Lindbergh Link Fall 2017.pdf - Lindbergh Schools

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More than 500 seniors received diplomas as part of Lindbergh High School's 64th .... eclipse viewers, while Dressel Elem
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Lindbergh Schools Board of Education Karen Schuster President

Jennifer Miller Vice President

Mike Shamia Secretary

Dr. Mike Tsichlis

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Download the Lindbergh Mobile App Today Lindbergh’s new-and-improved mobile app is now available for download! This FREE app brings an updated look, feel and features to your smartphone or tablet, including integrated calendars, menus, news, notifications and more. Visit the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and search “Lindbergh Schools” to download the app to your device today!

Treasurer

Dr. Cathy Carlock Lorenz Director

Christy Watz Director

Matt Alonzo Director To contact the board, visit go.lindberghschools.ws/board.

Lindbergh Link is a publication of the office of Community Relations.

Our Mission: To develop competent and caring graduates through exceptional programs, services and personnel.

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY,

DRESSEL FLYERS! Approximately 650 students in grades K-5 kicked off the 2017-18 school year on Thursday, Aug. 17 in a brand new building at Dressel Elementary School. Dressel is Lindbergh’s sixth elementary school. The state-of-the-art, 99,116-square-foot building provides essential overcrowding relief districtwide, as K-12 enrollment continues to grow significantly. Over the past four years, Lindbergh’s K-12 enrollment has increased by 636 students. Enrollment for 2016-17 was 6,736, and an additional 141 students attended on the first day of the 2017-18 school year. Learn more about the new Dressel Elementary School on page 2.

Lindbergh Named One of Missouri’s Best Districts Lindbergh Schools ranks in the top 10 of all Missouri school districts for academic excellence and quality of teachers, according to Niche’s 2018 rankings. The district scored an A+ overall rating, based on Niche’s compilation of statistics and opinions from students and parents. Lindbergh’s schools also received top marks, with all K-12 buildings earning at least an A overall rating. “Year after year, Lindbergh students benefit from a continued focus on educational quality by our outstanding team of teachers, administrators, Board of Education members and parents,” said Superintendent Dr. Jim Simpson. “I am proud of our entire community and commend every single individual who has contributed toward making this district an exceptional destination for families.” Niche is a website that ranks more than 10,000 school districts nationwide, based on rigorous analysis of key statistics and millions of reviews from students and parents using data from the U.S. Department of Education. Ranking factors include state test scores, college readiness, graduation rates, SAT and ACT scores, teacher quality, public school district ratings and more. Lindbergh leads the way in Niche’s rankings of 446 Missouri school districts, including:

9TH BEST

DISTRICT 7TH BEST

TEACHERS

Lindbergh High School Honors Class of 2017 More than 500 seniors received diplomas as part of Lindbergh High School’s 64th commencement ceremony, May 30 at Chaifetz Arena. This year’s graduating class earned 632 scholarships with a monetary value of $17.4 million.

“This class is so supportive of one another, and we give so much when called upon” Issawi said, closing his speech with a quote from Robert H. Schuller. “Remember that problems are not stop signs, they are guidelines.”

Senior speakers Tessa Sottile and Rami Issawi addressed their classmates with humor and heart, noting how the Class of 2017 has come of age in the era of Snapchat and selfies, and that collectively they have served the community well during their time at Lindbergh through events such as Special Olympics.

Once again this year, LHS was ranked among America’s best high schools by U.S. News and World Report and the Washington Post – with good reason. In this year’s class, 254 students were awarded 713 scholarships, including 53 Missouri Bright Flight Scholarships; 23 athletic scholarships; and six music, theatre and arts scholarships. Thirty-seven percent of graduates were A+ Scholarship candidates.

“Wherever you end up next year, I guarantee you will be a little more … or a lot more … independent than you are now,” Sottile said. “So let’s give it up to the best parents a class could ever ask for, and thank you also to Lindbergh and all of your faculty, for your undying dedication to us.”

Class of 2017: By the Numbers 

16TH BEST

PLACE TO TEACH



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LINDBERGH LINK • www.lindberghschools.ws

The Class of 2017 also included six National Merit Finalists, six National Merit Semifinalists, seven National Merit Commended Students and 18 International Baccalaureate Diploma candidates.

Graduates: 504 Graduates attending college: 456  Four-year colleges: 302  Two-year colleges: 154 Employment: 21 Schools of advanced training: 6 Military service: 9

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WELCOME TO DRESSEL! Approximately 650 students in grades K-5 kicked off the 2017-18 school year in a brand new building at Dressel Elementary School. Dressel is Lindbergh’s sixth elementary school. The state-of-the-art, 99,116-square-foot building provides essential overcrowding relief districtwide, as Lindbergh’s enrollment continues to grow significantly. Over the past four years, K-12 enrollment has increased by 636 students. Enrollment for 2016-17 was 6,736, and an additional 141 students attended on the first day of the 2017-18 school year. “We have had an excellent start to the new school year,” said principal Dr. Craig Hamby. “Our students are excited, our teachers are energized and our community is ready to support all of our new Dressel Flyers.” Dressel’s features include:  Individual classroom wings for each grade level  21st century modern, student-centered library  Two STEM classrooms to enhance student learning and exploration  Secure front entrance  Three FEMA grade tornado shelters that double as multipurpose meeting rooms  Accessible, modern playground  Energy-efficient LED lighting, mechanical system and light-reflecting roof surface to reduce cooling costs  Competition size gym  New main entrance on Tesson Ferry Road, with secondary access from Musick Avenue

Dressel Elementary School opened its doors to approximately 650 students on Thursday, Aug. 17 for the first day of school. Dressel is Lindbergh’s sixth elementary school.

Dressel was funded as part of Prop G, a $34 million bond issue voters approved in April 2014. The building is named for John Martin Dressel, who was the first president of the Lindbergh Schools Board of Education. “Opening a brand new school is a team effort that involves may components,” said Superintendent Dr. Jim Simpson. “Dressel has had a great start to the school year, and we look forward to serving students here for years to come.”

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Students in Leanne Gregston’s first-grade classroom pose for a picture on the first day of school. Dressel Elementary School features individual classroom wings for each grade level.

FALL 2017

Megan Vallis Named Missouri Teacher of the Year Finalist Truman Middle School library media specialist Megan Vallis is one of six finalists for the Missouri Teacher of the Year award. School districts throughout the state submitted nominations for the award, and finalists were chosen by a committee appointed by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The finalists were selected from among 32 regional teachers of the year. Vallis began her career teaching second grade at Crestwood Elementary School for seven years and is now entering her third year at Truman. She is an innovative educator who has transformed the library into a learning space that utilizes cuttingedge technology and provides a welcome, inclusive gathering space for students in a variety of grades, reading levels and interest groups. “Believe it or not, I did not like to read when I was in middle or high school. It wasn’t cool,” Vallis says. “I wanted to change that for Truman, and that was my mission. When I became library media specialist in 2015, my goal was to make the library – a stereotypical, quiet, boring, stale place – into a fun, energetic, sometimes loud space that students would want to come to, not have to come to.” Vallis has achieved her goal. Library checkouts have increased by more than 4,000 books a year, and the number of students who read for pleasure has increased dramatically. In addition, Vallis constantly looks for ways to share technology and professional development with her fellow teach-

ers. Whether she is stepping in to teach an English class, developing reading curriculum for Flyer Time classes, or providing guidance for teachers about how to grade research assignments, Vallis’ colleagues appreciate her knowledge of good instruction and enthusiasm to share resources so that all students can succeed. “The Truman library serves as the core for literacy and learning, and Mrs. Vallis has continued to have a positive impact on the entire school community,” said principal Dr. Mike Straatmann. “She is such a great resource for students as well as teachers, and has developed the library into a positive, fun and enjoyable place to learn. She has an amazing ability to develop meaningful relationships with all members of the school community.” This summer, Vallis launched a science, technology, engineering, art and math camp for middle school students to encourage imagination, creativity and innovation through the design and construction of physical objects. During the school year, Vallis invites students to stop by the library before school each month and check out apps like Geometry Dash, Color Switch and Doughnut Day, during “Appy Hour,” a program she created to engage students in technology and bring them together in a fun environment. She has created clubs for struggling readers, finding interesting books and magazines for students who might not otherwise have an interest in reading.

Students Experience Total Solar Eclipse Students had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the total solar eclipse on Monday, Aug. 21. All of Lindbergh’s schools were located in the path of totality, making them ideal places to experience this awesome celestial event. Each school planned a full day of learning around the eclipse. At Lindbergh High School, students used note cards and hole punches to create eclipse viewers, while Dressel Elementary School students recorded their thoughts and memories in journal entries throughout the day. The main event kicked off at 1:17 p.m., with the moon fully eclipsing the sun for 100 seconds. In addition to the visual spectacle, students noticed a 10-15 degree drop in temperature, as well as changes in animal behavior and crescent-shaped shadows racing across the ground.

LINDBERGH LINK • www.lindberghschools.ws

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