Highlights September 2024

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

SEPTEMBER 2024

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

Inside

Save the date for homecoming activities - See page 3 for details

District earns Pinnacle Award for career exploration initiative

- See page 7 for details

Celebrating a new school year BOARD OF EDUCATION

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

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

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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.

Classes in the Pattonville School District started on Aug. 19 with more than 6,000 students in preschool through 12th grade kicking off the new school year. Top, first graders in Tiffany Laughlin’s class at Parkwood Elementary School welcome the new year.

They are, from left, Lydia Morgan, Theo Craig, Emma Mullins, Forrest Kohler, Aaliyah Curry and Jayce Rogers. Left, early childhood teacher Pam Stubblefield, left, and student Vida Barnett trace cutouts of letters with toy cars. Above, Pattonville Heights Middle School French teacher Rachel Luckett, right, works with eighth graders NaShawn Hawkins, center, and Esrom Feseha.

Resources to support safety in From the Superintendent Prioritizing safety: How the Pattonville School District the Pattonville School District T protects students, staff; adds safety position I Anonymous Reporting: Quick Tip n the Pattonville School District, student and staff safety is a top priority.

As the district continually adapts to new challenges, it has implemented a variety of cutting-edge safety protocols. These initiatives span from enhanced physical security measures to comprehensive crisis response plans. To unify and lead all safety efforts, Pattonville has introduced a pivotal new position this school year: the director of safety, security, and emergency management.

Brian Whitfield was hired as the district’s first director and began this role on July 1. This leadership position oversees the district’s safety and emergency response protocols and is central in ensuring that all protocols, training and Dr. Barry Nelson security measures work together seamlessly to protect the school community.

Superintendent The director of safety, security, and emergency management manages all safety and security initiatives, ensuring that Pattonville remains proactive in protecting students and staff. Key responsibilities include organizing emergency preparedness drills, conducting security audits, developing crisis response plans, overseeing visitor management systems and fostering close relationships with local law enforcement and first responders. The goal of this position is to ensure that Pattonville is proactively preparing for any crisis, from natural disasters to security threats. Learn more about Pattonville’s safety initiatives below and see the story at the right to learn more about security systems in place.

School Resource Officer Partnerships

Pattonville maintains a strong relationship with local law enforcement through the presence of school resource officers (SROs) in every secondary school, as well as at Drummond Elementary School and the Academy of Innovation at Remington. These officers work closely with school administrators to ensure a safe learning environment. Additionally, schools in Bridgeton and Maryland Heights receive regular visits by DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) officers.

The presence of SROs plays a vital role in maintaining the safety of Pattonville’s school communities, offering both a physical security presence and a trusted resource for students and staff alike.

Collaboration with Local Municipalities

The district regularly collaborates with police chiefs and public safety departments from the cities of Bridgeton, Maryland Heights and St. Ann to develop and update safety protocols that best protect our students and staff. This ongoing partnership with local municipalities strengthens the district’s overall approach to safety and ensures that the community’s law enforcement resources are seamlessly integrated into school safety strategies. Pattonville deeply appreciates the continued support from these cities, whose officers help safeguard our schools and contribute to a secure, productive learning environment for all students.

Emergency Preparedness and Crisis Management

Pattonville’s approach to safety includes a comprehensive emergency preparedness plan that addresses various threats, including natural disasters, cybersecurity issues and violence. Under the guidance of the director of safety, security and emergency management, the district will continue to conduct regular drills, including lockdowns, evacuations and tabletop exercises. These drills ensure that staff and students know how to respond in case of emergencies. The director will also coordinate with local law enforcement to continuously improve emergency response efforts.

Active Shooter Training and Safety Drills

he Pattonville School District is proactive in providing resources to and for the school community which are intended to keep students, staff and visitors safe. See below for some of the resources used to do this.

One of the district’s most accessible safety tools is the SchoolMessenger Quick Tip system, which allows students, families, staff and community members to report safety concerns or incidents directly to district officials. While tips can be submitted anonymously, providing detailed information such as names, dates and locations ensures that issues can be addressed quickly and thoroughly. This platform empowers the community to actively contribute to maintaining a safe school environment.

Emergency Contact Number for After-Hours Support

For after-hours emergencies, families can contact the district through a dedicated emergency phone number, 314-576-0156, ensuring they can reach administrators in emergency situations outside of normal school hours. This service adds another layer of responsiveness to Pattonville’s emergency management strategy.

Visitor Management and Security: Raptor System

To ensure the safety of students and staff, Pattonville has implemented the Raptor Visitor Management System. This system screens all visitors against sex offender registries and district-specific databases.

Upon arrival at a district building, all visitors must present a valid photo ID. Once cleared through Raptor, visitors must wear a visitor badge while on campus. This system allows the district to track everyone entering and exiting school facilities, adding an extra layer of security, especially during emergencies.

Volunteers or contractors who will be alone with students undergo FBI and Missouri background checks before working with students.

Cybersecurity and Data Protection

Cybersecurity is a critical focus for the district in an increasingly digital age. Pattonville has adopted a number of cybersecurity controls, including multi-factor authentication (MFA), secure data backups and staff phishing awareness training.

These measures protect sensitive district and student data from external threats.

Pattonville places a strong emphasis on preparing staff for potential worst-case scenarios through active shooter training. This training focuses on practical responses to such situations, including evading, escaping and, when necessary, engaging. Regular drills help staff and students build the confidence to respond effectively in real-life emergencies. The district transportation department also participates in training that simulates active shooter scenarios on a school bus.

Data Privacy and Security for Digital Tools

The district conducts safety audits to ensure that its facilities are secure. These audits cover aspects such as building access controls, security camera systems and emergency response procedures. As part of these efforts, recent safety upgrades include secure vestibules at school entrances, reinforced window films and upgraded security cameras. While updates are made continuously as needed, much of this work is completed during bond issue facility improvements, most recently in 2022 with Prop S, the district’s no-tax rate increase bond issue. In addition to other work, Prop S funds were used to create the new secure entrances at Parkwood and Willow Brook elementary schools, with additional work to come.

The addition of the director of safety, security, and emergency management position underscores Pattonville’s ongoing commitment to ensuring a safe environment for all students and staff. By uniting all safety protocols under one leadership role, the district ensures that its safety approach is comprehensive and cohesive. With the support of SROs and local law enforcement partnerships, Pattonville continues to set the standard for school safety. Through technology, training and community collaboration, Pattonville provides a secure environment where students and staff can focus on learning and growing.

WiFi Calling, Messaging and Internet Access for All On-Campus Devices

Safety Audits and Facility Improvements

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With the growing use of digital resources in education, protecting student data has become increasingly important. Before any online service or application is used in the district, it must be approved by the district’s information security officer (ISO) to ensure compliance with legal regulations like FERPA. These agreements protect sensitive student data, with strict controls on data collection, sharing and storage. This process helps the district maintain control over critical information.

Pattonville is addressing cellular service issues in its schools by enhancing the district’s WiFi capacity and capability. The priority is to provide robust WiFi for calling, messaging and internet access on any device on campus, particularly in the event of an emergency.

For more information, visit the parent emergency information guide page on the district website at www.psdr3.org by clicking on the Families and Students hub in the menu at the top.

Save the Date

Homecoming is coming!

Mark your calendars for Oct. 4 and 5 T

he Pattonville community is invited to join as Pattonville celebrates homecoming on Oct. 4 and 5. Homecoming festivities include a variety of activities open to the Pattonville community. This year’s homecoming theme is Together Through the Seasons. Below is a list of community activities scheduled to date.

Friday, Oct. 4

Football Game, 7 p.m.

Watch the varsity Pirates take on the Seckman Jaguars. During halftime, there will be performances by the band, cheerleaders, color guard and drill team, the homecoming court will be presented and a homecoming king and queen will be crowned. Tickets for the game are $5 and free for children 7 and younger.

Saturday, Oct. 5

Half-Mile Fun Run, 9:40 a.m.

Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are invited to participate in this run. The fun run will start at the corner of Bonniebrook Drive and Bennington Place and end in the Pattonville High School parking lot. For more information on the cost and how to register, contact the Pattonville community engagement office at (314) 213-8095 or communityengagement@psdr3.org or go online to https://go.teamsnap.com/forms/431954 to register.

Homecoming Parade, 10 a.m.

Parade floats will stage at Grace Church (2695 Creve Coeur Mill Road). From there, the parade will proceed south on McKelvey Road, then right on Chatham Drive, left on Nantucket Place, right on Bonniebrook Drive and right on 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. Additionally, the Together Through the Seasons theme will be included in school floats.

Homecoming Parade Route Start At Grace Church South On McKelvey Road across Creve Coeur Mill Road Right On Chatham Road Left On Nantucket Place Right On Bonniebrook Drive Right On Bennington Place End At Pattonville High School

START END

Maria’s Backpacks Drive collects, donates more than 7,000 items to Pattonville students The City of Maryland Heights accepted school supply donations from the community that were delivered to the Pattonville School District on Aug. 15.

Right, staff from Maryland Heights and Pattonville unload donations from the fire truck they were delivered in. Below, representatives from Maryland Heights and Pattonville pose with the donations.

C

ommunity members showed their support by contributing to the Maria’s Backpacks School Supply Drive this year. The annual campaign collected more than 7,000 items.

Representatives from the City of Maryland Heights dropped off the donations at the Pattonville School District Learning Center on Aug. 15. They were delivered in a fully-packed Maryland Heights Fire Protection District ambulance.

The drive is named after Maria Lucas who worked at the Maryland Heights Community Center when she died in a tragic incident in 2020. She enjoyed giving back to the community through education and began her career as a special education teacher in the Ritenour School District. The school supply drive is held in her memory and begins every year on her birthday, July 3.

Donations were accepted at the Maryland Heights Community Center, Maryland Heights Government Center, Maryland Heights Police Department, Maryland Heights Fire Protection District House 2 and Pattonville Fire District House 3. The City of Maryland Heights, Maryland Heights Police Department, Maryland Heights Fire Protection District and Pattonville Fire Protection District all participated in the fourth annual event.

Staff at the Pattonville Learning Center accepted the donations. The district will work with school counselors and social workers to distribute the items to students throughout Pattonville.

Students in the 2023-2024 elementary cross country program participate in a race at Vago Park.

Registration open for K-8 fall activities S

tudents in elementary and middle school can participate in activities through Pattonville’s community and staff engagement department. Activities begin in September and include cross country, FIRST Lego League, soccer and volleyball.

Registration opened Aug. 20. For more information, visit bit.ly/PSD-K-8Activities.

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PATTONVILLE GOES

Back to School

Above left, Rose Acres Elementary School teacher Jamie Sievers, back, works with, from left, third graders Samuel Kersten, Hailey Kelley and Parker Mansfield on a worksheet on the first day of school. Above right, Parkwood Elementary School third grader Aubree Collier shares her panther-themed coloring sheet of Parker, the school mascot.

Left, Willow Brook Elementary School second graders Jabril Mosley, left, and Hunter Hernandez put away their folders in Jennifer Rogers’s class. Below, fifth graders in Karrie Peters’s fifth grade class at the Academy of Innovation at Remington work on a project. They are, from left, Norah Wilson, Madison Beverly and Trinity Ellis.

Above, sixth graders in Cait Zona’s English class at Pattonville Heights Middle School participate in a get-to-know-you activity. They are, from left, Kiersten Lohagen, Chloe Squires, Addison Claspill and Falon Jacobsen. Below, sophomore Kymani Patterson works on an activity in his English class taught by Kate Ramatowski.

View more photos

See more photos from the first day of school on Pattonville’s SmugMug page at bit.ly/PSDFirstDay24 or see the posts on Facebook and Instagram.

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Above, students in Danielle Hamer’s first grade class at Bridgeway Elementary School learn about lunch expectations and about the school’s composting program from reading teacher Jeanne Fernandez, who donned an kale costume. Right, third graders Namirah Morrow, left, and Rim Yacoubi in Billy Thompson’s class at Willow Brook Elementary School answer questions about their summer using a highlighter as a microphone.

Above, Academy of Innovation at Remington second graders Kai Hollon Biggins, left, and Abby Fick, center, get support from their teacher Ashley Senn. Below, Princeton Brewer shares his first impressions of third grade in Morgan Kiffmeyer’s class at Drummond Elementary School.

Above, seventh graders in Alex Caldwell’s history class at Pattonville Heights Middle School work on and discuss an all-about-me activity. They are, from left, Jacob Moore, Noah King, Caldwell, Victor Perez Coronel and Kentrell Robinson. Below, Holman Middle School seventh grader Evie Reinwart shares about herself using a get-to-know-you project in her Pirate Academy class.

Early childhood students in Amy Bopp’s class, from left, Jordan Beard, Maldan Ephrem and Ava Hinzpeter dance the jiggles out before going home on their first day of preschool.

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PATTONVILLE GOES

Back to School

Above, Zoe Swedlund, left, a third grader at Bridgeway Elementary School, expresses interest in answering teacher Vanessa Curiel-Gray’s question as classmates Hannah Strubel, center, and Ashlynn Claspill watch. Right, fourth graders in Samantha Wandersee’s fourth grade class at Drummond Elementary School play a game where classmates give clues about the image displayed on the screen for the three students to guess. Trying to guess the map image are, from left, Brooklyn Davis, Bradley Kopf and Liam Quick.

Above left, Rose Acres Elementary School fifth grader Eli Ruscheva learns about her teacher, Sarah Carter, using a matching activity. Above right, Holman Middle School math teacher Kelly York, left, shares hallway expectations with her class. Students shown are, from left, eighth graders Amora Greenlee, Aldo Aldana Robledo and Meghan Hollis. Right, junior Josephine Dunnegan in Stephanie Heyman’s Pattonville High School math class draws a picture of what she did this summer.

Left, early childhood preschooler Lewis Hall uses the classroom smart board to check snack time off the daily schedule in Shannon Fleming’s class. Above, Parkwood Elementary School first grade teacher Ben Williams, left, works with Julian Reed to login to a reading app.

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Pattonville receives Pinnacle of Achievement Award for community connections P

attonville is one of four districts in the nation that will be honored with a Pinnacle of Achievement Award from the Association of School Business Officials International (ASBO) this fall. The award recognizes districts for their resourcefulness and creativity in solving challenges and championing education and creating innovative solutions to maximize resources and enhance student achievement. The award will be presented to Mary Jo Gruber, Pattonville’s chief financial officer, during ASBO’s fall conference.

Pattonville received a Pinnacle of Achievement Award for utilizing the district purchasing process to create career exploration opportunities for students. Pattonville uses value-added services (VASs), additional offerings provided by businesses that go beyond its core product or service offerings, to create opportunities for students to learn from employees of a company or to experience work in that company first-hand through an extended learning opportunity (ELO). Starting in 2018, Pattonville has used ELOs as a way for students to explore real-world applications of their interests and career aspirations. This exploration occurs in a variety of non-traditional ways, including self-study and internship-like programs.

In order to cultivate relationships for this program, Pattonville’s business office has revised its request for proposal (RFP) process to encourage companies to develop an opportunity for students to explore careers in that business area. As each proposal is evaluated, the district can award additional points to a company for innovative approaches that incorporate emerging technologies, project-based learning or interdisciplinary studies to expose students to various focuses and careers in unique ways.

“The purchasing process serves as a bridge between the business community and the district,” Gruber said. “By leveraging value-added services proposed during the purchasing process, districts can access a wide range of expertise, resources and innovative solutions to access extended learning opportunities for students and expose them to various focuses and careers.”

In addition to the RFP process, districts can actively collaborate with currently contracted businesses with the goal of fostering positive connections that can turn into ELOs that benefit the students, staff and the community at large. These community partnerships in learning make the district, business and the community as a whole stronger.

Students across Pattonville have benefited from these business-related opportunities. Numerous businesses have provided in-classroom opportunities for students to learn about that company’s field. This includes the Deloitte accounting firm visiting classrooms to connect current curriculum to real-life accounting practices and First Community Bank explaining to students the importance of opening a bank account, basic economics and investments by creating a well-balanced investment portfolio.

Other opportunities include construction companies S.M. Wilson and Schneider Electric allowing students to job shadow or sponsor a STEM (science, technology, en-

ALUMNI SUCCESS Graduates in the news Kailey Utley, Class of 2012 - On July 1, Utley signed to

play with Lexington Sporting Club (SC), a team in the USL (United Soccer League) Super League professional women’s soccer league. She will play as a forward in the inaugural season for the USL Super League.

Utley attended West Virginia University and played four seasons with the Mountaineers, where she was named team captain as a senior. During the 2015 season, Utley scored 12 goals and had six asCourtesy of Lexington SC sists, including seven Kailey Utley will play for the Lexgame-winning goals, ington Sporting Club in the USL which put her fourth Super League.

Students in computer science and engineering at Pattonville High School participated in a tour of Schneider Electric in the spring. During the tour, students learned about electricity grids and electrical generated backups and about a new smart technology at hospitals aimed at making patient care better by giving doctors and nurses smoother access to information.

gineering and math) day at school. Brightergy allowed teachers access to monitors to show solar power at work, Leonardo DRS sponsored robotics leagues and Schneider Electric provided scholarships for artificial intelligence events. The partnership also supports the businesses by providing a community connection that attracts customers, makes them stand out from other businesses and increases customer loyalty.

“On behalf of ASBO International, I am pleased to congratulate the 2024 Pinnacle Award winners,” ASBO international executive director Jim Rowan said in a press release. “These districts epitomize what innovation and commitment look like, and we thank them for implementing positive, meaningful change for their districts.”

Sponsored by Virco, ASBO International’s Pinnacle Awards are presented annually to four school business administrators who have created outstanding and innovative practices to improve the efficiency of schools, contribute to the growth of the school business management profession and make a difference in the education of our nation’s students.

Since 1997, only six Pinnacle of Achievement Award recipients have come from Missouri, with three being awarded to Pattonville. Additionally, three of the district’s last four CFOs have received the award. Pattonville last earned a Pinnacle Award in 2013 for its one-to-one laptop and iLearn program at Pattonville High School.

in the country. She was featured on the All-Big 12 First Team, Big 12 All-Tournament Team and NSCAA All-Region First Team. The Mountaineers made it to the Elite Eight of the NCAA Tournament.

In 2016, Utley started playing with and captained the Fire and Ice Soccer Academy until 2019. During this time, she was a member of the U.S. Army Reserves, allowing her to participate in the CISM (International Military Sports Council) Military Women’s World Cup in 2022. Utley also joined the Pacific Northwest (PacNW) Soccer Club that year, and was named Northwest Conference Offensive Player of the Year. In 2023, she went to Lexington SC to play in the team’s first USL W League squad where she was the team’s leading scorer that year.

“It’s such an honor to be part of Lexington Sporting Club, especially in its inaugural season of the USL Super League,” Utley said in a news release. “I’m excited and grateful for this opportunity, and can’t wait to see what this team is able to accomplish.”

The USL Super League is a Division I professional women’s soccer league that began in August. The league plays on a fall-to-summer calendar. The inaugural season will feature eight teams with additional teams set to join in subsequent seasons. Lexington SC is a professional soccer club with teams competing in both the men’s third division USL League One and the women’s first division USL Super League.

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Lucy Ndungu, Class of 2021 - As a junior at Wichita

State University, Ndungu earned honorable mention all-American recognition for her 17th place finish in the 10K race at the NCAA Outdoor Championships in June. She completed the race with a time of 34:18.02 and is only one of three Wichita State Shocker women to run a 10,000-meter race at the NCAA Championships. Ndungu finished her first Courtesy of Wichita State Shockers year with the Lucy Ndungu receives honorable Shockers at the mention for finishing 17th in the 10K Division I level race of the NCAA Outdoor Championships. with a runner-up all-conference performance at the AAC Cross Country Championships, two runner-up all-conference performances at the AAC Outdoor Championships and honorable mention all-American recognition at the NCAA Outdoor Championships. While at Pattonville, Ndungu set the school record for the 3200 meter run with a time of 11:33.

PATTONVILLE GOES

Back to School

More than 6,000 students in preschool through 12th grade began classes in the Pattonville School District in August.

Left, Willow Brook Elementary School teacher Kate Ackman reads a book to her class of kindergartners. Above, Pattonville High School Spanish teacher Natalie Vance, left, gets to know her students, including Rizwan Talukder, right, by asking her class to line up in the order of their birth month without talking.

Above left, first grader Lyriq Tellis, left, at the Academy of Innovation at Remington shows his teacher, Allison Grigone, his first-day jitters writing activity while classmates Jaxon Robison, center, and Cora Porzel work on their own assignment. Above center, Drummond Elementary School second grader Miles Driskill-Oakes shows his excitement about entering his second grade era under a sign created by teacher Georgina Bates. Above right, science teacher Jennifer Calva, right, assists sixth grader Josue Jimenez Mejia with an activity at Holman Middle School.

Left, Rose Acres Elementary School first grader Micah Walls, center, does an activity with his classmates in Andrea Wagner’s classroom. Above, Bridgeway Elementary School kindergarten teacher Amanda Brodbeck, left, helps her students find their names on a popsicle stick. Students used the stick with their name to indicate their lunch preferences. Shown are, from left, Joseph Mbugua, Roman Samayoa, Liam Llanos Ortiz and Max Markovich.

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.