GHS Wrestlers Compete at State Championships

Grandview High School’s boys wrestling team had three students qualify for the State Championship held this past weekend. They include seniors Shontrel Wilson, Ja’kori Bell and junior Marshawn Swift.

Swift finished fourth in state and was the only non-senior to medal. Bell and Wilson are returning state qualifiers. Below are their stats. Congratulations to all on a great weekend!


SHONTREL WILSON - Senior - 138 pounds
2016 Competitive Record - (26-9)
2016 District Championships - 4th Place - State Qualifier
2015 State Medalist (6th)
2015 District Championships - 3rd Place - State Qualifier

JA’KORI BELL - Senior - 182 pounds
2016 Competitive Record - (31-13)
2016 District Championships - 4th Place - State Qualifier
2015 District Championships - 3rd Place - State Qualifier

MARSHAUN SWIFT - Junior - 195 pounds
2016 State Championships - 4th Place - State Medalist
2016 Competitive Record - (34-12)
2016 District Championships - 4th Place - State Qualifier

Grandview Jazz Band Students Earn Awards at Recent Festivals

The Grandview High School Jazz Orchestra was the top-scoring band at the University of Missouri/Rockbridge Jazz Festival Feb. 13, earning the designation of “Command Band” and was asked to perform before the University of Missouri jazz band at the festival’s evening concert. Jazz Orchestra earned unanimous 1 ratings from all three judges and in sight reading.

Grandview High School Jazz Ensemble, Grandview Middle School and Martin City Middle School Jazz Ensembles received 2 ratings. GHS’s Jazz Orchestra has earned the honor of Command Performance band 3 years - every year Grandview has participated in the festival.

Grandview’s Jazz Orchestra received a 1 rating at the University of Central Missouri Jazz Festival Feb. 20. Grandview seniors Aaron Spencer on drum set, Geran Turner on alto saxophone, junior Mark Herrera on alto saxophone and sophomore Josh Keleher on bass received outstanding soloist awards.

Grandview’s Jazz Ensemble received a 2 rating. Grandview Middle received a 1 rating with 8^th grader Anna Mott, trumpet, receiving a soloist award. Martin City Middle received a 2 rating with 8-grader Josh Norgren on bass and the saxophone section receiving outstanding musicianship awards.

GHS jazz band members saw Grandview High School alums Aryana Nemati play lead alto saxophone with the MU Jazz Band and Justin Conklin on lead alto saxophone with the UCM Jazz Ensemble I.

Friday, Feb. 26, Grandview jazz bands will take part in the Northwest Missouri State Jazz Festival and on Friday, March 4, the Pittsburg State University Festival where Doc Severinson, formerly of the Tonight Show, headlines the traditional evening concert.

All four bands will perform at the district’s annual Sweet! Hot! Jazz! concert and chocolate bar March 2 which raises scholarship funds for band students continuing to play in college.

Google Takes GC-4 Students on Field Trips All Over the World

Imagine being in elementary school and taking a field trip on an Ocean Safari or checking out the historic Ruins of Rome. Google made that possible for Butcher-Greene Elementary and Martin City K-8 students with its new product Google Expeditions.

Expeditions allows teachers to take their classes on virtual field trips immersing students in experiences that bring abstract concepts to life and giving students a deeper understanding of the world beyond the classroom.

These trips are collections of virtual reality panoramas — 360° photo spheres, 3D images and

video, ambient sounds — annotated with details, points of interest, and questions that make them

easy to integrate into curriculum already used in schools.

Students can take virtual trips to places like the Wildlife Conservation Society, PBS, the American Museum of Natural History, the Planetary Society, and the Palace of Versailles.

While nothing replaces hopping on the bus for a field trip, Expeditions provide an unparalleled

opportunity for supplemental learning. 

GHS Track Team Members Meet Olympian Jackie Joyner Kersee

Jackie Joyner Kersee was the keynote speaker at the Win for KC Luncheon last Thursday.  Win for KC honors female state champions each year at their annual fundraiser.  After Joyner Kersee spoke she took pictures with girls in attendance and our 4x200 State Championship team of Irea Brown, Amber Henderson, Sydnee Mitchell, and  (alternate)Timolin Dooley. 

 “As we chatted with her, we told her that Angie Annulus (former Bulldog state record-holder and State Champion) was attending Jackie Joyner Kersee's alma mater of UCLA.  She thought that was really cool, and said that she would definitely look her up next time she was at a practice,” said Dana Bedwell, GHS Track and Field Coach.

The luncheon was held at the Sheridan Hotel downtown.  Our district has been able to attend the last three years.

GC-4 School Board Selects District’s Next Superintendent

The Grandview C-4 Board of Education has selected Mr. Kenny Rodrequez as the next Superintendent of the school district. 

The school board voted unanimously to approve a three year contract that will start July 1 of this school year.

 “We are pleased to have Mr. Rodrequez accept our offer of Superintendent.  His leadership skills and ability to motivate is something we admire.  He has an extensive background in districts with diverse populations and his passion for our district shows,” said Wayne Terpstra, BOE President.  

Mr. Rodrequez is currently the Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum and Instruction for the Grandview C-4 School District.  He has held the position for nearly two years. Previously, he was the Director of Secondary 
Schools for the Kansas City Public School District.

GC-4 Administrative Announcements

Butcher-Greene Principal Rosey Brown and Belvidere Principal Liz Means are retiring at the end of this school year. Ms. Brown and Ms. Means have been long time, valued members of our district's administrative team and we wish them the best in their retirement and future endeavors.

The Grandview Board of Education has appointed Dr. Jennifer Price as Grandview High School Principal and Ms. Jacqueline Spencer as Grandview Middle School Principal. Dr. Price and Ms. Spencer have served as interim in their position since the beginning of the 2015-16 school year. Please join us in congratulating the two principals into their leadership roles.

Thank you KCTV5, Missouri NEA and Kansas NEA for Honoring GMS Teacher with Read to Achieve Award

Grandview Middle School teacher Hannah Davis was honored with a $1000 check Wednesday. She won The

Read to Achieve contest, sponsored by the Missouri NEA and Kansas NEA.  

Missouri NEA President Charles E.Smith, KCTV5 News Anchor, Alexis Del Cid and Meteorologist Gary Amble visited Davis' classroom to present her with the check.  Ms. Davis was nominated by six of her students. Ms. Davis teaches eighth grade science at GMS and according to students who wrote about her, continued to teach as she fought cancer. She is one of eight deserving teachers in the greater Kansas City area  that will win the contest during the 2015-2016 school year. 

Missouri NEA is now accepting nominations for its "Teacher Words Matter Contest."  It's open to the community to nominate a teacher, coach, bus driver, or any other educator and tell them about the positive effective they've had on your life. The contest deadline is Feb. 1, 2016. Find out more at TeacherWordsMatter.org.