April 2022 Newsletter

Just this past week we were able to grant a large variety of dreams to students across 21 different Parkway schools!

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). Each student applies for an individual grant request and thanks to the generosity of many of our alumni and Parkway friends we are able to grant 96 dreams totaling over $8600 this year!

Express your appreciation to any Parkway educator with a Waterway carwash during Teacher Appreciation Week, May 2-6, 2022! Consider thanking a Parkway teacher, coach, counselor, administrator, SSD assistant or other instructional staff member for the great job he/she has done and the difference it's made in the lives of Parkway students.

For only $25, we'll send a gift certificate for The Whole Thing™ car wash ($38 value) to each teacher you'd like to thank at their Parkway school/building address. Each gift certificate will include a message of appreciation from you or your child (Parkway student). As the name implies, the carwash includes everything Waterway offers - wash, wax, vacuuming, wheel treatment and more! Purchase your carwashes here!

Give to PAA on Give STL Day! Join us May 5th to give to support the Sandy Finch Light of Parkway Fund, which finances our awards for Parkway operations staff each year. These staff members are selected from among the many nominations we receive for people who work in the areas of food/nutrition services, school nurses, custodians, electricians, computer techs, bus drivers, secretaries and many others. Give online here today.

Get ready for a night of fun with the Cardinals! Parkway Alumni Association is planning two alumni games with discount tickets available. More to come!

Save the date to play golf at the Parkway Golf Tournament on Saturday, Oct. 29, 2022, at 10 a.m.! The PAA will host this annual event again at Forest Park Golf Course, one of the most popular public golf courses in the Midwest.

Fees this year are $120 per golfer - the fee includes snacks and lunch on the course and appetizers during the awards presentation following the tournament. Register early online today!

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 meet 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.

Submit your nominations before the May 1 deadline.

The Parkway Alumni Association is seeking nominations for the 2022 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. Please provide details of the nominee’s accomplishments that qualify this individual for Parkway Hall of Fame distinction by addressing the topics listed below. Including a letter of recommendation that makes this person a compelling nominee is encouraged. Letters and additional supporting information will need to be submitted separately by emailing them to Sandy Riutcel, PAA executive director, at sriutcel@parkwayschools.net. Online submissions can be completed here. Inductees must be available to accept this recognition in person on November 12, 2022 at the Sheraton Westport Plaza Hotel.

Parkway's annual Appreciation Evening gala was held on Monday, April 25, at the Sheraton Lakeside Chalet in Westport Plaza. Pillars of Parkway, Teachers of the Year, retirees, employees with milestone years of service, and Light of Parkway and Albert Award winners were honored. If you missed it, be sure to watch our award recipients videos here.

Spark! engineering students are working to curb the effects of soil erosion using drones. They are developing a drone attachment that can disperse a seed mixture from the air, making it easier to access hard-to-reach affected areas. The resulting plant growth and soil structure decrease the effects of erosion. See more with their latest video!

Congratulations to Parkway North’s a capella group Valholla performing at the ICHSA Midwest semifinals. They also qualified in 2020. Great job, Vikings!

We are proud to announce that Parkway is one of six districts in the state to be awarded a Best Communities award for Music Education. This is the 5th year we have received this honor.

The award program recognizes outstanding efforts by teachers, administrators, parents, students, and community leaders who have made music education part of a well-rounded education. Designations are made to districts and schools that demonstrate an exceptionally high commitment and access to music education.

Melissa Leibbrandt has been named the Special School District of St. Louis County 2022 Teacher of the Year! Leibbrandt loves the teaching and learning environment at Claymont Elementary School and thrives as a special educator for all children.

Congratulations Mrs. Leibbrandt!

This field looks just a touch different than where our Patriots typically play... What a great opportunity for Parkway South student athletes this spring!

Violeta (left) has been teaching Ross Elementary School leaders about her home country of Ukraine. In support of Violeta and her family our Ross leaders created a hope garden to display at school.

This week, Violeta’s cousin Yeva (right) joined the Ross community all the way from Ukraine. We are all so excited to welcome Yeva!

Thanks to all who joined us for the Nancy Simpson 5k! With nearly 200 runners strong, it was a special morning celebrating together. Together over $6,000 was raised for the Nancy Simpson Above & Beyond Fund! The fund will support the Granting Dreams program.

The future is certainly bright! Thirty Parkway seniors have been named finalists in the 2022 National Merit Scholarship Program. These students represent less than 1% of high school seniors in the United States. READ MORE >> http://ow.ly/yhVw50ImOfE

Be part of something bigger than yourself! There are many ways to give to the Parkway Alumni Association. Whether you make a general donation or direct your contribution to one of our funds like the Light of Parkway or Albert Awards, your support will be used for programs that benefit alumni, students, staff and the Parkway community as defined in our mission statement. Give today by making an online donation.

Still got that march madness fever?! Congrats to former Jr. Viking and Northeast Middle scholar, Caleb Love, on his team's tournament run! #VikingProud

Washington University in St. Louis School of Law is honoring a few of their own, including Parkway grad Steven Rosenblum, the Associate Vice Chancellor for University Initiatives. http://ow.ly/gcUA50IHb2e

Less than 2% of college athletes get drafted into the National Football League (NFL). However, alumni Drew Seers is determined to be a part of that percentage. >> http://ow.ly/NS0L50IQTGA