Springfield Public Schools, Springfield, MO

Central High School principal, Dr. Ron Snodgrass, has been named the Southwest Missouri School Counselor Advocate of the Year by the Southwest Missouri School Counselor Association (SMSCA).

Each year, SMSCA selects and recognizes deserving counselors and counselor advocates who are hardworking and dedicated to helping students succeed. Snodgrass was nominated by the counseling team at Central.

"We nominated Dr. Snodgrass for his expertise as a leader and his support of school counselors," said Central counselor Neva Hilton.

Only one administrator in the southwest district is honored annually for this prestigious award. The award was presented to Dr. Snodgrass at the association's administrator brunch on April 1.

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A total of 52 Springfield students from the Springfield Scholars Program and Central and Hillcrest high schools recently qualified to compete in the Missouri National History Day event that was held on April 9 at Missouri University – Columbia and sponsored by the State Historical Society of Missouri.  

This year’s theme for the event was “Debate and Diplomacy in History: Successes, Failures, Consequences.” Students qualified for the state competition by placing in the regional competition held at Missouri State University in Springfield earlier this year.

Three groups have now qualified to compete at National History Day, June 12-16, at the University of Maryland.

National History Day (NHD) is a highly regarded academic program for elementary and secondary school students that more than half a million students nationwide participate in. Students choose historical topics related to a theme and conduct extensive primary and secondary research through libraries, archives, museums, oral history interviews and historic sites. After analyzing and interpreting their sources and drawing conclusions about their topics’ significance in history, students present their work in original papers, websites, exhibits, performances and documentaries.

The following students have qualified to participate in the National History Day competition:

Amanda Morrison
Quinlan Pulleyking
1^st Place Junior Group Performance, Women’s Rights Debate: The Petticoat Rebellion
School - Springfield Scholars Program at Central High School
Teacher - Julie Chapin  

Sasidhar Karuparti
Gabriel Ting
Alexander Baker
1^st Place Junior Group Web Site, The Cuban Missile Crisis: Nuclear Disaster Averted
School - Springfield Scholars Program at Central High School
Teacher - Rebecca Smith

Yoonji Kim
Valerie Quirk
2^nd Place, Senior Group Documentary, We Shall Overcome: Brown v. Board of Education
School – Central High School
Teacher-Molly Gray

Additional state finalists include:

 Ty Vestal
4^th place Senior Individual Web Site, Standoff Between CSA and FBI Ends Peacefully
School-Hillcrest High School
Teacher-Nancy Piston

 Ellen Eisenhour
6^th place Senior historical paper The Entente Cordiale
School-Central High School
Teacher-Molly Gray

Complete information on the Missouri History program can be found at: http://mo.nhd.org/. Information on National History Day can be found at: http://www.nhd.org/.

Three SPS students recently were recognized as winners of the annual Drury University Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest. The winning essays and the SPS students who wrote them have been featured in this blog since late last week. Today, this blog will showcase the winning essay districtwide, written by Sydney Norton from Cherokee Middle School.

“Failure is Impossible”

Before the 19th century, women were discriminated against. They were not allowed to vote, and they were not treated as fairly as men. But that all changed when the 19th Amendment was passed after 72 years of women fighting back. Susan B. Anthony, Emily Pankhurst, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and thousands of other women joined the National Women’s Suffrage Association (NWSA) in 1869. The 19th Amendment was passed as a result of the Women’s Suffrage Movement’s determination in fighting for women’s right to vote and the abolishment of discrimination against women.

The women of America were trying to change the law that prohibited them from being able to vote. They also wanted to be treated just as fairly as men and have the same laws as them. It took 72 years to persuade the government to change the Constitution and allow women the right to vote. “We hold these truths to be self-evident,” proclaimed the Declaration of Sentiments that the delegates produced, “that all men and women are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness...(www.historv.com) Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton decided that this was their chance to fight back so they came up with a group called the National Women’s Suffrage Association. (NWSA)

Susan B. Anthony and her lifelong friend Elizabeth Cady Stanton founded the National Women’s Suffrage Association in 1869 and together they worked for over 50 years. Susan B. Anthony was the president of NWSA for 30 years. She dedicated her entire life to fighting for the right to vote. She traveled all over the United States giving over 4,000 speeches during the duration of her fight against discrimination. She was very proud to lead this non-violent and very inspirational revolution. Her last public words, “Failure is Impossible,” became the suffrage rallying cry. (www.lkwdpl.org) Susan B. Anthony died 14 years before the 19th Amendment was passed, but there were other women to carry on the fight.

Another important woman in the fight for women’s rights was Emily Pankhurst. After her husband’s sudden death, she decided to join the Women’s Suffrage Movement. Emily had a different strategy when it came to public appearances than Susan B. Anthony. Emily used more drastic strategies for example, tying herself to buildings, breaking windows, and hunger strikes. There were several times where she or members of her group were arrested for their demonstrations. In 1914 when the First World War broke out, women were given the jobs that the men previously held, which helped the Women’s Suffrage Movement by showing how capable and equal the women were.

It was four years later when the 19th Amendment, also known as the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, was passed by Congress. It was introduced to the House of Representatives on May 19, 1919 by Representative James R. Mann. This amendment had been introduced before and failed, but this time it had no trouble passing. “At 8 a.m. on June 4, 1919, Secretary of State Bainbridge Colby signed the proclamation which stated:

Section I: The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.

Section 2: Congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation.”

(www.womensissues.about.com)

By the passage of the 19th Amendment, women now have the right to vote. After decades of speeches, demonstrations, petitions, and much hard work, the Women’s Suffrage Movement had finally succeeded. It is very unfortunate that the women who started the Women’s Suffrage Movement and paved the way for this amendment did not live long enough to celebrate the victory. However, they will never be forgotten.

Three SPS students recently were recognized as winners of the annual Drury University Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest. Last week, third place winner Asana Rimal from Cherokee Middle School was featured in this blog and today and tomorrow the second and first place winners will also have their award winning essays published here.

The below essay was written by Pipkin Middle School student Angel White. White won second place in the essay contest.

Profiles in Courage: Changing Unjust Laws
Segregation

Not so long ago in our world, black people and white people lead different lifestyles because of one thing: segregation. Blacks and whites were separate. Blacks had fewer rights and were treated as less than whites. In an attempt to change segregation, there were certain black leaders that had a strong impact and were courageous in their efforts.

Years before today, there was a lot of separation between blacks and whites. Schools were designated for separate colors and, because of this, blacks had to walk further to get there. Some blacks could not afford to go to school and most were not expected to get into college. Public transportation, such as buses and other vehicles were segregated so that whites sat up front, while blacks had to sit in the back. Public things and places, such as water fountains, bathrooms, and restaurants, were reserved for separate colors also.

Sometime ago, blacks were considered less than whites and were denied many rights. Education in black schools was much worse than it was in white schools. Black teachers were considerably underpaid. The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) tried to create a case to desegregate schools and other public places and the attempts were often followed by violence. Voting was also an issue for blacks. In Southern states, black voters were discriminated against and discouraged from voting. Some also kept away for reasons of racist intimidation.

In the past years, there were strong leaders and people who stood up for the rights of black people. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., the pastor of a Montgomery, Alabama church, lead many fights to desegregate schools and other places. King taught blacks to meet the violence and discrimination of whites with nonviolence by turning the other cheek. King expressed his hopes for black people’s future in many speeches, especially his most famous “I Have a Dream” address given at the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. Rosa Parks was also a powerful impact toward the rights of blacks. In December of 1955, Rosa Parks was arrested when she refused to give up her seat to a white man on a crowded bus. Later, the bus company was boycotted by Montgomery blacks who were lead by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. To prove their courage to stand up for their rights, 90 percent of blacks who were riding buses either walked, carpooled, or biked to their destination. The boycott lasted for 381 days.

Today, segregation has greatly declined. Because of many great people such as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Rosa Parks, Sojourner Truth, Booker T. Washington and many others, our society was changed. We now should be thankful for the changes that occurred by leaders and thankful that we are here to experience them by the grace of God.

Over the next few days, The Best of SPS blog will pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.and others who have led civil rights movements in honor of Black History Month by showcasing the recent winners in the annual Drury University Martin Luther King, Jr. Essay Contest held recently for SPS middle school students.

The United States began observing Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday as a national holiday in 1986. In life, King was a symbol of hope for African Americans that the nation could become whole and we would all live as brothers and sisters. More than 200 SPS middle school student paid tribute to the civil rights leader in the Drury essay contest sponsored by the NAACP.

Students were asked to evaluate sources and create an essay about specific groups and people involved in various rights movements in history. Students received grades for the project in both communication arts and in social studies. The essays had to include accurate details relating to a movement’s advancement and students had to site sources used for the information.

The first-, second- and third-place essay winners were given a plaque last month at Central High School, on Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. Winners also received a cash prize; $50 for the second- and third-place winners, $100 for the first-place winner.

Essay contest winners:

1^st Place: Sydney Norton – Cherokee Middle School

2^nd Place: Angel White – Pipkin Middle School

3^rd Place: Asana Rimal – Cherokee Middle School

For the next few days, we will feature these student's award winning essays. Today please enjoy the essay of our third-place winner, Asana Rimal.

A Migration to Tolerance

John F. Kennedy once said, "The wave of the future is not the conquest of the world by a single dogmatic creed but the liberation of the diverse energies of free nations and free men." (dumb.com). Inspired by these words of wisdom, I believe our nation could never blossom with a lack of diversity. While immigration has been a notorious subject, it said to be a blessing in disguise. Ifin 1965, the Hart-Cellar Act, (also known as the Immigration Act of 1965), was never conceded, the future our community, and the lives of many individuals, would be significantly altered.

The year 1965 was remarkable date in history for many ethnic groups such as South Asians, North Asians, and Hispanics. President Lyndon Johnson passed decree which allowed more immigrants from third world countries to enter the United States. Known as the Hart-Cellar Act, this bill was a substantial contribution to the lives of immigrants; the bill welcomed foreigners by recognizing their skills and professions, rather than their country of origin. (thenagain.com) The Civil Rights movement greatly influenced the Hart-Cellar Act, (answers.com). Similar to the Civil Rights Movement, the Hart-Cellar Act gave the minority equal opportunities to make a living in the United States. I feel as though my own life would be dramatically different if this bill had not existed. In relation, my own parents struggled to have a strong independent life, from the time they packed their belongings in Nepal to the moment they began building a future in America, the Hart-Cellar Act must have made an enduring impression in their existence as well as my own.

In addition to being, "the land of opportunity", one of our nation's best qualities today is variety. For example, when the Immigration Act of 1965 was put forth, the entire western hemisphere changed. As more and more Asians, Hispanics, and Europeans settled, new skills, abilities, and gifted individuals also dwelled in America. ot only did a nation contribute to the wei fare of its settlers, but its inhabitants formed a better place.

Moreover, most people may not have realized the discrimination of Asians, East Asians, Asian Indians, and Hispanics before 1965. Prior to when the Hart-Cellar Act was executed, the minority was even prohibited to transfer to America, (thenagin.com), (answers.com) A handful of citizens today consider immigration as inconvenient, and that, " ... government is in enough chaos trying to handle merely the Americans there are now..." (echeat.com), and however these Americans choose to ignore the fact that we are all immigrants. Our ancestors came to America to seek a better living, as did the populace of migrants at the time of the Hart-Cellar Act. Seeing our nation today, it is clear that discrimination and bigotry was overcome for the better of a country and the lives its people.

The population of this country has nearly struggled as much as our nation has flourished. In 1965 the Hart-Cellar Act was passed to allow an increasing number of people to come to America and practice their skills and intelligence, (thenagina.com). This immigration act also improved the lives of our people and the United States itself. To this day, hundreds of thousands continue a migration to tolerance.

Each month, building leaders nominate teachers from across the district for Springfield Public Schools Teacher of the Month contest. Only five teachers are selected for the award by the district human resources department. The decision is based on the nomination letters that are submitted. Any SPS teacher may be nominated for Teacher of the Month, but to be selected, the nomination letters need to adequately describe the reasons why the teacher is deserving of the award. The monthly contest is not based on popularity or whether or not a teacher has ever won before, but on their dedication and innovation in the classroom.

January Teachers of the Month:

Leisha Baker

Cheryl Lawson - not pictured

 
Jodi Grable

Jaymes Wapp

Jeanne Roberts

SPS teachers are starting to focus on preparing students for success in the 21^st Century, a challenging and complex new world that requires students to be flexible and creative. To keep up with the pace of change, teachers are using technology and innovative methods of teaching to keep students engaged. The following teachers were selected as the November Teachers of the Month for their outstanding contribution to SPS and for their innovative methods of teaching. Below are some questions we asked the winning teachers and their responses.

Q: What does being selected as Teacher of the Month mean to you?

A: (Jodi Grable) It is an honor to be selected, I feel privileged to be working everyday with such dedicated professionals.

Q: In your view, what is the best thing about teaching?
A: (Jeanne Roberts) The interaction with students is the best thing about teaching.  I enjoy helping students gain the skills needed to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate literature.  In addition, I love bringing literature to life for students. To see them also become passionate about literature is truly rewarding.

Q: Who is the one person in your life that inspired you to become a teacher?A: (Leisha Baker) There have been many people in my life that have inspired me to teach, including my husband and two children. However, I will never forget my third grade teacher, Mrs. Barr. She helped me adjust to moving to a new school in the middle of the year and was very influential in motivating me to want to learn and become a better reader. It was fun to be in her class.

Q: Describe one experience that makes you glad you became a teacher.
A: (Jaymes Wapp) The best experience this year happened during our unit on feudal Europe.  We had project where the kids had create and present a proposal to earn a piece of land from the king (me…the teacher). For two whole days I had all kinds of bribes thrown my way as the students graciously sought my approval.

Click here to read more information about these outstanding SPS teachers. Principals may now nominate teachers for February Teacher of the Month through Feb. 25.

Nine fifth-grade students from Springfield Public Schools have won their school Arbor Day Poster Contest are now in the running for the state contest.

Field Elementary School fifth-grader Noah Henkle's poster (shown on right)  won first place among 279 poster entries citywide. Henkle’s poster was selected by local tree experts from the Missouri Community Forestry Council and Springfield Tree City USA Citizens’ Advisory Committee. The contest has been organized in previous years by the National Arbor Day Foundation, but was discontinued after the 2010 contest. Now the contest is done on a school, city, regional and state level. This year’s poster theme was “Trees are Terrific…and Energy Wise!” Fifth-grade students throughout the region were encouraged to submit a poster.

The poster contest is a good opportunity to teach youth about the value, uses, biology and need for trees in our environment and an amazing chance for students to be able to show off their creativity and how they can correlate it with educational material.

Faith Halbert from Twain Elementary School was awarded second place in Springfield. A total of nine SPS students won at their individual schools. The prizes for the school winners include planting a tree on school grounds and registering the tree in their name Student winners also received a family four-pack pass to the Dickerson Park Zoo from the Springfield-Greene County Park Board. As the first-place winner for the district, Henkle will receive a one-year family pass to the Dickerson Park Zoo.

All nine winning posters are in Jefferson City being judged with the rest of the winning posters throughout the state. State winners will be announced at the Missouri Community Forestry Council State Conference to be held in Kirksville in March. Congratulations to the following school winners.

Taylor Castillo - Bowerman
Noah Henkle - Field
Alyssa Bates - Disney
Julian Shaw - Holland
Faith Halbert - Mark Twain
Adam Bax - Pershing
Kaleb Krejci - Robberson
Jacob Lewis - Sherwood
Nakkee Bealer - Westport

For additional information, go to SPS recent news.

Rountree Elementary School students and staff have raised more than $1,100 towards the purchase of new playground equipment and are celebrating with artistic expression today.

On Saturday, Jan. 22, Applebee’s hosted a pancake breakfast fund raiser for the school. School principal David Martin agreed to wear a shirt and hat covered with pancakes if they raised $750. Both Martin and art teacher Ed Fonda agreed to wear the shirts and hats adorned with pancakes if they raised $1,000.

Since the pancake breakfast surpassed both goals, Martin and Fonda are sporting shirts and hats today decorated with pancakes. In case you were wondering, the pancakes first had to be dried out, covered with polyurethane to keep them firm and make them easy to glue. The breakfast food was attached to the fabric via hot glue gun and, voila, pancake t-shirts and hats.

Both Martin and Fonda will be wearing the pancake creations to celebrate all day today, Monday, Jan. 31.

Pictured above are Ed Fonda, David Martin, Nathan Elsenraat, Miracle Turner, Mathilda Boyd and Abe Ford.

Springfield Public Schools has a lot to celebrate. Each year we have seniors who score above the state and national average on the ACT, and students in this district are constantly being recognized for academics, athletics and fine arts on a state and national level. This district also has highly qualified teachers and staff who earn state and national recognition. This new blog, The Best of SPS, is dedicated to showcasing the best and brightest students, teachers and staff in the district and the accomplishments that they achieve. For our first post, we decided to showcase our November Teacher of the Month winners.

Each month, building leaders nominate teachers from across the district for Springfield Public Schools Teacher of the Month contest. Only five teachers are selected for the award by the district human resources department. The decision is based on the nomination letters that are submitted. Any SPS teacher may be nominated for Teacher of the Month, but to be selected, the nomination letters need to adequately describe the reasons why the teacher is deserving of the award. The monthly contest is not based on popularity or whether or not a teacher has ever won before, but on their dedication and innovation in the classroom.

November SPS Teachers of the Month


Darci Breckner – Mann, Kindergarten, Literacy Teacher


Danny Gutierrez – Rountree, Music Teacher


Mary Joe Edgerton – Cherokee, Technology Teacher


Jackie Rothermich – Hillcrest, Math Teacher

Kristina Catt – Portland, Kindergarten Teacher (Photo not available)

SPS teachers are starting to focus on preparing students for success in the 21^st Century, a challenging and complex new world that requires students to be flexible and creative. To keep up with the pace of change, teachers are using technology and innovative methods of teaching to keep students engaged. The following teachers were selected as the November Teachers of the Month for their outstanding contribution to SPS and for their innovative methods of teaching. Below are some questions we asked the winning teachers and their responses.

Q: Were you surprised to win Teacher of the Month?
A: (Jaclyn Rothermich) Yes, I feel honored because I am a second year teacher.

Q: Have you ever been named Teacher of the Month before?
A: (Daniel Gutierrez) No. I have been recognized by other schools but never on a district level.

Q: What is your favorite thing about teaching?
A: (Darci Breckner) My favorite thing is working daily with my first-graders. I enjoy the challenge of teaching children and how I never know what each day will bring. I adore the humor my students bring into my daily life.

Q: Name the one person in your life who inspired you to become a teacher and why?
A: (Mary Edgerton)As a high school student, Mr. Tucker saw something in me that I hadn’t realized was there and encouraged me to pursue teaching. I loved learning and exploring and still do today. It is my wish that my students will find my class fun and exciting and will develop a love for learning too. 

Principals may begin nominating teachers for December Teacher of the Month today through December 13.