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Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news of the Poplar Bluff R-I School District to help start your week on the right hoof.
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Maintenance department heads get certified
Experienced administrators over the R-I maintenance department showed their dedication to utilizing best practices by continuing their education, earning core certifications from the Missouri School Plant Managers Association.
Director of Buildings and Grounds Al Ursery and Maintenance Supervisor Steve Shupe were recognized during the annual MSPMA conference held Sunday to Tuesday, Sept. 30-Oct. 2, in Branson.
A three-year process, the training encompassed the following subject areas: custodial operations; building systems; environmental health and safety; maintenance and operations; facility life cycle and budgeting; leadership; and emergency management, school safety and security.
"We covered the whole nine yards," said Shupe, elaborating: "all aspects of managing the facilities; from insurance and utilities, to how to cut rates and stretch every dollar."
In addition, Ursery was named president of the MSPMA, a statewide organization that has a mission to provide professional guidance and assistance to school plant managers and their respective operations. Ursery has been a member of the MSPMA since he took his leadership position with the district nearly 20 years ago.
Above: Al Ursery (left) and Steve Shupe receive their core certification, respectively, from the MSPMA upon completing 38 hours of additional training.
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Briggs and Stratton donates engines
Briggs and Stratton donated 30 small engines so students of the PBHS agriculture education program can gain hands-on experience.
The four-cylinder engines will be disassembled and reassembled in the agriculture powers and agriculture mechanics classes for students to see how the pistons and the valves function, for example, after learning the concepts in the classroom, according to educators.
"It helps tremendously. It'd be hard to have a program like this without such partnerships," explained agriculture instructor Dean Lackey, first year teacher at PBHS.
Lackey noted that Briggs made similar donations to his previous school in Cardwell as well, but now having the manufacturer in his backyard is a "plus plus." He and his colleague Kathryn Clark were recently invited on a tour of the plant.
Above: Dean Lackey oversees students Michael Salamone (middle) and Sam Pierce as they work on small engines in the shop.
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Sophomores learn about different careers
AmeriCorps hosted its 16th annual Career Fair for area sophomores from PBHS and Twin Rivers on Thursday, Oct. 4, at Three Rivers College.
"We're gonna empower you with some info today to help you make some choices really, really soon," AmeriCorps Director Becky Winters said to the students. "This can help tremendously as you look toward your future."
Students selected sessions from a range of topics that included natural resources, business, health services, human services, arts and communications, and industry and technology. Several faculty and staff members from the R-I district joined industry professionals in presenting on the career fields in an effort to help high schoolers narrow their interests.
"According to research, the earlier you choose, your likelihood to succeed is tenfold," stated communication arts teacher Dan Beckwith, a first year teacher at PBHS. One advantage of landing a job in education is that the school calendar is conducive to raising a family, he noted.
"[Teachers] are generally happy," Beckwith said. "When I was at a factory, I used the term 'work.' At school, I say: 'I'm going to school.'"
Before breaking off into sessions, students gathered in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center to learn about dual credit offerings available through the community college, programming at the Technical Career Center and the A+ scholarship.
Barbie Hon, the district A+ coordinator, informed students that based on GPA, attendance, citizenship, and tutoring/mentoring hours, the A+ program can cover all or part of college tuition. Solely available to Missouri students, the scholarship must be used within four years of graduation, unless a student goes on to serve the military, then an extension is granted.
Also serving as vocational resource educator of the TCC, Hon advised students that choosing a program in technical career education for junior year provides an opportunity to save money over returning to school as an adult. A tour of the TCC will be provided next month.
Above: Diane Jones, Oak Grove guidance counselor, told students: "Even the best doctor in the world started in kindergarten and had a favorite teacher."
Below: Holden Jennings and Sandy Pike of the R-I instructional technology department discuss advances in the world of technology.
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September Athletes of the Month
The Mules Booster Club has named Katelyn Moeller and Jaden Deaton of Poplar Bluff High School the September Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Jaden, a sophomore cross country runner, was a 2017 sectional qualifier. During the 2018 season, he has had first place finishes in the Poplar Bluff Tri, as well as the Jackson, West Plains and Fox Invitationals; and top 10 finishes in the Sioux Passage and Notre Dame Invitational. His personal 5K record is 16 minutes and 41 seconds. Ranked 33 in his class, he maintains a 10.929 grade point average.
"Jaden displays a passion for running that is rare in athletes his age," coach Elizabeth Lewis said. "He is extremely respectful and coachable. His dedication to the sport is remarkable."
Katelyn, a senior cross country runner, was a 2017 sectional qualifier; and a 2018 medalist in the Poplar Bluff Tri, the Sioux Passage, and the Jackson, West Plains and Notre Dame Invitationals. Her personal 5K record is 20 minutes and 43 seconds. In the classroom, she maintains a 10.701 GPA.
"Katelyn has been a part of the cross country team for six years," Lewis said. "She is a hard worker and an excellent team leader. She is a true joy to have in the program."
Above: Mules Booster Club member Brian Taylor presents Jaden Deaton and Katelyn Moeller the AOM awards on Wednesday, Oct. 3, at Mules Stadium.
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Certified crime scene investigator, Det. Bryce Colvin of the Poplar Bluff Police Department, recently served as a guest speaker in the PBHS forensic science class, discussing crime scene preservation and processing. Students learned, among other things, how to collect fingerprints and footprints, according to physical science teacher Kathy Miller.
A returning guest from previous years, Colvin has received training in blood stain pattern analysis, digital crime scene scanning and advanced crime scene training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Georgia. He additionally serves in the U.S. Army Reserves.
Above: Det. Bryce Colvin uses a black light to make florescent powder glow in a specialized type of fingerprint detection.
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Mules Café
The Mules Café features sweat glazed meatloaf on Tuesday, Oct. 9, and country fried steak on Friday, Oct. 12, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Administrative Building. Click
here to view the menu!
Groundbreaking
The groundbreaking for the new Early Childhood Center is slated to take place at 10 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 11, at 1200 Camp Road. The ceremony will begin at 9:30 in the Kindergarten Center cafeteria. Please enter the building from the parent parking lot on the east side.
Pink-Out Day
Pink-Out Day takes place on Friday, Oct. 12, at Mules Stadium, when Poplar Bluff takes on Chaminade College Prep. Be sure to wear your pink T-shirt to the football game in support of UCAN!
Book Fair
The Poplar Bluff Middle School will hold its Scholastic Book Fair/family night from 3-9 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23.
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On Monday, Oct. 1, DESE issued a
press release about Missouri's National Blue Ribbon School award winners, which includes Lake Road.
The Poplar Bluff Chamber released an anti-littering campaign
video starring Lake Road Elementary.
On Tuesday, Oct. 2,
the DAR reported about our Blue Ribbon honor; and recognized our Middle School Students of the Month.
KFVS12
reported about our Southeast Missouri All-District Choir qualifiers.
On Wednesday, Oct. 3, the DAR reported about our All-District Choir honorees as well.
On Friday, Oct. 5, the DAR highlighted Oak Grove and the TCC on its new weekly education page.
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