Parents as Teachers building community connections p. 8
Construction and Improvement Updates p. 12-13
Bayless Students win award using AI Technology p. 15
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.
Letter from the Superintendent 3
Woody Babb, President
Shannon Kohler, Vice President
Jeff Preisack ’83, Member
Sarah Reece, Member
Michelle Padgett, Member
Laura Van Zale ’83, Member
Stephanie McCreary, Member
Amy Ruzicka Superintendent of Schools (314) 256-8601
Michael Hawkins Assistant Superintendent (314) 373-0506
Dr. Chel’Lee Whitten Chief Academic Officer (314) 256-8658
Anna Barton Director of Instructional Effectiveness (314) 256-8601 ext. 8088
Preston Sterett, ‘05 Director of Business & Finance (314) 256-8687
Kim Arnold Director of Human Resources (314) 256-8605
VICC Transportation (314) 721-8657
Early Childhood Center (314) 256-8630
Christina Ly ’99, Principal
Amra Hadzic, Secretary
Stephen Terrill Marketing and Communications Coordinator (314) 256-8115
Kelly Stahlhuth District Activities Director (314) 256-8664
Barbara Shetley District Registrar (314) 256-8100
Kari Wolford ‘03 Transportation Supervisor (314) 256-8601
Fadil Hamidovic Director of Technology (314) 256-8611
Dr. Monika Hasanbasic ELD Director (314) 256-8600 ext. 2304
Dr. Andrew Mertens, Assistant Principal
Sanela Jugovic, Administrative Assistant
Cantrece Novak, Administrative Assistant
School Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 3:20 p.m.
Office Hours: 7:45 a.m. - 3:45 p.m.
Elementary (314) 256-8620
Aaron Kohler, Principal
Dr. Amanda Middendorf, Assistant Principal
Amber Callahan, Assistant Principal
Mirsada Becarevic, Administrative Assistant
Kimberly Moreau, Administrative Assistant
Christine Kohl, Administrative Assistant
School Hours: 8:15 a.m. - 3:21 p.m.
Office Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Junior High (314) 256-8690
Daniel Bieser, Principal
School Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 2:36 p.m.
Office Hours: 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
High School (314)256-8660
Eric Lawrence, Principal
Dr. Alyssa Stock, Assistant Principal
Alex Johnson, Assistant Principal/Athletic Administrator
Sandra Schacht, Administrative Assistant
Lauren Champion ’07, Administrative Assistant
Melissa Godat, Registrar
School Hours: 7:30 a.m. - 2:36 p.m.
Office Hours: 7 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Alumni Association (314) 256-8660 ext. 8617
Sally Wear ’58 Alumni Association President
Bayless is published multiple 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.
Dear Bayless Community,
Each spring at our District Recognition Ceremony, we celebrate some of the outstanding individuals who make Bayless a wonderful place to learn, work and grow. At the celebration, we also have a tradition of unveiling our theme for the upcoming school year. It is with great pleasure that I introduce to you the exciting new theme we are embracing for the 2024-2025 academic year and this edition of — “Strong Alone, Unstoppable Together.”
This theme serves as a reminder of the power and strength that lies within each and every one of us as individuals, as well as the incredible force that is created when we come together as a united community. It emphasizes the importance of self-reliance, resilience and the understanding that we are capable of achieving great things on our own. However, when we combine our efforts, support one another and work towards a common goal, we become an unstoppable force for positive change and progress. This issue features many examples of this on our campus and in the community.
As we finish this school year strong and prepare for the next, I encourage each and every one of you to embrace the spirit of “Strong Alone, Unstoppable Together.” Let us support one another, lift each other up, and work hand in hand to create a brighter future for our students, our schools, and our community as a whole.
Thank you for your continued support and dedication to our shared mission of providing the best possible education and opportunities for our students. Together, we are truly unstoppable.
Sincerely,
Amelia A. Ruzicka Superintendent of Schools
Ele mentary Math Specialist Courtney Duffy is Bayless’ Teacher of the Year. Courtney helps both teachers and students in BES with math. She works closely with students who need extra support. She also has a deep understanding of student performance data, which allows her to make suggestions to teachers. Read more about her in the upcoming summer magazine!
Mallor y Campbell is Bayless’ Rising Star Winner, which goes to a teacher in the first three years of their career. She teaches fifth grade, and plans strong and engaging lessons that challenge her students to be their best. She also has a great classroom community where her students are respectful of one another.
Lind a Bauman is Bayless’ Staff Person of the Year. Linda is the Parents as Teachers Coordinator, and makes many of the things mentioned on Page 8 of this edition possible. On top of that, she is a kind person who makes herself accessible to the many families she works with.
BHS Principal Eric Lawrence and Health Teacher Elliott Sterett are the winners of the Broncho Award, which is given for distinguished service beyond normal expectations. These two stepped in to coach the girls basketball team in the middle of the season, bringing many players back to the team and leading them to multiple all-conference selections.
Sa lly Wear is the winner of this year’s Volunteer Award. Sally is the president of the Bayless Alumni Association and a graduate of the Class of 1958. Sally does many things to keep Bayless’ vast alumni network connected. She is a pillar of the Bayless Community, and her countless hours as a volunteer make her the perfect recipient of this award.
The Bayless Bronchettes perform during halftime of a home basketball game.
Many pom dance teams across the country probably agreed with Rihanna when she sang “Please Don’t Stop the Music.”
Unfortunately, that statement is sometimes easier sang than done.
The BHS Bronchettes Dance team was in the middle of their pom’s performance at the Missouri Dance Team Association’s state championships in Kansas City. Things were going well, as choreographed and planned. Dancers were hitting the —
The music cut out.
As per competition rules, you cannot stop, no matter what happens. Music issues included.
“I panicked,” coach Erin Kramper said. “My eyes got super big, and I was like ‘Please keep going.’”
After the briefest of hiccups, the team began counting out loud and returned to their routine.
“The main thought was to start counting,” senior captain Delores Poindexter said. “We had a member who joined this year, so as a captain, I knew I had to keep counting.”
The Bronchettes got back on beat and finished their performance without the music, while still following the choreography at the correct time. By the end, the entire arena — judges included, were cheering for the team.
“At first we were like ‘I can’t believe that just happened,’” Poindexter said. “There was like two seconds of that, and then we broke down in tears. We were coming off of having the whole stadium cheering for us.”
The crowd’s reaction made for a storybook ending to the girls’ season. Countless hours of practice and performances at home basketball games culminated to make it possible.
“We actually practiced (music errors) a lot,” Kramper said. “We prepare them for the worst. We do things like randomly stop the music, toss poms onto the floor, just anything we can think of that might happen in a competition.”
The poms program at Bayless is coached by Shannon Ulrich and Erin Kramper, who teaches first grade. Their dedicated group of seven dancers have built the program into a shining example of teamwork and being Unstoppable Together.
Part of the unstoppable nature involves facing fears and worries together. At the beginning of the season, the girls wrote down fears they had and placed them into a “fear box.”
They opened them shortly before the trip to Kansas City.
“Even after all of this time, we got to see how we’ve lived and overcame those fears,” Poindexter said.
The girls bonded through things like worry over not being accepted into a college they wanted and the stress in life overwhelming them (or in the case of Coach Ulrich’s young daughter, tornadoes).
Having faced many of those fears, it made them more than ready for what was thrown at them during the competition.
The best part of all of this?
Shortly after they girls began to gather themselves, a representative from the judges’ table came over with news —they were going to get to perform again. Someone with the event was responsible for the music cutting out, which gave the team the chance for a do-over.
The team performed again, and ended up placing in the Top 10 of their division.
Counselors in a school tend to be involved in many different things.
Scheduling? Sure. Helping students deal with conflict? That too.
If there’s something going on at Bayless Junior High that a school counselor might be involved in, chances are Megan Vaninger or Ursula Kindt are aware of it.
Vaninger has been at Bayless for five years, and Kindt is in her first year after getting her masters from the University of Missouri St. Louis. Their first year working together has been an excellent addition to the momentum at BJH.
With the opening of the building addition, everything feels fresh at the school.
“There’s been so much change in the past few years,” Vaninger said. “I’m proud of the momentum that’s been built. I’m proud of the relationships that are strong in this building — especially the staff and students.”
A key accomplishment for the pair has been the expansion of the student intervention team. The team of principals, counselors and a grade-level teacher meets to determine the best way to help students who may be struggling academically or otherwise.
“Any (staff member) can fill out a form for the student they’re concerned about,” Kindt said.
Teachers are impressed with their work, too.
“Ursula and Megan are a fantastic team,” eighth-grade English Language arts Teacher Carolyn Widman said. “Students trust them, and teachers can rely on them for positivity, kindness, and practical solutions. I especially appreciate their willingness to listen and offer validation during tough moments.”
Part of those good relationships is their knowledge of students in the building. Knowing everyone allows them to help more when needed.
been doing work on character lessons, which she helps prepare for teachers. The teachers then present the lessons during advisory, and they cover topics like perseverance, honesty and compassion.
“They are an encyclopedia of knowledge for all of the students they work with,” Principal Daniel Bieser said. “You can ask them about any student, and they will know all about them.”
On top of their regular duties — Vaninger has spent time this spring working on the schedule for next school year, as well as getting the entire building ready for state assessments. Kindt has
The most important part of the work for Vaninger and Kindt are the students. Because of their proximity, they get to see some of the ways the Bronchos are growing into Smart, Good and Strong citizens.
“I’m seeing a lot of maturity,” Vaninger said. “They’re willing to have conversations with each other and solve conflicts. They may not leave our office being friends, but they’ve left after finding a resolution.”
Bayless Elementary has been celebrating reading recently. During Read Across America Week, we held Read Across Bayless Week with a special appearance from Fredbird of the St. Louis Cardinals. During two assemblies, the K-2 students all sang “Take Me Out to the Ball Game,” and grades 3-5 competed against each other in
several team games. Fredbird put on quite a show for everyone to close out the assemblies. The week continued as many special guests read to our Bronchos. Central Office staff, administrators, and high school students read their favorite books to students. Learning to read is a vital part of every elementary student’s education, and we communicate to them that it’s a path to success in life, college and career. It was an enjoyable and memorable week of our community coming together to celebrate literacy.
Students and staff alike were able to take in the solar eclipse on April 8. High School Science Teacher Art Wilde provided a voice-over on Bayless Ballpark and Bayless Field speakers, narrating the event.
If you want an example of being Unstoppable
Together at Bayless, it is easy to find plenty at Bayless Early Childhood Center.
Many of the Itty Bitty Bronchos have a shared connection that occurred before they even started attending the preschool program. For some of them, it started before they were born.
That connection is the Parents as Teachers program. PAT is a program and service offered by Bayless that helps children get a good educational foundation before they start school.
The program provides services for families who are pregnant or have children not old enough for kindergarten. These services include personal home visits, developmental screenings, parent-child interactive play activities, and community resources. The PAT educators empower parents with the skills, tools and confidence to teach and nurture the healthy development of their child.
“We help support you as your child’s best teacher,” PAT Coordinator Linda Bauman said. “Not only are you the parent and the nurturer, but you are teaching your child every day.”
PAT works by partnering families with parent educators, who make home visits to help parents teach their children things such as motor skills, self-regulation, cognitive skills and more.
“We support them with many child-development activities they can do in the home when we’re not there,” Bauman said.
Many of these activities are based on play, like blocks or playdough. A recent addition kids have enjoyed are obstacle courses. Often drawn in chalk in driveways or on sidewalks, the course will take students and their families through various obstacles designed to enhance their motor skills and balance.
“That play is creating balance, hand-eye coordination and social connection,” Bauman said. “That development is so important outside of what the kids may see on tv or a tablet. A lot of that exploration is lost because they get sensory input by electronics.”
Another big part of PAT is learning self-control in various situations. This includes teaching students to do things like wait patiently, share their time, toys or other things and use physical action in appropriate ways.
On top of these activities, PAT also provides options for parents to connect to other parents and to Bayless. Resources like the St. Louis Diaper Bank have good connections with PAT and, therefore, with parents.
If you are interested in Parents as Teachers, you can contact Miss Bauman directly at (314) 256-8624 ext. 1002!
The Missouri Association of School Administrators (MASA) has named Bayless Superintendent of Schools Amy Ruzicka as the Emerging Superintendent of the Year for the Greater St. Louis District.
Ruzicka has served the district since 2008 in a number of roles, including teacher, instructional coordinator and assistant superintendent. She became Superintendent of Schools in 2022. Ruzicka was nominated for this honor by her colleagues in the Greater St. Louis MASA District.
The award is given yearly to superintendents in their second or third year who have shown outstanding performance that reflects the best in educational leadership. The accomplishment is well earned; Ruzicka is one of nearly 200 superintendents in the state of Missouri who are in their second or third year.
“We congratulate Amy for this most-deserved recognition,” Bayless Board of Education President Woody Babb said. “Amy has done a tremendous job for us. She is constantly working to make Bayless the best it can be by looking for opportunities to help our students, staff and community grow. Bayless is truly blessed to have Amy as its district leader.”
Ruzicka’s work raising Bayless’ profile in the St. Louis region and the state of Missouri is becoming increasingly apparent, with both the award itself and Bayless’ place in national conversations.
“We congratulate Amy Ruzicka on receiving the Greater St. Louis Emerging Superintendent Award,” MASA Director Doug Hayter said. “Designed to recognize superintendents early in their careers, this award signifies the strong
leadership and respect Ruzicka has with her colleagues in the St. Louis area and across the state.
“Ruzicka has been an active member of both MASA and AASA, our national association, from the beginning of her tenure as Superintendent of the Bayless School District. We appreciate Ruzicka’s leadership and commitment to public education and the betterment of students in her district and across our state.”
Ruzicka was given the award at MASA’s spring conference in March, surrounded by colleagues who have immense respect for the work she does, and the way she cares for others.
“Amy is a compassionate, intellectually astute leader who brings her head and heart to the work each day,” Sharonica Hardin-Bartley, Superintendent of the School District of University City, and Ruzicka’s mentor, said. “She centers on what is best for all students and strives to be an example of excellence in all aspects of her role as superintendent. Our region is lucky to have her; the emerging superintendent for the Greater St. Louis region is a very well-deserved recognition. Congratulations, Amy!”
Thank you to the many teachers and staff members who make Bayless a great district. You can read more about each Teacher Proud Tuesday and Top Staff Thursday winner on the building Facebook Pages!
As summer approaches, Bayless is preparing for a series of improvements and repairs across campus. These ongoing enhancements follow the recent addition to the Junior High School and renovations to the High School last summer. Much of the funding for the upcoming work comes from insurance proceeds, grant funds and the remaining 2019 Proposition 1 bond funds.
One notable project on the agenda is the replacement of the gym floor at Bayless High School. Damaged during the Mother’s Day Flood on May 14, 2023, the gym floor must be completely removed and rebuilt from the ground up. This process will occupy most of the summer, but we anticipate that the re-
sults will justify the wait.
In addition to the High School gym floor replacement, both the High School and Elementary School will undergo significant upgrades to several restrooms. Recognizing the importance of providing conducive and hygienic facilities for students and staff, the district is
Excellent facilities contribute to great experiences for our students, staff and community as a whole. Over the years, Bayless has diligently worked to enhance and improve all its programs, from teaching and learning to activities and sports, as well as its facilities.
Through our commitment to continuous improvement, we take pride in how far we’ve come as a school district, and com-
committed to renovating these outdated facilities. Renovation work on our restrooms commenced last summer and continued throughout the year, with several updated restrooms
A powerful upgrade — Some summer upgrades will go unnoticed. Ameren is replacing the antiquated transformer that serves Bayless High School. The current transformer shown above dates back to the school’s original construction in 1955. The new transformer will be installed outside in the west parking lot.
A night event at Bayless Field, with the new surface installed in the summer of 2023. The field is constantly in use, by both students and community members.
munity. We continually evaluate our future opportunities like outdoor restrooms at our sports venues, concessions, and additional multi-purpose activity space for community use. We recognize that many residents do not have students attending our schools, and we deeply appreciate the generous support of all our neighbors. Our goal is to continue Building a Better Bayless to strengthen our community and secure a brighter future for our families.
completed at the High School, Elementary School, and Auditorium. These renovations enhance the physical environment and contribute to the overall well-being and comfort of everyone within the school community.
As part of our ongoing commitment to maintaining safe and functional schools, we regularly assess our buildings and infrastructure to prioritize future needs. Over the past few years, our HVAC systems, particularly at Bayless Elementary, have been evaluated for their efficiency and effectiveness. Many of these rooftop units are nearing 20 years of service and are showing signs of wear and tear. While replacing these units will be a significant expense, it is nevertheless an investment the District must factor into its future planning. With the support of the Bayless community, we remain dedicated to leveraging our resources to provide the best schools and facilities for our students and families.
The Bayless School District has been named a “Best Community for Music Education” by the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) Foundation.
The NAMM Foundation gives the award to schools and communities that “demonstrate a commitment to ensuring music learning opportunities are available for every student and provide an example for other communities to follow.”
Bayless met the NAMM Foundation’s criteria thanks to the many people — students, staff, boosters, administrators and community members — committed to music at Bayless. Achievements of these groups have recently included: The High School Band
performing at the Missouri Music Educators Association Conference, an honor given to top bands across the state, an excellent performance of Little Shop of Horrors by the Bayless Theatre Company, an outstanding marching band season and more.
“Music education plays a vital role in the development of our students. It fosters creativity, discipline, teamwork and self-expression,” Superintendent of Schools Amy Ruzicka said. “I want to express my deepest gratitude to our music educators for their leadership, guidance and commitment to excellence. Their passion for music education and ability to inspire and motivate their students is commendable.
“I also want to acknowledge and express my gratitude to the Bayless Board of Education, Bayless Music Boosters, and the entire Bayless Community for their continued support of the arts and music education. Their recognition of the importance of music in the lives of our students and their unwavering support for their artistic endeavors have created an environment where our young musicians can thrive and excel. The Bayless Community is incredibly deserving of this honor.”
A team from Bayless High School recently came together to work on a project for the World Wide Technology Student STEM Forum.
The Forum brought teams from many high schools in the region and tasked them to solve a problem or improve an aspect of life inside their school.
The team from Bayless High School, along with Science Teacher Art Wilde and Assistant Principal Dr. Alyssa Stock, created a unique solution using very new technology.
The team felt that access to tutoring was a barrier for some students, based on the timing of available tutoring and busy after-school schedules. Language accessibility is also a consideration for any project related to the Bayless community.
In response, the group created an artificial intelligence tutor using one of Open AI’s
large language models.
A large language model, or LLM, generates conversation-like responses to questions based on vast amounts of pre-existing data on the internet. The LLM the students chose allowed the team to load Bayless’ curriculum into the data, so when a student asked a question related to the material they were taught, it generates an answer that aligns with the curriculum. The interface also has translation options to match a student’s preferred language.
The students created this model and an online interface. They then created a video to showcase their solution, and WWT selected them as the top five finishers. They had to present their solution and idea to a panel at WWT’s headquarters.
The groups went alphabetically, which meant Bayless was first. After showing the video
to the judges panel, the group waited for the judges to ask questions. After an uncomfortable pause where no questions were asked, the group immediately gave an impromptu presentation on the project.
“I was so proud of them taking charge in the absence of any guidance,” Wilde said. “I could tell our students did an excellent job when I watched the other teams immediately huddle following Bayless’ presentation so they could talk strategy.”
Ultimately, the team placed 2nd in the competition and received a $5,000 grant to help make this accessible to various high school classes!
Bayless celebrated the birthday of what we believe is the oldest living Broncho this year. Marie (Theurer) DeLassus, from the Class of 1937, celebrated her 105th birthday alongside a pair of administrators, members of the Bayless Alumni Association and her son Rich.
Students from across the
district wrote cards for her that were delivered for her special day.
Marie played “short center” on the BHS softball team, which is now called shortstop.
When asked what she attributed to her longevity, she said “Breathing.” Congratulations on 105 years, Marie!
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Joe was hiding on one page in the last issue of . In that issue, Joe was hiding out on page eight in an elementary track meet photo. Can you find Joe the ONE time he appears in this issue?
Fredbird answers the phones at Bayless Elementary in a unique manner.