Frontier News

Dear Frontier Staff,

Your principals and I would like to extend our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all of your hard work and dedication. This past year has brought many challenges and you have risen above them all. We applaud you for the determination and effort each of you have demonstrated during the pandemic.

Thank you for supporting and fostering your students’ learning by providing continued lessons, activities, feedback, videos and more! Thank you for ensuring that your students’ social and emotional needs are met, and doing all that you can to help them navigate through this change. Thank you for your patience with technology, your willingness to try new things, and your ability to reach students – even from a distance.

We understand the importance of each of your roles at Frontier Schools – you are a valuable member of the team and we appreciate you! We look forward to seeing all of the great things we know you will accomplish in the upcoming years! Please know that everything you are doing is appreciated, and that everything you are doing is making a difference in students’ lives.

As most of you know, each Spring semester we recognize staff members as part of both our Teacher of the Year and Support Staff of the Year recognitions at Frontier Schools. This has obviously been a school year like no other before. So, this year all 150 teachers at Frontier Schools have been selected as the 2020-2021 Teachers of the Year. Likewise, we also want to announce that all 65 support staff within Frontier Schools have been named the 2020-2021 Support Staff of the Year.

To celebrate this announcement, we have reserved the weeks of May 3 and May 10 as our Frontier Staff Appreciation Weeks. During these weeks, there will be various opportunities for us to celebrate and appreciate each of you. Here is our plan:

May 4 – Surprise Gift

May 5 – Surprise Gift

May 6 – Dessert from Grandma's Catering (Sponsored by MU)

May 7 – Pick one of the Surprise Gift Choices

May 10 thru 12 – 5 and 10 Year Service Awards Announcement and Recognitions

May 13 – Breakfast for all staff

May 14 – Lunch for all staff

I would like to thank our sponsors, Sherman Foundation, New Frontier Educational Foundation, University of Missouri Charter School Operations, Westbrook &Co, BNIM, WBM and Commerce Bank, for their contributions to our appreciation week.

Sincerely,
Ugur Demircan

Superintendent

Cetin Demir

Assistant Superintendent

Elyar Isgandarli

Principal, Frontier School of Excellence

Lisa Lamb

Principal, FSI Middle

Rasul Geyik

Principal, Frontier STEM High School

Mark Barber

Principal, FSI Elementary

Click here to view the 2021-22 Academic Calendar.

Frontier Schools started in-person learning for all grade levels at all four campuses on April 5th, 2021. This past school year has been challenging, but we have all risen to the occasion and remained dedicated and innovative. We thank our teachers who give all of themselves to lead the way for our students.

On April 26th, central office employees relocated to a consolidated building located at 6800 Corporate Drive and adjacent to Frontier School of Innovation. Prior to this, central office was located at Union Station. This purchase will allow staff to better collaborate and communicate with one another and it will also provide convenience for central office employees to visit the North schools and then quickly return back to their offices.

With central office employees occupying mostly the 2nd floor in the building, the 1st floor will provide space for a new Innovation Lab and Engagement programs.

The following offices and departments are housed in the new central office:

• Superintendent
• Assistant Superintendent
• Finance
• Human Resources
• Business Operations
• Information Technology
• Communications & Outreach
• Curriculum
• ELL
• Special Education
• Operations

Frontier Schools will offer summer school for all grade levels between June 4, 2021 to July 1, 2021. The district will be offering families two summer school options this year. Families can either choose to learn remotely in our online learning environment or in‐person at their Frontier

campus.

Congratulations to Rayan H. on her admission to Columbia's Class of 2025! Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City – ranked #3 after Princeton and Harvard.

We are very proud of your achievement, Rayan! Congratulations and all the best for your future!

Frontier STEM High School

Date: Thursday, May 27th

Time: 5:00 pm

Location: FSI Middle Gymnasium - 1575 Universal Ave, Kansas City, MO 64120

Frontier School of Excellence

Date: Saturday, June 5th

Time: 10:00 am

Location: FSE Gymnasium - 5605 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO 64110

Congratulations, Class of 2021!

Frontier Schools has its very own Poet-in-Residence. We know him as Mr. Sanders—9-12 ELA curriculum director, but the Writing World knows him as Poet t.l. Sanders—author, performer, radio host. Most recently, Poet teamed up with the Kansas City Streetcar Authority on a collaborative film project called “Storytelling on the Streetcar: Celebrating Black Culture,” which included an assortment of amazing artists, dancers, musicians, and special guests—like Kansas City’s Mayor, Quinton Lucas. The confluence of artistry inspired Poet to create “This,” a tribute to Elizabeth Jennings Graham, Rosa Parks, Harriet Tubman, and Dr. Maya Angelou. The poetry was performed alongside a dance choreographed by Tristian Griffin Dance Company.

The written poem can be read here. The poetic dance can be watched here. The full film, featuring the artists and guest speakers, can be viewed here.

Learn more about Poet at poettlsanders.com

KC Scholars delivered incredibly happy news to many of our students with college scholarships to further their education, fulfill their dreams and impact our community!

Congratulations are in order for the following students:

Frontier School of Excellence:

• Fardialah G., 9th grade
• Jonatan O., 9th grade
• Erika R., 9th grade
• Diamond F., 9th grade
• Cristopher S., 9th grade

Frontier STEM High School:

• Stephanie A., 11th grade
• Harley A., 11th grade
• Estefania D., 11th grade
• Mauricio F., 11th grade
• Maylin F., 11th grade
• Juan G., 11th grade
• Warsame H., 11th grade
• Omar H., 11th grade
• Hawa H., 11th grade
• Jonathan I., 11th grade
• Ariana L., 11th grade
• Britany L., 11th grade
• Fardowsa M., 11th grade
• Celia R., 11th grade
• Carolina R., 11th grade
• Nimo S., 11th grade
• Riyana S., 11th grade
• Christian C., 9th grade
• Saida D. 9th grade
• Safio H., 9th grade

Congratulations to the following STEM High School students and their teacher, Dr. Geyik, for their hard work and great effort in completing their research papers, creating display boards, and recording videos for the fair.

• Chelsie M., 10th Grade: Silver award and special award from US Navy/Marine Science
• Harley A., 11th Grade: Gold award and two special awards from SAME-KC Post-Runner Up and Ricoh Award
• Sayra S., 12th Grade: Gold award and special award from Science City Showcase Award
• Bahsan Y., 12th Grade: Gold award
• Mariana L., 12th Grade: Gold award

Way to go! Your hard work and dedication paid off!

Congratulations to FSHS teacher Dr. Geyik and her following students for their hard work and great effort in completing their research papers, creating display boards, and recording videos for the fair.

• Harley A., 11th Grade: Best of the Category award recipient. She will receive a trophy and $100 gift card.
  
• Chelsie M., 10th Grade: Silver medal recipient and $40 gift card.
• Sayra S., 12th Grade: Silver medal recipient and $40 gift card.
• Mariana L., 12th Grade: Silver medal recipient and $40 gift card.
  

Congratulations! Your hard work and dedication paid off!

The New Frontier Educational Foundation established a scholarship in memory of Marvin Francois. Mr. Francois was an active and engaged parent of a current 9th grade FSE student and recent FSE graduate who is currently attending the University of Missouri - Columbia. This is a great legacy for a great supporter of students, education, and our city.

The scholarship will be awarded to one of Frontier's top graduates in coming weeks.

Teachers and school staff have virtually visited 863 students in 836 homes since the start of the 2020-21 school year.

Home visits, whether virtual or in-person, 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!

Please complete our 2020-21 Home Visit Survey.

Website: frontierschools.org
Location: 6800 Corporate Drive, Kansas City, MO, USA
Phone: (816) 241-6200
Facebook: facebook.com/frontierschools
Twitter: @frontierschools

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