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A Message from the Superintendent
Greetings Hazelwood School District Community,
With the 2024-2025 school year well underway, we have welcomed our students back, and I want to thank our families and staff for your support and hard work in making this such a positive new school year. After working through obstacles and challenges that come with the start of any school year, we feel that we are on the right course to provide tremendous opportunities for learning and growth for our students throughout the district.
Our main theme for this year is “Rebranding HSD,” with a focus on improving climate and culture. We aim to amplify and promote the student successes and inspirational stories that permeate HSD and that are happening on a regular basis. We are also working on initiatives and programs that we believe will bolster the environment and reputation of the district. We solicit your active participation in this endeavor as we forge ahead.
The latest addition to our thematic schools, Hazelwood Central High, has had a successful launch. Enhanced by the Real World Learning and Innovative High School Project, students are getting a head start on their college and career paths with initiatives such as more hands-on academic learning experiences, field experiences, guest presenters, and taking courses on a college campus. The thematic schools continue our efforts to engage students and meet the evolving needs of our school community with innovative programs.
I would like to thank everyone who attended the recent State of the District Dinner Meeting, which was held at the Hazelwood East Early Childhood Center. We invited a group of elected officials, dignitaries, community members, and faculty to hear our plans for the District and to participate in discussions on how the community can contribute to the success of our students. The evening was a success and provided useful feedback in our continuous quest to provide a top-notch educational experience for all of our students.
We were also pleased to see the enthusiasm throughout all three corridors during this year’s high school homecoming parades. The routes were lined with cheerful supporters showing pride in their favorite schools throughout the district. This is just one of many celebrations where the community can unite and support our students and staff. A huge “thank you” to everyone who participated and made this year’s parades a success.
Speaking of success, this year’s Fall Family Festival has been another highlight of the season, with over 1,000 people participating. The festival is an opportunity for families to not only have fun with games, prizes, and entertainment, but also to meet representatives of area community organizations and secure resources and information. Congratulations to Brown Elementary, North Middle, and East High, the winners of the 3rd Annual Family Community Involvement Challenge, which was awarded at the festival for the school with the highest parent participation in September and October.
Let’s keep the positive momentum going throughout the 2024-2025 school year. We are excited about the start of the school year and are energized for what lies ahead!
Sincerely,
Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart
Hazelwood School District Superintendent
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Prop H Funding Brings Improvements To Hazelwood School District Facilities
The Hazelwood School District maintenance department has spent the summer working hard to improve the facilities around HSD, as part of the Prop H improvements.
It’s been a summer of revitalization as crews around the district continued renovating the sidewalks and parking lots and upgrading playground equipment.
Click the link to read more about Prop H Funding Improvements.
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Hazelwood School District's Annual Back 2 School Fairs Excitedly Move The Crowd Into The 2024-2025 School Year
The Hazelwood School District hosted its annual Back 2 School Fairs on August 10, with celebrations in all three corridors.
The 2024-2025 school year kickoff included backpack giveaways, games, haircuts, face painting, DJs, and performances from high school bands and cheerleaders. High energy, community resources, family participation, line dancing, and infectious smiles were seen throughout each corridor with a sizable crowd.
Click the link to read more about Hazelwood School District's Annual Back 2 School Fairs.
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Hazelwood Students Receive a Cheerful Welcome to Start the 2024-2025 School Year
Welcome back, Hazelwood School District students! The message came across loud and clear on the first day of the 2024-2025 HSD school year as students arrived to begin classes. Students received enthusiastic greetings from schools across the district and had the chance to connect with classmates old and new as the academic year began.
Click the link to read more about Hazelwood Students Receiving a Cheerful Welcome.
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Hazelwood School District Staff and East High Alumna Honored at Educator Impact Awards Scholarship Gala
Hazelwood School District is proud of security officer Carmen Smith, Central High secretary Danielle Anderson, and East High alumna Ne’vaeh Dudley for being honored at the Titus 2 Foundation’s 4th Annual Educator Impact Awards Scholarship Gala over the summer at Renaissance St. Louis Airport Hotel.
Click the link to learn more about Hazelwood School District Staff and East High Alumna Honored at Educator Impact Awards Scholarship Gala.
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Central High's Tawana Spencer Honored With Apple For The Teacher Award
Hazelwood Central High School's Tawana Spencer is celebrating her 25th year in education with quite an accomplishment — she is the recipient of the prestigious Apple for the Teacher Award! The award, presented by the Zeta Chapter of the Iota Phi Lambda Sorority, recognizes outstanding educators in the St. Louis area. Spencer, an 11th-grade counselor for Central High, has been nominated twice.
Click the link to read more about Tawana Spencer's Apple For The Teacher Award.
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East High Shines on the First Alert 4 This Morning Back to School Tour
It was “lights, camera, action” for students and staff at Hazelwood East High School on the second day of the 2024-2025 school year. The First Alert 4 This Morning news program did a live broadcast from the East High gym as part of meteorologist Matt Chambers’ “Back to School Tour.”
Click the link to read about East High Shining on the First Alert 4 This Morning Back to School Tour.
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West High Cheerleaders Participate In The National Cheer Association Lindenwood Speed Camp
West High cheerleaders participated in the National Cheer Association (NCA) Lindenwood Speed Camp over the summer to enhance cheer techniques with an emphasis on stunting. In addition to developing their skill set, athletes Kaylynn Ellis, Bethany Thompson, Hope Green, Saige Johnson, Aiyana Smith, Nevaeh Bennett, Trinittee Griffin, and Samari Weaver received All-American nominations.
Click the link to read more about West High Cheerleaders' Participation in The National Cheer Association.
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Hazelwood Central Middle School Attracts Visit from UniverSoul Circus
The Hazelwood Central Middle School gymnasium typically hosts PE, running, and basketball. But for a brief stretch, it was the home of the world-renowned UniverSoul Circus.
Click the link to hear more about the Central Middle's Visit from the UniverSoul Circus.
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Keeven Second-Grade Student Chloe Moore Claps Back Against Bullying
Keeven Elementary School is celebrating the success of second-grade student, Chloe Moore, also known as “Chlo-Mo.” She has released a new song on YouTube entitled “Clap Back,” which addresses a serious topic facing many grade-school students: bullying.
Click the link to hear more about Chloe Moore's Clap Back Against Bullying.
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Barrington Brilliant Readers Program Receives $1000 Donation
For the second year in a row, Honda of Frontenac has donated $1000 to the Hazelwood School District. Led by Reading Specialist Meagan Thate, this year the donation went to Barrington’s Brilliant Bulldogs reading initiative, a newly implemented program, derived from McCurdy's Magnificent Reading model.
Click the link to hear more about the Barrington Brilliant Readers $1000 Donation from Honda of Frontenac.
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Grannemann Students Hone Teamwork and Learning Skills at the Character Olympics
Seeking a unique way to engage students and encourage positive communication — packaged with a generous dose of fun — Granneman Elementary School recently held the Character Olympics for its students. The Character Olympics are a collection of competitions to emphasize character traits expected of staff and students, inspire teamwork, and practice expectations.
Click the link to learn more about the Grannemann Students Character Olympics
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Hazelwood School District Hosts Successful Support Staff Recruitment Fair Alongside the Career Transition Fair
Over the summer, the Hazelwood School District held a highly successful Support Staff Recruitment Fair for the 2024-2025 school year. Nearly 100 participants met with HSD staff to fill bus driving, counseling, secretarial, food nutrition, custodial, and more support staff vacancies. The fair offered interested candidates face-to-face interviews, with as many as 10 departments based on interests and qualifications.
Click the link to learn more about the Support Staff Recruitment Fair.
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Parent University
Through workshops, events, videos, and resources, Parent U is here to provide parents/guardians with the necessary tools to support their families and learn more about education, child development, wellness, personal development, and other topics.
For more information, including the event schedule, click here.
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Board Statement of Solidarity
The horrific, depraved murder of George Floyd left many in our community shocked and enraged. That anger has been further amplified by the senseless murder of Breonna Taylor and now Rayshard Brooks, all unarmed African Americans who were killed by the police. These and other recent instances of lethal attacks against African Americans are unacceptable. This is an American issue, not a black issue. As such, we all have a collective responsibility to fight against the ills of racism. The HSD Board of Education stands in solidarity with the millions of Americans stepping forward in this fight. We stand with our community to say, “enough is enough!”
To read the full statement, please click here.
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No Guns In School
The No Guns in School campaign specifically targets guns and mobilizes students, parents, and the community to partner with the district to achieve one goal - No Guns in School.
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 Parents as Teachers
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Manners Matter
The Manners Matter campaign specifically targets proper etiquette and mobilizes students, parents, and the community to partner with the district to achieve one goal - realizing that Manners Matter.
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This newsletter was produced by the Communications and Public Relations Department.
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