Fifth-grade students and staff told the Ritenour School District Board of Education that a partnership with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis gave students ownership of an original opera and supported equity and creative choice.

"This was really an opportunity for us to have students be represented…they were the ones that were the creators in this situation," a Crafts teacher said as she described students choosing roles in instrument, singing, script-writing and dance/design groups. Kevin Nicoletti of Opera Theatre of Saint Louis worked with students on original songs and performance coaching, staff said.

Students described splitting into small teams to draft scenes, write bilingual passages and compose original lyrics. One student said, "It was fun working together making this play. I learned that working together is fun, and it also gets the job done." Teachers said the project intentionally included differentiated roles so students who are shy or not instrument players could still contribute meaningfully.

At Wyland Elementary, Principal Dr. Bodie and teachers described the second year of competency-based education across kindergarten through fifth grade. Staff said each student maintains a data binder with proficiency scales for each subject, and teachers use self-assessment tools ("thumbs up, middle, down") and one-on-one conferencing to set and review academic and social-emotional goals. A third-grade teacher summarized the classroom practice: "We set specific, measurable, attainable, relatable and time-based goals and check in weekly."

Administrators said the systems are meant to increase student ownership of learning and make growth visible to families through the Empower parent portal. Board members praised the student presentations and asked administrators to explore ways to sustain the programs and connect them with middle-school offerings that might preserve continuity for participants.

The presentations concluded with applause and an invitation for families to photograph the students on the dais. The board then continued its agenda with routine reports.