Current News
05/15/09
Students/Schools Recognized at Safe and Sober Prom Night Awards Assembly
More than 60 people, including representatives from Springfield Public Schools, the business community, law enforcement, parents and students of Springfield Public Schools, attended the fifth annual Safe and Sober Prom Night Awards Assembly Thursday, May 14th, where all students, schools and sponsors were honored for their participation in this extraordinary program. Also, five lucky students representing the five Springfield Public High Schools were recognized for their commitments to remain drug and alcohol free on prom night. Each winning student received $1,000 for their participation in the program. The winning students were: Brittany Evans, Glendale High School; Felix Chang, Central High School; Jessica Evans, Parkview High School; Austin Batiste, Kickapoo High School; Mikael Falls, Hillcrest High School.
In addition Glendale High School was presented with a check for $2,420 for their Project Graduation, for having the highest student participation of all five Springfield Public High Schools, at 90 percent, the highest percentage of student participation since the programs inception. All told, $10,000 in cash was awarded to SPS students at this event.
Current Events Update:
With the sudden increase in drug use around our schools in Missouri we have connected with Rehab Programs to offer assistance when seeking a Missouri rehab program. If you or a loved one have been struggling with addiction, please don't histate to contact them.
Safe and Sober Prom Night was founded by attorney Kurt Larson five years ago and is a program which encourages students to remain drug and alcohol free during prom season. Since its inception, Safe and Sober Prom Night has grown to include nearly 8000 students at 20 schools across the Ozarks, including the five Springfield Public High Schools.
Each prom season Kurt Larson travels across the Ozarks speaking at student assemblies and educating students and their parents about the dangers of underage drug and alcohol use. Each senior is encouraged to take the Safe and Sober Prom Night pledge, which is a pledge to stay drug and alcohol free on prom night. Over the past five years nearly 12,000 students have taken the pledge, and Safe and Sober Prom Night has donated over $150,000 to schools and their students across the Ozarks.
Safe and Sober Prom Night was founded by Kurt Larson and is managed by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. The mission of the Foundation is to raise, manage and distribute private investment to benefit the students of Springfield Public Schools. Safe and Sober Prom Night is sponsored or endorsed by the following businesses and individuals: MoDOT, Regional Coalition for Roadway Safety, O’Reilly Automotive, Wal-Mart, Liberty Bank, Thomas J. Meyer, DDS, Mattax-Neu-Prater Eye Center, St. John’s Health Systems, Drury University, Community Partnership of the Ozarks, Springfield Neurological & Spine Institute, Great Southern Bank, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools, Ozark Mountain Chapter MADD, Missouri Highway Patrol, Greene County Sheriff’s Department, Greene County Prosecutor, Springfield Police Department, Christian County Sheriff’s Department, Ample Industries, 417 Magazine, Strong-Garner-Bauer Law Firm, David Ransin, P.C. Attorney-at-Law, David and Anne Smid, Jim and Nancy Claxton, Kurt and Sally Larson/Larson Law Firm.
For more information about Safe and Sober Prom Night contact Kurt Larson, Larson Law Firm at 417-890-6677 or visit www.SafeAndSoberMo.com.
03/17/09
Foundation for Springfield Public Schools is Partnering with Community Foundation of the Ozarks to Bring High Impact Grants to Springfield Public Schools
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools is adding a new component to its annual Back to School grant program thanks to a matching grant from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks in the amount of $37,960. Both Foundations will fund the new grant category which will offer higher dollar grants to schools with a high percentage of students receiving free and reduced lunch rates.
The new grant category comes at the same time of other changes to the grant program, which is in its 9th year. This year the deadline for teachers and principals to submit grants has been moved up to early summer. In previous years grants have been due in the fall and have not been awarded until November.
Executive Director of the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools Nancy Fazzino said, “We are excited about the changes in the grant deadline. By awarding the grants sooner we can get the dollars in the hands of the teachers to implement exciting projects and equipment that directly benefit the students at the beginning of the school year.” Fazzino added, “The change in the timeline and the addition of the high impact grant cycle offer even greater opportunity to enhance the education of our students.”
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools will begin fundraising for the Back to School program in May. In November the Foundation awarded over $150,000 in grants and School Improvement Plan (SIP) funding to Springfield Public Schools. The Foundation will accept grant applications from certified employees in Springfield Public Schools until Tuesday, June 9, 2009. For more information about the Back to School grant program call 417-523-0144 or visit www.foundation4sps.org.
02/06/09
Foundation Holds School Supply Drive with Panera Bread to Aid Students in Springfield Public Schools, Promotes National Random Act of Kindness Week
Springfield, MO – Panera Bread and the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools will hold a school supply drive February 9-15, 2009 at each Panera Bread location in Springfield. The drive is a direct result of a need for basic school supplies and will happen in conjunction with National Random Acts of Kindness week.
In previous years the need for school supplies this late in the school year has not been so great. Executive Director of the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools Nancy Fazzino said, “The number of families needing assistance with basic school supplies and back packs has increased greatly. The need is growing so rapidly that we find ourselves mid year and needing to refresh the supply.”
The Foundation became aware of this need through communication with attendance coordinator for the district, Becky Morgan. “Teachers and counselors began to call Becky who facilitates the supplies and she had to tell them that her supplies had been used up and there were no funds to buy these items,” said Fazzino. Fazzino added, “Because Panera Bread was so generous in the fall we approached them about the need for a mid-year school supply drive.”
Community Relations Manager for Panera Bread, Mindy Spitz said, “Panera Bread has always been an active community partner and when we learned of the school supply shortages, we wanted to help the children of our friends and neighbors who mean so much to us. There are few things as important as educating our young people and we fully support that mission.”
The Panera Bread School drive will run February 9-15, 2009 at all five Panera Bread locations in Springfield.
Complete List of School Supplies Needed:
Backpack or book bag
Small plastic school box
Cleansing tissue, large box
Crayons, 16 colors
Glue, Crayola™, no-clog tip
Pencils, No. 2 lead
Scissors, 4” blunt
Eraser
Primary tablet, ¾ ruled paper
Primary tablet, ½ ruled
Scissors, 5” sharp
Paper, notebook 3/8” ruled
Ruler, metric & inches
Scissors, 5”-6” sharp
Folder with brads & pockets
Pen, ball point
Pencils red lead
Protractor
Pens, blue & black
Spiral notebooks
For more information about the school supply drive contact Mindy Spitz, Panera Bread at 417-889-8282 ext. 208 or Natalie Murdock, Foundation for Springfield Public Schools at 417-523-0016. Visit us on the web at www.foundation4sps.org.
12/19/08
$100,000 Gift has Impact for Special Education Students in Springfield Public Schools
The Special Education Department of Springfield Public Schools received a $100,000 gift from John and Crystal Beuerlein on Friday, December 19 through the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools. John Beuerlein, the brother of Jennifer Beuerlein, Assistant Director of Special Education, was on hand Friday morning to present the donation at a check presentation.
This gift is being used to meet the needs of the special education department in Springfield Public Schools. Amy Krause, Director of Special Education, announced that because of this gift over 55 projects have been funded and over 1600 special needs students have been impacted. Some of the projects that have been funded include auditory listening devices for students with autism, classroom technology and other instructional materials for students with disabilities.
09/18/08
Incredible Pizza Company Gives Back to Care to Learn, Donates Money to Help Students in Need in Springfield Public Schools
Representatives from Incredible Pizza Company presented the Care to Learn fund with a donation of $6,531.64 at a check presentation this morning. Representing Incredible Pizza Company were Ron Rousseau, Amber Mattingly, Cheryl Barsness and Rick Barsness. Accepting the check were Doug Pitt and Nancy Fazzino, representing Care to Learn.
Over the weekend of September 12, Incredible Pizza Company celebrated 6 years of business in Springfield and donated 15 percent of the weekend’s sales to the Care to Learn fund which is managed by the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools.
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools raises, manages and distributes funds to support Springfield Public Schools, including the Care to Learn fund. The Care to Learn fund helps students meet unmet and emergency needs by providing health and hygiene products, clothing items and food. Care to Learn was founded in April of 2008 by Doug Pitt, the Jolie-Pitt Foundation and Jim D. Morris.
For more information about Care to Learn or the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools call 417-523-0144.
09/17/08
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools and Borders Team up to Support Springfield Public Schools, Host Two Local, Award-Winning Children's Authors
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools and Borders® will host a book fair beginning Thursday, September 18th through Tuesday, September 23rd to support the Foundation’s Back to School grant program. On Saturday, September 20th the Foundation will hold a special event day at Borders® which will include appearances by local award-winning children’s authors, Louise Jackson, winner of the 2008 WILLA Literacy Award and Judy Young, recipient of the 2008 Mom’s Choice Award; Linda Luke Librarian of the Year, Margaret Butler; Springfield Public Schools Teacher of the Year, Beth Nickle and a special appearance by Springfield Cardinal’s mascot Louie.
Up to 25 percent of the net sales made using the Foundation’s voucher from September 18th to September 23rd will be donated to the Foundation’s Back to School grant program which provides teaching grants to Springfield Public School teachers. Vouchers must be obtained prior to the book fair from the Foundation office by calling 417-523-0144 or by visiting www.foundation4sps.org.
Event Day Schedule: Saturday, September 20
Louise Jackson, Exiled 10:00 am
Beth Nickle, Teacher of the Year 11:00 am
Margaret Butler, Linda Luke Librarian of the Year 12:00 noon
Judy Young, R is for Rhyme, A Poetry Alphabet 12:00 noon
Louie the Cardinal 1:00 pm
Holland Elementary Students 2:00 pm
The vision of the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools is to promote educational excellence for every child by working with the public school system and the community. For more information on the Foundation, the book fair or voucher requests, please contact the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools at 417-523-0144.
09/02/08
The Foundation Announces 2008-2009 Officers of its Board of Directors
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools inducted 2008-2009 officers at its annual meeting held Thursday, August 21, 2008. The new officers include:
Kim Sullivan, Morelock-Ross, President
Allen Kunkel, Missouri State University, President-Elect
Stephanie Montgomery, Ron Stenger Company, Secretary
Beau Barrett, Kirkpatrick, Phillips & Miller CPAs, Treasurer
Tony Shalloup, Past President
Also recognized at the Foundation’s Annual Meeting were new board members: Jana Bachus, community volunteer; Dr. Anne Liners Brett, Cox School of Nursing; Phil Grafft, Fitzgerald First Realty; Joseph Reid, Lathrop & Gage and Nancy Riggs, Penmac Personnel.
The Foundation for Springfield Public Schools manages more than 90 funds and scholarships. The Foundation’s annual campaign, Back to School with the Foundation, raises funds to support its Back to School grant program. The Back to School campaign started in August and will run until the end of October. For more information about the Foundation for Springfield Public Schools or Back to School 2008 visit www.foundation4sps.org or call 523-0144.