Tillman Elementary School-Kirkwood School District

09/08/2026

📚 Program Spotlight: Read, Right & Run! 🏃‍♀️🏃
26 books. 26 good deeds. 26.2 miles. Tillman’s Read, Right & Run team is back for another year! The GO! St. Louis Read, Right & Run Marathon is a 26-week program for students in grades K–8 that brings together three things we love: reading, serving others, and staying active. Students work toward reading 26 books, completing 26 good deeds, and running a marathon’s worth of miles over the course of the program.

At Tillman, our group will meet Wednesday mornings before school to run together, encourage one another, and check in on our reading and good deeds.

📅 First Tillman run: Wednesday, Sept. 23
⏰ Drop-off: 7:50 a.m. | Running begins: 8:00 a.m.
🏁 Final Tillman practice: April 7
🏅 Final 1.2-mile race: April 10 in Forest Park
💵 Registration: $40 — financial assistance is available
📝 Tillman registration deadline: Monday, Sept. 21

Adult running buddies are needed, too! We’d love family and community volunteers to join us on Wednesday mornings as we run through the neighborhood and help keep our Trailblazers safe and encouraged.

After 26 weeks of reading, serving, and running, students will tackle the final 1.2 miles together on race day to complete their marathon journey. 📚❤️🏃
Register your Trailblazer — choose 1.2 Mile and Tillman Elementary

Student/Runner Registration Link:
https://runsignup.com/Race/MO/StLouis/GOStLouisReadRightRunMarathon

Sign Up Link for Volunteering:
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050845A5AA2CA4F94-65657182-read

09/05/2026

Episode 6 of The Blaze Broadcast is now available! Listen in on a conversation with Mr. Hoover and Dr. Painter about Dune and the role of student thinking when using technology. We also learn more about Mrs. Payne, one of our terrific third grade teachers, and share a rundown of the top three items from Sunday's Family Update.

09/04/2026

09/04/2026

🎻 Program Spotlight: Elementary Instrumental Music! 🎺
Is your Trailblazer interested in learning an instrument? Kirkwood’s Elementary Instrumental Music Program gives students the opportunity to begin playing before the school day and to become part of a musical community that can continue through middle and high school.

🎻 Orchestra — 4th & 5th Grade
Students may play violin, viola, cello, or string bass. Tillman orchestra students meet Tuesdays and Fridays at North Kirkwood Middle School.
🎺 Band — 5th Grade
Beginning band includes instruments such as flute, clarinet, French horn, trumpet, trombone, baritone, and percussion. Tillman band students meet Mondays and Wednesdays at North Kirkwood Middle School.

⏰ Classes: 7:25–8:15 a.m. Students ride a district bus back to Tillman after class. Morning transportation to NKMS is also available with advance registration.
📅 Important Dates
Orchestra Parent Meeting: Tuesday, Sept 8 at 6:30 p.m. — Keating Auditorium at KHS
Band Parent Meeting: Wednesday, Sept 9 at 6:30 p.m. — Keating Auditorium at KHS
Classes begin: Sept. 14–15

Students will also have opportunities to perform throughout the year, including the Festival of Bands, Festival of Strings, and the All-District Elementary Instrumental Concert. Performances are an important part of the elementary instrumental curriculum.
🎶 Learning an instrument takes practice, persistence, and plenty of “not yet” moments —but it can also become something students enjoy for years to come. We love seeing our Tillman kids involved in band and orchestra!

09/03/2026

Whooo still needs to visit the Book Fair? 🦉Even our early-morning visitors know there’s still time. Our Tillman Book Fair wraps up tonight, with open hours from 3:30-8:00. Be sure to stop by for one last chance to find a great read! 📚

09/02/2026

Club Spotlight: Equations Team! ➕✖️➗
Does your Trailblazer love math, puzzles, strategy, or a good challenge? Tillman’s Equations Team is getting ready for another year of math fun and friendly competition!
Equations: The Game of Creative Mathematics is an arithmetic-based board game that challenges students to use the order of operations, think strategically, and find creative ways to solve problems. Along the way, team members sharpen their math skills while having a lot of fun competing with friends.

🧮 Who: Interested 3rd, 4th & 5th graders
📅 Practices begin: Monday, Sept. 14
⏰ When: Mondays, 3:45–5:00 p.m.
📍 Where: Room 205 — Mrs. Schuler’s classroom
🏆 Competition: The team will participate in a KHS tournament and a regional tournament at UMSL.

Families who have expressed interest will receive confirmation from Mrs. Schuler on Sept. 9 that their child has a spot on the team. If your Trailblazer thinks math is fun—or might enjoy discovering just how fun it can be—Equations is a great place to put those math muscles to work! 🧠

09/02/2026

🎶 Club Spotlight: Vocal Edge! 🎤
Does your Trailblazer love to sing? Vocal Edge, Tillman’s choir, is back! All 4th and 5th graders who enjoy singing are invited to join Mrs. Rose for a year of making music together. Vocal Edge rehearses throughout the school year and gives students plenty of opportunities to perform—from Tillman concerts and assemblies to special performances at Kirkwood High School, a Veterans Day celebration, and even a Cardinals game next spring!

🎶 Who: Any interested 4th or 5th grader
📅 First rehearsal: Thursday, Sept. 10
⏰ Rehearsals: Thursdays, 8:00–8:35 a.m.
📍 Where: Tillman Music Room
💰 Cost: FREE! Optional Vocal Edge T-shirts are available for $10.
No audition. No previous choir experience needed. If you enjoy singing, there’s a place for you in Vocal Edge!

09/01/2026

Club Spotlight: Girls on the Run!
Girls on the Run is back at Tillman! Registration is now open for girls in grades 3–5 who want to move, connect, grow, and have some fun along the way. Girls on the Run is about much more than running, though. Through movement, conversation, and a research-backed curriculum, participants build confidence and social-emotional skills while learning to persevere, show empathy, speak up, and encourage others to do the same.

📅 Practices begin Wednesday, Sept. 16
🏃‍♀️ Wednesdays, 3:45–5:00 p.m.
🌅 Fridays, 7:15–8:25 a.m.
🏅 Season-ending 5K: Nov. 14 in Forest Park
📝 Registration deadline: Sept. 7
Scholarships, payment plans, and sibling discounts are available, and payment is not required at the time of registration.

Whether your Trailblazer already loves to run or isn't quite sure running is her thing, Girls on the Run is designed to help girls discover what they can do -- and have a team cheering them on along the way.

09/01/2026

Club Spotlight: Tillman Robotics!
Calling all 4th and 5th grade builders, problem-solvers, coders, and creative thinkers! Applications are now open for Year 4 of Tillman’s Robotics Club, led by Mr. Mosley, Ms. Rivers, and Mrs. Isele.

Using VEX IQ robotics, students work collaboratively to design, build, code, test, troubleshoot, and improve their robots. Fifth graders begin this fall with an emphasis on developing robots and engineering notebooks for potential competition, while fourth graders begin later in the year with an introduction to VEX IQ, coding, and robotics notebooks. The application also emphasizes teamwork, responsibility, creative thinking, and problem-solving, not just previous robotics experience.

And a special invitation to our girls: If robotics sounds even a little interesting, we hope you’ll consider applying! You don’t need to already think of yourself as a “robotics kid”—curiosity, creativity, teamwork, and a willingness to learn are a great place to start.

📅 5th Grade: Begins Sept. 10
📅 4th Grade: Begins in February — but 4th graders need to apply now!
📝 Applications due Friday, Sept. 4
Spaces are limited, so interested 4th and 5th graders should get those applications in soon! Build. Code. Problem-solve. Repeat. 🤖

09/01/2026

Club Spotlight: EcoBlazers! 🌎

Does your Trailblazer love nature, getting outside, or helping take care of our planet EcoBlazers is Tillman’s student-driven sustainability team for students in grades 2–5! EcoBlazers meet after school to learn about our campus biodiversity, care for our outdoor spaces, and take action through projects like composting, gardening, worm towers, chicken care, nature crafts, and more. This year, students will also help lead Tillman’s Green School Quest project.

K–1 Trailblazers can get involved, too! Future EcoBlazers have opportunities throughout the year to help with school beautification and other kid-sized sustainability projects.

📅 First EcoBlazers meeting: Tuesday, Sept. 8, 3:45–5:00
📝 Interest form due: Thursday, Sept. 3
Interested families can complete the EcoBlazers/Future EcoBlazers Interest Form (see comments) to receive meeting information and activity sign-ups. Small hands can make a big difference! 🌿