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What's Happening Weekly @ MRH
July 22, 2024
A Message from the Editors
Among the goals in the MRH 5-year Strategic Plan is an effort to provide clear and consistent communication to all stakeholders. To that end, this edition of "What's Happening Weekly @ MRH" boasts a new look and feel. We have switched to a newsletter platform called "Smore," which offers numerous user-friendly features to help you better navigate the articles, photos and links. For instance, take notice of the Table of Contents feature at the top left of the newsletter (open in browser), designed to take you right where you want to go without scrolling. Combined with a cleaner appearance and more vibrant visuals, we hope you will find it a step in the right direction.
For parents and guardians, your Sunday evening newsletters from principals will also utilize the Smore platform. Our building leaders have studied your responses to our recent family survey about newsletter quality, and we believe the content will be more closely aligned with your needs... leaner, more relevant and with greater emphasis on how you may become more active in the life of your child's school.
Please provide your feedback to the editors, in order that we may continue to meet your communications needs.
Ed Rich, Director of Communications
Maplewood Richmond Heights School District
Board of Education Holds First Meeting at New District HQ
Board Hears Updates on State Testing, Construction Progress
The MRH Board of Education tackled a relatively light agenda at its July monthly meeting, the Board’s first gathering at the new Maria J. Langston (MJL) Administration Building.
Superintendent Dr. Bonita Jamison reported that the State has released Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) and End of Course (EOC) tests to education institutions, but the information is currently embargoed for release to the general public. MRH administrators, including principals, are reviewing the data in preparation for providing the findings to MRH families.
Chief Financial Officer Chris Hoelzer provided a construction update. During several recent walk-through inspections (“punches”) with primary contractor TriCo, several items of incomplete work were recorded. The District is awaiting a completion date from TriCo.
At the MJL Administration Building, contractor Legacy has completed 99% of its work. The MJL passed inspections for plumbing, electrical and mechanical. The City of Maplewood identified a few minor changes that will be addressed soon. Exterior paint was delayed by rain but resumed on Friday. MRH is on target for completing this project within the allocated budget.
MRH One of Two Area Districts Receiving Major Tech Grants
The Innovative Technology Education Fund (ITEF) awarded a total of more than $120,000 to two St. Louis area schools through 2024 Innovator Grants. These competitive grants are provided to encourage schools to advance creative, novel thinking through the use of state-of-the-art technology.
Maplewood Richmond Heights Elementary School will expand its Museum metaphor by embedding it in the District’s strategic learning management system, encouraging students to use new technology. Total granted was $59,790.80.
The Vocational Skills Program (Special School District) will expand to introduce new options to young adult students with disabilities.
ITEF is a unique nonprofit organization that serves K-12 educators in the greater St. Louis region in public, independent, parochial and charter schools. It funds educators to inspire creative pedagogy that excites students and advances the use of technology in the classroom.
Since 2008, ITEF has provided more than $4 million in grants to local schools. Grantees are selected by ITEF board members from a pool of eligible applicants who meet requirements, including being an accredited K-12 public, independent, charter or parochial school.
Back to School Sales Tax Holiday, August 2-4
Missouri's annual sales tax holiday takes place from August 2 through August 4. Certain back-to-school purchases such as clothing, school supplies, computers and other items as defined by statute are exempt from sales tax for this time period only.
Absentee Voting Under Way for August Election
In-person absentee voting is currently under way in St. Louis County for the Aug. 6 primary.
Absentee ballots can be requested now through July 24. Residents voting absentee before July 23 must meet one of the six criteria: being absent from St. Louis County on Election Day, being incapacitated or confined due to sickness or disability, having a religious restriction, being employed by an election authority or other specified roles, being incarcerated while retaining voting qualifications, or participating in the Missouri Safe at Home program. In-person absentee voting is offered at the Board of Elections office, 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, 63074, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Aug. 2.
Beginning July 23, absentee voting without an excuse will be offered on weekdays at 13 additional satellite sites. The last day to vote absentee is Aug. 5. More information can be found on the St. Louis County government website.
Resources for Families
District Central Office and school building phone numbers
The MRH Communications Tree: Find the right person to contact with your questions/concerns.
Nominate Someone You Know for the Blue Devil Spotlight
Dates to Know
July 24: Free concert in Ryan Hummert Park
August 17: Back to School Fair
August 15: Board of Education meeting
August 19: First Day of School, K-12
August 26: First Day of Preschool
Non-Discrimination Statement
The Maplewood Richmond Heights School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, ancestry, disability, age, sexual orientation and/or perceived sexual orientation, or genetic information in its programs and activities. View Notice of Non-Discrimination or Board Policy AC.