KSD eSpotlight
October 14, 2023
On Saturday, October 7, the Kirkwood School District Board of Education members joined staff and students of Westchester Elementary in officially cutting the ribbon on their new and expanded spaces, which were made possible thanks to the community’s support for Prop R. Thank you to everyone who came out for our event.
National Principals Month
We welcome you to express your gratitude and let your principal know just how much their tireless efforts & dedication mean to you.
Nipher Middle School
North Middle School
National School Bus Safety Week
Also, please check our Facebook and Instagram feeds next week for tips throughout the week.
Panorama Survey - Please Take a Moment to Complete
The Kirkwood School District values your feedback! We are currently surveying our families in order to gain insight into your perception of our school and district effectiveness. To ensure we continue to provide high-quality, rigorous learning experiences that meet the needs of our learners and foster a climate of belonging, we want to know what you think.
You may complete the survey online using a computer, tablet, or smartphone. In order to ensure the results can be helpful to each building, you will need to click on the building your child attends. If you have students in more than one building, please fill out a survey for each building.
To fill out the survey, visit: https://surveys.panoramaed.com/kirkwood/fall23family
To administer these surveys, we have partnered with Panorama Education. Panorama safeguards your privacy, keeping your responses confidential. The survey will be a valuable source of information* for us as we work to make our schools and district better.
Please complete your survey by Friday, November 10th. Thank you in advance for your thoughtful responses!
Additionally, we will be asking for your child to reflect on their own mindsets and approaches to learning via an online survey they will be completing at school.
The survey content will ask students in grades 3-12 to self-reflect on school safety, sense of belonging, rigorous expectations, valuing of math, self efficacy about math, positive feelings, and supportive relationships.
Our students' responses will provide invaluable insights into their experiences and how we can improve and adapt our district to their needs.
The feedback we receive through these survey efforts will help us realize our mission to equip students with the skills, knowledge and understanding to be empathetic, successful, and to value all people.
Hispanic Heritage Month - Student Leadership Learning in Our Schools
Students in the Leaders Among Us Class at North Kirkwood Middle School are leading some learning during Hispanic Heritage Month. The class, in partnership with the social studies team, is decorating a hallway themed around different cultures and celebrations. Their first project is featuring Hispanic and Latino communities. The students designed a mural showcasing famous and influential individuals from Hispanic cultures. It also displays the Hispanic Heritage flag, designed to represent the diversity of Latino cultures. For example, the geometric design represents mountainous regions along with the connection of Hispanic people. The light blue represents water and justice for everyone.
7th-grade student Gia feels it is important to learn about the achievements by Latinos. "We want to get to know where they came from to get where they are today," said Gia.
7th grade student Lilia learned that during the month of Hispanic Heritage celebration, each country has a unique day for their celebration. "Guatemala celebrates on September 15, and Spain celebrates on October 12," said Lilia. "Within those 30 days, many Latin American countries celebrate their national independence day."
Future projects for this service learning-oriented class include a mural for Veterans Day, a Thanksgiving-themed mural where students can share their thanks, and a Black History Month mural.
Over in the NKMS library, students are learning about the Hispanic/Latino community, specifically in St. Louis. "The Hispanic/Latino population has risen 40% in the last 10 years in St. Louis," shared NKMS librarian Brandy Fink. Mrs. Fink also shared some of her favorite books about or written by a Hispanic/Latino during a book talk to students in Spanish class.
KSD Calendar Committee is Seeking Your Feedback
Upcoming Events
District Cross Country Meet - Oct. 17 and 18
We are looking for volunteers. Please visit the volunteer signup page to learn more.
Cross Country Meet
Elementary students will compete in a 1-mile race on Oct. 17 and middle school students will compete in a 1.5 mile race on Oct. 18. This free event is open to all running abilities. To register, visit kirkwoodschools.org/ksdxc
Shoe Drive
Unity Day - October 18
In partnership with the Special School District, please consider supporting Unity Day, and events surrounding its awareness.
Upcoming Events
Thursday, October 19
End of First Quarter
Friday, October 20
No School for Students
Monday, October 23
No School for Students
BOE Updates
To subscribe to email updates from the Board of Education, visit kirkwoodschools.org/boe and fill out the required information on the right hand side of the page.