Students at Nipher Middle School in the Kirkwood School District participated in the “Childhood Smart Program.” The program was created in partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to help educate parents and children about computer and personal safety. William J. Shink, Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAIC) of the Secret Service St. Louis Field Office presented to students in the Nipher 6th grade Wellness classes. During the presentation, Shink shared the “NetSmartz, Online Safety” presentation that was developed by the Secret Service to share educational resources for parents and K-12 students created by NCMEC. The NetSmartz Online Safety presentation is designed for 6-8 grade students, addressing issues they may encounter online including inappropriate content, online privacy, online solicitations, and cyberbullying. “Decisions you make today on what you post will impact your outcomes in the future for college, jobs, and beyond,” said Shink. “Once you click ‘post’, it’s out there forever.”
Students from Kirkwood High School’s (KHS) KH Players (drama club) submitted a student written, acted, produced, and directed film to the annual All American High School Film Festival (AAHSFF). The title of the film, “Haunted Happenings,” is a comedic look into what happens when making a supernatural reality TV show goes horribly wrong. Their movie was announced as an “Official Section” as part of the 2021 All American High School Film Festival and shown at the festival in New York City, October 8-10, 2021.
Kirkwood High School junior Samantha Hepburn completed her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a young lady can achieve in Girl Scouts. Samantha is a junior at Kirkwood High School. Last school year, she applied, implemented, and completed her Gold Award Project. Samantha's project was setting up a sustainable supply of feminine hygiene product for the Ritenour Food Pantry. In addition to holding a feminine hygiene drive and collecting over 14,000 pieces of product, she created a video for the pantry's website discussing the inequities in securing feminine product, and she delivered a sustainable model of acquisition so that Ritenour Food Pantry can always offer product to their clients.
During a ceremony on Thursday, April 29, Kirkwood High School recognized 74 senior students who will receive 50% or more of their collegiate tuition paid for by scholarships.
The Kirkwood High School Mock Trial Team won the Missouri High School Mock Trial Competition. This year’s competition was conducted virtually the weekend of April 9-11 and the trials took place over Zoom. The state competition included 16 high schools from across the state. The teams qualified out of 66 teams who completed in opening rounds across the state.
The box tape project sculpture created by Kirkwood High School junior Elias Muraski was selected to represent the Missouri Senate District 2 in the state capitol as part of the annual Missouri Senate Hall Art Exhibit.
A committee with representatives from the Journalism Education Association, National Scholastic Press Association and Quill and Scroll International Honorary Society chose 14 First Amendment Press Freedom Award winners for 2021. The Kirkwood High School Journalism program is one of the 14 schools selected. The KHS Journalism program consists of three publications. The names of the programs and their student leaders are: The Kirkwood Call editors in chief are students Amara Harper, Amelia Hurley and Tom Mueller. The Pioneer (yearbook) editors in chief are students Julia Frankel, Audrey Scherr and Ainsley Wade, editors in chief. KHTV producer is student Thaddeus Morgan.
Kirkwood High School students Thaddaeus Morgan, Lucy Schene, and Nate Vaughan have been chosen as Semi-Finalists in the St. Louis Teen Talent Competition. KHS Senior Thaddaeus Morgan is competing as a solo drummer. In 2019 and again in 2020, he and his brother Emmanuel Morgan made it to the semi-finals together playing the piano and drums in their band, Consecrated. KHS Sophomore Lucy Schene is competing as a solo vocalist. KHS Senior Nate Vaughan is competing as frontman and guitarist with his band, Guilty Pleasures, along with four students from other schools. Thaddaeus, Lucy and Nate have all been involved in KHS choir and drama programs. We are very proud of all of them!
