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Welcome to The eMule! Here is the latest news of the Poplar Bluff School District to help start your week on the right hoof. We look forward to having our students back on Tuesday!
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Oak Grove receives national recognition
Oak Grove earned national recognition for achieving the largest gains in the state for closing the achievement gap among student groups, according to Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education officials.
Missouri Assessment Program scores for English language arts jumped from 46.56 percent in 2016/17 to 81.33 the following year while math scores increased from 48.09 to 61.33 percent proficient or advanced, averaging a 24 percent improvement rate for subgroups, reported DESE's Amanda Cash.
The elementary school was recognized among 100 distinguished Title I schools across the country during the National Title I Conference held Friday, Feb. 9, in Philadelphia.
"They broke down the walls of the classroom and started looking across the whole building rather than strictly looking at the needs of their own classroom," explained Patty Robertson, R-I assistant superintendent of curriculum. "The students can all get intervention if needed and the interventions are targeted to make sure kids learn. And if they don't (learn), they reteach."
Oak Grove Principal Jenifer Richardson, who Robertson called her hero, attributes the extraordinary success to initiatives implemented last year including the
school-wide positive behavior support program, focusing on developing a common language for teaching social skills and providing positive reinforcement.
"Our teachers do a great job building confidence in students, making sure they know (their teachers) believe in them, and building that relationship," Richardson said. "When students know you believe in them, (the students) work hard for it."
Richardson also credits a reemphasis placed on educators collaborating in recurring cycles of collective inquiry and action research to achieve better results for students, the foundation of the
Professional Learning Community model.
"They didn't buy a new program or spend money to accomplish this," stated JoAnne Westbook, Poplar Bluff Title I director. Richardson added: "We changed the way we do business. My father always said, 'Getting players is easy. Getting them to play together is the hard part.'"
Structured team meetings using data to drive instruction take place biweekly at Oak Grove. Reading interventionist Michelle Farmer said what used to be more of a pull-out model is now a full classroom of students working in small groups of differentiated instruction. Third grade teachers break down MAP test questions regularly and work on vocabulary building.
Farmer, who made note it is a group effort, admitted that the change made her a little uncomfortable at first being a 28-year veteran, but she is proud of her "Oak Grove family" for all the progress. "If the data shows it's working, then it's what's best for kids," Farmer concluded.
Above: Principal Jenifer Richardson delivers an acceptance speech on behalf of Oak Grove Elementary.
Below: Oak Grove staff focuses on vertical teaming during a recent Collaboration Day.
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Two district employees who work together to enhance student engagement received regional recognition in the field of educational technology integration at Poplar Bluff Schools.
Senior High Instructional Coach Stephanie Kuper was named Outstanding Young Educator and R-I Chief Technology Officer Aaron Badgley received the Technology Advocacy & Support award at the Midwest Education Technology Community conference held Tuesday through Wednesday, Feb. 13-14, in St. Charles.
Networking opportunities including that of the annual METC conference is where Kuper initially linked up with the Poplar Bluff instructional technology department, ultimately
accepting a position with the district this school year.
"I wouldn't have left my role for any other school," Kuper stated. She previously served as an instructional technology specialist at the Regional Professional Development Center in Cape Girardeau, where she provided training for R-I faculty under the Missouri Collaborative Work program, laying the groundwork for teaching students to become assessment capable learners.
"Her (job) interview was one of the quickest interviews ever. We knew going in that Stephanie had a skillset we couldn't pass on,'" Badgley recalled. Badgley took his administrative post during the 2014/15 school year upon working his way up in the department, and helped advance the district's instructional coach positions.
With the technology expansion and infrastructure upgrades that came after the district launched its 1:1 laptop initiative five years ago, the positions now held by Kuper and her Junior High colleague Keri Jameson were created to help instructors develop research-based learning strategies and model lesson plans.
"I knew that the instructional part was something that was going to be challenging for me when I took the job, that's why I'm fortunate to be a part of a skilled team that allows me to spend time outside of technical aspects of the job," Badgley explained. The goal of his team in the IT department is to keep the technology running smoothly in the background so learning remains on the forefront, he noted.
Kuper, who nominated Badgley for the tech support award, pointed out that many schools are behind because they have Google Hangouts or Skype blocked and other restrictions placed on extensions, while Poplar Bluff is fortunate to have an administration that sees the educational value of such tools.
"Aaron is unlike any other 'district tech guy'-if a teacher says, 'I need this... in order to...' Aaron bends over backwards to help make it possible," Kuper wrote in her submission. "He is an advocate for technology in education and ensures that the district is doing it right."
EducationPlus Consultant Jonathan Lee of the Greater St. Louis area nominated Kuper for the outstanding educator honor based on their collaboration through the RPDC. Following classroom teaching for several years, Kuper was on the forefront of receiving Google and Apple certifications in education in order to be versatile in helping teachers throughout the region. Now refining the building-wide culture at PBHS is her focus.
"When I was a teacher in the classroom, I was impacting the lives of 120 students," Kuper said. "I learned my true passion is helping teachers with new ideas and best practices, that way so many more students are impacted."
Above: Stephanie Kuper and Aaron Badgley display the awards they won at the METC conference earlier this month.
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Honors students showcase virtual reality
The eighth grade honors English class was invited to the Midwest Education Technology Community conference on Tuesday, Feb. 13, in St. Charles to showcase scenes from literature and music using an online virtual reality maker.
"A lot of imagery is used and the story comes to life," PBJHS student Emma Harris explained. "You get to be really creative."
Students use block-based coding on the web app CoSpaces Edu, accessible through smartphones and computer devices, to paint interactive story plots, demonstrating their understanding of the writing.
"I've never seen so much engagement," exclaimed teacher Julie Gambill, the English Department chairwoman. "If you look around my room, there's critical thinking going on. I like to think about it like Wall Street - the students are all business-like, in full motion."
Last year, Gambill brought two students to the makerspace area of the annual METC conference to present informational videos they created. Poplar Bluff was the only school with an entire class participating in the conference this year it appeared, according to district attendees.
Above: Honors English students discuss virtual reality with visitors during the recent METC conference.
Below: The honors English class at PBJHS takes a field trip to St. Charles.
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It was hard to tell who was having a better time when a recent visit from the pastoral community with the PBJHS Life Skills class ended in a dance-off.
"Pastries for Pastors" on Thursday, Feb. 15, was part of a series of events designed to expose the class to various professions while giving the students practice cooking and serving guests.
"There's only so much you can do within these four walls, so we're trying to bring the community in," stated instructor Courtney Rutledge who, in partnership with her team of colleagues, has hosted similar events with law enforcement, school administration and the Three Rivers College Raiders.
Seventh grader Isaiah Treaster of Steven Frey's class asked the religious leaders, representing several churches throughout Poplar Bluff, how many years it takes to break into the field. Some earn college degrees in theological seminary while others take a non-traditional path, the pastors explained.
"Some people start at 7," said Doug Osborn, co-pastor of The Bluff Church. Osborn was referring to eighth grader Kaydon Salamone who, it was shared, has preached at the Church on the Rock in Sikeston with guidance from his grandparents, Lisa and Jack Dilday.
While the event was designed to enrich the knowledge-base of all the classmates, Rutledge said, "this one was really for Kaydon." The 14-year-old had been talking about the occasion for weeks in anticipation.
During a visit after the Q&A, lead pastor Jason Jordan of West Side Church of God asked Kaydon what his favorite Bible Scripture was, to which the student replied, "Jonah and The Whale" from the Old Testament. Jordan commented that Kaydon broke down the entire story perhaps better than some adult church members are able to do.
"We were supposed to go in to be a blessing but Kaydon was the blessing to me today," said Jordan after teaching the students some dance moves. "In light of everything that happened in Florida yesterday, being in school today, dancing and laughing-we were there to give those kids hope, but they gave us hope."
Click
here to watch the video, and be sure to click share to express your support!
Above: Student Kaydon Salamone shares his story with religious leaders Jason Jordan and Nathan Coleman (left).
Below: Pastor Jason Jordan teaches a slick dance move to seventh grader Labron Thomas.
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Mules Café
The Mules Café at 1110 N. Westwood Blvd., will be open from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 27, featuring Cajun lasagna, sweet and spicy roasted vegetables, sunburst Creole salad, lemon cheesecake bars and a soft drink for only $7.
Spell-Off
The third grade spelling bee sponsored by the Butler County Community Resource Council will air live on
Fox Radio Network at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 28.
Book in the Bluff
In celebration of Poplar Bluff Municipal Library's 2018 community read, "News of the World" author Paulette Jiles will be speaking at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 8, in the Tinnin Fine Arts Center, presented by Sterling Bank. Admission is free and open to the public.
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On Monday, Feb. 12, the ShowMe Times
reported about PBHS' free upcoming ACT exam offering.
On Tuesday, Feb. 13, KFVS12
reported about Eugene Field's own Makayla Cantu introducing the keynote speaker at the Leader in Me Symposium.
On Thursday, Feb. 15,
the DAR reported about PBHS' participation in the FBLA conference at Three Rivers.
On Friday, Feb. 16, the DAR reported about Dille and Traxel's project review of the proposed Early Childhood Center.
On Sunday, Feb. 18, the DAR reported about PBHS swimmer Taylor Norwood earning two all-state medals at the MSHSAA Class 2 swimming championship; and recognized Eugene Field's Students of the Month.
On Tuesday, Feb 20, the DAR recognized Oak Grove for being named a National Distinguished Title I School; and wrote a human interest feature about Sheldon Tyler of PBHS for Black History Month.
On Thursday, Feb. 22, the DAR reported about PBHS senior Wyatt Murphy receiving a collegiate Division I track scholarship at the U.S. Air Force Academy; and recognized our PBHS Students of the Month.
On Saturday, Feb. 24, the Southeast Missourian ran the
feature story about Sheldon Tyler.
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