Highlights Pattonville A top-tier district in Missouri and the U.S.
School news for parents, residents and staff of the Pattonville School District
April - May 2020
Inside
PHS administrator a finalist for national administrator award - See back page for details
COVID-19 resources and at-home learning tips - See pages 6- 7 for details
Big hug from Pattonville Pattonville shifts to online learning, support for families
As the region and the world works to reduce the impact of the global novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, Pattonville and countless public schools across the country made the difficult decision to cancel in-person classes for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year. Thanks to community support, Pattonville was well-equipped to transition to at-home learning for the remainder of the year as students left school on March 17 with laptops and iPads available through the district’s one-to-one learning initiative. Above, Pattonville High School staff hold signs as students left on the last day of in-person classes to share a simple but powerful message: “It will be OK. We love you. We’re an email away.” At left, Bridgeway Elementary School food service staff are among several food service employees who have been making meals for students that are available through a curbside pickup program. They are, from left, Daedra Wallace, Kristin Emerick and Jennifer May. More on Pattonville’s response to the COVID-19 crisis can be found inside this newsletter.
Dr. Tim Pecoraro Superintendent
Our Mission That ALL will learn.
Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID Permit No. 1 St. Ann, MO
Pattonville is an awardwinning 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.
Pattonville School District 11097 St. Charles Rock Road St. Ann, MO 63074-1509
BOARD OF EDUCATION
Andrea Glenn, President Dr. Brian Gray, Vice President Mindy Ridings, Secretary Mary Kay Campbell, Treasurer Ruth Petrov, Director Dr. Amanda Lienau Purnell, Director Jeanne Schottmueller, Director
From the Superintendent
Adapting to support our families in an uncertain time T
he Pattonville community, like the rest of the country and world, is facing unprecedented times. As we entered the month of March, we were focused on finishing the school year strong. We were working closely with our students to ensure they mastered important conDr. Tim Pecoraro cepts and skills needed for the next Superintendent grade and supporting our seniors as Follow on Twitter: they headed down the home stretch @PattonvilleSupt of their high school career. COVID-19 has literally changed our way of life. As a school district, our work is both complex and simple. I say simple because, at the end of the day, our No. 1 job is to support the needs of our students, whatever that might entail. It’s a simple concept, but complex to achieve. Those needs range from academics, socialemotional support and health and wellness, among many others. When the decision was made to close schools due to the spread of COVID-19, I had no doubt our staff would come together and develop a robust at-home learning model so students could continue to progress on what they’ve been taught during this school year. That model is being implemented and supported by the fact each of our students (K-12) has a district-provided device (iPad or laptop) to support learning. Nothing can replace face-to-face teaching, but our model will prove effective in that absence. Although I feel confident in our teaching and learning approach during the school closure, I worry about the many other supports we typically provide students and families while they are in school that can’t be duplicated. We continue to serve nearly 1,000 meals per day to families during the school closure. I’m so thankful for the many volunteers and staff who make this possible. Our staff and our schools are connecting daily with our students and families, ensuring they know we are only an email away, here to help. I’m also thankful to our entire staff for adapting and working hard to make sure our students have the resources they need to keep learning. None of us know what will happen in the coming weeks or months. It’s inevitable that members of the Pattonville community will be impacted in some way by COVID-19, whether that’s students, staff, parents or community members. Our community thrives because we support each other during the most difficult times. Now is no different. When will life get back to normal? When will students return to school? Unfortunately, a lot of that is out of our control, but we do control how we use this time. It’s stressful, scary and uncertain. It’s also an opportunity for us to be thankful for what we do have. Each other. We’re not in this alone. We must stay connected and push forward. Life will return to normal again. When that happens, we should all want to look back at this experience and know we did everything we could to support our students, families and community during a time none of us could have previously imagined. Take care of yourself and your family. We’ll all be back together again soon.
School board election postponed until June T
he April 7 school board election has been postponed to June 2 following an executive order signed by Gov. Mike Parsons on March 18. The Brian Gray Mindy Ridings Summer Johnson Dean Linhardt Andrea Glenn executive order declares that ballots already printed for the April 7 election may be used at the postponed date of June 2. Voters who have attained the age of 18 by April 7 will be allowed to cast a ballot. Five candidates have filed to be placed on the election ballot to fill three open seats on Pattonville Board of Education. Those who filed for the board, in order of filing, are incumbents Dr. Brian J. Gray and Melinda (Mindy) Ridings, Dr. Summer Johnson, Harvey (Dean) Linhardt and incumbent Andrea D. Glenn. For information on the candidates, go online at bit.ly/PSDboecandidates2020.
Pattonville gives and receives support D
uring times of crisis, Pattonville as a community is known to rally to support each other. Such was the case when students, staff, families and community members came together to help each other after the 2011 “Good Friday” tornado struck Pattonville neighborhoods, and such is the case now as Pattonville responds to the global pandemic impacting the region. In addition to the ongoing online teaching and learning support for students, Pattonville’s food service staff is preparing nearly 1,000 breakfasts Above, Pattonville chief financial officer Ron Orr, left, loads bags of food onto a cart to deand lunches daily to liver to familes as Officer James Mullins looks on. The food was donated for families by the provide to students via Grace Church Fuel Packs program. Below, Pattonville custodial supervisor James Ivie uses curbside pickup at three an EvaClean device to disinfect a desk. The device is an electrostatic sprayer custodians use to disinfect classrooms and other areas. The district purchased devices for each school Pattonville locations (see page 6 for details). Numer- and the transportation department this year to combat the spread of illness. ous staff members and students have been volunteering weekly to distribute food to families while practicing safe social distancing protocols. Pattonville’s community partner, Grace Church, has provided bags of food for students to have meals on the weekend when the daily meal distribution is not available. Anyone wishing to donate food can contact the church. Details can be found at www.gracestl. org/foodbanks. The vast majority of staff continue to support student learning while working from home, as all buildings are closed to the public. Custodians have been working behind the scenes to clean buildings. This year, Pattonville purchased a disinfectant tool developed by EvaClean, which is an electrostatic sprayer custodians use to disinfect classrooms and other areas. The tool is also used on Pattonville buses. This device allows for all surfaces in a room to be quickly disinfected and with greater coverage than prior methods. Pattonville uses cleaning products that are hospital-grade cleaners and disinfectants. The district has also hired a professional cleaning company to do a thorough deep cleaning of each school. Pattonville has also offered its support to first responders where possible. The district donated face masks to the Bridgeton Police Department and sewing machines to SSM Health Care so their staff can make masks. The district is also in the process of offering to make medical equipment with its 3D printers.
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PATTONVILLE @Home
Pattonville schools keep connections alive while buildings are closed
Bridgeway Elementary School shared a video with its students and families letting them know how much they missed them. The video included photos of staff showing encouraging signs, such as this one by second grade teacher Stacey Maidlow.
Above, volunteers who worked at Parkwood Elementary School as part of Pattonville’s curbside free meal distribution wrote chalk messages saying “We love you,” “You got this” and “We miss you” on the pillars by the school entrance for families to see as they arrived. Among the volunteers were Parkwood kindergarten teacher Tiffany Laughlin, left, and fifth grade teacher Kristen Buescher. Below, Remington Traditional School assembled an uplifting video for students and families, which included this clip with Team 4-5 teachers Emily Cook, left, and Danica Johnson.
Drummond Elementary School has been holding virtual spirit days, “Guess the Dragon” challenges to help students get to know their teachers better, and posting photos of students and staff during at-home learning. The collage above is one of the photos the school shared on its Facebook page depicting kindergartners Fiona Willi, left, and Tyla Anton. Below, Holman Middle School has shared several messages with families letting them know staff members are available to assist family members. They took it up a notch when they created and shared a video featuring the “Friends” television show theme song, “I’ll Be There For You.” Shown below is a clip from the video featuring Special School District teacher Melanie Judge.
Rose Acres Elementary School fifth grader Rayven Williams wore her Leader in Me team shirt during one of her school’s virtual spirit days where students and staff were encouraged to share photos showing them wearing their “ship” team T-shirts.
The Pattonville High School girls soccer team initiated spirit sharing with a popular video showing the team practicing their passing skills using a roll of toilet paper. Coach Jason Sellers kicked it off.
Pattonville Heights Middle School sent the message loud and clear that they miss having their students at school. The school posted this photo to its Facebook page and has started organizing spirit days and sharing other photos to keep students and families connected.
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Staff at the Pattonville Early Childhood Center have been using Facebook to engage their families. At left, early childhood teacher Christine Kent went on Facebook Live to pull a name as part of a regular book challenge the school has begun for its young readers and their families.
Willow Brook Elementary School fifth grader Emma Henriquez Gaviria took up her school’s request to show her at-home school work.
PATTONVILLE @Home
3 Steps for Successful At-Home Learning
1
Create your new normal.
▶ Establish a daily routine (getting up and dressed and doing school work at the same time, etc.).
▶ Use a dedicated workspace away from distractions.
▶ Every day, check emails and learning platforms (Seesaw, Google Classroom or Canvas) for messages from the teacher, school or district.
▶ Set aside chunks of time for learning and take breaks.
▶ Make a plan for each day, including what you want or need to get done.
▶ Use what works best for you to keep organized and on track (sticky notes, calendars, friend/ family member who reminds you, rewards or incentives, etc.).
2
Reach out for help.
▶ Use the schoolprovided laptops or iPads to find information and learning resources.
3
Take care of you.
▶ Take it slow and set reasonable expectations. This is new for everyone, so give yourself and others a little grace.
▶ If you have technology issues, there is a help desk at each school to assist. For contacts, check the FAQ section on the Pattonville coronavirus website at bit.ly/PSDcovid19response.
▶ Pattonville teachers and staff members are only an email away. We are here to help answer questions and help navigate through this new world of learning. Feel free to reach out anytime via email for assistance.
▶ Debrief … at the end of the day or week, take some time to reflect or discuss what went well and what could be done differently to be more successful. ▶ Take care of your emotional health. The unusual nature of what everyone is going through can cause stress and anxiety. Take part in safe activities that relieve stress and bring you joy (i.e., online chats with friends, going for a walk, reading a good book). If you need further support, reach out to your school counselor. ▶ Wash your hands frequently and practice safe social distancing to keep from becoming ill. Stay home and stay safe.
Pattonville provides meals for students while schools are shuttered T
he Pattonville School District is offering free breakfasts and lunches via drive-thru or curbside pickup at three locations in the district for all children 18 years of age and under. No ID or paperwork is required to participate. The program is designed to ensure students have access to healthy meals while schools are not open. Meals are available for pickup at the following locations between 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), until the end of the school year: Drummond Elementary School, Parkwood Elementary School and the Pattonville Learning Center. Meals will include a lunch for that day and breakfast for the following day. Families will not be able to enter the school, and meals should not be consumed on site. In order to enable volunteers to maintain safe social distancing, Pattonville asks families arriving for meal pickup to follow the following steps: • Write the number of childen you are picking up meals for on a large sheet of paper and place it on your dashboard so we can be prepared to get the appropriate number of meals and keep things moving. • Stay inside your vehicle and open the trunk of your vehicle so we can place the bags directly inside. If opening your trunk is not possible and there is no other unoccupied space in your vehicle, you will need to get out of the vehicle and pick up the meals as they are placed on a curbside table. • If you walk to one of the sites, our volunteers will help you while maintaining the 6-foot social distancing requirement. For more information on Pattonville’s meal distribution, download a flyer at bit.ly/PSDfreemeals2020. Other food options are available in the community. St. Louis County Library and Operation Food Search also provide drive-thru food pickup for children. More information can be found online at www.slcl.org/drive-thru-meals. An additional list of food resources can be on the county’s website at stlouisco.com/YourGovernment/County-Executive/COVID-19/COVID-19-Resources.
Photos clockwise from top: Pattonville Heights Middle School staff work the food distribution at the Pattonville Learning Center. They are, from left, permanent substitute Michelle Crocker, counselor Dawn Osman, math teacher Christian Metheney and modern language teacher Claudia Miller. Matt Loyet, a social studies teacher at Holman Middle School, left, and Brooke Callan, a math teacher at Pattonville High School, load food into a trunk at the Learning Center. Drummond Elementary School food service staff Tracy Mellring, left, and manager Catina Gaddy prepare meals for students. High school cafeteria manager Gale Robertson helps prep graband-go meals for students. (Note: most photos taken before masks were recommended.)
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Pattonville shares thoughts on surviving and thriving with at-home learning L
ike many families during the current global pandemic, Mary Sosman is trying to find a new normal, balancing working from home while supporting at-home learning for her own children. Sosman is an English language learner specialist at Drummond Elementary School, but also has a 6-year-old kindergartner and an 8-year-old second grader at home to support. “It’s been a lot to juggle and my teacher-student ratio is stellar, but add working on top and it’s a lot,” Sosman said. Sosman and families across the U.S. are discovering what works in navigating at-home learning with their own children while still working either at home or in the workplace. She and other staff in Pattonville provided advice on how to be successful at balancing both worlds in this new era of social distancing. Their advice boils down to three big steps (see graphic on previous page): 1. Create your new normal. 2. Reach out for help. 3. Take care of you. Sosman said her family is discovering what works best for them. “It’s helped us to have a list or schedule of what to do,” she said. “(We) make sure we make time for breaks, do the areas that are hardest for them first (get them out of the way), give lots of praise and encouragement, give yourself, as the adult, a break too, and remember that we’re all doing this imperfectly.” Bridgeway Elementary School third grade teacher Natasha Malone urged families to not become “overwhelmed with duplicating the classroom and ‘what your teacher would do.’ Instead we want to keep their brains going with continuous learning.” Pattonville Heights Middle School attendance clerk Mallorey
Burns said having a schedule works best for her own children. “From a parent standpoint, what is working for my kids is having a set amount of activities they have to get done first thing in the morning,” Burns said. “They work really hard to get all their daily assignments their teacher is posting every morning finished, then they take a long play break until lunch. After lunch is the more relaxed items like extra DreamBox lessons, art, P.E., etc., since it’s harder to get back into the swing of it after lunch.” Pattonville Heights counselor Dawn Osman encourages families not to compare their efforts to others they might see on social media. They should “not feel they are not living up to the ‘perfect homeschool’ portrayed by some,” she said. “This is new to all and they just need to do the best that they can. Encourage students to try and figure things out and to reach out to their teachers and friends for help.” Early childhood teacher Sharon Wood agreed. “I sent a message to our parents this morning about knowing there may be bumps in the road and told them even at the (early childhood) center, some days are better than others,” she said. “I think it’s important they know this adjustment will take some time and we don’t expect them to be perfect, especially at our age (preschool). I think if they knew that less time with quality work will go farther than more ‘classroom’ time with both parties being stressed out.” All staff urged students and families to reach out for help when they have questions or concerns. “Communicate with your teacher as much as needed,” said Pattonville High School social studies teacher Casey Christensen. “We are in this together and here for you.”
Above, members of the Smith family get busy on their first day of at-home learning. Shown are, from left, Drummond Elementary School fifth grader Samiya Smith, Pattonville junior Kyah Smith, and Class of 2019 alumnus Steven Smith II, who is a freshman at Forest Park Community College. At left, preschooler Evan Barth, left, and Remington Traditional School second grader Adam Barth stand next to their desks at home holding a “First Day of Home Learning” sign. Below, Bridgeway Elementary School fifth grader Jacob Snowden attends a virtual meeting with his classmates and teacher Emily Lerman.
“I quickly discovered yesterday that many kids are putting a crazy amount of pressure on themselves,” said Juli Kobielusz, a Special School District teacher at the high school. “It’s important for them to take breaks and understand that teachers are learning right along with them. This is new to all of us and is affecting everyone in the world. Please remind parents to email the teachers. We want to help, but don’t know what they need from us right now.” Christine Young, instructional specialist at Willow Brook Elementary School, added, “Most importantly, have fun and enjoy this special time with your child!”
Find learning resources at:
bit.ly/PSDcovid19response
RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES Mental health support
Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Fear and anxiety caused by this pandemic can be overwhelming and cause strong emotions in adults and children. Stress can be displayed in the following ways: • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones • Changes in sleep or eating patterns • Difficulty sleeping or concentrating • Worsening of chronic health problems • Worsening of mental health conditions • Increased use of alcohol, tobacco or other drugs
If someone is feeling overwhelmed with emotions like sadness, depression or anxiety or feel like they might want to harm themselves or others, contact one of the following: • 911 for emergencies • Behavioral Health Response: (314) 469-6644 (immediate access to a counselor or social worker, free of charge) • Mid-Missouri Crisis Line: Text “HAND” to 839863 • Disaster Distress Help Line: 1-800-9855990 or text “TalkWithUs” to 66746 • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-TALK (8225) or visit www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org
Helpful websites Pattonville’s coronavirus website
bit.ly/PSDcovid19response
Pattonville area resources
COVID-19
sites.google.com/psdr3.org/pattonville-community-services
St. Louis County coronavirus website
stlcorona.com
St. Louis County Library food distribution
www.slcl.org/drive-thru-meals
St. Louis County Library virtual branch (including e-books, etc.)
www.slcl.org/virtual-branch
Missouri’s coronavirus website and hotline
health.mo.gov/living/healthcondiseases/communicable/novel-coronavirus
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19
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www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-nCoV
BRAGGING WRITES
Honors, Awards and Achievements by Pattonville Students and Staff
ROSE ACRES ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
State poison prevention contest
Second grader Jackson McCullough placed first in the second grade category of the 2020 Poison Prevention Week poster contest sponsored by the Missouri Poison Center. McCullough’s poster was on display at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital during National Poison Prevention Week. Jackson McCullough He is taught by PEGS (Program for Exceptionally Gifted Students) teacher Tracey Robinson.
top three students in each division, were recognized at the Capitol in Jefferson City during a meeting in the rotunda. He is taught by Robin Chang.
Devin Garner is front row, center, is shown at the state capitol with Rep. Jay Mosley (rear) and his father, Daren Garner, and his grandfather, Daren Garner.
Law Day essay contest
Alexis Burroughs, a fifth grader in the PEGS program, placed third in the fourth-fifth grade category of the Law Day Essay Contest sponsored by the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section and the Missouri National Education Association. This year’s essay asked students in fourth through eighth Alexis Burroughs grades to address a writing prompt about why people choose not to vote and how to encourage more people to vote. Tracey Robinson is her teacher.
HOLMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL National art contest Above, teacher Tracey Robinson helps Caleb Bonner into a leather jacket he received for winning a national essay contest. Below, Robinson gives Harry Vandernoot a certificate and dog tag he earned for placing in the contest.
Tuskegee Airmen writing contest
Caleb Bonner, a fourth grader in the PEGS program, was named the winner of the Grades 3 through 5 division of a national writing contest offered through the Tuskegee Airmen Association. Bonner’s entry in the CAF Red Tail Squadron essay contest was on the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen. The essay contest was designed to help young people gain a greater understanding and be positively affected by the Six Guiding Principles based on the experiences of the Tuskegee Airmen: Aim High, Believe in Yourself, Use Your Brain, Be Ready to Go, Never Quit and Expect to Win. As winner, Bonner received a leather bomber jacket, hat, certificate and dog tag. Fourth grader Harry Vandernoot placed third in the same division in the essay contest and received a certificate and dog tag. They are taught by Tracey Robinson.
State legislator letter contest
Devin Garner, a fourth grader in the PEGS program, placed third in the third through fifth grade division of the Gifted Association of Missouri’s 2020 Legislator Letter Contest. Garner wrote letters to his senator and representative in support of legislation related to gifted educational programming in Missouri. Garner, along with the other
Holman eighth grader Corbin Prado entered artwork in Celebrating Art’s Inked nationwide contest. His work was selected to be published in a hardbound book and is a top 10 national finalist. Montie Richter is his teacher.
Corbin Prado
PATTONVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
Green Travel Scholar/literacy contest
Junior Maya Blumenthal was selected as a 2020 National Spanish Honor Society Bertie Green Travel Scholar. She is scheduled to travel to Ecuador this summer. Only 24 scholarships are awarded each year. She was nominated by the Pattonville National Honor Society chapter and went through a rigorous Maya Blumenthal application that included a video and essay in Spanish. Dr. Silvia Hilker is her Spanish teacher. Blumenthal was also selected as the 11th through 12th grade winner of the Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald Museum’s literacy contest. Her piece, “Sonata in A Major,” will be published on the museum’s website. The theme of this year’s contest honored the centennial of the Fitzgeralds’ courtship and wedding. Only six people earned awards in three grade-level categories for high school and college students.
Arts for Life recognition
English teacher Ken Lopinot was nominated as best supporting actor in a musical by Arts for Life’s Best Performance Awards for Community Musical Theatre. He was nominated for his role as Chief Barry in “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” The awards ceremony takes place in June. Lopinot also directed the play “Other Desert Cities” for the Kirkwood Theatre Guild.
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Above, students who completed the University of Missouri-St. Louis Bridge Program include, from left, Jayne Herter, Sasha Grant, Ryan Cutrell, Ayiana O’Neal, Alexis Jenkins and Alfred Jenkins. Below, senior Jeffrey Kircus was chosen as the keynote speaker at the Bridge program awards ceremony.
UMSL Bridge program
Seventeen Pattonville students completed the Saturday Academy of the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) Bridge Program. Senior Jeffrey Kircus was selected to serve as the student keynote speaker at the awards ceremony. He was nominated to speak by his instructors and peers as an excellent representation of college preparation and student success. Other Pattonville students who were selected for and completed the program are: Zion Bradsher, Ryan Cutrell, Sasha Grant, Jaylen Greenlee, Jayne Herter, Taylor Hill, Amiya Holmes, Tate Holt, Alexis Jenkins, Alfred Jenkins, Thomas O’Connell, Ayiana O’Neal, Kristi Scott, Abem Tamirat and Tyler Wright. During the Bridge Program, students attend daily classes and workshops focusing on college planning at the UMSL campus.
Teapot exhibit selection
Pattonville seniors Emily Gamache and Lydia McCullough had ceramic teapots selected for exhibit in the High School Teapot Emily Gamache Lydia McCullough Exhibit at the Spiritas Gallery at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Their teapots were displayed as part of the Tea and Cookies: 17th Biennial Teapot Exhibition at the Craft Alliance Center of Art and Design. They are taught by Scott Fader.
St. Louis Teen Talent semifinalist Pattonville High School senior Tymani Jones earned semifinalist status in the 2020 St. Louis Teen Talent Competition and performed during the talent show on March 8. She competed as a modern/contemporary dancer. More than 120 students registered to participate and 47 were selected as semifinalists.
Tymani Jones
BRAGGING WRITES
Honors, Awards and Achievements by Pattonville Students and Staff
Drummond custodian named Homegrown Hero D The Pattonville High School varsity cheerleaders placed seventh at the national cheerleading competition this year.
Cheerleaders national recognition
Pattonville’s varsity cheerleaders placed seventh in the nation after competing at the National Cheerleaders Association (NCA) high school national championship in Dallas. Members of the team are Alliah Allen, Amonnie Carter, Jordyn Hammett, Tymani Jones, Chloe Mahrt, Nicole McDaniel, Tori Miniex, Skylar Monnig, Camari Riley, Hannah Rodgers, Sofia Serra, Peyton Smith, Mi Joi Swaby, Amaya Washington, Mya Washington and Kathryn Wentz. Kalli Hunt and Freddy Shatto coach the cheerleaders.
The Pattonville High School varsity drill team placed eighth in hip hop at the national dance competition this year.
Drill team national recognition
The Pattonville High School Drill Team placed eighth in the small varsity hip hop division at the National Dance Alliance (NDA) National Championship in Orlando, Florida. Team members are Anna Barrett, Molly Hanford, Amaris Kirksey, Zharia Matthews, Alyssa Mobley, Camryn Peebles, Katie Ridings, Kyah Smith and Kamauri Younge. Grace Burgos is the head coach and she is assisted by Kristin Riggs. The vests worn by team members during their hip hop routine were custom made (airbrushed and painted) by POSITIVE School art teacher Robin Woodrome.
Rosemary Zander Award
Senior Hameed Qasem was selected as a winner of the Special School District’s (SSD) Rosemary Zander Award. The award recognizes success of students who receive services from SSD in areas including academics, arts, athletics, employment and community service.
Hameed Qasem
Band recognition, state qualifiers
The Pattonville High School band earned recognition after participating in events earlier this year. At the Rolling Meadows Jazz Festival in Chicago, the jazz band
rummond Elementary School custodian Harry Cima was named one of 28 “Homegrown Heroes” by the St. Louis District Dairy Council. The nomination was submitted by Lindsay Williams’s second grade class at Drummond. The council’s “Homegrown Heroes” campaign challenged classrooms to honor those who strive to improve the lives of others. The students wrote in their essay, “Let me tell you about our beloved custodian, Mr. Harry Cima. In one word, he is phenomenal. Mr. Harry goes above and beyond in so many ways to make sure our school is spotless and takes extreme pride in his work. The thing that sets Mr. Harry apart is his ability to anticipate what is needed in the building and act. If we’re short a night custodian, he will go around the building the following morning and clean anything that needs attention. We frequently call him from the office for a spill, clog or vomit reported by a teacher and he has already cleaned it up. He ensures the teachers and students have a clean and safe environment allowing them to focus on learning. He worked directly with the office staff to develop a new system for ordering custodial supplies that includes checks and balances Harry Cima so the proper amounts are procured and surplus supplies are depleted saving the district money. Mr. Harry is constantly patrolling the building and he cleans/corrects anything that looks out of place. He always has a smile on his face no matter what is asked of him and sometimes it’s not pleasant work. He is engaged with students and they often look for him to show off their school and art achievements. The staff and the students appreciate Mr. Harry every day. ”
earned a 1 rating and students Kyle Beaver, Thomas McFarland, Seth Miranda and Stephaun Turner earned individual Outstanding Musicianship awards for their performances. Additionally, 27 band students performed at the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association (SLSMEA) District Music Festival and earned an Exemplary rating, qualifying them for state. The students who earned those honors are: Hayden Langston, for baritone horn solo and trombone solo; Nora Scharer for flute solo and Thomas McFarland for mallet solo; Sophia Jones, Ally Keefer and Taylor Knight for clarinet trio; Rozella House, Holly Jones and Scharer for flute trio; Allie Basta, Beaver and Jonah Dalton for French horn trio; Daniel Mamrenko, Thomas McFarland and Owen Moeller for mallet trio; Collins Karanja, Kiran Makkapati and Jonathan Manjarrez for trombone trio; Nolan Davidson, Patrick Ferguson and Max McFarland for trumpet trio; Anna Burke, Alyssa Koller, Joey Stewart and Sydney Suvansri for clarinet quartet; and Jack Caesar, Daniel Enberg, Van Grabner and Isaac Reddy for trombone quartet. The following students earned an Outstanding rating at the festival, which is the second highest rating: Lillian Cave for clarinet solo; Abigail Hachmeister and Amber Vigus for flute solo; Molly Hladky for mallet solo; Tyler Hannebique for snare drum solo; Ferguson for trumpet solo; Batka Amgalanbaatar, Nathan Condado and Langston for bass trio; Emily Barrier, Madelyn Condado and Cierra Spainhoward for flute trio; Alliah Allen, Maddie Branson and Keegan Spell for percussion trio; Kyra Correa, Kyle Halveland, Wade Zagoren, Vincent Abuelo, Jayden Tran, Kyle Wright, Miles Moeller, Isabelle Usry and Elizabeth Wetzel Pearce for saxophone trios; Joel Bonham, Charlie Burns and Miles Wick for trombone trio; Andrew Brown, Ryan Geiger and Matthew Samuel for trumpet trio; and Auggie Heiligenstein, Jayden Essex and Zach West for tuba trio. The band is directed by teachers Denny McFarland, Laura Livesay and Anna White.
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Orchestra honors, state qualifiers
The high school orchestra earned honors at two competitions. At the Large Group Festival, the symphonic orchestra received a 1 rating, as well as an additional 1 from the sight-reading judge, and the combined concert and string orchestras received a 2 rating. At the Solo and Ensemble Festival, 12 students earned a 1 rating. The following students earned 1 ratings: Natalie Young for violin and viola solos; Lily Smith for violin solo and duet; Amelia Khan and Nathan Moser for violin solo and violin/viola duet; Jade Boyd for violin solo; Kenedi Jenkins for cello solo; Anna Kasprzyk and William Skaggs for bass solo; Caleb Long and Rachel McCormick for cello duet; and Elly Lu for violin duet. The students were eligible to advance to the state competition. They are taught by Michael Dunsmoor.
UMSL Opportunities Scholar
Senior Afina Fayez was selected to receive the University of Missouri-St. Louis’ Opportunity Scholars Program award. Recipients receive $100,000 which covers tuition, room and board and book costs for four years.
Representatives from the University of Missouri-St. Louis (UMSL) surprise Afina Fayez with a giant check for $100,000 and balloons while the UMSL mascot and friends and family look on.
Janet Bruns-Montavani, Class of 1976, and Evan Fornachon, Class of 2012 -
ALUMNI SUCCESS
Bruns-Montavani starred in a Kirkwood Theatre Guild production of “Other Desert Cities,” which was directed by Pattonville High Find out more: alumni.psdr3.org School English teacher Ken Lopinot. Fornachon was nominated for best lead actor in a musical by The Arts for Life organization for his performance in “Nice Work If You Can Get It.” He performed with Lopinot, who was also nominated for best supporting actor in a musical.
Graduates in the news
From left, Pattonville seniors Kyle Halveland, Erin McMahon and Williams Skaggs have earned finalist status in the National Merit Scholarship program.
Three students named National Merit Finalists P
attonville High School seniors Kyle Halveland, Erin McMahon and William Skaggs were selected as National Merit Scholarship finalists. They are among approximately 15,000 students nationwide to be named a finalist from an initial pool of 1.4 million juniors who took the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Of the finalists, approximately 8,000 will be selected to receive Merit Scholarships.
PHS administrator one of three finalist for National Assistant Principal of Year P
attonville High School assistant principal Dr. Jon Fitzgerald was one of three finalists for National Assistant Principal of the Year. Each year, the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP) recognizes outstanding middle level and high school assistant principals who have succeeded in providing high-quality learning opportunities for students. These assistant principals are acknowledged by their peers for the exemplary contributions they have made to the profession. Fitzgerald is most proud of the career readiness initiatives and programs that Pattonville High School has built over the past seven years. The school created four-year pathways in Dr. Jon Fitzgerald computer science, engineering, biomedical science, nursing, fashion and interior design, education and teaching and culinary arts, in addition to traditional core academic offerings. Among these endeavors was also the development of a nursing simulation lab to ensure that the certified nursing assistant (CNA) students have the ability to train extensively prior to going out and doing their clinical work. These pathways allow students to gain a great depth of experience in their chosen areas of interest. Fitzgerald listens to teachers and students, supports their ideas and works with them to ensure they are able to develop upon their ideas to completion.
PHS senior earns spots on national bands P
attonville High School senior percussionist Thomas McFarland has been named to the National Concert Band and National Marching Band, an accomplishment that only 75 and 102 musicians have earned respectively. He is also under consideration to be named the National Band Student of the Year. That decision will be announced in May. “When I first heard about it, Pattonville senior Thomas McFarland demonstrates his I just couldn’t stop smiling, and skill on a vibraphone. He was named to the National then my dad gave me a hug and Concert Band and National Marching Band. that’s when it really set in and I got that big lump in my throat,” Thomas said. “I was like ‘Wow, this is real.’” His dad is Denny McFarland, Pattonville High School’s band director, who said, “I’ve been lucky to have several students selected for All-State, but this is the first time someone has been recognized by this organization at the national level.” Thomas is one of six percussionists in the nation to be selected by the High School Band Director’s National Association for the National Concert Band and is one of 12 to be named to the National Marching Band. Thomas will receive a medal and a plaque to commemorate each of the accomplishments.
Col. Bob Behnken, Class of 1988 - Behnken and fellow NASA astronaut Doug
Hurley are slated to be the first people SpaceX launches into orbit. Their flight on the company’s Crew Dragon spaceship scheduled for this spring will mark the first time an American spacecraft has carried NASA astronauts since the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011.
Kennis Marquis, Class of 1993 - Marquis is a
celebrity choreographer and hip hop instructor in Los Angeles. His credits include world tours, music videos and working with artists such as Britney Spears, P. Diddy, LL Cool J and Ludacris. He performed with pop star Lady Gaga on her 2017 Super Bowl Halftime Show. Marquis has worked both as a professional dancer and a choreographer. In the television arena, Marquis has been a special guest judge on Ukraine’s “So You Think You Can Dance” and worked as a choreographer for ABC’s “Dance Machine” and the second season of MTV’s “Taking the Stage.” He has also choreographed for the Wii video game console’s “Just Dance” and “Smurfs Dance Party.” Recognizing Kennis Marquis is a celebrity his knowledge of hip hop and his ability to choreographer working in Los teach all levels, Hip Hop International World Angeles. Dance Competition nominated Marquis as one of their elite judges for over six consecutive years.
Kristen (Kuehn) Stensby, Class of 2003 - Stensby was featured in an article
on the Wood Floor Business website titled “The Next Generation: Women Become a Force in the Wood Flooring Industry.” She and her sister Kim (Kuehn) Russ, Class of 2004, work for Champion Floor Company, a St. Louis company founded by their father.
Blake Strode, Class of 2005 - Strode was selected to receive the Young Leader Award by the “St. Louis American.” Strode serves as the executive director of ArchCity Defenders, a nonprofit civil rights law firm in St. Louis. Mikala McGhee, Class of 2012 -
McGhee joined St. Louis television stations Fox 2 Now and KPLR 11 as a news and traffic reporter. She can be seen reporting the news during the 9 and 10 p.m. broadcasts.
2012 alumna Mikala McGhee can now be seen during the evening Ch. 2 news in St. Louis.
“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.