School News and Updates

2022 Cornucopia

Winter Wishes were granted at Cornucopia, our biennial auction, on April 8, 2022. It was wonderful to be back together for a night of food, fun, and dancing – all in support of Community School. Proceeds support tuition assistance, faculty professional development, and school operations.

The night would not have been possible without the support of our Cornucopia Co-Chairs, Heidi Silberman and Katie Schankman, our Committee Chairs, and our generous sponsors and advertisers. We raised a total of $516,244 and are grateful to everyone who contributed by volunteering, bidding on auction items, supporting the paddle raise, and buying DASH and raffle tickets. It was a true community effort.

At the event, we revealed a special project we were fundraising for as part of our Paddle Raise. A year ago we asked our teachers the following: If you could wish for anything for your classrooms or for Community School, what would it be? We revealed those wishes at the event and asked our “community of Community” to help grant them. Wishes included Little learning spaces, new outdoor seating, updates to our woods and playgrounds, a school dog, and a new and improved teachers’ lounge.

Grandparent and Special Friends Day

We hosted Grandparents & Special Friends Day on May 6, 2022. Around 500 attendees joined us for performances and classroom visits. Our Lower Division Music Teacher, Meriam Dwidar, and Upper Division Music Teacher, Natalie Westerholt, created two wonderful programs themed around The Beatles. If children didn’t have someone attending, a Community School staff member served as a friend for the day.

Circle of Learning Speaker Series

Every year as part of our Circle of Learning series, Community School hosts an expert on parenting and teaching and invites parents and educators from across St. Louis to attend. Our fall 2021 speaker was Dr. Peg Dawson, a noted author and speaker. Dr. Dawson is the author of multiple books on executive functioning skills and is past president of the National Association of School Psychologists and the International School Psychology Association. Teachers and parents attended the free virtual event Executive Skills: What are they? Why do kids need them? How can I help my child acquire these skills? with Dr. Dawson on November 1, 2021, and she provided an additional professional development session for Community faculty.

6th Grade Play

Our 6th Graders produced and performed in “The Mystery of the Nile: Friendship Not Included,” written and directed by Drama Teacher Alissa Rowan with musical direction by Natalie Westerholt and Meriam Dwidar. Each student auditioned and had a speaking role, and many took on additional roles ranging from stage manager and publicist to set and costume designers to scenic painters and choreographers. Student leadership and engagement drove every step of the process, and everyone we spoke to agreed that the experience solidified their bond as the Class of 2022. “This play is not only a culmination of all the acting and singing skills they learned at Community,” Mrs. Rowan said, “but it is a testament to how their class works as a team.” The 6th Grade Play also marked the first time our school community could gather together for live performances since the pandemic started. It was wonderful to hear the buzz of each audience as they watched and cheered their friends on.