Keysor Elementary Hosts First Ever Blood Drive

In addition to saving lives, the school will have the opportunity to earn money based on donor turnout.

Keysor Principal Addresses Newtown Shooting

Teachers will be on the look out for students who appear to need one-on-one support.

In a letter to parents, Keysor Elementary School Principal Bryan Painter explains how the school is addressing the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT. The letter was sent Sunday.  Painter says that knowledge of the tragedy varies from student to student. "It would be wrong of me to assume, however, that every child knows about the events, has asked those 'what if' questions, or is at all worried about their safety while at school," Painter says. Therefore Keysor will not discuss the Newtown shooting in its morning announcements or in a large group setting.  "I personally think it is better for our kids to hear about the news from you, as parents, than from their peers or even their teachers," Painter says.  Painter …

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Raking for a Cause: Kirkwood Students Help Neighbors

Students from Keysor, Tillman and Westchester elementary schools participated in a morning of community service by raking leaves and cleaning up yards. Neighbors were touched by the effort.

The following information was provided by the Kirkwood School District. Kirkwood School District (KSD) students and staff from Keysor Elementary School, Tillman Elementary School and Westchester Elementary School participated in a morning of community service Thursday by raking leaves and cleaning up yards immediately surrounding the school. Kirkwood resident Evelyn Smith had her yard raked by a group of Keysor students. “We just love seeing the kids. We are so grateful for all the work the kids do,” said Smith. Gary Krekow, who lives near Westchester, wrote a note of thanks to the school echoing the sentiment. “It is very encouraging to know that the students of Kirkwood Schools are learning the value of positive community involvement and…

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Kirkwood Teacher Wows Judges at Art Fair

Keysor art teacher Vanessa Lang nabbed a second place award at the Schlafly Art Outside Festival for her work inspired by fossils and natural artifacts.

Keysor Elementary School art teacher Vanessa Lang stood out among more than 50 artists last weekend at the Schlafly Art Outside Festival. Lang received Second Place in Art Show, according to the Kirkwood School District. "My relief surfaces are influenced by fossils, natural artifacts, and textural patterns," Lang says on a website that showcases her work. Learn more about the motivation and execution behind her art by visiting the website.  During her time at Keysor, Lang has captured the imagination of her students. The accompanying YouTube video shows how the instructor guided students in a collaborative work of art last year. Congratulate Lang by leaving a comment below, or tell us how your student has been inspired by the multi-…

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MAP Scores Help Nab Kirkwood Schools Top 10 Rankings in State

Two Kirkwood elementary schools and two Kirkwood middle schools were ranked in the top 10 in Missouri by a recent report.

The following was provided by the Kirkwood School District.  Schooldigger.com recently posted the 2011-12 rankings for Missouri. Four Kirkwood School District schools and the District were recognized in the report. The report compares data amongst schools, including student/teacher ratio and average MAP scores.  On the “Top 10 Missouri Elementary Schools” list, Keysor Elementary School was ranked number three and North Glendale Elementary School was ranked number seven. At the middle school level, when comparing amongst Missouri schools offering sixth to eighth grade exclusively, Nipher Middle School ranked number three and North Kirkwood Middle School ranked number five.  Schooldigger.com ranked the Kirkwood School District the number six…

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Kirkwood Elementary Schools See New Teachers

Two new faces join Kirkwood elementary school teaching staffs. One starts at Robinson Elementary School and the other at Keysor Elementary School.

Kirkwood schools announced two new hires this week. Lindsey Rosser has been hired as a Kindergarten teacher at Keysor Elementary School and Patrick Shelton has been hired as a member of the Special School District team at Robinson Elementary School.  Rosser moves to her position after serving as a teaching assistant last year at Keysor. At her former post, she worked in multiple grade levels, including kindergarten, according to Keysor Elementary School Facebook. "We're thrilled to have her on board as a full-time teacher!" the school wrote on its Facebook wall. Shelton will be supporting students in fourth and fifth grades as part of the Robinson Special School District Team. He moves to the position after serving at Nipher Middle School…

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UPDATE: Beloved School Custodian Leaves Hospital

Lamont Adams, the former head custodian for Keysor Elementary School, is adjusting to life at home after being treated for cardiac arrest.

When a beloved Kirkwood School District custodian had to be hospitalized because of heart problems, Kirkwood came to his side. Kirkwood's Greentree Community Church organized a car wash to raise money for Lamont Adams, the former head custodian of Keysor Elementary School, who went into cardiac arrest a day after retiring from Keysor. While Adams was in intensive care, his wife of nearly 30 years, Yvonne Adams, passed away.  (See: Car Wash on Saturday to Raise Money for Beloved School Custodian) Since his hospitalization, Keysor Elementary School has been keeping the community updated on Adams' condition through its Facebook page.  On Wednesday, the page reported that Adams returned home Tuesday after spending weeks in the hospital, as …

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Construction of State-of-the-Art Playground Gets Board OK

Project IDEA volunteers have been pitching in after the Kirkwood School Board approved Phase I and II construction of the much-anticipated playground.

The Kirkwood School Board approved the construction of Phase I and Phase II of Project IDEA this summer at its Monday night meeting, and the Project IDEA team has wasted no time getting down to business. Volunteers started dismantling Keysor Elementary School's current play structure Tuesday and have continued to lend a helping hand throughout the week. Contracted work begins next week. "Many, many thanks to all of our Keysor families and volunteers. This is a special night because of you," said Keysor Elementary on its Facebook page following Monday night's meeting of the Kirkwood School Board. Follow Project IDEA on Keysor Elementary School's Facebook page and the Project IDEA website. RELATED STORIES Project IDEA Breaks Ground Keysor …

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Car Wash Raises $2100 for Lamont Adams

The community came out to support the beloved school custodian last weekend.

Lamont Adams, the former head custodian at Keysor Elementary School who recently suffered from cardiac arrest and the loss of his wife got a helping hand from the Kirkwood community Saturday.  The early word is that a car wash organized by Greentree Community Church raised about $2100 for Adams and his family, according to Keysor Elementary School Facebook. The school thanked the church and those who donated on Facebook.  Read more about Lamont Adams and the impact he had as an employee of the Kirkwood School District: Car Wash on Saturday to Raise Money for Beloved School Custodian

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Car Wash on Saturday to Raise Money for Beloved School Custodian

Within days of retiring from Keysor Elementary due to failing health, Lamont Adams lost his wife and was hospitalized with serious heart problems.

Teachers, parents and students at Keysor Elementary in Kirkwood are rallying around one of their own. Longtime custodian Lamont Adams retired at the end of the school year due to health problems. One day later, as he was returning to share in an end-of-the-year barbecue with school staff, Adams went into cardiac arrest. Then two days later, while still in ICU, he lost his wife of nearly 30 years. Yvonne Adams, who also was in poor health, died before her husband ever awoke. She was buried June 2. The news hit Adams’ friends back in Kirkwood hard. “He is part of our family,” said former Keysor teacher Tricia Gaines, who has helped organize visits and phone calls to Adams, now recuperating in a rehabilitation center near his home in Cahokia…

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