Vive Sion!

Welcome Back and Happy New Year! I hope that you all enjoyed a wonderful holiday season. Having our students back at school is such a joy! Our second semester will continue to be filled with engaging and authentic opportunities for teaching and learning at Sion. Here are a few highlights of some of the most recent accomplishments of our amazing Sion lifelong learners. Our students are the ones who #BringtheJoy! Have a wonderful second semester!

Academics

Science
In alignment with our commitment to academic excellence and STEAM, five 7th grade students attended "Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day Junior" last November. The day was filled with mentoring activities with professional women from Society of Women Engineers who organized numerous challenges, labs  and games to encourage exploratory thought. They were exposed to the numerous roles and  types of engineers, education needed and jobs that are available. Sion was one of 21 schools represented with over 100 girls from throughout  the metro area. The event was held at UMKC’s Atterbury Success Center.

Sion’s Science Olympiad team, lead by Mr. Eikermann and Mr. Flournoy, competed Saturday, December 3, at the Pembroke Hill Invitational Science Olympiad. There were 32 schools from 5 states present. Sion medaled in 6 of the 18 events we entered. Students won awards in Bottle Rocket, Fast Facts, Mission Possible, Optics, Reach for the Stars and Rocks and Minerals. We had a full team of 18 in attendance, great success, and lots of good memories. Sion will host the Optics event at the next Invitational.

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Science Olympiad Team at the Pembroke Invitational.

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Mathematics
Seventh and eighth grade students have continued participating in the Math Olympiads for Elementary and Middle Schools (MOEMS) competition. The goal is to stimulate enthusiasm and love for Mathematics, acquire strategies in problem solving, deepening the study of Mathematics, and fostering Mathematical creativity, among others. To learn more about MOEMS please visit http://www.moems.org/program.htm. Our students have successfully participated in three events, and will continue to participate until March, when results will be received. Likewise, they will participate in the Missour Math League contest this upcoming February 28.

Sion Debate Team
Our Middle School Debate Team, led by Mr. Kaspzyk, continues to grow and establish itself successfully within the Kansas City debate community with success.  Students have competed in a total of four tournaments since the beginning of our season in Policy debate as well as Student Congress debate.  Students will have an opportunity to compete in three more tournaments in addition to a city wide final tournament in March.  ​

Performing and Visual Arts
Our K-8 Art and Music teachers prepared our mid-year Visual and Performing Arts formative showcase this past December. Mrs. Teasley hosted an exhibit gallery of students’ Wonderful Original Work or “WOW” projects in the Francis Gallery. Likewise, she created a wonderful and informative documentary showcasing our nationally recognized “Teaching for Artistic Behavior” or TAB art program, and the process by which students learn art techniques. Mrs. Stafford, directed our amazing Christmas Concert, where our students showcased their learning in Orff Schulwerk principles, choir, and our musical instruments for the first time! The theme was “Bolt Around the World”, and it was certainly a night to remember!

Student Life

Maisons
Orange and Purple House students visited Bishop Spencer Place on Friday, January 6. Students chatted with the residents, and made tree ornaments, as well as snowmen with styrofoam spheres. 

The schedule for the next visits to Bishop Spencer Place for this school is as follows:
Red House - Mar. 31
Yellow House - Apr. 28

Thanks to all the parents who provided transportation for these brief field trips. We are still in need of parent drivers for the upcoming visits. Please contact Mrs. Pearson if you are available to drive when your child’s House takes this trip.

Athletics

Basketball Season started in October. Sion held its annual 5th and 6th grades boys and girls tournaments at the Grade School. The tournament was a great success and all the teams played well. Sion 5th grade girls team came in 2nd place and did great but unfortunately, did not make it to the finals. The Basketball tournament schedule for our teams can be found on the PLKC website. 

Upcoming Grade School Events

For more detailed information about our upcoming events and parent volunteer opportunities please visit our Sion ALLiance page.

January 12 - Mom's Wine Gathering at Sasha's Bakery (5:30-7:30pm)
January 13 - Red Friday (wear Chief's gear/red/jeans)
Janury 16 - No School. Marthin Luther King Jr. 
January 20 - Feast Day
January 24 - Feast Day Mass 
January 26 - Late Start. Open House/Showcase (4:00-6:00pm) & International Marketplace (4:00-5:00pm).
January 30 - February 3- Catholic School's Week
February 3 - Vive Sion Spirit Day
February 7 - NAEP Testing for Grade 8 Students
February 10 - Parent/Teacher Conference Day