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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.
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2018 Teachers of the Year
Above:
(Left to right) Amanda Johnson - Lake Road TOY; Aleanna Moore - Middle School TOY; Cindy Robertson - Eugene Field TOY; Kadi Dare - O'Neal TOY; Mitch Davis - Secondary grade-span and High School TOY; Kristie Robinson - Oak Grove TOY; Courtney Rutledge - Middle school grade-span and Junior High TOY; Debbie Harper - District-wide, Elementary grade-span and Kindergarten Center TOY; Chris Carpenter - Technical Career Center TOY; and Mindi Webster - Early Childhood TOY.
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here to leave them a personal comment. Our next newsletter will feature biographies about the individual teachers. Congratulations!
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Students inspire guests at Leadership Day
MAP scores and attendance at Eugene Field have increased while discipline referrals have gone down over the past several years, but perhaps more importantly, students are graduating the elementary school with tools to succeed in life.
Themed "The Power of Yet," the fifth annual Leadership Day on Thursday, March 22, featured songs, skits and videos of students showcasing the difference between having a growth versus a fixed mindset. Seven visiting schools exploring the program were in attendance, including North Elementary in Jackson, which has just completed the book study.
Leadership Day participants experienced the impact of the Leader in Me under which Eugene Field has achieved
lighthouse status, the gold standard of the initiative. The teaching is based on Dr. Stephen Covey's best-selling book, "The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People."
"I can't explain this. It would hardly (make sense) unless you watch the kids-they are just amazing," said Dora Cole, a member of St. Andrew Lutheran Church. "I never watched kids grow like they do here. They are so confident with theirselves."
One of the habits students practice is to synergize. Cole, who accepted the award of Leader of the Year for the church's long-standing school sponsorship, half-jokingly commented how she did not learn that word until she was in her 40s. And here students, grades 1-3, are showcasing the value of working together.
First time attendee Dr. Ron Webb, pastor of Mt. Calvary Powerhouse Church, has authored a series of books, most recently: "Leadership from Behind the Scenes." During the classroom tour portion of the program, Webb stated: "This is where it starts."
Mayor Ed DeGaris has witnessed Leadership Day for the past few years. A graduate of the elementary school himself, DeGaris is the grandfather of second grader Ashton, his third grandchild to attend Eugene Field. Asked if the seven habits are spoken about at home, DeGaris replied without hesitation: "All the time."
Also an alumnus, Gabriel Burke-now a Middle School student-provided a testimonial during the show, attributing his success as an A honor roll student who is active in the Junior Beta Club to the Leader in Me program.
"I was shy, scared and bashful," Gabriel recalled. "The seven habits helped me be more social and active."
Above: The GLEEders open the event with a performance of the Eugene Field original, "Set it Off."
Below: Students take guests on classroom tours to display the projects they have been working diligently on.
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Time is built into the academic calendar for teachers to align curriculum both vertically and horizontally
between classrooms, and PB Connect is a day dedicated to sharing best practices among school buildings.
A total of 115 break-out sessions led by personnel throughout the district as well as several education leaders across the state were offered during the annual certified-staff professional development workshop held Friday, March 23, in the High School.
"We're tapping into our best resource: our teachers. That's ultimately what this is about," explained Junior High Instructional Coach Keri Jameson. Jameson along with her High School counterpart, Stephanie Kuper, organized the in-house workshop in cooperation with Chief Technology Officer Aaron Badgley, and many others who worked behind the scenes.
This year's conference had a professional learning community emphasis, which is a model R-I has subscribed to since the 2010/11 school year, the catalyst for building collaboration days into the schedule to use data to drive instruction.
Keynote speaker Dr. Luis Cruz of Solution Tree, a former school administrator in east Los Angeles, told the audience the "answers are in your building" and that faculty must continue to work together to ensure that students are learning at high levels. "We have to look in the mirror instead of looking out the windows for answers," Cruz stated.
PB Connect began in 2015 as a technology camp for Junior and Senior High teachers who had recently gone 1:1 with student issued laptops, and the workshop extended to include the Middle School the following year. During 2016/17, the conference went districtwide and the focus eventually expanded to include topics for elementary instructors too.
Sessions last week ranged from cutting-edge classroom engagement tools like Bloxels to hot-button topics such as trauma-informed care. The event had over a dozen generous sponsors and offered prizes that included iPads. Students from the Junior High life skills class volunteered to help welcome guests.
"The entire day was fun and inspiring. I'm full of ideas," High School science teacher Gretchen Pendley commented afterward. "It's awesome to be a part of a district that can put together such an amazing mini-conference."
Above: Dr. Luis F. Cruz interacts with PBHS Assistant Principal Sheldon Tyler during his keynote speech.
Below: Help Desk instructor Julie Carda takes a selfie with event organizers Stephanie Kuper (left) and Keri Jameson, who hold golden hashtag props used for an interactive activity.
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here to see the entire album and be sure to hit like!
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Contest winners meet renowned author
Art and writing contest winners from Junior and Senior High were presented individual cash prizes by bestselling author Paulette Jiles on Thursday, March 8, at the Three Rivers Tinnin Fine Arts Center.
The contest coincided with the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library's second Book in the Bluff, a community-wide reading program. Students were supplied Sterling Bank-sponsored copies of Jiles' novel, "News of the World," and were encouraged to read in advance of the Salem-native's lecture.
Poplar Bluff winners included sophomore Elizabeth Shirrell placing first and eighth grader Bailey Weldon placing second in the writing contest; and seventh grader Maria Bailey placing first and seventh grader Alisa Reynolds placing second in the art contest. First place award winners received $100 and second place - $50. Other schools within the library's service area participated as well.
Above: (From left) Author Paulette Jiles, Trent Kelsey of Neelyville, Billy Gribbins of Sacred Heart, Elizabeth Shirrell, Maria Bailey and Alisa Reynolds. Brent Hancock of Mingo Job Corps and Bailey Weldon are not pictured.
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Bonus: Garden Club learns about floriculture
The PBHS floriculture class worked with the Eugene Field garden club to create 14 centerpieces for the tables at Leadership Day, plus eight succulent plant displays for gifts to the elementary school's Bright Futures Site Council.
Students in Kathryn Clark's floriculture class, a semester-long elective which became available beginning last year, explained to the garden club how they selected the main colors, fleshed out the display with wax flowers, and put braided lily grass in the bottom of the vases.
Above: High school seniors Skylar Still (far left) and Rashayla Davis (far right) visit with the Eugene Field garden club.
Below: First grader Andrea Byrd (left) and second grader Ellie Canniff present the tower garden that they help maintain to grow flowers and produce. Ellie noted that she has brought some lettuce home to her pet rabbit, Sniffer Whisker.
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Spring Break
Spring break continues through Friday, March 30. School resumes on Monday, April 2. Enjoy your time off!
Youth Rally
The Butler County Community Resource Council will host a Drug Free Youth Rally from 6-9 p.m. Friday, April 13, featuring food, music, prizes, a selfie booth and games that include jousting and sumo suits. No registration necessary for youth, ages 10-17! For more information, call 573-776-7830.
Golf Tourney
The 19th annual Golf Tournament for the Poplar Bluff School Foundation will take place at 1 p.m. Friday, April 27, at Ozark Ridge Golf Course, with lunch being served at noon. To enter a team in the four-person scramble or to became a hole sponsor, call Superintendent Scott Dill's office at 573-785-7751. All proceeds go toward student scholarships and innovative teacher projects!
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On Wednesday, March 21,
the DAR reported preview stories about Mules Tennis and Golf.
On Thursday, March 22, the ShowMe Times
recognized Oak Grove for being named a national distinguished Title 1 school.
The DAR reported a preview story about Mules Track & Field.
On Friday, March 23, the DAR recognized our Athletes of the Month.
On Sunday, March 25, the DAR recognized our district Teacher of the Year Debbie Harper, the first of a series of articles highlighting our honorees; Hope Conover for being named Student Council Advisor of the Year; our Middle School MAFCE essay/artwork contest winners; and our Middle School Honor Roll.
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