MRH District Central Office: (314) 644-4400

DATES TO KNOW (Click calendar image for details)



November 22-24: Fall break

December 5: BOE candidate filing begins

December 12: Early release of students

December 21: No school for students (teacher work day)

December 22-January 3: Winter break

The Week in Photos From Around MRH

New Videos Weekly By HS Mobile Journalism Students

Enjoy this video celebrating November as Native American Heritage Month.

Animation by MRH Digital Marketing & Media Specialist Lizzy Martinez; narrated by MRH junior Dakota Colbert; original music by staff and students.

In this edition:

• Sign-ups for Strategic Plan committees
• Francois appointed to Board of Education
• Board candidate filing opens Dec. 5
• In-depth: MRH band program (CONCERT TONIGHT!)
• MRHE singers to perform at Maplewood tree lighting
• At the next Community Conversations: SSD Supports

Help Us Implement the MRH 5-Year Strategic Plan

The MRH Board of Education is seeking community members to be a part of strategic planning committees. If you are interested in participating, please fill out this form.

Learn more about the roles of stakeholders in the success of the MRH School District. 

District Parent, Active PTO Member Appointed to Board of Education

The MRH Board of Education has selected a new Director to fill the unexpired term of Brandi Herndon-Miller, who resigned from the Board last month. Julie Francois will serve until the April 2024 election. She was one of three individuals who applied for the Director position.

Francois is Global Regulatory Manager with Bayer CropScience. She has served in varying capacities with Good Shepherd School for Children, Maplewood Parks and Recreation Commission, Girls on the Run, Scouts and Mosaic Services. She was MRH School District Citizen of the Year for 2021-2022. Long active in the MRH PTO, Francois has two children attending MRH and has lived in Maplewood since 2009.

Francois stated that she intends to file as a candidate in the April election for a full three-year term on the MRH Board of Education. 

Board of Education Candidate Filing Opens December 5

Two director positions, each holding three-year terms, and one director position carrying an unexpired one-year term, are open on the Maplewood Richmond Heights Board of Education in the April 2, 2024 election. The terms of Amber Withycombe and Rachel Goltzman expire in April 2024, and the term of Brandi Herndon-Miller will expire in April 2025.

Filing for the Board of Education election will begin on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023, at 8 a.m. and continue through Tuesday, Dec. 26, 2023, at 5 p.m. 

Candidates must file in person at St. Louis County Board of Elections, 725 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann, Mo. 63074. No filing will take place at the school district office. Candidates may file between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Filing ends at 5 p.m. on the last day of candidate filing only. The Board of Election office will be closed on December 7 and December 25, and may also close due to inclement weather.

For the first day of filing, a lottery will be conducted to determine ballot placement. Candidates who file after the first day will be listed in order of filing.

If you have any questions regarding candidate filing, please call 314-644-4400 or kat.norton@mrhschools.net, or St. Louis County Board of Elections at 314-615-1851.

pictured: Stage Band rehearsal, left to right- Celia Giles, Olivia Ceballos, Lucy Metcalf

Instrumental band teacher Vince Rapini reflected, “I had auditions and a band meeting last year. We collaborate with different options. Our kids have experienced tremendous growth. We’ve been adding more vocalists to our stage band; we had a lot more interest in our jazz band.”

Senior band leader Ava Kasten said, “We put a lot of work in to make this come together. Most of us had never played together, but now we play well together and seeing that has been really cool.”

pictured: Friday's Jazz Band rehearsal

Sophomore Riley Sabath: “I started in 7th grade. My interest was sparked seeing my sister play saxophone when she was in school. For this concert, everybody’s solos are really unique.”

“There’re not any rules to jazz, but there’s a lot that goes into making it sound good and that’s what I’ve really learned,” stated freshman Vallon Sutton.

Rapini proudly gushed, “I’ve been teaching for 18 years; I’ve never seen a group improve to this level this quickly. The quality is leaps and bounds above last year and even the spring. Our Middle School group is smaller, but they’re putting in better work and are latching on to the idea of how capable they are. With all the groups, their biggest motivator is just them intrinsically saying, ‘I like music and I want to get better’. (For this performance) Ms. Maddex (vocal music teacher) has really helped to reenforce the idea of stage presence, especially with the incorporation of more vocalists into performances.”    

The Jazz Ensemble is going to go the Greater St. Louis Jazz Festival at UMSL in April. They’ll be working with professional players. They will be evaluated with three contrasting styles: a mambo, a swing, and a ballad. We’ll be the smallest school attending that festival, so we try to be smart in how we use every musical tool in our arsenal. “I don’t think you would find a better rhythm section in any small school in the state of Missouri,” said Rapini.



Keep current on ongoing construction and facility improvements funded by voter passage of Proposition E.

Click the Prop E badge to view the latest financial reports and fresh videos.

MRHE Singers Returning to Downtown Holiday Event

A seasonal tradition continues on December 1 as student vocalists under the direction of Dr. John Israel perform holiday tunes at the annual tree lighting in downtown Maplewood. You'll want to be in place at CNB Park (Manchester & Marshall) by 5:45 p.m. to catch the performance.

Full event details are on the Mid County Chamber of Commerce website.

SAVE THE DATE: GIFT-WRAPPING ON DECEMBER 2

Here's an idea: begin your holiday shopping early and let US do the wrapping! Tap the image to find out when and where you can get your gifts wrapped by MRH Elementary students. (And it's for a GREAT cause!)

MOSAIC Services Offers New Line of

Spirit Wear

Our friends at MOSAIC Services have just launched a terrific line of new spirit wear featuring a stylized version of Jax, the MRH mascot.

You must act fast! The online store closes November 26. Delivery week is scheduled for December 12, plenty of time for the holidays. If pick-up is selected, contact MOSAIC for a no-fee porch delivery.

CLICK THE IMAGES TO BEGIN SHOPPING!

Stay connected with our local libraries, which offer ongoing enrichment programs for children and adults throughout the year. Just click the images below to find schedules of upcoming events!