Central High School makes Newsweek list of top schools
June 18, 2009
Newsweek magazine has named Central High School one of 1,500 outstanding high schools in the nation for 2009. Central ranks 1,254 on the list as measured by the number of Advanced Placement, International Baccalaureate and/or Cambridge tests taken by all students at the school divided by the number of graduating seniors.
“This is obviously a tremendous honor for our school to be recognized on a national level,” said Principal Ron Snodgrass. “It is a valid recognition of what is happening at Central with our IB program and the success we’ve experienced.
Springfield Public Schools is the only school district in southwest Missouri to have one of its high schools named to the list.
Central made Newsweek’s 2008 list, ranking 1,306 out of 1,500 schools.
Food services employees, past and present, to gather Saturday
June 18, 2009
Current and former employees of Springfield Public Schools nutrition services department will gather this Saturday for a reunion.
The event will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 20, at Phelps Grove Park, 950 E. Bennett St.
Attendees are encouraged to bring finger foods and desserts. Drinks will be provided. For more information or to RSVP, contact Patsy Tipton at 866-5903.
Two local teens attended Missouri Leadership Seminar
June 18, 2009
Central High School student Raleigh Cavero and Kickapoo High School student Spencer Price attended the Missouri Leadership Seminar June 5-7 at University of Central Missouri - Warrensburg.
The Missouri Leadership Seminar is a gateway program that introduces future leaders to the values of leadership, citizenship and community service. The two were among more than 150 students representing high schools throughout Missouri.
Instructors at the Missouri Leadership Seminar identify and actively engage potential leaders and help them understand their own strengths and abilities. The conference also teaches students how to use their gifts to positively influence others to serve their communities and their nation.
District attendance reaches 20-year high
June 17, 2009
Springfield Public Schools students achieved 94.48 percent attendance in 2008-2009, the best districtwide attendance rate in 20 years.
"This achievement is a wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate as a community," noted Superintendent Norm Ridder. "This record represents the hard work and commitment of our students, parents, staff and community members.
This is the second consecutive year the attendance rate has increased as SPS works toward a goal of improving districtwide attendance to 95 percent as established in its strategic plan. SPS last had 95 percent or better attendance in 1989 when it reached 95.12 percent
“Attendance matters to the schools, students, families and community," said district attendance coordinator Becky Morgan. "Studies show that school attendance is linked to school achievement. Learning builds day by day, and if a child is not in school, he or she can’t learn. It’s that simple.
Many factors contribute to the gains being made in attendance, explained Morgan. Programs like the BN SCHL campaign and requirements by the Missouri School Improvement Plan to target improved attendance are two examples.
The AlertNow instant notification system has also contributed by allowing schools to encourage attendance by promptly notifying parents about student absences and promoting student engagement.
Community involvement is another critical factor, Morgan said, noting support from Community Foundation of the Ozarks, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Division of Children's Services, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, Greene County prosecuting attorney, Kiwanis Club—Ozark Empire, North Springfield Betterment Association, Springfield Council of PTAs and United Way of the Ozarks. In addition, there are numerous businesses that offer incentives and rewards to students to promote attendance throughout the year.
Boyd receives official IB authorization
June 11, 2009
Boyd Elementary School has now received official authorization from the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO) to offer the Primary Years Programme(PYP).
Boyd has been a PYP pilot school for three years as has Field Elementary School and now both schools are authorized and meet the standards set by the IBO.
The PYP is designed for students ages 3 to 12 and focuses on the total growth of the developing child, touching hearts as well as minds and encompassing social, physical, emotional and cultural needs in addition to academic development. The program is based on research and best practice from a range of national systems with knowledge and experience from international schools to create a challenging and engaging educational framework.
After a school becomes authorized to instruct the PYP, the school's delivery of the program is evaluated by the IBO three years after authorization and then every five years. For more information about the PYP, check out the IBO Web site.
North Point Church to give Pleasant View a makeover Saturday
June 11, 2009
Hundreds of volunteers from North Point Church will give Pleasant View School a makeover as part of its monthly Second Saturday program June 13 from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
The church volunteers will be painting, cleaning and tending to the school grounds by weeding and trimming trees. They also have planned to make some improvements to the teachers' lounge.
For more information, contact Lisa Ebisch at 353-4197 or Jamie Swenka at 833-1950.
Summer school enrollment on the rise
June 11, 2009
Summer school enrollment for Springfield Public Schools is up by more than 40 students in 2009 with a total of 5,798 students in attendance.
Though higher than last year, the number of students participating in summer school is still a decline from 2007, when there were 7,307 students enrolled. New elementary courses, "Lego Engineering" and "Dinosaurs," and Artworks classes are among the most popular courses this summer
There are still openings for summer school classes at this time. To enroll you must contact the summer school site you wish to attend. To view classes offered and site information go to http://springfieldpublicschoolsmo.org/ParentsTab/SummerSchool/Index.htm.
Springfield students to participate in Missouri Scholars Academy
June 8, 2009
Seventeen Springfield Public Schools students have been selected to participate in the 2009 Missouri Scholars Academy June 7 through June 27. SPS had the largest number of students selected for the academy at University of Missouri-Columbia.
For 24 years, the Missouri Scholars Academy has been providing a unique educational experience for gifted high school students
The following students are among 338 sophomores chosen from high schools throughout Missouri.
Central High School:
Karl Bennicoff-Yundt
Martha Burton
Raleigh Cavero
Amelia Chiles
Claire Donze
Nathaniel Fairbank
Parker Hall
Stephen Hoffmeister
Lauren Kerivan
Elizabeth Marler
James McShane
Anthony Ndikum
Marc Simon
Sara Swango
Dounan Zhu
Glendale High School:
Roman Aldaiz
Tanner Caruthers
Six SPS students selected for Missouri Fine Arts Academy
June 8, 2009
Six Springfield high school students are among 190 from across the state participating in the Missouri Fine Arts Academy June 7 through June 27.
The Missouri Fine Arts Academy, a residential summer program for exceptional Missouri artists, began in 1996 and offers students the opportunity to enhance their skills in such fields as dance, visual arts, theater and music and to participate in a stimulating series of interdisciplinary and co-curricular activities
The following SPS students will attend the academy at Missouri State University
Central High School:
Erin Cameron
Elizabeth Kaatz
Aubrey Smith
Glendale High School:
Kristi Turk
Hillcrest High School:
Noah Sheets
Parkview High School:
Kacy Shelton
Counselor wins $500 scholarship from Horace Mann Insurance
June 8, 2009
Judy Johnson, counselor at Rountree and Watkins elementary schools, was awarded a $500 Educator Scholarship from Horace Mann Insurance.
Johnson is among 36 educators, selected from thousands who applied nationwide, to be awarded a scholarship from the insurance company. She was one of 20 applicants winning the one-time $500 scholarship based on their school and community activity participation and a written essay. Fifteen educators were awarded $1,000 scholarships, payable over two years, from Horace Mann Companies and one teacher was given the top scholarship of $5,000, payable over four years.
Springfield summer school classes begin June 8
June 3, 2009
Summer school classes for Springfield Public Schools students in grades kindergarten through 12 are scheduled to begin Monday, June 8. Students who have not already registered may do so on the first day of class at the summer school site where they wish to attend.
District summer school classes will be held Monday through Friday, June 8-July 2, at the following sites:
Elementary schools, 7:30 a.m. to noon
Delaware, Disney, Field, Gray, McGregor, Truman and Weaver
Middle schools, 7:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m
Carver and Study
High schools, 8 a.m. to 2:50 p.m.
Central and Parkview
Nine schools will also offer site-based summer classes open only to students enrolled at their school. They are McGregor, Portland and Robberson elementary schools, Reed Middle School and Central, Glendale, Hillcrest, Kickapoo and Parkview high schools.
SPS graduates have accepted more than $15.9 million in scholarships
June 3, 2009
About 1,644 Springfield Public Schools seniors received their diplomas May 18 and 19 during commencement ceremonies at Hammons Student Center. This year's graduates have already accepted more than $15.9 million in scholarship funds. NOTE: Scholarship totals below exclude A+ grants as students who qualify have four years to use the funds so it cannot be determined how much has been accepted at this time.
Here is the breakdown of scholarships accepted as of graduation for all SPS high schools.
Central High School
Graduated 280 students
4 valedictorians with a 5.0 grade-point average
4 National Merit Scholarship finalists
39 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma candidates
19 IB certificate candidates
24 qualified for Bright Flight Scholarships by scoring in the top 3 percent in Missouri on the ACT or SAT
103 students eligible for A+ Schools incentive grants ($656,100 available)
56 received President's Award for Educational Excellence
64 students received 158 Seals of Excellence based on performance in a particular academic department
41 received honors diplomas, graduating in the top 15 percent of their class
79 were presented with College Preparatory Certificates
72 seniors are National Honor Society members
Total scholarships accepted - more than $2.9 million
Hillcrest High School
Graduated 276 students
5 valedictorians with a 5.0 grade-point average
1 salutatorian
5 students qualified for Bright Flight Scholarships by scoring in the top 3 percent in Missouri on the ACT of SAT
63 students eligible for A+ Schools incentive grants ($401,310 available)
47 students received 114 Seals of Excellence based on performance in a particular academic department
26 received President's Award for Educational Excellence
18 were given the President's Award for Educational Achievement
45 received honors diplomas, graduating in the top 15 percent of their class
58 were presented with College Preparatory Certificates
56 seniors are National Honor Society members
Total scholarships accepted - more than $1.5 million
Glendale High School
Graduated 357 students
4 valedictorians with a 5.0 grade-point average
2 National Merit Scholarship finalists, one commended National Merit Scholar
20 qualified for Bright Flight Scholarships by scoring in the top 3 percent in Missouri on the ACT or SAT
110 students eligible for A+ Schools incentive grants ($700,700 available)
75 Students received 172 Seals of Excellence based on performance in a particular academic department
94 received President's Award for Educational Excellence
56 received honors diplomas, graduating in the top 15 percent of their class
138 were presented with College Preparatory Certificates
79 seniors were National Honor Society members
Total scholarships accepted - more than $3.5 million
Kickapoo High School
Graduated 426 students
5 valedictorians with a 5.0 grade-point average
1 commended National Merit Scholar
15 qualified for Bright Flight Scholarships by scoring in the top 3 percent in Missouri on the ACT or SAT
127 students eligible for A+ Schools incentive grants ($800,100 available)
77 Students received 146 Seals of Excellence based on performance in a particular academic department
50 received President's Award for Educational Excellence
23 received honors diplomas, graduating in the top 15 percent of their class
164 were presented with College Preparatory Certificates
83 seniors were National Honor Society members
Total scholarships accepted - more than $4.7 million
Parkview High School
Graduated 305 students
2 valedictorians with a 5.0 grade-point average
6 qualified for Bright Flight Scholarships by scoring in the top 3 percent in Missouri on the ACT or SAT
91 students eligible for A+ Schools incentive grants ($579,670 available)
75 students received 149 Seals of Excellence based on performance in a particular academic department
39 received President's Award for Educational Excellence
52 received honors diplomas, graduating in the top 15 percent of their class
69 were presented with College Preparatory Certificates
52 seniors were National Honor Society members
Total scholarships accepted - more than $3.1 million
Bailey Alternative High School
*Graduated 32 students
10 MO Option students
6 scholarships awarded
Total scholarships earned by students - $6,200
*Students are also included in graduate totals at their home schools
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