News & Headlines

  •  SDNEA Awards Mini-Grants, Scholarships at BOE Meeting

    SDNEA Awards Mini-Grants, Scholarships at BOE Meeting

    May 25, 2023 - Special District National Education Association (SDNEA) presented its annual round of student scholarships and teacher mini-grants at the SSD Board of Education meeting on May 23, 2023. Funding these projects has been part of the organization’s mission for many years and demonstrates its support of extraordinary teaching and learning among SSD’s population.

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  • Board Brief

    Board Brief - May 23, 2023

    May 24, 2023 - The Board Brief is a review of actions taken by the SSD Board of Education during the May 23, 2023 meeting. It is one more way SSD is working to be transparent and improve communication, helping keep our community informed. Agenda items are linked, where applicable, to the meeting items on BoardDocs. Official meeting minutes will be posted on BoardDocs.

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  •  Diamond Lewis, 7th grader at Rockwood South Middle School, poses in the library.

    Diamond Lewis HMH Award Winner

    May 18, 2023 - Diamond Lewis, 7th grader at Rockwood South Middle School, is a Houghton Mifflin Harcourt (HMH) 2022 Student Award Winner. Nominated by her teacher, Helen Allinder, the award is given to students who have overcome learning challenges and experience growing success every day.

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  •  Neuwoehner student Evelyn Bret holds up her Character Captured Award certificate.

    Students Awarded for Exhibiting Excellent Character

    May 15, 2023 - Students and staff at Neuwoehner High School rallied together to celebrate the success of service-learning projects and Character Captured Award recipients in May. During the ceremony, eight students and four projects from each learning community were acknowledged.

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  • Ackerman students transplant flower and vegetable starts in the school's garden.

    Students Excel in Culinary Arts and Gardening

    May 12, 2023 - As the weather gets warmer and the grass gets greener, students and staff at Ackerman School anxiously await restarting the seasonal culinary arts and gardening programs. 

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  •  SSD Partnership Highlight: Schnucks

    Partnership Highlight: Schnucks

    May 11, 2023 - There is a lot that happens in a grocery store. Keeping items on the shelf is only part of the equation. Items must be turned to face forward, stocked by date, removed if expired, and placed in the correct spot. These are just a few of the tasks required to make sure grocery items get from the store to your home, and at Schnucks in Des Peres, SSD students are completing them.

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  •   Miles Miller, 8th grader at Valley Park Middle School, works on a classroom assignment at his desk

    Hancock Place Students End School Year with Improved Grades and Behavior 

    May 10, 2023 - Be ready. Be responsible. Be respectful. These expectations are known as the three R’s at Hancock Place Middle School, and students in Special Education Teacher Amy Bortle’s class have been working to excel in these areas since the beginning of the academic school year. 

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  • Mario Holmes smiles at the camera in the hallway of Valley Park Middle School

    Mario Holmes Making High Achievements in STEM

    May 9, 2023 - Mario Holmes is not even in high school yet, but he is earning accolades left and right as an eighth grade student at Valley Park Middle School. He is a 2021-22 National Junior Honor Society member, was selected as student of the month in October 2022, and is also one of 16 students who was chosen to participate in the BrightPath STEAM Academy program at Washington University in St. Louis.

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  •  Special Election Subdistrict 1 Candidates

    Candidates for Special Board of Education Election for Subdistrict 1

    May 8, 2023 - The Governing Council will hold a special election for the open Board of Education seat in Subdistrict 1, which represents Hazelwood, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, and Jennings school districts. The Governing Council, which elects the Special School District (SSD) Board of Education, was not able to elect a candidate for Subdistrict 1 at the March 6 meeting and declared an impasse due to lack of a quorum. According to bylaws, the Governing Council must hold a new election for the open seat at the next scheduled Governing Council meeting. Candidate filing was open from April 3, 2023, through April 28, 2023. Three candidates submitted applications and will be voted upon during the Governing Council meeting on June 5, 2023: Stephanie Boykin, Curtis Faulkner (incumbent), and Carmen A. Stayton. - The Governing Council will hold a special election on June 5, 2023, for the open Board of Education seat in Subdistrict 1, representing Hazelwood, Maplewood-Richmond Heights, and Jennings school districts.

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  •  Litzsinger student and teacher blow bubbles for the annual Talent Show.

    Litzsinger Spring Program and Art Walk

    May 8, 2023 - Litzsinger students put in weeks of dedication, strong work ethic, creativity, and patience in preparation for the annual Spring Program and Art Walk. The special day is led by Music Teacher Kyle Spies and Art Teacher Stephanie McCoy.

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  •  South Tech carpentry student and Matt Westhoff, instructor, shake hands during Signing Day.

    South Tech Carpentry Signing Day 

    May 3, 2023 - Seven students in the Carpentry Program at South Tech were celebrated during the school’s annual Construction Signing Day. Seniors Gavin Beaudreau, Jacob Borst, Reece Doza, Zander Estrella, Tim Fisher, Collin ORourke, and Aniyah Williamson committed to working for companies such as Builder’s Bloc, CCS, PARIC, and Doza Painting immediately following graduation. 

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  •  Special Olympics athlete gets first place in sporting event.

    Webster Groves Presented Special Olympics Certificate of Appreciation

    May 1, 2023 - Webster Groves High School is one of 13 districts who hosted a Special Olympics Track & Field Meet this spring. During the event in April, students competed in relay races, shot put, 200 meter dash, and long jump. 

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  •  Student Survey Feedback Wanted

    SSD Student Surveys 2023

    April 27, 2023 - In collaboration with Panorama Education, SSD students in grades 3-12 are invited to share their voices through two surveys, a climate survey and a social-emotional learning (SEL) survey. The surveys will be given during the fall and spring of the 2022-23 school year, with the spring survey window being May 1-19. The surveys will be administered electronically, but PDF versions can be previewed on SSD’s website.

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  •  8th grader Falynn Taylor sang a song in Korean called “We Are” from the TV show Straw Hat Pirate.

    Talent Show Boost Student Confidence

    April 26, 2023 - Students put on a show stopping performance at the annual Ackerman Talent Show. There were nearly 25 acts that ranged from signing, dancing, joke telling, drawing, football skills, and even video games. 

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  •  Northview Teacher holds up a sign that says "Thank You" to First Responders.

    Northview Celebrates First Responders

    April 26, 2023 - Police officers, firefighters, and EMTs were shown lots of love and support during Northview High School’s fourth annual First Responders Day. Students and staff kicked off the day of celebration with a parade. First responders drove around the school with flashing lights while students and staff held up thank you signs and shouted out words of appreciation. 

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  •  Deedra Sagerty Announced as Chief Operating Officer

    Deedra Sagerty Announced as Chief Operating Officer

    April 26, 2023 - During the April 25, 2023 Board of Education meeting, Deedra Sagerty was approved as the Chief Operating Officer for Special School District. Sagerty will begin in the position starting July 1, filling the position following Dr. Jeff Haug. Haug was recently announced as the new superintendent of Mehlville School District. 

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  •  A Northview teacher helps a student using her device during the Career Walk.

    Students Learn About Transitioning from High School to Workforce 

    April 24, 2023 - Northview High School held its very first Career Day in April. The all-day event began with students exploring a variety of career opportunities in the fields of transportation, cosmetology, culinary, health care, and more. 

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  •  Under the Sea Fashion Show Held at Ackerman

    Under the Sea Fashion Show Held at Ackerman

    April 21, 2023 - Over 40 Ackerman students put on their best smiles and made their way down the runway for the Under the Sea themed All About Me Fashion Show. The gym overflowed with students' families and nearly 200 decorative balloons.

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  •  Early childhood students dig in the dirt at the sensory garden.

    Ritenour Sensory Garden Builds Community

    April 14, 2023 - Students at Ritenour School for Early Childhood Education are creating something meaningful as a school community, a sensory garden. From the first day of school until the first frost and in the spring, students weed, harvest, water, and grow a variety of  flowers, herbs, and vegetables.

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  •  Aaron Sims smiles next to Louie, St. Louis Blues mascot.

    SEF Awards Parkway Student Aaron Sims

    April 13, 2023 - Aaron Sims is one step closer to achieving his dream after he was selected to receive a $5,000 John Cary Scholarship from the Special Education Foundation (SEF). Before taking on the role as a family man, Sims next stop is Brigham Young University in Idaho.

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