Webster Groves and Kirkwood High Schools have jointly made the difficult decision to end our 2020 football seasons as of today, November 13, 2020. The decision was made in response to an increasing number of concerns related to COVID-19 cases and quarantines which have limited the ability of both programs to have consistent practices over the last few weeks which as a result could lead to an increased number of more traditional safety concerns associated with playing football. This decision means that the annual Turkey Day football game between the two schools will not be played this year.
After careful consideration, KSD extended online learning for all Robinson Elementary School students until Monday, November 23. This decision is based on additional information we received today regarding instructional staff quarantines, which increases the percentage of instructional staff in quarantine to 31 percent.
Kirkwood High School teachers Amy Barker, Donna Canan, and Katie Meyers are three of thousands of teachers across the United States to renew their certification as a National Board Certified Teacher (NBCT). The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is excited to celebrate these teachers along with the more than 20,000 teachers currently pursuing Board certification – seen as the profession’s mark of accomplished teaching. The renewal process involved nearly a year's long process of documenting evidence of accomplished teaching practices in writing and in video submissions. “Congratulations to the newly renewed National Board Certified Teachers from the Kirkwood School District,” said Dr. David Ulrich. “These teachers met high standards through study, expert evaluation, self-assessment, and peer review to the benefit of our KSD students. Well done!”
Kirkwood School District is taking every precaution and implementing two days of virtual instruction for all Kirkwood students following the Thanksgiving holiday. These two days of virtual engagement for students participating in in-person learning will allow for extra days of isolation before students return to school on Wednesday, December 2. November 2020 School Engagement Calendar and Changes • Monday, November 23 and Tuesday, November 24 • In-person and At-Home learning for all students grades K-12 • Wednesday, November 25 • NO SCHOOL - For Students • Thursday, Nov 26 and 27 • Schools and District Closed • Monday, November 30 and Tuesday, December 1 • All K-12 Students In-Person Learning will engage in synchronous (virtual) learning. School principals will provide additional details. • K-5 At-Home Learning and 6-12 Virtual Learning Schedule does not change.
During a special board meeting on Monday, October 12, the Kirkwood School District Board of Education approved the in-person learning plan option. Much like the elementary model, middle schools will have two pause days to allow schools and staff time to prepare for the transition. Then, 6th grade students will arrive on campus a few days before 7th and 8th-grade students.
KSD Board votes to give elementary parents and guardians the choice for their students to either return to in-person learning or remain online learning with a Kirkwood teacher for the remainder of the first semester.
In recognition of her dedication to education and leadership in the classroom and the community, Romona Miller has been selected to receive a 2020 Excellence in Education Award at the St. Louis American Foundation's 33rd Annual Salute to Excellence in Education Scholarship & Awards Virtual Gala. Recognition of outstanding educators is a longstanding component of the foundation’s mission, and with mindfulness of the ongoing pandemic crisis, we believe this recognition of the invaluable contributions of our educators is more important than ever.
KHS seniors Sabrina Baggstrom, Lillian Bartin, Jonathan Henry, Zoe Krug, Rayhana Niyogi, Jonathan Plants, and Daniel Tobias were named in the 2021 National Merit Scholarship Program. They are among some 16,000 Semifinalists announced nationwide and representing less than one percent of high school seniors in the U.S. Over 1.5 million students were entered into the competition as juniors by taking the 2019 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. Semifinalists were the highest-scoring entrants in each state, and the number chosen from each state is proportional to its share of graduating seniors in the U.S.
On August 31, 2020, the Kirkwood School Board of Education approved the recommendation of Encompass Resolution, LLC, woman-owned business established in 2007 and based out of Kansas City, Missouri. The estimated cost of the independent assessment is $75,000. The investigation is estimated to be completed with a final report by the end of December 2020.
Mrs. Mattie Faucette Hall was a beloved teacher in the Kirkwood School District from 1958-1979. She taught students at both Turner Elementary and Robinson Elementary schools. Mrs. Hall passed away in 2014. In honor of what would have been Mrs. Hall’s 96th birthday, her son, Henry Edward Hall, donated $5,000 to the Kirkwood School District Foundation. To present the check was Mrs. Hall’s sister, Mildred Jones. The check presentation took places on the steps of Robinson Elementary School, where Mrs. Hall taught from 1966-1979. Henry recalls his mother’s enjoyment in teaching. “Mom loved her students and their families,” said Henry.
KSD Parent Academy is a one-stop-shop for parents to find instructional information, videos, and virtual instruction to support student learning. Please check back to our Parent Academy website as we continue to update it with important information.
At a special virtual Board meeting on Tuesday, July 28, 2020, the Kirkwood School Board approved Superintendent Urlich’s recommendation to begin the school year with all students learning online for the first nine weeks of school.
The recommendation will be brought to the school board at its next regularly scheduled board meeting on August 31.
Dr. Ulrich to seek approval from KSD Board of Education to seek an independent assessment and investigation of the culture and climate within schools and the District related to the reporting and handling of allegations of sexual abuse, misconduct, and inappropriate behavior.
