Early childhood special education teacher Jillian Sweeney was recognized for earning the 2020-2021 Missouri Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (MACTE) Outstanding Beginning Teacher Award. The surprise presentation came from Dr. Jessica Leonard and Dr. Joy Voss from Saint Louis University School of Education during a staff professional development meeting on Jan. 15.

With everything going on amid the coronavirus pandemic, here’s a little bit of good news: Kate Schneider, an Early Childhood special education speech-language pathologist, is now cancer-free and doing well.

On Dec. 31, she was diagnosed with breast cancer at 39 weeks pregnant.

“2020 brought aggressive chemotherapy and radical surgeries while raising a newborn in a global pandemic,” she wrote in an email. “I am now, humbly and gratefully, CANCER-FREE.”

Students in Ms. Shannon Fleming's class enjoyed spending time outside at the new playground area at the Pattonville Early Childhood Center. The space was created thanks to the PTO applying for a grant from the Bridgeton Landfill Community Project Fund.

PTO treasurer and school secretary Laura Wick said they received $4,800 to build it.