags,” student Henry Urbina said. “We drew the flags of Mexico, El Salvador and the United States on it.”
As the rockets drifted back down, students from the science classes of Burgio, Drew, Weber, and Michael Winship ran onto the football field to try and catch them.
Eighth graders at Pattonville Heights Middle School design and build rockets as part of a unit on force and motion.
Above, students in science teacher Mike Burgio’s class launch a rocket they made. Left, science teacher Kate Weber, right, helps Sadie Westmoreland, left, and Anthony Vasquez Madrid load their rocket for launch.
Rose Acres Elementary School students are using funds from a speech contest to provide new playground equipment. Students who participated in the contest are, front row, Max Schneider, left, and Dean Dafflitto, center. They are shown with school principal Dr. Adam Crnko, right.
Pattonville Early Childhood Center students, from left, Arjun Viraj Samudrala, Delilah Trochtenberg and Seher Kalantri water wildflowers they are growing.
Students at Remington Traditional School participate in a gardening-themed Extended Learning Opportunity (ELO). Right, kindergartners April Lopez Esteban, left, and Olivia Hulett, center, plant decorative flowers that fourth grader Olivia Moore brings them. Middle, Hulett hangs a decorative item in the garden. Right, third grade teacher
REMINGTON TRADITIONAL
SCHOOL
Students revitalize school garden in choice program
Remington Traditional School launched a series of Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs), offering about 24 different activities to students. These sessions, held on Fridays for four weeks in the spring, included a variety of clubs and hands-on projects. Among these, the courtyard clean-up project, led by third grade teacher Christy Hillier, had students transform an underutilized space into a garden.
Kindergartner Olivia Hulett observed the initial state of the courtyard.
“There were lots of weeds and there were no flowers,” she said.
The project involved extensive weeding and planting. Hillier described the initial efforts.
“We got garden shovels and we learned how to pull out the weeds the right way so they don’t come back,” she said. “We dug down deep and got the weeds out and then the district came and laid some mulch for us.”
The transformation began with second grader Kairi Porzel and the other kindergarten through fifth graders creating art for the space.
“In one of our first meetings, we painted rocks and put them out in the garden to decorate it,” Porzel said.
The project aimed to create a space that would attract classes and encourage outdoor activities.
“No classes would go out there before we started cleaning it up, but our hope is that maybe they will want to read a book or do something out there now,” Hillier said.
“The kids are really excited about that.”
DRUMMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Students were actively involved in the beautification efforts.
“We filled pots with soil and planted the flowers and painted some rocks and used them to decorate the garden,” fourth grader Olivia Moore said.
Hillier explained the selection process for the ELOs.
“The teachers kind of threw out some options on what we were interested in working on. I’ve always tried to help in the garden, so I thought it’d be fun as an ELO,” she said. “The kids did a Google Form and chose their top three preferences, and those interested in courtyard clean-up joined us.”
Paraprofessional Cindy Rolfe and Special School District (SSD) teacher assistant Shareefah el-Amin Fox also played significant roles in the project.
“We have some future plans, like we want to add more chairs so kids can sit out and read,” Hillier said. “It’s a work in progress.”
The students already added windmills and solar-powered lights for decoration. The collaborative effort not only beautified the school grounds but also fostered a sense of community and pride among the students.
“We made this space something that people actually want to use,” second grader Rosalie Baker said.
Next school year, ELOs will be offered bi-weekly with three different sessions and will incorporate more student ideas for options. Additionally, teachers have already submitted ideas with courtyard clean-up again being an option, allowing students to have enriching activities and learning opportunities outside the classroom setting.
Masked Reader competition brings mystery to week-long reading activity
I
n a creative and educational twist inspired by the TV show “The Masked Singer,” students at Drummond Elementary School were treated to a Masked Reader event. This week-long initiative, organized by library technology specialist Sierra Dertinger and fourth grade teacher Ginger Roberts, aimed to provide a fun and engaging activity related to books for students, immersing them into story time with an extra level of enthusiasm. Various staff members volunteered to fill the role of masked readers. These secret contestants read a picture book of their choosing while wearing elaborate masks and disguises including black capes and snow gloves
to conceal their identities. Assistant principal Carley Tankersley wore a pigeon mask while reading “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” by Mo Willems, while another anonymous reader (who was unmasked as reading specialist Laura Witte) portrayed the purple dinosaur character Barney while reading a book titled “How Do Dinosaurs Choose Their Pets?” by Jane Yolen. The videos were also edited with voice distortions, making it even more challenging for students to recognize the readers, while simultaneously adding another amusing element that students loved.
“My favorite was the upset baby,” fourth grader Jacquelynn Gabriel-Smith said. “It was just so funny. My whole class couldn’t stop laughing.”
Students watched three of these reading videos each day over the span of four days. Accompanying each video was a clue from each staff member to give a hint at their identity. The creativity behind the disguises and the entertaining style of the read-alouds sparked endless conversations throughout the school that week, with students and staff enthusiastically guessing who might be behind each mask. Each day, the students eagerly anticipated the next set of videos, excited to see the next set of characters and fun storytelling awaiting them. At the end of the week, students cast their votes for their favorite masked reader.
The following week, the entire school gathered for an assembly to unveil the identities of the masked readers and announce the grand winner. The masked readers sat in their costumes at a long table on a stage in front of the full room of students, who were filled with high energy and anticipation as they waited to discover who each of the staff readers were. Roberts served as the energetic emcee of the event while Dertinger, wearing
a shark head in solidarity with the masked readers, projected a slideshow presentation to go along with reintroducing each masked reader. They read aloud the name of the masked character and the name of the book they read, along with the clue that students previously heard from the videos the week before. They surprised the students by reading off two additional new clues for each reader right before the reveal, which caused a chatter of reactions from students as they suddenly questioned or reaffirmed their previous predictions.
“My favorite part was finding out everything to see if we guessed correctly,” fourth grader Colden Heitman said.
While some students managed to make accurate predictions, most were completely surprised. Gabriel-Smith’s own classroom teacher, Amy Powell, was revealed as the reader under the squirrel mask.
“I guessed some of them correctly, but I had no clue about Ms. Powell,” she said. “I didn’t even think to guess her.”
At the very end, the staff member under the German shepherd mask was announced as the big winner and revealed as second grade teacher Nicole Dye, causing an eruption of cheers from the students. Following the excitement, some students talked about costumes and books they would choose if they were a masked reader contestant. Heitman said he would read a Dr. Seuss story and Gabriel-Smith said she’d want to read something from her favorite graphic novels, the “I Survived” series by Lauren Tarshis. The masked readers created a collective enthusiasm toward reading for everyone in the building. The project garnered positive reviews across the school, with staff praising how much students from every grade level enjoyed the entire process.
Christy Hillier leads students in creating paper flowers for the garden. They are, from left, Moore, Lopez Esteban, kindergartner Everett Openlander, fourth grader Nora Crump and Hulett.
Above, Drummond Elementary School first grader Celine Mukendi answers a question from teacher Ginger Roberts during a Masked Reader assembly. Left, reading specialist Laura Witte reveals her identify after hiding in a Barney the dinosaur mask.
BRAGGING WRITES
Honors,
Awards
and
Achievements by Pattonville Students and Staff
BRIDGEWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Foundry Art Centre gallery Students had artwork on display in the Baue Family Children’s Gallery at the Foundry Art Centre in St. Charles.
and, back row, Jessie Donohue, Harper Woods, Kimora Brotherton, Ashley Green and Khloe Jones Thomas.
Students who had artwork selected were Mariyah Abdelbaset, Kimora Brotherton, Cecily Brush, Jessie Donohue, Miriam Eader, Evelyn Ellerbusch, June Evans, Kennedy Fowler, Kinlee Gordon, Ashley Green, Tamia Hardwrict, Madison Hopson, Cohen Howell, Delilah Howell, Cortez Jones Jr., Khloe Jones Thomas, Finn Kahsen, Claire Lau, Tiffany Pan, Alya Selli, Lily Sunderman, Aarinne Thomas, Jace Thomas, Selena Washington, Harper Woods and Zakerya Zaky. These students were taught by art teacher Mollie Ahlers.
PARKWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ROSE ACRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Foundry Art Centre gallery
Students who had their artwork selected to be on display in the Children’s Gallery exhibition at the Foundry Art Centre were Ella Buechter, Ella Buerck, Isabel Carlson, Jack Figueroa, Anastasia Gura, Sean Hendrick, Aaliyah Johnson, Darren Johnson Jr., Alex Ko, Carrie Mojica, Ximena Ortega Garcia, Zachary Sumner and Aimie Wanaswa. These students were taught by art teacher Rhondalyn Logan.
Zachary Sumner.
WILLOW BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
Botanical Garden art exhibition
Students from Parkwood Elementary School who had artwork in the Foundry Art Centre gallery include, from left, front row, Camilla Littlejohn, Madison Saettele, CarLeh Dabney and Valerie Rodriguez; and, back row, My’oni Fips, Lindsey Hawkins and Ava Gumble.
Foundry Art Centre gallery Students who had artwork selected for display in the Children’s Gallery at the Foundry Art Centre were Dayana Al Amri, Savannah Anderson, Adrian Byrne, Malia Cables, Mina Coleman, CarLeh Dabney, Darrell Dunston, Dani Eisen, Amorreyah Estrada El, My’oni Fips, Ava Gumble, Lindsey Hawkins, Elliot Helvey, Dylan Howard, Iyhana Jones, Jiron Jurilla, Kyla Lindsay, Camilla Littlejohn, Justus Midkiff, Owen Moore, Brian Padilla Jimenez, Ava Payne, Ethan Payne, Rachel Pierce, Valerie Rodriguez, Madison Saettele, Paige Terrell, Kamaia Warner, Ava West, Ayden Williams and River Woods. They were taught by art teacher Janel MacLean.
Greater St. Louis Science Fair
Students from Rose Acres Elementary School who earned ribbons at the science fair include, from left, front row, Raelyn Wilson, Liam Wilson, Levi Dukes and Abigail Donjon; and, back row, Dean Dafflitto, Oscar Kwon, Lola Dafflitto, Jacaranda Reinertson and Charles Stage.
Greater St. Louis Science Fair
Earning a blue ribbon at the St. Louis Science Fair were Sean Hendrick, Tarren Neels, Liam Wilson and Raelyn Wilson. Kolton Carlson earned a red ribbon. These students were sponsored by district technology specialist Sarah Funderburk. The following students from PEGS earned blue ribbons: Levi Dukes, Abigail Donjon, Vivien Hescock, Pearl Krieger and Jacaranda Reinertson, who also earned the MOST 529 Award. Earning a green ribbon was Oscar Kwon. Additionally, a group of PEGS students earned a ribbon for their group project. Students who were part of that group were Dean Dafflitto, Lola Dafflitto, Christian Huiswoud, Kwon, Reinertson and Charles Stage. The PEGS students were taught by Allison Bennett and Robin Chang.
Students were selected to have their artwork on display as part of the Kernels of Culture: Maize Around the World exhibition in the Stephen and Peter Sachs Museum at the Missouri Botanical Garden. This multimedia exhibit explores the history and modern integration of corn through elements of art, farming, foods, community, tools and popular culture. The exhibit opened on May 3 and runs through March 31, 2025. Students who had their artwork selected were Avery Adewunmi, Ava Ambrose, Gregory Aubuchon, Alexa Chanocua Ruiz, Olivia Clark, Simon Davis, Aidan De Guzman, Claudia Emerick, Chevy Engemann, Nathaly Escobar Aguilar, Jane Farrell, Camille Fields, Vivian Forst, Danna Gutierrez Rangel, Ben Harlow, Dalin Jones, Olivia Kaufman, Henry Kelly, Yadier Lemus Martinez, Chelsea Marsala, Daniela Martinez, Namirah Morrow, Sophia Panfilov, Zane Rooks, London Staton Ramey, Aria Sutton, Ida Terbrock, Mahika Tomar, Destini Varela, Josselin Vasquez Alvarado, Audrina Weatherspoon, Jacobi West, Logan Woolridge and Brenda Zamacona-Orozco. These students were taught by art teachers Dawn Lynn and Michelle Petke.
Earning honors at the St. Louis Science Fair were Maddie Cremer, who earned a blue ribbon and the MOST 529 Award, and Cate Howard, who earned a green ribbon and the Bayer Outstanding Young Scientists Award. Helen Besserman and Ezra Shanks earned a red ribbon. Earning a green ribbon were Apollo Littlejohn, Alexander Mitchell, Barrett Weber and Colton Weber. These students were sponsored by first grade teacher Tiffany Laughlin and fifth grade teacher Regina Wright.
Leader in Me speech contest
A group of students from the PEGS gifted program were selected in the top 15 of international finalists of the Leader in Me (LIM) International Speech Contest after earning third place in the regional contest. The prompt was to submit a video sharing how they have chosen to be leaders in an unexpected, informal or non-traditional way. These students chose to highlight their student lobbyists group, through which they have lobbied for issues such as stray and rescue animal adoption. The students who were part of this project were Levi Dukes, Dawanzelle Hopson and Andrew Meyer Tuter. They were taught by PEGS teachers Allison Bennett and Robin Chang.
Greater St. Louis Science Fair
Earning a blue ribbon at the St. Louis Science Fair were Adrienne Butler, Alice Butler, Jane Farrell, who also earned the Bayer Outstanding Young Scientists Award, Vivian Forst, Maura Guss, Caitlyn Jamieson and Lindsey Jamieson, who also earned a red ribbon. Also earning a red ribbon was Kallie Prichard. Earning a green ribbon was Lennon Moorman. These students were sponsored by elementary interventionist teacher Brandy Fowler and third grade teacher Billy Thompson.
Bridgeway Elementary School students who had artwork in the Foundry Art Centre gallery include, from left, front row, Jace Thomas, June Evans, Selena Washington, Alya Selli and Cortez Jones Jr.
Students from Rose Acres Elementary School who had artwork in the Foundry Art Centre gallery include, from left, Anastasia Gura, Alexander Ko and
Students from Willow Brook Elementary School who had artwork on display at the Missouri Botanical Garden include, from left, front row, Chevy Engemann and Yadier Lemus Martinez; and Jane Farrell, Alexa Chanocua Ruiz and Josselin Vasquez Alvarado.
Students from Willow Brook Elementary School who earned ribbons at the science fair include, from left, front row, Adrienne Butler, Alice Butler and Lennon Moorman; and, back row, Jane Farrell, Kallie Prichard and Maura Guss.
Students from Parkwood Elementary School who earned ribbons at the science fair include, from left, front row, Cate Howard and Alexander Mitchell; and, back row, Maddie Cremer, Apollo Littlejohn and Ezra Shanks.
REMINGTON TRADITIONAL SCHOOL
Foundry Art Centre gallery
Students who had their artwork selected to be on display in the Children’s Gallery exhibition at the Foundry Art Centre were Leah Brown, Knightly Colbert Weiss, Maycie Cook, Azra Fatima, Gruxton Hartley, Anna Ji, Hayley Jones, Avignya Maram, Finn Sanders Guerrero, Advay Sankpal, Neo Warren and Noelle Wilson. These students were taught by art teacher Emily Ludwinski.
Students from Holman Middle School who earned honors in band include, from left, front row, William Woerheide, Joey Woods III, Yancey Fields-Blanchard II, Jack Lopez Martinez, Aarav Patel, Zoey Pollard, Maritza Lopez Martinez and Maple Fowler; second row, Samantha Ramsey, Calvin Holloway, Samuel Lowe III, Kali Russell, Esmeralda Vargas and Lauren Billups; and, back row, Anilah Spann, Hope Malala, Preston Jinkerson, Isaac Dingler and Alyssa Franklin.
Band honors
Band honors
Students earned a 1 rating for their performance at the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival. These students were Hayley Jones and Cassidy Mitchell for alto saxophone solo and saxophone duet; Taylor Flores, for tenor saxophone solo; Maya Medina, Kendell Neumann and Rodniese Randall for clarinet trio; and Juliana Huling and Anna Ji for flute duet. The band was directed by Andrew Smith.
HOLMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL
Foundry Art Centre gallery
Students who had their artwork selected to be on display in the Children’s Gallery exhibition at the Foundry Art Centre were Tahari Bowens, Latoya Cassell, Keegan Clancy, Darnell Clay, Trenise Thomas James, Eliza Jokela, Shelan Khalid, Alyssa Latragna, Reyna Mendez Escobar, Zyan Muse, Kady Ohlsen, Zoe Samuel, Ryan Sheikh, Noah Stuckenschneider, Cornell Williams Jr., Hirut Woldetsadik and Lena Yocum. These students were taught by art teacher Montie Richter.
Choir
Band students who earned a 1 at the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival were Moe Baczynski, Elijah Hopgood, Mason Hunt and Rebecca Wulf for alto saxophone solo; Raymoen Goodrich Jr. for clarinet solo; Zion Fowler, Kali Russell and Esmeralda Vargas for flute solo; Journey Thomas for French horn solo; Isaac Dingler for mallet percussion solo; Alyssa Franklin and Anilah Spann for snare drum solo; Elijah Clayman for tenor saxophone solo; Preston Jinkerson, Jackson McCullough and Kady Ohlsen for timpani solo; Emmanuel Hopgood, Brody Lee and Samuel Martin V for trumpet solo; William Woerheide for tuba solo; Isabel Ruscheva for French horn and Azlan Webster for trumpet in a brass duet; Hope Malala and Christopher Ngoma for clarinet duet; Samantha Ramsey, Russell, Mateo Vance and Vargas for flute duet; Ky’Lee Hughes and Alakai Wood for snare drum duet; Kelvin Escalante Arteaga, Calvin Holloway and Parker Wilson for alto saxophone trio; and Aamir Bickerstaff, Samuel Lowe III and Joey Woods III for clarinet trio. Students that earned a 2 rating were Brayden Burks for baritone saxophone solo; Peter Burk, Maritza Lopez Martinez, Zoe Means and Eleanor Winkler for clarinet solo; Zoey Pollard and Erin Riley for flute solo; Donald McCullough for mallet percussion solo; Abigail Silverstein for snare drum solo; Lauren Billups for tenor saxophone solo; Ember Blechle, Maple Fowler and Jonah Smith for trombone solo; Samuel Guthrie for trumpet solo; Robert Ramey for tuba solo; Yancey Fields-Blanchard II and Kylan Watson for snare drum duet; Malachi Ball for flute and Cesar Silva for alto saxophone in a woodwind duet; Naomi Biruk, Amori Burton and Camryn Carter for flute trio; and Francisco Caldera for flute, Jack Lopez Martinez for bass clarinet and Aarav Patel for flute in a woodwind trio. The Holman band was directed by Adam Hall and Steven White.
Orchestra honors
honors
Choir students who earned a 1 rating at the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival were Mikayla Meekie, Khadime Seck, Rylie Smith and Kylie Williams for vocal solo and Meekie and Chloe Tate for vocal duet. Earning a 2 rating were Madison Jurilla, Meekie and Tate for vocal trio and Taylor Williams for vocal solo. The Holman choir was directed by Larry Knobel.
in a duet; Aliyah Brown for cello and Danyelle Trammell for viola in a duet; Cartrell Brown Jr. for double bass, Peter Ndungu for viola, Caleb Sosman for violin and Emanuel Turja Elvira for viola in a quartet; and Adley Glaenzer, Keagan Gutschenritter, Adelaide Pagel and Garrison Parker for viola quartet. Students earning a 2 rating were Gabrielle Dockery, Chelsey Felder and Savannah Hernandez for violin solo; Jordynn Brown for bass and Samantha Langston for viola in a duet; and Hernandez, Alyssa Nicholson and Truong for violin trio. The Holman orchestra was directed by Irena GorenScheer.
from Pattonville Heights Middle School who had poems selected to be
in a
sponsored by the City of Maryland Heights are, from left, front row, teacher Melissa Wetzel, and students Mason Biship, Rosemary Vanengelen and Addison Smith; second row, Mila Camenzind, Brandon Arms, Chanell Burnett and Isabella McDaniel; and, back row, Skylar Kuzuf, Meyrin Ramirez Diaz, Kadence Gray, Lucinda Condado, Rhyan Woods and Kelsi Seymour.
PATTONVILLE HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL
Maryland Heights visual arts Seventh grade students had their poems selected to be featured in a visual art series exhibition sponsored by the City of Maryland Heights Cultural Arts Commission. Their work was on display in the lobby at the Maryland Heights Government Center from March 18 to May 3. Students who had their poems selected were Brandon Arms, Jordyn Atkinson, Natalie Barton, Elijah Betancourt, Mason Biship, Peyton Brock, Chanell Burnett, Mila Camenzind, Noah Cantrell, Lucinda Condado, Kyann Craig, Lillie Ann Culbertson, Nicholas Damazyn, Caitlyn Ellis, Kadence Gray, Adrean Henderson, Lauren Hernandez, Eilynn Howard, Gabrielle Jackson, Michaela Jackson, Skylar Kuzuf, Isabella McDaniel, Meyrin Ramirez Diaz, Carly Ratcliff, James Rodas Esteban, Elijah Rowsley, Kelsi Seymour, Ellen Slocum, Addison Smith, Mason Tijerina, Rosemary Vanengelen, Eva Warren and Rhyan Woods. Students were taught by English teachers Jennifer Benoist, Maggie Mayberry and Melissa Wetzel.
Orchestra honors
Students from Holman Middle School who earned honors in orchestra include, from left, front row, Kylie Williams, Adley Glaenzer, Keagan Gutschenritter, Arrianna Watson, Emanuel Turja and Elvira Sophia Lewis; second row, Ciara Ratliff, Emily Arana, Aliyah Brown, Danyelle Trammel, Vivian Truong and Alyssa Nicholson; and, back row, Chelsey Felder and Gabrielle Docker.
Students who earned a 1 rating at the Solo and Small Ensemble festival were Kylie Williams and Ciara Ratliff for bass solo; Drake Kelly and Arrianna Watson for viola solo; Sophia Lewis, Vivian Truong and Imani Wood for violin solo; Emily Arana for violin and Ratliff for bass
Students who earned a 1 rating at the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival were Douglas Chatman, Rylan Denbow and Oliver Strauser for cello solo; Clare Derhake for violin solo; Je’Sean Blackmon and Joshua Salinas for string duet; and Denbow, Derhake, Sophie Lohman and Bradley Underwood for string quartet. Earning a 2 rating were Underwood and Bricyn Love for violin solo and Denbow and Melia Holland for string duet. The orchestra was directed by Carlye Feeney.
Students from Holman Middle School who had artwork in the Foundry Art Centre gallery include, from left, front row, Alyssa Latragna and Tahari Bowens; and, back row, Eliza Jokela, Keegan Clancy and Ryan Sheikh.
Students from Holman Middle School who earned honors in choir include Mikayla Meekie, left, and Kylie Williams.
Students
featured
visual art series exhibition
Students from Remington Traditional School who had artwork in the Foundry Art Centre gallery include, from left, Leah Brown, Gruxton Hartley, Avignya Maram and Neo Warren.
Students from Pattonville Heights Middle School who earned honors in orchestra include, from left, Douglas Chatman, Clare Derhake, Melia Holland and Bricyn Love.
PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Leadership Academy
Sophomore Olivia Brown graduated from the Fred Saigh Leadership Academy, a program that selects up to 20 students each year who show leadership potential to participate in a year of training and curriculum that fosters leadership skills and community involvement.
Band honors
Band honors
Students earning a 1 rating at the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival were Olivia Hurd and Lakshman Kamalakkannan for alto saxophone solo; Chi’marreon Walker for baritone saxophone solo; Caleb Guss for bass clarinet solo; Graciela Esquivel, Liliana Moreno Munoz, Kemorah Robinson and Londyn Watts for clarinet solo; Anna Click, Addyson Holmes, Hailie Jackson, Mitchel Jean Noel, Addyson Peterman, Elizabeth Peterman, Lauraelle Pierre and Lidia Pineda for flute solo. Reagan Lerdahl for horn solo; Magnus Maclin for mallet solo; Savannah Harris for tuba solo; Omolola Ogunmola for trombone solo; Golden Curtis for trumpet solo; Blair Bittick and Guss, for clarinet duet; Edward Bagsby and Daniel Dewick, for mixed duet; Jhournee Harris and Alexis Leap for woodwind duet; and Kamalakkannan, Mason Tijerina and Walker for saxophone trio. Students who earned a 2 rating were Elijah Bennight for alto saxophone solo; Ruby Ramirez Ortiz for clarinet solo; Olivia Engelke, Sierra Lumsden, Meyrin Ramirez Diaz, Rana Selli for flute solo; Dorian Johnson for mallet solo; Kyle Eleby and Thomas Reddy for snare drum solo; Tijerina for tenor saxophone solo; Joshua Deskin for trombone solo; Noah Cantrell and James Rodas Esteban for trumpet duet; Engelke and Ramirez Ortiz for woodwind duet; and Ogunmola, Julianna Riley and Avery Waller for mixed trio. The band was directed by Abby Hall and Liz Pace.
Choir honors
Four students were selected to the seventh and eighth grade honor choir at the Missouri Choral Directors Association conference that will be held on July 16 at Missouri State University. Students who were selected to participate were Mason Biship, Sophia Goldsmith, Pierre Michael Lopez and Chi’marreon Walker. At the Solo and Small Ensemble Festival, students earned a 1 rating for vocal solo. They were Goldsmith, Cassadi Divers, Skylar Kuzuf and Carly Ratcliff. Students who earned a 2 rating for vocal solo were Blair Bittick, Rosa Dahl-Bowman, Lily Gamino Pinon, Gabriela Garcia, Reagan Lerdahl, Omolola Ogunmola, Malia Robinson and Tula Stewart. The choir was directed by Kurtis Heinrich.
Special School District award
Special education paraprofessional Cody Best was named Paraprofessional of the Month by the Special School District (SSD). Staff members nominate paraprofessionals who go above and beyond to increase students’ engagement, sense of belonging and autonomy.
Members of the band performed at the State Music Festival after earning an exemplary rating at the district Solo and Small Ensemble Festival. The students who earned a gold medal at the State Music Festival were Zoe Click for bassoon solo; Marques Rutlin for clarinet solo; Colin Darrah and Floyd Davis III for tenor saxophone solo; Lukas Carman and Peter McCullough for trumpet solo; and Lucy Breier, Rihanna Carter, Drew Koller and Kimora Watson for saxophone quartet. The students who earned a silver medal at the State Music Festival were Watson for alto saxophone solo; Janani Kamalakkannan for clarinet solo; Shardae Johnson for keyboard mallet solo; Rutlin, Kamalakkannan and Nathan Weiss for clarinet trio; and Betty Askew, Carman and Sophie Smith for trumpet trio. The students who earned a bronze medal at the State Music Festival were Janiah Benjamin, Dylan Cochran and Kaydence Harris for flute trio. Additionally, students who earned an outstanding rating at the district festival were Kyle Brenner for alto saxophone solo; Andrew Heine for baritone saxophone solo; Weiss and Olivia Monroe for clarinet solo; Kaydence Harris, Marlaina Corson and Mia Gallagher for flute solo; Julio Torres for French horn solo; Anastasiya Richardson for mallet solo; Tyren Thompson and Edgar Toledo Avalos for trombone solo; Emily Santel for trumpet solo; Giovanni Hamrick for tuba solo; Corson, Gallagher and Esme Hurlbut for flute trio; Peter McCullough, Hunter Riley and Torres for mixed bass trio; Johnson, Savannah Branson, Matthew Duong, Dylan Jamison, Zachary Killion and Kiley Wallace for percussion trio; Quinlan Hawkins, Sarah Hicks, Olivia Monroe and John O’Connell for clarinet quartet; and Brenner, Colin Darrah, Heine and Adam Reddy for saxophone quartet. The band was directed by Laura Livesay, Denny McFarland and Anna White.
Choir honors
Members of the choir performed at the State Music Festival after earning an exemplary rating at the district Solo and Small Ensemble Festival. The students who earned a gold medal at the State Music Festival were Addison Candela, Diego Halbeck and Margaret Haselbauer for vocal solo and Jacqueline Bradshaw, Savannah Branson, Candela, Abigail Evers, Gail Griffin, Haselbauer, Omolara Ogunmola and Haleigh Rigdon for vocal chamber treble ensemble. Students who earned a silver medal for vocal solo at the State Music Festival were Branson, Isabella Crawford, Kaylee Dyer, Ogunmola and Hannah Richardson. Also earning an
exemplary rating at the district festival for vocal solo was Brooklyn Pyle. Students earning an outstanding rating at the district festival were Jon-Michael Brown II, Zoe Click, Christi Dyer, Danya Green, Lydia Greenwalt Hamil, Kaydence Harris, Mark Kendrick, Siquori Lee, Jeremiah Lopez, Ian MacDonald, Xavion Moore, Ellis North, Paul Palermo, Donald Simpkins and Isaiah White for vocal solo; and Brown, North Palermo, Simpkins and White for chamber tenor-bass ensemble. The choir was directed by Melynda Lamb and Aaron Zart.
Orchestra honors
Members of the orchestra performed at the State Music Festival after earning an exemplary rating at the district Solo and Small Ensemble Festival. The students who earned a gold medal at the State Music Festival were Pei Lin Lan and Norina Shao for violin solo. Students who earned a silver medal at the State Music Festival were Maxwell Fetter for cello solo; Dezmond Stone for bass solo and Jacob Zarosa for violin solo. Students who earned a bronze medal at the State Music Festival were Danya Green, and Prince Nkoua for string duet; Isaac Blassingame, Logan Monroe and William Truong for string trio; and Harrison Killion, Wendy Mwaniki, Nkoua and Adrian Woods for string quartet. Additionally, students earned an outstanding rating at the district festival. Those students were Sydney Hoynacki and Melaina Prentice for bass solo; Omolara Ogunmola, Eliot Daller, Ananiah Hopper, Annabelle Martin and Kai Woodrome for cello solo; Diego Halbeck for piano solo; Lillian Freund for viola solo; Matthew Cutrell, Samuel Gunawan and Matthew Schiermeyer for violin solo; Brianna Coddington, Brooklyn Elliott, Hannah Fisbeck, Saoirse Keane, Charlotte Lohman, and Elaine Lu for string duet; Grace Bagsby, Nasya Kirksey and Molly Maue for string trio; and Cutrell, Elias El-Ghazal, Halbeck, Tracy Machuki, Bryan Manjarrez, Brennan Mitchell, Marlon Patino II, Hannah Richardson, Carter Stroud and Jackson Williams for string quartet. The orchestra was directed by Paul Rueschhoff.
Students from Pattonville High School who earned honors in band include, from left, Nathan Weiss, Kaydence Harris, Andrew Heine and Zoe Click.
Students from Pattonville High School who earned honors in choir include, from left, front row, Kaydence Harris, Zoe Click and Siquori Lee; and, back row, Lydia Greenwalt, Hamil Xavion Moore and Ellis North.
Students from Pattonville High School who earned honors in orchestra include, from left, front row, Pei Lin Lan, Lauren Woods, Wendy Mwaniki and Melaina Prentice; and, back row, Elias El Ghazal, William Truong ,Samuel Gunawan, Tracy Machuki and Marlon Patino II.
Students from Pattonville Heights Middle School who earned honors in choir include, from left, Skylar Kuzuf, Mason Biship and Pierre Lopez.
Students from Pattonville Heights Middle School who earned honors in band include, from left, front row, Anna Click, Caleb Guss, Savannah Harris, Jhournee Harris and Julianna Riley; second row, Lauraelle Pierre, Sierra Lumsden and Meyrin Ramirez; and, back row, Diaz Addyson Holmes, Joshua Deskin, Avery Waller and Rana Selli.
Olivia Brown
Baseball honors
Three baseball players were named academic all-state and academic all-conference: Adam Reddy, Kyle Manker and Tyler Manker. Students named all-conference first team were Cameron Crumble for infield, Nathan Friedrich for outfield, Mason Lee for pitcher, who was also named conference co-pitcher of the year and Kyle Manker as a pitcher. Students named all-conference second team were Antonio Contreras as catcher, Bryion Fips for infield and Jason McCall for outfield. Tyler Manker was selected to receive the all-conference sportsmanship award. The baseball team was coached by Victor Fink with the assistance of Christian Brinser.
Golf honors
Soccer honors
Students named all-conference first team were Patrick Clifford and Shota Kikuchi. Lukas Cates was named all-conference second team. The golf team was coached by Scott Hutson with the assistance of David Gross.
Lacrosse honors
Christina Bae was named all-conference first team and Katie Pina was named all-conference second team. Named all-conference honorable mention was Sophia Kelly. The team was coached by Hannah Cooper with the assistance of Sophia Zegar.
Volleyball honors
Volleyball players were named academic all-state. They were Jon-Michael Brown II, Milo Mainquist, Xander Werthmuller and Isaiah White. The following players were named to all-district teams: Khalil Peterson was named all-district first team and Quinntes Rider and White were named all-district second team. Players also received all-conference honors. Named all-conference first team were Peterson and Rider. Named all-conference second team were Werthmuller and White. Kyluan Braselman was named all-conference honorable mention. Cody Shaw was selected to receive the all-conference sportsmanship award. Students named academic all-conference were Brown and Mainquist. The team was coached by Jenell Franken.
Emily Cremer was named all-conference first team and Aliya Curry was named all-conference second team. Named all-conference honorable mention were Aiva Barry and Sophia Luraschi. Kalie Vogel was selected to receive the all-conference sportsmanship award. Students who were named academic all-conference were Cremer, Curry, Luraschi, Larissa Harned, Vogel and Alyssa Yin. The team was coached by Tom Iffrig with the assistance of MaryClare Stoker.
Boys track and field honors
Members of the boys track and field team competed at the state championship meet after qualifying at the sectional and district meets. Michael Allen placed sixth at state, third at sectionals and first at districts in discus. Rashad Smith placed 14th at state and fourth at sectionals and districts in triple jump. At the sectional meet, Jackson Powell placed seventh in the 400 meter dash after placing fourth at districts. Luke Stevenson placed sixth at sectionals and second at districts in the 3200 meter run and qualified for sectionals in the 1600 meter run after placing third at districts. Additionally, four relay teams qualified to compete at sectionals after placing at districts. Placing fifth at sectionals and third at districts was the 4x800 meter relay team of Brayden Halter, Ryan Hayes, Ian Moore and Powell. Placing sixth at sectionals and second at districts was the 4x100 team of Anthony Clark, Tyrice Coleman, Jordan Kedl Thomas and Jordan Redden. The 4x200 team of Jayden Blair, Clark, Kedl Thomas and Redden placed seventh at sectionals and fourth at districts. The 4x400 team of Hayes, Kayden Johnston, Powell and Redden placed eighth at sectionals and fourth at districts. The boys track and field team was coached by Chuan Tate with the assistance of Natasha Fortenbury, Chris Gleghorn, Matthew McClellan, William Roach and Kayla Smith.
Girls track and field honors
A’laji Bradley placed first in the 200 and 400 meter dashes and second place in the 100 meter dash at the state championship after placing first in each of these events at sectionals and districts. Bradley was also recognized on the USA Today HSSA (High School Sports Awards) Girls Track Athletes of the Year list. Also at the state meet, the 4x400 meter relay team of Nerea Gil Solas, Makayla Gordon, Gabrielle Hurd and Riesen Riley placed eighth after placing second at the sectionals and first at districts. The 4x200 meter relay team of Kennedy Crawford, Gil Solas, Gordon and Riley placed seventh at sectionals and fourth at districts. Additionally, Hurd placed eighth at sectionals and second at districts in the 800 meter run. The girls track and field team was coached by Corey Lewis with the assistance of Margaret Hall.
Water polo honors
Logan Finn was named all-conference second team. Water polo players named academic all-conference were Zackary Brower, Finn, Lucy Hartley, Janani Kamalakkannan, Zoe Mikitin and Cooper Salvia. The team was coached by Tom Crockett with the assistance of Gabe Faron.
Teacher Leader award
Lisa Foust was selected to receive the Missouri Teacher Leader of Tomorrow Award (MTLT) from the Missouri Milken Family Foundation. The award celebrates individuals who have demonstrated high potential to achieve greatness in education and empowers awardees through mentoring who will encourage excellence. Lisa was one of just 13 teacher candidates to receive this recognition, presented by Stephanie Koscielski, senior director of clinical experience and school partnerships with the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) and Pam Stanfield from the Milken Family Foundation. The Milken Family Foundation strives to discover and advance inventive, effective ways of helping people lead productive and satisfying lives.
PHS named national Project Lead the Way Distinguished School
Pattonville High School has been recognized as a 2023-2024 Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Distinguished School. It is one of just 291 high schools across the U.S. to receive this honor for providing broad access to transformative learning experiences for students through PLTW programs (computer science, biomedical science, engineering). PLTW is a nonprofit organization that serves millions of pre-K through 12th grade students and teachers in more than 12,200 schools across the U.S. This is the fifth time and fourth straight year Pattonville has received this award.
The PLTW Distinguished School recognition honors schools committed to increasing student access, engagement and achievement in their PLTW programs. To be eligible for the designation, Pattonville High School had to meet the following criteria in the 2022-2023 school year:
• Had at least 25% of students participate in PLTW high school courses, or of those who participated during the 2022-2023 school year, at least 33% take two or more PLTW courses;
• Have students enrolled in at least three PLTW high school courses;
• Had strategies and procedures in place that support reasonably proportional representation with regard to race, ethnicity, poverty and gender.
“We are honored to recognize Pattonville High School for its commitment to providing students with exceptional educational experiences while ensuring equitable access to PLTW programs,” PLTW president and CEO Dr. David Dimmett said. “We congratulate them on this achievement and celebrate their dedication to empowering students with the knowledge and skills to succeed, not only in STEM subjects, but also preparing them for a future, career and life outside of the classroom.”
Students from Pattonville High School who earned honors in baseball include, from left, Jason McCall, Antonio Contreras, Bryion Fips and Cameron Crumble.
Students from Pattonville High School who earned honors in soccer include, from left, Alyssa Yin, Emily Cremer and Aiva Barry.
Students from Pattonville High School who earned honors in water polo include, Zoe Mikitin, left, and Lucy Hartley.
Shota Kikuchi
Important information about re-enrollment
P
arents/guardians of students returning to the Pattonville School District in August will receive an email on July 5 notifying them that returning student registration is available online. The email will provide step-by-step instructions for completing the registration process. If returning student registration is not completed, a student will not receive a schedule or be added to a class list, depending on their grade level. Parents/guardians are asked to take a few moments to complete their returning student registration to ensure their student is ready for the first day of school. The deadline to complete returning student registration is Aug. 5 for middle and high schools and Aug. 9 for elementary schools and the Academy of Innovation at Remington. The first day of school for the 2024-2025 school year is Aug. 19. Additional information and details on new student enrollment can be found at www.psdr3.org/enroll.
Oasis tutors honored
Pattonville celebrated the end of the year with an Oasis Appreciation Luncheon on May 22. The Oasis program trains volunteer senior adults to work one-on-one with elementary-aged children on reading, writing and communication skills. During the event, tutors received special recognition for reaching milestones in their service to Pattonville students.
This year, Pattonville had more than 30 tutors commit to spending time each week with a student. Honored for 20 years was Ann Gulick. Recognized for 10 years were Darlene Neil and Barbara Tubbs. Marking five years of service were Stacey Diefenbach and Kathy Mason. Those interested in becoming an Oasis tutor can contact Gracie Wrinkle, Pattonville community relations specialist, at wrinkleg02@psdr3.org or (314) 213-8025.
High school recognizes Top 10 seniors
Pattonville High School recognized its Top 10 seniors based on grade point averages after seven semesters of high school. These students had grade point averages (GPAs) that fell between a 4.592 and 4.804 on a weighted scale. The Top 10 seniors in the Class of 2024, their declared majors and the universities they will attend are:
1. AJ Swartwout will attend Saint Louis University, where he plans to major in aerospace engineering;
2. Sydney Hoynacki will pursue a bachelor’s of music with a major in double bass performance at University of Missouri in Columbia;
3. Diego Halbeck will major in computer science and minor in music at Missouri University in Columbia;
4. Zach Zarosa will major in cyber security at Maryville University;
5. (tie) Allyson Maue will major in computer science at Saint Louis University;
5. (tie) Gregory Oliver will attend Missouri University of Science and Technology in Rolla and major in computer science;
7. Eliora Adler will major in wildlife ecology and conservation at the University of Florida;
8. Aryan Sankpal will attend Washington University in St. Louis to pursue a major in chemistry;
9. Yashika Raja will major in computational biology at Washington University; and
10. Abdu Djuraev will double major in computer science and electrical engineering at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland.
PHS honors the Class of 2024 at Senior Awards Night
Members of the Class of 2024 were recognized during Senior Awards Night before graduation. Pattonville High School senior Diego Halbeck was named the Outstanding Senior for the Class of 2024. The Outstanding Senior is chosen each year from teacher nominations.
The high school also honored several seniors with Outstanding Senior Departmental Awards and other special recognitions. Each department recognizes one student who has shown outstanding academic achievement, leadership and citizenship. This year’s departmental award winners are: Eliora Adler, English language arts; Kevin Barcenas Dominguez, industrial technology; Isaac Blassingame, orchestra; Shannon Boyles, German; Macy Bunton, art; Emiliana Cano, theater; Wezi Lois Chirwa, French; Sai Dorasani, production technology arts (Pirate TV); Abigail Evers, Pirate Press newspaper; Margaret Haselbauer, vocal music; Cyan Kelley, community service; My Kha, English learner; Chance Langley, business; Aiden Lindsay, health sciences; Lily Norman, ECHO yearbook; Katie Pina, family and consumer sciences (FACS); Yashika Raja, science; Bryce Reynolds, computer science; Marques Rutlin, band; Luke Stevenson, engineering; AJ Swartwout, math; Faith Thompson, social studies; Colton Wetzel, PE; and Emma Whitley, Spanish.
Pattonville community relations specialist and Oasis coordinator Gracie Wrinkle.
KEEP IN TOUCH
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The following students were recognized with special awards: Kyla Kobielusz, Thomas Frick Service Award; Kylie Surratt, St. Louis Post-Dispatch Scholar Athlete; Kyle Manker and Swartwout, Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Award of Excellence; and Raja, St. Louis County Outstanding Student Leader. Special community scholarships were presented to recipients on stage followed by students recognized with academic and achievement awards.
To view a photo gallery, go to bit.ly/PHSSeniorAwardsNight24.
The Top 10 seniors in the Pattonville Class of 2024 are, from left, AJ Swartwout, Sydney Hoynacki, Diego Halbeck, Zach Zarosa, Allyson Maue, Gregory Oliver, Eliora Adler, Aryan Sankpal, Yashika Raja and Abdu Djuraev.
Students who earned departmental awards during the 2024 Pattonville High School Senior Awards Night are shown with their plaques.
Diego Halbeck was named the 2024 Outstanding Senior.
Tutors were recognized for earning years of service during an appreciation event at the end of the school year. Above, from left, are Oasis RSVP program manager Breann Bailey, tutors Darlene Neil, Kathy Mason and Barbara Tubbs, Pattonville superintendent Barry Nelson, tutor Ann Gulick and
PATTONVILLE CLASS OF 2024
IN
THEIR WORDS...
Excerpts from the speeches by the Class of 2024
“C
onfident I always had somewhere to turn when it all became too much, I survived the pressure of my classes and began to like the challenge. I started turning the support I got into support for others and realized I had a passion for public service. We’ve all found our passions here at Pattonville, and they’ve taken us to incredible places. We’re all-state gold winners and the tech leaders of the future. We’re record breakers and national champions. We’re making history just by being ourselves.”
-From a speech by Yashika Raja
“When I was an underclassman, someone told me their mother didn’t believe it was appropriate for teenagers to call themselves ‘pirates.’ She believed that it would encourage us to steal, be violent and commit whatever other treacherous acts a pirate in a landlocked state like Missouri could think of.
... Admittedly, I agreed with her because, as a group so creative and intelligent as ourselves, it might be odd to call ourselves pirates. However, as we sit here together to celebrate all that we have accomplished, I want to encourage everyone to think about just how much we have proven ourselves to be brave, adventurous and perseverant; traits that encompass so much more than just the name pirates.”
-From a speech by TyRen Thompson
Watch the speeches
To see the speeches, visit Pattonville’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/PattonvilleR3.
About Our Graduates
• 412 students graduated in the Class of 2024
• 85% plan on continuing their education at four-year universities, two-year colleges or career/technical/ apprenticeship programs
• 12 students have enlisted in the military
• 117 earned the honors of summa, magna or cum laude (3.5 weighted GPA or greater)
• 48 earned A+ status, which makes them eligible for paid tuition to any Missouri community college or career education school
• 55 students earned industry-recognized credentials or certifications such as certified nurse assistant, education fundamentals, early childhood education, Boeing PreEmployment Training and ServSafe certification
• Seniors earned $6.2 million in scholarships
• Four qualified to receive Missouri’s Bright Flight Scholarship based on earning an ACT score in the top 3% to 5% of Missouri students and attending a Missouri college or university
• Seniors completed 29,929 hours of community service during high school
• 18 earned community service honor cords for volunteering 150 hours or more
• Top 3 for service hours: Riesen Riley (819 hours), Aeriana Woodard (429 hours) and Gabriel Taylor (365 hours)
Pattonville Highlights is published throughout the school year for residents of the Pattonville School District by the Pattonville school-community relations department. 11097 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, MO 63074. (314) 213-8025. Website: www.psdr3.org. Email: kgordon@psdr3.org.
Seniors Abigail Evers, left, hugs Margaret Haselbauer, second from left, during their last high school choir performance. All choir members, including Jacqueline Bradshaw, second from right, and Sammi Haggard perform “Until Love is Spoken” together during graduation.
Above left, senior Tehya Cox Potter, left, shakes hands with Pattonville Board of Education president Mary Kay Campbell during graduation. Above right Chloe Apresova, left, and Armand Andrews look at the inside of their diploma covers after walking across the stage.
From the left, seniors Ma’Khia Williams El, Naomi Tamirat and Ashlyn Webb smile during the recessional at the end of the graduation ceremony. Above, senior Lukas Carman, left, takes a selfie with band director Denny McFarland before being announced at graduation. Right, senior Sam Boclair, left, shows his graduation excitement when meeting high school principal Teisha Ashford for a picture.
