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The Ferguson-Florissant School District Board of Education will take time to honor the accomplishments of students and staff at its 7 p.m. monthly board meeting on Wednesday, Feb. 8. Honorees’ names will be read, and they will be applauded as they walk forward to receive certificates of appreciation and pats-on-the back from board members.

“Our district really does serve as a positive role model in the community,” said Supt. Art McCoy. “The accomplishments of our students and staff serve as proof that there can be high achievement for all through equity and excellence every day.”

Wonder Twins take top slots in American Open, hope for Olympics. Darrel and Darren Barnes, affectionately known as the “Wonder Twins” at McCluer North High School, proved they deserve the moniker at the 2011 American Open Championship held in Mobile, Ala. The seniors took the top slots in their weight classes, even though their valor was tested by athletes in their 20s. Darrel finished second and his twin brother, Darren, finished first.

Their success is being noticed. This April, Nickelodeon will feature them and other teen Olypmic hopefuls on the “Nick News with Linda Ellerbee” show. Meanwhile, the pair practice two and a half hours a day, six days a week in preparation for the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Weightlifting planned for spring or summer.

FFSD athletes tapped for All-State football teams. McCluer High School’s Jeff Shumpert, McCluer North High School’s Demecho Crawford and McCluer South-Berkeley High School’s Christian Winston, all seniors, were tapped for the Missouri Football Coaches’ Association All-State football second team. MN’s Myles McIntyre, a junior; Keith Jones, a senior; and MSB’s Trevion McGhaw, a senior; were selected for the All-State football first team.

FFSD athletes, MN coach earn football honors. Two Ferguson-Florissant School District students and one coach were selected to receive the Suburban North 2011 all-conference football team’s highest honors. McCluer High School’s Jeff Shumpert, a senior, was named the Offensive Player of the Year. McCluer North High School’s Keith Jones, a senior, was tapped as the Lineman of the Year. Last but not least, Jim Schottmueller, MN’s varsity football coach, was named Suburban North Coach of the Year. During his more than 25 years as head coach, the team has advanced to nine final fours, five state championships and secured 17 district titles. In October, Schottmueller was chosen as the Charter Communications and St. Louis Rams Coach of the Week, an honor that included $2,000. Schottmueller used the funds to invest in “The Huddle.” This technology helped MN send more than 400-student highlight films to colleges.

FFSD students, staff sweep NCCU’s MLK contest. For the first time, four of the five North County Churches Uniting for Racial Justice and Harmony’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Oratory Contest winners were part of the Ferguson-Florissant School District. The contest’s theme was “Dr. King’s Unfinished Business: Promoting Economic Empowerment.” Wynter March, a sixth-grader at Combs Elementary School; David Kirkman, a junior at McCluer High School; and Kourtney Harvey, a senior at McCluer North High School, were invited to read their essays at the January High Achievement for All District-Wide Task Force meeting.

The students and adult winner, RaShawn Johnson, a reading teacher at Berkeley Middle School, also presented their speeches last month as part of St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley’s annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration.