What's Happening Weekly @ MRH
MRH Families:
Are you ready to open the door to the potential of personalized learning? We invite you to join us for a community conversation on Personalized Competency-Based Learning (PCBL).
Imagine a world where students learn at their own pace, following their passions and interests. PCBL is a groundbreaking approach that empowers students to take ownership of their education, fostering creativity, critical thinking, and lifelong learning.
Date: December 10, 2024
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Location: Zoom video conference
Together, let's explore how PCBL can benefit our community's students by:
Empowering student choice: Students learn in ways that suit their interests and learning needs.
Fostering collaboration: Educators work with students and community partners to create unique learning plans.
Promoting flexibility: Students can learn at their own pace and through a variety of pathways.
Enhancing meaningful assessment: Assessment is a positive experience that provides students with timely, relevant evidence.
Embracing equity: Schools and education systems embed equity strategies into their culture and pedagogy.
Join us for an evening of discussion, exploration, and inspiration. Let's open the door to a brighter future for our students!
If you missed our first session on 11/6, check out the summary HERE.
MRH is asking all families to complete the semi-annual MRH School Climate Survey: Families developed by the University of Missouri. We share this information with the entire community: our school board, administrative team, building leaders, MTSS teams, and families. We use the data to create District/building climate goals.
- How long does the survey take? 5 minutes or less.
- Is there a deadline? It will close on Sunday, December 15.
- Is the survey anonymous? We do not collect email addresses and have no way of determining who completed the survey.
- Do I have to answer all of the questions? Based on the feedback from you, our families, we did make some questions optional. If the question is marked with an asterisk, it must be answered.
- How many are we trying to collect? Last fall, we received 385 completed surveys. This year, we would like to collect 500+ surveys. There are approximately 1,500 students at MRH (representing about 1,000 families).
- If I have more than one child in the district, do I fill one out for each student? The survey has the capacity to be completed for an entire family, but if your student is having vastly different experiences at their schools, feel free to complete one per student.
- Will the results be shared publicly? These results are shared publicly at our school board meeting, and posted on the school board agenda.
- Will other stakeholders be taking a school climate survey? Students (grades 3-12) and all MRH staff members will also be taking a survey this month.
Note: if you do not want your student taking the school climate survey, simply contact your child's principal or assistant principal and they can opt out.
St. Louis Post-Dispatch education reporter Blythe Bernhard paid a visit last week to interview MRH teachers and students regarding the District’s rising state assessment scores. We cited a number of factors including:
Professional Learning Communities (PLCs): PLCs provide a collaborative space for teachers to analyze student data, discuss instructional strategies, and develop action plans to address student needs.
Educating the Whole Child and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): We believe in the importance of addressing students' social-emotional needs alongside their academic development. SEL programs promote positive behaviors, self-awareness, and healthy relationships, which ultimately contribute to improved academic outcomes.
Smart Goals: We use SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals to set clear expectations for student performance. This data-driven approach allows us to monitor progress and make adjustments to instruction as needed.
Competency and Mastery: Clearly defining competency and mastery levels helps us set expectations for students and provide targeted support. This ensures that all students are challenged and have opportunities to demonstrate their understanding.
Data-Driven Instruction and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS): We leverage data to inform our instructional decisions and provide targeted support for students. MTSS allows us to identify students who need additional support and provide them with appropriate interventions.
Curriculum Action Teams: Curriculum action teams collaborated to develop clear and rigorous course descriptions and essential learning outcomes. This ensures alignment between instruction and assessment, leading to improved student achievement.
Data-Driven Intervention: We use data to identify students who need additional support and provide targeted interventions. These interventions are designed to address specific skill gaps and help students catch up to their peers.
Small Group Instruction: Small group instruction provides targeted support and allows teachers to differentiate instruction based on students' individual needs.
Commitment to the district metaphors: Leverage the District metaphors to create opportunities and support for teachers to connect curricula by designing interdisciplinary experiences and/or project-based learning at all grade levels.
Two director positions, each holding three-year terms, are open on the Maplewood Richmond Heights Board of Education in the April 8, 2025 election. Filing for the Board of Education election will begin on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 8 a.m., and continue through Tuesday, December 31, 2024, at 5 p.m.
Candidates must file in-person at the St. Louis County Board of Elections Office, 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, MO 63074. No filing will take place at the District office. Candidates may file between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Filing ends at 5 p.m. on the last day of candidate filing only. The Board of Election office will be closed on December 25, and may also close due to inclement weather.
For the first day of filing, a lottery will be conducted to determine ballot placement. Candidates who file after the first day will be listed in order of filing.
If you have any questions regarding candidate filing, please contact Kat Norton at 314-644-4400 or kat.norton@mrhschools.net, or the St. Louis County Board of Elections at 314-615-1851.
Parents as Teachers (PAT) is a nationally recognized early learning program that promotes the optimal early development, learning and health of children by supporting and engaging their parents and caregivers. Parents as Teachers believes you are your child’s first and most influential teacher. The Parents as Teachers program began in Missouri in 1985 and is now in every school district across Missouri. Throughout the year, the MRH PAT Advisory Council, which includes parents and community leaders, meets to assess the program's performance and strategize how to expand its services.
Maplewood Richmond Heights is committed to the community by connecting, engaging and supporting families. Services are provided prenatally through kindergarten entry, free of charge, and include:
Home visits
Group connections, where kids play with peers and connect with other families
Vision, hearing and development screenings
Links to informal resources and community services
Enrollment in the PAT program is ongoing. Please complete THIS FORM, and an agent will contact you or call 314-256-4562 if you have questions about the process. You may also read more about PAT at MRH on our website and on the PAT Facebook page.
December 10: PCBL Community Conversation (virtual)
December 19: Board of Education monthly meeting
December 20: Teacher work day (no school for students)
December 23: Winter break begins
Did you know the MRH High School Booster Club Holiday Pop-Up Shop is now open? The Booster Club is excited to pair with two local businesses (Infantile Industries and Club Car Wash) to offer these great gifts for family members, your favorite teacher or even yourself. Just click HERE to begin shopping.
MRH Youth Sports' wrestling registration for 1st-8th grades is open through January 6, 2025, at MRHYS.org. Financial aid is available. Reach out to mrhyouthsports@gmail.com with any questions, and we’ll see you on the mats!
MRH Youth Sports
7616 Williams Ave
Maplewood, MO 63143
Maplewood Comprehensive Plan Community Survey (Closes Dec. 31)
The City of Maplewood is excited to announce the launch of its Comprehensive Plan update, an important document that will help shape the future of our community for the next 10-20 years! This updated plan will serve as a roadmap for Maplewood's growth and development, guiding decisions related to housing, land use, community and economic development, infrastructure, public services and more. By setting clear objectives and action steps needed to achieve them, the Comprehensive Plan will ensure Maplewood remains a great place to work, play, and call home.
THIS SURVEY provides an opportunity for community residents and stakeholders to get involved with the process, providing feedback and insight based on your experiences in the City. Please take a few minutes to answer the questions. The survey will close on the last day of 2024.
Questions? Visit the City's website for more information.
