May Day Sunday Details

May Day 5 p.m. Sunday

This year’s May Day ceremony will take place at 5:00 p.m. tomorrow, Sunday, May 4, at Lilly’s Field. Although the latest weather forecasts do not predict inclement weather at that time, please be advised of the steps that MICDS will follow should potentially unsafe conditions transpire. In the event of nearby thunder or lightning immediately before or during the May Day ceremony, all participants and spectators will be evacuated as quickly as possible from Lilly’s Field to the McDonnell Athletic Center (MAC). The technicians with whom MICDS contracts for audio-visual support at May Day require the immediate breakdown and removal of their equipment from any venue at which there is a threat of lightning. Should such a threat require the evacuation of Lilly’s Field, the ceremony will be delayed both to allow time for the inclement weather to clear and for our audio-visual contractors to reinstall their equipment. Safety is our highest priority at MICDS at all times. While we certainly hope that the current forecast holds and that there will be no rain or threat of lightning at the event, we wanted to be sure that you are informed in advance of the procedure we will follow should inclement weather affect the May Day ceremony. We appreciate your continuing patience with our planning efforts through this weekend’s uncertain weather conditions. We look forward to seeing you at tomorrow afternoon’s special event.

Student Standouts for May 2, 2025

Student Standouts: O’Leary ’26, Zar ’26, Alpaslan ’27, Soshnik ’30

Congratulations to this week’s standouts below. Way to go #RamNation! And as always, if you have a story to share, please email weeklynews@micds.org.

 

Junior Named High School Athlete of the Week

This week, Peter O’Leary ’26 was dubbed a High School Athlete of the Week according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Peter is a midfielder on the MICDS Lacrosse team, and he has committed to play for the Air Force Academy. He has a .72 faceoff winning percentage and averages 7.3 ground balls per game. Read more about him here!

Two Students Awarded Prestigious Scholarships for their Spanish Expertise

For the past three years, many of the Spanish students at MICDS have taken part in the National Spanish Exam—not only to challenge themselves and showcase their language skills, but also to be part of a larger community of learners across the country. Recognition through Oro (Gold), Plata (Silver), and Bronce (Bronze) placements is a tremendous accomplishment. However, beyond medals and rankings, the exam also opens doors to amazing opportunities — including scholarships that are both experiential and monetary in nature. MICDS is proud to have two students who have been awarded very prestigious scholarships.
First, Ian Zar ’26 has been awarded an extremely competitive scholarship to attend one of Spain’s most prestigious universities, La Universidad de Salamanca. He will participate in a three-week online course led by top professors from the university, gaining exposure to advanced language, culture, and academic excellence. What an incredible opportunity. ¡Felicidades, Ian!
The second recipient is Arissa Alpaslan ’27, who has been awarded the Kevin Cessna-Buscemi Global Citizen Scholarship to attend Concordia Language Villages, located in the North Woods of Minnesota. She’ll participate in an immersive language and cultural experience through this nationally recognized global education program. ¡Felicidades, Arissa!
Robin Begley, Upper School Spanish Teacher, says, “Both of these students exemplify what it means to be passionate, curious, and committed global learners. We are so proud of them!”

¡Felicidades, Ian y Arissa!

Seventh Grader Scores 174 Three Pointers and Raises $32,000

Seventh grader Jordan Soshnik ’30 recently launched a unique fundraising drive for the Jewish Community Center sports scholarship fund. He asked his community to donate money for every three-point basketball shot he could make in 18 minutes, 18 representing a lucky number in Judaism. His basketball skills and donation collection efforts tallied to an incredible 174 baskets and over $32,000! This achievement and community act are highlighted in the video below by KSDK. Jordan is excited to help other kids play community basketball and hopes this fundraising effort expands to other kids shooting baskets for nonprofits of their choosing. Congratulations and thanks for making a difference, Jordan!