affton still bleeds purple & gold, but we’re going green
TRANSCRIPT
AN AFFTON SCHOOL DISTRICT PUBLICATION VOL. 60 / ISSUE 2 / SPRING 2013
Affton Still Bleeds Purple & Gold, But We’re Going Green The Affton School District is committed to making a difference in the world and in our children’s future. This includes many efforts
throughout our schools, as well as changes in the way we communicate with our
families, students, staff and community. Here’s a preview of what’s to come:
REDUCE
Beginning with the 2013-2014 school year, we will be making an effort to ensure that
less paper is mailed home to our families or comes home with our students. The packet
of information mailed to parents each summer will be greatly reduced, and the district
and school handbooks and calendars will be housed online rather than being printed.
Similarly, efforts to communicate via
our website, Facebook pages and
Twitter feeds have increased, and
Access Affton, our bimonthly
e-newsletter, shares timely news stories, information and events. (See the back page of
this publication for additional information.)
We will also be better utilizing the parent information tools available through
SchoolReach. Parents will be able to receive messages from their student’s school(s)
and the district via phone call, e-mail and/or text. This summer, bus route information
will be posted on our website and communicated to each family with a phone call in
August. We look forward to better serving our families by communicating in their
preferred method, as well as helping our environment with less wasted paper.
REUSE
Both Affton Early Childhood and Rogers Middle School students are actively engaged in sustainability
projects at their schools. With the help of Litzsinger Road Ecology Center, the early childhood students
have planted seedlings and are eagerly awaiting the vegetables that are growing this summer. For those who
love to garden or are looking for a service project this summer, Rogers Middle School is looking for a few
more volunteers to help maintain their school garden through the summer months. Additional information
can be found at http://www.affton.k12.mo.us/schools/rogers-middle/garden-volunteers/
RECYCLE
All Affton Schools participate in single-stream recycling, and our students are encouraged to recycle
whenever possible. We will continue these efforts and help make the tenets of Reduce-Reuse-Recycle top of
mind for all of our students and staff.
Inside this issue:
New Principals 4
Spotlight on
Affton Staff
5
SSD Rosemary
Zander Award
6
MTCCCA Girls Track
Coach of the Year
7
The Affton 5 8
MCTM Math
Competition
9
Pre-K Graduation 11
Mesnier Primary students (from left) Milo Chandler,
Colton MacCachran, Audrey Zalenka and Isabella
Behrle make sure they recycle at Camp Cougar.
Graduation Issue
Affton Early Childhood students (from left) Matthew
Ogrzewalla, Nora Reid and Henry Craig working in the
school’s garden.
Page 2
Continuous Improvement: It’s a philosophy that the Affton School District has embraced, and
the overarching theme in our endeavors.
Over the past two years, we have been working to develop a systems approach to classroom
improvement. Administrators, teachers, and our Board of Education have been involved in
professional development in the area of continuous improvement, and during this time, quality
principles have become more common throughout the district. Affton is developing a culture
which understands the importance of making research-based and data-driven decisions.
We have invested in teachers’ professional development through the Continuous Classroom
Improvement (CCI) program, which is research-based, ongoing, job embedded, and supported by
coaching. All Affton teaching staff will be engaged in CCI during the 2013-2014 school year, and
will be implementing quality improvement principles to enhance instruction. Student engagement
and students taking responsibility for their own learning are major initiatives within the CCI
framework. We are committed to developing life-long learners in a rapidly changing world.
We also understand that the effective use of technology is an important part of continuous
improvement. Following an external audit of all of our technology systems, we have been better
able to understand the strengths and weaknesses of technology in our district with the data
provided. Recently, the Board of Education approved a $600,000 investment in our technology
infrastructure, and approved the restructuring of our Technology Department, which included the
hiring of a new Director of Technology and Information as well as a Network Engineer. Affton is
poised to make great strides in the technology available to our students, staff, and schools, and
will be able to better support these efforts for many years to come.
During second semester, we engaged the architecture firm of Dickinson Hussman to conduct an
in-depth audit of the district’s buildings and grounds. A team from each of our schools, which
included the building principal, a member of the Board of Education, a member of the custodial
crew, as well as teachers, staff and parents, looked at: Building Safety & Security, Educational
Adequacy, Environment for Education, School Site, Structural & Mechanical Features, and Plant
Maintainability. In May, the building teams came together to review the findings from each
school, as well as from the architects and engineers, and then took time to brainstorm together to
determine potential solutions that would improve the learning environment for all of our students.
The second phase of the process will begin in Fall 2013, when Dickinson Hussman will present a
preliminary cost estimate to address design solutions created in May. This will allow the district to
better prioritize projects by need in a financially responsible manner.
Over the next school year, you will be seeing more opportunities for parent and community input.
We will be reestablishing committees to help keep each component of our work on the track of
continuous improvement: Curriculum, Safety, Technology, Wellness, Buildings & Grounds, and
more. If you are interested in serving or would like additional information on any of these
opportunities, please reach out to Erica Chandler, Director of Community Relations, at (314) 633-
5908 or [email protected].
As always, thank you for your continued support. I look forward to being able to report back on
our efforts in continuous improvement throughout the 2013-2014 school year, and beyond.
From the Superintendent
“We are committed to
developing life-long
learners in a rapidly
changing world.”
Dr. Steve Brotherton
Graduation is a time of reflection, for looking forward to the future
and reflecting on the past.
I would like to begin by thanking Mike McNeil for his leadership the
past two years as Board of Education President. I find it a privilege
and honor to be elected the new President of the Affton School
Board. It is a pleasure to serve the Affton community and I will do
my best to ensure we continue to meet and exceed our goals as a
district.
There have been many high points in the past four years that I have
served on the board and am proud to be a part of:
District-wide academic achievement
Cathy Cartier named Missouri Teacher of the Year
Named "One of America's Best High Schools in 2013" by Newsweek
Completion of the Affton Early Childhood Center
Board transparency with the adoption of BoardDocs which allows meeting agendas and minutes to be available to all
Selected Dr. Brotherton as Superintendent, along with a new administrative team
Increased communication with the Affton community
Developed Technology Infrastructure Plan
Implementation of a continuous improvement program
We have a lot to be proud of as a District and I look forward to meeting our goals for the future,
some of which are:
Added educational opportunities for our students
Increased academic rigor
Striving for and meeting excellence in all areas
Executing the Technology Infrastructure Plan
Realization of our long term building and grounds improvement plan
In closing, I would also like to congratulate the Class of 2013. I wish each of you much success
and happiness in your future endeavors and that wherever life takes you, may you always
remember your time at Affton.
From the Board President
AHS Named One of America’s Best
Douglas Beck,
Board of Education President
Page 3
AFFTON SCHOOL DISTRICT Dr. Steve Brotherton Superintendent (314) 638-8770 Dr. Travis Bracht Assistant Superintendent (314) 638-8770 BOARD OF EDUCATION Douglas Beck, President (314) 638-1846 Thomas Bellavia, Vice-President (314) 353-2068 Susan Casaleggi, Treasurer (314) 351-3588 Christopher Castellanos, Director (314) 457-0099 Larry Knox, Director (314) 638-3222 Michael McNeil, Director (314) 229-8223 Patricia Zahn, Director (314) 842-1560 Regular board meetings are scheduled at 7 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month in the multi-purpose room at Affton Early Childhood (9832 Reavis Road, 63123). The Channel is published and printed by the Affton School District Staff and Printing Services. Affton School District is an equal opportunity employer. The district complies with the provisions of Title IX, Title IV and Section 504 and does not discriminate on the basis of age, race, sex, national origin or disabling conditions in regard to employment, services or programs. Inquiries about compliance with these provisions should be directed to: COMPLIANCE OFFICER Affton School District 8701 Mackenzie Road Affton, MO 63123
Affton High School was notified in May that it made Newsweek’s 2013 list
of America’s Best High Schools. The list contains 2,000 public high
schools from across the nation with 23 high schools from Missouri making
the list. The list is based on six components: graduation rate (25 percent),
college acceptance rate (25 percent), AP/IB/AICE tests taken per student
(25 percent), average SAT/ACT scores (10 percent), average AP/IB/
AICE scores (10 percent), and percent of students enrolled in at least one
AP/IB/AICE course (5 percent). Congratulations, AHS!
New Principals Named at Mesnier & Gotsch
Kristina Pluff Named 2013-2014 District Teacher of the Year
she can "...encourage the most
reluctant learners to dig deep
and produce work worthy of
praise."
Pluff goes on to state, “I am
doing my part every day to
improve and strengthen my
profession by forging positive
relationships with my students,
their parents, and my
colleagues."
Each Affton school also named
a Teacher of the Year for their
building. They include: Pluff for
Mesnier Primary; Adrienne
Wemhoener, professional
school counselor at Gotsch
Intermediate; Stacie Martin,
eighth-grade math teacher at
Rogers Middle; and Brian
Jennings, English language arts
teacher at Affton High School.
Wemhoener, the Gotsch
Intermediate Teacher of the
Year, has worked in the Affton
School District for five years.
She has a Master of Science in
Elementary and Secondary
Counseling with Licensure
and is currently finishing her
license to be a Licensed
Professional Counselor.
Martin, the Rogers Middle
Teacher of the Year, has been
teaching in the Affton School
District for 19 years and
currently teaches Pre-Algebra
and Algebra. She has a Master
of Science in Education plus
thirty additional credit hours
of study.
Kristina Pluff, second-grade
teacher at Mesnier Primary
School, has been named the
Affton School District’s 2013-
2014 Teacher of the Year.
“The Affton School District
staff is top-notch. They are
continually striving to stretch
their boundaries and deepen
their bonds with colleagues,
students, parents and the
community,” said Dr. Steve
Brotherton, superintendent. “I
am proud of each of our
Teachers of the Year, and am
certain that Kristina will
represent Affton well.”
Pluff has been teaching at
Affton for 13 years, holds a
Master of Arts in Education
and is certified in Gifted
Education. On the application
for Teacher of the Year, one
of Pluff's colleagues states that
Page 4
within the district, and are
looking forward to continuing
to move in a positive direction.”
Powers has served as principal
at Mesnier Primary since 2011,
and prior to coming to Affton,
she served as an associate
principal, instructional, and
classroom teacher at University
City. She began her elementary
teaching experience in Wellston
in 2001, and worked for the
Missouri Reading Initiative.
Been has served as assistant
principal at Mesnier Primary
since 2011, and at Northview
Elementary in the Jennings
School District prior. She
began her elementary teaching
experience in the St. Louis
Public School system in 1997,
followed by serving as a
mathematics coach and
instructional specialist at
Northview Elementary for six
years.
Also effective July 1, Brian
Smith, current principal of
Gotsch Intermediate, will
begin serving as assistant
principal for Mesnier Primary,
and Rose Davis will continue
serving as assistant principal of
Gotsch Intermediate.
On Tues., May 7, the Affton
School District Board of
Education approved Dr.
Christine Powers as principal
of Gotsch Intermediate
School and Tina Been as
interim principal of Mesnier
Primary School. Both changes
will be effective July 1 for the
2013-2014 school year.
“Both Christine and Tina have
a strong record of success in
our schools and with our
students,” said Dr. Steve
Brotherton, superintendent.
“We are excited about the
leadership in these schools and Tina Been
Dr. Christine Powers
Jennings, the Affton High School
Teacher of the Year, has been
teaching Fine Arts Speech and
Theatre and English classes in the
Affton School District for 13 years.
He holds a Master of Arts in
English and a Master of Arts in
Education, Secondary English.
The Affton School District
Teacher of the Year for 2012-2013
was Cathy Cartier, an English
language arts teacher at Affton
High School. She is currently
serving as the Missouri State
Teacher of the Year.
Pictured from left:
Wemhoener, Miller,
Brotherton, Pluff and
Jennings
Terri Solomon has been a fixture at Affton School District for 47 years,
beginning as the switchboard operator in 1966. Best known as supervisor of the
print shop, she has also served in the business office where she did co-op
purchasing, and she made calls for substitute teachers for 30 years. Terri has
worked under 11 superintendents, including Affton’s first superintendent,
Charles Mesnier.
She and her husband, Fred, have three children, five grandchildren and five
great-grandchildren.
June 30 will mark the end of Terri’s tenure, when she will retire. In May, a reception was
held in Terri’s honor at the Affton High School Commons, where her coworkers, both
current and former, friends, family, and associates in the community paid tribute to her
remarkable career.
During retirement, Terri says that she plans to do whatever she wants, which will include
getting back to ballroom dancing, shopping, going to the movies and eating out.
Congratulations, Terri, and thank you for your dedicated service to Affton Schools!
Six nominees received the
prestigious SOAR Award.
They include: Jana Caselli,
attendance secretary at Affton
High School; Carol Hall,
speech and language
pathologist at Gotsch
Intermediate; Clare Iffland,
special education teacher at
Rogers Middle; Zandra
Jackson, kindergarten teacher
at Mesnier Primary; Amy
Rose, fifth-grade teacher at
Gotsch Intermediate; and Patti
Vogt, speech and language
pathologist at Gotsch
Intermediate.
Six Recognized for Service at SOAR Awards Eighteen staff and volunteers
were honored at the Affton
School District’s Service and
Outstanding Achievement
Recognition (SOAR) Awards
on April 10.
“I am impressed by the
dedication and contributions
of each of the nominees,” said
Doug Beck, president of the
Affton School District Board
of Education. “They strive to
make a difference, and each of
them make the Affton schools
and community a better
place.”
Page 5
Terri Solomon Print Shop Manager
Pictured from left: Terri Solomon, with former Affton High School
secretaries Amy Steele and Irene Drace.
Spotlight on Affton Staff...
Pictured from left: Shirley Ayer, Terri Solomon and
Sam Sellers, in a photo from a 1974 edition of The
Channel.
Pictured from left: Jackson, Hall, Rose, Iffland and Caselli
Not pictured: Patti Vogt
Following
an
extensive
search for
talent and
experience, the Affton Board
of Education approved the
hiring of Dr. Robert Dillon as
the new Director of
Technology and Information
for Affton School District on
April 2.
Dillon comes to Affton from
the Maplewood Richmond
Heights School District, and
was recently named one of the
National School Boards
Association’s (NSBA)
Technology Leadership
Network “20 to Watch.” This
honor recognizes education
leaders from across the
country for their ability to
inspire colleagues to
incorporate innovative
technology solutions that
contribute to high-quality
learning environments and
more efficient school district
operations. In September,
Dillon was also named an
Emerging Leader by Phi Delta
Kappa International, which
recognizes top educators from
around the world for their
visionary leadership,
professional achievements, and
commitment to the field of
education.
In addition to his administrative
experience, Dillon serves as the
co-founder of EdcampSTL, an
annual “unconference” that
brings together those interested
in learning and sharing more
about best practices in
education. He also sits on the
steering committee for the
Midwest Education Technology
Conference (METC), and has
been a featured speaker at
regional, state, and national
education technology
conferences.
He and his wife, Sandra, a social
worker for BJC HealthCare, are
from the St. Louis area. They
have two daughters, Ellie, 8, and
Emily, 5.
SSD Bestows Highest Honor on Daniel Crum with enthusiasm and an energy
that is an inspiration to
everyone he meets.
“Daniel’s progress in all areas
of his life has been an amazing
journey,” says Mary Beth
Merlo, an SSD teacher who
nominated Daniel for the
award. “Daniel is always
willing to attempt any work,
and he advocates well for his
needs and the needs of his
peers. He dives right into his
work and stays with it until
completion. He doesn’t back
down or use his visual
constraints as an excuse to get
out of any assignment.”
Daniel is a well-rounded
student, and very active in
Special School District (SSD)
named recent Affton High
School graduate, Daniel Crum,
a recipient of the Rosemary
Zander Award.
Founded in 1988, the
Rosemary Zander Award
program recognizes the
accomplishments of students
receiving services from SSD.
While their achievements are
varied, their stories all tell of
students who possess positive
attitudes and an unwavering
will to succeed.
Never allowing his visual
limitations to get in his way,
Daniel Crum, who receives
visual impairment services
through SSD, greets every day
extracurricular activities –
particularly sports! He is an
integral part of the school’s
sports programs both as a
participant and fan. He has
been a part of the golf team
for four years. And he
received the prestigious
“Outstanding Sportsmanship”
award from the National
Sports Commission as he is
the only legally blind golfer in
the state of Missouri.
Additionally, he has been the
manager for all three
basketball teams, equipment
manager for the football team
and attends every game he
can.
Dr. Robert Dillon Named Technology Director Dave Walters Receives
2013 Superintendent’s Award
During the SOAR Awards on April 10, Dave Walters, manager
of Buildings and Grounds for Affton School District, received
the 2013 Superintendent’s Award for his work on the planning,
development and opening of the Affton Early Childhood Center.
“Without Dave’s experience and attention to detail, we would
not have been able to provide such a top-notch facility for the
Affton Early Childhood program on time and under budget,”
said Dr. Steve Brotherton, superintendent. “He is a valuable
member of our team, and I am pleased to publicly recognize his
hard work.”
The Affton Early Childhood Center opened in August 2012 and
is home to over 140 preschool students, ages 3 to 5. Renovations
to the 19,000 square-foot former warehouse facility began in
December 2011.
Page 6
Jessica Reed
Dave Walters with Dr. Steve Brotherton
Tim Hill Named Girls Track Coach of the Year
Each year, the honor, awarded
to one coach from each of
four classes for track in
Missouri, is determined by
votes from fellow MTCCCA
coaches.
“Tim truly cares for his
students and athletes, and
works hard for them. He
deserves this recognition,” said
Affton High School girls track
coach, Tim Hill, has been
named the Missouri Class 3
Coach of the Year for 2012
for Girls Track by the
Missouri Track and Cross-
Country Coaches Association
(MTCCCA).
Dan Oliver, athletic director
for Affton School District. “It
is a real pleasure to work with
him, and even more so to
count him as a friend.”
Hill was also recognized by the
Affton School District Board
of Education at their meeting
on Feb. 19.
UMSL Honors AHS Juniors for Science & Foreign Language
Page 7 Tim Hill
Two Affton High School juniors
received honors from the University
of Missouri–St. Louis.
Paige Smith was honored with the
2013 Distinguished Achievement
Award for Excellence in Science.
“Paige is not only very intelligent
and hard working,” said Laurie Free,
science teacher at Affton High
School, “she distinguishes herself by
being very inquisitive, which is a key
characteristic of a good scientist.”
Smith was among 35 area high
school students to receive the
distinction. Chosen by their
respective high schools, the students
had to demonstrate excellence in
Mary Carpenter Recognized for Service “Over her career, Mary has
shown amazing strength and
endurance in working with and
helping the students of Affton,”
said Dr. Sue Jackson, principal
at Affton High School. “We
couldn’t be more proud of her,
and grateful that she is able to
work with our students every
day.”
Carpenter has served as a
counselor at Affton High School
for 27 years; the last two as
college counselor.
“As a long-standing member
of MOACAC, I am so
honored to have been selected
for this award,” said
Carpenter. “We work hard so
that every student has a post-
secondary plan in place. I
hope my students know that
they are all worthy; the student
in the floor-laying program at
South County Tech is just as
important to me as the student
matriculating to a selective
college.”
The Missouri Association of
College Admission Counseling
(MOACAC) has named Mary
Carpenter, college counselor at
Affton High School, the 2013
recipient of the Peggy Clinton
Memorial Service Award, their
highest honor.
Founded in 1984, the Peggy
Clinton Memorial Service
Award program honors high
school and college counselors
who have shown amazing
qualities in supporting the
students and their schools.
Mary Carpenter
Smith (top left) and
Castellanos
(bottom right)
academic performance and
outstanding capabilities in the
sciences, including the areas of
science, technology, engineering
and math (STEM).
Jessica Castellanos, an Honors
French III student, received the
Distinguished Achievement Award
for Excellence in Languages by the
University of Missouri-St. Louis
College of Arts and Sciences.
“Jessica is a terrific French student.
Her work is superior and very
advanced for her high school
level,” said Paula Gyllenborg,
foreign language teacher at Affton
High School. “I love the way her
mind works. I
can see her
thinking en
français and it
is a wonderful
process to
watch.”
Castellanos
was among 24
area high school juniors to receive
the distinction. Chosen by their
respective high schools, students
must demonstrate outstanding
achievement in academics and
languages, as well as participation
in foreign language-related
activities and studies.
In the last edition of The Channel, Rogers Middle School teachers Jennifer Pointer and Jennifer Roach
were featured for having been awarded a $15,000 grant from Innovative Technology Education Fund
(ITEF) to be used toward teaching with touch pad technology. Since that time, these eighth-grade
teachers have integrated Apple iPads, wireless keyboards, and accessories into their communication
arts, math, science and social studies lessons.
“My students were actually excited about writing their editorials. They used iPads from start to finish.
Researching, typing, peer editing, and presenting went smoothly,” said Pointer. “I find the students
are truly engaged in their assignments, whether it is typing a paper in Communication Arts or
completing a lab in Science.”
Roach assigned her students to create a two minute movie on a chosen battle from the Civil War. Her students used iPads to film, edit,
record voiceovers and include special effects.
“I see students that are normally struggling readers and writers getting more involved in class through
the touch technology that we’ve incorporated,” said Roach.
When asked how they like iPads in the classroom, these eighth-graders said:
“They are faster than the netbooks and easier to type on. They are like a mini SMARTBoard.” - Lucy
Vogt
“Very user-friendly.” - Madi LaManna
“Presentations of papers are now electronic. We are not as nervous getting up in front of our peers and
presenting orally. There is just something about having the iPad in your hand.” - Kaia Johnson
a wheelchair. The doctors at
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
performed MRIs, labs,
ultrasounds, and finally
determined that he was having
an autoimmune response
which caused a lesion on his
spinal cord. On September 26,
Mitchell began a 32 day stay at
St. Louis Children’s Hospital
in the Neurorehabilitation
Unit to receive intensive
treatment, occupational and
physical therapy.
During that time, Mitchell’s
teachers, counselors and peers
rallied around him, sending
cards, visiting with him, and
supporting the Herndon
family. Ray Crites, math
teacher at Rogers Middle
On April 28, Rogers Middle
School students held the
inaugural Affton 5 charity run.
This year, the students chose
to support a fellow RMS
seventh-grader, Mitchell
Herndon, with proceeds
benefiting the Herndon family
and St. Louis Children’s
Hospital Neurorehabilitation
Program.
Last year, Mitchell was your
typical healthy, active 12 year
old boy. In May, his parents
and teachers began noticing
that he was walking funny and
running into things. That
deteriorated into him not
being able to run, walk up or
down stairs, hold a pencil, and,
eventually forced him to need
Rogers Middle School Students Enjoy New Technology
The Affton 5 Charity Run Raises Over $5,000 for Classmate
Page 8
Mitchell Herndon at the start of The
Affton 5 Run
School, even taught lessons
after school via Skype. Finally,
in late November, Mitchell
was able to return to Rogers
Middle School in a wheelchair.
Today, Mitchell no longer
needs a wheelchair or
assistance to walk or move,
although he still receives
physical therapy at St. Louis
Children’s Hospital. He even
completed all five miles of The
Affton 5!
Raising $5,000 for the
Herndon family plus another
$1,000 for the St. Louis
Children’s Hospital
Neurorehabilitation Program,
and counting over 180
participants, The Affton 5 Run
was a great success.
RMS math teacher Ray Crites
teaching a lesson via Skype
Gotsch Students Compete at Math Contest
Rogers & Gotsch Students Train with St. Louis Rams
Students from Gotsch
Intermediate and Rogers
Middle joined members of the
St. Louis Rams and leading
nutrition experts recently at an
NFL-themed training camp.
Held at the Rams’
ContinuityX Training Center
in Earth City, Mo., the
students were rewarded for
their efforts to eat healthy
foods and stay active.
Student teams from 10
elementary and middle schools
in eastern Missouri and central
Illinois earned invitations to
the Fuel Up to Play 60 Reward
Training Camp by actively
engaging in the Fuel Up to
Play 60 program and
encouraging their peers to
make healthier choices and
commit to at least 60 minutes
of physical activity each day.
Page 9
Ten fourth- and fifth-grade
students at Gotsch
Intermediate School
participated in the Missouri
Council of Teachers in
Mathematics (MCTM)
Regional Elementary Math
Competition on April 6.
Held at Mineral Area College
in Park Hills, Mo., the Gotsch
students competed against 50
competitors at each grade
level. Each student was tested
on their problem-solving and
concepts skills.
Receiving special recognition
at the regional competition for
the concepts test were fourth-
graders Gavin Knapp, 9th
place, and Eric McDaniel, 8th
place; and fifth-grader Lynn
Eckhardt, 10th place.
Additionally, fifth-grader Jack
Petterchak, took 8th place in
problem-solving and 2nd place
in concepts, which qualified
him to compete in the
Missouri State MCTM
Competition, held on April 27
at the University of Central
Missouri.
Fifth-Grade Fishing Trip Each year, the fifth-grade students at Gotsch Intermediate cap off their year with a field trip to the Busch Wildlife Conservation Area to
enjoy a day of fishing and friendship. Here are a few pictures from this year.
The other Gotsch Intermediate
students who competed in the
regional competition were fourth-
graders Maureen Dolan, Daniell
Salcedo and Margaret Schaffer; and
fifth-graders Lily Ederer, Charlie
Ertmann, and Carter Piel.
Thirty-four students from
Mesnier Primary participated
in their annual science fair this
spring. Fifteen of the
kindergarten, first and second
graders moved on to compete
at the Academy of Science –
St. Louis Science Fair at
Queeny Park.
First place winners included:
Liseli Akafekwa, 1st grade, Stop
or Else!; Mitchell Been, 1st
grade, Flip a Coin; Claire
Boyer, 2nd grade, Growing Green
Beans; Katelyn Busse, 2nd
grade, Magnificent Breakfast
Cereal; Milo Chandler, 1st
grade, Will a Marshmallow Stay
Puft?; Miles DeWille,
Kindergarten, Mentos Soda
Geyser; Mason Earll,
Kindergarten, Carbonation and
Reaction to Mentos; Hayden
Hass, Kindergarten, What
Plants Need to Drink; Aliyah
Hernandez, 2nd grade, How
annual Scott Joplin Showcase
on March 17 as an outstanding
music teacher at Mesnier
Primary and as an outstanding
musician who gives freely of
her time and talent.
“Laura is caring, talented, and
most of all, dedicated to
sharing the love and
Laura Bangert, music teacher
at Mesnier Primary School,
has been named the 2013
Metro South Fine Arts
Teacher of the Year by the
Metro South Arts Council
(MSAC).
Bangert was honored at the
Metro South Arts Council’s
Mesnier’s Aspiring Artists
Laura Bangert Honored by MSAC
Mesnier Students Compete at Science Fair
Page 10
On May 9, Mesnier Primary hosted its annual Art Fair. Over 1,000 pieces of art created by the kindergarten, first-, and second-grade
students were on display. The mini-artists made drawings, paintings, collages and some three dimensional masterpieces; some inspired
by famous artists such as Monet, Wood, Matisse, and more. Additionally, the second-graders sold sea shells they painted in art class
with Miss Perko as part of a service learning project focusing on community, respect, and responsibility. In total, the class earned $225
that was donated to the Affton Christian Food Pantry, to help people in need. It was a wonderful
evening for students, family, and friends.
Much Do You Know About the
Solar System; Max Jenkins, 1st
grade, Mr. Clean Cents; Julie
Kaye, 2nd grade, Moon Phases;
Antonio Muyco,
Kindergarten, I’m Density and
I Know It; Julia
Niedzwiedzka, 1st grade,
Minerals and Fossils Around St.
Louis; Amelia Weiss, 2nd grade,
Melt It!; and Gabby Yoder-
Altadonna, 1st grade, The Mold
Project.
importance of music with our
students,” said Dr. Christine
Powers, principal at Mesnier
Primary. “She is very
deserving of this award, and
we are proud that her
accomplishments are receiving
recognition.” Laura Bangert with some of
her students
program. The students read
stories, played games, and ate
a “rainbow” of healthy snacks,
including red and yellow
peppers, carrots, and more.
“It’s important for our
children to hear that being
healthy can be fun,” said Karin
Fleming, director of Affton
Early Childhood. “Through
activities that got the kids up
and moving, good stories and
presenting healthy snacks in a
new way, the OASIS team
helped teach our preschoolers
a valuable life lesson.”
Preschool students at Affton
Early Childhood are learning
about the importance of
exercise, moderation and
choosing healthy food
options.
With the help of volunteers
from OASIS, a national
education organization that
brings people together to
promote lifelong learning,
healthy lifestyles and
community engagement for
mature adults, the three to five
year olds participated in the
CATCH Healthy Habits
Pre-K Students Graduate from Affton Early Childhood
OASIS Volunteers Teach Preschoolers Value of Healthy Habits
Page 11
Congratulations to the 66 Pre-K students who graduated on May
22! The Affton Early Childhood staff has enjoyed an amazing year
with them, and is looking forward to watching them throughout
their school years. Here’s to the Class of 2026!
Administration Center
8701 Mackenzie Road
Affton, MO 63123
Affton School District
We’re also on Pinterest! Pin us:
www.pinterest.com/afftonschools
Did you know that each school in the
Affton School District has a Facebook
page?
If you’re not already receiving Access
Affton, our bimonthly e-newsletter, be
sure to sign up! You can do so from
the homepage of our website:
www.affton.k12.mo.us
We’re now on Twitter! Follow us:
@AfftonSchools
Be sure to “like” us at:
www.facebook.com/
AfftonSchoolDistrict
AfftonHighSchool
RogersMiddleSchoolAffton
GotschIntermediate
MesnierPrimary
AfftonEarlyChildhood
Social Media Guide
Visit Us Online
www.affton.k12.mo.us
SchoolReach
The successful delivery of information is dependent upon accurate contact information obtained from school records. If your
household and/or emergency contact information changes, please let your school secretary or registrar know as soon as
possible, or you may update your SchoolReach emergency phone numbers in PowerSchool. At the bottom of the screen after
you log in, there is a link to view and edit SchoolReach information.
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage
PAID
St. Louis, MO
Permit No. 495