The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reported that we have once again received a perfect score on our Annual Performance Report. This is the seventh year in a row that we have received a perfect score. This is determined by a number of factors including student achievement.
Announcements
The 2008-2009 school year will begin on Tuesday, August 19, 2008.
District earns seventh consecutive Distinction in Performance Award
Once again the Blue Springs School District has earned Distinction in Performance awarded by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. This honor is the seventh consecutive for the district and is an indicator of a high quality education. While 294 districts received the designation this year, there are currently only eight districts in the state of Missouri that have received this honor for seven consecutive years. For a school district to qualify for Distinction in Performance they have to meet or exceed thirteen standards in many areas that are measured by the state’s school-accreditation indicators including: MAP test scores, ACT scores, attendance and dropout rates among others. “The Distinction in Performance Award is a prestigious honor for Missouri school districts. It requires districts to demonstrate outstanding achievement or consistent improvement in multiple areas. The entire community should be proud of its public schools for earning this honor,” said Commissioner of Education D. Kent King. Under the state’s accreditation process, school districts are formally evaluated once every five years, according to State Board of Education standards. The Distinction in Performance award is based on the same performance criteria used in the accreditation review process. The award, however, represents a one-year snapshot of a district’s overall academic performance. The Blue Springs School District was honored with other area school districts at a banquet hosted by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in May.
Pictured to the right is Blue Springs School District Board of Education Vice-President Jim Coen with BSSD staff holding the certificate recognizing the District for its accomplishment at the annual award banquet.
Blue Springs celebrates its American Idol, David Cook American Idol David Cook's May 9 hometown visit not only thrilled thousands of fans, but also provided a huge boost in the fight against cancer. As a part of the hometown appearance, donations were accepted to benefit the American Cancer Society. On Wednesday, May 21, representatives of the Blue Springs School District, the City of Blue Springs, and the Blue Springs Chamber of Commerce presented a check of $30,466.47 to the American Cancer Society. During his hometown visit, David was presented a key to the City and sang for a crowd of more than 10,000 local fans. Before his appearance at Larry Stewart Memorial Stadium at Blue Springs South High School, David visited Thomas Ultican Elementary School to present his first music teacher a bouquet of flowers. David surprised Fredalyn Gentry during a teacher appreciation assembly and instructed all of the students at TUE to listen when Mrs. Gentry talks because "She really knows what she is talking about." David then spent some time in the music room with Mrs. Gentry and thanked her for giving him the opportunity to perform for a crowd for the first time in second grade. Fredalyn Gentry is the Thomas Ultican Teacher of the Year and has been teaching at TUE for 24 years.
Seven Years of Perfect Scores
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