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Central High School named one of America’s best high schools by Newsweek
June 17, 2010
For the third consecutive year, Newsweek magazine has named Central High School to its 2010 America’s Best High Schools list.
Central ranks 1,552 among more than 1,600 high schools 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. Central was one of 13 high schools in Missouri included on the list.
Central made Newsweek’s 2008 list, ranking 1,306 and the 2009 list ranking 1,254, both years out of 1,500 schools.
In the fall, Central received a Silver Medal from U.S. News and World Report’s survey of the nation’s best high schools. It was the third year in a row that Central has been recognized by the magazine as one of the nation's top high schools. Only six high schools in the state to earn a Silver Medal designation, and Central was the only Silver Medal school outside of the Kansas City and St. Louis metropolitan areas to earn a Silver.
Springfield Public Schools Hall of Fame nomination deadline June 22
June 17, 2010
The nomination deadline for the first class of inductees to the Springfield Public Schools Hall of Fame is Tuesday, June 22.
The SPS Hall of Fame honors graduates who have earned exceptional achievements or distinguished themselves through their careers or public service.
Hall of Fame inductees will be honored in October at a ceremony and featured in that month’s issue of 417 Magazine, a presenting sponsor of the event. Inductees will also be recognized with a plaque displayed at the school (elementary, middle, or high school) of their choice.
To be considered, Hall of Fame nominees must have attended an SPS school for at least four years and have graduated from an SPS high school at least 10 years ago. Candidates must also meet eligibility requirements and guidelines.
Nominations for SPS Hall of Fame can be submitted online via 417 Magazine. A nomination form may also be printed and submitted via mail to: Kraft Administrative Center, Hall of Fame, 940 N. Jefferson Ave, Springfield MO 65802. Nominations must be received by June 22.
A selection committee comprised of community members and the superintendent will review the qualified nominations and select the Hall of Fame inductees.
Hillcrest's Dorial Green-Beckham named MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year
June 17, 2010
Hillcrest High School’s Dorial Green-Beckham has been named the 2009-2010 MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year. MaxPreps, a nationally renowned recruiting service affiliated with CBS Sports, will present the award to Green-Beckham on Tuesday, June 22, at 3 p.m. in the new science wing at Hillcrest High School.
As a sophomore, Green-Beckham excelled in three sports. Part of Hillcrest’s state championship basketball team, he was named Missouri’s Class 5 MVP, averaging 18.7 points and 8.4 rebounds per game. In the state track and field finals, Green-Beckham earned titles in the 100-meter dash and the triple jump and a second-place finish in the long jump.
His performance on the football field has earned Green-Beckham the attention of colleges across the country. Scouts and recruiters consider him the top recruit of the class of 2012. Last season, he hauled in 66 passes for 1,616 yards and 23 touchdowns, leading Hillcrest to postseason play for the first time since 2003.
PHS to host ‘Rage the Stage’ contest
June 10, 2010
Parkview High School will host “Rage the Stage” battle of the bands contest June 19, at 2 p.m. in the school gymnasium, 516 W. Meadowmere St.
The event is to raise funds for the Parkview Theater and has been organized by the theater booster club parents to purchase much needed sound and lighting equipment.
This concert is open to the public. Springfield Music Company, the event’s platinum sponsor, is donating sound equipment for the event and almost $2,000 in prizes to the winning band. Some of the prizes include an Epiphone guitar, drum heads and a professional photo shoot.
For more information contact Kevin Cassil at music@cassils.com, or visit Rage the Stage Battle of the Bands 2010’s website, www.ragethestage.com.
North Point Church to give Williams Elementary a makeover
June 10, 2010
Several hundred volunteers from North Point Church in north Springfield will provide an extreme makeover to Williams Elementary School beginning at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 12, at the 2205 W. Kearney St. school.
The church volunteers will paint classrooms and playground equipment along with other improvements. They will work until around 12 p.m.
Run and community fair is set for June 12
June 8, 2010
Springfield Public Schools will host the first Support SPS Run & Community Fair on Saturday, June 12, at JFK Stadium on the Parkview High School campus. The morning will start at 8:30 a.m. with a 5K race, which is open to walkers and runners. A pancake breakfast, courtesy of Parkview Christian Church, will follow the race.
A free community fair will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The community fair will feature nearly 100 businesses and non-profits handing out information, providing resources, and distributing giveaways. Jump Mania will provide inflatable attractions for the kids; local restaurants will offer free food; the Tooth Truck and Louie from Springfield Cardinals will be on site; and local police and fire departments will bring vehicles to tour.
KSPR news anchors Joe and Christine Daues will host the event, which will feature music by Nick, Ruell & Ned the Band, Supercharge and SPS student groups.
A raffle drawing for a trip to Orlando and tickets to Disney World will be held at 2 p.m. Tickets may be purchased the day of the event for $5 each or three for $10.
Registration information for the 5K run/walk is available at www.springfieldpublicschoolsmo.org.
Field student won National Award of Merit
June 8, 2010
Anna Fredrick, student at Field Elementary School, won the National Award of Merit in the 2009-2010 PTA Reflections Program.
This year’s Reflections theme was “Beauty is…” Fredrick won the award for her entry in the intermediate division in dance choreography for her work titled “What Kind of World Do You Want.” She was among 50 entries in her division submitted by third-, fourth- and fifth-graders from across the nation.
Winners of the National Award of Merit receive a silver-plated Reflections medallion, a certificate and letter signed by the National PTA president and recognition in the annual PTA Reflections online gallery.
The PTA Reflections Program enhances quality arts education for students in preschool through grade 12, encouraging them to create works of art in the areas of dance choreography, film production, literature, musical composition, photography, and the visual arts.
SPS students to have exhibits at First Friday Art Walk June 4
June 3, 2010
Field Elementary School students and middle school students in the WINGS program at Phelps Center for Gifted Education will have art featured Friday, June 4, in downtown Springfield as part of First Friday Art Walk.
Field fifth-grade students will present a photography exhibit created by students during a Primary Years Program photography unit of study. Photos taken by three fifth-grade classes will be on display at Hero’s Coffee, located at the southwest corner of Chestnut Expressway and National Ave.
WINGS middle school students choosing the “Expedition: Africa” major unit, had the privilege of learning from two Nigerian artists last fall, the Ambassador of Fine Arts from Nigeria, Ibiyinka Alao and modern artist Asiru Olatunde. Students created both art and writings inspired by the works of these two well-known Nigerian artists.
Select pieces from WINGS students will be on display at the Randy Bacon Gallery in the Monarch Art Factory, 600 W. College St., on June 4.
SPS administrative offices adopt new summer schedule
June 3, 2010
As a cost-saving measure, this summer Springfield Public Schools administrative offices will be closed Fridays from June 7 through Aug. 6. Offices will be open to the public from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Employees will work four, 10-hour days.
Buildings operating on this schedule include Kraft Administrative Center, General Services Center, Special Education, Tefft Center and Doling Building. School sites will be open five days a week. All district offices will be closed Monday, July 5, in observance of Independence Day.
At the end of June, SPS will relocate Kraft Administrative Center to 1359 E. St. Louis St. The school district purchased the former KSPR building in 2009 because the current administration building, located at 940 N. Jefferson Ave., is in need of costly repairs, including upgrades to the electrical, heating and cooling systems.
Patrons who have business at Kraft Administrative Center after June 21 should call 523-0000 in advance to confirm whether to visit the old or new location.
Free breakfast and lunch for kids during the summer
June 3, 2010
Springfield children under the age of 18 can get a nutritious breakfast and lunch for free at several Springfield schools with the Summer Food Service Program. Breakfast and lunch are available at the following school sites from June 7 through July 2. All children under the age of 18 can participate. Students should be accompanied by an adult. The schedule and locations for the SFSP is as follows:
School |
Breakfast |
Lunch |
Study |
7:15-7:45 |
10:45-12:15 |
Weaver |
7:00-7:45 |
10:45-12:00 |
McGregor |
7:00-8:00 |
11:00-12:30 |
Cowden |
7:00-8:00 |
11:00-12:00 |
Delaware |
7:00-7:45 |
10:45-12:00 |
Pipkin |
7:30-8:00 |
11:00-12:00 |
Portland |
7:00-7:30 |
11:00-12:00 |
An extended program at Kickapoo and Central is also available to students during the June 7 – July 2 window. Students qualifying for free and reduced lunch during the school year will qualify for free and reduced lunch prices at the extended program sites; students who pay full price during the year will pay full price at the extended sites as well. Breakfast is served from 7:30-8 a.m. and lunch from 11-11:30 p.m. at the extended program sites.
SFSP is also open to eligible disabled adults over 18. Eligible disabled adults are those who are determined by a state educational agency or a local public educational agency of a state to be mentally or physically handicapped and who participate in a public or non-profit private school program established for the mentally or physically handicapped.
Kickapoo theatre students selected to perform at ‘Fringe Festival’ in Scotland
June 3, 2010
Kickapoo High School theatre department has been selected to perform at the world’s largest arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in 2011.
Kickapoo's drama program was selected to perform at the festival by the American High School Theatre Festival to represent the United States among over 1,800 performances of music, theater, dance and comedy. Schools are nominated by state, regional and national theater organizations and university theater professors. Schools are selected based on recent bodies of work, awards, community involvement, philosophies and recommendations.
Central High School’s drama department has also been selected for this honor and will also be performing at the Fringe Festival in August 2011.
Parkview student won car for excellent attendance
June 3, 2010
Parkview High School junior, Haley Griggs, won a 2010 Kia Forte May 27.
The car is reward for good attendance generously donated by Youngblood Nissan-Chrysler-Kia, and was given away in a drawing. Springfield Public Schools Superintendent, Norm Ridder, drew the winning name from 25 semi-finalists who were selected from drawings at each of the high schools.
To be eligible to win, students had to maintain at least 95 percent attendance for the school year. Students with perfect attendance received two tickets to enter into the drawing.
JUNE 2 IS LAST DAY OF SCHOOL
June 1, 2010
The 2009-2010 school year will end Wednesday, June 2. Students will be released two hours early. The first day of school for 2010-2011 is Tuesday, Aug. 24. View the 2010-2011 school calendar.
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