"Thank You For Supporting Music in Our Schools"

The Hazelwood School District's advanced elementary band performed for the board of education to show appreciation for continuing to support arts programs in the district.

Hazelwood School District (HSD) elementary band instructor Liz Tabaka thanked the Board of Education for continuing music education. "Thank you for supporting music in our schools," she said at Tuesday's meeting. She along with Christine Berger, another HSD elementary band instructor led a group of advanced elementary band students through a trio of songs for the crowd at the meeting.

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HSD Staff Donates $36,928 to the United Way of Greater St. Louis

The Hazelwood School District sets annual fundraising goals for the agency.

For years, the Hazelwood School District (HSD) has participated in the annual fundraising campaign for the United Way of Greater St. Louis. This year, district employees collectively raised $36,928. Daryl Lester with the United Way of Greater St. Louis said the contributions raised not only helps the St. Louis-community, but the county and all of its surrounding areas. "The money raised by us stays with us," he said. "We know times are tough and it can be hard." In 2010, then-superintendent Steve Price established a fundraising incentive called the Pacesetter Award. To earn the award, schools had to have a minimum of 60 percent participation to the campaign from HSD staff. This school year, three schools earned the third annual Pacesetter …

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Hazelwood School District is Tackling the Dropout Rate

More than 100 students in the district graduated last year due to dropout prevention efforts. All three high schools have their own programs to aid those students at-risk of dropping out.

In the past four years, the dropout rate at Hazelwood West High School (HWHS) has increased by 10 percent each year. HWHS principal Dennis Newell revealed that alarming statistic at the March 5 Hazelwood School District Board of Education meeting. He along with Hazelwood Central's principal Cheryol Mitchell, and Hazelwood East's principal Jacqueline Kelly, discussed programs each school has adopted to save students like Darius Matthews, a sophomore at West, who said he was on the road to giving up on school as early as his freshman year. "In my freshman year at Hazelwood West I failed three classes and I hated school," he said. "I didn't like my teachers and I didn't feel connected to the school." Matthews, who aspires to play football but…

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Don't Forget HSD's Safety Forum for Parents

Wednesday's forum will be held at Hazelwood West High School from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Attendees are encouraged to RSVP at (314) 953-5065.

Hazelwood West High, Armstrong Elementary Put On Lockdown

The situation is now over, but threat of a gun on Hazelwood West property sent both schools into lockdown mode while police investigated. It caused a late dismissal at the elementary school.

Parents and students reached out to Hazelwood Patch to inform there was a security issue that put Hazelwood West High School and Armstrong Elementary School on lock-down Friday afternoon. Since the situation has been diffused Hazelwood Chief of Police Gregg Hall sent out a statement on the incident. "Hazelwood Police received a call from a Hazelwood West High School student’s mother stating that her juvenile son was being chased and threatened by a second juvenile student that had a handgun in his possession," the statement read. "The victim juvenile advised his mother that he was near school property and advised her that he was running towards the school, unsure if the second student was following." Police also said they secured the …

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Hazelwood West Middle School Forming A Safe School Committee

The school is seeking parent input and participation in the committee.

In the wake of the May attempted sex assault at Hazelwood West Middle School, the school's administration is forming a Safe School Committee. Hazelwood Patch reported on May 18 that the school had begun the process of healing through counseling for students and increased enforcement of areas during class time, and additional policy on hallway monitoring. In an email blast sent out in June, parents were asked to participate in the schools efforts to keep the school safe by joining the committee. If you are interested in serving on a committee with students, staff and parents regarding the topic of safe schools, contact Allison Klouse, the school principal, at 314-953-7801. According to the email blast, further information regarding the …

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Hazelwood Election 2011

Curry Brings Fresh Perspective, Inner Knowledge of Schools to HSD Board of Education

School board candidate Nita Curry wants to increase rigor of classes and improve North County's image.

Nita Curry said she couldn’t hold a candle to one candidate when it came to academic degrees and accomplishments--two of her opponents are former principals in the Hazelwood School District (HSD). But Curry, 48, said she does bring something the Hazelwood School District Board of Education needs the most. “I walk the halls, I know the teachers, I see things that students are dealing with,” said Curry, a past PTA president for Russell Elementary School and current substitute teacher in several HSD schools. She is also on the district’s technology advisory and scholarship committees. “I feel like what I’m bringing to the table is a totally new, fresh perspective,” she said. Curry is one of four candidates running for three seats on the HSD …

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