School Bells Ring Throughout Ladue and Frontenac

The countdown is on for back to school 2012-13.

The vacation season is about over, and students are ready to get back to the basics.

Here’s what’s happening at the schools in the Ladue-Frontenac Patch

Ladue School District

All students and teachers return to the classroom on Tuesday, August 14. Ladue has about 3,000 students in all grades. The breakdown of enrollment for all buildings at all levels will not be determined until sometime later in September.

Work continues on the new West Campus. The driveway between the Ladue Early Childhood Center and the main building is completed. The demolition of the old wing of the Westminster Christian building is nearly complete. The new 5th grade center on the West Campus is expected to open in August, 2013.

Both the high school and middle school had their parking lots black topped.

Old Bonhomme teachers will have a newly remodeled staff lounge thanks to the parents association, worked has started on a landscaping project and the school building got a new roof.

Otherwise, there have not been too many other physical changes to any of the buildings in the district.

Community School

First Day of School: Monday, August 27.

Enrollment:  350 this year, junior kindergarten through sixth grade.

Changes: Lynn Christopher is the new Upper Division Director. Community has a new playground for senior kindergarten through third grade. The all school picnic is set for September 29.

Mary Institute Country Day School

Total Enrollment: 1,240. Upper School (grades 9-12) 620. Middle School (5-8) 410. Lower School (JK-4) 210.

First Day of School: Wednesday, August 22.

Changes: MICDS will welcome 188 new students, nine new faculty members and two school nurses.

One of the big changes is the construction of the new Science/Technology, Engineering and Mathematics building on the upper school campus. Demolition of Matthews Hall, Danforth Hall and Danforth Chapel is well underway and construction will last for 18 months.

Over the summer, MICDS completed work on a new baseball field and resurfacing of the track in the stadium, and added a new area for pole vault and long jump events.

On the technology side, a campus fiber upgrade was completed and new audio visual equipment has been added throughout the campus.

Students grades 5-12 will have either a netbook or a tablet laptop computer for use during the school day.

In September, a group of students from the Instituto Albert Einstein School in Mar del Plata, Argentina will be on campus for a 15-day visit.

John Burroughs School:

Total Enrollment: 600 all grades. 7th grade 94; 8th grade 101, 9th grade 103, 10th grade 98; 11th grade, 105; 12th grade, 99.

First day of school: Burroughs begins its 90th year with a half day on Monday, August 27.

Change on campus: At the end of the 2011-12 school year, Macon Paine Finley (1973 Burroughs graduate) was named Assistant Head of School. She will continue as principal of the 7th and 8th grade and will run the school when Head of School Andy Abbott is absent.

Chris Front is the principal of the 11th and 12th grades and Scott Deken will be principal for 9th and 10th grades.

As is obvious to all, this will be the year of construction on campus as Paric Construction Co. continues to build a new performing arts center and a new athletic performance center.

St. Joseph’s Academy

Enrollment: 594, grades 9-12.

First day of school: August 17. Freshman orientation is August 15 and orientation for sophomores and juniors is August 16.

Changes/Accomplishments: St. Joseph’s Academy has selected 10 promising women as recipients of the 2012 Presidential Scholars Award. The award includes a $1,000 tuition grant. Recipients include: Emma Carrow (St. Francis of Assisi), Gabrielle Brown (Hixson Middle School); Grace Goedde (Parkway West); Bridget Grojean (Academy of the Sacred Heart); Elizabeth Hamilton (St. Patrick, Wentzville); Elizabeth Hayes (St. Monica); Margaret Issacson (Mary Queen of Peace); Madeline Ohlms (St. Peter, Kirkwood); Margaret Schwarz (Ascension) and Hannah Zeiss (Christ, Prince of Peace).

St. Joe got a new phone system and everyone will be able to be direct dialed.

Villa Duchesne Oak Hill

Total enrollment: For both schools is 640.

First day of school: Wednesday, August 22.

What’s New/Summer Projects: Dr. Sam Sciortino is the new principal at Oak Hill. He returns to Oak Hill after serving as currently as 2008.

Campus upgrades: replacing the front doors (circa 1929); new lockers for middle school students; a new playground at the elementary school; gym lockers and showers replaced; repair to the original stained glass windows in the school chapel.