Bayless School District Teacher of the Year
Kristen deJong
SUMMER 2022/Vol.5
Issue 4
Bayless Magazine Summer - 2022 Volume 5 * Issue 4 Bayless is distributed to alumni, parents, friends and neighbors. Its mission is to maintain ties among the District, its alumni and all of our friends and neighbors.
Board of Education Jeff Preisack ’83, President Shannon Kohler, Vice President Sara Reece, Member Michelle Padgett, Member Woody Babb, Member Tom Wood, Member Laura Van Zale ’83, Member
District Administration Amy Ruzicka
Bayless Schools Early Childhood Center
Elementary
Christina Ly ’99, Principal Amra Hadzic, Secretary School Hours: 8:15 AM - 3:20 PM Office Hours: 7:45 AM - 3:45 PM
Aaron Kohler, Principal Dr. Amanda Middendorf, Assistant Principal Amber Callahan, Assistant Principal Mirsada Becarevic, Secretary Kimberly Moreau, Secretary School Hours: 8:15 AM - 3:21 PM Office Hours: 7:30 AM - 4 PM
314-256-8630
Junior High
314-256-8690
Christine Prosser, Principal Dr. Andrew Mertens, Assistant Principal Sanela Jugovic, Administrative Assistant Cantrece Novak, Secretary School Hours: 7:30 AM - 2:36 PM Office Hours: 7 AM - 3:30 PM
Superintendent of Schools
Alumni Association
Michael Hawkins
314-256-8660 x8617 Sally Wear ’58
(314) 256-8601
Assistant Superintendent (314) 373-0506
Chel’Lee Whitten
Chief Academic Officer (314) 256-8658
Preston Sterett
Director of Business & Finance (314) 256-8687
Kim Arnold
Human Resources Director
(314) 256-8605
Debbie Meyer-Higgins
Transportation Supervisor Board Secretary
(314) 256-8602
Stephen Terrill
Marketing and Communications Coordinator (314) 256-8115
Kelly Stahlhuth
District Activities Director (314) 784-8089
VICC Transportation
(314) 721-8657
Pictured: 2022 BSD Teacher of the Year Kristin deJong poses in the Elementary lobby. deJong is a second grade teacher who helped her students publish a book for class.
314-256-8620
High School
314-256-8660
Melanie Rouggly, Principal Eric Lawrence, Assistant Principal/Athletic Director Holly Kennedy, Director of Student Services Dr. Monika Hasanbasic, ELL Coordinator Sandra Schacht, Secretary Lauren Champion ’07, Secretary Melissa Godat, Registrar School Hours: 7:30 AM - 2:36 PM Office Hours: 7 AM - 3:30 PM
smart good strong
Bayless is published five times a year to inform the public about what is occurring at the Bayless Schools - including student achievements, happenings in the classroom, involvement in the community and more. Please submit any questions, comments or letters to Stephen Terrill, Marketing and Communications Coordinator, 4950 Heege Road, St. Louis, MO, 63123, 314-256-8115 or at: Sterrill@bayless.k12.mo.us Bayless School District does not discriminate in its programs or activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, socioeconomic status, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age or any other characteristic protected by law. Inquiries related to District programs may be directed to Director of Human Resources and Title IX Coordinator Mrs. Kim Arnold at 314-256-8605, 4950 Heege Road, St. Louis, MO, 63123. The Bayless School District is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
In this Issue 3 4-5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12-13 14-15 16-17 18 19 20
Superintendent’s Letter BHS Outstanding Senior: Sahar Hussaini 2022 Teacher of the Year: Kristin deJong Bayless Early Childhood Center Bayless Elementary School Bayless Junior High Bayless High School Bayless School District Recognition Building Progress Class of 2022 Graduation Speeches Alumni Look-Back Fall Sports Schedules: Football, Softball and Boys Soccer Bayless Academic Foundation
From the Superintendent... Dear Bayless Community,
Bayless has set a high standard in the past, but the real spirit of Bayless is to aspire for greater excellence in the future. The future of Bayless is in your hands and hearts...
It is with great pleasure and enthusiasm that I officially introduce myself as Superintendent of Bayless School District. I am truly honored to serve in a community with a rich history and a deep commitment to providing greater opportunities for all students to become Smart, Good, and Strong. I am a long-time South County resident along with my husband, who is also an educational administrator, and three children. As my sons and daughter grow, I enjoy helping each of them discover their passions: fine and performing arts; STEM and leadership; and athletics and outdoor recreation. As a parent, educator, former coach and athlete, and musician, I deeply understand the importance of a well-rounded education and access to a variety of high-quality extracurricular experiences.
Violet C. Bascom, Superintendent (1932-1945) Professionally, I have served Bayless School District as a teacher, instructional Excerpt from the 1932 Oracle - Bayless High School Yearbook coordinator, and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment for the past 14 years of my 21-year career. Some of my proudest moments have been when former students and their families reached out to update me on their successes in their lives and careers. I am also incredibly proud of the staff members, teachers, and leaders I have mentored and supported over the past decade. Watching them thrive and impact our students and community in a positive way both inspires and energizes me for the future.
As I begin my Superintendency, I draw great inspiration from Bayless’ first Superintendent, Violet C. Bascom, who also began her journey here as an 8th Grade teacher: “Bayless has set a high standard in the past, but the real spirit of Bayless is to aspire for greater excellence in the future.” As we turn the page, I am excited to continue building upon all of the remarkable accomplishments and take Bayless to new heights. This community has written an impressive story over these past 154 years and I am honored to assist with composing the next chapter.
Sincerely,
Amelia A. Ruzicka Superintendent of Schools
Violet C. Bascom First Superintendent of Bayless Schools 1917: Hired as an 8th grade teacher 1930: Appointed Superintendent of Schools
Amelia A. Ruzicka Tenth Superintendent of Bayless Schools 2008: Hired as an 8th grade teacher 2022: Appointed Superintendent of Schools Page 3 - Summer 2022
Outstanding Senior:
INSPIRE
Sahar Hussaini
After living in Afghanistan her whole life, Sahar Hassani came to America in March 2020. She spoke almost no English. Two years later, she has graduated Magna Cum Laude from Bayless and is attending Saint Louis University in the fall.
Thinking of your entire educational career at Bayless, what are you most proud of? I am proud of graduating school as an outstanding senior and being admitted to the university I wanted with all scholarships and awards that I got. I did this while being new to the USA, learning English, and getting used to a new culture. What are three of your core values you believe have led to your success? The first core value for me is my growth mindset. I believe mindsets play a significant role in determining life’s outcomes. As Carol Dweck says: “Having a growth mindset (the belief that you are in control of your own ability, and can learn and improve) is the key to success.” I believe it so much. I try to grow my mindset every minute of my life by reading books, talking to people, discussing ideas, learning from others’ experience and having a thoughtful view. The difference between a successful person and an unsuccessful one is their mindset. Try to have a stronger mind than your feelings. Having “SMART” goals in my life is the second core value that led me to my success. Having Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-Bound goals in different stages of my life is important for me. I have big goals, starting from who I want to be and my purpose in life - to small goals for my everyday life. I have short-term, long-term, personal, and educational goals that I have plans to achieve. I believe by having goals in your life you understand where you are going and why you are going. Having goals will help you stay focused. I put my goals first. I am trying to pursue them relentlessly. If my goal is to write an essay on this specific time - then I will plan to do it and that would be the first thing I value and nothing can distract me from doing it. Having goals and planning to achieve them is thoughtful, but what makes it possible is to take action - which is my third core value. I always tell myself ‘what the mind can conceive, it can achieve.’ Always believe in yourself and do everything with confidence. When you take action, do it with passion. Enjoy what you are doing and enjoy the way of achieving your goals. It gives your life meaning. Put effort into your actions. Do it with excellence, do the best you can.
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What are your plans for the future? I am planning to study business marketing for four years at Saint Louis University. I am going to minor in art. I am an artist and plan to start my own business. My goal is to start a small business with my artwork in 2026, and expand my business into different sectors, not just art. My future long-term goal is creating an international humanitarian organization in 2029 with a mission to relieve the suffering of those in need and create a better world for all. I am also planning to write a book about my life story in 2028 to inspire others. What are you most proud of? I am most proud of myself for being strong, focused, confident, positive and never giving up. I did it in Afghanistan where there is lots of gender inequality and so many other issues – and in new situations here in the USA where I had to learn a new language, culture and everything. How would you like to be remembered? I want to be remembered as a successful business woman who helped the world by helping people who are in need - especially those in war-torn countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, minorities everywhere, and in other parts of the world that need help like Africa. This would include basic human needs and providing education.
One of Sahar’s artworks. She plans to start a small business centered around her art in 2026.
What quote do you try to live by?
“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.” -Jennifer Lee. What’s the best thing about Bayless? I believe Bayless School has some of the best teachers. It has teachers who have a growth mindset that not only teach the classes in a great way, but also help students to learn how to have a better life and grow as an individual person with a good personality. If you could change one thing in society, what would it be? If I could change one thing about society it would be people’s mindset. A society with a growth mindset can make a big change in the world. I would focus on students’ mindsets and how they can control their ability and learn, instead of focusing on their grades. A society with a growth mindset would remove racism, injustice, poverty, oppression and war because people are thoughtful about whatever they do and how they act. What advice would you give future Bayless High School students? To the future Bayless High School students, high school is one of the first steps for your future goals. For each, have a goal that you are coming to school and plan what you are going to do that day to achieve it. It might seem boring, but it’s better than coming to school and not knowing what to do and overthinking or stressing about different things. Set a goal for that year. Try to achieve it and enjoy the journey. Also, friends make the school fun. Take it easy and have fun as much as you can. Just know that not all people around the world have the opportunity to go to a safe school and learn – we are so blessed. Be nice to other kids at school; everyone is dealing with something in our lives. Bayless has a lot of different people from different countries - learn from their thoughts and experiences. Page 5 - Summer 2022
Bayless School District Teacher of the Year
Kristen deJong When I think about inspiring others in my role as an educator, my mind always comes back to the students. For me, being a positive role model for them means to…
Ignite a love for learning Never give up Stay consistent Practice a growth mindset Idealize progress over perfection Respect & celebrate all differences Encourage with love If I’m being honest, though, this year my group of students inspired me just as much as I hope to have inspired them. Due to the pandemic, this class of resilient 2nd Grade students had yet to experience a “normal” school year. With COVID-19 came instructional changes, challenges, quarantines, virtual learning methods, etc. Over half of my class was completely virtual for the 2020-2021 school year. Because of that, I knew it was going to take purposeful, creative planning to come up with lessons that kept all students engaged and excited about learning. Writing was a subject for which I especially needed to keep that in mind. I decided to do something a little bit different
Ms. deJong and her students pose with her Teacher of the Year Award. Page 6 - Summer 2022
this year to close out our informational writing unit by having us publish a real book. I believe giving students a choice in the writing process is a big way to inspire them to want to write. Keeping this in mind, I let my class choose what our topic would be. They decided on the seven continents, because students in my class represent four out of the seven continents! We also had recently studied the continents in social studies so this gave us an opportunity for crosscurricular learning. Over several weeks, my students researched, brainstormed, discussed, and wrote many facts about their chosen continent. Once the final draft was completed, we mailed all the pages to a publishing company to publish our book. The day the books were delivered was one of the proudest days I’ve had as an educator. It was amazing to see how great the students felt becoming real, published authors. The smiles and excitement lasted for days! I believe the project inspired my students to think beyond the classroom about what they can accomplish. Overall, it has been an amazing year learning and growing together. I think I speak Ms. deJong’s class with their published book, for most “The Amazing Continents of our World.” educators when I say that the work we do doesn’t just last from August to May, but hopefully lasts a lifetime. To my Bayless family, stay inspired. You are doing AMAZING things. -Ms. Kristen deJong
BECC
Bayless Early Childhood Center
CELEBRATES
Parents as Sliding into Teachers End Kindergarten of Year Party
Elijah is ready after sliding into Kindergarten.
Elli is a proud Itty Bitty Broncho Graduate.
Miss Crisi with the EC’s No. 1 Parent Volunteer Aubrey Fridley.
Ben with his mom Marley and his dad Joseph.
Cora from Orange Room sliding into Kindergarten.
Cora and Ellie from Orange Room reminiscing.
Carter enjoying the bubbles from the Bubble Van.
Virginia twirling in the bubbles and dancing to music from the Bubble Van.
Forty Students from Green Room, Purple Room, Blue Room, and Orange Room slid into Kindergarten on Monday, May 23, 2022. Over 200 guests and family members attended. Page 8 - June 2021
We celebrated with an end of the year party for all Early Childhood and Parents as Teachers families. Over 300 guests enjoyed bounce houses, the bubble van, music, and Kona Ice. Page 7 - Summer 2022
BES
Bayless Elementary School By Mr. Aaron Kohler - Elementary School Principal The end of the school year is always marked with celebrations and fun activities. This school year ended much more like the years prior to the pandemic. Field Day took place on May 13. The weather was surprisingly much cooler than the 90+ degree days we experienced earlier in the week. The last week of school kicked off on Monday with the Principal’s Challenge. Our students played dodge ball with Mr. Kohler, Dr. Middendorf, Dr. Whitten and Ms. Klocke. Our 5th Grade Farewell Bridging Ceremony took place on May 24 and was enjoyed by all. The “Bridging Ceremony” symbolizes our 5th grade students completing elementary school and embarking on their new journey at Bayless Junior High. While the walk across the bridge is symbolic, we want everyone to know that our students are well prepared for success at BJH. Did you know? Bayless Elementary School once again achieved the Gold Level Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) award. Over the past 10 years, Bayless Elementary has earned the award nine times. Pictured below are ALL the teachers on our Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 committees.
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Pictured: Mrs. Gamm’s class flashes thumbs up during Field Day on May 13. That day was much cooler than the rest of the week, which helped the students enjoy the fun.
“Bayless is a very caring school and the reason I say caring is because the whole staff there cares so much about each child! The best memories are my kids coming home and bragging about how great their day was at school. There is no greater feeling than knowing your child loves waking up going to school because the teachers and principals treat them as if they were their own. We love the Bayless School District!”
-Bobbiejo Evans, mother of Julian (5th), Shaun (1st) and Alejandro (7th).
BJH
Choir and Band The 6-8 Band and Choir made a trip to Santa Claus, Indiana in May and did several performances.
Bayless Junior High
8th Grade Promotion & Awards Ceremony Students in all grade levels are recognized for academic achievement, best effort, and most improved in all subjects. 8th grade boys celebrating their The program accomplishments. Left to Right: Mustufa Bektic, Carsyn Ly, then recognized Quincy Williams, Andrew Bolden, Tarik Mumuinovic, Lawson Tran, and Henry Craig. 8th grade students and their promotion to high school. Each student received a promotion certificate and the event concluded with an 8th grade video presentation. 8th grade families attend and it is an opportunity for celebration and photos. 8th grader Maya Morris receives her promotion certificate.
6-8 Band students receiving the news they earned a 1 and an award of Gold on their band concert performance in Indiana.
6-8 Choir students performing in Indiana .
Students and staff enjoying Holiday World, an amusement park in Santa Claus, Indiana.
6-12 Band and Choir also held a concert on May 16 for families and communities to see their skills.
8th Grade Picnic
8th graders spent May 18 at the park relaxing, playing games, and having lunch.
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Recording History
BHS By Emily Klein Bayless High School
Over the last few years, the Social Studies Department at Bayless High School has been working to expand the number of elective courses offered to students. This past spring, a mix of juniors and seniors enrolled in BHS’s first Bosnian American Studies class, which was co-taught by Dr. Monika Hasanbasic and Ms. Emily Klein. The course was offered through a partnership with Fontbonne University, which provided an opportunity for students to earn college credit, enjoy several visits from Dr. Benjamin Moore of Fontbonne, and to visit the Center for Bosnian Studies housed on Fontbonne’s campus. The class was an incredible learning experience for all involved. “During my time in class this semester, I have developed more empathy and established a better understanding of the people living in my community,” one senior said. “The interview process and class content has provided me with a new perspective of the world. I am a better person leaving the class than I was going into it.” At the beginning of the course, students studied the early history of the lands that would become Bosnia and presented summaries of their information to each other. We then studied the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and the conflict that began as a result. We spent several weeks learning about the events of the Bosnian War, including the genocide and ethnic cleansing campaigns inflicted upon Bosnians. We did so by reading memoirs and accounts of the war, watching documentaries and movies, and analyzing the text of the Dayton Accords, which formally ended the conflict. We then moved to examine the trials of some of the major war criminals, and were incredibly fortunate to have Mr. Elvedin Pasic visit our class on two different occasions. Mr. Pasic was the first witness to testify in the International Criminal Tribunal in the Netherlands for the former Yugoslavia at the trial of Serbian General Ratko Mladic, one of the men who was eventually convicted of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity for his role in the war. Mr. Pasic shared both his personal story of his family’s experience in Bosnia during the war, along with what it was like to testify in front of an international tribunal. He brought along pictures and other artifacts from his time in the Netherlands for students to see, and graciously answered questions about his experiences. “Having learning experiences like this really enhanced the class in ways other classes couldn’t have been done,” one student said after Mr. Pasic’s visit. In addition to reading, watching, and listening to the stories of Page 10 - Summer 2022
those who were involved in the war, one of the most important parts of the course is the interview that students are asked to conduct. The Center for Bosnian Studies at Fontbonne has been building an archive of interviews with Bosnians and Bosnian Americans, and, as part of the Bosnian Studies course, each student was tasked with interviewing someone of Bosnian descent. Many students chose to interview individuals who had direct experience in the war. For a majority of them, this was a direct family member - often, a parent. Other students interviewed friends, neighbors, or classmates. No matter who the interviewee was, students reported back that they learned details they never expected to, heard stories they had never been privy to, and gained a much greater understanding of the effect of war on the individuals who lived through it. All of those interviews were recorded (with the interviewee’s permission), submitted to the Center for Bosnian Studies, and cataloged where they will remain a living piece of history. “Submitting the interview felt surreal, because now a trace of my existence has been written into history,” one student said after submitting his interview. “After death, people are forgotten, but by submitting the interview, I won’t be entirely forgotten as part of my existence still lives on in the interview.”
Students from Bayless and Affton schools at Fontbonne University’s Center for Bosnian Studies in May. The interview process was an intense and emotional piece of the course for many of the students. As a class, we watched sample interviews, discussed best practices for interviewing, drafted and revised interview questions, and practiced interviewing each other prior to conducting the actual interviews. However, actually conducting the interviews and hearing previously unheard stories led one student to reflect that “I will never be able to fully understand what my family and the victims of the genocide have been through or are going through to this day, but I have been able to grow more empathetic and understanding toward them. This course has been one of my favorites I have ever taken.” If you have any questions about the course, please feel free to contact Dr. Monika Hasanbasic or Ms. Emily Klein. The course is open to juniors and seniors, and course selection happens at the beginning of second semester each year.
BSD 2022 Recognition Congratulations to the awardees! Kristen has been working at Bayless Elementary for five years as a Second Grade teacher and a K-2 English Language Arts Curriculum Chair. Here is what her colleagues said about her: “Kristen is a Broncho through and through. She truly cares about her students and colleagues and always seeks out opportunities to get involved. As a colleague, Kristen is always available to give advice, collaborate and support those around her.”
Staff Person of the Year: Mary Frenz Mary has been working at Bayless Elementary for four years as a School Nurse and Lead District Nurse. Here is what her colleagues said about her: “Mary is dedicated to making sure that all children have a safe and welcoming environment in the Nurse’s Office. She cares deeply about the school district and builds strong working relationships with teachers, administrators, and parents. As a leader, she is incredibly supportive and works to make the health services department as efficient and effective as possible.”
Broncho Award Recipient: Bill Godwin Bill has been working as a substitute teacher at Bayless for the past seven years. Here is what his colleagues said about him: “Bill is an amazing substitute for Bayless. He takes absolute pride in his daily job and works tirelessly to help the students and staff. His positive attitude, calm demeanor and excellent listening skills are greatly valued by all who work with him.”
Broncho Award Recipient: John Kohler John has generously shared his time and talent with Bayless for many years through his work with Junior High Girls Softball, Music Boosters, and more. Here is what Bayless staff members said about him: “John created and has led the Junior High Girls Softball Program for three years, donating much of his own time to help student-athletes become successful softball players before they get to high school. He goes above and beyond by providing equipment for athletes to use who may not have their own glove or bat. John also volunteers with the Marching Band and Booster Club. His passion and commitment help make Bayless a better place.”
Rising Star Award: Rosie Paasch Rosie has been with Bayless Elementary for two years as a Fifth Grade teacher. Here is what her colleagues said about her: “Rosie is an extraordinary beginning educator who has benefited the students and staff in many ways. She cares a lot about her students and makes sure to establish strong relationships with them. She goes above and beyond to plan engaging and rigorous writing instruction. As a colleague, she is very innovative and willing to share fresh, new ideas with her team.”
DO IT WITH PASSION OR NOT AT ALL
Teacher of the Year: Kristen deJong
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BUILDING INSPIRATION After working through a difficult winter, the late spring and early summer have given us great weather for construction. Progress continues on the Junior High School addition and many other projects across our campus this summer. The new BJH roofline is now visible as crews set the roof decking in late June. While a lot of work is visible on the building exterior, significant progress has been made on the inside, too. Framing is complete for the first two levels, and will happen on the third level in the coming days. In addition, masonry crews will begin laying brick to complete walls of the building exterior. The general contractor expects to compete work in early 2023, but remains cautious about exact dates due to continuing weather, labor and supply chain issues.
Pictured above, the JH Addition looking east. Crews are placing sheathing board in preparation for the brick exterior.
The High School HVAC and roof renovation project is also happening this summer. These projects are focused on improving energy efficiency and indoor air quality throughout the High School and Auditorium. Roof renovation is a critical part of the project. The existing roofing systems on the High School and Auditorium are both over 20 years old and starting to develop leaks and weak areas. While these infrastructure repairs are not visible from the street, they are important for keeping our buildings comfortable and healthy for students and staff. As an added bonus, these renovations also reduce operating costs and improve efficiency. Pictured to the left, a view of the Raymond Keller Auditorium from the stage as it is being stripped. The original 1965 vintage seats were removed. The floor will be prepared for installation of the new seats which are waiting in the boxes in the foreground. Page 12 - Summer 2022
“THE ROAD TO SUCCESS IS ALWAYS UNDER CONSTRUCTION” - ARNOLD PALMER
The JH Addition looking north. The new addition is three levels and will contain over 18 educational spaces. The large bay at the back will be a new library media center space. In addition, the bay roof will serve as an outdoor classroom and activity space.
One renovation that will be very noticeable to our students, staff and visitors is in the Raymond Keller Auditorium. This summer, crews are painting the ceiling, replacing the seating and refinishing the stage. Once complete, the refreshed auditorium will be more functional, comfortable and enjoyable for all who visit. Work will also be occurring this summer at the Elementary building. Windows on the west half of the school will be replaced. The current windows are not properly insulated and, in some cases, not fully functional. By contrast, the new windows will improve energy efficiency, room lighting, and comfort. As always, we thank you and the entire Bayless community for supporting our school and mission to create greater opportunities for our students and community. Inside the third level of the JH Addition. Crews will divide and finish this space into classrooms. Page 13 - Summer 2022
Congratulations to Affton Chamber of Commerce Scholarship.................................................................................................Mason Shaver Alma Goggin Medical Scholarship..................................................................................................................Emily Willers Alumni Scholarships.......................................................................................................Erna Bakrach and Mason Shaver American Red Cross Scholarship.................................................................................................................Mason Shaver AM A&T Foundation Scholarship................................................................Izet Catic, Dzenisa Pandzic, and Nabila Safi Anna Wear Scholar..............................................................................................................................................Alaa Qusay Bayless Education Association (BEA) Scholarship........................................................................................Camly Hong Bayless Educational Support Team (B.E.S.T.) Scholarship.........................................................................Erna Bakrach Class of 1976 Scholarship..........................................................................................................Sebastion Chavez-Medlin Chapter EA Philanthropic Educational Organization Scholarship..........................................................Sahar Hussaini College Club Scholarship.............Sahar Hussaini, Hawo Ismail, Crystal Luong, Dania Qadwri, and Emily Tabakovic Eirich Brothers Scholarship............................................................................................................................Omar Zaman Frieda Wohlschlaeger Scholarship..........................................................................................................Muhamed Bobaj Jerry Garrett Scholarship.............................................................................................................................Crystal Luong
Summa Cum Laude: 4.0 and Above Haneen Al-Sewari Jack Barnard Sebatstion Chavez-Medlin Justin Duong Chloe Ferguson Dzejlan Grahovic Adelina Huric Hieu Huynh Eldina Jakubovic Brian Lucas Crystal Luong Anel Malagic Devin Messmer Ajdin Omerovic Ajla Omerovic Emil Omerspahic Colleen Peery Dania Qadwri Edward Ramos Mason Shaver Emily Tabakovic Anupam Thapa
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Magna Cum Laude: 3.75-3.99 Evan Case Kara Do Sahar Hussaini Hawo Ismail Armina Malkic Ilma Memic Benjamin Nguyen Dzenisa Pandzic Alaa Qusay Melita Tabakovic Emily Willers Laney Wohlschlaeger
Cum Laude: 3.50-3.74 Azra Dubinovic Makayla Fox Camile Gunter Camly Hong Sumeya Ibrahim Jahsiri Hughley Anel Lolic Selma Vazquez Kor’Mya White Lancelot Williams
the Class of 2022! Kerley Family Scholarship...........................................................................................................................Gannon VanZale Lillian/James Newsom Memorial Scholarship....................................................................................................Ilma Memic Marilyn Chryst Scholarship...............Muhamed Bobaj, Sebastion Chavez-Medlin, Muharem Hadzalic, and Alaa Qusay Mary (Adkins) Halbrook Scholarship.................................................................................................................Anel Malagic Mel Carnahan Citizenship Award...................................................................................................................Sahar Hussaini MSBA John Belcher Scholarship..................................................................................................Sebastion Chavez Medlin Music Booster Scholarship.................................................Vocal: Crystal Tran and Instrumental: Laney Wohlschlaeger Optimist Youth Appreciation Recognition......................................Sebastian Chavez-Medlin and Laney Wohlschlaeger Sally Wear Award/Scholarship..............................................................................................................................Nabila Safi Scouts BSA - Eagle Scout.................................................................................................................................Jack Barnard Southern Commercial Bank Legacy Scholarship.............................................................................................Crystal Tran The Harry S. Truman Award..........................................................................................................Sebastion Chavez-Medlin The MSHSAA Sportsmanship Award.........................................................Sebastian Chavez-Medlin and Kor’Mya White The VICC Excellence Award...............................................................................................................................Hawo Ismail Uthoff Scholarship.........................................................................................................................................Ajdin Omerovic
Class of 2022 Statistics • • • • •
125 Graduates 33% Attending a 4-year college 46% Attending a 2-year college 21% Entering the workforce or undecided 530 College credit hours earned while in high school
$2,675,333 in scholarships and institution aid (A+ included)
George Washington Carver Award Haneen Al-Sewari Sebastion Chavez-Medlin Justin Duong Chloe Ferguson Crystal Luong Anel Malagic Devin Messmer Emil Omerspahic Colleen Peery Edward Ramos Mason Shaver Anupam Thapa
Memorial Scholarships Classes 1960-1969
Marianne Abrigo Ahmed Al Awad Natalie Delatejera-Tehandon Muharem Hadzalic Sahar Hussaini Jahsiri Jackson Eldina Jakubovic Dzenisa Pandzic Abdullah Thamer Gregory Washington Kor’Mya White Lancelot Williams
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The Class of 2022 Mason Shaver
Good evening everyone. It is an honor to stand before you all today. Class of 2022 we have made it! We have spent the last four years together in high school and many of us for the last 13 years in the Bayless School District. During this time, we have created memories both good and bad. I believe that even our bad memories have presented an opportunity for good, that has shaped us during our years together. While here at Bayless we have all faced obstacles. We may have gotten a bad grade, lost a game or had to adapt to learning online. But, regardless of the circumstances, we all became resilient. Resiliency in the Webster Dictionary is quoted as “the capacity to recover quickly from difficulties.” Because of our shortcomings we became better people. While each of us have a unique perspective on our experiences here at Bayless, I want to challenge each of you to remember a time when your shortcomings helped shape you. Maybe this memory is the time you defeated your rival team because of your determination to pick yourself up after a loss. Maybe it is a memory of receiving a good grade in a class because you studied after you failed the last test. Or maybe it is simply the memory of reconnecting with each other on our first day back from virtual learning. Regardless, we all have created
Photos courtesy Bayless Oracle. Above: Mason Shaver; Top Right: Eldina Jakubovic; Bottom Right: Melita Tabkovic. Class speakers are chosen by a committee to speak on themes of Smart, Good and Strong.
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memories here that will stick with us forever because of our resiliency.
However, it is over now. Everything that has happened in high school is now, as I have repeated, a “memory.” While this may seem sad, it can also be exciting that we are starting a new journey. Dr. Seuss once said “Don’t cry because it’s over. Smile because it happened.” We are all going to start a new chapter in our lives. Some of us will be going to college, some of us, the military, and others straight to the workforce, but, we will always have the memories we created, to smile back on while at Bayless because of our resilience. We shouldn’t be sad, but be happy for what awaits ahead. I am excited for what the future holds for all of you and want to thank you for creating memories that I will cherish forever. Congratulations Class of 2022!
G raduate Speeches Eldina Jakubovic
Melita Tabkovic
Good evening family, friends, faculty, and fellow graduates. What defines someone as being strong? Someone who is strong is someone who is confident and determined. They are not easily influenced or worried by other people. We were taught from day one to be strong. In elementary school when we would take a fall and scrape a knee on the playground, we were told to be strong and get back up. And we did, we went right back to playing kickball or jumping rope or whatever we had going on that day. When we were in middle school, learning who we were and trying to find ourselves, we were told to be strong and stand up to the bullies who harassed us for being different. And we did, we stayed true to ourselves and didn’t condone the harassment. In high school, we were taught to stay strong and resist peer pressure. And we did, we didn’t fall into all the bad habits that surrounded us. We stayed strong.
Good evening family, friends, faculty, and, most importantly, my fellow graduates.
Strength is in all of us. Many of us have a lot to balance in our lives. A majority of us are student athletes, many of whom are involved in honors or advanced placement classes. We also have students who are involved in extracurricular activities like clubs and societies. A great deal of us also hold part-time or even full-time jobs. On top of that, we attempt to balance these responsibilities with our families, friends, and boyfriends or girlfriends. It’s not always easy. It takes a lot of strength. We have made it so far. We have faced many challenges throughout our journey at Bayless, and it is certain that we will face many more after today. We will encounter many obstacles whether those are student loans, failing a couple tests in college, or even catching a common cold. We all have the inner strength to overcome these obstacles and create good lives for ourselves. We all have bright futures ahead of us. I know you are all destined for great things even when the odds seem stacked against your favor. To my graduating class, as we part ways I leave you with this: Stay Resilient and Stay Strong. Thank you all for the memories and the legacies you have left with me and with each other. Good luck to you all.
Congratulations! It has been a long 13 years, but we did it! We’ve all made it to a big milestone in our lives. Together as the Class of 2022, we have watched each other grow. We have all argued, failed tests, stayed up all night studying. But we have also made memories. Memories we will hold with us forever. In the end, just like everyone once told us, it went by fast. But our hard work finally paid off. For some, you’re just ready to be done with it, and I don’t blame you. For others, high school graduation is the next step in your education. It took senior year for us to come to the realization that every assignment we had taught us something. We struggled and we learned and that is something we’ll continue to do for our entire lives. Although many “thank yous,” are to be given, my biggest thank you goes to Bayless for all the opportunities they have given to make us smarter. Out of my 126 classmates, 46 students have taken Advanced Placement classes which have prepared them for their future education. As a class, we have completed 84 Advanced Placement courses. Bayless has given us the opportunity to grow and take control of our own learning: eight students completed the CAPS program, 12 went to South Tech, and 153 Project Lead the Way courses were taken. All together the class of 2022 has received over 530 college credit hours. Each classmate of mine became smarter when thinking about their future and what they could do to make their future better. It has been a pleasure growing up and witnessing my classmates turn into fine young men and women. Once again, congratulations to the Class of 2022!
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Alumni: T
he next Bayless Alumni Association’s Oktoberfest Picnic will be held on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022 at the Crestwood Elks on Bauer Road from noon until 5 p.m. Make sure to mark your calendars as the picnic is taking place a week later than normal. At this event, Athletic Hall of Fame Awards will be presented to Bayless Alumni who have excelled in athletics during their high school years. If you would like to nominate someone, please contact Sally Wear at swear@bayless.k12.mo.us or 314-256-8600 ext. 8617. Each recipient receives a plaque with their picture and athletic details. Plaques are hung on the Athletic “Wall of Fame” located near the entrance of the BHS Gymnasium.
W
e are currently working on the next alumni newsletter. It is sent to all alumni for whom we have addresses and/or emails. The newsletter will be mailed near the beginning of September 2022. Parents, if your child is an alumnus/alumnae of Bayless and is not receiving information from the Alumni Association, it is because we do not have his/her current information in our database. Please contact Sally Wear, Alumni President, at: swear@bayless.k12.mo.us
ALUMNI - Do you have a special announcement or an update to share? Send us your good news and we will share it in the next newsletter. Examples include: weddings, engagements, anniversaries, birth announcements or retirements. Please send pictures or information via email to Sally Wear: swear@bayless.k12.mo.us or mail information to Bayless High School, Attn: Sally Wear ’58, 4532 Weber Road, St. Louis, MO 63123, or call Sally at 314-256-8600 ext. 8617
2004 SCAA Volleyball Champions
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2022
FALL SPORTS SCHEDULES
FOOTBALL 8/26 9/2 9/9 9/16 9/23 10/1 10/7 10/14 10/21
VS. Principia with Whitfield At Grandview (Hillsboro) At Crystal City VS. Perryville VS. Jefferson (Festus) At St. Vincent At Herculaneum VS. St. Pius X (Festus) VS. Bishop DuBourg
7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
BOYS SOCCER 8/29-9/1 9/6 9/8 9/9 9/13 9/15 9/16 9/21 9/26 9/27 9/29 9/30 10/3 10/4 10/5 10/7 10/10 10/11 10/12 10/17 10/18 10/20 10/14
10/25
At Windsor Soccer Tournament VS. Maplewood-Richmond Heights At Hancock VS. Brentwood At Valley Park At Principia At Crossroads College Prepatory VS. De Soto At Bishop DuBourg At Brentwood VS. Gateway Science Charter VS. Valley Park VS. Priory VS. Crossroads College Prepatory At Fox At Maplewood-Richmond Heights VS. Whitfield VS. Hancock VS. Metro At St. Mary’s (St. Louis) At St. Pius X (Festus) At Saxony Lutheran At Collegiate School of Med-BioScience with Central Visual and Performing Arts At Affton
TBA 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
VS: Home At: Away
SOFTBALL 8/29-9/1 Bayless Softball Tournament 9/6 VS. Jefferson (Festus) 9/1 VS. University City 9/9 VS. Collegiate School of Med-Bio Science 9/13 VS. Brentwood 9/15 VS. Roosevelt with Carnahan 9/16 VS. Hancock 9/21 VS. Metro 9/26 VS. Valley Park 9/27 VS. Roosevelt with Carnahan 9/29 VS. Affton 9/30 At Brentwood 10/3 At Jefferson (Festus) 10/4 At Hancock 10/5 At Riverview Gardens 10/7 At Cor Jesu Academy VS. Herculaneum 10/10 VS. Gateway Science Charter 10/11 VS. Maplewood-Richmond Heights 10/12 At Bishop DuBourg 10/17 At Valley Park 10/18 VS. St. Pius X (Festus) 10/20 VS. McCluer
TBA 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 4:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 5:45 p.m. 4:00 p.m.
*Sports schedules are subject to change. To check the latest schedules for all BHS Sports, go to: www.mshsaa.org/MySchool/Schedule. aspx?s=10
6:00 p.m.
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Non-Profit U.S. Postage PAID St. Louis, Missouri Permit No. 3292 4530 Weber Road Saint Louis, Missouri 63123 p. 314.256.8600 - f. 314.544.6315
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KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
IS NOW OPEN Please visit baylessk12.org to register. To schedule an appointment or if you have questions concerning kindergarten registration, please call Barb Shetley at 314-256-8100 or email bshetley@bayless.k12.mo.us
In the last issue of
Where’s Joe Broncho?
, Joe Broncho was found on page five in the first photo of the “Setting a Good Foundation” block. He was also found on page 15 in the 1971 photo of the Mehlville Regional Tournament. Can you locate Joe Broncho both times in this issue?
In 1996, the Bayless Academic Foundation was created with a mission to inspire students and support teachers by
providing independent funding for programs offering innovative learning opportunities. Teachers may apply for grants to enrich their curriculum with programs that expose their students to diverse learning experiences.
2022-2023
Now..Accepting online donations. Please visit Bayless.k12.org or mail your donation to: Bayless c/o Academic Foundation 4950 Heege Road, Saint Louis, Missouri 63123
