|
You've got eMule!
Vol. 11 No. 1
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your year on the right hoof.
| Students welcomed across campus on first day of school |  | |
The Poplar Bluff School District welcomed back students, grades K-12, on Monday, Aug. 22, and Wednesday for preschoolers at the Early Childhood Center.
New this year, Principal Dr. Valerie Ivy began at Poplar Bluff High School, succeeding Mike Owen, who joined the superintendent cabinet. Principal Kristie Robinson has replaced Jenifer Richardson, who retired at Oak Grove. Another new face this year is Jon McKinney, who has been hired to oversee the restructured Transportation Department.
On the curriculum side, Project Lead the Way, a national provider of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) professional development, has expanded to our elementary schools, thanks in part to a grant. Read about PLTW Launch here.
Thank you for sharing your first day of school photos! View our running albums at ECH and across the district, and be sure to like your favorite shots!
Above: Kindergarten Center paraprofessional Kristen Flanigan greets student Kaysen Hughes at parent drop-off to walk him into the building.
Below: Early Childhood Center teacher over 4-year-olds, Krista Greenwall, consoles multiple preschoolers at once. Pictured is Theodore Price in Greenwall’s arm, Ella Adams hugging her, and Alijah Rice holding her other hand.
|  | Athletic staff promotes new sports programs |  | |
Poplar Bluff Athletic Department officials recently had a presence during open house in order to help recruit for new sports programs added.
Last month, the Board of Education approved adding High School Girls Golf and Junior High Boys Baseball, contingent upon employing coaches. Tyler Davis has since been hired to coach the new golf program this fall, and a search continues for an additional baseball coach in the spring.
“I think it’s important to work on and add programs when we have interest,” commented board member Jerrod Murphy during the July school board meeting. “Hopefully it will stimulate more interest.”
Dozens of families stopped by the sports booth at Junior and Senior High, with 18 students signing up for programs or expressing interest, reported Athletic Director Kent Keith, who also spoke during Freshman Orientation this month. At the High School, Keith was accompanied by Coach Davis.
“It’s an opportunity to drum up support and get the word out, and hopefully bump our numbers,” explained Keith, noting that half of the students signed up for cross country. “If you don’t have a fall sport, it’s a great way to condition yourself.”
Above: Athletic Director Kent Keith provides an overview of sports programs for the fall, winter and spring seasons during the Junior High open house held Tuesday, Aug. 16.
Below: Girls Golf coach Tyler Davis (left) and Athletic Director Kent Keith help promote the district’s new sports programs on Thursday, Aug. 18, at the Senior High open house.
|  | Dr. Dill delivers state-of-the-school address at Convocation |  | |
Poplar Bluff R-I held its annual Convocation in person for the first time since 2019, pre-pandemic, on Monday, Aug. 15, at the High School.
During his state-of-the-school address, Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill thanked the district’s community partners for helping to keep the doors open for the duration, with the exception of Missouri Gov. Mike Parson’s stay-at-home order in the spring of 2020.
“Systems change when disruptive movements occur,” Dill quoted educational researcher Michael Fullan, explaining how he believes teachers have learned to get better at the craft in many ways during this time, eliminating practices that do not work.
Dill referenced the story in Greek mythology of “Pandora’s Box,” pointing out how when all the evils of the world fly out, the one that remains inside is hope. He noted how throughout the health crisis he had commented repeatedly that “hope is not a strategy.”
“I’ve also changed my mind,” Dill continued. “Hope can be a strategy, when it’s all that’s left.”
While the “politics have been brutal” surrounding the health crisis, Dill said: “Looking around gives me hope. There is nobody I’d rather share this room with.”
Earlier, Dill provided an update on several construction projects underway including an Activity Center at Junior High, visitor concessions at Mules Stadium, a Culinary Arts Center on the Technical Career Center campus and the Administrative Building’s relocation downtown. He also recapped how the district opted to accept the governor’s baseline salary grant over the summer, raising the teacher base to $38,000 and all other salaries commensurately because he believes: “A rising tide lifts all ships.”
Board of Education President John Scott said other schools in the region are now looking to Poplar Bluff to find out what the secret is, as opposed to the other way around. “We have become a destination,” he said, adding that serving the school board for eight years had been a “great honor of my life.”
Missouri National Education Association President Phil Murray, a retired teacher of the Middle School, thanked the educators, empathizing with them about how it has been a difficult period of time in the profession, “but mostly our kids went through hard times,” he pointed out.
The event kicked off with a prayer by the Ministerial Alliance, a presentation of colors by the JROTC under the direction of incoming cadet Com. Sgt. Maj. Aaliyah Shephard, and recognition of special guest Steve Halter, Poplar Bluff Chamber president.
Salome Thomas-EL, an internationally recognized speaker, author and award-winning principal, served as the keynote during the Convocation in 2018. On the Poplar Bluff Schools’ Facebook page on Saturday, Aug. 20, Principal EL, as he is affectionately known, left the following comment on the Convocation album: “I was there for one of those addresses some years ago! And there is not a better school community for miles! In the state! Maybe in the nation! Some kind and committed educators!”
Click here to view our running album, and please help us tag our staff members!
Above: Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill recognized the Transportation Department, stating that “school doesn’t happen without them.”
Below: Phil Murray, president of the Missouri National Education Association, visits with his former Middle School colleagues prior to the Convocation.
|  | New staff members receive training tools |  | |
Contracts began this month for almost 100 new staff members at Poplar Bluff Schools, including those promoted internally from classified to certified, or up the administrative ranks.
According to the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce, the R-I school system is listed as the third largest employer in the community, below Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center and Briggs & Stratton.
New faculty members attended the Beginning Teacher Assistance workshop on Tuesday, Aug. 9, to discuss classroom management, instruction, communication and education-related laws, as required by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
The following day, the annual Orientation took place during which an overview was provided of classroom procedures and policies, then all new employees received assistance to complete essential paperwork needed for payroll and insurance.
Lastly, educators brand new to the profession spent a day participating in the district’s fifth annual teacher induction program support system or TIPSS, facilitated by consultant Jenifer Richardson, who retired last year as Oak Grove principal. A total of 15 faculty members were paired with veteran mentor teachers for the first of a series of sessions. Read more about TIPSS here.
Click here to help welcome our educators new to Poplar Bluff, or those promoted through the ranks in our running album!
Above: R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill, along with administration and association representatives, welcome the new teachers during an in-service on Wednesday, Aug. 10, in the Administrative Building.
Below: Facilitator Jenifer Richardson introduces TIPSS to those new to the profession on Thursday, Aug. 12, in the Administrative Building.
|  | Organizers draw on community for fun-filled Super Kids Camp |  | |
A total of 27 students, grades K-6, completed the annual Super Kids Camp on Friday, July 29, at Wheatley School in what volunteer organizer Kathern Harris described as “probably one of the best programs” in all 12 years.
The three-week enrichment, open to students in Butler County following summer school, featured first responders from the Poplar Bluff Fire and Police departments; officials from Mingo National Wildlife Refuge, Nashville’s Stillman College, Ozark Federal Credit Union and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; and experts speaking about African history, art, drama, music, writing and yoga.
Field trips included a hike followed by a picnic at Hendrickson Park with Murray Hammond of Parks & Recreation, and the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library to see Marty the Magician. City councilman Robert Smith was acknowledged for providing transportation assistance.
A product of the Children and Youth Succeeding in School Committee under the Butler County Community Resource Council, the annual program was funded in part by South Central Missouri Community Action Agency. Breakfast and lunch were provided free of charge by Chartwells through its Summer Food Service Program. Student assistants volunteered from Poplar Bluff Junior High, Senior High and Three Rivers College.
Serving as a community center, the former Garfield Street school is listed on the National Register of Historic Places along with the neighboring Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church and Rattler’s Grocery.
Above: Program volunteer Monique Matthews (left) surprises organizer Kathern Harris with flowers for her many years of dedicated service to the community.
Below: First and second graders perform “I’d Rather Be Happy” by Teresa Jennings during the end-of-camp performance.
|  | |  |
|
Mules Football
The first home game of the varsity Mules Football season will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 2, at Mules Stadium against Valley View. Gates will open at 5:30 p.m. with a tailgate party. Tickets are $4, with no charge for non-school-age children.
Labor Day
School will be dismissed on Monday and Tuesday, Sept. 5-6, in recognition of Labor Day, followed by teacher collaboration day. School will resume for students on Wednesday, Sept. 7.
|  | |
On Friday, June 3, the DAR continued its Teacher of the Year series with a feature story about Jennifer Cheek of the Kindergarten Center.
On Tuesday, June 7, the DAR reported about our Middle School Grade Span TOY Hilary Taylor; and recognized our Middle School Honor Roll.
On Saturday, June 11, the DAR reported about Emily Lovette of the Class of 2022 earning the Mary Lynn Wolpers Scholarship.
On Monday, June 13, the DAR reported about our I’m a Citizen, Too class taking a field trip to the Poplar Bluff Municipal Airport.
On Tuesday, June 14, the DAR reported about our second annual bus test drive event.
On Wednesday, June 15, the DAR reported about Emma Papanicolaou of the Class of 2022 earning the Poplar Bluff Fine Arts Club scholarship; our PBHS Choir students performing in the State Music Festival; and our adult student graduates of TCC.
On Thursday, June 23, KWOC reported about our school supplies provided to students with ESSER funds awarded.
KFVS also reported about our free school supplies for all students.
KAIT8 additionally reported about our free school supply giveaway.
On Friday, June 24, the DAR reported about Mark Twain TOY Donna Tribble.
On Sunday, June 26, the ShowMe Times reported about our American Red Cross Young Minds Change Lives scholarship recipients.
On Saturday, July 16, the DAR reported about Tianna Hall-Patton of the Class of 2022 earning the Reddy Family Scholarship.
On Saturday, July 27, the DAR featured PBHS Staff Member of the Year Kevin Grant in its supplement entitled Ageless.
On Thursday, Aug. 4, the DAR reported about new members of our administrative team.
On Monday, Aug. 15, KWOC reported about our open house schedule.
On Saturday, Aug. 20, the DAR published our ninth annual edition of Mule Prints magazine.
On Monday, Aug. 22, KFVS12 reported about our future Culinary Arts Center.
The DAR reported about our first day of school.
On Wednesday, Aug 24, Fox23 also aired a news segment about our state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center.
KWOC reported about our Project Lead the Way grant, as well as the planned relocation of Mules Café.
| |
