Bierbaum Elementary School

10/16/2026

Lunch is Served with a Side of Fun!

This week is National School Lunch Week, and our kitchen staff turned the Bierbaum cafeteria into a carnival.

National School Lunch Week began in 1962, when President John F. Kennedy signed it into law. Every October, schools across the country take time to celebrate school meals and the people who make them. At Bierbaum, our kitchen team always works hard to make this week special for our students. This year's theme was "School Carnival," and they did not disappoint.

Each day, our kitchen staff came to work dressed for the carnival. Students were greeted in the lunch line by clowns, a ringmaster, and fortune tellers. Every day brought a new surprise, and our students could not wait to see what was next.

One of my favorite moments was a visit to Miss Sheba and her crystal ball. I pulled a fortune, hoping for good news. Sadly, the outlook was not good for Dr. Morris. I am going to stay positive anyway.

I spoke with our substitute kitchen manager, Gina Luig, about the week. She told me the staff was having fun, and the kids were having fun too. You can see it in the smiles in the photos below.

Our kitchen staff serves hundreds of meals every school day. That work matters. A child who has eaten is a child who is ready to learn.

Katie Gegg, Mehlville's Director of School Food and Nutrition, says it best:

"It takes a special team to nourish both the minds and hearts of our students, and the School Food and Nutrition staff does just that every single day at Bierbaum. They don't just prepare nutritious, balanced meals. They create a vibrant, safe, and cheerful atmosphere where students can relax, connect, and recharge. Whether it's greeting everyone with a smile, dressing up for theme days, or making sure every child feels seen and cared for, their dedication does not go unnoticed."

This week is a fun reminder of something that is true all year. The people who feed our students care about them.

10/16/2026

On Thursday, the Mehlville School District is hosting Open Job Interviews for Bus Drivers and Evening Custodians. Come work with us!

Come work with us! The Mehlville School District is hosting Open Job Interviews for Bus Drivers and Evening Custodians from 9-11 a.m. on Thursday, October 22, at the Central Administration Building (2900 Lemay Ferry Road).

At open interviews, you can meet with department directors, learn about positions and benefits, receive assistance completing your application and even interview for a job! We hope to see you there!

Visit msdr9.com/jobs to learn more and to apply now!

10/13/2026

Some of the best friendships start at the fence! Our fourth graders stopped by the early childhood playground today to say hello to our preschool friends, and the smiles say it all. Moments like these remind us that kindness and leadership grow at every age here at Bierbaum.

10/09/2026

Small Players, Big Shots!

For years, I have watched our kindergartners try to play basketball at recess. They grab the ball, bend their knees, and throw it up as hard as they can. The ball goes up, and up, and then comes right back down. It never gets close to the hoop.

The problem is simple. A basketball hoop is 10 feet tall. That is very high for a five-year-old! It is about as tall as two and a half kindergartners standing on top of each other. (Please do not try this at home.)

This year, things are different. We now have a new basketball hoop on our playground that can move up and down. Our recess aides lower the hoop for our younger students and raise it back up for our older students. Now every child can play.

The first time I saw a kindergartner make a basket, it felt like we had won a championship. Kids cheered. Arms went up. One student even ran a victory lap.

I planned to share some quotes from our kindergartners here. I went out to recess with my notepad and asked them a few questions. They looked at me, looked at the hoop, and made it very clear they had a game to get back to. Interview over. I will take that as a good review.

Our assistant principal, Mrs. Rendon, has been teaching our youngest students a game called Knockout. In Knockout, players stand in a line and take turns shooting. If the player behind you makes a basket before you do, you are out. The last player standing wins.

"It was so cute," Mrs. Rendon said. "I think I had as much fun as they did."

These small wins are a big deal. When a goal is hard but possible, children keep trying. We want our students to keep trying in the classroom too.

A Note About Slam Dunks

Some of our older students saw the lower hoop and had an idea. They asked me to leave it down all the time so they could practice slam dunks.

I love their big dreams. But the answer is no. Hanging on the rim can break the hoop, and we want this hoop to last a long time. Slam dunks will have to wait. Sorry, kids!

Thank You, PTO!

Thank you to our PTO for raising the money to buy this hoop. Every time you supported a PTO fundraiser, you helped make this happen. Thank you for helping make recess at Bierbaum a happy place for every child.

The next time your child comes home talking about basketball, ask them about their best shot. They will be proud to tell you!

10/02/2026

The 2,000 Mile Hike

Our fifth graders recently traded their desks for the trails at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center in Kirkwood. This trip began a couple of years ago when Mr. Thebeau started looking for free opportunities in our area for students to connect with nature and conservation. Powder Valley fit the bill perfectly, and it has quickly become a fifth grade tradition.

The main event was a three-mile hike through the woods. I expected it to be the highlight of the trip. Not every reviewer agreed.

Ella reported that the worst part of the day was "the 2,000-mile walk." Olivia shared that her feet will be sore until sixth grade. I have to admit, I was surprised by how many of our kids were not fans of hiking. After all, Bierbaum is a big building. Walking from the office to the fifth grade classrooms is practically a hike of its own, so I figured our students were already in training.

The trail had its fans, too. Amelia said her favorite part was the beautiful nature and "the refreshing trees and mindset." I love that a walk in the woods left her feeling refreshed, inside and out.

For some students, the best memories had nothing to do with the trail. Lily told us her favorite part was getting to sing with Mr. Ruzicka. Field trips give kids a chance to see their teachers in a whole new light, and those shared moments carry back into the classroom.

Mrs. Walker said her favorite part was watching curiosity come alive in her students. That is exactly why we take kids out of the building.

In the end, every single fifth grader told us they had a great time, sore feet and all. If you have a fifth grader at home, ask them about it this week. What was the coolest thing they saw? What surprised them? What would they go back to explore? You might be amazed by how much they noticed.

09/29/2026

Great work, fifth graders!

09/26/2026

Today is National PTO Appreciation Day, and we are so grateful for our PTO volunteers who work behind the scenes all year long to support our students and teachers and to bring our school community together.

Rollercade Night was a perfect example. Thank you to the PTO members who organized a night full of skating, smiles, and time together as a community.

If you have ever wondered how to get involved, our PTO would love to have you. Our next meeting is this Thursday, October 1st in Bierbaum library at 6:00pm!

09/25/2026

Sometimes I Fall: A Story About Grit

Bierbaum Night at Rollercade is always one of the most popular events of the year, and last night was no exception. The rink was full of Buffalo families, music, and plenty of students who looked right at home on wheels.

One skater stood out for a different reason.

Kadir, a student in Mr. Spurgeon's class, spent a good part of the night on the floor. He would push off, pick up speed, and go down. Then he would get back up and do it again. Over and over. What stood out most was that he never stopped smiling. Every fall seemed to make him more determined to try again.

At some point in the night, Kadir added a rule of his own. Every time he fell, he dropped and knocked out a couple of push-ups before getting back up. Talk about resiliency. Instead of letting a fall slow him down, he turned it into a chance to get stronger.

When I asked Kadir what his favorite part of the night was, he said, "I like to go fast, but sometimes I fall."

That sentence says a lot about grit. Kadir knew falling was part of the deal, and he decided going fast was worth it. He did not let the falls define his night. He let the fun of trying define it.

One of the goals in our School Improvement Plan is to grow grit in our students. Grit means sticking with something when it is hard, when progress is slow, and when quitting would be easier. We talk about it in classrooms when students work through a tough math problem or reread a challenging passage. Kadir showed us what it looks like when you add a little joy to the mix.

Families, this is a great conversation starter at home. Ask your child about a time they fell down, in skating or in anything else, and what helped them get back up. Then talk about something they are working on right now that feels hard. A little bit of Kadir's attitude can go a long way.

09/22/2026

The Mehlville School District is holding open interviews on Wednesday for bus drivers, evening custodians and substitute school food technicians!

The Mehlville School District is holding Open Job Interviews for Bus Drivers, Evening Custodians and Substitute School Food Technicians on Wednesday, September 23, from 9-11 a.m. at the Mehlville School District Central Administration Building (2900 Lemay Ferry Road)

At open interviews, you’ll meet with department directors, learn about positions and benefits, receive assistance completing your application and even interview for a job.

We hope you’ll join the Mehlville School District family! 💙

Visit msdr9.com/jobs to view all current openings and to apply!