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You've got eMule!
Vol. 13 No. 6
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff School District. Check out the creative pumpkin displays of some of our students at O'Neal, Junior High and the TCC!
| PBHS holds mock general election in tandem with voter registration drive |  | |
Poplar Bluff High School has continued its long-standing tradition of providing students a realistic voting experience, despite some school systems reportedly getting away from hosting mock elections due to the polarization of politics.
Students and staff were given the opportunity on Tuesday, Oct. 29, to cast their votes on sample ballots designed to mirror that of Butler County for next week’s general election at designated “precincts” set up in the auxiliary gym.
“We feel strongly about providing kids that comfortability while exposing them to the process, and I am appreciative of Dr. [Valerie] Ivy being so supportive of us making it as authentic as possible,” said social studies teacher Gail Rosmarin of her building principal. “We’re not here to sway voters, only to give them tools so they’re hopefully informed enough to critically choose between the candidates or the amendments.”
Members of the Social Studies Department recently participated in professional development and learned that other Missouri schools had decided to cover the democratic process in theory rather than practice, Rosmarin mentioned. Beginning in 1996, PBHS hosted a mock presidential general election every four years so that each student would gain some exposure prior to graduation.
AP students were responsible for tallying votes by hand in Kimberly Clark’s classroom. The teacher said she felt it was important not to move to an electronic system so students can learn about some of the issues that come up such as ineligible handwriting or multiple boxes incorrectly being filled out.
“I tell them it might not mean everything this time, but the next presidential cycle they may be in college, have families or jobs,” Clark said. “They’re used to us giving them the answer, and I think this is one of the first times we provide them the information to educate themselves and form their own opinions.”
In preparation, students use online tools in history class such as Ballotpedia or ISideWith to help identify which political party they align with based on where they stand on a host of issues including the economy, climate, health care, immigration and social justice. Dual credit students conduct exit polling afterward to analyze trends, according to faculty member Dr. Stephanie Lovette.
“Based on early exit polling data, the majority are making decisions according to personal research as opposed to being influenced by others or social media, and that gives me hope for the country really,” Lovette said. “Civil dialogue, independent thinking and the ability to conduct research are so important, because we do have controversial questions on the ballot, and we can’t shy away from these difficult conversations.”
A registration drive was coordinated simultaneously for students who will be eligible to vote on Election Day. Volunteering to assist, Law Summers, a senior government student who turned 18 earlier this year, will be voting for his first president. He watched the recent debates, he noted, and joked how the vice-presidential candidates “actually agreed on something.”
“It’s the whole experience; to be a part of a national outcome, knowing that the higher ups [in government] affect everything you do… so if you vote for the wrong person,” Law said with pause. “Every vote counts, even if Missouri may already be decided.”
Above: Students fill out sample ballots designed to replicate Butler County’s upcoming general election on Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the auxiliary gym.
Below: Students in Kimberly Clark’s social studies class hand-count completed ballots to analyze the results of the annual mock election.
|  | The Kinders resume tour in time for Poplar Bluff celebration |  | |
The Kinders resumed their touring schedule just in time to help get students of the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood and Kindergarten centers hyped up for Halloween.
The group performed their holiday-themed set last week in the Kindergarten gymnasium with songs that included “Scary Movie Marathon,” “Eyeball Soup” and “Scarecrow,” along with crowd favorites such as “Crazy Hair” and “Farmer Fred,” and of course their trademark: “I Like Being A Kid.” Click here to watch the video.
ECH Principal Amanda Summers, who booked the returning guests, had been following lead singer Brian Kinder’s journey over Facebook since he went public with his cancer diagnosis in May. “They’re such a big part of our programming here,” Summers exclaimed.
Brian shared in an interview in between performances that he learned on Easter he had unfortunately developed non-Hodgkin lymphoma. He and his wife Terri, the other half of the duo, took late May to September off in order for Brian to undergo treatment, and then they slowly got back into their programming.
“I’m good! I feel great,” Brian declared. And with that optimistic attitude, he had his sixth and final chemotherapy session lined up for the day after the Poplar Bluff shows. Then, according to Terri, he will enter a maintenance mode.
“You can’t get rid of it, but the cancer’s not doing anything,” Brian explained. “The doctors said, ‘We know this cancer, and we know how to knock it back’ basically to dormant.”
So far The Kinders are booked across the region through Christmas, including another stop locally in early December at the Kay Porter Theater. “It’s one of our favorite places to come,” Terri noted about playing in Poplar Bluff for over a decade.
The Kinders began performing full-time in 2008, after Brian took an early retirement from serving for more than two decades as a music and art teacher for the public school system in Little Rock. “It’s the best job I ever had,” he said.
Meanwhile Terri, a former X-ray technician, took the leap with Brian due to the increasing demand for him to put on children’s concerts. “You never know what life throws at you,” she said.
Above: A staple of the Poplar Bluff school system, Terri and Brian Kinder perform their whimsical songs for Early Childhood and Kindergarten students.
Below: Companion aid Sarah Thompson sports her Kinders T-shirt to the interactive concert on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Kindergarten Center.
Click here to view all the photos in our running album, and be sure to Like/Comment/Share!
|  | Students take a journey to the Caribbean during lunchtime |  | |
Students of Junior and Senior High recently had the chance to sample Caribbean cuisine as part of the Global Eats program hosted by Chartwells School Dining Services.
Poplar Bluff’s longtime food vendor presented the emerging program designed to celebrate cultural heritages on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 15-16, serving Jamaican jerk chicken thighs and Puerto Rican sofrito rice.
“It’s here in Poplar Bluff for the first time, and two years in Chartwells,” said Kevin Merizalde, R-I executive chef. “Over the years, they’ve been adding more cuisines to take kids around the world into new places with different flavors.”
Offering a range of seasonings such as hot, spicy, sweet and tangy, the Caribbean is the latest subregion incorporated into Global Eats in addition to China, India, Italy and Mexico. Merizalde said he chose to start with the North Atlantic islands because some of the other countries are already represented on the cafeteria menu. He may experiment with Indian food early next calendar year.
From Merizalde’s previous experience in the restaurant industry, he was exposed to authentic foods from around the world while helping to develop recipes and consulting on menus around New York City. “Mediterranean, Greek, Indian, Caribbean – I know a little bit about quite a few cuisines,” he said.
Born in Ecuador, Merizalde shared how he was in preliminary talks with a vice president of Chartwells over the summer during a conference in South Carolina about possibly assisting the company in incorporating his culture into the Global Eats program, while following guidelines set by the United States Department of Agriculture.
“Chef Kevin has taught us a lot in the year he’s been here,” said Tammy Thomas, PBHS kitchen manager. Working under Merizalde, she noted, her team led by head cook Knox Ober has doubled the size of the High School create line. “Our main menu helps bring students away from the pizza and burgers, and things they like to eat every day,” Thomas continued.
Some of the students made a meal out of the sampling, returning to the station for upward of four helpings, Merizalde joked. Juniors Gage Miller and John Moore agreed they would vote for the chicken and rice to be added to the regular menu. “It’s definitely pretty good,” John said. Gage suggested: “It just needs a sauce.”
Above: Chef Kevin Merizalde hands out samples of Puerto Rican sofrito rice and Jamaican jerk chicken thighs during lunch service on Tuesday, Oct. 15, at PBHS.
Below: PBHS students line up for second helpings as (left to right) Austin Robertson, Kevin Merizalde and Tammy Thomas of Chartwells man the Global Eats station.
|  | Upperclassmen learn about post-secondary opportunities |  | |
Poplar Bluff High School served as a host site for nearly 50 higher education institutions during the College Fair on Monday, Oct. 21, in the gymnasium.
The participants represented colleges, technical schools, post-secondary training and military branches throughout Missouri and surrounding states that included Arkansas and Tennessee, and as far as Mississippi, according to guidance counselor Amber Nea.
“Even if students already know where they’re going, they may find something else out like the admission or scholarship requirements of a university, or the cost of tuition,” added Tamara Day, Nea’s colleague.
The College Fair is arranged for juniors and seniors annually at PBHS and surrounding districts in cooperation with the Missouri Association for College Admission Counseling.
Above: A recruiter for the University of Arkansas at Little Rock shares information with PBHS students.
Below: Approximately 50 post-secondary institutions staff informational booths on Monday, Oct. 21, during the College Fair at PBHS.
|  | Campus hayrides conducted by Maintenance Department |  | |
The R-I Maintenance Department has joined in on the Halloween festivities, establishing a tradition of providing students with a hayride adventure around campus.
Maintenance personnel pitched in to refabricate the utility trailers, then took turns visiting each school building, grades pre-K through elementary, on a pair of tractors.
“This is the third year,” said district painter Casey Regusci, “and every year it gets better.”
Employees put up the foam guardrails and frame on the trailer beds, complete with scarecrows, witches, ghosts and spider webs hanging, plus pumpkins spray-painted.
“Any time you can provide an experience for them, the kids love it,” Amanda Summers said. According to the Early Childhood Center principal, the tradition began during the annual fall festival of the neighboring Kindergarten Center, and evolved to include the other school buildings.
Originally there was just a trailer with the hay bale seating, but Maintenance collaborated last year to add the decorated framing, according to DJ Ellis, supervisor. The customized pieces get broken down and numbered afterward, he noted, then stored away for the following year.
Above: Preschool students load up on the trailer on Friday, Oct. 25, at the Early Childhood Center.
Below: Daniel Griffin of the Maintenance Department circles Tucker Road while classes take turns enjoying the hayride.
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Bus-Or-Treat
The Transportation Department will host its annual Bus-Or-Treat event for trick-or-treaters from 3-6 p.m. at the Bus Garage: 1844 Maud St.
Fall Break
School will be dismissed for students on Thursday, Oct. 31, for teacher collaboration day, in addition to Friday, Nov. 1. School will resume on Monday, Nov. 4. Have a safe and Happy Halloween!
Mule Café
The Mules Café returns from 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at its new Technical Career Center location: 3203 Oak Grove Road. The student-run restaurant will strictly be open on Thursdays for the month of November. The Mules Café accepts cash only.
Wizard of Oz
The Poplar Bluff High School Drama Club will present “The Wizard of Oz” at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 14-15; 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16; and 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17, at the Kay Porter Theater: 1302 Victory Lane. Tickets are $5 at the box office. Cash payment or checks are accepted.
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On Thursday, Oct. 17, the DAR reported about Lady Mules Tennis winning the Class 2 District 1 championship.
KBSI Fox 23 reported about Jack Funke being named a National Merit Scholarship semifinalist and Paden Thornton a commended student.
KWOC also reported about our top PSAT scores.
On Friday, Oct. 18, the DAR reported about our National Merit Scholarship program success.
On Saturday, Oct. 19, the DAR reported about the Sho-Me Band’s Marching Festival success; our All-District choir members from PBHS; and published a Pink-Out Day photo spread.
On Monday, Oct. 21, KWOC reported about Lady Mules Tennis qualifying for the MSHSAA Class 2 State quarterfinals; and our PBHS choral students being selected for the All-District Choir.
On Wednesday, Oct. 23, the DAR reported about our High School Nation promotion; and recognized our September Athletes of the Month.
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