Students and parents from across Columbia came to Lange Middle School Saturday for the Rise Initiative's annual Back To School Bash. The event offered services to Columbia families, including free school supplies and backpacks, free health and wellness checks and free haircuts, while providing a space for students to play with their friends.
https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/rise-initiatives-back-to-school-bash-brings-services-to-columbia-students/article_bbe3df1e-3ede-11ee-9ddd-5fd7f3cc6b99.html
Chelsea Tornetto's last day of teaching world geography at Jackson's Russel Hawkins Junior High School in June was also the first day of her new career as a full-time author.
She recently self-published a children's picture book all about Jackson schools and the district where she taught for 17 years. The book, "Jackson: A Celebration of Our Schools", shows Jackson students experiencing moments from their first day of kindergarten through high school graduation.
https://www.semissourian.com/story/3006538.html
An 8-year-old St. Louis girl is hoping to help other children by detailing her own experience. Zara Daugherty, 8, is going to be a third grader this year in the St. Louis Public School District. She enjoys reading and writing, something her therapist told her she could use to channel some of her emotions.
https://www.kmov.com/2023/08/15/st-louis-third-grader-publishes-book-detailing-experience-lessons-broken-promise/?fbclid=IwAR1tkk9JgY63l4awBKEoko_oh3U_oXl3mtZxDTZH5jGmr8qrXhEj4-HPyeE_aem_AQFAsdVVBH6kRjWw6T4mq2t05UtNKZrtiDF83Ok4kG-WKamCWJEyuJyYF1aTCD3XXWQ
In the search to find teachers, Missouri schools are finding unique solutions. Eric Arnold is a former science teacher turned administrator. He retired in 2021 and returned full-time as a science teacher, where his career began. “It came down to, I just really still enjoyed this,” Arnold said. “It’s nice to still be wanted and needed.”
https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/retired-raymore-peculiar-teacher-returns-to-classroom-to-help-curb-shortage?fbclid=IwAR3mG5bng4u-w8qnHcWgqQSkvf5L2qbXzAsIqhNx1x9N0T11dtGmnOHvaUA_aem_AXIckK2qCw2c389JjFoeqB7Kf1TjtSt1ImXRQUhtiJVWTtXEo2i5S6p0DJ2fzFWZCpw
The Hazelwood teen who has gone viral for paying off lunch debts for students at his elementary school has received a special gift for his generosity. After watching News 4, resident Yolanda Duncan reached out and wanted to give DeJuan a token of appreciation for his selfless work. On Thursday, Duncan surprised DeJuan with a check to match the donation he gave to McCurdy Elementary to clear the negative meal balances at McCurdy Elementary.
https://www.kmov.com/2023/08/04/hazelwood-teen-who-paid-off-student-lunch-debts-receives-special-surprise/?fbclid=IwAR0eg-2ybQCaepnwP8XRvbfYR4Q0bmLie4Ar_dA4njvPneFwiCmXKWHkbQ4_aem_AblrfOXNQvB055BzcT1JkUvzyeReI4raF67GuT-fF_sKFcN5dd9w0AJX293eMdofX-g
Thorpe Gordon Elementary is on track to become Jefferson City's first STEM public school in the fall of 2023. The Jefferson City Board of Education announced the transition last year. The school is undergoing renovations, including a new STEM lab, new windows, and flooring, creating an inspiring space for students to learn and explore.
https://krcgtv.com/news/local/transforming-education-thorpe-gordon-elementary-set-to-become-jefferson-citys-first-public-stem-school?fbclid=IwAR1IfeLW3crRVTPyIiQsq7WUIyLZffrzxJQ1SdjYO3PtxIjWFH6K78E_mjE_aem_AcILb3yz_DZ2bfRKemiuUiUTQvwgGBFON42HefiD6TAO_eLmhmY4UHCA1IFWkKswExA#
The Collaborative Laboratory Internships and Mentoring Blueprint (CLIMB) at the University of Missouri–St. Louis was created to try to reduce the opportunity gap by giving high-ability students from under-resourced school districts the chance to engage in scientific lab research in a university setting through a paid six-week internship program. It’s an experience they likely otherwise would not have.
https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2023/07/17/climb-program-marks-nine-years-helping-area-high-school-students-gain-lab-experience/
A business owner owes some of his success to a high school program in the Ozarks. GOCAPS (Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies) is a high school program in the area dedicated to giving students a chance to fast forward in their future by immersing them in a professional workspace. Garrett Catlett, a former SPS and GOCAPS student, said he opened his own business at 24/7 Golf and Performance in Nixa with all the training he acquired from the high school program. Catlett just graduated from Kickapoo High School, and at only 18 years of age, he’s working in his full-time career.
https://www.ky3.com/2023/07/13/former-gocaps-student-shares-success-years-later-business-owner/?fbclid=IwAR0OcLpNC-jcMoXQqG_ZTUgkZmN5Vngpfw3q8pI3nwrpyNpxDhtvy1mqH5k_aem_AS-IzM9s-rvfwhwshoUmlzgJdKxOIp99i7XnEkjCoa9Q40ReSmFYbkglufgBUxXEoz8
Over 50 high school students from across the state of Missouri are coming together with one goal. Making music! For over 50 years, the Missouri Ambassadors of Music tours have offered talented student musicians the chance to explore Europe with once-in-a-lifetime cultural experiences and performances along the way.
https://www.ksdk.com/article/entertainment/television/show-me-st-louis/high-school-musicians-from-across-the-state-of-missouri-set-out-on-european-tour/63-07ee8f26-7efa-4fe0-89c6-0ea644a67f0f
Two teams and one individual representing St. Joseph area schools attained top 10 honors at a national gathering of more than 6,000 competing students in technical fields. Students are considered elite among the world’s young techies just for being at the Technology Student Association National Conference.
https://www.newspressnow.com/news/local_news/education/st-joseph-tech-competitors-excel-at-nationals/article_195cf654-1cfb-11ee-a098-f789cd7a1b91.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&fbclid=IwAR2t6sJqkQFA-m3byTFBY9_HdpjhCZT0hLMJKw6eIZQXPQJk9QfzpT8p_RQ_aem_Ae_49GDyw2aQ1WaHTxl_7U167986HG51n1vxZLeGNmF7n4xtcLNWrzNNFAbMbtIa4uc
Waking up bright and early to go to summer school doesn’t sound like much fun, but on Monday, Jefferson students were very excited to wake up early. Thanks to a partnership with the Missouri Department of Conservation, the school, and local former MDC official Ed Higdon, around 40 students took part in a fishing clinic just east of Maryville.
http://www.maryvilleforum.com/life/mdc-introduces-youngsters-to-fishing-during-summer-school/article_f6e81e58-16a3-11ee-bf44-bf07eabbac67.html?utm_campaign=blox&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&fbclid=IwAR1yF9XdNpet2DUJcd0jf_trKO6viLA77UTGilNYrsrFYYspfX5FKcZEIac_aem_ASx2N9zV2DApm7pfNdgABE4uGcoqLNCWo_jS6agEgrOIgxp3oldKkNTQdmIM69pyOTo
Ava school administrators are working to help students feel safe and secure. The district has partnered with Missouri Ozarks Community Health to provide an on-campus therapist for behavioral health counseling for students. Superintendent Aaron Dalton says if students feel safe, they’re more apt to be successful in their studies.
https://www.ky3.com/2023/06/27/ava-school-administrators-see-success-with-on-campus-therapy-program/?fbclid=IwAR2Jr3LRlcntZYnDRNCO4o_ZvaYAEpeQyz07tuoqzU1MId3-z_GnWXMQpZI_aem_AZz7WB8QKqe9_U2ZNQ77ARzK5piAA9V6XJ3vzyGEB_bOIAp9nDDEE8m5HpyV2X_S9aw
A 2023 Rock Bridge High School graduate, Theodora (Dora) Grafakos, placed first in the SkillsUSA Baking and Pastry Arts national competition for high school students Friday in Atlanta, Georgia. Grafakos trained through the Columbia Area Career Center’s (CACC) Culinary Arts Program for three years and competed at the National SkillsUSA contest last year, where she came in second, according to a news release from the center. Grafakos is the second student from CACC to win the competition.
https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/rock-bridge-graduate-places-first-in-national-baking-and-pastry-arts-competition/article_10ba4b32-1459-11ee-9d3f-33a1df22e75a.html
Missouri students took home multiple awards and a bronze medal at the 2023 National History Day contest in College Park, MD. During the 2022-23 school year, over a half million students globally completed projects around the theme, Frontiers in History: People, Ideas and Events. Over 2,600 students, including 59 Missouri students, competed at the National Contest.
https://shsmo.org/news/2023/missouri-students-honored-national-history-day-contest-maryland?fbclid=IwAR2nEeBlJz9ZxikG6u1aaMAcPOAXQHlcOuVjAEh_Xfey4gElQWbUVWHwEx4
In August 2021, a Lee's Summit parent launched “Unofficial Lee’s Summit R7 Adopt-A-Teacher.” Teachers in the district can drop their Amazon wish list, and anyone willing can buy supplies. Within hours, the mission took off. Now, two years later, there are more than 2,500 active members.
https://www.kshb.com/news/local-news/local-parent-creates-adopt-a-teacher-group-to-clear-teachers-amazon-wishlists?fbclid=IwAR2F8Sz5zNelt729XLSUCzgbKgh0zdxHbLnFZv70OR4ZNbL-lpb1nWGbAOA_aem_th_Afb-3Ky3ksonaJG9v7iDybhW18UMUttFja9g24H7Jf8gRzm_ocgoFMP3Hkd_DxG82ls
The Palmyra FFA Chapter recently partnered with Agriculture Education on the Move (AEOTM) to help build agricultural literacy for third-grade students at Palmyra Elementary School. AEOTM, a program of Missouri Farmers Care Foundation (MFCF), is a proactive, educational program that brings agricultural-based knowledge and activities to elementary classrooms statewide.
https://www.hannibal.net/news/local-elementary-students-learn-about-agriculture/article_38bc20f0-0c85-11ee-85ea-7333153ffb00.html
Recently, U.S. Representative Jason Smith held a reception to recognize students from Missouri’s 8th Congressional District who placed in the top 15 of the 2023 Congressional Art Competition. Smith congratulated Clarissa Hulse, a senior from Houston, for taking first place with her piece, “Old Man.”
https://dailyjournalonline.com/news/local/education/winner-finalists-of-congressional-art-contest-announced/article_d82dd616-ffb9-11ed-a27f-ab499d6f2473.html?utm_campaign=snd-autopilot&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter_dailyjournalmo&fbclid=IwAR0-rERaNcjCzOaDhYQyyj6VRdZM1iVDYwhTtud3xG2zuT9_T7EjSLkwZGo
Darkroom Records is a recording studio offered at three Columbia high schools – Hickman, Battle, and Rock Bridge. Although there are studios at only three schools in the district, all Columbia Public Schools students have access to them. The mission of Darkroom is to provide free recording software and instruments to students in bands, or any student who just wants to try making music.
https://www.komu.com/news/midmissourinews/school-of-rock-a-look-inside-hickman-highs-darkroom-records/article_449ad96e-9123-5cd8-95ce-c471e9941e9e.html
Kansas City Chiefs safety and Super Bowl champion Justin Reid is kicking off a three-week coding camp for high school kids this summer called "Tackling Tech."
https://www.kshb.com/sports/super-bowl-champion-hosting-3-week-coding-camp-for-kansas-city-area-high-school-kids?fbclid=IwAR32V_rDc7yzt58IHlYNz4BcdSvdeR_Uyvv3TqwC-rgXd4rYMxZzvr5OOxE
A high school student from Columbia was named one of the winners of a top science fair prize for his project that analyzes mpox, formerly known as monkeypox. Saathvik Kannan, 17, won one of two Regeneron Young Scientist Awards at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Dallas on May 19.
https://nextshark.com/high-school-student-saathvik-kannan-science-prize-mpox
