Frontier News

As we embark on a new school year, we would like to extend a warm welcome back to school for all our Frontier students.

The two focal points that are always at the forefront of our minds: student safety and academic excellence. We will rigorously adhere to all guidelines to ensure a secure and enriching learning environment for everyone at Frontier.

To stay informed and connected throughout the year, we encourage you to keep an eye out for our monthly newsletters, emails, text messages, and social media updates. These platforms will be regularly updated with important information, upcoming events, and exciting achievements from our Frontier community.

Remember, we are here for you! Whether you have a question, concern, or simply want to say hello, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our doors are always open, and we would be delighted to welcome you to our school anytime.

On August 16th, the 2024 Excellence in Education Awards were held at Kauffman Stadium in honor of public school educators in the Kansas City Public School District.

Twenty-one educators and four teams were selected from both public charter schools and Kansas City Public Schools to receive a total of $230,000 in awards. The 21 individual award winners won $10,000 each, and the team winners won $5,000 to invest in their school's programming.

A special congratulations to our Frontier Schools recipients for their exceptional achievements and contributions! We are also proud to recognize our finalists: Christopher Hull, ELA Teacher at Frontier STEM High School, nominated for STAR Teacher, and Mr. Geyik, Principal of Frontier STEM High School, nominated for STAR Administrator. Their dedication and hard work continue to inspire our entire school community.

We are thrilled to invite parents, guardians, and the entire community to our 9th Annual Multicultural Festival on Friday, September 20th, from 5:30-7:30 pm. This vibrant event will take place in the FSI Middle School gymnasium at 1575 Universal Avenue, Kansas City, MO 64120.

The Multicultural Festival is one of the most exciting events of the school year, celebrating the rich diversity of our students and community. Come and savor a variety of global cuisines while enjoying captivating performances by our talented students and local community members.

This year’s festival will also feature a lively mariachi band, outdoor bounce houses, face painting, balloon twisting, cotton candy, popcorn, pizza, and much more! It’s a fun-filled evening the whole family will enjoy.

Tickets are $15 for adults and $7 for students, with a $30 family pass available. To save, take advantage of our discounted rates by paying online before September 17th.

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable evening of culture, food, and entertainment. We look forward to celebrating with you!

At the start of the new school year, Frontier students were equipped with new laptops, thanks to a $2.5 million grant from Verizon. Each student received a touchscreen Chromebook, complete with a protective cover, a drawstring backpack, and LTE connectivity. This grant also includes support for coaching teachers, ensuring they have the resources and training needed to effectively integrate the new technology into their classrooms.

Frontier is now part of the Verizon Innovative Learning Schools program, joining nearly 600 schools and over 3 million students nationwide. This initiative provides Frontier with fully internet-connected devices and software, while also working to enhance teachers' use of technology in the classroom.

Dr. Elyar Isgandarli, Frontier School of Innovation Middle Principal, stated, “This major upgrade to the school’s entire technology platform will enable our faculty to not only improve students’ access to information but also teach them to critically analyze its relevance to their classroom work and everyday lives.”

The Solar Panthers from Frontier STEM High School proudly competed in the Solar Car Challenge at Texas Motor Speedway from July 11th to 13th. Guided by their adviser, Senol Buber, the team—comprising Damian A., Halil K., Iusuf A., Eduardo D., and Ade W.—designed and built their solar car, the Solar Panther, from scratch. In their third year of competition, they secured 7th place among 32 teams from across the country.

The Solar Car Challenge, founded in 1993, is a leading STEM initiative that inspires students to explore science, technology, and alternative energy. Competing teams faced rigorous evaluations and challenges, from car breakdowns to unpredictable weather. Despite the obstacles, the Solar Panthers demonstrated skill, teamwork, and resilience.

Congratulations to the Solar Panthers on their impressive achievement!

We are thrilled to announce a new partnership between Frontier Schools and Varsity Tutors and UPchieve, providing free tutoring and learning resources to all of our students! Through this partnership, students will have access to comprehensive learning platforms available anytime, anywhere.

What's Included?

• 24/7 On-Demand Chat Tutoring: Immediate homework help at any time.
• Live Enrichment and Remediation Classes: Expert-led classes covering a wide range of subjects.
• SAT and ACT Test Prep: Prepare for college entrance exams with dedicated resources.
• On-Demand Essay Review: Get feedback on writing assignments.
• Self-Study Resources: Access to practice tests and personalized learning plans.

This platform is an excellent opportunity to help your child's academic progress and make sure they have the necessary tools to succeed.

This summer, Frontier Schools made an impressive showing at the International Leadership Conference for HOSA: Future Health Professionals, held in Houston from June 25th to June 30th. Students from both Frontier STEM High School and Frontier School of Innovation participated in this prestigious event, engaging in over 25 hours of leadership training, competing in 16 health-related events, and attending 60 hours of diverse workshops.

In addition to their educational experiences, students had the opportunity to connect and network with 22,000 peers from around the globe, exchanging ideas and trading pins. Notably, Joe B. a first-time attendee from Frontier School of Innovation, achieved a top 10 finish in the Health Career Exploration event and was honored on stage for his outstanding performance.

Frontier STEM High School received recognition for its significant contributions to the National Marrow Registry Program (NMRP), while Valeria G. earned the prestigious Barbara James Service Award (Bronze Level) for completing over 100 hours of community service in health.

This summer, Frontier STEM High School students traveled to Orlando, Florida, to participate in the National Conference for the Technology Student Association (TSA) from June 25th to June 30th. Competing in over 20 team and individual STEM-related events, the students showcased their skills and dedication. Notably, Makia M. and Safio H. excelled in the Forensic Science competition, earning an impressive 7th place finish.

Beyond the competitions, students took advantage of their time in Orlando by visiting the NASA museum, where they delved into the history of the space program, and they also enjoyed TSA Day at Universal Studios.

As we begin the 2024-25 academic year, the Frontier Schools Transportation Department is thrilled to welcome students back with a commitment to safety, efficiency, and reliability. Over the summer, we have been working hard, preparing to deliver an enhanced transportation experience for all our students, ensuring they have a dependable ride to and from school every day.

A New Era of Transportation at Frontier Schools

As promised in our previous communications, this year marks a significant milestone for Frontier Schools as we roll out our fleet of 25 brand-new school buses acquired in the summer of 2024. These state-of-the-art buses are equipped with air conditioning for student comfort, and each bus is fitted with nine advanced cameras to ensure safety and security during every journey.

Safety First: Our Top Priority

Safety is, and always will be, our highest priority. Over the summer, all our drivers participated in comprehensive refresher training sessions emphasizing safe driving practices, student behavior management, and emergency preparedness. Our buses have undergone rigorous inspections and are equipped with the latest safety features to protect our students.

We kindly ask parents and guardians to reinforce bus safety rules with their children. These include staying seated while the bus is in motion, listening to the driver’s instructions, and using crosswalks when boarding or exiting the bus. We can create the safest possible environment for all our students by working together.

Introducing the StopFinder App: Stay Connected and Informed

We are excited to introduce the StopFinder app, a new tool that will revolutionize how we communicate transportation information to you. This user-friendly mobile app lets parents view their child’s bus route, receive real-time updates on bus locations, and get notifications about any changes or delays directly on their phones. The StopFinder app is designed to keep you informed and reduce uncertainties regarding your child’s transportation.

Communication and Support

We understand that transportation is vital to your child’s school experience, and our team is here to assist with any questions or concerns you may have. Your trust in us is greatly valued, and we are dedicated to ensuring that your child’s transportation needs are met with the highest safety and service standards.

Join Our Team: We’re Hiring Bus Drivers!

As we continue to enhance our transportation services, we are still looking for qualified bus drivers to join our team. If you or someone you know is interested, please visit our website at www.frontierschools.org, under Careers > Job Openings. We offer a competitive base salary of $26.54/hour and additional compensation for school district work experience and educational qualifications.

Thank you for choosing Frontier Schools. We look forward to a successful and safe school year!

On August 13th, Frontier Schools hosted Orientation Day, offering parents the opportunity to meet their child's teacher, tour the campus, complete necessary paperwork, and receive important information, such as bus routes. Families also picked up new Chromebooks and learned about upcoming events for the school year.

We are delighted to share some heartwarming moments captured on the first day of school on August 15th. From beaming smiles to excited chatter, these photos showcase the joy and enthusiasm with which our students return to their classrooms.

During lunch and recess we asked elementary and middle students how they liked the new school buses. Here's what they told us!

This month, we're excited to feature FSE alumna Denisse Cebrera, a 2018 graduate of Frontier School of Excellence. Denisse earned her Associate's Degree in Graphic Design from Penn Valley Community College and is now pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Teaching with St. Louis University. She currently works as a Paraprofessional in ELA at Frontier School of Excellence.

Don't miss our latest YouTube video, where Denisse gives us a peek into her daily work life and reminisces about her time at Frontier.

Fun fact: Frontier Schools currently has eighteen alumni working across our four campuses—proof that you can come back home again, and maybe even get a job!

If you’d like to be featured in our Alumni Spotlight series, please email cmontelongo@frontierschools.com.

As we dive back into the new school year, the New Frontier Educational Foundation is excited to continue empowering students to discover and develop their gifts and talents. Our goal is to prepare each and every one of our students – regardless of their background – for success in the real world. This includes helping students find great jobs right here in Kansas City to help spur our economic growth.

For those of you who may be new to Frontier, the New Frontier Educational Foundation accomplishes our goal by supporting a variety of programs, events and activities such as:

• KC STEM Fest
• College Scholarships
• Mentoring & Real World Learning Programs
• Teacher Appreciation Awards
• Money Wise Financial Literacy Event
• Boys & Girls Leadership Summer Camps
• Annual Ivy League Trip
  
  

The New Frontier Educational Foundation is proud to announce its new slate of extremely talented, experienced and passionately committed board members:

• Mark Mears, President
• Nicholas Segura, Vice President
• Chelan David, Treasurer
• Angela Williams, Secretary
• Diana Carlin, Director
• Robert Walker, Director
• Letonia Torrence, Director
• Ahmet, Taslama, Director
  
  

Last spring during KC STEM FEST 2024 we officially launched our new Friends of Frontier student success program – highlighting the different kinds of “Friends” who are needed to help Frontier students achieve their dreams in life:

• Financial Contributors
• Volunteers/Mentors
• Corporate Partners
• Academic/Non-Profit Alliances
• Advisory Board/Alumni Support
  
  

If you would like to learn more about how you and your organization can become a “Friend” of Frontier, please visit our website at www.MyNewFrontier.org and contact us.

Let’s be Friends!

Teachers and school staff have visited 18 students in 13 homes since the start of the 2024-25 school year. Home visits are paramount in bridging cultural gaps that might exist. These visits also provide opportunities for staff to understand their students better by visiting them in their home environments.

A SHOUT-OUT to our teachers & staff! Thank you for everything you do!

Discover rewarding careers at Frontier Schools. Join our passionate team in fostering student success with competitive pay and benefits!

Exciting News: Our commitment to educators was featured on Fox 4 News KC, showcasing our starting teacher pay of $60K! Read the article here.

Click here to explore our career opportunities now!

Email: fsi@frontierschools.org
Location: 6700 Corporate Drive, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 363-1907
Facebook: facebook.com/frontierschoolofinnovation

Email: fsi@frontierschools.org
Location: 1575 Universal Avenue, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 241-6202
Facebook: facebook.com/frontierschoolofinnovation

Email: infostem@frontierschools.org
Location: 6455 East Commerce Avenue, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 541-8200
Facebook: facebook.com/frontierstemhighschool

Email: fse@frontierschools.org
Location: 5605 Troost Avenue, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 822-1331
Facebook: facebook.com/frontierschoolofexcellence

Website: frontierschools.org
Location: 6800 Corporate Drive, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 982-4052
Facebook: facebook.com/frontierschools
Twitter: @frontierschools