Battle of the Burets, Bulletin Board

Battle of the Burets

Villa Duchesne seniors Rachel Arnold and Mary Hogan teamed up to place first in the Battle of the Burets.

A buret is a graduated glass tube, and the contest challenges teams of high school chemistry students to determine within six minutes the normality of an unknown acid solution. Speed and accuracy are critical to win the annual event, sponsored by the St. Louis section of the American Chemical Society. Villa Duchesne in February competed against 20 other high school teams for the first-place trophy.

 

Storm chaser shares stories

Severe storm researcher Tim Samaras recently visited Rossman third- through sixth-grade students to share dramatic tales and footage from his adventures, as well as bits of scientific insight gained along the way.

For more than 20 years, Samaras has been following his passion of chasing storms to better understand and predict their path.

Highlights of the assembly, which was presented in association with National Geographic Live, included Samaras’ accounts of chasing the rain-cloaked EF4 tornado that tore through St. Louis’ Lambert Field in April 2011 and the multiple-vortex EF5 tornado that devastated Joplin, Mo., the following month. Students also were captivated by stories and footage of Samaras’ use of HITPR probes to collect measurements from inside tornados.

In addition, Samaras shared footage of lightning strikes taken by the world’s fastest high-resolution camera, allowing students a rare opportunity to see lightning caught in the act.

 

Shoe-Per-Bowl success

More than 3,000 pounds of shoes (enough to purchase a well) were collected during the fourth annual Shoe-Per-Bowl, held in February inside Living Word Church.

Sixth- through 12th-graders gathered, sorted and packaged numerous types of footwear.  The reason for the collection was to give the items to George “The Shoeman” Hutchings, to be exported and resold to oversees retailers. The money from the shoes provides well drilling rigs, water purification systems and hand pump repair micro businesses bringing clean, freshwater to those who thirst.

 

Distinguished finalist

Marquette High junior August Clark was named a distinguished finalist in the Prudential Spirit of Community Award Program. Clark received the recognition after raising more than $11,000 to support the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society through the charity’s annual Light Up the Night Walk.

In order to raise money for the organization, Clark sold T-shirts and wristbands, created an online fundraising page and recruited 51 walkers to join him on his team. He received a bronze medallion from Prudential through its Spirit of Community Award Program.

Anne Kraus, school counselor and Key Club sponsor, described Clark as a wonderful recipient of this award.

 

Excellence in science

Anna Lindstrom received the Distinguished Achievement Award for Excellence in Science at a banquet hosted by the University of Missouri-St. Louis. She was recognized for academic excellence in the classroom as well as scientific pursuits outside of the classroom.

 

Hosting auditions

Rockwood’s Spotlight Productions is hosting auditions for its 2013 summer production of “The Little Mermaid Jr.” on Saturday, April 20, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on Sunday, April 21, from 2 p.m. at Selvidge Middle.

It is looking for more than 50 cast members ages 6-18 to play the Disney characters.

“We are really thrilled about the large number of actors that we are planning on casting in ‘The Little Mermaid Jr.’ production this summer,” said David Kozinski, production manager of Rockwood Community Education-Spotlight Productions. “This will allow younger kids that have no or limited experience in theater participate in a really fun and positive atmosphere and get to work with more experienced theater members.”

Rehearsals will begin June 3 and will primarily take place from 2-5 p.m. Auditions are by appointment only and can be scheduled online at rockwood.k12.mo.us/spotlightproductions/pages/audition%20information.aspx.

 

Meritorious budget

The Rockwood School District earned the Meritorious Budget Award from the Association of School Business Officials International for its 2012-2013 annual budget. This is the 13th year for Rockwood to receive this award, which confirms the district’s high standards of school budgeting.

In ASBO’s report, Rockwood is complimented for its preparation of an exceptional, reader-friendly document that provides information for taxpayers to understand the district’s budgeting process. Superintendent Bruce Borchers, Ph.D., said rigorous criteria must be met in order to receive this award.

 

‘History to Our Ears’

The Westminster Christian Academy Jazz Band recently applied for and was accepted to perform in the Missouri History Museum’s “History To Our Ears” recital.

On March 13, the six young musicians – Michael Becker, Danny Dwyer, Patrick Farmer, Justin Henry, Dongbin Lee, and Christian McGhee – will take the stage at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.

From classical to jazz, the evening’s performances will reflect the diversity of Missouri and the strength of its young musicians. 
As part of the application process, musicians were required to identify a connection between history and their musical selection.

The Westminster ensemble will perform “Pass the Peas” by Maceo Parker of James Brown’s band, which had a significant impact on the 1960s civil rights movement through performances that were designed to ease tensions and address race issues.

Because the event celebrates the power of community, musicians also needed to provide a brief statement of their collaborative process in working together to prepare their performance, demonstrating their reflection on the challenges and opportunities of teamwork.

Westminster’s musicians noted that listening is the most essential skill in performing with a musical group. They say in their statement: “In order for the group to play well, [each musician must] execute [his] individual part while listening closely to the other parts to see if [all parts are] completely in sync and blending well. When you listen in this way while playing music it’s like all the instruments come together to form one large instrument.”

 

 

Teachers of the year

The Parkway School District has selected its 2013 elementary, middle, high school and district teachers of the year.  Sam Skibbe, music teacher at Craig Elementary, was named the 2013 Elementary and District Teacher of the Year for Parkway. Skibbe has been with Parkway and teaching at Craig Elementary for two years.

“What sets Sam apart is how clear he makes it to everyone that he dreams of providing opportunities for all students to grow musically and that he truly believes that all of his students can grow with him,” said Bill Senti, Craig Elementary principal.

Skibbe will go on to represent the district in the Missouri Teacher of the Year recognition program.

Carrie Shaughnessy, an English language arts teacher at Northeast Middle, is the Middle School Teacher of the Year, and Jill Morey, ESOL teacher at North High, is the High School Teacher of the Year.

A committee comprised of former Parkway teachers of the year selects the teachers of the year.