Area School Leaders Discuss 2024/2025 School Year

St. Clair County — Schools in the area began the year last week, and we at The Herald reached out to leaders in the district for their thoughts on the first week, which began for both Mascoutah and Lebanon on Wednesday, August 14.

Mascoutah School District

Superintendent Dr. David Deets expressed his pride in the district, stating, “This week is just another example of why I’m so proud to serve as Mascoutah’s superintendent. I’ve had the opportunity to walk through all of our buildings this week, and I absolutely loved the positive energy that I was able to see and feel. We have such an incredible team of teachers and support personnel, and seeing our classrooms full of smiling children again brings such a sense of joy. When you combine fantastic educators, amazing students, and a wonderful community, it’s a recipe for great things. And while I’m definitely biased, I do believe great and exciting things are happening here in Mascoutah 19. I wish everyone a terrific 2024-25 school year, and thank you to the entire school community for all that you do.”

At Scott Elementary School, Principal Kellen Kettwich highlighted the unique aspects of their school, particularly the military-connected community: “The first few days of school bring a little bit of everything….smiles, excitement, nervousness and even sometimes a few tears. At Scott Elementary School, we are 100% military-connected and we have almost 200 new students this year who have come to us from all over the country and even other parts of the world. They bring unique experiences and perspectives that help add to our SES family. It’s really awesome to see how quickly our new kids are embraced and welcomed by their peers and our staff. I love seeing all of the great things our teachers do in the first few days to build their classroom communities to help our kids feel welcome and ready to learn. We are excited to build off this foundation to have a great year.”

Mascoutah Middle School saw an exciting start to the year, according to Principal Travis Klein: “The first week of school at Mascoutah Middle School has been an exciting experience for students, marking the beginning of a new academic journey. Enthusiastic conversations filled the hallways as sixth graders navigated their way through a maze of new classrooms, teachers, and extracurricular activities available here at MMS. The school’s Open House nights on August 13th and 14th helped ease the transition and acclimate students to their new environment. This week, all of our students have not only been learning about their schedules and navigating their new routines but also building new friendships and setting the stage for a successful school year. Teachers have been busy fostering a supportive and engaging atmosphere, ensuring that every student feels welcomed and prepared every day.”

Wingate Elementary School welcomed students back with enthusiasm, as Principal Kim Enriquez shared: “At Wingate Elementary School, students, parents and staff were excited to see the new finished addition to our school. Our 10-year-old school went under construction in January for a new build-out. Our new addition added 3 common learning areas, 17 new classrooms, and additional office space for support staff. Our outside projects are still underway. At Wingate, we are adding a new K-5 playground, including an American Ninja Warrior-style course around the outside of the playground, and a new PreK playground. Both should be completed in the next month. We are excited to see our greenspace leveled soon and seeded, as well as our two new parking lots completed and lined for additional staff parking. Our first few days of school were spent teaching our Core Values—We are Respectful, We are Responsible, We are Accepting, We are Safe—to all students, as well as practicing what those Core Values look like and sound like in all parts of our building, from the bus to the cafeteria, playground, hallway, and classroom. We hold to the 3=33 model at Wingate Elementary School. If we spend the first 3 weeks of the school year establishing routines and procedures and focusing on teambuilding and relationships, then our remaining 33 weeks will be amazing.”

Mascoutah High School also celebrated a successful start, with Principal Amy Kelly Johnson noting: “As the new school year begins, Mascoutah High School is thrilled to share that we have had an exceptional start, thanks to our dedicated staff and the completion of our school construction just in time. Our custodial and technology teams went above and beyond, adjusting their schedules to ensure every classroom was as prepared as could be for the first day with students. We are also excited to extend a warm welcome to all of our amazing new staff members who have joined our team this year! Our Freshmen Mentoring Program provided a warm and supportive introduction for our new students, and our New Student Parent Night and Open House saw record-breaking attendance. With such a strong beginning, we are excited to see what this school year will bring and look forward to a fantastic year ahead for all our students and staff!”

Holy Childhood School began the year with a special opening Mass, according to Principal Tim Keefe, who shared in a press release: “The first day at Holy Childhood Catholic School was a memorable occasion filled with hope and anticipation. Our students, parents, and faculty came together to celebrate the start of the new year with a special opening Mass, where Father Stec delivered a heartfelt homily, welcoming our students and staff back and invoking blessings for a successful and enriching year ahead.

Principal Keefe expressed his excitement, stating, ‘Today marks the beginning of a new journey for our students. We are eager to nurture their academic curiosity and spiritual growth, guided by our Catholic values. Our dedicated teachers have prepared a year full of engaging lessons and meaningful experiences.’

We are grateful for the support of our entire school community—students, parents, faculty, and parish members—as we embark on this new school year. Together, we will continue to uphold our mission of nurturing each child’s potential and guiding them in their faith journey of the mind, body, and spirit.”

No response was received at the time of publication from the Mascoutah Elementary School.

Lebanon School District

At Lebanon Junior/Senior High, the start of the school year was equally positive, with Principal Kimberly Emrick stating: “The start of the school year at Lebanon Junior/Senior High has been amazing! Our staff and students are so excited to be back and get started. We are all looking forward to a positive year with many memories.”

New Lebanon Superintendent Matt Noyes also shared his thoughts on the first few days: “The new school year is off to an outstanding start. As a new member of the team here at Lebanon, I appreciate the warm welcome I have received from students, staff, and community members. I have been impressed by the positive attitudes and enthusiasm for learning and growing that both our students and staff have shown in the first few days. Our primary focus in our schools this year is on building and maintaining positive relationships. Positive relationships are a strong foundation for the type of school culture we expect to see in Lebanon. Our Greyhounds are off to a great start in this area!”

No responses were received from the Lebanon Middle School or High School.