Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at Robinson Elementary School

On Friday, January 28, the Kirkwood School District (KSD) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Robinson Elementary School. In attendance were KSD school board members, school and district staff, Robinson students and parents, and community members. The ceremony celebrated the completion of the new, ADA compliant entrance at Robinson Elementary School made possible by Prop R. Josia B., a Robinson 5th grade student who uses a wheelchair, shared how having an inclined wheelchair stairlift has benefitted him as a student. “I had to always use other entrances with ramps,” said Josia. “Now that this (wheelchair lift) is here, it’s easier for me to get around the building and if my class is going out front, I can go with them.” "We often talk about being 'One Kirkwood'," said Superintendent Dr. David Ulrich, KSD Superintendent. "That’s a simple way of reminding our students, staff and community of our commitment to our guiding principles, one of which is being inclusive.” Additional projects at Robinson made possible from Prop R funds will be upgraded restroom facilities, a new restroom, and improved lighting and security cameras. Those projects are scheduled to be complete by summer 2023. The project is one of many made possible thanks to the community’s support of Prop R, which was approved by voters in April 2021. Funds generated from Prop R will provide additional classrooms, security upgrades and accessibility improvements at all schools in the Kirkwood School District to address overcrowding.

KHS Senior Selected for Missouri Thespians Scholarship

Kirkwood High School (KHS) senior Lucy Schene was announced as the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship from the Missouri Thespians Society. The Missouri Thespians award $1,000 college scholarships to graduating seniors. The students apply through a rigorous application and interview process. Lucy was announced as a recipient during the 2022 International Thespian Society Conference in January. After graduating from KHS, Lucy plans on attending college to pursue a degree in Musical Theatre, Political Science and Education. For more information about the Missouri Thespians Society, please visit their website: http://missourithespians.org.

KHS Students Recognized as Finalists in New York Times Writing Contest

Seven Kirkwood High School (KHS) students were recently selected as New York Times Learning Network 2021 Student Narrative Contest Finalists. In October 2021, the New York Times conducted their third annual personal narrative writing contest. The contest encourages students to submit short, powerful stories about a meaningful life experience in 600 words or fewer. Over 11,000 entries from around the nation were submitted from students aged 11-19 years old. Of those entries, 200 students were announced as New York Times Learning Network 2021 Student Narrative Contest Finalists and seven of those were KHS juniors. They are: Sim Khanuja -- Runner-Up for "An Angel's Eyes" Lindsay Braun -- Round 4 Finalist for "Slamming Doors" Michael "Mick" Collier -- Round 4 Finalist for "A Basement Ballad" Caroline Geeting -- Round 4 Finalist for "The Blue Bear" Grace Johnson -- Round 4 Finalist for "Floor Duty" Charlotte Spohr -- Round 4 Finalist for "Friday Night Fears" Liv Timp -- Round 4 Finalist for "How Not to Get Your Car Stolen"

Kirkwood School District Announces Assistant Principal Hires at Kirkwood High School

At its meeting last night, the Board of Education approved the recommendation of the appointment of Dr. Shiree Yeggins as the Assistant Principal of Pioneer Pathways and Dr. Courtney Ford as the Assistant Principal for the Class of 2026. Dr Yeggins will succeed Mrs. Romona Miller, who will retire July 1, 2022 after 30 years in education and 17 years in successful leadership at Kirkwood High School (KHS). Dr. Ford will succeed Mr. Jeff Townsend, who will retire July 1, 2022 after 26 years in education and 14 years in successful leadership at Kirkwood High School. Dr. Shiree Yeggins has been an educator for 21 years. Dr. Yiggens has her Ed.D. from Maryville University and has been a high school English teacher in the Riverview Gardens School District. Most recently, she has been an Assistant Principal at Webster Groves High School. Dr. Courtney Ford has been an educator for 14 years. Dr. Ford has his Ed. D. from Maryville University and began his career as an elementary teacher then moving into the middle school as a teacher. Most recently, he has been an Assistant Principal at McCluer High School. “We are excited for the students, staff, parents and the entire school community,” said Dr.Mike Havener, KHS principal. “I look forward to Dr. Yiggen’s and Dr. Ford’s work to ensure our students’ success.”

Update on Board of Education Meeting Location

Late this week, the Kirkwood School District was notified of a concerning phone call received by the Kirkwood Police Department related to potentially illegal activity at an upcoming Board of Education meeting. We prioritize the safety of our staff, patrons and board members and want to ensure there is adequate time to implement appropriate safety protocols. In an abundance of caution and due to the short timeframe before the regularly scheduled meeting, the Jan. 24 meeting will be held virtually. Patrons wanting to submit comments to be read at the meeting can do so by filling out the online submission form by 5 p.m. on Jan. 24. The full agenda for the meeting is available online at https://go.boarddocs.com/mo/ksdmo/Board.nsf/Public

Blues Mascot Louie Helps North Kirkwood Middle School Celebrate National Blue Ribbon School Award

In September 2021, North Kirkwood Middle School (NKMS) was announced as one of 35 schools in the country as a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School. All this week, NKMS students and staff are celebrating their recognition as a U.S. Department of Education National Blue Ribbon School. Louie, the mascot for the St. Louis Blues Hockey team, stopped by NKMS on Wednesday to high-five students and staff members on this accomplishment. Louie also joined students and sat in momentarily during some math and science classes. Other celebrations this week include a blue hat day, listening to Blues music, wearing all blue clothes, and blue decorated doors throughout the school. For more information about the National Blue Ribbon announcement and program, please visit the U.S. Department of Education website: https://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/us-department-education-announces-2021-national-blue-ribbon-schools.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at North Glendale Elementary School in the Kirkwood School District

On Friday, January 14, the Kirkwood School District (KSD) held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at North Glendale Elementary School. In attendance were KSD school board members, school and district staff, North Glendale students and parents, and Prop R committee members. The ceremony celebrated the completion of the new, ADA compliant ramp and secure entrance at North Glendale Elementary School. “Having an inclusive entrance where every student, staff member, family member and community member can utilize is just so important to our school community. It shows that everybody belongs and is welcome to North Glendale,” said Jennifer Sisul, North Glendale principal. “Thank you so much to our community for making this possible for our students,” said Dr. David Ulrich, KSD superintendent. “Their support for Prop R confirms their commitment to students."

Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration - Virtually on Monday, January 17

The annual Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration hosted by the Meacham Park Neighborhood Improvement Association (MNIA) in partnership with the Kirkwood School District and City of Kirkwood will now be held virtually. The celebration will showcase three Kirkwood High School seniors receiving Meacham Park Scholars Awards, a merit based scholarship program. Watch the premiere of the video at 1 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 17. For more information, visit meachamparknia.org

Seven Residents File for Two Positions on Kirkwood Board of Education

Kirkwood High School Students Part of Grand Prize-Winning STEAM Teams

Kirkwood High School seniors Luke Ridenhour and Imani Noel were members of two student teams from the St. Louis area earning the S.M. Wilson Skilled Centennial Award. The SKILLED Centennial Award was created to incentivize high school students to develop an idea and inspire other students to participate in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) educational projects in their community. Two associate teams from St. Louis CAPS (Centers for Advanced Professional Studies) were chosen as the inaugural grand prize winners.

An Update on KSD's Health and Safety Protocols

On Thursday, Dec. 9, St. Louis County rescinded their mask mandate in response to a recent court order out of Jefferson City. The mask requirement in the Kirkwood School District remains in place and is not affected by the county’s action. The requirement in the Kirkwood School District is independently approved by the Board of Education and is not contingent on county health orders. Since August, the Board has reviewed and approved COVID-related health and safety plans at their regular business meetings.

Kirkwood High School Performing Art Students Audition at All-State Band and All-State Orchestra Competition

On Saturday, December 4, 22 Kirkwood High School band and orchestra students competed in the Missouri All-State Band, Orchestra and Jazz Band auditions at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

Three Kirkwood High School Students Earn Perfect ACT Scores

Kirkwood High School seniors Helena Verbrugge, Sara Simkins, and Ezra Mendelson earned the highest possible ACT composite score of 36. Nationally, while the actual number of students earning the top score varies from year to year, on average, less than one-tenth of 1% of students who take the ACT earns the top score.

KSD Teacher Selected to Teach For America Instructional Excellence Fellowship Program

Dr. Sheriah Mason, a first-grade teacher at Keysor Elementary School in the Kirkwood School District is one of 12 teachers selected as part of the Teacher For America (TFA) Instructional Excellence Fellowship Cohort. The Instructional Excellence Fellowship is a six-month professional development program that invests in teachers with a track record of strong student learning outcomes. The program brings together a diverse pool of effective teachers across the Greater St. Louis area to foster collaboration, share innovative practices and problem-solve around one of today’s most pressing classroom challenges, engaging all learners.

NKMS Students Sell Honey and Donate Proceeds to Kirkcare

KHS Art Students Donate Projects to Raise Funds for Those in Need

Kirkwood High School students in Mr. Jason Hoeing’s Ceramics II class donated wheel-thrown pottery bowls to the Empty Bowls Project. The Empty Bowls Project is a national movement to raise money for food related charities. The handcrafted bowls donated by the KHS students will be sold at the Festival of Lights event at Kiener Plaza in downtown St. Louis on Saturday, November 20. Proceeds will help raise funds for the local chapter of Empty Bowls which supports the St. Louis Area Food Bank. St. Louis Area Food Bank supports over 400,000 people in the bi-state region with utility payment support, food, rent, and medical bills. The St. Louis chapter would like to provide some 10 million meals to neighbors this holiday season. With every dollar raised, St. Louis Area Food Bank can provide four meals.

KHS Students Selected for St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association Honor Bands

We are thrilled to announce that the following students have been selected for the St. Louis Suburban Music Educators Association Honor Bands. This is a district level competition in which high school band students compete for selection and chair placement in the district honor concert and jazz bands. These students will rehearse with guest clinicians in November and December and perform in a concert on January 9th. Selection to these ensembles also qualifies these students to compete at the state level. They will be traveling to Columbia on December 4th to compete for selection in the Missouri All State Concert and Jazz Bands. They will have several rehearsals and a concert on January 8, 2022.

Kirkwood High School Journalism Students Attend National Conference Program and Students Receive Multiple National Awards

Students from Kirkwood High School’s (KHS) journalism programs, which include The Kirkwood Call and Pioneer yearbook joined 59 other journalism high school programs from across the country in attending the National Scholastic Press Association Pacemaker Master Class Conference in Philadelphia November 10-13. At the conference, high school journalism programs were announced for a variety of accolades. KHS’s journalism program brought home several national awards.

Kirkwood High School Students Coordinate Diaper Drive Supporting St. Louis Area Diaper Bank

Over the past several weeks, students in the Kirkwood High School Innovation Center organized a Diaper Drive with proceeds benefitting the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank. Since mid-October, KHS junior class students, led by teachers Mr. Cotta and Mrs. Doneff, collected diapers and monetary donations during KHS homeroom class periods. On Thursday, November 4, the students and teachers involved in the program presented a check for $1,040.70 to the St. Louis Area Diaper Bank. The group then helped package the over 2,000 diapers also collected during the KHS diaper drive for delivery to their recipients.

Kirkwood School District Students and Alumni begin “Turkey Day Countdown” for Annual Thanksgiving Day Football Game

In anticipation of the 2021 football game, KSD students and alumni will begin the “Turkey Day Game” countdown in November with special activities throughout the month and during Spirit Week.