Lots of Good MAP Testing Results in the Ladue School District

District students outperformed their peers substantially throughout Missouri.

Just about the exact time that buses and car pools were arriving at Ladue’s schools and parking lots were filling with teachers and students on August 14, the district got some very good news. The news broke that moment the Ladue School District led the St. Louis area in MAP testing results. MAP is the Missouri Assessment Program to measure progress made primarily in communication arts and mathematics. “We are very proud of where we are, and we have a lot to do,” said Donna Jahnke, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction for the district. Ladue scored first in the area in communications arts and second in math. In communication arts, Ladue students performed 23 percent better than other students in the state. In math, Ladue…

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Early Childhood Center Featured in National Magazine

Early Childhood Center Finalist for Keystone Award.

This information can be found on Spotlight in the News on the Ladue School District Website. The Ladue Early Childhood Center is being featured in the August 2012 issue of American School & University Magazine.  The Early Childhood Center opened in 2011 will be the only Pre-K/Early Childhood Center featured in this year’s annual Educational Interiors Showcase, receiving an “Outstanding Designs” honor in that category.  Bond Wolf Architects was the architectural design firm used for this project, as well as for many other recent building additions and renovations throughout the district.   Finalist for Keystone Award The Ladue Early Childhood Center is a finalist for Associated General Contractors of America Keystone Award.  This program …

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Ladue School Board Deals With Social Media Issue Head On

Board policy now meets satisfaction of all parties involved with Facebook in the classroom.

Back in late August a Ladue Middle School teacher filed a law suit over an imperfect bill involving the use of Facebook in school curriculum. Much water has passed under that bridge with a variety of compromises coming out of the Missouri State legislature since then. On Monday night at the regular Ladue School Board meeting, action was taken to formulate a new board policy dealing with the terms of social media. While the vote was 7-0 in favor of adoption, it didn’t go without some back and forth discussion. Former school teacher Jeff Kopolow, board member had reservations about voting yea on this issue. “And that’s only because I don’t think it goes far enough,” he reasoned. Kopolow, who in retirement teaches Missouri On Line High School…

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Ladue School Board Approves Tax Levy and Bus Changes For The 2011-2012 School Year

The $2.75 levy is low compared to other districts in St. Louis County.

The Ladue School Board on Monday night approved without opposition the district's operating tax levy for the 2011-12 school year. Jason Buckner, the district’s Assistant Superintendent for Business and Finance, said in a memo to Ladue School District Superintendent Marsha Chappelow that data from St. Louis County shows that the district has experienced another decrease in assessed valuation. The data, Buckner said, shows that assessed evaluation declined by about 3 percent. “As you recall, the administration and the Board prepared for a 2.5 percent decrease in property tax funding for the 2011-12 budget,” Buckner said in the memo. “This was an accurate estimation due to the fact that assessments declined about 3 percent, but new …

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First Day Of School At Ladue Early Childhood Center Is A Success

Parents, students, teachers and staff declare the new facility is a hit.

Opening day for the Cardinals has nothing on opening day at Ladue Early Childhood Center. Based on the reactions by teachers, parents and students, the new facility is a hit. “I couldn’t ask for anything better. I really can’t find a single thing to complain about; it’s amazing,” Nicole Bruce, early childhood special education teacher, said. Bruce has already seen what a difference the new building is making in the lives of her students. “I think the kids are extremely excited to come to school now which is amazing. We haven’t had any separation anxiety between leaving parents and coming here. We always get tears when they say goodbye however now we’re getting tears when leaving because they want to stay.” Jen Corcoran, a speech …

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Here's What People Are Saying

The News About Ladue And Frontenac Is Both Positive And Thorny

This week-in-review features stories about a childhood center opening, a bank’s difficulties, racial profiling studies and more.

This week, Ladue and Frontenac were once again in the news for a variety of reasons. Some of it was positive, like the athlete of the week story, while some of it highlighted a few issues that are difficult. Read what others are saying about our cities and weigh in with your opinions. Elena Gresick was named Athlete of the Week by the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Gresick, a senior at Ladue, has excelled at lacrosse. In the Suburban Journal, Ladue Early Childhood Center’s progress was profiled in this story: Ladue ready to swing open doors on new early childhood center. The article includes a video tour of the new center. From the State of Washington, The Bellingham Herald has a story about a study of racial profiling laws. Ladue is referenced …

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Rod Patershuk

10:02 pm on Thursday, August 11, 2011

Glad to see Elena get her due   more ›

A Frank Discussion with Ladue's Superintendent

In the first of a two-part series, Marsha Chappelow addresses issues ranging from the new Early Childhood Education Center to technology in the classroom.

When Ladue-Frontenac Patch was launched in early November, the inaugural edition had a lengthy interview with Marsha Chappelow. A lot has occurred since that session. Dr. Chappelow gives Patch an exclusive update of the status of the district with the opening of the 2011-12 school year.   Patch: August marks a new cycle of education, new school year with a lot of new students coming on board. How optimistic are you about the new school year? Marsha Chappelow: I’m excited. I just returned from the new (Ladue Early Childhood Center) LEEC, and that can build excitement right there. Anytime you see an updated educational facility that's going to let teachers do an even better job of teaching just because the environment works with them, that's…

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Ladue's Early Childhood Center Construction in the Final Stretch

First Classes in New Center Sept. 12; Official Dedication Set for October 14.

For anyone driving along Ladue Road near Spoede, one can't help but notice all the construction going on at the Westminster Christian Academy Campus in Creve Coeur. Westminster Christian Academy is moving to a new, much larger campus in Town and Country in August. Almost one year ago, Ladue officials broke ground on a $14 million Early Childhood Center, marking the first new construction in the district in 50 years. "We are proud to say we are under budget and ahead of schedule with this project," said Susan Dielmann, communications director for the district. The purchase of the property and construction of the new early childhood center was made possible by the passing of Proposition O, a $32 million bond referendum in April of 2010. Last…

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