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West Newsmagazine
is West St. Louis County's exclusive direct-mailed community newspaper. |
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'Pennies for Pooches' raises funds for animals
 The “Pennies for Pooches” fundraiser held March 2-9 at Selvidge Middle School raised money for Open Door Animal Sanctuary and Support Dogs, Inc.
Selvidge staff members had their dogs’ pictures and name on jars. Students “voted” for their favorite dog by donating money – pennies, nickels, dimes, quarters, dollars, all were welcome – into the jar of the dog of their choice. The dogs with the most money are declared the 2009 Selvidge Middle School Canine King and Queen. Three touch therapy dogs demonstrated their skills to kick off the event on March 2 at the school. The trainers talked about how vital these dogs are to those people who are in need of some special care.
Eureka High students fight tobacco companiesEight Eureka High School representatives of the Youth Empowerment in Action (YEA) program recently returned from a trip to the Youth Summit at Capitol Plaza Hotel in Jefferson City, where they worked to fight big tobacco companies and persuade Missouri legislative representatives to support anti-tobacco legislation. Several of the students were interviewed and will be featured on videos that will be sent to political figures as well as to news and other organizations. The students participated in a Show-Me Smoke-Free banner operation, which took 500 supporters to pull off. Every student and sponsor held a colored tile and then flipped the tiles at different times to spell out "?," "Time to Clear," "The Air," "Show me" and "Smoke free." The students participated in several break-out sessions to learn about air quality testing, leadership, professional courtesy when meeting with local political figures and more. They also had the opportunity to create posters, picture frames and listen to a motivational speaker.
Eureka High attendees included Brandon Blanchard, Rashel Bledsoe, Chris Long, Jen Long, Shayla Mulhern, Andrew Tucker, Valencia Young, Demetrius Washington and Eureka High teacher Stephanie Wolcott.
Selvidge receives grant for being environmentally responsibleSelvidge Middle School in the Rockwood School District received a grant for $27,898 from the State Farm Youth Advisory Board to continue work on its nature trail/outdoor classroom service learning project. Representatives of State Farm presented a check to the Selvidge community on Feb. 23. The State Farm Youth Advisory Board received approximately 500 grant requests from schools and organizations in the United States and Canada. Selvidge Middle School is one of 73 organizations nationwide that was awarded a Youth Advisory Board grant. State Farm Youth Advisory Board grants help create local programs that address community issues like environmental responsibility, teen driving safety, financial education, access to higher education and disaster preparedness. In the fall 2008, more than 200 Selvidge community volunteers began to transform 12 acres of unoccupied wooded land into a nature trail and outdoor classrooms. Their goal was to provide a unique learning experience for Selvidge students, staff and community members. “The way the nature trail project has impacted our school and school community has been amazing,” said Michael Anselmo, Selvidge Middle assistant principal. “This is a true community project, and we look forward to the positive impact on our students and community as we move forward.” Future plans for the nature trail/outdoor classroom include:
Babler recognized with national P.E. awardThe National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) has recognized Babler Elementary in the Rockwood School District for having an outstanding health/physical education program and was named a STAR school. They will be honored at the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance (AAHPERD) National Convention at the NASPE banquet on April 3 in Tampa, Fla. This is the second time Babler Elementary has received this award. Those teachers and administrators recognized include health/physical education teachers Rhonda Williams, Kendall McMahon, Mike Kaiser and Jamie Conway; Principal Diane Metz; and Assistant Principal Nicholle Simmons. Nationally there are 13 elementary schools currently listed as an active NASPE STAR school. Both Babler and Chesterfield Elementary in the Rockwood School District are on the list.
Counselor Advocate of the YearCharlotte Ijei, pupil personnel and diversity director with the Parkway School District, recently was honored with the Counselor Advocate of the Year award presented by the St. Louis Suburban School Counselor Association (SLSSCA). Ijei received the award on Dec. 3 at the SLSSCA’s awards breakfast. Ijei’s peers nominated her for the award because of her dedication and commitment to students, parents, counselors, social workers, teachers, administrators and the Parkway community. For more than 20 years, she has been an exemplary leader for the Parkway community in the area of student support and advocacy. Ijei has invested many years making sure issues related to diversity are achieved at all levels, starting with the initiatives put forth from the Diversity and Discipline Review Committee (DDCR). Officials said Ijei started this program and has made continual, diligent and tireless efforts, particularly with the Parkway Board of Education, to make sure important diversity work continues in the district. She implemented several successful diversity training programs directed to administrators, teachers, support staff and students, such as Honoring All Voices, Social Justice and Internalized Oppression, among others.
New principal at Mason RidgeMichael Schmerold has been named principal of the Parkway School District’s Mason Ridge Elementary School, effective July 1. Schmerold has been the early childhood principal in the Wentzville School District since 2007 and was principal at West Elementary in the Wentzville School District from 2001 to 2007. Before working in Wentzville, Schmerold taught third grade in the Fort Zumwalt School District and kindergarten in the DeSoto School District. Schmerold received a bachelor’s of science in early childhood education from Southeast Missouri State University in 1993. He received a master’s in educational administration from the University of Missouri-St. Louis in 1997 and a specialist in educational administration from Lindenwood University in 2003.
History teacher recognizedRich Blackford, an eighth-grade American history teacher at Selvidge Middle School in the Rockwood School District, was recognized as the Missouri Council for the Social Studies (MCSS) Outstanding Social Studies Teacher of the Year. He was presented the award at the MCSS Annual Conference on Feb. 27 at the Lodge of the Four Seasons in the Lake of the Ozarks.
Turning trash into treasureEureka Elementary School students are on a Terracycle Drink Pouch Brigade. The school’s Girl Scout troops joined a nation-wide campaign to save drink pouches from taking up space in landfills. The collected juice pouches are recycled into unique pieces of fashion for kids and adults. The used pouches are counted weekly. The students have collected more than 100 juice pouches, but are hoping to send more to the New Jersey-based company where they will be recycled into fashion bags, tote bags and pencil cases. Terracycle pays its collectors nearly 2 cents for each piece of trash. A collection box for juice pouches is set up in the Eureka Elementary cafeteria.
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