By Joe Jarosz
Northeast News
April 8, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — If you tell someone, something is going to happen on April 1, also known as April Fool’s Day, there’s a chance they won’t believe you.

That’s the issue school officials at the Frontier School of Excellence faced when they alerted students Mayor Sly James would be visiting with government classes. Mark Barber, dean of academics at the Frontier School of Excellence, said at first, the students didn’t believe the Mayor was actually visiting their school.

“They thought it was a practical joke since we scheduled his visit for April 1,” Barber said.

Once the students realized school officials weren’t joking, excitement started to grow.

“The students, as well as the staff, were really excited about his visit and what he had to say about working in government,” Barber said.

Once inside the classroom, James described his daily duties as Mayor of Kansas City and took some questions from students. The topics ranged from gentrification, college readiness and getting youth more involved in politics. James told the students he helped establish ways for the youth of Kansas City to be more involved like the Kansas City Youth Commission. The Mayor also pointed out that when issues with groups of youths at the Country Club Plaza started occurring, city officials brought in youth to help establish Club KC.

“It’s important that you [the students] be engaged,” James told the class. “It’s difficult for me to say how to engage you. You and I are from different time periods and I may have some ideas, but you may say that’s lame. But if you decide how you want to be involved, and we agree, then you own it. And I’m willing to work with you on that.”

James also emphasized to the students that when they leave high school, there is going to be a lot of people telling them what to do and how to act. He told the students to figure out, “who you are.” A strong support system is integral, as well.

“Don’t underestimate the change you’ll experience,” James said. “It’s a great step and it could be a tremendously fun step.”

Innovation

Frontier schools aren’t just getting lessons in civility, they’re also giving them, themselves.

On March 26, seventh grade students from Frontier School of Innovation handed over a check worth $2,713.28 to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. During the month of February, students participated in a Pennies for Patients fundraiser. Students emptied their piggy banks and collected spare change to raise funds in search of a cure for leukemia, lymphoma, and myelomas. The top fundraising class in each of Frontier’s four school buildings was rewarded with a pizza party.

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world’s largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.