A Lee's Summit third grader returned to the classroom this year to a surprise welcome following a 2-year battle with cancer. Lottie, 8, proudly rang her chemo bell leading up to the new school year. A triumph those at Voy Spears Junior Elementary School in Lee’s Summit, part of the Blue Springs R-IV School District, were just as proud of as they lined the halls to celebrate. Cheers of “Lottie, Lottie, Lottie!” filled the air to make for a touching moment for the child and her family.
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/08/30/local-student-returns-class-warrior-following-battle-with-cancer/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0UZfmJc98ybSVqcIscE0qehRw8UjCKf9e3nOpMCWAVv-Y9Qt1k87lOTwo_aem_F9_HDrHG_0K2AeOcj9oMZA&ai=#m0ikl67p4rsnk36c844
A teacher from Conway has been chosen as a finalist for National Civics Teacher of the Year. According to the Bill of Rights Institute (BRI), Christen Wilson is one of 10 finalists competing for the award. BRI says Wilson was chosen after a nationwide search, encouraging educators, students, parents, and community members to nominate outstanding civics teachers for the award.
https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/conway-teacher-a-finalist-for-national-civics-teacher-of-the-year/?utm_medium=referral&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=socialflow&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1fvgZqXbUJRJ_Upcx7KZJOeBF6Wca2dczKtO2Cxwp---f93ikLuqTBMDY_aem_hH9JHfZdmzKtGkDsidv6qQ
Country music legend Dolly Parton is in Missouri today to praise the state working, possibly 9 to 5, to reach statewide distribution of her reading program. Through a cost-share program between the state and Dolly’s foundation, “Imagination Library” provides children up to age five a monthly book free of charge to the children. The program launched in Missouri last November, with a response of more than 20,000 hits the first day that temporarily broke the enrollment website.
https://www.missourinet.com/2024/08/27/dolly-parton-to-visit-missouri-today-to-celebrate-milestone-in-free-book-program/?_cldee=SO3TK7VZ0RdDj2KKMlMFHoCcyOq486PwCapbKGADKzq4yPrnAwzG5LVOZcJFZlUU&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-74a65228491c47869161ce788edfb5e5&esid=ac24c084-7864-ef11-bfe3-000d3a5af429
Twelve-year-old Daken Kramer from Blue Springs will be honored by the Kansas City Chiefs at their final preseason game for raising nearly $7,500 to pay off his classmates' lunch debt. Daken, a sixth-grade student, has received a lot of cheers over the past three months for his fundraising efforts.
https://www.kmbc.com/article/blue-springs-student-honored-by-chiefs-for-paying-off-classmates-lunch-debt/61951313?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR11ZYIS6cCpEctXc7AMWTA7Q6z3wgSDH8saApeIUW1RRTuomLE9J7IZd50_aem_zDfiPzGCoE3BtOfqev4iLA&ai=
St. Joseph School District students will be able to hone their skills in a new facility this school year. The Hillyard Technical Center hosted a ribbon-cutting for its brand-new stimulated manufacturing facility recently. The 22,000-square-foot facility will allow students to cross-train on different aspects of manufacturing to improve their skill levels.
https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/education/expansion-for-manufacturing-students-opens-at-hillyard/article_6ea80aee-5f0e-11ef-9db8-d78eaea282ed.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2rBiN4MA77xNZYiw6Hv55YfnjTjsV-mAZI33nLISNPWLIoWnC6opoQDE4_aem_ZoO3e1DMXsHR6I506wZn8Q
The Royals are helping students in metro classrooms with a brand new literacy program. The Royals Literacy League is designed to build excitement around reading and literacy in elementary students in public schools in Kansas City while providing additional support and appreciation for the educators who teach them.
https://fox4kc.com/news/royals-literacy-program-helps-students-in-kansas-city-elementary-schools/?utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&_cldee=msvNenSQthRa1KjhVGB0COaM2KYsYFoFmlsRLjYtXl_FBXK0-EEZzfTwiHJxhqYc&recipientid=contact-ed7dbc8c6c9deb11b1ac00224804018b-b8cc71d5b87e4e13b7cc4e443e9b5806&esid=c053c244-8660-ef11-bfe3-000d3a31b1ec&fbclid=IwY2xjawE0dWZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVvG3m6ZMDNDLTJWFWldRQIgiAVHc01XIpaErUXCHfjARQ9_WrwTcRAWfQ_aem_I6AuXqvJ37oC0kV8Mr_EeA
Ray-Pec School District makes a commitment to the arts with a brand-new performance center. The Raymore-Peculiar School District has finished building a state-of-the-art auditorium with more seating for the community. Superintendent Dr. Mike Slagle said the district is proud of Ray-Pec’s history of winning state awards in choir and performing arts.
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/08/19/ray-pec-school-district-makes-commitment-arts-with-brand-new-performance-center/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0F0o5ecJpDP6HLDBAM9rVGN5PK_nTL8t70LT9XE1vuUDrRVCoUyYSDrSE_aem_a8p51RgMTJ9zCwAMcBT8WA&_cldee=bO9e3t2YW_nCW_eona_4AMtXr3knhdFpZt7f9eyp0kkwpGZ_08_szsE4ff-sCNRZ&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-cccd9b40096b4dab992b26b1e8130040&esid=a8e6ccfd-bc5f-ef11-bfe3-000d3a31b1ec#m036shxsl4setmios4l
Recently, the Congressional Award Gold Medal was awarded to Lee’s Summit West student, Ethan Wood. Wood earned the award for his service to the community, which included over 408 volunteer hours across three years. His services included assisting in creating a 3D printing lab at Operation Breakthrough, distributing hand-painted cards at senior centers, mentoring elementary and middle school robotics teams, and volunteering at different STEM summer camps that helped teach kids coding and robotics.
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/08/16/lees-summit-west-student-wins-congressional-award/
The legendary Dolly Parton is set to visit Kansas City, Missouri, later this month to celebrate her Imagination Library of Missouri partnership with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The Imagination Library program helps provide age-appropriate books each month to children ages 5 and under at no cost to their families.
https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/dolly-parton-set-to-visit-kansas-city-this-month-to-celebrate-imagination-library
The North Kansas City School District is preparing to debut two new elementary schools. Next week, Crestview Elementary and Nashua Elementary will open up for the first time on Aug. 20 as students head back for the 2024-25 school year. NKC Schools announced that it is proud to invest in established neighborhoods by building new schools and replacing aging facilities.
https://www.kmbc.com/article/north-kansas-city-opens-2-new-elementary-schools/61854684
Students across the Ozarks will start returning to school in just about 11 days, and a class option has become more popular for high school students in recent years. Recently, more and more school districts have been offering dual credit classes.
https://www.ky3.com/2024/08/08/more-high-school-students-ozarks-taking-advantage-dual-credit-courses/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR397oHhNxNaAAq1CfcSkwLDkpU8Cdg75fl0ylpGaSsAwPrBZUl17AlnjWQ_aem_nvvWdnPHuoyPdM2RdHR_2w#lzoobvj8m1mc75x5up9
Dozens of musically inclined Carthage students are already back on campus. They’re in their second week of band camp as a whole, and third week, if you count percussion, color guard, and band leadership who already put in an additional week prior.
https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/local-news/carthage-news/carthage-students-march-toward-success-as-band-camp-prepares-for-competition-season/?utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=socialflow&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR3z5sAuECdQp8b9TOp59c3oYdY6tD7ZRO97scy6g5wN_OfeaY9wthmK7-g_aem_Z_egblbit3dpLyGSTqRawQ&_cldee=j4-E7Nwi1da2kiS1-36T2ykfeR_ZpuHQroxqJSpB7yjO1HNB9iWontMNe4jST7HT&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-fcd46e5312bc4e1e8dd9e1e89487409e&esid=7d0ca138-2855-ef11-a317-000d3a31b1ec
Geggie Elementary School’s librarian is on a mission to make reading more fun for students, and she’s recruiting the Eureka community to help. Kristina Presley began the annual book scavenger hunt four years ago by stashing about 20 books around Eureka’s parks, businesses, and playgrounds. She held two separate hunts this summer with about 45 books hidden throughout the city for each hunt.
https://www.ksdk.com/article/news/community/geggie-elementary-student-book-scavenger-hunt-eureka/63-9ee9f76b-9266-40fe-82c2-9eee11c849c8?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0E9SpK89LSCxTjAcalfTORbE5uoOh8clsDuOo2LDFUWfqRThuPQjVbZ_U_aem_Q8hR2riDJmM9_NSEXT-TIg&_cldee=Y4aSwMHu0agnOGu-erdOeXB3OWePwHQ-o7xZWelCOwA70XBGt839mpMHQp0Owl2-&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-a662ed6aecc042f6b2b4052e194f2b3c&esid=401a3563-f753-ef11-a316-000d3a3b1f99#lzhoom25vsyd38heptf
Springfield Public Schools recognized nine students with quite the honor. Students from Kickapoo, Parkview, and Central received scholarships to attend Missouri State University to study education and return to SPS to teach. The scholarships are a part of the Future Educator Program, helping the district with recruiting, hiring, and retaining educators.
https://www.ky3.com/2024/08/02/springfield-public-schools-recognize-9-students-with-special-signing-ceremony/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0IBHRiY61JSdF-1CeVr-vWfkLPCeAxRdJfM8XRCJVF3oEjl7G6Adb7Zxk_aem_AeR7xWtIl5gPpxLc2305Ew&_cldee=xOtkzBR2CELZKsEEvnlVpsYJZ6WUcPJxShPV00Y1XUq92NpsEO_TdrMKtcFKiIWv&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-300031879a154114b0ebe222176f7c6f&esid=6c32ed6a-3053-ef11-a317-000d3a5af429#lzemag716wo8inxkubk
15 students from around Kansas City are building websites and learning better cybersecurity practices to protect them in spite of their visual impairments. The range of visual ability varies from student to student, but all have access to programs that allow them to utilize their computers effectively. This is part of Alphapointe’s annual Technology Camp.
https://www.kctv5.com/2024/07/29/visually-impaired-students-learn-cybersecurity-practices-they-plan-their-careers/?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0zhm-0yKdy_Ck9k-TfUZYyPPk-PWU1qeM5-OJIbrBUrTaiM-siubncv9o_aem_sWqGSMlGvAVrLpzh5xqLkQ#lz7msph9oo005wz9ap8
Barry Manilow presented a $10,000 donation to Melissa Gustafson-Hinds with O’Fallon Township High School Thursday before a concert at the Enterprise Center. She is the school’s band director and was the recipient of the grant that is part of the Manilow Music Project. Half of the grant she received will go directly to her, and the other half will go towards new instruments for the high school.
https://www.firstalert4.com/2024/07/26/ofallon-missouri-teacher-receives-10000-grant-barry-manilow/
At the back of Republic’s Community Center, a group gathered to see the unveiling of the city’s newest library. There was no building. Or books. Instead there's a portable storage unit with plastic totes inside filled with all kinds of sports equipment. It is a sports equipment library, the idea of a soon-to-be senior, Hayden Hradek, a nose guard on the high school team’s state runner-up football team this past season.
https://www.ky3.com/2024/07/24/republic-gets-sports-equipment-library-thanks-idea-high-school-student/?outputType=amp
Six Houston area high school students were among the 85 high school students from across Missouri who participated in the Missouri Electric Cooperative CYCLE (Cooperative Youth Conference and Leadership Experience) program in Jefferson City. Each year in July, this action-filled four days provides high school students opportunities to learn first-hand what it is like to be involved in politics, the cooperative form of business, and being a leader. The program included nationally known speakers and time at the Missouri State Capitol learning how a bill goes through the process to become a law.
https://houstonherald.com/2024/07/area-high-school-students-attend-annual-missouri-electric-co-op-program/
McDonald County High School (MCHS) hosted its first-ever VEX Robotics Summer Camp for elementary and middle school students recently. The camp offered a hands-on, interactive experience in robotics and computer programming. Students from 1st through 8th grades built and programmed their own robots using VEX Robotics kits. "At this camp, kids aren't just learning about robotics and coding—they're building their future, one robot at a time," said Joyce Pacheco, MCHS Computer Science Instructor.
https://www.koamnewsnow.com/news/education/mcdonald-county-high-school-hosts-first-ever-vex-robotics-summer-camp/article_518197d2-446f-11ef-bc37-333a3d9c81c1.html?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR1jlF1hSk95sCWoGX_45t1kSVEl-X9pTQVsnjNb7qCjaL9FKW2jxCeX8jA_aem_WU63VjgGg0hBZIfG5fnsQA
St. Louis area students are selling coffee through Show Me the World, a nonprofit specializing in supporting international youth travel. Show Me the World has sent more than 150 students abroad in the past 10 years. Students learn about inventory and e-commerce, but the program is still rooted in a STEM focus.
https://www.stlpr.org/education/2024-07-16/st-louis-show-me-the-world-coffee-teen-world-travel?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2f20kJXJFcZJ-lV6IbYhVNOWUKTXfFXX5KlyADZsf9KTPjuYwZ8aPxvvo_aem_y7QmBXP1f-_9BnRh4KdJUg&_cldee=qlvAWnnkGFrTUYKM-PARK1k7rdFVqHOIzApRMawSlVoJA0ZLSsjfuyah0njaVWoL&recipientid=contact-d41a38d4659deb11b1ac00224804018b-41dc95b1f8544d30ac15a6827e67d9a6&esid=8aead6d2-4244-ef11-8409-000d3a5af429
