2015-2016 school year calendar approved
The 2015-2016 calendar was approved by the Springfield school board during its regular monthly meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 17, following an opportunity for public comment. The first day of school will be Thursday, Aug. 13, and the last day will be Thursday, May 25, but could be as early as May 17 depending on inclement weather days.
Additional highlights of the proposed 2015-2016 calendar include:
- 172 contact days (1, 072.5 student contact hours) which is an increase over previous years of 170 student contact days (1,060 student contact hours). The estimated cost for the two additional student contact days is $186,104.13
- Winter break - Dec. 18-Jan. 1
- Spring break - March 7-11
View the 2015-2016 calendar.
A long-standing partnership between the City of Springfield's Department of Environmental Works and Springfield Public Schools curriculum department has helped enrich student learning in the area of science science.
The Department of Environmental Works supports a number of SPS schools. Staff work with Bingham Elementary School for its math and science family nights and provide several school gardens with vermicomposting bins and mulch from the Yardwaste Recycling Center. Staff also provide materials related to air quality, collaborate with teachers to develop different curriculums of study, provide field trip support to Valley Water Mill and plan teacher appreciation activities.
"This partnership enables me to provide deeper, more realistic experiences for students," said Ann Wallenmeyer, SPS science coordinator. "The community and school district want what is best for students. The partnerships are a way to engage students in learning content and involve them in the community. The partnerships help provide resources to teachers that we would not otherwise have access to."
The Department of Environmental Works chose to partner with SPS to encourage student understanding of the environment. "We recognize and accept the responsibility and role the City of Springfield has to be good stewards of our natural environment," explained Barbara Lucks, sustainability officer for the city. "A very critical component in that is to ensure that the generation to which we will be handing over that future responsibility is prepared."
From this partnership, students get real world applications of the content they are learning in class and teachers make connections with the professionals in different areas and are able to bring those experiences, either through teaching materials or guest speakers, back to the classroom.
"The relationship building with the teaching staff and students bridges citizens and city government to support enriching, motivating and empowering educational experiences," said Lucks.
GHS senior Meredith Waites named Coca-Cola Scholar
Glendale High School senior Meredith Waites has been named a winner in the nationwide Coca-Cola Scholars Program. For the honor, Waites received a $20,000 scholarship.
Waites was chosen to be one of 150 scholars from a pool of more than 102,000 applicants from across the country for her outstanding leadership, academic achievements and dedication to community service. She served as one of four Missouri finalists.
"I feel very accomplished, but at the same time I'm very surprised and shocked," said Waites. "I'm just a girl from Springfield, Missouri, I didn't think I would be even close to be on the same level as some of the other finalists, so it's such an honor to be considered for this scholarship."
Waites was notified of being named a Coca-Cola Scholar on Feb. 18, but it wasn't the last good news she received on the snow day. She was also named an
Ingram Scholar at Vanderbilt University. Ingram Scholars are required not only to volunteer for community service but also design and implement projects that address specific community needs. Each scholar participates in community service projects at least 20 hours each month and receive a minimum of full-tuition and a stipend for a summer project. Waites was one of 13 scholars who were selected from 831 applicants.
Central High School senior Telyse Masaoay, Kickapoo High School senior Boo Koss and Parkview High School senior Hussain Rao were named semifinalists in the Coca-Cola Scholars competition.
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