The mission of the Blue Springs School District is to create an educational community in which each individual acquires knowledge, develops skills, and functions as a literate citizen to achieve personal goals.

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 eleventh year in a row that we have received a perfect score. This is determined by a number of factors including student achievement. The Blue Springs School District is one of only seven school districts in this state to have eleven consecutive years of Distinction.

Winter Issue of the BluePrint Online
The Winter issue of the BluePrint, the BSSD's magazine, is now online. The magazine is presented in an exciting new format optimized for online viewing. Visit the site at www.bssdblueprint.com, or click on the cover image.

State Representatives Honor Project Lead the Way Program
Missouri State Representatives Sheila Solon and Jeanie Lauer visited the Freshman Center recently to present a proclamation honoring the Project Lead the Way Program to staff and students. The Freshman Center has received national recognition for its PLTW biomedical program. BSFC is one of just 16 schools to be named a PLTW Model School out of 4,200 eligible schools across the country. PLTW is a nonprofit organization that provides high-quality, engaging education programs for middle and high school students interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Blue Springs School District was among the first in Missouri to have certified Project Lead the Way biomedical programs. The Freshman Center began its biomedical sciences program in 2008.

Modern Language Fair a Worldwide Event
Blue Springs South held its Ninth Annual Modern Language Fair Thursday night. The event celebrates National Foreign Language Week and features performances, displays and food honoring many different cultures.

District Spelling Bee Goes 23 Rounds
The District's top spellers competed last night in the 2011-12 BSSD Spelling Bee at Moreland Ridge Middle School. Through 23 rounds, students grade 4 through 7 spelled words ranging from "poi" to "circumlocution." Anne Cole, a 6th grade student at Delta Woods Middle School, correctly spelled "ventilate" and "hinterland" to take the top prize. Anna Kochman, a 5th grade at Voy Spears, Jr. Elementary, earned second place. Lucy Franklin Elementary 5th grader McKenzie Handy finished third.

BSSD Programs Earn Grants in Battle of the Brains Contest
Two BSSD projects in the Battle of The Brains Contest were awarded grant money. The Project Lead the Way Science City ER entry was a runner-up in the Secondary Division, earning a $5,000 grant. The Space Place at Cordill-Mason Elementary was an Honorable Mention selection in the Elementary Division, earning a $2,500 grant.
The Battle of the Brains contest was created to inspire students in science, technology, engineering and math. It drew 560 entries from 128 schools in 35 area districts.

BSSD Named Best Place to Work
The Blue Springs School District was named the Kansas City Business Journal's "2011 Best Places to Work" winner in the Large Companies Division. The awards program recognizes Kansas City-area companies that create workplaces that pass muster with the most knowledgeable judges — their employees. Companies are ranked based on the results of a confidential survey completed by a percentage of their work forces. The survey takes into account areas such as benefits, perks and interaction with management. Our District competed with Argosy Casino, Burns & McDonnell, Children’s Mercy Hospital, Harrah’s, Henderson Engineering, JE Dunn, St. Luke’s Health System, Teva Neuroscience and UMB Bank. THe BSSD also won a Best Places to Work designation in 2005.