KIRKWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT

Awards, Honors and Special Recognitions

Presented to the Board of Education on August 25, 2008

 

Kirkwood School District 2008 Support Services Awards for Outstanding Performance

The Support Services Awards for Outstanding Performance are presented to exemplary support staff each year at the opening day session for all staff. Mike Havener, assistant superintendent for finance and operations, announced this year’s recipients, who were selected the previous spring by a selection committee and whose names were kept secret until the program on Aug. 13.

 

This year’s honorees, pictured from left, are Ron Chiaramonti, copy center operator, Administrative Services Center; Carol Kennedy, school nurse, Kirkwood High School; Tishan Rounds, custodian, North Glendale Elementary School; Dave Robinson, carpenter, Maintenance Dept.; and Linda Huber, school secretary, Tillman Elementary School. Honorees not pictured are Sue Emmer, classroom assistant, Tillman Elementary School; and Carlos Glenn, technology specialist, Westchester Elementary School.

 

More than 300 support staff employees serve the district as office personnel, classroom or office assistants, school nurses, technology staff, maintenance workers, custodians and walking counselors.

 

Six Members of KHS Varsity and Junior Varsity Pom Squads selected as All Stars

A total of six members of the Kirkwood High School varsity and junior varsity pom squads were selected as “All Stars” for their exceptional performances at a pom camp sponsored by Universal Dance Association from July 21-24 at Missouri State University. The three varsity squad members who were named All Stars are Captain Whitney Stream, Rachel Visnovske and Rachael Waller. Each girl was given a medal, certificate, patch and the opportunity to perform in Paris, France, on New Year's Day 2009. The three members of the KHS junior varsity pom squad who were named All Stars are Shaye Jackson, Alaina Hinkle and Kelli McCrann. These girls have the opportunity to perform at a parade in the United States. According to Stacy Taubman, varsity coach, a small number of girls are selected as All Stars from the more than 100 who try out by learning and performing a routine in groups of three in front of the entire camp.

 

The Kirkwood Call awarded All-American with Four Marks of Distinction

The Kirkwood Call, the student newspaper for Kirkwood High School, was awarded the highest honor rating of All-American with four “Marks of Distinction” in the 2008 National Scholastic Press Association’s annual review. According to Mitch Eden, journalism teacher and Call adviser, the 2007-08 Call scored 3,450 of 4,000 points and received four marks of distinction in the areas of coverage and content, writing and editing, layout and design, and leadership. The publication was also judged in the area of photography, art and graphics. Marks of distinction may be earned in each of the five sections of judging at the discretion of the judge and/or an NSPA official. Last year’s 32-person Call staff was led by coeditors in chief Madeline Agathen and Brandon Mitchener.

 

Greentree Community Church Honors Jeanette Tendai for Service to NKMS

The Greentree Community Church presented the Kirkwood School District with a $1,000 donation in recognition of Jeanette Tendai for her many years of service as principal of North Kirkwood Middle School. Tendai, who joined the district in 1991 as a teacher at Tillman Elementary School, began her new position as the district’s assistant superintendent for human resources on July 1, 2008. The donation will be used to fund education programs for students at NKMS.

 

KHS Teacher receives MO Association for Career and Technical Education New Professional Award

Bryce Bunton, who joined Kirkwood High School from Affton High School this year as a business education teacher, received the New Professional Award for the Marketing and Cooperative Education Division of the Missouri Association for Career and Technical Education (MOACTE). The award is given to a teacher with less than five years experience who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the field of education. Bunton was recognized for his many contributions to his students and the program at Affton, including curriculum development, DECA activities and school involvement.

 

Westchester Teacher is First-Prize Winner in Honeywell’s Got2BSafe Program

Marla Drewel-Lynch, physical education teacher at Westchester Elementary School, has been named a first-prize winner in Honeywell’s Got2BSfe Program. She received a $500 gift certificate for school supplies. The Honeywell program recognizes teachers for their dedication in teaching child safety to their students.  Teachers from across the country were selected from the lesson plans they submitted to Honeywell on how they teach their students the four safety rules—check first, go with a friend, it’s my body, and tell at trusted adult.

 

Keysor School earns Promising Practices Award for Civil Rights Team

Keysor Elementary School has earned a Promising Practices Award from the Character Education Partnership for the schools work with the fifth-grade Civil Rights Team. Organized in 2006-07, the Keysor Civil Rights Team provides teachers and students with opportunities to explore issues of equity and social justice in the Keysor school community. As part of the National Schools of Character awards program, the Character Education Partnership (CEP) gives Promising Practices awards to schools and districts in the United States for implementing unique and specific strategies in character education. CEP also showcases the selected practices in its annual National Schools of Character (NSOC) publication and honors the schools and districts at the annual CEP National Forum on Character Education. Award recipients receive a certificate in recognition of their work and a copy of the NSOC publication.

 

KHS 2008 National Merit Finalist receives Merit Scholarship

Anthony Moore, a 2008 Kirkwood High School graduate who is attending the University of Tulsa, was among the most recent group of National Merit Finalists who were announced as National Merit Scholarship winners by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. He is among the more than 40 high school graduates from the St. Louis region who will receive $500 to $2,000 awards to start their college careers. These students join 2,800 nationwide to receive 2008 National Merit awards financed by colleges and universities.