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  • Board of Education Work Session Tonight (Sept. 11) a...

    Access the meeting via Zoom at  https://ladueschools.info/BoardZoom . Find out more about the Ladue Schools Board of Education at https://www.ladueschools.net/schoolboard .

    Wednesday, Sep 11 2024

  • Ladue Schools e-Connect Newsletter | Sept. 6 Edition

    Ladue Schools e-Connect ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Not displaying correctly? View in browser   Sept. 6: In this issue ... This Week's News Student Standouts Safety & Security Information for Parents & Community District Fill the Barrel Campaign (Sept. 16-20) 4th Annual Ladue Night Lights (Sept. 18) LEF Annual 5K and 1-Mile 'Due Run/Walk (Sept. 21) Register for Before/After School Care Little Medical School After School Program Board Briefs In Case You Missed It Important Dates Next week’s Board Work Session will be held on  Wednesday, Sept. 11,  at 6 p.m. at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Multipurpose Room, 1201 S. Warson Road. To view the meeting, visit  https://ladueschools.info/BoardZoom To obtain the agenda and additional information, visit our  district’s website under the School Board tab  ( www.ladueschools.net/schoolboard ). If you have questions , please contact us at  input@ladueschools.net . Thanks to the generosity of numerous donors, the Ladue Education Foundation, in partnership with Ladue Schools, celebrated the grand opening of the new West Campus Plaza (Restroom Pavilion) with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday evening. Over 200 attendees joined the event to celebrate and pay tribute to current and legendary coaches whose names appear on a dedicated wall recognizing their impact and contributions to the Ladue Schools community. Thank you to the Ladue Schools Board of Education,  Ladue Education Foundation & Alumni Association - LEF , donors, and our taxpayers for providing the funds for our new West Campus Restroom Pavilion. We also want to recognize the hard work of our superintendent, administrators, Mike Noonan, Arthur Floyd, BRS Architects, and Rallo Construction, who partnered to coordinate every aspect of this project. Student-athletes and spectators will use this new facility for generations to come. A special thanks to the alumni and friends who came out to celebrate the opening and ribbon-cutting event! Over a four-year period, Ladue Horton Watkins High School tracks the number of graduate admission  acceptances  into colleges and universities throughout the United States. The LHWHS Class of 2024 comprised 316 graduates, 80% attend a four-year college/university, and 9% attend a two-year college. This list does not include every college LHWHS student has attended.  Ladue Schools scholars continued their excellence outside the school building this summer as five students were selected to participate in  the Muny Kids + Teens Troupe.  Three Ladue Horton Watkins High School students joined one Ladue Middle School student and one Reed Elementary student in participating in multiple shows at the Muny for the highly acclaimed program. The students and the shows they performed include: Amelie Lock, 10th grader at LHWHS, “Les Miserables,” “Waitress,” “In the Heights” Adaeze Loynd, 11th grader at LHWHS, “In The Heights”  Amara Loynd, 8th grader at LMS,   “In The Heights” Landon Page, 10th grader at LHWHS, “Dreamgirls,” “Waitress,” “In The Heights” Arden Powell, 4th grader at Reed, “Disney's The Little Mermaid”  Read more Congratulations to Ladue Horton Watkins High School freshman Elle Saleeby on receiving a certificate of professional achievement in free expression advocacy from Poets, Essayists, and Novelists (PEN) America. Elle was selected for the Summer Free Expression Advocacy Institute sponsored by PEN America. She became certified through an intensive week-long educational and training program in Washington, D.C. She participated in workshops led by policy experts and engaged in advocacy campaign projects with fellow students nationwide. Read more Superintendent's Message to the Community on Aug. 27 Thanks to the Ladue Schools Board of Education, this summer, we added several new features throughout our district to enhance our school safety measures. One of these improvements is the addition of OPENGATE®, a groundbreaking weapons detection system that we will use during sporting event home games. OPENGATE® is the first and only fully open, active walk-through detection system with two freestanding pillars. Ladue Schools does not stand alone in implementing additional proactive safety measures. In fact, you may have noticed that most major sporting events, concert venues, and other school districts have also put this new practice into effect (i.e., Blues, Battlehawks, Cardinals, Stifel Theater, and The Muny, to name a few).  According to OPENGATE® website, this tool  Is fast, automatic, and unprecedented screening No divesting of backpacks, purses, and bags Extreme transit flow or throughput, with near-zero nuisance alarms Quick to setup and install – weighs only 25 lbs. with less than one minute of setup time Ready for anything - indoor and outdoor operations As a district, safety is always our top priority; this is just another measure we are instituting to help with everyone's safety. We found a good balance with OPENGATE®, where we can safely and conveniently get our students, community members, and visiting spectators onto our property. Our high school and middle school building principals will send a communication shortly on how we will implement the OPENGATE® safety program at home sporting events beginning this school year. In the meantime, we invite you to click on the OPENGATE® video for more information.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Tim Reboulet, Safety and Security Coordinator, at treboulet@ladueschools.net .    We look forward to the community coming out and supporting our varsity football team, dance team, Sparkle Effect, cheerleaders, and band! “Friday Night Lights” certainly brings our community together, and we are so thankful for our beautiful stadium, strong programs, and enthusiastic fans. Our primary objectives at home events are to ensure the safety of all spectators, to ensure a fun environment, and to ensure we are cheering for our performers at every game. Therefore, we have implemented the following expectations this year: NEW:  The district is implementing a weapons detection system for all home football games. All spectators will be screened upon entry.  Learn more  about this system.  NEW:  All tickets  must be purchased digitally and should be purchased in advance . Cash will not be accepted at the gate. Gates open at 6 p.m. NEW : Fans are not allowed to bring any backpacks or large bags. NEW:  Fans are not allowed to bring any outside food or drinks, including water bottles/tumblers, etc.  Students who are not in high school  must be   accompanied by and supervised by an adult or parent/guardian at all times. Should there be a conduct issue, the adult will be responsible for taking that student home.  Sports balls or other athletic equipment are not permitted; they will be confiscated if they are brought to the stadium. These events are an extension of our school day; therefore, school policies and procedures are in place. All students are expected to adhere to these policies and procedures on our campus at all times. Students who are disruptive, disrespectful, or insubordinate—running, throwing objects, using profanity, refusing to comply with an adult request—will be removed from the game and will not be permitted to attend future games for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year.  These new procedures will require patience as entering our stadium may take longer. However, these are in place to ensure a safe and fun atmosphere for all participants and fans. Thank you for your continued partnership!  GO RAMS! Sincerely, Brad Griffith, LHWHS Principal and  Dr. Angela Thompson, LMS Principal Help Us Support Our Ladue Schools Students in Need All Ladue Schools are accepting the following new items:  Backpacks, notebooks, and Trapper Keepers Undergarments and socks (purchase in the size of your child) Simple food items (granola bars, mac & cheese, ravioli, noodles, soups, etc.) Items from  District-Approved Healthy Snack List  (cereal bars, Skinny Pop, Sargento Light String Cheese, Teddy Grahams, etc.) Winter gear (coats, gloves, hats) Personal care items (deodorant, shampoo, soap, body wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.) Questions? Reach out to your  school’s counselor.     The 4th annual Ladue Night Lights is Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 6 p.m.  at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Ladue Night Lights is a unified football game to provide a fun experience for students with disabilities and their families . All students with a disability and their siblings are invited to choose how they want to participate: band, cheer, dance, or football. Register Your Child Be a Sponsor Organizers aim to connect students from all over the district to unify the Ladue Schools community. Participants and sponsors are needed to help make this event a success and keep it on track to become a long-lasting community tradition. Please come out and support the kids! Please bring cash for concessions, raffles, auctions, and donations. This community event is also a fundraiser for  Best Buddies International , a nonprofit dedicated to building opportunities for people with disabilities. Questions can be directed to laduenightlights@gmail.com . Event Details: McKenna Plaza at the LHWHS Stadium 8 a.m. Check-in and Pre-race Activities 8:30 a.m. Race Start Register Online at LadueFoundation.org $25/in-person (ages 13+)* $15/in-person (ages 2-12)* FREE (under age 2) *price increase after Sept. 7 Questions?  Visit the website at laduefoundation.org Send an email to lef@ladueschools.net Call 314-983-5334 Right At School delivers safe, meaningful, FUN before and after school enrichment at your child's school. Their mission is to inspire a love of learning in kids, support schools, and give parents (like you) peace of mind. 180+ hands-on learning activities Daily homework support Team sports and classic playground Games and activities designed to build lifelong social and emotional skills Student-led community service projects Music, art, drama, and so much more! Discounts and financial assistance available Little Medical School is the pioneer and leading developer of hands-on interactive programs for children focusing on healthcare. Our STEM-based curriculum caters to children of all ages. Little Medical School works with educators, healthcare leaders, and community organizations to INSPIRE healthy lifestyles in children as they learn about medical careers. Like seasoned surgeons, all programs are written by a board-certified educator and reviewed by board-certified and trained healthcare professionals. Learn more and register! The district uses ParentSquare as its mass communication system to keep parents informed and involved in their school community. A helpful tool our schools use is the forms feature to digitally capture a parent/guardian’s acknowledgment of a handbook, technology agreement, permission to participate in a special event or field trip, etc. Visit our  website for instructions . District communications through ParentSquare are available to be received through your email, text, and/or ParentSquare app notification (if you have the app downloaded on your smartphone). There are notification settings for each category; which are listed below that can be adjusted by the user . Instant (default): you'll receive an email and/or text and/or an app notification every time a notice or message is sent. Digest: you'll receive an email and/or text and/or an app notification once a day in the evening with all posts from that day (which typically arrive between 5-6 p.m.). Off: no notifications about posts will be sent to you. Emergency Alerts and Notices will still be sent. School Alerts will still be sent if turned on. The information contained in these Board Briefs are highlights of information received by the Ladue Schools Board of Education after a regular business meeting and is considered an unofficial record. Official minutes of each Board meeting are posted on the district website in  Diligent Community (formerly BoardDocs)  and available for viewing at the Administrative Center after the Board approves them, typically two weeks after the meeting. Interested in Subscribing? Receive email notifications when new “briefs” are posted by signing up on the  Board Briefs web page  — just click on the bell icon and enter your email address. In March 2023, the Ladue Schools Board of Education voted to change Policy JO: Student Records, allowing parent groups affiliated with the school district to access Limited Directory Information once per semester. Our director for student services has a student records management process for releasing student-limited directory information to the groups outlined in Policy JO-1 and a way for families who wish their information not to be shared a way to opt out . What is Limited Directory Information? The school district designates the following items as Limited Directory Information: The student's address, telephone number, school name, grade, and email address, as well as the parents'/guardians' addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Annually, the district will notify Parents/Guardians and eligible students of the information designated as limited directory information in the  Student/Parent Handbook  and  the  opt out process  (to keep the information private). Policy JO states Limited Directory Information may be disclosed to : The Ladue Education Foundation;  parent/guardian groups or booster clubs recognized by the board and are  created solely to work with the district , its staff, students, and parents/guardians and to raise funds for district activities to encourage membership or participation in the group or club;  governmental entities, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, the juvenile office, and the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services for official governmental purposes. In addition, the district requires the person or entity identified in items 1-3 above that requests limited directory information to certify in writing the information will not be redisclosed without the prior written consent of the parent/guardian or eligible student.  Questions or Requests Any questions or requests for limited directory information should be directed to the Student and Community Services Department by emailing  aberry@ladueschools.net  or calling (314) 983-5314. We are excited to announce an important development regarding our school board meetings platform. Over the past five years, Diligent, who is the parent company for BoardDocs, has been tirelessly working on creating a brand-new governance solution. This initiative was driven by their core goal of modernizing the BoardDocs platform, addressing the limitations of the technology, and reimagining the software design to meet the demands of contemporary public education governance. We are proud to introduce the result of this extensive project: Diligent Community. This new platform is a user-friendly, secure, and inclusive board management solution for public education.  Diligent Community will serve as the successor to BoardDocs moving forward. We have included the new link so you can become familiar with the platform.  Diligent Community . Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Ladue Schools Board of Education Sept. 11  - Board of Education Meeting (Work Session) | 6 p.m. at LHWHS Sept. 17 - National IT Professionals Day Sept. 18 - Ladue Night Lights | 6 p.m. at LHWHS Sept. 21 - 12th Annual 'Due Run  |  8 a.m. at LHWHS - McKenna Plaza Sept. 27-28 - LHWHS Homecoming Weekend   Ladue Schools Communications e-Connect provides weekly communications to the Ladue Schools Community  

    Friday, Sep 06 2024

  • Ladue Schools e-Connect Newsletter | Aug. 30, 2024 E...

    Ladue Schools e-Connect ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Not displaying correctly? View in browser   Aug. 30: In this issue ... This Week's News - Upcoming West Campus Pavilion Ribbon-Cutting Event Student Standouts Safety & Security Information for Parents & Community  - District Fill the Barrel Campaign (Sept. 16-20)  - 4th Annual Ladue Night Lights (Sept. 18)  - LEF Annual 5K and 1-Mile 'Due Run/Walk (Sept. 21)  - Register for Before/After School Care  - Little Medical School After School Program In Case You Missed It Important Dates   5 p.m. | Ribbon Cutting at Ladue Fifth Grade Center (10900 Ladue Road) Let's give a huge shoutout to our awesome donors and coach honorees, marvel at the fabulous new building, catch up with coaches, and have a blast celebrating together.    6 p.m. | Reception at Ladue Horton Watkins High School (1201 S. Warson Road) Join us immediately after the ribbon-cutting ceremony at LHWHS for a reception and tour of the high school. Celina Zhou, Ladue Horton Watkins High School junior, has been an avid reader from a young age. However, her writing skills, enhanced in her spare time during the pandemic, are getting her recognized as a high school standout. Celina, who won four gold keys during the regional competition, including the highest regional award, was awarded three gold medals at the 2024 Scholastic Art and Writing Awards. Read more   Congratulations to Ladue Horton Watkins High School freshman Elle Saleeby on receiving a certificate of professional achievement in free expression advocacy from Poets, Essayists, and Novelists (PEN) America. Elle was selected for the Summer Free Expression Advocacy Institute sponsored by PEN America. She became certified through an intensive week-long educational and training program in Washington, D.C. She participated in workshops led by policy experts and engaged in advocacy campaign projects with fellow students nationwide. Read more Superintendent's Message to the Community on Aug. 27 Thanks to the Ladue Schools Board of Education, this summer, we added several new features throughout our district to enhance our school safety measures. One of these improvements is the addition of OPENGATE®, a groundbreaking weapons detection system that we will use during sporting event home games. OPENGATE® is the first and only fully open, active walk-through detection system with two freestanding pillars. Ladue Schools does not stand alone in implementing additional proactive safety measures. In fact, you may have noticed that most major sporting events, concert venues, and other school districts have also put this new practice into effect (i.e., Blues, Battlehawks, Cardinals, Stifel Theater, and The Muny, to name a few).  According to OPENGATE® website, this tool  Is fast, automatic, and unprecedented screening No divesting of backpacks, purses, and bags Extreme transit flow or throughput, with near-zero nuisance alarms Quick to setup and install – weighs only 25 lbs. with less than one minute of setup time Ready for anything - indoor and outdoor operations As a district, safety is always our top priority; this is just another measure we are instituting to help with everyone's safety. We found a good balance with OPENGATE®, where we can safely and conveniently get our students, community members, and visiting spectators onto our property. Our high school and middle school building principals will send a communication shortly on how we will implement the OPENGATE® safety program at home sporting events beginning this school year. In the meantime, we invite you to click on the OPENGATE® video for more information.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Tim Reboulet, Safety and Security Coordinator, at treboulet@ladueschools.net .    We look forward to the community coming out and supporting our varsity football team, dance team, Sparkle Effect, cheerleaders, and band! “Friday Night Lights” certainly brings our community together, and we are so thankful for our beautiful stadium, strong programs, and enthusiastic fans. Our primary objectives at home events are to ensure the safety of all spectators, to ensure a fun environment, and to ensure we are cheering for our performers at every game. Therefore, we have implemented the following expectations this year: NEW:  The district is implementing a weapons detection system for all home football games. All spectators will be screened upon entry.  Learn more  about this system.  NEW:  All tickets  must be purchased digitally and should be purchased in advance . Cash will not be accepted at the gate. Gates open at 6 p.m. NEW : Fans are not allowed to bring any backpacks or large bags. NEW:  Fans are not allowed to bring any outside food or drinks, including water bottles/tumblers, etc.  Students who are not in high school  must be   accompanied by and supervised by an adult or parent/guardian at all times. Should there be a conduct issue, the adult will be responsible for taking that student home.  Sports balls or other athletic equipment are not permitted; they will be confiscated if they are brought to the stadium. These events are an extension of our school day; therefore, school policies and procedures are in place. All students are expected to adhere to these policies and procedures on our campus at all times. Students who are disruptive, disrespectful, or insubordinate—running, throwing objects, using profanity, refusing to comply with an adult request—will be removed from the game and will not be permitted to attend future games for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year.  These new procedures will require patience as entering our stadium may take longer. However, these are in place to ensure a safe and fun atmosphere for all participants and fans. Thank you for your continued partnership!  GO RAMS! Sincerely, Brad Griffith, LHWHS Principal, and  Dr. Angela Thompson , LMS Principal Help Us Support Our Ladue Schools Students in Need All Ladue Schools are accepting the following new items:  Backpacks, notebooks, and Trapper Keepers Undergarments and socks Simple food items (granola bars, mac & cheese, ravioli, noodles, soups, etc.) Winter gear (coats, gloves, hats) Personal care items (deodorant, shampoo, soap, body wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.) Questions? Reach out to your  school’s counselor.     The 4th annual Ladue Night Lights is Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 6 p.m.  at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Ladue Night Lights is a unified football game to provide a fun experience for students with disabilities and their families . All students with a disability and their siblings are invited to choose how they want to participate: band, cheer, dance, or football. Register Your Child (register before Aug. 30 to obtain a t-shirt for the event) Be a Sponsor Organizers aim to connect students from all over the district to unify the Ladue Schools community. Participants and sponsors are needed to help make this event a success and keep it on track to become a long-lasting community tradition. Please come out and support the kids! Please bring cash for concessions, raffles, auctions, and donations. This community event is also a fundraiser for  Best Buddies International , a nonprofit dedicated to building opportunities for people with disabilities. Questions can be directed to laduenightlights@gmail.com . Event Details: McKenna Plaza at the LHWHS Stadium 8 a.m. Check-in and Pre-race Activities 8:30 a.m. Race Start Register Online at LadueFoundation.org $25/in-person (ages 13+)* $15/in-person (ages 2-12)* FREE (under age 2) *price increase after Sept. 7 Questions?  Visit the website at laduefoundation.org Send an email to lef@ladueschools.net Call 314-983-5334 Right At School delivers safe, meaningful, FUN before and after school enrichment at your child's school. Their mission is to inspire a love of learning in kids, support schools, and give parents (like you) peace of mind. 180+ hands-on learning activities Daily homework support Team sports and classic playground Games and activities designed to build lifelong social and emotional skills Student-led community service projects Music, art, drama, and so much more! Discounts and financial assistance available Little Medical School is the pioneer and leading developer of hands-on interactive programs for children with a focus on healthcare. Our STEM-based curriculum caters to children of all ages. Little Medical School  works with educators, healthcare leaders, and community organizations to INSPIRE healthy lifestyles in  children as they learn about medical careers. All programs are written by a board-certified educator and  reviewed by board-certified and trained healthcare professionals, just like seasoned surgeons. Learn more and register! The district uses ParentSquare as its mass communication system to keep parents informed and involved in their school community. A helpful tool our schools use is the forms feature to digitally capture a parent/guardian’s acknowledgment of a handbook, technology agreement, permission to participate in a special event or field trip, etc. Visit our  website for instructions . In March 2023, the Ladue Schools Board of Education voted to change Policy JO: Student Records, allowing parent groups affiliated with the school district to access Limited Directory Information once per semester. Our director for student services has a student records management process for releasing student-limited directory information to the groups outlined in Policy JO-1 and a way for families who wish their information not to be shared a way to opt out . What is Limited Directory Information? The school district designates the following items as Limited Directory Information: The student's address, telephone number, school name, grade, and email address, as well as the parents'/guardians' addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Annually, the district will notify Parents/Guardians and eligible students of the information designated as limited directory information in the  Student/Parent Handbook  and  the  opt out process  (to keep the information private). Policy JO states Limited Directory Information may be disclosed to : The Ladue Education Foundation;  parent/guardian groups or booster clubs recognized by the board and are  created solely to work with the district , its staff, students, and parents/guardians and to raise funds for district activities to encourage membership or participation in the group or club;  governmental entities, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, the juvenile office, and the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services for official governmental purposes. In addition, the district requires the person or entity identified in items 1-3 above that requests limited directory information to certify in writing the information will not be redisclosed without the prior written consent of the parent/guardian or eligible student.  Questions or Requests Any questions or requests for limited directory information should be directed to the Student and Community Services Department by emailing  aberry@ladueschools.net  or calling (314) 983-5314. We are excited to announce an important development regarding our school board meetings platform. Over the past five years, Diligent, who is the parent company for BoardDocs, has been tirelessly working on creating a brand-new governance solution. This initiative was driven by their core goal of modernizing the BoardDocs platform, addressing the limitations of the technology, and reimagining the software design to meet the demands of contemporary public education governance. We are proud to introduce the result of this extensive project: Diligent Community. This new platform is a user-friendly, secure, and inclusive board management solution for public education.  Diligent Community will serve as the successor to BoardDocs moving forward. We have included the new link so you can become familiar with the platform:  Diligent Community . Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Ladue Schools Board of Education Sept. 2 - Labor Day (District Closed) Sept. 4 - West Campus Pavilion Ribbon Cutting Ceremony | 5 p.m. Sept. 11 - Board of Education Meeting (Work Session) | 6 p.m. at LHWHS Sept. 17 - National IT Professionals Day Sept. 18 - Ladue Night Lights | 6 p.m. at LHWHS Sept. 21 - 12th Annual 'Due Run  |  8 a.m. at LHWHS - McKenna Plaza Sept. 27-28 - LHWHS Homecoming Weekend   Ladue Schools Communications e-Connect provides weekly communications to the Ladue Schools Community  

    Friday, Aug 30 2024

  • Sept. 4 | Join Us and the LEF for the West Campus Pa...

    Let's give a huge shoutout to our awesome donors and coach honorees, marvel at the fabulous new building, catch up with coaches, and have a blast celebrating together.  6:00 P.M. Join us after the ceremony at Ladue Horton Watkins High School for a reception and tour of the high school.   

    Wednesday, Aug 28 2024

  • Board of Education Meeting Tonight (Aug. 28) at 6 p.m.

    Access the meeting via Zoom at  https://ladueschools.info/BoardZoom . Find out more about the Ladue Schools Board of Education at https://www.ladueschools.net/schoolboard .

    Wednesday, Aug 28 2024

  • Expectations at Home Games and Events

    August 27, 2024 Dear Ladue Schools Families,   We look forward to the community coming out and supporting our varsity football team, dance team, Sparkle Effect, cheerleaders, and band! “Friday Night Lights” certainly brings our community together, and we are so thankful for our beautiful stadium, strong programs, and enthusiastic fans. Our primary objectives at home events are to ensure the safety of all spectators, to ensure a fun environment, and to ensure we are cheering for our performers at every game. Therefore, we have implemented the following expectations this year: NEW:  The district is implementing a weapons detection system for all home football games. All spectators will be screened upon entry.  Learn more  about this system.  NEW:  All tickets  must be purchased digitally and should be purchased in advance . Cash will not be accepted at the gate. Gates open at 6 p.m. NEW:  Fans are not allowed to bring any backpacks or large bags. NEW:  Fans are not allowed to bring any outside food or drinks, including water bottles/tumblers, etc.  Students who are not in high school  must be  accompanied by and supervised by an adult or parent/guardian at all times. Should there be a conduct issue, the adult will be responsible for taking that student home.  Sports balls or other athletic equipment are not permitted; they will be confiscated if they are brought to the stadium. These events are an extension of our school day; therefore, school policies and procedures are in place. All students are expected to adhere to these policies and procedures on our campus at all times. Students who are disruptive, disrespectful, or insubordinate—running, throwing objects, using profanity, refusing to comply with an adult request—will be removed from the game and will not be permitted to attend future games for the remainder of the 2024-25 school year.  These new procedures will require patience as entering our stadium may take longer. However, these are in place to ensure a safe and fun atmosphere for all participants and fans. Thank you for your continued partnership!  GO RAMS! Sincerely, Brad Griffith Dr. Angela Thompson LHWHS Principal LMS Principal

    Tuesday, Aug 27 2024

  • New Safety Measure: Introducing OPENGATE®

    August 27, 2024 Good morning, Ladue Schools Community: Thanks to the Ladue Schools Board of Education, this summer, we added several new features throughout our district to enhance our school safety measures. One of these improvements is the addition of OPENGATE®, a groundbreaking weapons detection system that we will use during sporting event home games. OPENGATE® is the first and only fully open, active walk-through detection system with two freestanding pillars. Ladue Schools does not stand alone in implementing additional proactive safety measures. In fact, you may have noticed that most major sporting events, concert venues, and other school districts have also put this new practice into effect (i.e., Blues, Battlehawks, Cardinals, Stifel Theater, and The Muny, to name a few).   According to  OPENGATE® website , this tool  Is fast, automatic, and unprecedented screening No divesting of backpacks, purses, and bags Extreme transit flow or throughput, with near-zero nuisance alarms Quick to setup and install – weighs only 25 lbs. with less than one minute of setup time Ready for anything - indoor and outdoor operations As a district, safety is always our top priority; this is just another measure we are instituting to help with everyone's safety. We found a good balance with OPENGATE®, where we can safely and conveniently get our students, community members, and visiting spectators onto our property. Our high school and middle school building principals will send a communication shortly on how we will implement the OPENGATE® safety program at home sporting events beginning this school year. In the meantime, we invite you to click on the  OPENGATE® video  for more information.  If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Tim Reboulet, Safety and Security Coordinator, at  treboulet@ladueschools.net .     Sincerely ,

    Tuesday, Aug 27 2024

  • Ladue Schools e-Connect Newsletter | Aug. 23, 2024 E...

    Ladue Schools e-Connect Ladue Schools e-Connect ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  Not displaying correctly? View in browser   Aug. 23: In this issue ... Welcome Back This Week's News Student Standouts Staff Standout Safety & Security Information for Parents & Community In Case You Missed It Important Dates Ladue Schools students and staff returned to school on August 19 with smiles on their faces and an expectation to make 2024-25 a wonderful school year! First-day photos from around the district can be viewed on our  Facebook page.  Parents and guardians got in on the action as well! View our  photo album  of pictures submitted by parents across the district, and you still have time to get yours in by emailing them to  input@ladueschools.net .  Follow the links below to view video clips from KSDK's visit to Ladue Horton Watkins High School on Friday morning. Our students were outstanding and demonstrated a great deal of school spirit so early in the morning. KSDK reporter Sydney Stallsworth did an amazing job. What a fantastic way to wrap up our first week of school! Principal Brad Griffith's and student's Interview Superintendent Dr. Jim Wipke's Interview Facebook Live and Photos Next week’s Board meeting will be held on  Wednesday, Aug. 28,  at 6 p.m. at the Ladue Horton Watkins High School Multipurpose Room, 1201 S. Warson Road. To view the meeting, visit  https://ladueschools.info/BoardZoom To obtain the agenda and additional information, visit our  district’s website under the School Board tab  ( www.ladueschools.net/schoolboard ). If you have questions , please contact us at  input@ladueschools.net . We are excited to announce an important development regarding our school board meetings platform. Over the past five years, Diligent, who is the parent company for BoardDocs, has been tirelessly working on creating a brand-new governance solution. This initiative was driven by their core goal of modernizing the BoardDocs platform, addressing the limitations of the technology, and reimagining the software design to meet the demands of contemporary public education governance. We are proud to introduce the result of this extensive project: Diligent Community. This new platform is a user-friendly, secure, and inclusive board management solution for public education.  Diligent Community will serve as the successor to BoardDocs moving forward. We have included the new link so you can become familiar with the platform.  Diligent Community Thank you for your continued support and partnership. Ladue Schools Board of Education In March 2023, the Ladue Schools Board of Education voted to change Policy JO: Student Records, allowing parent groups affiliated with the school district to access Limited Directory Information once per semester. Our director for student services has a student records management process for releasing student-limited directory information to the groups outlined in Policy JO-1 and a way for families who wish their information not to be shared a way to opt out . What is Limited Directory Information? The school district designates the following items as Limited Directory Information: The student's address, telephone number, school name, grade, and email address, as well as the parents'/guardians' addresses, telephone numbers, and email addresses. Annually, the district will notify Parents/Guardians and eligible students of the information designated as limited directory information in the  Student/Parent Handbook  and  the  opt out process  (to keep the information private). Policy JO states Limited Directory Information may be disclosed to : The Ladue Education Foundation;  parent/guardian groups or booster clubs recognized by the board and are  created solely to work with the district , its staff, students, and parents/guardians and to raise funds for district activities to encourage membership or participation in the group or club;  governmental entities, including, but not limited to, law enforcement, the juvenile office, and the Children's Division (CD) of the Department of Social Services for official governmental purposes. In addition, the district requires the person or entity identified in items 1-3 above that requests limited directory information to certify in writing the information will not be redisclosed without the prior written consent of the parent/guardian or eligible student.  Questions or Requests Any questions or requests for limited directory information should be directed to the Student and Community Services Department by emailing  aberry@ladueschools.net  or calling (314) 983-5314. Eleven Ladue Horton Watkins High School students recently competed in a leadership conference hosted by the Health Occupations Students of America (HOSA), an international career and technical student organization endorsed by the U.S. Department of Education and the Health Science Technology Education Division of the Association for Career and Technical Education   After a long road and multiple competition wins leading up to the final event, two Ladue students claimed first place during the conference. Over 11,300 students competed in 92 health-related competitions, and juniors Anthony Zhao and Madeline Awad came home victorious in Respiratory Therapy and Health Career Photography, respectively. Their victories came at the pinnacle event for HOSA students in Houston, TX., which followed regional and state qualifiers earlier this year. Additionally, seniors Alexandra Tsygankov and Stuti Dasgupta were among 14 Missouri HOSA members who received an International Leadership Conference scholarship totaling $500 each. Read more     Nick Buckvar Honored as Missouri USTFCCCA Coach of the Year Ladue Horton Watkins High School head track & field coach Nick Buckvar was recently selected by the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association (USTFCCCA) as Missouri’s Girls Track & Field Coach of Year.  Read more Whether you are a student or an adult, understanding the issues concerning suicide and mental health is an important way to take part in suicide prevention. If you’re struggling, sharing your feelings is okay by calling 988. Everyone Plays a Role in Suicide Prevention.   The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is hosting an event with Dolly Parton and her Imagination Library team on  Tuesday, August 27, 2024 , at 11 a.m. in Kansas City, Missouri. The event will celebrate the success so far of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library of Missouri and encourage more Missouri families to enroll. Imagination Library of Missouri partners, early childhood education stakeholders, and other special guests were invited to attend the event in-person. DESE has partnered with Kansas City PBS to livestream the event statewide so all of Missouri can share in the celebration. Families, parent groups, classrooms, and school and community partners can watch the livestream at  kansascitypbs.org/dolly . Help Us Support Our Ladue Schools Students in Need All Ladue Schools are accepting the following new items:  Backpacks, notebooks, and Trapper Keepers Undergarments and socks Simple food items (granola bars, mac & cheese, ravioli, noodles, soups, etc.) Winter gear (coats, gloves, hats) Personal care items (deodorant, shampoo, soap, body wipes, toothbrushes, toothpaste, etc.) Questions? Reach out to your  school’s counselor.     The 4th annual Ladue Night Lights is Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 6 p.m.  at Ladue Horton Watkins High School. Ladue Night Lights is a unified football game to provide a fun experience for students with disabilities and their families . All students with a disability and their siblings are invited to choose how they want to participate: band, cheer, dance, or football. Register Your Child (register before Sept. 3 to obtain a t-shirt for the event) Be a Sponsor Organizers aim to connect students from all over the district to unify the Ladue Schools community. Participants and sponsors are needed to help make this event a success and keep it on track to become a long-lasting community tradition. Please come out and support the kids! Please bring cash for concessions, raffles, auctions, and donations. This community event is also a fundraiser for  Best Buddies International , a nonprofit dedicated to building opportunities for people with disabilities. Questions can be directed to laduenightlights@gmail.com . Event Details: McKenna Plaza at the LHWHS Stadium 8 a.m. Check-in and Pre-race Activities 8:30 a.m. Race Start Register Online at LadueFoundation.org $25/in-person (ages 13+)* $15/in-person (ages 2-12)* FREE (under age 2) *price increase after Sept. 7 Questions?  Visit the website at laduefoundation.org Send an email to lef@ladueschools.net Call 314-983-5334 Right At School delivers safe, meaningful, FUN before and after school enrichment at your child's school. Their mission is to inspire a love of learning in kids, support schools, and give parents (like you) peace of mind. 180+ hands-on learning activities Daily homework support Team sports and classic playground Games and activities designed to build lifelong social and emotional skills Student-led community service projects Music, art, drama, and so much more! Discounts and financial assistance available The following was sent to district families on Aug. 6 from the district’s Communications Director, welcoming everyone to the new school year and providing links to important information frequently needed by families.  Ladue Schools Student/Parent Handbook District Calendar   Bus / Transportation Information Bus Routes NEW:  Here Comes the Bus Tracking App Meals/Food Service Free/Reduced Lunch Application Chartwells   MySchoolBucks   Before & After School Care (Right at School) Dyslexia Information   ParentSquare Introduction (Quick Tips )  Infinite Campus App Instructions   Required Annual Update in Infinite Campus   Volunteering in Our Schools   Ladue Education Foundation (LEF) Information About the LEF   District Website  (bookmark this page)  School Supply Lists After reviewing the linked materials, please don’t hesitate to contact me or a member of my Communications Team at (314) 994-7080 or  input@ladueschools.net  if you have any questions. We are here to help and will direct you to the appropriate department when necessary. Sincerely, Kimberly G. McKenzie, M.A. Director of Communications Aug. 28: Board of Education Meeting | 6 p.m. at LHWHS Sept. 2: Labor Day (District Closed) Ladue Schools Communications e-Connect provides weekly communications to the Ladue Schools Community  

    Friday, Aug 23 2024

  • Ladue Night Lights Event on Wednesday, Sept. 18 at 6...

    4th Annual Ladue Night Lights All are invited to attend our 4th annual  Ladue Night Lights event on Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024, at 6 p.m. at Ladue Horton Watkins High School . Ladue Night Lights is a unified football game that provides a fun experience for students with disabilities and their families.  All students with a disability and their siblings are invited to choose how they want to participate, including band, cheer, dance, or football, and will be paired with a high school student in their selected area.  The entire community is invited to come out and support the kids. Please bring cash for concessions, raffles, auctions, and donations.  Register Your Child (register before Sept. 3 to be sure you have a t-shirt for the event) Be a Sponsor Ladue Night Lights is a  community event and fundraiser  for Best Buddies International , a nonprofit dedicated to building opportunities for people with disabilities. Some of the funds raised will be funneled back into the Ladue Best Buddies chapter. We are committed to  making this event a long-lasting tradition that supports unity in the Ladue Schools community.  For additional information, visit the web page or event flyer , or email us at   laduenightlights@gmail.com . [Thursday, Aug 22 at 6:09 PM] Ladue Schools community, here is an updated link for the 4th Annual Ladue Night Lights registration form. https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd78pTReyjxiPhk0xdW1x3JtY0Z51GL1a4xlpT14eVZAKnoOg/viewform Register Your Child

    Thursday, Aug 22 2024

  • Update: Here Comes The Bus GPS Application

    August 7, 2024 Good morning, Ladue School District families, We are currently experiencing technical issues between our new transportation “ Here Comes The Bus ” application and our GPS provider. Transpar and Missouri Central are working with both groups to resolve this issue quickly.  We will resend the installation directions once the connection has been restored and the Here Comes The Bus app is live .   Thank you to the families for contacting us about the problem. We appreciate your time and patience. Regards,  Missouri Central and Transpar

    Wednesday, Aug 07 2024