Missouri School Boards' Association -

Christian Cavener, a junior at Joplin High School, is set to spend his summer engaging in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Cavener is one of only about 80 students worldwide selected for this prestigious program, offering a six-week residential experience in Boston focused on technology, engineering, and science. https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/education/joplin-high-school-junior-accepted-into-mit-summer-program/article_5261b052-034b-11ef-91f2-4f191384263c.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3GzohtFPBAk9WyQwEUGp1ks0GcD9Q9vC3lBYiiECUuxPrFUYtFK2cplF8_aem_AX8QqvTw3R-bFvm0dHQgvWxMiFkAfWJeuIjkoKmcCkhOXKAd6vPz67aJsf91V1VHVzKb2K68waZm_GDpXSmdQwQM

High school students from across the Kansas City region showed off their problem-solving skills at Union Station recently. It was their chance to display their science and math expertise at the Project Lead The Way Senior Showcase. Projects in the showcase focus on solutions to real-world problems, from thwarting porch pirates to developing alert systems to keep dementia patients safe. Kansas City's showcase is one of the largest in the country. https://www.kmbc.com/article/kansas-city-project-lead-the-way-union-station/60581061?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABHe8hfncdN_t58GfJ4rQr1OCyIPg-SR9ilmPpVxbvds0BMI1ShQEIHhiZyg_aem_AVf0TcsK-2Y53JOUTsft0lMut3twBXYD3ayv2r36E0K6nlL4l19BOsNZ_0EBGk9lVkw

WORLD CHAMPIONS! Sedalia's Smith-Cotton High School Team SCREAM became one of the teams to emerge victorious at the 2024 FIRST Robotics World Championships held in Houston, Texas, over the weekend. Team SCREAM became the first Missouri team to claim the FIRST world championship banner. https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/smith-cotton-robotics-team-clinches-world-title/article_6c6a04d4-00c8-11ef-a8c8-df8207792615.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=SND_facebook&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0BMQABHThs0tzDkmRO_oQQOh8JP-wKAUfHP6zdX2skhRXe2b22BDtM7XYtlkmn2g_aem_AbBM16De-73S_DCkd7-7zURIN2bcKA3v0TVgkwiuDwTp-k4bG5CN20lq-JZvauqrbzU

Wentzville’s Ratchet Rockers robotics team is one of the best in the country. But the team of 32 students from high schools across the city wants to be the best in the world. The Ratchet Rockers will test their mettle this weekend in the international high school robotics championship in Houston, where they’ll battle hundreds of teams from the U.S., Israel, Australia, Turkey, Mexico, Canada, and more. https://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/wentzville-s-robotics-team-is-elite-it-s-aiming-to-be-the-best-in-the/article_1c61ed84-fceb-11ee-be40-a7559a5b3fb7.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook_St._Louis_Post-Dispatch

Columbia's Hickman High School won the 11th annual National High School Ethics Bowl (NHSEB) over the weekend. Students discuss real-life ethical issues during NHSEB tournaments. In each round of competition, teams take turns analyzing cases about complex ethical dilemmas. After winning the state championship in February, the Hickman team traveled to the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill over the weekend to compete in the national competition. The event brought together 4,000 students from nearly 400 schools across the United States. https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/hickman-ethics-bowl-team-takes-first-in-national-championship/article_ff436e9e-fb78-11ee-afbd-afaf06425143.html

5th and 6th grade students at St. Joseph's Hillyard Technical Center who participated in Destination Imagination have received qualifying scores to compete globally in the competition. Destination Imagination is a worldwide competition that includes six categories students can compete in, including engineering, creativity, teamwork, and more. https://www.kq2.com/news/hillyard-technical-center-gifted-students-moving-onto-global-competition/article_f1a062c8-f854-11ee-b9b0-8f18ab38dbba.html?fbclid=IwAR2I4NC7BTEw5BFKOJT82Xq8ZabyPpiYnKnjvH7tqXLPgmCzYW2KU2s8nBY_aem_AYH3hx5qgBowEnv317Zkjjvdtr3LR-AWWC1JyEQWHfRtT_zNp-5lu99GMD7WoNXGXmw

Flowers and plants are in bloom at the South Callaway Greenhouse. The greenhouse opened for the season this past Saturday. South Callaway High School students take care of the growing, maintenance, and selling of the plants. The greenhouse allows students to get hands-on learning that reinforces the curriculum. https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/south-callaway-high-schools-greenhouse-opens-for-the-season/article_d4d1da4c-f790-11ee-bac8-8fb8b9e83d6c.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=SND_facebook&fbclid=IwAR0kAkoP4v5PB1HKZwLlzLrGokzu9XlVoJ4kCy-qvTC_41PkhHbJmIr4Tto_aem_ATQFKcPMOjUcCV6A3IH2FeV78J8WsXFnYv8WflU5DbdpztO4JZX3ZlHaWIAKeWHnME8

Seniors at Pattonville High School won first place, a trophy and $10,000 in a World Wide Technology competition that sought out the best minds from local high schools in the St. Louis metro area to help address their schools' unique needs. The students were asked to create a technical solution that leveraged AI responsibly and ethically while addressing a problem at their schools or improving the academic experiences of students and staff. https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/education/pattonville-high-school-students-win-artificial-intelligence-competition/63-e75632d5-35e5-440f-9574-cb31c6b32559?fbclid=IwAR3KNijyd1oB7aDZ6kQouQAGlwYaDPgWfM6k21HvuFlghsZA9F15i2aE2G8_aem_ATT7NxmeFT6DBOGmMTmrsBXtp-uEGGHRbws-uMp9Nftsw5-yhlEnSzZukua405nyy3I

Congratulations to Kearney High School senior Leah Mayfield and her teammates for successfully presenting their “American Spirit” project during the Missouri SkillsUSA Leadership & Skill Competitions last week at State Technical College of Missouri! The team will advance to the SkillsUSA National Leadership & Competitions event that will be held this June in Atlanta. https://www.ksdr1.net/kearney-high-school/a-bulldog-prepares-to-share-her-american-spirit-on-state-stage/?fbclid=IwAR1jJbVYOLsPlPbswwqbeku60dQr1O_VX7yXSqU_yd3Gk_R6aq1hy3Zb7Mc_aem_AbU7AnjXnXZWvypgk2bNpnhb4UhhEL25SY3uOSXjnvpS61D1_RrXpIlYrMo1gfhUUoFxGt3vaNepfD-mJkO1DEfW

A sixth-grader from Branson has secured a spot to compete in the Scripps National Spelling Bee, May 26-31, in Washington D.C. Kunal Patel, who attends Branson's Cedar Ridge Intermediate, will compete in the national event after winning a regional competition. On March 25, Patel won the 2024 Association for Children’s Educational Sponsorship Regional Missouri Spelling Bee, which was in Rolla. https://www.news-leader.com/story/news/education/2024/04/04/branson-sixth-grader-will-compete-scripps-national-spelling-bee/73180666007/?fbclid=IwAR0QxtT30usQPc6SsoTPhdk5psnKOqzMMurBAcVWFbGa1rp_9sIsuW48Utk_aem_AeD1k1rzs_zrsuO8-hvSDhTSLwHXHQ6f6U42n_okTUdZLIjQ-Ej5WmnwKmWwasw_1bA&_cldee=uOQ4m7xSG0l2MK6meb28abaxoBqBPi5M8Qv3V6wYEIJezuJ2JWN9L911mETYjfmk&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-e909c6a4fdec472586d62e53571f7523&esid=a0563f40-4df3-ee11-904b-000d3a328941#lulx546lo78zh7t6xbr

For schools in or near the path of totality of the April 8 eclipse, the event has inspired lessons in science, literacy and culture. https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/world/solar-eclipse/schools-in-path-april-total-solar-eclipse-prepare-for-natural-teaching-moment/507-8831f79a-a5f5-4b87-a853-4a9c87c70755?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=IwAR12laG53EmLu-YnI5xcap7xCYP2IJD5jTQvF_rgZ2pl3i1PnELrKqjHcO0_aem_AVeMxrCgOYZ-cYHY-iikSRzOr7i61OOc2vj5djoIiL3H7cerJuBp8V6nFRlalpSc5aE#luez2u7ikck9wf03zc

Voters will head to the polls on April 2 to vote in municipal elections around Missouri. Clay County voters should pay attention to the stickers they receive after casting their ballot. Voters will receive one of four “I voted” stickers designed by students from Lillian Schumacher Elementary in Liberty. https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/four-students-designed-this-years-i-voted-stickers-in-clay-county?fbclid=IwAR1XRigJ9cmkk40rKHWETQ-STaQXmdtDn0Sfr1GHt0VFxVlZL94hnTsctxs_aem_Ac41OdmBQQOJcMHK5L-H8MkfM6bkL_OyAM-0tMQTcWZoPUvKaqnl5kPMM0elskgM2zU

Disney On Ice has become an annual event in Kansas City, but now it could become a showcase for a local figure skater. An Oak Park High School figure skater sent in her resume, and two hours later, she was called for an "in-person" audition. She still has to graduate from high school, but she is eagerly awaiting the chance to perform, travel, and get paid for something she loves to do. https://www.kmbc.com/article/local-figure-skater-from-oak-park-high-school-eyes-spotlight-with-disney-on-ice-audition-kansas-city/60270368

The aviation industry could gain a young pilot from Ferguson soon. Matthew Gaikens, an 18-year-old senior at the STEAM Academy at McCluer South-Berkeley High in Ferguson, has started making headlines for his early achievements in the cockpit. Gaikens has not only earned his pilot's license before graduating high school but also has his sights set on a noble career path. https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/local/high-school-ferguson-pilot-license/63-e30e8228-fd09-4a48-acac-bbbc67a2562a?fbclid=IwAR15lLirH8BHMMy5iUiN_1dzoAuMJ7cJUpD3VjeoFJyAqEOlV53KwhEkTTA_aem_AZIymQp_x84V5tB-k3OuuJpljTL6iYwDvVPkhlG9WfePCfw0koJKhW8JySkCmAtVfIo

Google announced recently that in addition to building its 1 billion dollar data center in Kansas City, the company will also be investing in area schools. Google plans on giving $100,000 to North Kansas City Schools to build a new center for high school students to learn a variety of trade and other machinery skills. Known as the “STEAM Center.” Which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. https://www.kctv5.com/2024/03/20/north-kansas-city-students-offered-new-opportunities-learn-trade-tech-skills/?fbclid=IwAR2G_beOqH27kk4xU6nep-WvudzDvHuQyVSw-D9bciWOsG9MCu0A2OADmak_aem_AQiKnXExDeDDSnkezI_W-ozJBh3gBgCLylJDfChOhD7E5BlKwZotxHXPGt5ekrNVdPs#lu0jvp8q3v8h79o9f8p

Eighteen classrooms across the Kansas City area are getting paired with a Kansas City Royals player as part of the club’s new literacy initiative known as the Royals Literacy League. Michelle Abubakar’s fourth-grade students were surprised Thursday with a personalized message from their Classroom Champion, Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino, during the launch of the program at Kansas City Public School’s Banneker Elementary. https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/kansas-city-royals-1b-vinnie-pasquantino-teams-up-with-fourth-grade-class-to-encourage-reading?fbclid=IwAR0_i8_Mykv-Cf2xHksSpfBMabUAIb6XFSYVrdUbnMEV2vmUTm3MQ4CekV8_aem_Afi8b--kQzUO7g8vtQYhBCPJmzV6NPGd90sreFLmnoAkLcauDE1TwMJXNRORaRsW-5w

Sixth graders at Columbia's Jefferson Middle School gathered together Thursday morning for math class in the media center. They were intrigued to find out why their class wasn’t taking place in their regular classroom. Students had a chance to enjoy something different than their typical math class by participating in the “searching for pi scavenger hunt.” https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/middle-schoolers-eat-up-pi-day-math-lesson/article_80866fdc-e234-11ee-88cd-d347fe8154c5.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SND_scheduled_post&fbclid=IwAR0hghYbO_a2lprlTk_1VNLMvzVBHijqkDr8OxgoimSAA1qIh5P7jenllBY_aem_Afs_l4rNhPLtGfWH3I7bf4Uk7QSu2htE7yjb57drHRVbGv6kbYIbQT6EOMmKzOEo5Ow&_cldee=hqNhJXeGyH66sgDG5TKjbq1XNB4xydGJTNV0F7vpAAdM8U5M5BuoqY34yLZ0wo2x&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-cf510bce8df94af8ad112f632eed0fec&esid=631a919a-25e2-ee11-904c-0022480c40e0

The Columbia Public Schools “prize patrol” snuck through the halls of various school buildings Tuesday, surprising seven district educators with an award celebrating their excellence. The Columbia Fund for Academic Excellence is an annual affair that began in the 1979-80 school year, honoring district educators for their outstanding leadership and work with students. https://www.columbiamissourian.com/news/k12_education/seven-cps-educators-honored-in-annual-awards/article_17bce5dc-e0b1-11ee-bdc9-bfb339efaa30.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SND_scheduled_post&fbclid=IwAR05dKE9KPA6i7vZJiapY_QZooyEcjF9YRqykimdJwghj37yvl8IBp-3dFA_aem_AaOldHE-JxLs-BTMcklYUipEcTrSvtouQFX4omIHbyJh4b12f4CgOliuCreufzifI_w

Last year, Ratchet Rockers of Wentzville and Team SCREAM of Smith-Cotton High School were alliance partners in the finals of the FIRST Robotics Central Missouri Regional, but they came one win short of capturing a championship. The teams joined forces again, this time winning the 2024 Central Missouri Regional and ensuring trips to the FIRST World Championships in Houston. https://ksisradio.com/team-scream-wins-central-missouri-regional-2/

Missouri educators and law enforcement agencies came from across the state Wednesday and Thursday to learn from experts in school safety practices at a two-day summit. The summit was hosted by the Missouri School Boards' Association’s Center for Education Safety and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in St. Louis and Kansas City. https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/missouri-educators-law-enforcement-learn-school-safety-practices-at-fbi-summit/article_5f2fe560-dcbd-11ee-95a7-d35d16e22510.html?utm_source=SocialNewsDesk&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=SND_facebook&fbclid=IwAR3bVmfWx4Nv4Mh83-HdCOKPQgOQ27ZQvVKaHpbIHA1epSwFpvY2I7anOc4_aem_Af5l3w7rQXSyzY-ym-PhojDTyfo9v39oi1L3XYNr0k-Rovo0zduH4jK10sNAoxOc8LU