Hundreds of kids in Grandview got new running shoes on Friday. Three hundred and sixty students gathered at Belvidere Elementary School for the “Day of Dreams” event, with organizers hoping to empower kids to reach their goals by providing resources, mentorship, and community support. The event ended with each kid in attendance getting a new pair of athletic shoes.
https://www.kctv5.com/2025/04/04/hundreds-kids-get-news-shoes-day-dreams-event/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR4Xcr6uexTyIXusQn2pbgX6tNirXkyTcmg3Zx1qLXno-iKVLMRtvDE4LVPOhw_aem_QPkNeXlW2ZoJ9pbXODBFuA#ziepug1iekajhqawsogdhbgcislnx4vg
Teams of students from St. Louis area schools recently took part in Envirothon, which is an annual tradition that puts teams of high schoolers into a hands-on competition alongside career natural resource workers. This regional competition is designed to make students think critically about natural resources and sustainability.
https://www.firstalert4.com/2025/04/03/st-louis-students-put-soil-wildlife-knowledge-test-envirothon-outside-pacific/
A Columbia youth robotics team qualified for an international competition after winning a prestigious award at a regional competition in Minneapolis on Sunday. Twenty-nine high school students in Columbia make up Army Ants, a robotics club that creates large robots for competition and serves the community through youth workshops.
https://www.komu.com/news/columbia-robotics-team-earns-prestigious-honor-in-latest-competition/article_275735fb-4236-53d6-9dd4-620ba2113590.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=SND_facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawJZIOVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHc8Nq8GAK6rEheQezSHG4-lk8b_sZpv3HLmnVyrfavrpEJRvZ0NTDxYU5g_aem_GyJtIR7xmn9w8-rnddsweQ
On Monday, more than 3,000 KC area students met Kansas City Chiefs star quarterback Patrick Mahomes at the T-Mobile Center. It was for the 15 and Mahomies Foundation partnership with Lead to Read KC. For the last five years, they’ve run a campaign to promote reading as a regular habit. To make the event, kids had to read for 15 minutes daily.
https://www.kctv5.com/2025/03/31/patrick-mahomes-meets-thousands-kc-kids-promote-reading/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR28wWPOsqIH6C2JLRVzEuKu_BN_9ZefmpVq7-q7vO3y9gCRZzUf_v4ivPo_aem_PdhA3TAk6Yv8InHV49sFfQ#kkyjz2qz36ctju36s82qm14sjf8d8xf
Cardinals Care has funded a new bookmobile that's operated by the library system and helps students unlock the world of reading. The mobile library gives students access to a wide variety of materials to get them excited about reading. And it’s not just the books that are a hit; students are thrilled to climb aboard and explore the space.
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/cardinals-themed-bookmobile-students-excited-read/63-2a6e28e4-3ba0-49bf-af9d-d605d4ae5579?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3BKZDJnDk4btrgNE3x6_r4vcWfQO8Ec7G_ZEYOr2RnVBe0242jefYLjgM_aem_2LgCrec5tFpNxlwTqJ08-w#5si76adhpatcjk4ajhkuamxnch5bk1lq
Meet Sam Finkel, the 11-year-old musical prodigy who began humming tunes before he could even speak! Now a fifth grader at Columbia's Grant Elementary, Sam has composed over 30 original pieces — including prize-winning works performed by live ensembles. He practices violin, volunteers as a violin coach for refugee students, and still finds time for disc golf, chess, and video games. Check out his story to learn how he’s turning his creative spark into symphonic success, and follow his journey as he takes composing to the next level!
https://www.columbiamissourian.com/special_section/comokids/sam-finkel-an-11-year-old-composer-with-stellar-musical-talent/article_942421c2-eed8-11ef-a3b1-6bbfd3304f80.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SND_scheduled_post&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0NH7d6FmBlmLPsXIEwskIr1XvPWUhCZyKCVw-nkMP1zKLHP5uWhUOEkac_aem_5bTJmc74r6chksIh67i-IQ
The next generation of scientists shared their research at Missouri Southern recently. Students from across southwest Missouri showcased their individual and team projects at the 36th Annual Regional Science Fair. Projects covered a range of disciplines, from biology, math, and physics, to social science and psychology.
https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/young-scientists-showcase-projects-at-missouri-southern-science-fair/
During the March 14 tornadoes, Bakersfield’s Pride Park was destroyed, leaving the school’s baseball and softball teams without a home field. But what happened next shows the heart of our local schools and businesses: they didn’t hesitate to help. Several rival schools stepped up in big ways — holding fundraisers, volunteering time, and helping with clean-up efforts to begin restoring Pride Park.
https://www.ozarkradionews.com/local-news/dose-of-goodness-from-rival-teams-to-togetherness-the-beautiful-support-behind-bakersfields-rebuild?fbclid=IwY2xjawJPsvxleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZswv8wz2wIERpTH3b9vAT0LP5x9n6yZjODpVujDtGHLobicRbx-gcQgGQ_aem_gqjQBrG1G46rTx_dbov3zw
In just his second year as an educator, Excelsior Springs Middle School, eighth-grade social studies teacher Andrew “Andy” Morris has been recognized as the 2025 Middle School Teacher of the Year by the Missouri Council for Social Studies. The award recognizes educators who foster critical thinking, civic engagement, and meaningful exploration of history and government among students.
https://excelsiorcitizen.com/esms-teacher-andy-morris-earns-state-recognition-for-civic-education/
After an EF-2 tornado tore through the city, cleanup efforts continued in Rolla. When Rolla Public School canceled classes for the week after the devastating storm, some students rallied together to help their community.
https://abc17news.com/news/phelps/2025/03/18/rolla-students-rally-to-help-community-after-devastating-tornado/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3JxkBBBdv9X3oFzIhEaRnM2epVRwYeAgXI5mf_uc4owRnFIhpHc_rk6NA_aem_qREw1wqHtOlkJYncvWFVxQ
It's a normal home going up like what you'd see at a construction site anywhere in Kansas City, but this one is going up right on the campus of Raymore-Peculiar High School. And the ones building it are students that go to the school. The two-bedroom 1,800-square-foot home will be used as a learning center for students with special needs so they can learn how to live on their own after high school.
https://www.kmbc.com/article/ray-pec-high-school-building-learning-house-students-with-special-needs/64223589?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=IwY2xjawJHqptleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHQDnbV_Esu9EEX7gqxSvToGvSvuSWj_qv71l0Nr9Sfa9x2m9Eoc4yAoStw_aem_fYAstd9RnvSSsbBvqiQmGA
Alton students will soon get the chance to study the science of soccer. Thirty students at Alton Middle School will be the first participants in Cougar KickBots. Students will receive on-field soccer instruction led by Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s soccer players and explore basic physics concepts by working with Lego robotics kits.
https://www.stlpr.org/education/2025-03-17/what-might-robots-have-to-do-with-soccer-alton-students-are-about-to-find-out?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0eKMVWYEOb3fIGvxpAnxHOdPkURHk7m2gi656EBRqfrjYsiRpYzYXzitQ_aem_qbM7mRN6B-dmtX_3RUIupA
Maryville High School Robotics Club members are heading to the VEX World Championship in Dallas in May. The team will be up against 800 teams from around the world.
https://www.maryvilleforum.com/news/schools/hounds-headed-to-world-championship/article_415d1904-ffc1-11ef-b430-07bff46c991a.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2d8hXZEb27Yg1T3Q5ovigPIOtGZk1O2knbWXeoAsAZYxs6zINvIQMeRvk_aem_ZtopheKHOTglPFrFsF4Njg#m89l129438qrmkq2f3r
Three Columbia students took top honors at an area concerto competition recently, earning the right to perform alongside artists from the Odyssey Chamber Music Series next month. The competition is designed "to identify outstanding pre-collegiate students to provide them with an opportunity to perform in a formal event with an orchestra,".
https://www.columbiatribune.com/story/entertainment/music/2025/03/12/columbia-public-schools-students-win-concerto-competition/82238172007/
As part of a weeklong celebration of agriculture, members of the Buchanan County Farm Bureau made their way to St. Joseph area elementary schools on Friday morning. City of St. Joseph Mayor John Josendale recently signed a proclamation declaring the week of March 2 through March 8 as "Missouri Farm Bureau Celebrate Agriculture Week." Area farmers spent the week giving back to local schools and charities, as well as engaging with the community.
https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/agriculture/buchanan-county-farm-bureau-teaches-area-elementary-schools/article_5cf7f9d2-fb6f-11ef-8f05-fb8df4c485d3.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnewspressnow%2F&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR25wzP8KFE2nsnO8DuZQgA6kXWaF6eofuq3KKc0l7Lt_I8c0rXhnxzrH20_aem__igSY29_nv9OO7BGLzhMNw
Students in Fair Grove are teaming up with city leaders to educate the public on an upcoming ballot measure. On April 8th, voters in Fair Grove will decide whether to fund nearly a million dollars worth of improvements to the city’s aging wastewater and stormwater systems. For several weeks, high school marketing students have been developing advertising campaigns to help people in town fully understand the bond proposal.
https://www.ky3.com/2025/03/06/fair-grove-marketing-students-team-up-with-city-leaders-help-public-understand-bond-proposal/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2Kd4beXThBizD7b3kv3RHGWb4PaUtRyDqG6Ns5Rxcb6WqbYsp7YMnDMqY_aem_Yhxa9rYGsjwnPL5ZQ1mUAA#6dzou3dmjcv3zmjjnaldi3wctekgluue
Nixa students put their hard work against Mother Nature. Third graders engineered houses to withstand natural disasters in honor of Severe Weather Preparedness Week. The students predicted how their creations would withstand wildfire, flooding, or dust storms. Then, their teachers unleashed homemade weather to see how the models fared.
https://www.ky3.com/2025/03/04/nixa-elementary-school-students-test-houses-against-mother-nature/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR23z9G7hzPvKeUdFaG9fWr7KPQDfDuzZRVhUvuJn1cKO9fqVArXkvh9bDA_aem_e5kcA2h5AoCeaoEBpDLWIw#3wi1f0qbqyngsgm1csjkun5z6vizgz2mj
Growing up, everyone learns the golden rule “treat others the way you want to be treated.” Students at St. Joseph's Pershing Elementary have taken things a step further with a mission to achieve 100 acts of kindness. “We’re not just in charge of educating their brains, we’re in charge of educating their hearts,” Pershing fourth-grade teacher Mary Sanders said. “So we are going to work really hard to make good people as they leave us.”
https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/education/pershing-does-100-acts-of-kindness-for-community/article_97de9c62-f54e-11ef-b898-97ac8d974ca3.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fnewspressnow%2F&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR12aR0ukHLQesWrPnlozOdq1UJvc5USH8yf3MqAT2cfOUJmazx-CDWVLt8_aem_nVpurIEnaawszy2ykrmmBA
More than 50 business and community leaders stepped up Friday to be Principal for a Day. They shadowed Springfield Public School principals Friday morning, following them through their daily work and interacting with students. After a morning together, the community members gathered to share their experiences with each other. ”I think this is fantastic. They’re doing great things in the school system,” said Bob Helm, the chairman of the Springfield-Area Chamber of Commerce.
https://www.ky3.com/2025/02/28/more-than-50-community-leaders-participate-principal-day-springfield/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1CsdSZEQieP55zzmZLoJe3RtutUNqSYNLlMyap0kFv0_YWmOtud-h558M_aem_cXNqZEUwZP_YsbA0I8qNLg
Some Neosho students will experience a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. The high school choir has received an invitation to perform at Carnegie Hall in New York City next year. About 100 students will make the trip and will get to hit a few of the popular stops in the city. The performance with a professional orchestra at Carnegie Hall will happen on April 26 of next year.
https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/news/neosho-choir-prepares-for-once-in-a-lifetime-performance/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_medium=referral&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3gJl6YzLmJS04D1m5ulUigXuDlK-ovd8WEdewXD26pQd5d4qlycB7KLW8_aem_L50pOMnMvsRC0-CZv6Iaww
