​The WGSDF had the pleasure of awarding Fall Mini Grants across the WGSD in September and October. Grant recipients are from Edgar Road School and WGHS.

Congratulations go out to Betsy Moppert, District Science Coordinator and Administrative Intern at Edgar Road School. In September, Betsy was awarded a $1,000 check for her grant titled “STEMetize my Learning”. This grant is a Professional Development opportunity for teachers in the district to learn how to create interactive hands-on creative learning for students with STEM activities. STEM activities and projects are a great way to motivate students to take learning outside of the classroom and combine multiple content areas into a relevant project.  Congratulations Betsy!!  

In October two Mini Grants were awarded! Mebbie Landsness, Chemistry and Physics Teacher at WGHS, was awarded a $1,000 grant for her project titled “Inquiry in Physics:  Electricity Comes to Life”.  Mebbie will be using the CASTLE (Capacitor-Aided Systems for Teaching and Learning Electricity) approach to allow students to “see” electricity. Students will have a hands-on inquiry lab based curriculum that allows them to be fully engaged in their learning. New electricity supplies will allow students to discover and really connect with the ideas surrounding electricity. Congratulations Mebbie!

Also in October, the WGSDF awarded a grant to Edgar Road School Kindergarten teachers, Samantha Gegg, Kelly Wilkes, and Kerry Anne Cocos for $425.  Kindergarten students can “Wake Up and Be Awesome” at Edgar Road School!  Interactive, hands-on, problem solving, creative and fun supplies will be added to their morning routine. This new approach will encourage a new way for Kindergartners to learn in non-traditional ways.  Congratulations Edgar Road School! 

On October 21st, 2017, in front of Webster Groves High School, the 14th Annual Ivory Crocket Run for Webster was the start of another fantastic Webster Groves community event! As always, all the participants and volunteers were thrilled with the sense of community evident on race day. From the 5K through the beautiful streets of Webster Groves, to the 1 mile fun run and walk that brought families together, and the signature 100 Yard Dash with its endless smiles, the morning was a huge success - even with a little rain.
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On you Mark… Get Set… GO!! The raced kicked off with words from Ivory Crockett, the fastest man in the world, (read more about his story here)  the runners and walkers were on their way!  Coming in first place were some pretty fast kids from our own Hixson Middle School!  Overall male and female winners, Emerson Lack and Grace Ely, are in the 8th grade at Hixson. Congratulations to them both!

As finishers completed the run, the excitement continued inside the high school at the Pancake Breakfast and Kids Activities Fair.  Chris’ Cakes outperformed again and served THOUSANDS of pancakes to hungry families. And while the parents waited in the line, the little kids kept busy with the Kids Activity Fair hosted by the Child Development Department at WGHS.  Arts and crafts, sticky fingers, full bellies and lot of smiles filled the inside of WGHS!

One of the biggest highlights of the morning was the much anticipated 100 yard dash. Our first group of runners was a new and FUN competition this year. Fredbird AND Louie battled it out for who could finish first! It was a photo finish to the end!! Next up was the pre k runners, and followed was each grade though 6th grade. Speedy runners crossed the finish line faster than you could believe!!

The money raised during this fun community event helps the Webster Groves School District Foundation carry out its mission of expanding learning opportunities for the students of the district. In addition to providing students and teachers with innovative new curriculum, materials and experiences, the Foundation uses proceeds from the Run for Webster to award annual Ivory Crockett Scholarships to several graduating seniors who are entering college in health-related fields.  

The Ivory Crockett Run for Webster continues to be one of the best community events in Webster Groves.  Evident by the WGHS Band, WGHS Cheerleaders, WGFD Fire Truck, WG Mayor Gerry Welch, WGSD Student Singers, WGSD Administration, Adult and Student Volunteers and Community Sponsors. Without all this support, none of this could take place. Thank you Webster Groves! We can’t wait to see you next year, October 20th, 2018 at the start line!

view a slideshow of all the FUN below