Many Greenwood families last semester generously donated books for the Kenya Literacy/Book Project, and now we need your help to get them there. Your dollar donation will go directly toward covering shipping costs, ensuring these valuable resources reach intended school and students. Every dollar brings us one step closer—thank you for supporting literacy and global learning! You can donate by check (please leave it at GLS main office) OR mail it to Bernard Kitheka, 2013 S. Wellington Ave, Springfield, MO 65807 OR via Cash App, $mwengibk. Please mark the check 'Kenya Literacy Project.'
Welcome Coach Osborne!
Greenwood Speech and Debate has been busy since the end of the school year! During Memorial Day weekend, the team attended the NCFL Grand National Tournament in Chicago. Hundreds of schools from across the country competed in this tournament. Tristan Khoshyomn and Mary Gabriel advanced to the double octo-finals and were 19th IN THE NATION in Policy Debate! Additionally, Ethan Duff and Gyan Grewal finished in the top 40 in Policy Debate. A record number of Greenwood students qualified to attend the tournament this year – also including Laila Ozturk, Mohan Grewal, Ilyaan Khan, Taaha Khan, and Connor Manzardo.
The team also qualified for and competed at the National Individual Events Tournament of Champions in Kansas City on the third weekend of May. Tristan Khoshyomn advanced to the top 60 in the nation in Extemporaneous Speaking and Laila Ozturk advanced to the top 60 in Informative Speaking.
We also hosted a middle school workshop the week after school got out and were so excited to work with these students and help prepare them to articulate public speakers and maybe even future high school debaters!
Next up – the team will compete at the National Speech and Debate Association National Tournament in Des Moines, Iowa in June. Go Jays!
Congratulations to Matt Whitworth and Miila Chapman! Way to represent at STATE!
Congratulations to Gyan Grewal who competed in the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Columbus, Ohio! He had a great time learning from experts, networking with students from around the globe, and presenting his research on the Toxic Mechanisms of PFAS in Fungal Yeast Cells to judges and the public. He won a Special Award scholarship from Missouri S&T and enjoyed a wonderful educational experience. Thank you to the Ozarks Regional Science and Engineering Fair for sponsoring his trip!
Congratulations to Chance Rose! City MVP!
This morning Archer Anbari was presented with an award and cash check from the Sons of the American Revolution for winning 3rd place in the state founding documents brochure contest. This is a contest that covers 16 chapters across the state (900 members). Here Archer is pictured with Daniel Piedlow, an Ozarks Mountain chapter representative.
A Greenwood Tradition continued from former first grade teacher Mrs. Connie Claybough is the Inspiring Americans First Grade research study and presentation. The Inspiring American unit has evolved over the last 16 years to include Americans who might be lesser known; however, they have made a significant contribution to America. Students learn about their selected person by reading, conducting research, and participating in class discussions. Each student identifies a person that they want to research and present on the day of the program the information they have learned during the unit. This year some of the Inspiring Americans students studied included Dolly Parton (Berkeley), Dr. Patrica Bath (Grace), Trombone Shorty (Arav), Jerome Lemelson (George) and Simone Biles (Blakeley). Great work first graders. Thank you for attending our presentation this year!
First Grade Students celebrated winning 44 first, second, third, and honorable mention ribbons at the 2025 LAD Fair. Writing Rocks and the class Poetry Anthology won first place. Scarlett and Ila’s first place poems were selected as a Read-A Poem at the LAD Fair on April 25. Way to go First Grade Helpful Hedgehogs. Keep Writing!
First Grade Student celebrated being published authors with an ice cream party and book reveal. Each first grade students selected an animal, read, researched about the animal, and wrote a page in the book. The writing was supported with a creative illustration. The cover, dedication page and the contents of the book were created by the students. The book is entitled Amazing Animals. Way to go first grade!
Macallan was the first-grade student of the week April 21-25 and brought his uncle Dr. Wesley Brundridge to school to speak to the class. Due to a late arriving flight and the Inspiring American presentation, we met briefly with Dr. Brundridge and May 7 we got to visit via Zoom.
Dr. Brundridge is a board-certified, fellowship-trained oculoplastic and reconstructive surgeon. He completed his internship in general surgery and residency in ophthalmology at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Eye Center in San Antonio and spent one year at Fort Riley as the Chief of Ophthalmology and Refractive Surgery. Macallan’s Uncle Wesley is double board-certified in ophthalmology and facial cosmetic surgery and is a fellow of the American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and is the current Associate Ophthalmology Program Director at Brooke Army Medical Center and Wilford Hall Eye Center in San Antonio.
Students learned all about the eye and how certain injuries can be repaired. Macallan’s uncle also shared that he is still active duty in the army and served a tour in Iraq. Students dressed in caps, masks and gloves today provided by Macallan’s Uncle Wesley. Thank you Macallan and Dr. Brundridge for sharing and being willing to Zoom with our class.
Congrats to our retirees!
Freya Hughes is the Helpful Hedgehog for May 5-8, 2025. Freya brought her mom Amy and dad Justin to visit the class. Freya’s dad majored in Folklore in school and shared that Freya is named after a prominent goddess of love and war in Norse mythology. Friday is also named after Freya. Freya’s parents wanted a strong name for a girl. Freya’s dad is in sales and has a company in New York with 80 employees all around the world. Justin shared some really cool magnetic frames that make glasses a fashion accessory by being able to change the look of the original frame. Freya’s mom Amy is a Culinary Arts instructor at OTC. Amy shared that her favorite thing to make is cookies and cakes. She enjoys baking for family’s special occasions. Students got to wear a Chef’s hat and sample a sweet treat, Hedgehog and a Mushroom iced sugar cookies. Freya’s mom said she started cooking when she was little by helping her mom in the kitchen and making cakes.
Freya has 2 pets, a Border Collie named Rudy and a Dachshund named George. She likes the color red, Shushi and loves to play games at home with her family.
A First Grade tradition is writing a summer goal each year the last week of school. After a class discussion and learning about goals students identified a personal goal that they would like to accomplish this summer.
In the fall it is always fun to hear about the wonderful things that students accomplished over the summer vacation.
he First Grade Helpful Hedgehogs have been visited this week by teachers from Arkansas and Texas via ZOOM. Dr. Hammerschmidt’s best friends from college, the University of Central Arkansas, read stories to the first grade students about gardening and music. Mrs. Rebecca Beall lives in Osceola, Arkansas and is a Special Education Instructor and director of Testing for Rivercrest School District. She read the students the American Farm Bureau Foundation for Agriculture Book of the year, “The Soil in Jackie’s Garden” written by Peggy Thomas. The main character, Jackie, taught students about gardening, soil and composting in a rhyming book. The students noticed that this book was designed to open like a wall calendar instead of open like a regular book, a fun text feature. Elle, a Goldendoodle F1B, Mrs. Beall’s dog listened to the story with us and fell asleep for a quick nap. She turned over the iPad when Mrs. Beall practiced to ZOOM with us! Elle did wake up to say goodbye when we were done.
Ms. Lorie Shownes lives in Humble Texas and is the Choir Director at Timberwood Middle School Humble ISD. The Varsity Girls’ Choir sang two of their contest pieces, Little Lamb and Kling Glockchen which they received a superior rating for at the contest. The Varsity Choir Students helped read to the first graders were Zaria, Phoebe, and Zori. Ms. Shownes read “Mozart in the Cloud” written by Natalie Chan. Mozart is a rabbit who goes on a wonderful adventure. Mozart tries to cheer up Chopin the cat who is stuck under a gloomy cloud. Mozart and Chopin were joined by Bach, the panda bear and Brahms, the bird. The students loved seeing how Mozart and the other animals worked together to cheer up their friend. Thank you Becca and Lori J
Congratulations to our very own Heather Walters who received the Outstanding Research in the Humanities Award this weekend at Missouri State University's Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities Fourth Annual Judy Awards!
The Judy Awards cover a range of contributions to the college, from traditional awards in teaching, research and service, to those that foreground the pillars of the University’s public affairs mission.
This award recognizes an individual in RCASH who has demonstrated research excellence in the humanities.
Winners were nominated either by their peers or self-nominated, then selected by representatives from each academic department serving on the Judy Awards Selection Committee. This is a wonderful honor from the university and we are so proud of Heather Walters!
Greenwood choir students had a great day in Columbia last week at the State Small Ensemble and Solo Festival. Eight choir kids participated in 5 entries. Greenwood came home with three Gold and two Silver ratings! We are incredibly proud of them. We'd also like to take this opportunity to thank Jacqua Garrison for her tireless work accompanying these students. She has put in many, many hours working with them for District and State. We are so grateful for her!
State Ratings:
Silver: Cullen Burch-vocal solo, Gabriel Parada-vocal solo
Gold: Jack Lindsey-vocal solo, Eli Wilson-vocal solo
Miscellaneous Tenor/Bass Ensemble "Hannah and the Boys" -Kelby Agnew, Cullen Burch, Jack Lindsey, Asher Nelson, Gabriel Parada, Hannah Richards, and Eli Wilson
Tatum is the First Grade Helpful Hedgehog Student of the Week for April 28-May 3, 2025. Tatum’s mom, Dr. Jennifer Yates, Assistant Professor in the School of Health Care Professions Department visited the class. Students learned all about different adaptations that can be made for students to achieve success in writing by using special paper and pencil grips. Dr. Yates adapts cars and donates them to children who have mobility issues. Tatum’s mom read All That I Want To Be a positive message to celebrate who you are!
Thank you to Tatum and her mom for the sensory balls and the treat!
Dean Barri Tinkler read Where is Boomer? To the first grade class during Literacy Week. Yesterday, the first grade students took a “brief” walking adventure to see some of the places they heard about in the book. Thank you again Dr. Tinkler for reading to us during Literacy Week.
Some of the places we visited: The Bear, The Wall of Presidents, identified the PSU, the Book Store, the Magers Health Center, the stage, and ventured back to school.
April 17th was Science in the Parking Lot! Students were able to experience Virtual Reality headsets, conduct their own experiment, see a drone presentation, and so much more. It was a fun day for learning and exploration!
