West Newsmagazine 11-1-23

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26 I SCHOOLS I November 1, 2023 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE @WESTNEWSMAG WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM The Merchants of Chesterfield Grove Market Mary Tuttle’s ~ Chesterfield Jewelers Amelia’s Fine Linens ~ F45 Invite you to our annual Holiday Open House Saturday, November 11 | 12 - 4 pm Meet Santa 12-4 pm Meet Jingles the Reindeer 12-4 pm Refreshments Bring a non-perishable food item or donation and receive 20% off one item at participating retailers as well as be entered into the Grand Prize Drawing. Some exclusions apply, see store for details. 17021 Baxter Road Chesterfield 63005 636.728.0480 www.marytuttles.com Parkway Central High students wait for their “buddies” from other schools attending the Special Olympics soccer tournament on Oct. 23. (Source: PSD) BULLETIN BOARD Students’ work exhibited in statewide book trailer contest The work of LaSalle Springs Middle students Hailey Davenport and David McAdams is available to a statewide audience of book lovers after the two students won a Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) book trailer contest. Book trailers provide an engaging 30 to 90 second video about a book to engage potential readers. Hailey, a LaSalle Springs seventh-grader, is one of 10 students from around the state whose work was chosen to feature Mark Twain Award books. David, who moved overseas with his family before the school year, is one of 12 students chosen to promote Truman Award books. Both students completed their projects as sixth-graders last year when LaSalle Springs librarian Leslie Thompson invited interested student volunteers to work on their book trailers during Academic Lab time. Students read the books, watched the previous year’s winning book trailers for inspiration and worked with instructional technology specialist Dana Stiebel to learn the basics about the WeVideo production platform. After that, the students ran with their projects. “Every month, I send out book trailers to language arts teachers to share with their students, and it’s funny because those are the books that kids come in and ask for. With AcLab expanded to five days a week this year, Thompson is hoping to increase her students’ interest in entering MASL contests. Soccer and service bring Parkway students together Parkway Central High hosted its 6th annual school-wide Day of Service and Special Olympics event, a soccer tournament, on Oct. 23. On the Day of Service, all four grade levels participated: seniors and juniors hosted the Special Olympics soccer tournament and carnival for over 300 visiting studentathletes; sophomores volunteered at various off-site locations within the broader community; and freshmen participated in on campus service learning activities with multiple nonprofit organizations from the area. The sophomore class performed different service projects in the community, said Sarah Reeves, math instructor and Student Council sponsor. Some of the Academic Labs helped at the Parkway Food Pantry or beautified the campus at Central Middle. Classes also traveled to elementary feeder schools to read to and mentor first grade classes for the day. Some students traveled to Beaumont Scout Reservation and Ebsworth Park to clean, pull honeysuckle, and beautify different areas of the park. Other non profit organizations students worked with included Mission: St. Louis to help shop for teenagers in its Affordable Christmas program and KidSmart to prepare school supply packs for local children. For over 30 years, Central High has hosted a Special Olympics soccer tournament and carnival, which had grown to one of the largest Special Olympics events in the area, said Head Principal Tim McCarthy. Annually, hundreds of Central High students volunteered during the school day to support that event. Prior to 2016, Parkway added caring to the district’s mission. With that, student and teacher leaders at PCH took the opportunity to extend the opportunity to be of service from many students to all students, “Last Monday, all 1,200-plus Central High students were able to experience more deeply what it means to be of service, to care more deeply about others and their broader community,” McCarthy said. “In addition to our students being capable, curious and confident learners, we also want them to be caring human beings. Central High’s school-wide
FACEBOOK.COM/WESTNEWSMAGAZINE WESTNEWSMAGAZINE.COM November 1, 2023 WEST NEWSMAGAZINE I SCHOOLS I 27 Day of Service is an opportunity for all of us, students and staff, to live that ideal.” with an education. Meet Valley Park High’s new student advisory team Valley Park High School has a new student leadership group – the Student Advisory Team (SAT). The SAT will represent their peers and convey their thoughts on issues to the Valley Park School District’s Board of Education, the superintendent, and building leaders. Students’ new roles will help develop critical thinking, problem solving, leadership and communication skills as well as encourage student engagement, advocacy and civic engagement, said Superintendent Tim Dilg. Students recently applied, interviewed and were chosen to be a part of the inaugural SAT. They were sworn in at the October Board of Education meeting. The team has eight members that represent all four grades at the high school. The group will also have certain tasks that include regular monthly meetings with administration, a representative each month who will sit with board members at open meetings of the board of education and a monthly podcast with the superintendent celebrating district (student) achievements, interviewing students and staff and updating the community about district programming and events. “The benefits to our students when introducing a program like this are public recognition at district-level events, resume building and building a connection with the administration, the board of education and our community. It strengthens communication and leadership skills, improves interpersonal skills, increases civic engagement and provides a student voice in decision making,” Dilg said. Operation Christmas Child provides shoeboxes of hope As families begin preparing for the holiday season, Samaritan’s Purse is asking that they not forget those who have so little that even a shoebox can hold a happy Christmas. Operation Christmas Child, now in its 30th year, has delivered more than 209 million gift-filled shoeboxes to children in more than 170 countries and territories in the last three decades. This year they hope to collect enough shoeboxes to reach another 11 million children. Inside those boxes though, aren’t just fun toys and personal care items, but tools to make a better life, pencils, crayons and notebooks which help provide children “Families in your neighborhood are SCHEDULE YOUR WINTER SERVICE NOW! Visit SNPartners.com/service to schedule now for FREE PICK UP AND DELIVERY.* Valid on Mowers, Gators, 1-5 Series Compact Tractors Valley Park High’s SAT members with Superintendent Tim Dilg (Source: VPSD) already transforming empty shoeboxes into gifts of hope …” said Lizette Miller of Samaritan’s Purse. “Operation Christmas Child will deliver the gift-filled shoeboxes to children to boys and girls in need.” Filling the boxes personally can become a Christmas tradition for families, churches and civic groups. Boxes also can be filled online with gifts matched to a child’s specific age and gender. Then finish packing the virtual shoebox by adding a photo and personal note of encouragement. Another option is to make a $10 donation for each box you would like to send online and receive a tracking label to discover its destination. “Operation Christmas Child seeks to demonstrate God’s love in a tangible way to children in need around the world, and together with the local church worldwide, share the Good News of Jesus Christ,” Miller said. National Collection Week is Nov. 13-20. The following local churches are collection points for shoeboxes: Central Baptist in Eureka, First Evengelical Free Church in Manchester, Fellowship of Wildwood in Glencoe, Parkway Baptist Church in Creve Coeur and West Hills Church in Town & Country. For more information about the program visit the Samaritan’s Purse website or Google Samaritan’s Purse Operation Christmas Child. Prescription glasses starting at $95, plus sunglasses and contacts, too NOW OPEN AT TOWN & COUNTRY CROSSING Offer valid on John Deere 1-5 Series Compact Utility Tractors, Mowers and Gators. Free pickup and delivery within 30 miles of an SNPartners location and must be scheduled by 12/30/23. Some exclusions apply. See dealer for details ST. CHARLES, MO DUTZOW, MO 3575 Veterans Memorial Pkwy | 636-493-0288 14400 State Highway TT | 636-433-2256 SNPartners.com SYDENSTRICKER NOBBE
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Page 11 and 12: PROUDLY SERVING OUR COMMUNITIES SIN
Page 19 and 20: THE POWER OF PURPOSE M1 BANK RANKED
Page 21 and 22: Mari de Villa SENIOR LIVING Serving
Page 23 and 24: Veterans Day Thanks to all members
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Page 39 and 40: Live Thankfully At Friendship Villa
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West Newsmagazine 11-1-23

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