In partnership with Monarch Immigration Services the Affton School District is hosting an “Affton Afghan Community Celebration” on May 3 from 11 a.m The event – held in the school’s commons and gymnasium – will feature guest speakers Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInST Louis County Police Department is investigating a homicide that occurred in Affton Thursday night A woman was found suffering from a gunshot wound Police say the shooting was a result of an altercation between two known individuals Louis County Police Department at 636-529-8210 to speak with investigators if you have any information regarding this incident Affton High School in South County has been vandalized with graffiti containing hateful images and language Staff members arrived at the school Friday morning to find swastikas and the racist misspelled phrase “WITE POWER” spray-painted on the front of the school according to a statement from Superintendent Travis Bracht sent to families District officials reported the vandalism to local law enforcement and said the graffiti was cleaned off the building before the end of the school day Community members came out Friday afternoon to support students by holding up encouraging signs across the street from the high school on MacKenzie Road "The kids came in seeing hateful messages that match the greater narrative in the country so it was important to leave the school day today and start the weekend with messages of love and support from capital-A adults from their community," said Nat Hilterbrand a parent of two Affton High School students who organized the effort we remain committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive learning environment We stand with and support all of our students as well as all members of our community who are affected by this unacceptable act,” Bracht said in a statement The district is home to nearly 2,500 students 7% Hispanic or Latino and 8% classified as multiracial according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education “Hate has no home in [the] Affton School District This incident strengthens our resolve to ensure that our schools remain safe welcoming spaces where every student is valued and respected,” Bracht said Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLAYTON, Mo. (First Alert 4) - A 21-year-old man is charged with killing his girlfriend during an alleged domestic assault on Thursday in Affton Louis County prosecutors on Thursday charged Martino Lewis of St third-degree domestic assault and armed criminal action in the death of 25-year-old Kelsey Elem Lewis and the victim were in a relationship a witness reported Lewis arguing with her and striking her The victim asked the witness to call the police While on the phone the witness heard a gunshot and saw Lewis run out of the residence and leave in the victim’s car Police said Lewis was arrested in the victim’s vehicle in the city of St The court on Friday set his bond at $400,000 cash-only An initial court appearance has not been set  Voters can cast their ballots on Affton School District’s Proposition 1 in the upcoming April 8 election would allow the district to use $30 million in funds for facility upgrades It was approved for placement on the ballot during the Affton School District Board of Education’s Jan Prop 1 is a zero-tax-rate-increase bond which aims to modernize district facilities heating and cooling systems and ADA-compliant accessibility enhancements Cosmetic enhancements are also on the docket with plans for new furniture and fresh paint coming to some Affton School District facilities Gotsch Intermediate School and Mesnier Primary School would all receive upgrades providing high quality schools has been a source of Affton pride,” the Affton School District website said “Our schools are the backbone of our community.” though it will extend the current tax levy the current tax levy is set to expire in 2036 — by approving Prop 1 these renovations will begin within the first year and develop in scheduled phases from there The construction will be done primarily during summer breaks over the course of several years Notable changes to Affton High School would include an accessible ramp in the front entry an ADA-accessible elevator near the courtyard and auditorium a “more prominent entry with elevator” near the gym and pool The school library and its connected classrooms will also get a makeover to be more “modern Rogers Middle School would see upgrades to the HVAC system across the facility An ADA-accessible ramp and fresh bleachers would be new additions to the soccer and softball fields the library would be revamped and would receive new furniture and new collaboration-focused classrooms A similar library remodel would come to Gotsch Intermediate School along with ADA-compliant toilet renovations throughout the facility Mesnier Primary School would receive new paint finishes in the gym and along the exterior The school’s outdoor green spaces might also see a refresh in the removal of old fencing and asphalt a new rain garden and an outdoor classroom space would be added “(This proposal) enables us to create safe and accessible learning environments for our students while protecting our community’s investment in our schools,” Affton School District superintendent Travis Bracht said in a news release the district will continue working toward the completion of these renovations – though renovations will come in smaller increments over a longer period of time the district will make upgrades as the budget allows The renovations are part of a “facility master plan,” developed by a group of parents and staff members after a walk-through and evaluation of Affton School District facilities. For more detailed information on the facility master plan under Prop 1, visit afftonschools.net/page/prop-one The Respect MO Voters Coalition – a “statewide grassroots movement working together to stop power-hungry politicians from attacking the citizen initiative process” – is hosting a town hall on March 7 at the Affton Fire Protection District Station 1 The event will include a short presentation by Toni Easter co-founder of the Respect MO Voters Coalition Attendees will be asked for their input through a survey and open conversation and organizers will share information on how attendees can get more involved with the coalition Registration is available, but not required. To register, visit https://actionnetwork.org/events/affton-town-hall-to-ban-politicians-from-attacking-the-will-of-the-people This is the twelfth of at least 25 Respect MO Voters Coalition town halls planned statewide. For a list of all upcoming town halls, visit RespectMOVoters.org/town-halls Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on suspect Martino Lewis armed criminal action and third-degree domestic assault on April 25 Lewis is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court Louis County police officers from the Affton Southwest Precinct responded to a call for service for a disturbance in the 5800 block of Grace Avenue on April 24 at approximately 11:15 p.m the officers found a woman — now identified as Kelsey Elem 63123 –  suffering from an apparent gunshot wound Elem was transported to an area hospital for treatment but later succumbed to her injuries and was pronounced deceased Lewis and Elem were involved in a romantic relationship An eyewitness overheard the couple arguing and observed Lewis punch Elem Elem stated that she was afraid of Lewis and asked the eyewitness to call the police She then informed the eyewitness that she was “going to get her gun.”  Lewis provided a firearm to another witness then stated that Elem had been shot while they were driving and that he had taken her to the hospital; investigation proved this to be untrue Louis City while still in possession of Elem’s vehicle and admitted that a physical altercation had occurred Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Persons detectives are handling this investigation Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInCLAYTON Mo Louis County family is suing the Affton Athletic Association and a former umpire who they say sexually abused their daughter According to the lawsuit filed Monday in St former umpire Zachary Barebo had a prior history of sexual abuse which the athletic association should have known about before they hired him While the victim is identified in court documents First Alert 4 does not identify victims of sex crimes without their consent The victim was a softball player when she met Barebo The alleged sexual abuse happened in June 2023 when she was 16 years old She committed suicide in February at the age of 17 she cited in a letter that the abuse committed by Barebo was a reason for her suicide A grand jury in November 2023 indicted Barebo on a total of 11 counts of statutory sodomy and child molestation related to two victims Louis County prosecutors in December 2024 dismissed all criminal counts save one Circuit Judge Heather Cunningham then sentenced him to five years’ probation He was recently revoked and is now serving that term in the Missouri Department of Corrections A trial date in the civil case against the athletic association and Barebo has not been set Affton High School senior Vivian Lang was recently recognized as a 2025 Rosemary Zander Award winner by the Special School District (SSD) of St “Vivian never backs down from a challenge instead using it as a learning and growing opportunity always willing to support classmates and includes students of all abilities in school culture,” Amber Burgdorf compassion and dedication to uplifting those around her make her a truly inspiring presence in her school and community.” SSD students have been recognized with the Rosemary Zander Award for their accomplishments in academics community service and extracurricular activities Recipients are chosen each year by a panel of SSD judges Five students, including Lang, from across St. Louis County were honored with the award this year, with Lang alone representing South County. All Rosemary Zander winners and scholarship recipients will be honored at the “Inspiring Futures” ceremony on April 29 The event will be held at the Clark Branch of the St The Affton High School boys wrestling team won first place at the South Side Invitational tournament held Jan beating Parkway South – who finished second place – by a whopping 25.5 points Mercury Clark and Antonio Muyco each placed first; Blake Hand Bao Mai and Nolan Straedey each placed second; and Joe Levinson and Toby Winkler both placed third Eleven other schools from around the area competed in the South Side Invitational tournament Louis County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office issued charges on March 13 against suspect Patrick Sloan for two counts of second-degree property damage motivated by discrimination – a Class E felony Sloan is being held on a $25,000 cash only Sloan is presumed innocent until proven guilty in court two Affton School District buildings – Affton High School and Rogers Middle School – were spray painted with racial slurs threatening messages and other symbols of hate on March 7 and March 12 some of the graffiti read “88” – a white supremacist numerical code for “Heil Hitler” as H is the eighth letter of the alphabet – and “wite power.” Sloan “knowingly (vandalized the schools) because of the race and/or religion of students and staff members of the school district.” One of the incidents was captured on video allowing Sloan’s family member and multiple other witnesses the chance to identify him Sloan later admitted to a family member that he was responsible as well as multiple local and county-wide propositions – were decided on Tuesday Incumbent Chris Volz was defeated by Steve Davila for the open Affton Board of Directors seat Mehlville Fire Protection District Board of Directors incumbent Ed Ryan secured his fourth term Every South County proposition — Affton School District Proposition 1 Marlborough Proposition L and Marlborough Proposition M — passed Both Lindbergh Board of Education incumbents In Mehlville’s race of newcomers to public office Serene Wilkinson and Ann Zimpfer were victorious Megan Gadallah won the Crestwood Board of Aldermen Ward 4 seat and Marie Davis won the Sunset Hills Board of Aldermen Ward 2 seat Rust and Kurt Voss were victorious in the Grantwood Village Board of Trustees race The Affton School District reached a $2.4 million settlement agreement in a wrongful death lawsuit following the death of a 17-year-old student at Affton High School in February 2024 Court documents filed in the Circuit Court of St. Louis County reveal that Jeffery James, the father of the deceased student, brought the lawsuit against the school district in June. The settlement includes a lump sum payment of $2,400,106 to be paid by the district’s insurer The incident occurred on Feb. 20, 2024, at Affton High School. According to the court filings the plaintiff asserted claims that the school district “caused the death of Decedent.” The specific circumstances surrounding the student’s death were not detailed the settlement agreement outlines other non-financial terms: • The school district will place a memorial brick in the landscaping area behind the baseball/softball field backstop at Affton High School • An honorary diploma will be issued to the deceased student • The student’s name will be included in the graduation ceremony for the Class of 2025 announced in the same manner as other graduates The settlement was reached through pre-suit negotiations and mediation with the school district’s insurer covering the mediation fees The court documents note that while agreeing to the settlement and continues to deny all liability whatsoever for the death of Decedent.” The settlement resolves all claims by the plaintiff against the school district and other released parties related to the student’s death The plaintiff’s attorneys from The O’Brien Law Firm were also awarded approval for $960,107.98 in legal fees and expenses The Affton Board of Education unanimously approved the hiring of the district’s third school resource officer (SRO) for the 2025-26 school year at its April 1 meeting though the district has already begun working with the St Louis County Police Department to begin the selection and placement process The position is expected to be occupied by the start of next school year they will primarily serve the district’s elementary schools as those campuses have previously shared an officer with Rogers Middle School The current SROs at both Affton High School and Rogers Middle School will remain stationed at their respective campuses we’ll be able to provide more consistent and dedicated coverage at each of those buildings,” Erica Chandler “This structure allows all schools to have dedicated support while still maintaining flexibility to respond districtwide as needed.” A salary for the new SRO position has not yet been released though the total cost for all three of the district’s SROs sits at $279,587.07 according to a contract between Affton and the county “As our district continues to grow and evolve we’re committed to proactive measures that support safety and security along with the strong relationships our SROs build with students “We’re incredibly proud of the positive impact our current SROs have in our schools — not just in terms of safety Adding a third SRO strengthens that commitment and ensures all students have access to these supportive connections.”  The item appeared on the board’s recent meeting’s consent agenda though it had been previously discussed at length Get the best experience and stay connected to your community with our Spectrum News app. Learn More LOUIS COUNTY—Surveillance footage of a subject defacing an Affton School District middle school led St Louis County detectives to arrest an Affton teenager was arrested and then charged by the County’s Prosecuting Attorney’s office He faces two counts of property damage motivated by discrimination in the second degree The prosecuting attorney’s office wishes to remind everyone that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court Louis County Police Department Bureau of Crimes Against Property handled the investigation since racial slurs threatening messages and offensive symbols were spray painted on two Affton School District buildings this month Offensive graffiti was first found at Affton High School on March 7. On March 12, Rogers Middle School was graffitied with spray paint Sloan admitted to a family member that he was responsible for the property damage according to a probable cause statement from St They also stated family members and multiple other witnesses identified Sloan police connected the Rogers Middle School vandal to the theft of two black spray paint cans from a local hardware store on March 6 one day before the first vandalism incident Detectives said the store employee’s description of the thief was a slender build wearing all black That description matched what they saw on surveillance at Rogers Middle School Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Stickman through our Bureau of Communications at 636-529-8210.  The Affton and Bayless school districts partnered to celebrate Bosnian Independence Day with two community events celebrating culture The first day of celebration – featuring an Affton vs Bayless friendly soccer match and live Bosnian dancing pictured above – was held March 1 at Bayless High School The celebration continued March 3 at Affton High School with free Bosnian food and a screening of the new film “The Track,” a coming-of-age journey following three friends going for gold in post-war Bosnia while training on their destroyed luge track from the 1984 Sarajevo Winter Games A Q&A with Bosnian Olympian Mirza Nikolajev and “The Track” director Ryan Sidhoo followed the screening Receive the latest in local entertainment news in your inbox weekly E-edition PLUS unlimited articles & videos Personalized news alerts with our mobile app *Refers to the latest 2 years of stltoday.com stories Please subscribe to continue reading… Angela Sykora talks about the legacy of drama teacher Judy Rethwisch at Affton High School on Tuesday Affton High School drama teacher Judy Rethwisch was feuding with the choral director After auditions for “Hello Dolly,” they each wanted a different male student in the lead role Rethwisch held her ground for a senior who had natural ability could impersonate any teacher and was fearless on stage The choral director argued the kid couldn’t sing “We got so mad at each other that we would not cast the lead,” Rethwisch said They left school that day dug into their respective sides Rethwisch met the choral director at the front of the school “My wife said that if you want John in the lead I should let you have him,” he told Rethwisch And the role of Horace Vandergelder was played marvelously by John Goodman “I knew that was it for him,” Rethwisch said Goodman went on to star in the hit sitcom “Roseanne” and scores of films you can do just about anything," Judy Rethwisch says while standing before students as they rehearse a dance on Tuesday 2025 for an upcoming production at Affton High School Rethwisch has kept an eye for talent during her 60 years at Affton High School She has helped shape the lives of hundreds of students offering lessons that carry beyond the stage helping them discover hidden talents and driving them with a mix of encouragement and tough love “She was the teacher in my life who made me feel like I could do anything She has also crafted a lasting legacy at the Affton school district and with theater students across the state Rethwisch is still in the auditorium (dedicated to her in 2005) on Tuesday and Thursday nights as 60 students rehearse and work on the technical elements for the musical “Something’s Rotten!” She trusts her students to lead all parts of the production just as she has for previous students over the decades sits on a chair at the front of the stage watching while actors practice their choreography They regroup while the choreographer offers tips R rises out of her chair and lifts her arms This time she moves side-to-side with the beat in places “I think you’re struggling a little bit because you’re scared,” she says She encourages them to think positively — to fake it until they make it The dancers have a little more spring in their steps 2025 about the impact Judy Rethwisch has had on her life “Bye Bye Birdie,” when she was a junior in high school She had been dancing since she was in preschool and was a talented singer during the district’s 150-year anniversary celebration R snagged Menos walking across the football field Menos has been choreographing the musicals ever since Menos’ favorite was “Newsies.” At the start of rehearsals Affton High School alum Barbara Menos helps students with choreography on Tuesday and her dad was a supervisor at the post office She graduated from Riverview Gardens High School where she was involved with the theater program Missouri to study at Central Methodist University The school required students to take a speech class her professor predicted she would be a speech and drama teacher but she was hooked on working on student productions She married a man in Fayette and got her first job at a small high school but she wanted to run a full speech and drama program She knew that meant leaving for a bigger district and Rethwisch was offered several teaching jobs — including at her alma mater She knew nothing about the small community on the other side of the region Judy Rethwisch guides her students through a stretching exercise before rehearsals on Tuesday When the principal asked if she was interested in the job with the confidence of a 22-year-old recent graduate The others still required her to teach English The principal offered her a contract on the spot and told her not to take it unless she was willing to do musicals He mentioned that the school planned to build an auditorium for student shows That was unheard of in the area in the 1960s when most productions took place in school cafeterias Rethwisch and her husband moved to a little duplex off Reavis Barracks Road She started teaching five speech and drama classes R would lead her students to put on a fall show and spring musical every year He walked into the theater to get involved with the lighting or sound crew R cast him as the second male lead in “Of Thee I Sing.” The most memorable was “1776.” With the exception of two female roles R walked out of the dress rehearsal on that set They stayed late into the night to get the show in shape R has been a mentor not only for myself but my entire family," Al Eckert said on Tuesday His peers elected him student government president and class president insuring many parents of his former classmates “I credit all that to theater,” Eckert said “She’s been a mentor to the entire family,” he said Like so many teachers who lead an activity — from a coach to a band director — the hours for a drama teacher go far beyond the classroom R had to balance raising her two children with all the students in her classes and productions when the school district hired a technical director who worked at rehearsals and guided the crew on sets showing up for every play and ensuring things ran smoothly at home “We had a lot of baby sitters coming in and out of the house,” she said “He was there to make sure it all worked.” R sometimes put her children in shows so she could have them around during rehearsals She beams with pride when she talks about the adults they have become taught at an elementary school in the district and became a reading specialist R’s granddaughter will graduate from Affton High School this spring Her grandson will start at the school when his sister leaves directs her students during a rehearsal on Tuesday Blasberg was reluctant to get on stage when Mrs R cast him in “To Kill a Mockingbird.” He was afraid his peers would make fun of him R taught him how to work through his insecurity and build up his confidence “She was way more than a teacher,” he said He eventually decided he wanted to study in New York City after graduating Few of his peers left town to pursue their dreams in NYC Blasberg stays in touch with his high school drama teacher R isn’t surprised by Blasberg’s success — or that of any of her students She believes every person has talent and that it’s her job to help them discover it The district immediately offered her a job as a consultant She agreed to keep overseeing the student productions She also works as the district’s fine arts coordinator she started a statewide thespian conference for high schools and 1,600 students participated in the last one the conference named the Outstanding Teacher scholarship after her she took on a project that would cement her legacy in Affton which led to the Affton Education Foundation She’s worked on the foundation for the past 20 years it has awarded $1 million in scholarships and $500,000 in grants to teachers with alumni performing a montage of songs from the shows she’s produced Judy Rethwisch discusses the intricacies of theater lighting to Affton High School sophomores Piper Field went to trade school and came back a year later to say hello to his old drama teacher “Can you help me?” she asked in her infamous way of roping people back into the theater program and then she offered him a job as the auditorium manager “She has a knack for finding talent,” he said When he got involved in the productions his sophomore year she paired him with an older student to work on special effects for “Meet Me in St Identical twins Genevieve and Cecilia Halaska are seniors and co-stage managers for Affton High’s production of “Something’s Rotten!” Before they joined Mrs their younger sister plans to audition for the plays “My mom will have 12 years of being a theater mom,” Genevieve said Genevieve recalled a rehearsal when actors were being too loud backstage The students settled down without her saying a word R plans to keep directing as long as she can She expects some of her students will be surprised when they learn her age from this story But students don’t judge teachers on their age “They judge teachers on what they do for them.” And she still gets a high watching her students perform on the stage “It’s a place where they can come and be free,” she said Email notifications are only sent once a day Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device AFFTON, Mo.—After crews spent hours cleaning graffiti including swastikas from Affton High School last Friday the facilities team covered up new vandalism at Rogers Middle School prior to student and staff’s arrival on Wednesday morning There is absolutely no place for hate in Affton School District,” said Superintendent Travis Bracht in an emailed statement sent out to parents Our response standing together in rejection of racism bigotry It is with deep frustration and sorrow that we must share that another act of hateful vandalism was discovered this morning Graffiti containing racist language and symbols was spray-painted on the building overnight Thanks to the quick action of our facilities team the vandalism has already been covered and will not be visible when students and staff arrive today We have immediately involved law enforcement and are working closely with them to investigate these crimes and hold those responsible accountable We are outraged that our community has been targeted by another act of hate. Let us be clear: There is absolutely no place for hate in Affton School District Our response—standing together in rejection of racism We remain committed to supporting our students our middle school staff and counselors will be ready to provide support for students who may have heard about or been affected by this incident we will continue working with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) and other community partners to reinforce education around respect and combating hate. Our planned Community Conversation event with the ADL will be more important than ever and we encourage everyone to take part on Monday Thank you for your continued support as we work to protect and uphold the values that make Affton strong This story will be updatd as more information becomes available Get the latest in local public safety news with this weekly email Louis County softball player was sexually assaulted twice by an umpire her family says in a lawsuit filed this week Seventeen-year-old Holly James was a softball player at the Affton Athletic Association when she met Zachary Barebo She left a note that blamed her death on the abuse filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Barebo and the Affton Athletic Association a facility south of Grant’s Farm with more than 10 baseball and softball fields It alleges Barebo had been previously arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting a minor “The sad truth is that this situation was entirely preventable,” Boyd said in a statement “Simple background checks and investigations should have been in place to prevent children from being exposed to people that pose a risk of danger.” and the Affton Athletic Association either could not be reached or did not respond to requests for comment The suit says Holly was 16 and playing on an Affton Athletic softball team when she met Barebo Holly became a part-time umpire for the association Barebo started having sexual conversations with Holly and another teen on Snapchat according to a previous statement from Crestwood police Chief Jonathon Williams He sexually abused Holly on two different days in June 2023 Barebo was charged with 11 counts of sodomy Nine of those charges accused him of the assaults on Holly and two accused him of sexually assaulting the other teen girl Police said he met up with the girls and assaulted them separately in his car in parking lots in St prosecutors — without Holly as a witness — dismissed all of the charges against Barebo connected to Holly and one connected to the other girl Barebo pleaded guilty to that charge in a deal that did not require him to register as a sex offender He later received a suspended execution of a four-year prison sentence; if he completes five years of probation less than two months after he was sentenced prosecutors asked the court to revoke his probation citing a violation that was not detailed in public filings He’s scheduled to appear in court next month Sunday’s lawsuit claims the Affton Athletic Association acted negligently in hiring Barebo who it says had been investigated and arrested by law enforcement in connection to child sex crimes prior to the June 2023 abuse Barebo in 2017 filed to expunge an arrest record for felony sodomy of a minor Online court records indicate the request was dismissed and Sunday’s lawsuit says prosecutors were opposed to the expungement “because there was a sufficient factual basis to substantiate the sodomy.” The only criminal case in Missouri court records against Barebo is the one in connection to the Affton Athletic abuse James’ daughter should be here today and that this never should have happened,” Boyd said James filed for approval of a confidential wrongful death settlement with a company called GameTime Tournaments James says the company contracted both Holly and Barebo to work as umpires for weekend tournament events in the St Sunday’s suit also accuses the association of lying to James and his family after Holly’s death: the association got the family’s permission to use their name and Holly’s photo for an April 2024 fundraiser the association would donate 20% of the event’s proceeds from concessions and merchandise sales to the Children Advocacy Services of Greater St The family agreed and said they would match the donation But James said he recently confirmed the association never donated to the nonprofit Post-Dispatch photographers capture hundreds of images each week; here's a glimpse at the week of March 30 Louis County house turned from a polite inquiry to gunfire Police have made no arrests but believe the shot that killed the boy came from his friends — not from the homeowner A jury convicted Demesha Coleman of first-degree involuntary manslaughter and armed criminal action in the shooting death of a 19-year-old who lived in the Wildwood house until it was condemned Katarina O'Reilly filed the suit Wednesday on behalf of her minor son who she said suffered second-degree burns when the coffee spilled onto … Mo—An investigation is underway after Affton High School was the target of hateful vandalism overnight.  The superintendent sent out a letter to the community Friday saying “we are deeply saddened and outraged” by the graffiti featuring symbols and language of hate on the front of the school building The letter says staff arrived to find the images that include swastikas and other offensive phrases The superintendent says these acts “have no place in our school Superintendent Travis Bracht added that the district immediately contacted law enforcement He said the district is also working closely with community partners to ensure acts like these are not tolerated and o hold those responsible accountable.  Maintenance and custodial crews spent the day working to remove the graffiti Crews used plastic to cover the writing temporarily until it could be removed Students are being encouraged to talk with the counseling team if they need help processing the incident It also mentions they are encouraging open conversations at home about the importance of respect inclusion and standing against hate in all forms Army veteran and business man – was recognized at the Affton versus Bayless varsity boys basketball game at Affton High School Louis area were encouraged to attend the game Many of Smith’s friends and family members came to show their support Smith spoke of his experience in the military and at Affton High School He was given an Affton basketball jersey and a basketball and took photos with both the boys and girls Affton basketball teams After graduating from Affton High School in 1997 later leaving the military in 2007 to come back to St Louis to further his education and find a job his body is still feeling the effects of his time in the service caused by his close proximity to burn pits while overseas military used burn pits to dispose of waste – from trash and wood to medical and human waste – despite concerns over potential health impacts from toxic smoke and pollution Making the most of the time he has left, Smith recently completed and published his first book, “A Patriot’s American Dream.” Copies of the book were available for purchase at the game. “A Patriot’s American Dream” can also be found at https://publishingconceptsllc.com/product/a-patriots-american-dream/ For those wanting to help Smith’s family with medical bills, a gofundme page has been set up. It can be accessed at https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-timothy-smith-and-family a cleaning business that specifically hires veterans and family members of veterans He also owns a roofing company called Patriot Industries Affton High School held its second annual National Girls and Women in Sports Day celebration on Feb The celebration was held at Affton High School during halftime of the Affton High School girls varsity basketball game against Ritenour The event honored current outstanding student-athletes There were stations and exhibits for each girls sport and all girls sports were recognized during in-game shoutouts “I love (this event) because I feel like women’s sports just go so unrecognized and I love that we have a whole day and a whole game and event to recognize and kind of shed some light on women’s sports,” Affton High School junior Ava Craig said is on the girls swim team and girls soccer team at Affton She and other Affton students volunteered to collect donations at the door to help fund the district’s girls sports programs Affton is currently the only school in the area with a specific celebration for women and girls in sports “It means a lot to me because women’s sports (aren’t) always recognized,” Affton High School junior Abby Giunta said participating in softball and wrestling at Affton The Affton School District will welcome a new assistant superintendent to the team this summer: educator and administrator Cassandra Walker Suggs Suggs’ appointment was approved at the March 4 Board of Education meeting and she will officially step into the role July 1 She currently serves as the director of educational equity & access for Rockwood School District “She’s had leadership experience at the building level — as an assistant principal a principal — but also she’s established herself as a district administrator,” Affton superintendent Travis Bracht said “It’s extremely important to have that experience.” Suggs has spent nearly 20 years in the education sector including two years as the head principal of Wildwood Middle School She earned her doctorate of education from the University of Missouri–St Louis and recently earned an Executive Juris Doctorate from Purdue Global Law School where she graduated with the highest GPA in her class accessibility and student success are consistently at the forefront of Suggs’ mind she devised plans and strove to make school facilities accessible for students of all abilities — something Bracht aims to bring to the Affton School District with her expertise “You can really tell that she is a champion for all students,” Bracht said “If there’s anything getting in the way of a student’s learning parents and kids to make sure we address that.” Suggs will take up the mantle left vacant by her predecessor who left the district in January to immediately fill a superintendent position in Indiana “This opportunity fills me with excitement as I look forward to working alongside the incredible students dedicated staff and engaged community members who make Affton such a special place,” Suggs stated in a news release