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You've got eMule!
Vol. 14 No. 8
Welcome back to The eMule! Below is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District.
| TCC students feed campus community through grant initiative | |
Culinary arts students of the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center recently prepared over 450 meals for the student body through the Kids Feeding Kids program.
This marks the second year that the TCC has been awarded the reimbursable grant, funded by Pete's Garden, a nonprofit based in Kansas City that aims to combat food insecurity and eliminate waste.
“So often society asks, ‘What can I get,’ as opposed to ‘How can I help,’” said Brandon Moon, culinary arts instructor. “Some go home from school to food insecurity; some throw a half-gallon of milk away that is a day old.”
Moon administered the grant twice last school year, serving 900 meals between the Bread Shed in the fall and the United Gospel Rescue Mission in the spring, after attending a three-day workshop over the summer in Cape Girardeau.
The participating culinary arts students learned about the Bill Emerson Good Samaritan Food Donation Act, a 1996 law named after the late Missouri congressman that offers liability protection to donors of surplus food. “Leftover food doesn’t need to go in the trash when stomachs are hungry,” Moon emphasized.
This year, the class decided to focus on feeding the student population at the TCC in hopes that the take-home family dinners reach someone in need, according to Moon. The other half of the meals were sent to the Middle School for households identified by the counseling office.
Students prepared 40 pounds of chicken and 80 pounds of rice, along with over 50 pounds of freshly chopped vegetables in ready-to-heat packages. Since relocating the program to the TCC campus last school year, Moon noted that Mules Café students are cooking-to-order, so the grant initiative has created an opportunity to practice batch-cooking as they did in the previous smaller kitchen.
While PBHS junior Marie Maize was one of the students in charge of portioning the meals on Thursday, Nov. 20, she had a chance to operate the cash register the previous week at the student-run restaurant.
“We all have opportunities to do any job; it’s a balanced system,” Maize said. “I’m not a huge dishes fan, but it has to be done. Overall, it’s a really fun program.”
Above: TCC culinary arts students Maria Maize and Miles Newcomb portion out the ready-to-eat take-home family dinners.
Below: Sophomore Bethany Winters adds soy sauce to the pre-approved recipe while cooking on the flattop grill.
| Math Counts champion follows in sister’s footsteps | |
This year's Math Counts champion may have had an extra motivator: a friendly sibling rivalry.
Lucas Riggins was the first to slam his computer shut, followed closely by fellow Middle School finalists Dhanish Patel, Denton Rines and Preston Pinkerton – each answering all questions correctly within a matter of seconds of one another.
“You all finished with 10 seconds to spare,” announced facilitator Alexus Joplin of the Butler County Community Resource Council on Thursday, Dec. 4, at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.
The three-week competition took place last month over Google Meet, with assistance from R-I instructional coaches Pam Davis and Gretchen Pendley. The contest began with over 300 fourth graders from Lake Road and the Middle School, as the bar was raised higher each round with respect to speed and accuracy.
A total of 18 students achieved perfect scores in the semifinals, and the top four were determined by the fastest time, according to math interventionist Aleanna Moore, who helped administer the test. Moore commented: “The fact that they all even made it to the final four is incredible. They all should be extremely proud of themselves!”
Lucas completed the 60 multiplication problems up to integers of 12 in just 3 minutes and 28 seconds, earning the first-place trophy. Afterward, he shared how he prepared with his mother BriAnne using a stopwatch in an effort to outperform his sister Laynie, now a sophomore, who was a Math Counts finalist back in 2019.
Math Counts was established by the CRC’s Educational Enhancement Committee during the 2010/11 school year. The committee also hosts an annual Spelling Bee live at Fox Radio Network, which happened to feature two of the math finalists, Preston and Dhanish, who took first and second place, respectively, in February.
Above: Top fourth grade math students prepare for the championship under the guidance of Poplar Bluff educators in collaboration with CRC staff.
Below: (Left to right) CRC Prevention Specialist Alexus Joplin announces Lucas Riggins as the winner, while finalists Preston Pinkerton, Dhanish Patel and Denton Rines display good sportsmanship.
| Retired teachers donate toward exclusive band performance | |
The Butler County Retired Teachers and School Personnel unit donated $500 last month toward the Poplar Bluff High School Sho-Me Band’s forthcoming performance in the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Magic Kingdom.
The Sho-Me Band will be one of only three bands slated to be featured in the main parade, performing before thousands of cheering Disney fans this March in Orlando, according to Stephen Winters, band director. This will mark the band's sixth appearance in the parade.
"It is a very exciting event for the students because they get to become Disney Imagineers for the afternoon, going backstage and being one of the featured groups in the parade," Winters explained. "The support of the retired teachers' association will help a student in need as they raise funds to go on the trip."
The association has voted to finance a local education project for the past five years as part of its mission to support public schools and safeguard the retirement system for teachers, according to Susan Wilson, president.
Above: (From left) Susan Wilson, Karen Hogg and Melodie Summers of the Butler County Retired Teachers and School Personnel unit make a donation to Stephen Winters, band director.
| November Athletes of the Month named | |
The Mules Booster Club has named Ava Stotts and Drake Harden of Poplar Bluff High School the November Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Drake, a junior soccer player, scored a team record of 22 goals this season, with six assists – tied for the third highest on the team. He was additionally named a first-team All-District and first-team All-Conference student-athlete.
“Drake is one of the best soccer players in Southeast Missouri,” said Adam Vincent, his coach. “His versatility to play almost any position is one of the greatest factors that led the Mules to our first District Championship in 10 years.”
Ava, a senior cross-country runner, was crowned the 2025 Barry Cody Invitational champion, and medaled at the Jackson, Forest Park, Notre Dame, Gans Creek and Dexter invites. She was also selected as an All-Conference player.
“Ava is an outstanding young lady. She works hard and encourages [others] even harder,” said Elizabeth Lewis, her coach. “She always has the best attitude toward the sport and her teammates’ victories.”
Above: Ava Stotts and Drake Harden are presented the AOM awards by Brian Taylor, Booster Club president, on Monday, Dec. 8, at PBHS.
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Poplar Bluff R-I school administration adopted a day to ring bells for the Salvation Army last week at Wal-Mart Supercenter, following the Transportation Department, as part of a long-standing tradition of the district.
Hosted by the South Central Missouri Community Action Agency, the Red Kettle campaign runs through Christmas Eve in order to help generate funds for local families in need of emergency assistance.
Above: R-I Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Jennifer Taylor (left) and Assistant Superintendent of Curriculum Dr. Rondi Vaughn collect a donation for the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive.
Below: R-I Health Director Bailey Hester (left) and Lake Road Principal Megan Miller reportedly filled up an entire donation bucket during their shift on Friday, Dec. 5, at Wal-Mart.
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Board Election
Filing for the Board of Education will be open from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. through Dec. 19, with the final filing window open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 30.
FAFSA Frenzy
Parents of college-bound students are invited to drop in during our FAFSA Frenzy events scheduled from 4-5:45 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11, and Monday, Jan. 12, in the Poplar Bluff High School cafeteria: 3209 Oak Grove Road.
Collaboration Day
Students will have a half-day on Friday, Dec. 19, for teacher Collaboration Day. Please click here for a listing of early dismissal times by building.
Christmas Break
School will be dismissed from Monday, Dec. 22-Friday, Jan. 2. School will resume for students on Monday, Jan. 5. Please stay safe, and enjoy your winter break!
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On Saturday, Nov. 22, the DAR recognized our October Athletes of the Month.
On Tuesday, Nov. 25, the DAR highlighted Thanksgiving celebrations across campus.
On Friday, Nov. 28, the DAR reported about the TCC’s involvement in the Kids Feeding Kids program.
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