April 2023 Newsletter

The Granting Dreams program, sponsored by Parkway Alumni Association, offers three grant opportunities for Parkway students who have a dream to learn outside their regular classroom: Dream Grants for Parkway K-12 students, Thomas Phelps Entrepreneurship Awards for students (grades 9-12) interested in business, and John Baker Music Scholar Awards for band students (grades 10-11).

This spring we were able to award 133 dreams totaling over $11,300 to students throughout the district. Some students will be exploring new skills at camps, or engaging in an exciting once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and others will be shadowing local physicians and business expects.

Granting these dreams only happens because of your support! Be sure to continue the tradition of the Granting Dreams program with a donation here online today.

Each grant recipient will be celebrated at the annual award ceremony scheduled for May 8.

We are excited to share more about our partnership with the Cerutti Family Foundation to fund two important initiatives for Parkway teachers and students. The Cerutti Family Foundation was created to honor the memory of Tim and Mike Cerutti, two beloved educators who dedicated their lives to bringing out the best in their students and fellow teachers.

• The first initiative is continuing education scholarships for teachers. This program will help ensure that teachers can continue their education and stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in their field. By investing in our teachers' education, we are investing in the future of our students.

• The second initiative is outdoor program scholarships for sixth-grade students. The Parkway Outdoor School Program has provided a unique and memorable experience for sixth-grade students since 1970, teaching them about the environment and ecology in a four-day adventure at Camp Lakewood. However, the program is partially supported by district funds and student fees, making it difficult for some families to afford. With the help of the Cerutti Family Foundation, we can offer scholarships to ensure that every student has the opportunity to participate in this life-changing program.

Your donation to the Parkway Alumni Association will help us continue to make a positive impact on the lives of Parkway students and teachers. Every contribution counts, and your support will help us fulfill our mission and honor the memory of Tim and Mike Cerutti.

Join Parkway Alumni and friends as we gather to root for the home team at one of two Cardinals games; June 10 and August 6, 2023. The cost is $30 per ticket. Purchase tickets here.

Saturday, June 10 - 1:15 game time vs Reds

Right Field Loge - $58 value

Give away: Adult Cardinals Jersey & Kids Cardinals Jersey (limited quantity)

Sunday, August 6 - 1:15 game time vs Rockies

Right Field Pavilion - $47 value

Give away: Cardinals Hat & Kids Tommy Edman Growth Chart (limited quantity)

FREE jumbo hotdog and soda

Reserve your tickets here online.

Mark your calendars for June 17th because we're bringing back the fun with a 7v7 flag football game! Get ready to show off your skills and reconnect with old classmates. Stay tuned for more details on this exciting event. Don't miss out!

Join us on the second Tuesday of each month for an all-alumni networking event. The group meets in person at the Parkway Administration Center. Hear from alums about their current work and network with other Parkway alumni in our community. To attend, email parkwayalumni@parkwayschools.net to be added to the meeting invite list. Include your name, school, class year, profession, business name and contact info.

Save the date! Give STL Day is happening on May 10th. Join in a day of giving to support our Light of Parkway program. Please help us continue giving awards to our Parkway operations staff as they have been dedicated, hardworking, and extremely deserving individuals who continually serve the Parkway community. You can make a donation in advance here online.

The PAA is happy to assist reunion planners by providing contact information and general guidance on having a successful event. We would also be available to provide volunteers to man the registration table at your event. Please call the PAA at (314) 415-8074 or email ParkwayAlumni@ParkwaySchools.net, to learn more.

If your reunion information isn't on the website, please send the details to the email address above.

The Parkway Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2024 Parkway Alumni Association Hall of Fame class. Parkway graduates chosen for the Parkway Hall of Fame are those who have made a noteworthy impact on the lives of others through their work in their respective career fields or through their unique contributions to their community. Make a nomination here online.

It's always exciting to see how alumni's legacy is carried forward! This spring we have welcomed the addition of a few new scholarship funds.

Mark D. (Nolan) McLean Memorial Scholarship - Fern Ridge Seniors

Purple Pride Scholarship - Parkway North Seniors

Sharon Wilkes Homire Award - Parkway West Seniors

Cerutti Family Foundations Scholarship for Teachers and 6th Grade Outdoor Program

To make a donation in support of one of these new scholarship, you can give on our website. Or to learn more about starting a scholarship fund, please contact our office.

Give today by making an online donation.

Dear Parkway Alumni,

I hope this email finds you well. As a proud graduate of Parkway myself, I am thrilled to reach out to you today and once again share and invite you to participate in a variety of our upcoming events.

This spring and summer, we're hosting three fun events that will give you the opportunity to reconnect with fellow alumni, have a great time, and support our cause:

• 7 v 7 Flag Football: Come out and show off your skills on the field! Our flag football tournament is open to alumni of all ages and skill levels, and all proceeds will benefit the Granting Dreams Program.

• Alumni Night at the Ballpark: Join us at Busch Stadium for a night of fun, food, and baseball! A portion of each ticket sold will go to support the Parkway Alumni Association programs and operations.
  

• Electronic Recycle Event: Do your part for the environment and support our cause at the same time! Bring your old electronics to our recycling event, where we'll accept everything from smartphones to laptops to printers. More information will be available soon.

These events are a great way to support the mission of your alumni association while having a blast with fellow alumni. We hope to see you there!

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you soon!

For This Generation,

Dr. Thomas M. Smith

Congratulation are in order! Marc Schreiber (PCH '93) was named president of the St. Louis Sports Commission. Marc has been with the organization since 1998. He also serves as the executive producer and co-creator of the Musial Awards, which celebrate the year's greatest moments of sportsmanship and those in sports who embody class and character. The Musial Awards are televised nationally on CBS. Marc is married to Erin Guyer (PWH ’99) and they are the proud parents of twin daughters.

Peter Johnson (PNH '89) volunteered for 6 weeks in Oświęcim-Poland this past year helping One Humanity Institute repair and furnish two 100+-year-old abandoned buildings donated to them, into apartments and shared community spaces for Ukrainian refugees. He also handed out hundreds of teddy bears to refugee children. For more on his experience, you can follow along his journey on Linkedin >> http://ow.ly/lhZu50NIszH

We love to see our alumni doing good work in our community and around the world!

After successfully serving the Parkway community for 11 years with the local family entertainment business known as Chesterfield Sports Fusion, Greg Hoffmann (PCH '84) and Tony Holt (PSH '96) refused to call it quits when the business closed for good in August 2020 as a result of the Covid shutdowns. Instead, they began work on a new outdoor recreation facility named RYZE Adventure Park located in Maryland Heights. The facility is anchored by a 4-story aerial adventure climbing structure including zip-lines and a fee fall element. They also built an 18-hole championship miniature golf course that is not like anything else in the St. Louis area. The facility is open to the public but also serves schools, summer camps, bachelor/bachelorette events, scouts and corporate events. The partners love serving their local community with clean, safe and unique outdoor recreation and greatly appreciate the support they have received from Parkway and the entire metro area.

Matt Roach, South High Athletic Director, was honored with Missouri Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association's St. Louis Region Newcomer of the Year award. Matt Roach has a huge heart for South High. He is committed to improving our community daily and is very deserving of this honor.

North High hosted a Special Olympics track and field event for students with special needs. Nearly 200 athletes participated from many of our area schools. A student buddy accompanied each athlete to support them throughout the day.

The student government council and volunteers lead the event. Over 500 North High students volunteered for the event. In addition, 400 students volunteered at food banks and St. Louis County Parks. Watch the KMOV story here.

Three Parkway schools have been named State Schools of Character for their dedicated focus on character development. Central Middle and South Middle schools and Parkway’s Early Childhood Center are new recipients. Click here to learn more.

The Parkway Early Childhood Center is one of three area schools named 2023 Champions for Character by CharacterPlus and the St. Louis Cardinals. This recognition program honors schools in the metro area that have a school-wide focus on service learning and service projects for students.

Six Parkway schools - Central High (2005), Craig Elementary (2015), Southwest Middle (2017), Oak Brook Elementary (2017), Northeast Middle (2022) and now the Parkway Early Childhood Center (2023) - have been named Champions of Character since the award began.

Morgan Brinkmann, South High senior, was awarded the top prize at The Saint Louis Artists’ Guild’s Young Artists’ Showcase. The Louetta Buechler Scholarship includes a $1000 prize for her future art education.

When asked about her education at South High, Brinkmann said, “My teacher Ms. Larson helped me by showing me so many new techniques and tricks. She has also been my biggest cheerleader when it comes to encouragement. She's always believed in me and often trusts me to experiment independently with different creative processes. She has given me the confidence to complete pieces like this dragon.”

The Saint Louis Artists’ Guild’s Young Artists’ Showcase is a juried, all-media exhibition of artwork created by high school students between 15 and 19 years old residing within 150 miles of their location.

We need help at your school! We have nearly 10 openings for bus drivers, and many others for custodians and grounds crew employees needed to support our families. If you know someone who is interested, please share this with them. Interested applicants can call 314-415-8401 for more information or visit this website.