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Filing Period Opens December 6 for MRH and SSD Board Candidates
Three 3-year positions are up for grabs on the MRH Board of Education in the general municipal election on April 4, 2023. Candidate filing opens on December 6, 2022. Filing closes on December 27, 2022.
Under an agreement approved November 17 by the MRH Board of Education, candidate filing for the district will be conducted by the St. Louis County Board of Elections. Qualified applicants for the board may file a declaration of candidacy during business hours at the St. Louis County Board of Elections located at 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO.
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Special School District also will open candidate filing for a Board of Education seat representing MRH on Dec. 6, 2022. The open seat is for a three-year term beginning in March 2023. SSD Board members are elected by SSD’s Governing Council. The Governing Council is composed of one Board of Education member from each of the 22 partner school districts in St. Louis County.
Interested parties can learn more about the filing process, important deadlines, and responsibilities on SSD’s website.
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Regular School Attendance: Why It Matters
MRH Families,
We understand that life events occur and that the past two years have posed significant challenges for you and your children. Every day of school is an important opportunity for students to recover from recent uncertainties – to learn, connect to peers and teachers and benefit from classroom instruction. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) holds school districts across the state accountable for tracking attendance data and working closely with families and students to ensure acceptable engagement and attendance in learning, whether virtual or in-person. DESE sets the state attendance standard at 90%. When that threshold is not met, districts face possible reductions in state funding.
Why does attendance matter? If children don’t show up for school regularly, they miss out on fundamental reading and math skills and the chance to build a habit of good attendance that will carry them into college and careers.
Recent data shows that overall attendance figures for MRH are not where we’d like them to be. Many student absences are excused and unavoidable, but they still add up to lost time in the classroom. We are asking our families to help make school attendance a priority. You can do this by:
- Speaking with your learners about the importance of showing up every day
- Helping them to maintain daily routines such as finishing homework and getting a good night’s rest
- Doing your best to keep your child healthy
- Trying to schedule medical and dental appointments outside school hours
MRH Board Policy states that “holding students and their parents/guardians responsible for attendance is part of the District’s larger mission to train students to be productive citizens and employees.” That’s why MRH offers academic, social-emotional and technical support for all our students. If there is anything that a member of our team can do to support you and your child, please let us know. We would be happy to partner with you for your child’s overall success.
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MRH Board Approves Academic Freedom Policy.
At its November 17 meeting, the MRH Board of Education approved the Academic Freedom Policy in response to Missouri Senate Bill 775. That bill, which took effect in August, bans books with explicit or sexually inappropriate images in Missouri schools. It prohibits teachers from providing “explicit sexual materials” to students. Under this law, any educator in public or private K-12 Missouri schools who “provides, assigns, supplies, distributes, loans, or coerces acceptance of or the approval of the providing of explicit sexual material” will be charged with a Class A misdemeanor punishable by a fine up to $2,000 or a year in prison.
In approving the MRH Academic Freedom Policy, the Board pointed out that many years ago, MRH adopted an educational equity policy for the purpose of identifying and addressing all discriminatory practices, prejudices and beliefs with the intent to eradicate them. The Academic Freedom Policy states that "the MRH Board of Education has the power to determine curriculum and texts that support the curriculum as a means to ensure the academic and social-emotional success of all students. Because of Senate Bill 775, teachers no longer have academic freedom nor the freedom to discuss their subject content to develop students' ability to think critically about specific concepts and topics taught."
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Coming Next Year: New MRH Learning Management System
The existing MRH learning management system (LMS), ItsLearning, will end its North American support next summer. As customers of that service, MRH we have until the end of June 2023 to transfer learning materials to a new location. The MRH Teaching and Learning Council formed a subcommittee, participated in demonstrations, completed an evaluation, and presented a proposal to adopt Canvas as the District’s new LMS. for the 2023 - 2024 academic year. The Board of Education approved this selection at its November 17 meeting.
“We’re so excited to begin this partnership with Canvas,” said Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Dr. Chris McGee. “With any change, there will be bumps in the road, but in the end, we will have a new tool that will inevitably impact what school could look like for our students and provide so many new avenues for learning for both students and staff.”
The current goal is to provide staff access to Canvas by February 1. This overlap of systems was requested as a part of initial surveys and will provide an opportunity to migrate resources between platforms.
MRH will NOT be launching or using Canvas as its LMS until the 2023/2024 academic year.
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Truemper's a Tiger!
Behren Truemper signed papers last week to study and play wheelchair basketball at Mizzou next year. Some proud words were said in the R&D with a group of enthusiastic well-wishers who applauded his determination and hard work that have paid off in this tremendous milestone.
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After the signing ceremony, we caught up with Behren to get his reflections on this achievement.
"This is my 7th season. I started playing here in St. Louis with the Rolling Rams. It feels really awesome that I’m going to be able to continue my academic and athletic experience!"
About Mizzou, he stated: "I have seen the school; it seems smaller compared with its actual size, and I love that feeling."
Congratulations, Behren. And look out Columbia, there’s going to be a new Tiger on the prowl very soon. M-I-Z!
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Exciting Weekend for MRH Esports and Speech & Debate
The MRH Esports squad was crowned state champions in Rocket League competition on Saturday, just two days after taking 2nd and 4th in state in Smash Brothers competition.
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MRH Speech and Debate competed against 24 Eastern Missouri high schools at the Ladue and Clayton Invitational tournaments. The speakers and debaters brought home 22 awards in a field that included the largest St Louis area high schools as well as mid-Missouri powers from Columbia and Jeff City.
These 16 students won 22 Awards at the tournaments.
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A Place to Call Home: New House Parents for JP!
Joe’s Place serves an essential need of helping students who face housing instability in the Maplewood Richmond Heights district. In August, we welcomed new house parents, Angela and Brandon Marty, to serve as a primary point of cooperative living for the students residing at Joe’s Pace.
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Angela (AM): "We started in September. I’ve been in education for six years now but have also been working with kids in various roles my whole life. My aunt is on the board, and she reached out to us too."
Brandon (BM): "I also used to work in IT for a school district. So, I’m also just used to the student environment and community effort."
AM: "We have a lot of support around here. It’s been really great to work with everyone from the school. Right now, we have two kids. Once the basement gets fixed up, we will have more opportunities for more students to be here. We’re anticipating that for next year. That’s the big focus right now."
BM: "And now Joe’s Place is working to update to open it up from boys to all young persons in need."
AM: "Our dog, Oakley (a friendly, lean Siberian Husky), loves being here and he enjoys the backyard. Some of the boys in particular really love having him here too."
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MRH Athletic Event Tickets Are Now Online!
MRH Athletics is moving to a fully online, cashless system for purchasing tickets to all games and competitions.
Simply go to the Athletics page of our website and select your event.
Adult = $3.00
Students = $1.00
Season Pass = $30.00
6 and under = free
Season pass tickets will be accessible beginning November 21; all other events are updated daily.
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"Feel the Rhythm" Band Concert TONIGHT!
TONIGHT, 45 students will perform at our Fall Concert. Having rehearsed since the first day of school, students will execute a range of difficulties including old standards and an original composition, Blue Devil Swing. 17 instrumental solos will be featured.
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“This is our first full band concert in 3 years (due to the pandemic), and we feel like we’re essentially starting all over again. We’re hoping for a pretty big turnout,” said teacher Vince Rapini.
The Fall Concert will feature the MRH MS Band 2; MRH HS Jazz Ensembles 1 & 2, the MRH HS Jazz Improv Combo, and the MRH HS Stage Band. The concert begins at 7:00 PM in the High School Theater, no tickets are needed, free and open.
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Saturday, December 3rd, 2022
Build a Gift
For Mom and Dad
and others on your list
FREE!
For children ages 3-12 years
This year we have two time frames to choose from:
10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
or
12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Take & Make Options will be available during both time frames.
Four 4 crafts will be available for the Take & Make option.
Registration is limited to 45 children per session.
Children who attend in person must be accompanied by an adult.
Gift Options for Children to Handcraft Include:
Reindeer Food, Hot Chocolate Ornaments, Felt Coasters,
Snow Cone Ornaments, Mint Sugar Scrub, Fingerprint Frames,
Bookmarks & Printed Napkins.
Maplewood United Methodist Church
7409 Flora Avenue
Maplewood, MO 63143
314-781-5902
www.maplewoodumc.org
Register for In Person and Take and Make options online by November 29. Click on: Build A Gift or go to: www.maplewoodumc.org and click on “Build A Gift” on the homepage
Need more info? Call 314-781-5902 or email maplewoodumc@maplewoodumc.org
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The Maplewood Richmond Heights School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, sexual orientation and/or perceived sexual orientation, or genetic information in its programs and activities. View Notice of Non-Discrimination or Board Policy AC.
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