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You've got eMule!
Vol. 13 No. 5
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff School District.
| Ribbon cutting held for Culinary Arts Center, grant-funded in large part |  | |
If community members do not already know about the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center, the secret will be out soon.
Around 75 district patrons and project officials attended the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Culinary Arts Center led by the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce on Thursday, Oct. 3, at the TCC campus located behind the High School on Oak Grove Road.
The state-of-the-art facility, slated to serve as the new home of the popular Mules Café after concluding its 46-year run in the Administrative Building, was financed with $1.3 million in grant money, or two-thirds of the project funded externally.
“The combination of the state-of-the-art kitchen equipment will provide for industry-level training, emulate a functional restaurant and result in more employable graduates,” stated TCC Director Dr. Leigh Ann Cornman during the event. She credited her predecessor Charles Kinsey, now R-I assistant superintendent of business, for his “vision” and “leadership” throughout the construction process.
A $513,000 grant was awarded through the Area Career Center Construction fund bill one year ago, only a few months into Cornman’s directorship. The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education previously awarded a $267,000 ACCC grant toward the project in May 2022.
Dr. Roger Barnes, DESE career and technical education coordinator, thanked Gov. Mike Parsons and the Missouri Legislature for supporting CTE through the grant initiative. During the 2022/23 school year, Missouri had over 186,000 high schoolers enroll in one or more CTE programs in the state’s 57 area career centers, not counting adult and postsecondary students, he noted.
“Missouri Career and Technical Education programs are alive and strong, and CTE enrollment is growing more each year,” Barnes said. “…Given there are approximately 60,000 students statewide in each grade level, that is more than three-quarters of high school students enrolled in CTE, receiving training for Missouri’s workforce.”
In July 2022, the Ozark Foothills Regional Planning and Butler County commissions partnered with the TCC to secure a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant from the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
“Graduates of the culinary arts program will add exponentially to the number of technically skilled workers in our area,” said Amber Hornbeck, OFRPC project administrator. “What a tremendous boost for our local economy!”
The final piece of the financial picture went toward commercial kitchen equipment, including an indoor smoker, fryers, flattop grills, range ovens and a pizza oven through $45,000 in Vocational Enhancement grants. All told, the district committed $700,000 in requisite matching funds, including ancillary expenses such as paving the parking lot, ADA accessibility, a security system, fire alarm and ventilation hood, Kinsey previously reported.
“Improved space and temperature makes a huge difference on morale and safety,” said Chef Brandon Moon, culinary arts instructor. “Having a host station will help to not overwhelm the servers, who in turn overwhelm the kitchen. The 20 minutes of class time gained has relieved stress.”
Zoellner Construction broke ground on the 4,640-square-foot facility, including converting the previous 1,400-square-foot conference room into a dining room/classroom, in June of 2023. The Board of Education awarded the Perryville-based contractor the low bid of $1.4 million in the spring of last year.
Dille and Pollard Architecture of Poplar Bluff designed the building to include a foyer with a reception area, additional private dining room, dry storage, a deep freezer, break room, public restrooms and an office overseeing the kitchen, along with the expanded workstation.
“They did it right in terms of the things that you need to think of such as the amount of space to train more kids,” said Tasteful Creations owner Karen Campbell, who was in attendance. “It’s gonna give their kids the confidence, and I think that’s so important. We as an industry can certainly use them.”
The original Mules Café opened at 1110 N. Westwood Boulevard during the 1978/79 school year in a 2,880-square-foot space, which was retrofitted over the summer to serve in part as the district’s new registrar office.
Above: Dr. Roger Barnes, DESE career and technical education coordinator, delivers remarks in front of the new Culinary Arts Center, calling it a “fantastic facility.”
Below: Chef Brandon Moon opened to students a logo contest for the Mules Café, naming Bethany Winters of the culinary arts program the winner. Graphic arts student Elijah Bosch and Brylee Koonkongzurp of Junior High were runners-up, each winning a monetary reward for their participation.
Click here to view the entire album, and be sure to Like/Comment/Share!
|  | PBHS student scores in top 1 percent of nation on PSAT |  | |
Poplar Bluff High School has produced a National Merit Scholarship candidate for the first time in several years.
Jack Funke, a senior, is one of more than 16,000 semifinalists of the 70th annual NMS program based on his Preliminary SAT score from last year, the not-for-profit recently announced.
A well-rounded student, the Counseling Department agrees, Jack not only has excelled intellectually, serving as varsity captain of the Academic Team, but he has experienced success in band, theater and athletics as well as outside of school in Scouting.
“As a Scholar Bowl member, Jack began to earn the respect of the most capable members by being able to intelligently discuss such things as the ethics of experiments by Zimbardo, the value of absurdist works like ‘Waiting for Godot,’ or the artistic merit of Malevich’s Suprematism,” PBHS Science Department chair Gail Karlish wrote in a letter of recommendation. “...Because of Jack’s knowledge and playing prowess, the afterschool practices morphed for a time into everyone versus Jack.”
As a freshman captain, Jack led the junior varsity team to first place in a combined tournament, defeating each varsity team left in the winner's bracket, explained Karlish, also the Scholar Bowl coach. “The recent practices have featured him reading the questions, offering light-hearted teaching moments, and incorporating ‘the great mystery question’ which might suddenly multiply the points,” the teacher continued.
On top of never earning a grade below an A, Jack was accepted into the Missouri Scholars Academy at the University of Missouri; he is currently the head of the keyboard pit crew in the Sho-Me Marching Band and earned a chair in the wind ensemble each year; successfully tried out for a lead role in the Drama Club’s “Get Smart;” achieved the rank of Eagle Scout and was inducted into the Order of the Arrow; and has competed as a long-distance runner for the Cross-Country team.
As part of his scholarship application, Jack attributed his willingness to pursue theater and music to his supportive parents always encouraging him to experience new things in order to help him grow. He further credits his thirst for knowledge beyond the classroom to Matt and Jennifer Funke regularly reading to him from a young age.
“They’ve always encouraged me to do my best at everything,” writes Jack, who plans to study political science and government in college. “They’ve helped me out when I needed it, and they shared with me plenty of documentaries, non-fiction books and travel to help me learn more outside of school. They’ve pushed me to step outside of my comfort zone.”
Of the semifinalists, more than 15,000 are expected to advance to finalists later in the winter. The gifted students will then compete for 6,870 scholarships worth approximately $26 million in spring, between the organization itself, corporate sponsorships and universities recruiting directly. PBHS last had a Merit Scholar in alumnus Adeesh Mishra in 2018, according to district records.
In addition to Jack’s prestigious designation, senior Paden Thornton was named a commended student for the “exceptional academic promise” she demonstrated for scoring among the top 50,000 highest performers on the PSAT. Throughout her high school career, Paden has participated in band, earning a gold performance rating and a chair on the wind ensemble her very first year, plus has been an active member of the Environmental, Interact and Beta clubs. She plans to study wildlife biology as an undergraduate and become a conservationist.
“Those being named commended students have demonstrated outstanding potential for academic success,” reads a press release from the organization. “These students represent a valuable national resource; recognizing their accomplishments, as well as the key role their schools play in their academic development, is vital to the advancement of educational excellence in our nation. We hope that this recognition will help broaden their educational opportunities and encourage them as they continue their pursuit of academic success.”
Over 1.3 million juniors from 21,000 high schools entered the NMS program by taking the 2023 qualifying test. Since the program’s establishment in 1955, over 3.5 million students have been recognized, and 470,000 scholarships worth over $1.8 billion have been awarded. According to the NMS website, its mission, in part, is to stimulate increased support from individuals and organizations that wish to sponsor scholarships for outstanding scholastic talent.
Above: Jack Funke and Paden Thornton are recognized by guidance counselor Adam Moeller and Dr. Valerie Ivy, PBHS principal, on Thursday, Oct. 10.
| Dunkin’ sponsors breakfast at PBHS through High School Nation |  | |
A total of 1,500 gift cards to Dunkin’ valued at $5 apiece have been distributed to the student body in addition to numerous employee groups at Poplar Bluff High School.
The $7,500 contribution was made possible through a collaboration with High School Nation in an effort to promote the importance of eating breakfast. Chartwells volunteered to participate in the initiative through its Discovery Kitchen program on Monday, Sept. 30, providing samples of homemade waffles with whipped cream, fresh fruit and citrus-infused water.
“This donation was inspired by a compelling statistic released by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) that shows three in four high school students do not eat breakfast daily,” communication arts teacher Jennie Randolph announced. She elaborated: “I think it’s really important showing the idea when we’re not testing—MAP or ACT—that breakfast is important for the learning environment in general.”
Randolph, Student Council co-adviser, learned about High School Nation during the National Conference for Student Council Leaders in June in New Mexico. Having been named the State President School by the Missouri Association of School Councils, PBHS was required to have representation at the National VISION Conference and selected seniors Destiny Jackson, Bailey B. Taylor and Aminah Williams to participate.
The group established a connection with High School Nation during an adjoining vendor fair. While Missouri was reportedly outside the representative's service area, the organization still desired to support PBHS, so officials agreed to ship the gift cards. In lieu of High School Nation hosting an assembly, StuCo made posters and Chartwells displayed fun facts about the importance of a balanced breakfast for brain function and energy levels.
Above: PBHS students visit the Discovery Kitchen booth staffed by Chartwells personnel (left to right) Kitchen Manager Tammy Thomas, Warehouse Manager Austin Robertson and Executive Chef Kevin Merizalde.
| PBHS students named to 2024 All-District Choir |  | |
Fourteen Poplar Bluff High School students have been named to the 2024 Missouri Choral Directors Association All-District Choir.
A total of 19 choral students auditioned on Saturday, Sept. 28, at Cape Central High School against educational institutions throughout Southeast Missouri. The audition consisted of a solo component, preparing an art song for a panel of judges, and sight-reading, identifying key signatures and performing a melody.
Representing PBHS in the 9th/10th grade choir will be: Alexis Agee, Kate Harris and Jazlynn LeGrand in the soprano section; Dalton Rommel as tenor; and Bryden McElhaney – bass. Participating in the 11th/12th grade choir will be: Victoria Conover, Cheyann Downing and Gabby Rushing in the soprano section; Frances Nelson and Virginiagrace Vandewarker as altos, Andrew Noble – tenor; and Elijah Bosch, Cayden Innes and Avain Pettigrew in the bass section.
The concert will take place on Saturday, Nov. 9, in Cape Girardeau. Families, friends and educators are encouraged to attend. Upperclassmen will be eligible to additionally try out for the All-State Choir.
Above: (Back row, from left) Jazlynn LeGrand, Victoria Conover, Bryden McElhaney, Elijah Bosch, Virginiagrace Vandewarker and Andrew Noble; and (front row, left to right) Alexis Agee, Cheyann Downing, Gabby Rushing, Avain Pettigrew, Cayden Innes, Frances Nelson and Kate Harris.
| September Athletes of the Month named |  | |
The Mules Booster Club has named Hannah Kee and Jay Edmundson of Poplar Bluff High School the September Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Jay, a senior football player, has amassed 833 passing yards and 470 rushing yards this season, as of the recognition, for a total of 1,183 career rushing yards.
“Jay is an exceptional athlete and leader of the football team,” said Jeff Mannon, his coach. “He has been a dedicated, multi-sport athlete for his high school career and has worked countless hours becoming the best version of himself.”
Hannah, a senior tennis player, has a 12-1 individual record this season, and won first place in the individual bracket at the Farmington Tournament. She additionally has played soccer throughout her high school career, lettering three of the years.
“Hannah is extremely dedicated to her academics and her team,” said Michelle Massey, her coach. “She constantly works on her skills in her free time and never backs down from a challenge!”
Above: Hannah Kee and Jay Edmundson are presented the AOM awards by Brian Taylor, Booster Club president, on Thursday, Oct. 10, at PBHS.
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Substitute Teachers
For those interested in subbing, please stop by to visit the Kelly Mobile van from 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in the PBJHS parking lot, located at 550 N. Westwood Blvd. The district’s Kelly Education account manager will be on hand to provide information re: the onboarding process and answer any questions about becoming a substitute teacher.
Undie Sunday
Please bring any size girls' and boys' underwear or sweatpants/stretch pants (adult sizes included) to church on Oct. 27 for the children in the Poplar Bluff school system. Undie Sunday is a cooperative effort between the churches of Poplar Bluff and Bright Futures.
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!
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On Wednesday, Oct. 2, the DAR reported about Junior High raising $400 for the Walk to End Alzheimer’s during the Duck Derby.
On Friday, Oct. 4, the DAR reported about our Culinary Arts Center ribbon cutting; and our anonymous Guardian Cap donation.
KWOC reported about the generous Guardian Cap donation.
On Thursday, Oct. 10, KFVS12 reported about the Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame inducting the Hansbrough brothers and our back-to-back state champion Mules Basketball teams.
KWOC advanced our annual Veterans Day Parade at the Middle School.
On Friday, Oct. 11, KWOC reported about the 36th Poplar Bluff Sports HOF induction banquet hosted at E.T. Peters Gym.
On Saturday, Oct. 12, SEMO ESPN interviewed Tyler Hansbrough about his high school, collegiate and NBA career (25:30-minute mark).
The DAR also reported about the Poplar Bluff Sports HOF induction ceremony; the premiere of Reactive Man and Proactive Woman at Eugene Field; and our Malco Head of the Class recipients at the TCC.
On Monday, Oct. 14, the DAR published a photo gallery from Pink Out Day.
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