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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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Governor signs legislation at PBHS
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson signed the STEM Education and Computer Science Bill into law during a school-wide assembly held for the occasion on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at Poplar Bluff High School.
Passed during a special legislative session in September, House Bill 3 will allow districts to count computer science courses as high school graduation credit instead of just an elective; create a related certification program for teachers; establish a fund for financial support; and develop a STEM career awareness program online for younger students by the 2019/20 school year, according to lawmakers.
"Improving our workforce is a top priority with this administration, and in order to help move Missouri forward, we need to expand opportunities for our students," Parson said in an issued statement. "Missouri currently has a high demand in this field, and by signing this bill, our students will be able to get the proper training to succeed in computing jobs."
The 57th governor told the student body that Missouri is "short 10,000 jobs in this arena." Parson was accompanied by state Sen. Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff, who served as handler of HB 3. Libla previously
promoted the bill during a student assembly hosted at the Junior High in February, when he noted that the coursework would have a coding and programming emphasis.
"Computer science being offered in our schools is so important in preparing our students for the Missouri companies that desire and depend on these skills," Libla stated last week. "Thousands of high-paying jobs are available right now all across Missouri."
R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill introduced the distinguished guests, who also included Rep. Steve Cookson of Poplar Bluff and PBHS alumnus Phil Bounds, a retired NASA employee. In the Poplar Bluff School District, the
first dedicated STEM class-with an interdisciplinary focus on science, technology, engineering and math-began being offered as an enrichment in 2016 at the Middle School.
"We owe it to our students to provide opportunities to explore and learn about this burgeoning field through the application of an online delivery system," Dill said. "By promoting unfettered access to this vital curriculum, we ensure that all students have the tools requisite to their future personal success as well as safeguarding the economic stability of our community, the region and the state."
Above: Accompanying Gov. Mike Parson as he signs HB 3 are (seated from left) retired NASA employee Phil Bounds, Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill, Sen. Doug Libla, and (standing) Rep. Steve Cookson, along with the PBHS Student Council.
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R-I regionally honored for student advocacy
The Poplar Bluff School District was named the 2018 Community Collaborative Program of the Year for its partnership with Family Counseling Center Behavioral Health to help meet the needs of students that extend beyond academics.
Serving as the district's mediator for community providers and state agencies, the court liaison, as well as foster care and homebound advocate, R-I Attendance Officer Misty Dodson accepted the regional award on Saturday, Oct. 27, at the Campbell Community Center.
FCC Behavioral Health Chief Clinical Officer Noble Shaver Jr., who the district has worked most closely with from the Kennett-based nonprofit, said Dodson goes "above and beyond" in her leadership position and is "never afraid to jump in wholeheartedly" to complete a given task.
"Her efforts in securing a solid working relationship with the schools and the FCC has not gone unnoticed," Shaver said. "She is truly a joy to work with, she's extremely personable and a huge advocate for the students who wish to better themselves."
Dodson has filled her position since 2006, and was initially hired by the district a few years before that as Junior and Senior High mentoring coordinator, when the program was grant funded through the Safe Schools/Healthy Students Initiative. She credits her office-comprised of an administrative assistant and two district social workers-for helping to connect families to services by eliminating barriers.
"This is a wonderful honor for our district, and I want to take this opportunity to commend my department on all of their hard work to make this effort successful," Dodson stated. "They have spent many hours knocking on doors and transporting parents and children to appointments in order to ensure that they get services that are so desperately needed."
Piloted in 2017/18 and fully implemented this school year, R-I began offering school-based behavioral health services associated with improving social and life skills for students in small group settings. In an effort to increase access, MO HealthNet no longer requires the services to be linked with an individualized education program.
Above: Randy Ray, FCC Behavioral Health CEO, presents R-I Attendance Officer Misty Dodson the regional award during an employee appreciation event.
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Well-known composer hosts choir students
A group of PBHS choir students recently had the rare privilege of participating in a workshop with a national award-winning composer, arranger and conductor.
Alice Parker hosted the workshop at First Congregational Church on Thursday, Oct. 25, in Webster Groves. The 92-year-old does not put on many workshops these days, particularly outside of her home city of Boston, according to Joshua Allen, PBHS director of vocal music. In order to participate, students were required to write an essay about how they would benefit musically.
"This event focused on hymns and sacred music, and students learned how to improvise harmonies and ostinatos around a given melody," Allen reported. "They also learned how to perform music of different time periods and cultures."
Above: Chaperoned by choir director Joshua Allen (far right), PBHS Choir students participate in a workshop with Alice Parker.
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College application incentive established
More than 100 high school students recently either filled out federal student aid forms or applied to colleges after an incentive was put in place.
Senior Mya White was rewarded a 32-inch television during college application week, and classmate Cody Daughertee won a mini refrigerator at the FAFSA frenzy held in October at Poplar Bluff High School. During a College Fair later hosted on campus, Mya was informed she had been accepted at one of the higher education institutions she applied to: the St. Louis College of Pharmacy.
The raffle items were paid for by the Missouri College Advising Corps, which established a new position at R-I this school year through a partnership between the University of Missouri and AmeriCorps. College and Career Advisor Khaiuna Ayetimiyi, a PBHS Class of 2013 graduate, is on hand in the counseling office to help students succeed after high school, she said.
Above: Khaiuna Ayetimiyi of the MCAC (middle) presented prizes to Mya White and Cody Daughertee last week in the counseling office.
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Who Wants to Be a Mathematician
The PBHS Math Club recently participated in the Who Wants to Be a Mathematician contest, and one student advanced to the second of three rounds.
Ross Dare, a junior, was among about 1,800 out of a record participation of over 5,200 students across the country who moved forward in the competition, according to the American Mathematical Society. Only 10 contestants in the United States were chosen to go on to the championship, as well as one student from Canada and another from the United Kingdom.
Proctored by PBHS math teacher Melissa Taylor, the test consisted of pre-calculus problems including algebra, trigonometry, probability, combinatorics and logic. No calculators, Internet, textbooks or help from others was allowed.
Above: Ross Dare takes the round two qualifying test in Melissa Taylor's classroom.
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Election Day
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Don't forget to exercise your civic duty!
Mules Café
The Mules Café will feature fried fish on Tuesday, Nov. 6, from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Administrative Building. There will be no Mules Café on Friday, Nov. 9.
Thanksgiving
In partnership with StuCo, Chartwells' annual Community Thanksgiving will take place from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, at PBHS. Come out and enjoy the free feast!
School Board
The Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in the Administrative Building. The meeting is open to the public.
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On Tuesday, Oct. 23, KFVS12
reported about our Bright Futures breakfast for community partners.
The ShowMe Times reported about the Class of 1973's
donation to the AAG; and our Early Childhood
Groundbreaking.
On Wednesday, Oct. 24, the ShowMe Times
reported about our Breakfast of Champions event.
On Friday, Oct. 26,
the DAR reported about our PBHS Mock Election.
On Sunday, Oct. 28, the DAR published a photo spread from Transportation Day at the Kindergarten Center; reported about the AmeriCorps Career Fair; highlighted the Class of 1973's support of the AAG; and recognized our Eugene Field/O'Neal Students of the Month.
On Monday, Oct. 29, the ShowMe Times
reported about Chartwells' national honor.
On Tuesday, Oct. 30, KFVS12
reported about Gov. Mike Parson's signing of HB 3 at PBHS. Numerous other news outlets also reported about Gov. Parson's bill signing, including
KAIT8
and
Missourinet
.
On Wednesday, Oct. 31, the DAR reported about the governor's bill signing; our maintenance department leaders earning certifications through the MSPMA; our food service vendor receiving national recognition; and Briggs and Stratton's support of our ag program.
On Thursday, Nov. 1, the DAR ran a photo spread from our Halloween incentive at Oak Grove.
On Friday, Nov. 2, the DAR reported about our Red Ribbon Week activities; and featured PBHS on its education page.
On Sunday, Nov. 4, the DAR reflected on the Sho-Me Band's successful 2018 season.
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