Blue Jay News

Greenwood Students and Families:

SAVE THE DATE: The 2nd annual Greenwood Spring Showcase will occur on Thursday, March 30 from 6:00 - 7:30 pm. This event will “showcase” student projects, performances, and fine art displays as a way to celebrate the talented students at Greenwood. This concept is similar to the old-fashioned open house. We will have performances, demonstrations, and “showcase” the wonderful talents of our students and teachers. Classrooms will be open with work displayed.

Contracts for 2023-24 for current students will be distributed in late March or early April. All families should anticipate an increase in tuition (approximately 5%) and some fees will increase as well.

Congratulate 8th graders on a successful History Day! Thank you to Mr. Pfeil for sponsoring their endeavors. Greenwood was well represented.

Cafeteria renovations will begin Spring Break! We are still raising funds for this project, if you are interested in naming opportunities for the cafeteria, please contact the administration.

3rd quarter is coming to a close – a reminder for secondary students that the 3rd quarter grade IS used for Honor Roll designation!

Go Blue Jays!

Ron & Jeni

March 1st through March 10th the First Grade Class will be celebrating Literacy and Read Across America.

First Graders were honored to have Dr. Gilbert Brown as our first Mystery Reader March 1, 2023.
Dr. Brown read a book and shared about his experiences growing up.
Mystery Readers are making an appearance each day until March 10.

Dr. Letitia White Minnis, Alyssa’s mom, visited the first grade classroom to share about Black History Month.

She talked to students about A-Z African American Visionaries, Dr. Mae Jemison and Dr. George Washington Carver.

Students were amazed to find out that there are over 300 different products that can be created from the peanut.

Dr. Mae Jemison is currently trying to find another way to travel to another star, she was the first African American women to enter space.

One of our Greenwood family members has been tragically impacted by the earthquake in Turkey. Fatih Benzer has lost numerous cousins, including teens and young children in the earthquake. Others that did survive are now homeless and working to relocate. Many have asked if there is anything that Greenwood family can do to help. We’ve spoken with Didem and she has provided two options for support. There is a very reputable organization in Turkey. Donating through this link will help all people affected by the earthquake. https://ahbap.org/disasters-turkey

The second option is to send money directly to Fatih’s brother to support the ones who have been relocated. Jennifer Agnew will collect donations and pass them on to Fatih and Didem to send via Western Union. Jennifer can accept payments via Venmo @Jennifer-Agnew-7. Her phone number is 417-844-4808. We want to send this quickly to have the biggest impact. If you do not Venmo, contact Jennifer for another form of payment.

Congratulations to Ruby, Damien, Turner, Halston, Katie and Austin for competing in the Skyline Archery Tournament this past Saturday. Turner scored 267, just 3 points from a state qualifying score of 270. It was the first tournament for the other five. They all did a great job! Good luck to Ruby, Damien, Halston, Turner and Katie as they compete in the Springfield Archery Complex NASP Invitational this evening. We wish them the best!

We had our first score of 50 in practice at 10 meters and our first 50 in practice at 15 meters, Monday morning, both by Turner Crockett! That's all five arrows of one round in the 10-point bullseye! An archer who scores a 50 in each of the six scoring rounds would have a perfect score of 300! Great job Turner!

Last night, we hosted our first tournament at Greenwood just for our Bluejay Archers. Over 30 were in attendance. Eight of our archers participated - Ruby, Damien, Cullen, Turner, Kai, Jack, Katie and William. A big 'Thank You' goes to Susan Provance for running the tournament. Coach Provance helps direct the archery program for SPS with over 1000 archers. She also shared information with the students and their parents about archery. After our archers completed their rounds, Coach Provance had them teach their parents how to shoot. Our parents did awesome too!

Thanks to Coach Provance, Lyle Whittaker and the Missouri Department of Conservation, Ronda Cox, Michael Jarvis, Ron Snodgrass, Jeni Hopkins and MSU for getting Archery started at Greenwood.

Plans for Greenwood Archery in 2023-2024 will be communicated in the near future. There will be a weekly practice on Tuesday mornings from 7:30-8:00 AM the rest of this school year.

Your school is a member of the National Speech & Debate Association, so we wanted to keep you in the loop about recent achievements by your students!

Members earn recognition through points and degrees in the NSDA Honor Society. Each new degree represents hours of learning, practice, and improvement by your students thanks to dedicated coaching.

The following degrees were earned at Greenwood Laboratory School from 02/01 - 02/28:

Carys Argueta - Merit
Carys Argueta - Honor
Fatima Aslam - Superior Distinction
Ethan Duff - Distinction
Isabel Herrin - Merit
Minal Khan - Special Distinction
Romi Kim - Special Distinction
Anna Le - Merit
Anna Le - Honor
Gabriel Parada Parada - Honor
Amore Penella - Merit
Eli Wilson - Merit
Eli Wilson - Honor

Albert Einstein said, “Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as hard duty.” Dr. Melinda Hammerschmidt is the first-grade teacher at Greenwood, and that is her all-time favorite quote.

Her favorite subjects to teach are English Language Arts. When she is not teaching, she enjoys trying new recipes, hiking and traveling with her husband, skiing, playing tennis, and reading. She is married to her husband, Bob Hammerschmidt, and they have four boys: Robert, Tyler, Myles, and Bryant. She has lived in Springfield for 23 years.

Hammerschmidt was born in Wilson, North Carolina, and grew up, and she lived in many different places like Virginia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Arkansas. She moved around because her father worked on other degrees or for Universities or Colleges in the Education and Psychology departments. Dr. Hammerschmidt and her husband, Bob, lived in Van Buren, Arkansas, then moved to Columbia, Missouri, and finally to Springfield, Missouri.

When asked what made her want to pursue teaching, she said her parents were both educators. Her father worked as a college professor, and her mother was an elementary teacher and later received her Master’s degree to become a librarian. Her passion for reading and helping others read blossomed after her grandmother opened a library in her home in rural Arkansas.

Dr. Hammerschmidt attended the University of Central Arkansas in Conway, Arkansas: Bachelor of Science in Education; the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas: Gifted Education; the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri: Gifted Education; Drury University in Springfield, Missouri: Masters in Education, Certification in Reading K-12, Certification in Gifted K-12; Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas: Doctor of Philosophy Curriculum and Instruction (Ph.D.).

As far as the new year goes, she is most excited to watch her first graders build more skills needed for lifelong learning, like becoming independent thinkers and problem solvers. Dr. Hammerschmidt taught most of this year’s senior class, and her best advice for them is to “Always stay true to yourselves; do not let the opinions of others sway your decisions, take away your joy or create any level of self-doubt. You are all unique, important, and loved.”

The Greenwood showcase is Thursday, March 30 from 6:00-7:30.

The Ukulele Club will be performing from 6:30-6:45.

We would like to ask students in grades 3,4,5 that study piano or another instrument

to share that evening as well from 6:45-7:30.

If your child would like to perform, please email Mrs. Garrison

jgarrison@missouristate.edu before spring break.

Please include your child's instrument and the name of their piece.

This will help us put together a schedule for the evening.

Thanks for your help.

Check out this flyer for when Greenwood is playing baseball at Hammons field, how to get a shirt, and Greenwood day at Hammons.

The Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grades are hard at work on their musical

Oceans of Fun. They will be presenting it on Wednesday, April 19 at 6:30.

Students are asked to arrive by 6:10 that evening and report to their classrooms.

They need to wear black pants, jeans, sweats, leggings, etc. We will add our

Oceans of Fun t shirts that evening. If your child has a speaking part

they need to have it memorized when we return from spring break.

We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday, April 19 for Oceans of Fun!! You can park in lots 8, 54 & 29 without a permit

I am so pleased to report that the following students will be going to Columbia for the state National History Day championship:

Abigail Ryan, Anya Soni, Zain Saquer, and Josie Matkowski will be performing a skit entitled "The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Crossing into a New Frontier"

Laila Ozturk wrote a 2nd place history paper (9 pages as an 8th grader) entitled "From Feudalism to Mercantilism: An Economic Frontier"

Gracelyn Rothwell (one of our first-year students) won 2nd place for her individual exhibit entitled "The Rise of Education and Literacy: A Frontier in African-American Slave History

If you see these students, please congratulate them. If you want to see their work come to Mr. Pfeil's room (GLAB 406) on open house night!

Photos here: https://photos.app.goo.gl/GNr11UpFxS8CXza38

You can click here for their Amazon Wish List or scan the QR code on the flyer

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/2C1L2KMWLSLPL?ref_=wl_share

This is not a Greenwood camp.

There is a great soccer camp coming to Springfield this summer by One Soccer Schools. It’s May 30th - June 2nd and is at the Allison Sportstown. More info here: https://www.onesoccerschools.com/camps/summer-day-camps/summer-day-camps-field-player-ages-9-16/

The middle school team competed at the 9th annual Shell Knob tournament. It was the first match for all but one of the students and only the second for him.

Greenwood brought home 2nd and 3rd place.

Thank you to Fatima Aslam for going to help with the Greenwood A team.

The spring semester brings into focus a few things for our secondary students that Mrs. Ewing will spotlight in the upcoming newsletters. These topics include next year scheduling, summer enrichment/leadership programs, leadership opportunities for next school year, and scholarship opportunities for seniors.

NEXT YEAR SCHEDULING: Thank you to all who turned in their 23-24 Selection of Studies. Those who have not yet submitted their forms should do so without further delay. Mrs. Ewing will be reviewing forms and following up with students to confirm any questions. Administration works from the students’ course selections to build the master schedule. Having accurate counts supports that process and yields a better result for all!

SUMMER OPPORTUNITIES: Various summer enrichment & leadership programs are offered in Missouri and across the nation. Participating in these programs provides students with invaluable curriculum enhancement and leadership experience. They will also contribute to the strength of one’s college applications.

Mrs. Ewing will send out notices as she learns of any summer program opportunities. You may also check out various programs listed on the Greenwood Counseling website at Greenwood Laboratory School Counseling Department (greenwoodlabcounseling.com). You are not limited to ones listed on our website. In fact, you will, no doubt, find other opportunities through your own research and networking. This week’s focus is:

2023 Missouri Boys & Girls State sessions: Both programs are offered to rising seniors. Boys & Girls State will be held during the same week - June 24-July 1 - at the same site, on the campus of Lindenwood University in St. Charles, MO. Attendees explore & experience many facets of local & state government through fun and meaningful learning formats. Several scholarship opportunities are available and college credit can be earned. Greenwood has a rich history of representation to both Boys and Girls State.

· Boys: Apply at www.moboysstate.org.

· Girls: Apply at www.missourigirlsstate.org/.

Mrs. Ewing will manage your application from Greenwood’s portal. Final application deadline is March 15, 2023. All sponsorship paperwork (pledge form and check to cover sponsorship fee of the citizen) are due to be postmarked by this date. Please note that the earlier you apply and are accepted the more likely you will receive sponsorships to cover your participation fees.

High School Mini-Med School at the University of Missouri Columbia is returning this June for two sessions. Session 1 runs from June 4-8, and Session 2 runs from June 11-15.

· This overnight camp is for Missouri high school rising seniors (current juniors) who are interested in a career in medicine.

· Students will attend lectures and will participate in Patient Based Learning (PBL) curriculum used by active Mizzou medical students.

· Time will be spent in hands-on clinical experiences, simulation and anatomy centers, and social events in the evenings.

· The cost for this camp is $650 which includes all the camp fees, lodging, camp deposit of $50 and meals.

The application is open February 3 and is due March 17 along with a transcript and a letter of recommendation from a past or current science teacher. For more information about the camp and the application visit: https://medicine.missouri.edu/offices-programs/education/pre-med-outreach-programs/mini-medical-school

The University of Chicago offers summer pre-college programs: Immersion; Enrichment; Stones & Bones; and Summer Online. To learn more about the full list of in-person and online courses, application deadlines, program dates, tuition, and scholarship information, visit: summer.uchicago.edu.

Mizzou MedPrep: Medical Explorations Workshop The University of Missouri School of Check your emails for information regarding this opportunity for current sophomores and juniors.

LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES FOR NEXT SCHOOL YEAR

Leadership Springfield is accepting applications from current high school sophomores and juniors for their 2023-2024 Leadership Academy program. You can see more information at their website Academy Class - Leadership Springfield and access the application here: Academy Class 34 Application - Leadership Springfield. Cindy Mergen, the program director, will be at Greenwood on Monday, March 10 during lunch. She will be set up in the Science Wing. Stop by and ask her all your questions.

SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITIES: In addition to the scholarship information posted on the Greenwood Counseling website, Mrs. Ewing will highlight specific scholarship program details in future newsletters. She will also provide this information to seniors through Senior Capstone. The list of scholarship opportunities is growing:

1. COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF THE OZARKS (Various Scholarships) –

CFO’s scholarship season is open! Seniors should use their personal email to set up an account. Read each scholarship’s eligibility criteria carefully before applying. NOTE each scholarship’s due date. The “How to Apply for Scholarships” instruction sheet (pdf below) will guide you in applying for any scholarships from the Community Foundation of the Ozarks. This instruction sheet will give you a step by step on how to use the CFO scholarship portal and how to retrieve a list of scholarships you might be eligible to apply for.

*NOTE: CFO announced another scholarship our students might be eligible to apply for: Jerald L. Andrews Missouri Sports Hall of Fame Scholarship. If you have already created an account on the CFO scholarship portal, follow the instructions below to access the application for this scholarship:

• Click the scholarship portal link https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=cfozarksscholarships
• Logon
• On your Applicant Dashboard click the “Apply” button on your tool bar
• Type “public” in the Enter Access Code box and click “Enter Code”
• “Quick search” begin typing Jerald L. Andrews
• Click the blue “Apply” button on the right hand side to apply

If you have not created an account, follow the instructions provided in the “How to Apply for Scholarships” pdf above.

2. Junior League of Springfield Scholarship – The ideal candidate will have exhibited exceptional leadership and involvement within her community. Apply online at https://www.jlspringfield.org/founders-fund-scholarship/. March 31 is the application deadline.

3. P.E.O Golden Girl Scholarship – the PEO Chapter LC provides this scholarship for exceptional senior women to attend a MO accredited postsecondary educational institution for the next academic year. Interested senior girls can pick up the application form from Mrs. Ewing. Postmark deadline is March 31.

Save the Date for the All Sports and Debate Banquet on April 5th.

We are a laboratory school for students in Kindergarten - 12th grades. We are part of the College of Education at Missouri State University.

Email: Greenwood@Missouristate.edu
Website: https://education.missouristate.edu/greenwood/
Location: 1024 East Harrison Street, Springfield, MO, USA
Phone: (417) 836-5124
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenwoodlab

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/greenwoodlabschool/