Highlights September 2018

Highlights Pattonville A top-tier district in Missouri and the U.S.

School news for parents, residents and staff of the Pattonville School District

September 2018

Inside Pattonville ranked No. 7 in Missouri, among Top 3% in US for best school districts

- See page 2 for details

Pattonville goes back to school - see our photos

WELCOME to A New Year

- See pages 6 through 8 for details

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Pattonville is an award-winning public district in St. Louis County, Missouri.

The district is fully accredited by the state and is recognized for academic success on the regional, state and national level.

Our Mission That ALL will learn.

Pattonville School District 11097 St. Charles Rock Road St. Ann, MO 63074-1509

Dr. Tim Pecoraro Superintendent

Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1 St. Ann, MO

BOARD OF EDUCATION

Jeanne Schottmueller, President Andrea Glenn, Vice President Dr. Brian Gray, Secretary Mary Kay Campbell, Treasurer Ruth Petrov, Director Amanda Lienau Purnell, Ph.D., Director Mindy Ridings, Director

lass is now in session for the 20182019 school year. Staff welcomed students on Aug. 16, the first day of school, and everyone jumped right into making meaningful connections that lay the foundation for a successful school year. Above, Pattonville High School science teacher Amy Schwendemann checks in with students as they take part in an activity on the first day of her physics class.

Shown are, from left, Brooke Jenkins, Lucas Gibson and Grant Wedig. At right, Hope Cunningham smiles for her teacher, Abigail Jozwiakowski, as she takes her photo to commemorate her first day of first grade at Parkwood Elementary School.

See more back-to-school photos on pages 6 through 8.

From the Superintendent

Dr. Tim Pecoraro Superintendent

Personalized learning journey continues T

he 2018-2019 school year has gotten off to a fantastic start. The momentum we built last year as our community collaborated to update our strategic plan has carried over into the new school year. Personalized learning is a term you’ll begin to hear around Pattonville schools over the next several years. It has different meanings throughout schools in the United States, but for us, it simply reflects our belief that there’s more than one way for students to demonstrate understanding on defined learning. The reality is not all students walk into our schools at the same place academically. With that in mind, we shouldn’t expect them to learn at the same rate.

It’s important to note this doesn’t mean we’ll have different standards for different students.

In fact, personalized learning is grounded in the belief that we have one Pattonville standard and it will remain high. Personalized learning will provide opportunities to truly put students at the center of their education and customize learning paths to better meet their needs.

School safety is another focus area for 20182019. An outcome of our strategic planning process was to commission a district-wide safety and security audit. Based on the results of that audit, this summer we installed safety film to all exterior windows and entrances from the ground to seven feet in the air at all of our schools. The safety film is designed to not shatter easily if struck by a bullet or other objects. We’ll also be upgrading all of our interior and exterior locking systems at each of our schools with new technology designed to be safer. In addition, we’ve met multiple times with our law enforcement partners (Bridgeton, Maryland Heights, St. Ann and St. Louis County) to discuss additional approaches to ensure our schools are as safe as possible for our students and staff. Safety is our number one priority and work in this area is never complete. We’ll continue to research and consider a variety of strategies to make certain our schools are as safe as possible.

Our homecoming weekend is scheduled for Oct. 12 and 13. This is one of the biggest events of the year for our school community.

This is also one of my favorite times of year.

We celebrate our current students along with welcoming back our great alumni. Pattonville is a special place and it’s never more evident than during homecoming weekend. Whether it’s the large crowd attending our football game on Friday night or the packed streets to watch the homecoming parade on Saturday morning, it’s a reminder that what happens in our community is special. There’s no better sight than seeing throngs of people wearing green and white and cheering on our Pattonville Pirates!

Pattonville ranked No. 7 in Missouri and in Top 3 percent in U.S. on annual Niche rankings A

mid more than 450 public school districts (Out of 461 Missouri (Missouri school (Out of 10,758 US in Missouri, Pattonville school districts) districts only) school districts) is ranked No. 7 among 1 Clayton 13 the Best Public School 2 Kirkwood 21 Districts on Niche.com’s 2019 Best Districts in 3 Ladue 31 America list. Nationally, 4 Rockwood 95 Niche ranks Pattonville 5 Blue Springs 167 in the Top 3 percent of districts (No. 301 out of 10,758). The district is also 6 Parkway 234 ranked No. 1 in Missouri for Most Diverse School 7 Pattonville 301 Districts, No. 4 for Best Places to Teach and No. 8 8 Lee’s Summit 321 for Districts with Best Teachers.

Niche is an online service that ranks private and 9 Liberty 330 public schools and districts based on dozens of sta10 Lindbergh 399 tistics and opinions from students, parents and staff.

The website is designed to help families “discover the schools and neighborhoods that are right for you,” according to Niche.com. “We rigorously analyze dozens of public data sets and millions of reviews to produce comprehensive rankings, report cards and profiles for every K-12 school, college and neighborhood in the U.S.” Pattonville earned an overall grade of A+ from Niche, with grades ranging from A- to A+ for academics, teachers, diversity, college prep, health and safety and clubs and activities. Find out more: bit.ly/PSDnicheprofile2019.

Missouri Rank

School District

National Rank

Pattonville food services program earns regional award F

or the third time in four years, Pattonville’s partnership with Chartwells School Dining Services has been awarded Chartwells’ Be-A-Star Regional Account of the Year recognition for the South Central region. Chartwells at Pattonville will now compete for the National Account of the Year award.

In summer 2014, Pattonville began contracting with Chartwells to manage the district’s food services program while retaining its own local food service employees.

Kim Maas, a Chartwells employee, manages the day-today operations of Pattonville’s program, including food purchasing, menu development, staff training, meeting state and federal requirements and other services. All other food service employees, including school cafeteria Parkwood Elementary School cafeteria manager Kim James, left, managers and cooks, are Pattonville employees. and cook Sheila Francis are among the employees who make up the award-winning food service employees in Pattonville.

Chartwells’ Be-A-Star awards recognize associates and teams that deliver business excellence as a result of accomplishing the objectives established for a fiscal year.

Chartwells recognizes one account from each of its seven regions. Pattonville was chosen as the top account for the year from among 65 school districts in the South Central region. To be considered for the regional award, the Pattonville-Chartwells team had to reach the Platinum Account status, which signified they met both Pattonville and Chartwells objectives for financial accountability and operational excellence.

Local organizations donate backpacks, school supplies A

number of organizations made the back-to-school time a little easier for Pattonville families by donating school supplies and backpacks for the new year.

Donated items were either designated for certain schools or distributed to multiple buildings in the district for schools to provide to families in need.

Donations included 1,000 backpacks loaded with school supplies from Grace Church in Maryland Heights and 250 backpacks donated to Drummond Elementary and Holman Middle schools by the Reebok Basketball Tournament Series and the Kids and Families in Need Foundation.

School supplies were also donated by the Maryland Heights Police Department, Pattonville Educational Support Professionals (PESP), Simple Church, VFW and other individuals and staff.

Pattonville families in need of supplies should contact their school office or counseling staff for assistance.

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Pattonville representatives accept a donation of 1,000 backpacks full of supplies from friends at Grace Church.

Shown are, from left, Jennie Barber, Grace Church Kids’ director; Lenny Barber, Grace Church Students’ and Next Gen pastor; Ron Orr, Pattonville chief financial officer; Andrea Glenn, Pattonville board vice president; and Dr. Tim Pecoraro, Pattonville superintendent.

Bond issue update: numerous projects completed for new school year C

rews worked throughout the summer and beginning weeks of school in Pattonville on several projects funded by the $23 million zero tax rate increase bond issue approved by voters in April 2017. Approval of the bond issue did not increase the district’s tax rate. Numerous exterior projects were completed, along with some limited interior renovations, including several safety initiatives. Projects not completed this summer will be completed in summer 2019. Major bond issue projects completed this summer at each school are listed at right.

The first project undertaken with 2017 bond funds was the conversion of the former Briar Crest Elementary School into the new Pattonville Early Childhood Center (see story on page 6 of this newsletter). Completion of this project frees up needed space in district elementary schools and creates greater flexibility at the Pattonville Learning Center. Construction on the Early Childhood Center was completed this spring, and the building opened for students on Aug. 20.

In addition to this year’s work, the district has already begun using bond funds to purchase classroom and library furniture promised as part of the bond issue.

Facilities Plan Overview Item

Est. Cost

Building safety and security updates

$4,304,934

Energy efficiency improvements $6,017,730 heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting, roofing, doors, windows Classroom, library and other interior building renovations

$5,367,675

Updates that encourage student involvement in school and students’ long-term fitness and health (ex: replacing fitness equipment and renovating or adding physical education facilities)

$3,967,936

Early childhood program moves to former Briar Crest Elementary building (interior renovations/site improvements)

$1,720,600

Renovations of Community Auditorium at Pattonville High School

$1,620,856

TOTAL

$22,999,731

Find out more.

Summer 2018 bond issue projects by school BRIDGEWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • • • •

Creating new bus and car lanes for improved traffic flow and safety Installing window security film Upgrading hallways to cover exiting tile walls Updating teacher workroom

DRUMMOND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • • • •

Resurfacing parking lot Installing window security film Replacing gym floor Replacing library and office carpet

PARKWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • •

Creating new car lane for improved traffic flow and safety Installing window security film

ROSE ACRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • • • •

Removing classroom/staff trailers Painting handrails Installing window security film Upgrading hallways to cover existing tile walls

WILLOW BROOK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL • • •

Installing window security film Improving site drainage Installing new track

REMINGTON TRADITIONAL SCHOOL • • • • •

Resurfacing parking lot Installing window security film Repaving front parking lot Improving library space Upgrading lighting and HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning)

HOLMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL • •

See the complete list of bond issue projects online at www.psdr3.org/newsinfo/pdf/FacilitiesPlan2017.pdf.

A new configuration for bus and car traffic was completed at Bridgeway Elementary School to improve student safety during arrival and dismissal times.

Building tennis courts Installing window security film

PATTONVILLE HEIGHTS MIDDLE SCHOOL • • • • • •

Above, the library at Remington Traditional School was expanded and improved for enhanced student use. Below, tennis courts are being constructed at Holman (shown here) and Pattonville Heights middle schools to be used for physical education classes and extracurricular programs that will help prepare students for high school-level athletics.

Building tennis courts Installing window security film Installing new lockers Adding an entry drive lane Replacing flooring in physical education spaces Upgrading plumbing fixtures

PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL • • •

Installing window security film Repairing asphalt Installing motorized shades at the aquatic complex

PHS students live stream Pirate home games T

he Pirate Sports Net class at Pattonville High School is once again broadcasting home football games and other athletic competitions as they are able. Pirate fans can view live streams of the games on the PattonvilleTODAY Facebook page or the class website at PattonvilleTODAY.com/LIVE. The Pirate Sports Net class provides sports news and content for PattonvilleTODAY, the school’s online journalism hub, and is a production-centric course designed to provide fans with a frontrow seat to school athletics. The class originated last school year and is focused on the art of sports storytelling, including how to go behind the players’ stats and game scores to report compelling stories, how to break news across multiple media platforms and what sports and media mean to our society.

Pirate sports fans can find schedules for their favorite team sports at pirates.psdr3.org.

CONNECT WITH US ON SOCIAL MEDIA Facebook: www.facebook.com/PSDR3 YouTube: www.YouTube.com/PattonvilleR3 Instagram: @PattonvilleSD Twitter: @PattonvilleSD

A note about Facebook: Facebook uses a complicated formula

Students in the Pirate Sports Net class prepare to live stream the first home football game. They are, from left, Ja’Sir Gillum, Brandon Clark, Jorge Coronado and Mikayla Bridges.

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which limits the posts you see from organizations like Pattonville.

Make sure to see our Facebook posts by following a few simple steps. After liking our Facebook page, click the down triangle next to “Following.” You can choose to get notifications every time we post a story or select the “See First” option to see Pattonville news at the top of your Facebook news feed.

PATTONVILLE HOMECOMING 2018 Join us as we celebrate a Pirate Homecoming

The entire Pattonville school community is invited to join in as Pattonville celebrates homecoming on Oct. 12 and 13. This year features a board game theme of “Game On!” Below is a list of activities scheduled to date.

Oct. 12

7 p.m. : Football game 1988 Pattonville alumnus Col. Robert Behnken, shown third from right, is among nine astronauts who will be the first to fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station. (Photo credit: NASA)

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Capt. James Broeker, Class of 1993 - Broeker assumed command of the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the U.S. Army Recruiting and Retention College in Fort Knox, Kentucky, during a ceremony on June 8. Broeker and his wife, Amy, and their children live in Louisville, Kentucky. He is the son of Ralph and Billie Broeker. Ralph Broeker is a former member of the Pattonville school board. The Recruiting and Retention College is a specialized school designed to train Army career counselors Find out more: alumni.psdr3.org who help potential recruits and current soldiers with issues about joining or re-joining the Army. Counselors learn about basic recruiting, guidance counseling, career counseling, reserve components transitioning, advance NCO training and mobile retention training.

Graduates in the news

Col. Robert Behnken, Class of 1988 - NASA announced that Behnken is among nine astronauts who will fly on American-made, commercial spacecraft to and from the International Space Station as part of an endeavor that will return astronaut launches to U.S. soil for the first time since the space shuttle’s retirement in 2011. Behnken previously served as chief of the astronaut office for NASA, flew on two space shuttle missions in 2008 and 2010 and logged more than 37 hours of spacewalks during those missions. He earned bachelor’s degrees in physics and mechanical engineering from Washington University in 1992 and a master’s and doctoral degree in mechanical engineering from the California Institute of Technology in 1993 and 1997, respectively. Find out more online at: bit.ly/PHSBehnken18.

Tara Lowry, Class of 2014 - Lowry earned academic honors at this year’s Honors Day awards ceremony at Southern Illinois University (SIU) in Carbondale. She is among the top students in the College of Mass Communication and Media Arts at SIU. Lowry is pursuing her degree in digital media and animation at SIUC. Olivia Wedig, Class of 2017 - Wedig earned a spot on the dean’s list and is continuing to conduct research after her first year at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school. Wedig is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in math while also “submatriculating” to earn her master’s degree in chemistry at the same time she earns her undergraduate degree. Wedig was also selected to work in the lab with one of her professors, Dr. Jessica Anna, along with other students, to use ultra-fast spectroscopy to investigate photo-initiated processes. Wedig’s project is focusing on phylloquinone, an electron-acceptor in Photosystem I (PSI), with hopes of uncovering how PSI is so efficient at converting light to energy.

Wedig is a member of the Vagelos Scholars Program in the Molecular Life Sciences. The program is for students intending to become 2017 alumnus Olivia Wedig made research scientists within the context of biochemistry, biophysithe dean’s list and is conducting cal chemistry, biotechnology, computational biology, gene therapy, research at the University of Pennsylvania, an Ivy League school. genetic engineering, genomics, molecular biology, molecular genetics, molecular medicine, neurobiology, nanotechnology, structural biology or systems biology. The unique feature is an opportunity to work in a Penn research laboratory in the summers after both the sophomore and junior years with a stipend. Forty course units leading to a bachelor’s degree with two science majors are required. Alternatively, students can major in biochemistry, chemistry or physics and earn a simultaneous “submatriculation” master’s degree. The program is based in the chemistry department of the School of Arts and Sciences. Freshmen are invited to join the program in April before their first September at Penn.

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Watch the varsity Pirates take on Ladue Horton Watkins High School. During halftime, the homecoming court will be announced and the queen will be crowned. Tickets for the football game are $5 for adults, $3 for students with ID and free for children 7 and younger.

Oct. 13

9:50 a.m. : One-Mile Fun Run

Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to participate in this run. For more information on costs and how to register, call the Pattonville community education office at (314) 213-8094.

10 a.m. : Parade (NEW ROUTE)

Due to the unavailability of previous years’ staging areas, the homecoming parade route will be new this year.

Parade floats will stage at the Maryland Heights Community Center (2300 McKelvey Road). From the community center, the parade will proceed north on McKelvey, turn left onto Glenpark Drive and then right onto Bennington Place until it reaches Pattonville High School. Floats and walking groups from all Pattonville schools participate, as well as many community groups and alumni classes. Alumni, community or school groups wishing to participate in the parade must fill out an application form. For more information, contact Heather Johnston at hlopez@psdr3.org.

Alumni Groups

Alumni groups interested in touring Pattonville High School as part of homecoming festivities can arrange a tour in advance by calling Donna Sellers or Bob Thompson at their school office at (314) 213-8051, ext. 8015.

College planning events and resources F

or parents and students, it’s never too soon to begin preparing for the future and Pattonville offers the resources and support to help families navigate college and career planning. Students begin exploring college and careers as early as sixth grade. In addition, Pattonville High School employs a fulltime college and career preparation coordinator/ counselor to assist students, and the school hosts evening meetings throughout the year to assist families in the college planning (and financing) process. A calendar and more information can be found on the college counseling website. Find it under the “Students/Parents” tab at phs.psdr3.org.

Families can also find information on this website on how to sign up to receive text messages for important reminders and deadlines.

Bragging Writes

Honors, Awards and Achievements by Pattonville Students and Staff

Discovery Education institute

Science teacher Rob Lamb joined more than 100 fellow educators from around the world for the 2018 Discovery Educator Network Summer Institute (DENSI), an immersive, week-long professional development experience held in July at the University of North Carolina in Wilmington. A global community of education professionals supported by Discovery Education, the Discovery EducaRob Lamb tor Network (DEN) connects members across school systems and around the world through social media, virtual conferences and inperson events, fostering valuable networking, idea sharing and inspiration. DENSI 2018 featured a number of interactive seminars and hands-on workshops designed to support educators as they combine the latest technologies and digital content to create authentic digital learning environments that engage students and improve achievement.

Fullbright teacher recognition

The varsity and junior varsity drill team members are shown with their awards after the Universal Dance Association Elite Camp.

Eleanor Taylor, a high school English learner (EL) specialist, earned a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms grant by the U.S. Department of State and the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board. Taylor is one of 76 U.S. citizens who will travel abroad through the Fulbright program in the 2018-2019 school year. She will attend a global education symposium in Washington D.C. followed by a two-to-three-week international field experience in a yet-to-be-determined foreign country after Eleanor Taylor the completion of her coursework. Recipients of Fulbright grants are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement as well as demonstrated leadership potential. The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build relations between the people of the United States and the people of other countries that are needed to solve global challenges.

PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL

Drill team honors and All-American awards

Earning the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy were, from left, Eric Barcenas, Susana Solorzano Hidalgo and Shhdwafi Youssef.

The Pattonville High School drill teams took home several honors after participating in the Universal Dance Association Elite Camp at the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.

The varsity drill team placed first for its home routine and earned a superior trophy, a spirit stick and a “pin it forward” award. In addition, four seniors - Allison Brown, Emily Reyes, Hannah Schamber and Lacey Swanson - won All-American awards.

Other members of the varsity drill team are Kinzi Boyer, Molly Hanford, Amaris Kirksey, Renee Neal, Summer Parker, Zoie Redfern, Katie Ridings, Hailey Sparacio, Isabelle Tucker, Kasey Yancey and Kamauri Younge.

The junior varsity team also earned honors at the camp. The team placed first for its home routine, won a superior trophy, earned a spirit stick and had two “pin it forward” winners. In addition, team members Anna Barrett and Niya Shockley were named All-American award winners. Other members of the team are Charley Bennight, Kylee Brown, Mikayla Brown, Callie Farrar, Alyssa Mobley, Camryn Peebles, Tanae Peebles, India Reed, Nya Robinson, A’mari Smith, Rontina Smith, Shakyah Smith, Claudia Sumner and Larissa Vassallo.

Grace Burgos, who won the Coaches Award at the camp, coaches the varsity team, and Kristin Riggs coaches the junior varsity team. Lindsey Purviance is an assistant coach.

Pattonville graduates earn state Seal of Biliteracy

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hree 2018 graduates of Pattonville High School are among the state’s first students to earn Missouri’s new Seal of Biliteracy. Eric Barcenas and Susana Solorzano Hidalgo earned the Distinguished Missouri Seal of Biliteracy in Spanish and Shhdwafi Youssef earned the Missouri Seal of Biliteracy in Arabic.

The Seal of Biliteracy is a program created by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The recognition program encourages and recognizes the study of a second language and the cultures and languages within the community. The Distinguished Missouri Seal is awarded to students who show an advanced level of proficiency in English and at least one other language. The standard Missouri seal is awarded to students who show a high level of achievement in English and an intermediate level of proficiency in another language. The Seal of Biliteracy can be obtained by high school students proficient in two languages, whether English is their first or subsequent language.

Students interested in earning the recognition must submit an application and complete the following requirements to receive the Seal of Biliteracy: show language proficiency in English and a language other than English and complete a project that demonstrates high levels of sociocultural competence relating to English and the second language. Projects can include providing translation services for a nonprofit community organization or completing a community service project that requires the use of both languages. After completing the project, the student must write a reflection piece. This project must be approved by the student’s faculty mentor at their high school.

State barebow champion

Sophomore Tyler Wright broke another record - this time his own state record he set the previous year.

Wright set a new state record when he won the barebow cadet championship during the 2018 Missouri Archery Association (MAA) and JOAD (Junior Olympic Archery Development) Championship in Moberly on Aug. 18. Wright was also named one of the 2018 MAA Archers of the Year, which is based on the combined placement of archers from both the indoor and outdoor state championships. He earned the honor in the junior male category. Wright previously won the 2017 Best Barebow Archer award in the junior male category.

The MAA is the National Archery Association (NAA) / USA Archery state affiliate for the state of Missouri.

Tyler Wright, right, is shown accepting his state award.

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New Pattonville Early Childhood Center opens its doors for youngest learners E

arly childhood families and staff along with other members of the Pattonville community gathered on Aug. 7 to see the new Pattonville Early Childhood Center during an open house. The center is located at 2900 Adie Road in St. Ann at the site of the former Briar Crest Elementary School. The public was able to tour the building and learn about Pattonville’s early childhood programs, which serve families with children from birth to 5 years of age.

The new center includes a preschool program for students ages 3 through 5, including those requiring special education services, and the Parents An interactive flower sculpture adorns the as Teachers front entry of the new Pattonville Early Child(PAT) prohood Center. gram, a free, voluntary program designed to help parents be the first and most important teacher to their children. Free developmental screenings for children ages 6 months to 5 years are also available. These screenings measure a child’s progress in the areas of motor, cognition, language and social development as well as health, hearing and vision.

The Pattonville Early Childhood Center has 14 preschool classrooms designed for the specific needs of preschool children, and the district will be able to add four more classrooms in the future as needed.

Other rooms will be used for PAT programming. New features include a “living room” for staff to host “home visits” when requested by families; conference areas; a diagnostic office for early childhood special education evaluations; a motor room for children working with an occupational or physical therapist on specific learning goals; and an action room, where children engage in activities that provide fun, physical activity. A new “PICL” (play, imagine, connect and learn) room is a multipurpose space that can be used for developmental screenings, group connections and PICL groups - playbased parent education group meetings that focus on developmental topics such as toileting, transitions, discipline and nutrition.

Previously, Pattonville’s early childhood program was located in classrooms at the district’s elementary schools and the Pattonville Learning Center. As the program grew, more classroom space was needed than what was available at these sites. A zero tax rate increase bond issue approved by voters in 2017 enabled the renovations of the former Briar Crest Elementary School to better meet the needs of preschool-aged children and related programming. Briar Crest closed in 2012 due to budget constraints and elementary students were redistricted into existing schools. Moving the early childhood program into one location also results in more classroom space being freed up in Pattonville’s elementary schools and enables the district to maintain lower class sizes.

Pattonville’s early childhood program is paid for by a combination of state/federal funds, parent tuition and some district funds. For more information about Pattonville’s early childhood programs, go online at ec.psdr3.org or call (314) 213-8100.

Above, an open house was held for the new Pattonville Early Childhood Center. At left, Director of Early Childhood Dr. Mary Krekeler, left, and Board President Jeanne Schottmueller, right, assist preschoolers with cutting the ribbon to commemorate the opening of the new Pattonville Early Childhood Center. Shown are, from left, William Palmer, Mesa Baczynski and Ronin Bishop. They are joined by Pattonville Superintendent Dr. Tim Pecoraro, center, and from left, school board members Dr. Amanda Lienau Purnell and Andrea Glenn and former board members Ralph Stahlhut and Bob Dillon.

Above, new, fenced playgrounds designed for young children have been installed at the new center. Below, the new preschool classrooms feature different learning areas and furniture designed for preschool-aged children.

Above, early childhood paraprofessional Khalida Wukawitz, right, interacts with Eldana Henok, left, and Ellie Pina on the first day of classes at the center. Below, paraprofessional Brittany Stevens assists Raleigh Wills, center, and Levi Soltysiak with their alphabet.

One room has been set aside to serve as a “living room” to enable parent educators to host family “home visits” when needed.

Early childhood teacher Katy O’Quinn poses with Cheyenne Thomas for a first-day photo.

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PATTONVILLE GOES

Back to School Remington Traditional School art teacher Tamika Dukes laughs with kindergartners from Jill Kruse’s class as she reads a book to them on the first day of classes.

Approximately 5,800 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, along with more than 200 preschoolers, began classes in the Pattonville School District in August.

Katherine Cullinane, left, and Ronald Wilkerson collaborate on the “marshmallow challenge” in Steve Edler’s Honors Algebra II class at Pattonville High School on the first day of school. Their task was to construct a tower as high as possible to support a marshmallow using only spaghetti and masking tape, a challenge that required creativity, innovation and being able to develop a plan and execute it as a team. Camille Brown is shown in the back on the left.

Ashley Powers, a third-grade teacher at Parkwood Elementary School, shares a book with her students on their first day together for the new school year.

Rose Acres Elementary School Principal Steve Vargo poses with, from left, Brayson Seals, Sophya Seals and Ty Seals for a first-day-of-school photo.

Above, Drummond Elementary School second-grade teacher Kimberly Dickinson greets her new students while they finish eating breakfast. Below, sixth-grade science teacher Jonathan Striebel shares a moment of levity while going over the behavior guide with his students at Holman Middle School.

Above, Bridgeway Elementary School third-grade teacher Rebekah Stabenow watches as students participate in an activity designed to help them get to know each other. Below, Katharine Ackman, left, a third-grade teacher at Willow Brook Elementary School, assists her students. They are, from left, Caleigh Fox and Amani Fisher.

Pattonville Heights Middle School Principal Dr. Scot Mosher, left, greets students as they arrive at school. Shown are from left, Cole Sunderman and Andrew Webb.

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PATTONVILLE GOES

Back to School

Approximately 5,800 students in kindergarten through 12th grade, along with more than 200 preschoolers, began classes in the Pattonville School District in August.

Drummond Elementary School assistant principal Dr. Amanda Denson greets students outside school on the first day of classes. They are, from left, Riley Boles and Jazlyn Anders.

Above, Ryan Shea, a communication arts teacher at Holman Middle School, discusses his course with seventh graders. Below, students in Erin Connaughton’s kindergarten class at Willow Brook Elementary School react with joy during an activity in music class.

Above, from left, Kyle Hebel, Jared Tendiel and Tracy Machuki get comfortable while working on an assignment in Danica Johnson’s fourth- and fifth-grade mixed class at Remington Traditional School. Below, Natasha Malone’s second-graders at Bridgeway Elementary School gather in a circle as they get acquainted.

Above, Rose Acres Elementary School fourth-grade teacher Mary Spitzmiller, center, warms up her class with some first-day-of-school activities to help students get to know each other. At left, first-grade teacher Greg Stoltz assists Daniel Quezada with a book he is reading on the first day of classes at Parkwood Elementary School.

Above, from left, Riley Steinbecker, Corina Baker and Kayani Lester share a laugh on the first day of orchestra classes at Pattonville Heights Middle School. Below, students in Katherine Korte’s government class at Pattonville High School take part in an activity on contemporary issues on the first day of classes.

“Pattonville Highlights” is published six times annually for residents of the Pattonville School District by the Pattonville Office of School-Community Relations, 11097 St. Charles Rock Road, St. Ann, MO 63074, (314) 213-8025. Website: www.psdr3.org. Email: mschoonover@psdr3.org. To sign up to receive a Pattonville newsletter by email, send your email address to PSDnews@psdr3.org.