Surprise visits took place around Pattonville School District on March 30 as finalists were announced for the 2021-2022 Teacher and Support Staff of the Year awards. Winners of the Teacher and Support Staff Rookie of the Year awards were also revealed.
Willow Brook Elementary School kicked off its Read-a-Thon on Monday and has already raised $6,555 with students recording 7,121 minutes read to date. Students pledge to read at least 20 minutes a day for 10 days and raise money for completing the challenge. The event is organized by the school’s PTO and is its major fundraiser for the year.
For added fun, staff organized a spirit week and a daily video of a Willow Brook staff member reading a book matching the theme of the day is shared every morning. Tuesday’s theme was Pajama Day and PE teacher Vince Licameli read Llama Llama Red Pajama.
Millions of people watched the Winter Olympics on television, and Rose Acres and Willow Brook elementary school students were able to play Winter Olympics-themed games during PE classes because of their gold medal-worthy teachers.
Willow Brook PE teachers Ashley Downs and Vince Licameli and Rose Acres PE teachers Mike McKeon and Joe Rehagen along with student teacher Dominic Licameli managed to transform balls into rocks and pool noodles into ski poles.
March Madness is here! Elementary teams battled it out for the district title on Friday and Monday at the fifth grade intramural basketball tournament hosted at Pattonville Heights Middle School.
Teams from Bridgeway, Drummond, Parkwood, Rose Acres and Willow Brook competed in the inaugural season of the intramural league organized by the Pattonville Community Programs and developed by Drummond PE teacher Caleb Stroop.
“When I first got here, I noticed we didn't have anything at this level so this was kind of my mission from the very beginning,” he said. “Basketball has had such a huge impact on my life and I just wanted to kind of share that with the kids.”
After raising more than $8,000 for the American Heart Association, students and staff at Willow Brook Elementary played a basketball game to celebrate the success of the fundraiser.
Paraprofessional Jennifer Haub has organized the Kids Heart Challenge for the past 17 years and said the school raised the most money and had the most participants ever this year.
“We officially raised $8,329.51 and had 110 students register.”
The theme for Willow Brook’s celebration of Read Across America Week on March 2 was guest reader day. Fourth grade teacher Kim Dickinson invited custodian Mack Boyd in to read “Someone Builds the Dream,” one of the books featured in this year’s March Book Madness.
Willow Brook Elementary is one of over 330 participating schools in this year’s bracket challenge. Dickinson’s class will next read “Sharice's Big Voice: A Native Kid Becomes a Congresswoman” and vote for their favorite book in the Sweet 16 match-up.