Category: District

Pattonville Heights Middle School students in sixth grade English language arts classes were invited to a “book tasting” last week to introduce them to different reading genres.

The teachers — Chelsea Bowles and Emily Weber along with teacher librarian Julie Harder — provided a fun and engaging way for students to explore new books.

The students rotated tables to explore a variety of genres before getting the opportunity to check out a book. 

“They were able to choose where they started by filling out a reservation form last week for the genre they most wanted to look at,” Bowles said. “We didn't let them choose the second table because we wanted them to at least look at books that they may not look at normally.”

Category: District

Senior Ashley Shaw pulled up the drink orders that were placed online this morning and senior Qua’Shaun Lawson removed the “Sorry, We’re Closed” signs from the front of the coffee machines in Room C212. Class was about to start and the students were already getting to work. 

The students enrolled in the Community Based Vocational Instruction (CBVI) program at Pattonville High School run a coffee shop for staff members who can place orders online and have it delivered every morning during second hour. Staff can choose the coffee, tea, hot chocolate or soda flavor they want and request any extras like creamer and sweetener. The cost is just $1 per item.

The coffee shop opened in 2017 and Special School District teacher Carrie Cobb said the students are learning important job skills. 

Category: District

Sixth graders in Lauren Niewald’s class at Remington Traditional were challenged to build a zipline that provided tourists the longest tour over the mountains with only the materials provided. Each group was provided rubber bands, paperclips, straws, string, bucket, scissors and tape.

Using STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) skills, students incorporated the same process that engineers use on a job site: define the problem, brainstorm solutions, design a solution, build it, test it, evaluate it and then revise.

Category: District

It’s been 15 years since Isabel DiSalvo was in Room 109 at Bridgeway Elementary School. Back then, she was a first grader in Ms. Sam Sokolowski’s class. Today, she is a second grade teacher in the same classroom.

She remembers almost everything about her first grade year: where she sat in the classroom, what the lockers looked like and how the technology is now just a little bit different. But more than anything, she remembers how she felt in that classroom.

“When setting up my classroom this summer, I tried to bring back that feeling of a very welcoming and happy place to be,” she said. “This was a place I wanted to come to every day and I really wanted to build that for my students.”

DiSalvo graduated from Pattonville High School in 2018 and then attended Murray State University to study elementary education. Returning to Bridgeway is a dream come true. 

Category: District

Pattonville High School science teacher Jamie Jobe is one of 59 teachers selected across the U.S. to have earned the Outstanding Project Lead The Way (PLTW) Teacher award. PLTW is honoring Jobe for her work in the PLTW biomedical science program. 

Each year, PLTW honors outstanding teachers and administrators across the network who play an immeasurable role to prepare students to thrive in college, careers and beyond. The award recognizes educators who demonstrate a strong record of delivering an inspiring and empowering student experience while expanding access to PLTW programs and transforming teaching. 

Jobe has been a teacher at Pattonville High School for six years and teaches Principles of Biomedical Science, Biomedical Interventions and Medical Interventions. Students enrolled in each of those classes can earn college credit. 

Category: District
Community members showed great support by contributing to the Maria’s Backpacks School Supply Drive this year. The campaign collected 5,778 items and representatives from the City of Maryland Heights dropped off the donations on Aug. 26, at the Pattonville School District Learning Center.
 
Maria Lucas worked at the Maryland Heights Community Center when she died in a tragic accident. She enjoyed giving back to the community through education and began her career as a special education teacher in the Ritenour School District. The school supply drive is held in her memory and begins every year on her birthday, July 3.

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