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You've got eMule!
Vol. 12 No. 19
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
| PBHS awarded $50K to create three new career paths under PLTW |  | |
Poplar Bluff High School has been awarded $50,000 to help create three new pathways in lucrative career fields under Project Lead the Way, bridging ancillary programming already in place across the R-I district.
Beginning in the 2024/25 school year, students will be able to choose from biomedical, computer science and engineering programs. Additionally, algebra one advantage—in its pilot phase through the nonprofit organization—will be added as a hands-on supplement to the mathematics curriculum already in place.
“We have several community partners who need qualified workers interested in these fields, and our students have expressed interest,” PBHS Principal Dr. Valerie Ivy said, “so it’s important because we wanted to connect the two and give them opportunities that they may not have had otherwise.”
The Poplar Bluff School District is the first in Southeast Missouri to adopt all modules under the national curriculum provider, according to Alana Dowdy, PLTW director of school success in Missouri. “This is the only school district basically south of St. Louis with all of the offerings to be fully implemented,” she stated.
Over the past five years, R-I has secured $130,000 total in grant money to offer Launch at the four elementary schools, Gateway classes at Junior High and computer science at the Technical Career Center, where start-up funding available through federal grant programs has also been applied.
During the January meeting, the Board of Education approved the TCC’s matching requests through 50/50 Enhancement grants and under the Perkins Act to help provide training for teachers presently employed. The plan will be to vertically align with the programming in place at the TCC, enabling PBHS students to begin taking computer science classes as freshmen and sophomores, according to education officials.
PBHS was previously awarded a $16,000 National PLTW Grant for engineering and $14,000 for biomedical, in addition to being selected as one of five districts out of over 100 applicants and the only high school in Missouri to receive $20,000 for computer science, also administered through the organization, to go toward the cost of curriculum, access to software, equipment and supplies. Other external funding sources are still being sought, Ivy noted.
Ivy recently met with department heads to assign teachers desiring to become PLTW certified for the initial year in a four-year implementation plan of accelerated course offerings. For the inaugural year, science instructor Andrea Carroll will teach biomed, science teacher Kara Cummings – engineering and Heather Pullam of the Business Department will lead computer science. Adjustments will be made to class sizes that may not have been weighted appropriately before the expansion of career and technical education options, according to Ivy. Of 75 spots available, a total of 72 course requests were made by students as of last month, she reported.
This past school year, Ivy recalled how several students expressed interest in the medical field, but no class options besides prerequisites were offered and "we needed to follow through for our kids," she said. In October, the principal and her team attended a showcase in Dexter, where the PLTW programming has been implemented at the secondary level for several years. “We were sold,” stated Ivy, who began identifying funding sources the following month.
“I just watched it transform instruction,” explained Dowdy, who formerly served as Dexter High School principal, and was responsible for ushering in PLTW before accepting her regional position with the leading science, technology, engineering and math provider. “Kids go from the passive learning that happens in the kind of old-fashioned sage on a stage model to actually being active participants in the process. And teachers gain access to the professional development suite, connecting with a community that’ll be yours forever—something we kind of lose in our silos.”
Above: Alana Dowdy (left), PLTW director of school success in Missouri, and PBHS Principal Dr. Valerie Ivy visit in recent weeks.
| Missouri history knowledge personified at Oak Grove Elementary |  | |
Oak Grove Elementary School hosted its annual Famous Missourians Living Museum on Thursday, March 28 – the culmination of several weeks of preparation and the first major research project for the third graders.
“Literally months of researching Missouri facts, having their speeches memorized, bringing in their own props; seeing where they started to everything being top-notch today,” commented Kaisha Pigg, third grade teacher. “It’s amazing what they can do at just 8 or 9 years old.”
The students selected from 18 categories featuring activists, artists, athletes, entrepreneurs, explorers, politicians and writers on a running list of 135 state trailblazers that included Maya Angelou, George Washington Carver, Walter Cronkite, Dick Van Dyke and Rose O’Neill.
Families were invited to observe the students at their presentation boards in character, reciting facts about their chosen figures. “It’s a lot of different skills at the same time, concluding with public speaking,” explained third grade teacher Christine Walker, noting that a half-hour of class time was designated each day leading up to the event.
The first time the real-life wax museum activity appeared in an Oak Grove yearbook was during the 2009/10 school year, confirmed reading teacher Staci Barker. The precursor to the tradition, which originally began with fourth graders, was what individuals with ties to the elementary school recall as the Missouri history notebook.
Poplar Bluff High School senior Carson Todd, who was tutoring last month at Oak Grove through the AmeriCorps program, was able to remember who his famous Missourian was during the 2015/16 school year: American football player Dan Connolly of the New England Patriots. (See here).
A Chesterfield native, Connolly played for Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Todd could still recite from his research. A Patriots fan at the time, Todd said he had to obtain special permission to portray the NFL player from his then teacher, Kristie Robinson, now principal.
Above: Taking a selfie at the Famous Missourians Living Museum are (left to right) Taya Johnson as Annie Fisher, Adalyn Mae Tinsley as Laura Ingalls Wilder and Marni Bea Ray as Sheryl Crow.
Below: R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman visits with Santiago Castro Clavijo portraying Charles Lindbergh on Thursday, March 28, at Oak Grove.
Click here to view all of our photos in our running album, and be sure to leave a comment under your favorite shots!
|  | PBJHS hosts SOMO spring games as part of long-standing tradition |  | |
Around 200 student-athletes representing 16 schools and agencies competed in the Southeast Area Spring Games for Special Olympics Missouri held Friday, April 12, at Fred M. Morrow Stadium.
Officials estimate that the event, which serves as the first of three qualifiers for the statewide competition to take place at the University of Missouri in Columbia this summer, has been hosted at Junior High for approximately 25 years, and has been a tradition of the school system even longer.
“The kids go to work, and it really gives hope for the future, seeing young people helping other young people. It’s total inclusion,” stated Penny Williams, SOMO development director. “Everybody deserves an opportunity to compete, have people cheer them on and win. That’s what Special Olympics are all about.”
A total of 60 students participated in the track and field contests from Poplar Bluff Schools, representing O’Neal Elementary, Middle School, Junior High and Senior High, according to Williams. There were also athletes from Shady Grove, Southeast Missouri Residential Services and Twin Rivers in Butler County, among other educational institutions and organizations throughout the region.
“This is a special day for everyone as we kick off one of the most exciting sports competitions in the Southeast Missouri area,” emcee Josh Bell announced on behalf of the organization during the opening ceremonies. “…We are happy to be here and see each of you for a day of good fun and great sports competition!”
Above: Maison Dennis, PBHS junior, sings the national anthem, kicking off the opening ceremonies of the Special Olympics Missouri Spring Games at Fred M. Morrow Stadium.
Below: (Right to left) Hayden Downs and D’Angelo Keel, PBHS seniors, compete against a student-athlete from another school during the 100-meter run on Friday, April 12.
Click here to view all of our photos in our running album, and be sure to hit Like to express your support!
|  | School board incumbents sworn in after election results are certified |  | |
Poplar Bluff Board of Education incumbents Ken Davis and Tim Gaebler were sworn back in during the reorganizational meeting held Tuesday, April 9, in the Administrative Building.
For the ensuing year, Roger Hanner will succeed Ken Davis as board president, with Gaebler taking Hanner’s place as vice-president, it was unanimously decided, with Dr. Cynthia Brown being absent, following the Municipal Election earlier this month.
“It’s nothing against the admirable job that Ken Davis did, it just needs to be rotated around from my experience at Three Rivers College,” said retired community college administrator Dr. Larry Kimbrow, upon making the motion that Gaebler seconded. "It worked a lot better for a number of reasons."
Dr. Mike Price submitted the motion for Gaebler to be vice-president, which Dave Elledge seconded. R-I Assistant Superintendent of Business Charles Kinsey was selected to serve as treasurer; Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman will act as secretary during closed session; while his administrative assistant, Carla Thompson, will remain custodian of records.
Since the incumbents resumed their seats on the school board, committee appointments remain unchanged through the 2024/25 school year: Brown – adult advisory committee; Davis and Kimbrow – audit; Davis, Elledge and Hanner – buildings and grounds; Hanner – building trades; Kimbrow – federal programs; Hanner – food service with Elledge on the advisory board; Brown – health advisory; Gaebler and Price – insurance; Brown – policy; and Elledge, Gaebler and Kimbrow will serve on the technology committee. Additionally, Gaebler will continue in his role as a delegate for the Missouri School Boards’ Association; and Price will serve as liaison to the Poplar Bluff School Foundation.
Davis is serving his fourth consecutive three-year term, and Gaebler is serving his second full term, having initially been appointed to complete a vacated term in 2020. The district would like to thank challengers Curtis Fouts, Jamie Hickson and Heather Rommel for their interest in our school system.
Above: (From right) Ken Davis and Tim Gaebler are sworn into the Board of Education by R-I Superintendent Dr. Aaron Cornman during a reorganizational meeting held last week in the Administrative Building.
| Bonus: Retirees offer advice in #TeacherProud Tuesday feature | For our April #TeacherProud Tuesday, featured by the Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts, several retired educators from across the Poplar Bluff school system (familiar to many) reflect on why they chose such meaningful careers! | |  |
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Get Smart
The PBHS Drama Club will present “Get Smart,” a full-length play by Christopher Sergel, at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, April 19-20, and 2 p.m. Sunday, April 21, in Kay Porter Theater: 1302 Victory Lane. Tickets cost $5 at the door.
Arbor Day Program
The Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Tree Board and Garden Club, is hosting an Arbor Day event with free children’s activities, tree plantings and a brief presentation at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20, under the Hendrickson Park pavilion.
Foundation Golf
The Poplar Bluff School Foundation’s 24th annual Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, April 26, at Ozark Ridge Golf Course, with tee time beginning at noon following lunch. All proceeds from the golf classic go toward innovative teacher grants outside of the classroom budget, and a student scholarship for a PBHS graduate entering the field of education. To enter a team in the four-person scramble, sponsor a hole or donate a raffle prize, please call 573-785-7751, ext. 5. Click here for an entry form.
Prom
PBHS Prom will take place from 7-11 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Black River Coliseum. Grand March begins at 7 p.m. with a cost of $2 for spectators.
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On Monday, March 25, the DAR reported about Poplar Bluff Middle Schooler Lacey Coffer placing second at the 15th annual Three Rivers College Spelling Bee.
On Tuesday March 26, KBSI Fox23 reported about PBHS being named State President School for the first time in school history by the Missouri Association of Student Councils.
On Wednesday, March 27, KWOC also reported that PBHS was named a MASC State President School.
The DAR reported about the PTO supplying microscopes for the Middle School; and recognized our Middle School Honor Roll (continued in the April 2 edition).
On Friday, March 29, the DAR reported about our PBHS Student Council’s accolades during the MASC State Convention; and recognized our February Athletes of the Month.
On Saturday, March 30, the DAR profiled our school board candidates.
On Wednesday, April 3, KWOC reported about the school board Municipal Election results.
The DAR also interviewed our Board of Education winners.
On Thursday, April 4, the DAR reported about the MASC Convention; and PBHS senior Abby Wilson signing a National Letter of Intent to play basketball for Missouri Valley College in Marshall.
On Tuesday, April 9, Greater Ozarks Cooperating School Districts featured Poplar Bluff Schools in its #TeacherProud Tuesday spotlight.
The DAR reported about our school board reorganization.
On Friday, April 12, the DAR reported about PBHS senior Lawson Barks signing to play golf for the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg; and our Special Olympics Missouri Spring Games.
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