This spring, St. Paul’s art teachers Ms. Katy Hoogendyk (K–4th) and Ms. Jessica Lynn (5th–8th) traveled to the annual conference hosted by the National Art Education Association in Chicago—the largest professional gathering of art educators in the country. The experience left both teachers energized and eager to bring fresh inspiration back to their classrooms.
St. Paul’s 8th graders completed a project-based study of the KC Streetcar extension, combining data analysis, social studies, and creative marketing with guidance from local industry professionals. Their research and student-created campaigns demonstrate how classroom learning can connect directly to real-world community impact.
We caught up with alum, Brian Humphrey Jr. '19, who has taken his commitment to service, leadership, and learning to an extraordinary level. Now a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point and on track to become an Army physician, Brian reflects on daily life at the Academy, the challenges and rewards of military training, and the foundation St. Paul’s helped build.
With support from the Gates Grant, two St. Paul's faculty members, Linda Bruns and Stella Frisby, embarked on journeys that blended adventure, reflection, and discovery in summer 2025.
Actor, comedian, and writer Heidi Gardner (and former St. Paul’s student!) joined our Middle School chapel to talk about creativity and humor. She reminded students to embrace quirks, ask for help, and to use their unique middle school perspective as a source for inspiration.
St. Paul’s welcomed back alumna Allie Pierce ’17, who visited our middle school students to share her journey since graduating from St. Paul’s.
This spring, St. Paul’s art teachers Ms. Katy Hoogendyk (K–4th) and Ms. Jessica Lynn (5th–8th) traveled to the annual conference hosted by the National Art Education Association in Chicago—the largest professional gathering of art educators in the country. The experience left both teachers energized and eager to bring fresh inspiration back to their classrooms.
St. Paul’s 8th graders completed a project-based study of the KC Streetcar extension, combining data analysis, social studies, and creative marketing with guidance from local industry professionals. Their research and student-created campaigns demonstrate how classroom learning can connect directly to real-world community impact.
We caught up with alum, Brian Humphrey Jr. '19, who has taken his commitment to service, leadership, and learning to an extraordinary level. Now a cadet at the United States Military Academy at West Point and on track to become an Army physician, Brian reflects on daily life at the Academy, the challenges and rewards of military training, and the foundation St. Paul’s helped build.
With support from the Gates Grant, two St. Paul's faculty members, Linda Bruns and Stella Frisby, embarked on journeys that blended adventure, reflection, and discovery in summer 2025.
Actor, comedian, and writer Heidi Gardner (and former St. Paul’s student!) joined our Middle School chapel to talk about creativity and humor. She reminded students to embrace quirks, ask for help, and to use their unique middle school perspective as a source for inspiration.
![Two women in winter coats stand in front of a large metallic sculpture, surrounded by bare trees and a cityscape in the background.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1773432179/spedsorg/zd8nxqyv4kemevlsxtyy/ArtTeacherConference2026-20.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1773432179/spedsorg/zd8nxqyv4kemevlsxtyy/ArtTeacherConference2026-20.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1773432179/spedsorg/zd8nxqyv4kemevlsxtyy/ArtTeacherConference2026-20.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1773432179/spedsorg/zd8nxqyv4kemevlsxtyy/ArtTeacherConference2026-20.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1773432179/spedsorg/zd8nxqyv4kemevlsxtyy/ArtTeacherConference2026-20.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1773432179/spedsorg/zd8nxqyv4kemevlsxtyy/ArtTeacherConference2026-20.jpg","width":2200}])
![Student Learning in Motion: 8th Grade KC Streetcar Project Connects Classroom to Community]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1770916710/spedsorg/klc0kknztaq0thq82kic/IMG_7368.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1770916710/spedsorg/klc0kknztaq0thq82kic/IMG_7368.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1770916710/spedsorg/klc0kknztaq0thq82kic/IMG_7368.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1770916710/spedsorg/klc0kknztaq0thq82kic/IMG_7368.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1770916710/spedsorg/klc0kknztaq0thq82kic/IMG_7368.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1770916710/spedsorg/klc0kknztaq0thq82kic/IMG_7368.jpg","width":2200}])
![Brian Humphrey_AirAssaultSolo]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1765220610/spedsorg/t5wg0yzxvimzfy5tzfsq/AirAssaultSolo.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1765220610/spedsorg/t5wg0yzxvimzfy5tzfsq/AirAssaultSolo.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1765220610/spedsorg/t5wg0yzxvimzfy5tzfsq/AirAssaultSolo.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1765220610/spedsorg/t5wg0yzxvimzfy5tzfsq/AirAssaultSolo.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto/v1765220610/spedsorg/t5wg0yzxvimzfy5tzfsq/AirAssaultSolo.jpg","width":1280}])
![Preschool Teacher, Linda Bruns, visited Sioux Falls with her family in summer 2025.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1759945529/spedsorg/zibglamxez6et1nm150t/LindaBruns_GatesGrant.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1759945529/spedsorg/zibglamxez6et1nm150t/LindaBruns_GatesGrant.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1759945529/spedsorg/zibglamxez6et1nm150t/LindaBruns_GatesGrant.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1759945529/spedsorg/zibglamxez6et1nm150t/LindaBruns_GatesGrant.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1759945529/spedsorg/zibglamxez6et1nm150t/LindaBruns_GatesGrant.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1759945529/spedsorg/zibglamxez6et1nm150t/LindaBruns_GatesGrant.jpg","width":2200}])
![Actor and Comedian Heidi Gardner visits St. Paul's]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1757510025/spedsorg/pd3oninkqqtgxoknedwv/HeidiGardnerChapelVisit.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1757510025/spedsorg/pd3oninkqqtgxoknedwv/HeidiGardnerChapelVisit.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1757510025/spedsorg/pd3oninkqqtgxoknedwv/HeidiGardnerChapelVisit.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1757510025/spedsorg/pd3oninkqqtgxoknedwv/HeidiGardnerChapelVisit.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1757510025/spedsorg/pd3oninkqqtgxoknedwv/HeidiGardnerChapelVisit.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1757510025/spedsorg/pd3oninkqqtgxoknedwv/HeidiGardnerChapelVisit.jpg","width":2200}])
![Allie Shah '17 visits St. Paul's middle school chapel to share about her life since graduating.]([{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_1/v1757086396/spedsorg/asboybwtwkh5meniswzw/AlliePierce17.jpg","width":256},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_2/v1757086396/spedsorg/asboybwtwkh5meniswzw/AlliePierce17.jpg","width":512},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_3/v1757086396/spedsorg/asboybwtwkh5meniswzw/AlliePierce17.jpg","width":800},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_4/v1757086396/spedsorg/asboybwtwkh5meniswzw/AlliePierce17.jpg","width":1200},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_5/v1757086396/spedsorg/asboybwtwkh5meniswzw/AlliePierce17.jpg","width":1600},{"url":"https://resources.finalsite.net/images/f_auto,q_auto,t_image_size_6/v1757086396/spedsorg/asboybwtwkh5meniswzw/AlliePierce17.jpg","width":2200}])