DATES TO KNOW (Click calendar image for details)



April 18: Board of Education monthly meeting

April 26: Professional Development day; no school

April 29: Teacher Comp day; no school

In this edition of What's Happening at MRH:

• Teacher and support staff of the year announced
• Join our walk for mental health awareness
• 5th grade reels in the love with Marino and Seed to Table
• Jazz band wows festival

All families and staff are invited to walk with the MRH Blue Devils team on Saturday, May 11. Registration is free; there is also an option to have family and friends help you raise funds to benefit the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Everyone who raises at least $100.00 gets a NAMI Walk shirt on walk day.

Districtwide Employees of the Year Announced

After being tapped by their colleagues as Teacher and Support Staff of the Year for their respective buildings, Nicole Kinkelaar and Mark Benton were surprised to learn on Friday that they were also selected as Districtwide Teacher and Support Staff of the Year.

Ms. Kinkelaar joined MRH in 2022 and is a Middle School Language Arts teacher; Mr. Benton is the lead custodian at our Early Childhood Center, having joined the team in 2021. Each received cash prizes and green-seat tickets to a Cardinals baseball game courtesy of our partners at CommunityAmerica Credit Union, as well as the unending admiration of colleagues and students. Congratulations to both!

Last Thursday had been predicted to be rainy but that shifted during the night and our first group of fishing kids couldn’t have hoped for a bluer, more beautiful spring day- although it was on the breezy side. Our Elementary Seed to Table teacher, Ms. Marino, who is better known as Chef, discussed the rigorous 10 weeks of prep that started after winter break.

They begin by learning the equipment and the vocabulary of all the components. They learn how to attach a bobber, sinker, and hook- so they can tie the improved clinch knot. Next, they learn to set the drag. They work at mastering casting, reeling, and hook removal.

– Almut Stephan Marino

Teacher Ms. Williams says the kids have been giving her fishing tips when they return from Seed to Table for the past several weeks. Bus driver, Ronald Clipper said, “I’ve seen about 12 or 13 fish caught so far, and just seeing the expressions on their faces when they achieve success has been the best part.”

Georgia Mellenthin who had already caught six fish when we spoke said, “I really enjoyed leaning the knots,” and the course has solidified her preference for worms as bait over corn or other choices.

For months students have studied fish habitats and have taken a closer look at five, local, Missouri species. They will learn an additional five after this trip which will be accompanied by a little bit of fish anatomy studies. Ahead in the curriculum, they will get a chance to prep and cook fish. That will serve as a bridge in getting them excited for our sixth grade studies which will concentrate on campfire use and safety next fall.

Chef reflected, “Seed to Table used to be more focused on just gardening and cooking, but we’ve really expanded and gone deeper with the localized, conservation studies.” Chef Marino is getting ready to complete her 14th year of teaching at MRH. We’re so thankful for her adept ability to get kids excited about the outdoors and our natural surroundings.   

High School Band Wows Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival

Congratulations to the MRH High School Jazz Ensemble on a fantastic performance at the Greater Saint Louis Jazz Festival on April 11. 

Let’s turn it over to director Vince Rapini:  

“I received some amazing compliments about our band! We are a smaller band, and have a considerably lower enrollment than most of the bands represented at the event.  Despite this, the students performed at an elite level. Our students’ performance earned them an Outstanding Performance rating (the highest rating you can be awarded).  

One adjudicator (Steve Haines - Jazz Studies Director at the Miles Davis Jazz Institute @ UNC-Greensboro) spoke to me in person and wrote on our sheet that our performance was an inspiration!  

I am also very excited to announce six of our students were awarded with an outstanding musician award!  

• Ceci Rayburn (9) - Vocals/Drums
• Riley Sabath (10) - Alto Saxophone
• Emma Loos (9) - Tenor Saxophone
• Ava Kasten (12) - Trombone
• Kionne Willis (11) - Trumpet
• Silas Tanner (10) - Piano

Our next performance will be on Wednesday, April 17 in the MRH Theatre (7:00 p.m.)."  

Golfing for Scholarships! Register a Team Today!

Spring is here, and you might have golf on your mind. Why not play a round and raise money for scholarships for MRH students at the same time? The Kiwanis Club of Maplewood holds an annual tournament - the Jeff Johnson Open - and uses all proceeds to assist MRH seniors with college expenses. Click on the photo to access the registration form for the tournament on June 10.

The Week in Photos From Around MRH

New Videos Weekly By

HS Mobile Journalism Students

Stay current on ongoing construction and facility improvements made possible under proceeds from Proposition E.

Click the hard hat for the latest reports and videos.

Stay connected with our local libraries, which offer ongoing enrichment programs for children and adults.

Just click the images to find schedules of upcoming events.

BLUE DEVIL SPOTLIGHT is looking for amazing stories of kindness, achievement, generosity and courage among students, family members, school employees and community members.

REACH OUT TO THE MRH COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT with your suggestions.

MRH District Central Office (314) 644-4400