Historical February–March 2001 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Skinker DeBaliviere welcomes a new school to the neighborhood.
After a busy rehabbing summer, the new Des Peres Middle school is about to open. (Long time residents will remember it as the former Hamilton Branch 3). George Edwards, its friendly principal who is also a minister, invites all community residents to visit. Des Peres Middle is one of Saint Louis Public School’s newest schools.
It will feature a non-traditional and Innovative curriculum as well as individual, group and family counseling. Middle school students from throughout the city will be assigned and will spend up to one semester before returning to other schools. Approximately 45 students will arrive on SLPS busses on February 20.
These students have been unsuccessful in traditional educational settings. George Edwards sees them as “children with untapped potential.” He believes that he and his hand-picked staff, including a full time social worker and counselor, are there to develop this hidden potential.
He expects to accept each child where he or she is and help him to achieve his maximum proficiency. Small class size will help Des Peres Middle’s vision statement that emphasizes reducing the dropout rate and increasing student attendance.
In a nurturing and compassionate setting the principal and staff plan on stressing the positive. Des Peres Middle wants “to become an asset to the Skinker DeBaliviere community.” George Edwards says he invites community residents to visit and judge not by the outside of the building but by the inside. “Our door is open to the community.”
Original photograph caption
George Edwards, principal of Des Peres Middle School. Photographer not credited.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, February–March 2001.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times2001_02.pdf, printed page(s) 3; PDF page(s) 3.
