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You've got eMule!
Vol. 12 No. 13
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
| Child Concern targets food insecurity with building proceeds |  | |
The Child Concern of Butler County donated $5,000 to Poplar Bluff Schools from revenue of its recent building sale in an effort to stock ‘giving closets’ in buildings across the district prior to the holiday break last month.
Each R-I school, grades K-12, received $500 – along with the other school systems in the county – to primarily go toward student food insecurity as well as clothing needs. Outgoing board president Judy Duncan personally visited each campus to ensure a need was there while delivering the checks.
“We decided to sell the building and just be a charity, helping when we felt like there was a need,” Duncan explained. “I got this idea around November to contribute to each school because I know most have food closets. We were trying to get the money to school before kids left for the holidays.”
The nonprofit previously operated the Child Concern Center in order to generate funds. The Poplar Street facility shut down for several months during the global health crisis, and had since struggled to find enough volunteers to manage the resell shop, according to Duncan. “Finally we were kind of paying out more than we were taking in,” she continued.
With other such thrift shops popping up in the community over the decades, the board opted to sell its headquarters last year and redistribute its inventory while still operating the charity. The Child Concern was reportedly established in 1975 as a ministry of First United Methodist Church under the late Irene Wilkerson.
“We wanted to keep her legend alive and main goal which, since the beginning, was helping needy children and families,” said Duncan, who was succeeded as president by Tiffany Healy this year. The board meets occasionally when they have business to attend to at Kraft, Miles & Tatum, where board treasurer Josh Love is employed.
Tax-deductible contributions to the Child Concern of Butler County may be made to: PO Box 3891, Poplar Bluff, MO 63902.
Above: Judy Duncan (left), outgoing president of the Child Concern of Butler County, delivers a check on Wednesday, Dec. 19, to Junior High Principal Candace Warren.
| Masonic Lodge donates $6K toward clothing needs at elementaries |  | |
The Masonic Lodge recently donated $6,000 to Poplar Bluff Schools, split between Eugene Field and Lake Road Elementary based on free and reduced lunch rates, to go toward clothing items for students in need.
A group of staff members at Lake Road went shopping before school one morning in December for almost 50 students identified, reported counselor Valerie Duncan. Eugene Field used the majority of funds to purchase children’s shoes, undergarments, outerwear and winter accessories to stock its giving closet in the nurse’s office, according to counselor Esther Luna.
“It truly makes a huge difference at our school,” Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Taylor commented on the nonprofit’s Facebook post. “We are blessed to be supported by our community.”
The recurring donation has been made possible by the annual Poplar Bluff Masonic Youth Father-Daughter Ball fundraiser attended by hundreds in October at the Black River Coliseum. Since 2006, officials estimate that the Masonic Lodge has contributed approximately $35,000 to the two schools combined. The Masonic Home of Missouri supplies a 2:1 match, turning every local dollar raised to $3 through its Creating A Partnership program.
In total last month, the Poplar Bluff Lodge No. 209 of the Ancient Free & Accepted Masons distributed a record-high $18,000 among several area school systems, along with $5,900 to the Shriners Children’s St. Louis transportation fund, according to Terry Yarbrough, Masonic Home representative. The remaining proceeds support the Order of Rainbow for Girls and the Divine Chapter Order of DeMolay, which is open to young men.
Above: (From left) Masonic Home representative Terry Yarbrough; Associate Worthy advisers Madison Fitzwater and Dakota Snow; Lake Road counselor Valerie Duncan; Past Master Councilor Christopher Coleman, Master Councilor Nicholas Ramsey; and Worshipful Master Jonathan Coleman.
Below: (Left to right) Nicholas Ramsey, Christopher Coleman, Jonathan Coleman, Esther Luna of Eugene Field, Terry Yarbrough, Dakota Snow and Madison Fitzwater.
|  | December Athletes of the Month named |  | |
The Mules Booster Club has named Kate Scott and Preston Moore of Poplar Bluff High School the December Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Preston, a senior basketball player, has averaged 13 points, 6.6 rebounds and two assists per game this season, as of this nomination. He placed third during the Southeast Missouri Conference Tournament and second as a member of the All-Tournament Team during the Kaminsky Classic.
“Preston is a highly motivated player who enjoys competition and is a pleasure to coach,” said William Durden, his coach. “He has embraced some of the team leadership roles. Preston has matured as a person and an athlete over the last four years of high school.”
Kate, a sophomore swimmer, received consideration state cuts in the 200 medley relay, plus 200 and 400 freestyle relays, and was the 100 freestyle winner at a home meet to kick off the season as well as the most recent event. She additionally received consideration state cuts in the 200 medley relay and 200 freestyle relay, placing 12th in the 50 freestyle at Ladue; and earned consideration state cuts in the 200 medley relay and 400 freestyle relays, with top-five finishes in the 200 freestyle and backstroke at West Plains.
“Kate is a hard worker, and has a great attitude,” said Beth Lewis, her coach. “She sets goals for herself and works tirelessly to reach them. She has worked very hard in the off-season to be prepared this year. She is a fine example of a student-athlete.”
Above: Preston Moore and Kate Scott are presented the AOM awards on Thursday, Jan. 11, by Brian Taylor, Booster Club president.
| Bonus: Homecoming Royalty | |
Poplar Bluff High School’s 2024 Winter Homecoming queen, determined by a student body vote, was senior Cori Duncan, escorted by Blaise Rowland.
Cori (pictured above) plans to go to college to pursue becoming a pediatric nurse practitioner as well as continue her soccer career. Similarly, Blaise hopes to play soccer at either Saint Louis University or the Missouri University of Science and Technology with a desire to enter the medical field.
The Homecoming Court on Friday, Jan. 26, additionally featured Savannah Hanner, escorted by Cameron Settle; McKinzie Kendle, escorted by Isaiah Nevel; Kelsey Kramer, escorted by Jay Edmundson; and Macie Robertson, escorted by Preston Moore.
Below: PBHS Student Council’s annual Mr. Snowman contestants perform among Cheerleaders and the Pom Squad during the pep rally.
Click here to view all of our photos in our running album, and be sure to Like/Comment/Share!
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FAFSA Frenzy
Our annual FAFSA Frenzy, designated for college-bound students seeking free assistance in applying for federal aid, will take place from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 31, in the PBHS commons area.
Whose Line Is It
Our PBHS Drama Club will present the 7th annual ‘Whose Line Is It, Anyway’ evening of improv comedy at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Feb. 2-3, in the Kay Porter Theater. Tickets are $5 and include one suggestion card. Additional suggestion cards or a chance to be featured on stage cost $1.
President’s Day
School will be dismissed on Monday, Feb. 19, for President's Day, followed by teacher collaboration day on Tuesday, Feb. 20. School resumes for students on Wednesday, Feb. 21.
ECH Screening
A screening for 2024/25 enrollment at the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center will take place on Tuesday, March 26. To schedule an appointment, call 573-785-6803. Please have child’s social security number handy. To attend, child(ren) must be between 3-5 years old on July 31.
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On Wednesday, Dec. 20, KWOC reported about our 2023 McDonald’s Outstanding Educator.
The DAR also reported about teacher Crystal Huddleston of PBHS receiving regional recognition.
On Thursday, Dec. 21, the DAR published a photo display of our Christmas celebration at the Kindergarten Center; and honored our November Athletes of the Month.
KWOC reported about our annual Innovative Educational Project grants.
On Friday, Dec. 22, the DAR reported about our annual Jingle Jog at Oak Grove.
On Saturday, Dec. 23, the DAR reported about the history of the annual Poplar Bluff Showdown tournament; our PBHS Choir students qualifying for Missouri All-State and SWACDA honor choirs; and recognized our Eugene Field leaders of the trimester.
On Thursday, Dec. 27, KBSI Fox23 additionally recognized business teacher Crystal Huddleston.
On Saturday, Dec. 30, the DAR reported about our Foundation grant program.
On Monday, Jan. 22, the DAR published photos from our annual Mr. Snowman pageant.
On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the DAR reported about PBHS senior wrestler Logan Hite winning his third SEMO Conference championship, making school history.
On Wednesday, Jan. 24, KWOC reported about the second-place victory of PBHS during the winter Special Olympics basketball tournament in Wentzville.
On Friday, Jan. 26, the DAR published a feature story about PBHS junior Zoë Freeman winning her 100th wrestling match, another school record; and recognized our Homecoming Court.
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