The district PBTE committee met April 29 to continue the alignment of the current Mehlville PBTE to the seven prescribed principles outlined by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. The committee developed language which incorporates student achievement into the PBTE. The committee planned additional training sessions on the use of the evaluation instrument for principals and teachers for the start of the 2013-2014 school year.

Each building is nearing the goal of 100% student engagement in Project Engage. During the week of April 29-May 3 students from Mehlville and Oakville high schools will be working on community service projects throughout the area.

The District has continuously increased our Advanced Placement offerings over the past few years. In 2012-13, we added three new Advanced Placement courses (AP Language and Composition, AP French Language, and AP Human Geography).   Advanced Placement Chemistry will be offered starting in the 2013-14 school year – thus increasing our total AP course offerings to nineteen. We have also increased the number of teachers who have received AP training.   This summer two teachers will be attending training for our Advanced Placement Chemistry classes that will be offered beginning in the fall 2013.  Vertical articulation conversations are taking place between middle school and high school teachers to prepare students for the rigor of AP Courses.

A two-year program in Culinary Arts has been implemented at Mehlville High School and Oakville High School. ProStart I was implemented during the 2012-2013 school year. ProStart II will be offered beginning in the 2013-2014 school year. Twenty-seven students from first semester and twenty students from second semester of our Pro Start I program have passed Industry SERVSAFE Certification Assessment for food safety and preparation. This certification gives our students the opportunity for immediate advancement in the food service industry. At the completion of our first year for ProStart, forty students have passed the first phase of the National Restaurant Association exam. This is a two year exam which is tied to articulation and scholarship opportunities for students. Passing the exam helps our students jumpstart industry careers.

A four-year Biomedical Science Program has been implemented at Mehlville High School and Oakville High School. Principles of Biomedical Sciences was implemented during the 2012-2013 school year. Human Body Systems will be offered beginning in the 2013-2014 school year, with Medical Interventions and Biomedical Innovations to follow in 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 respectively. Two teachers will be attending training this summer for Human Body Systems. These courses increase literacy within the content area. For example this year the Principals of Biomedical Sciences class read The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.

Due to increased interest, the Freshmen Academy will be expanding from two classes to three classes for the 2013-2014 school year. An open house will be held on Wednesday, May 8, at 6 p.m.