| Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District to help start your week on the right hoof. |
WWII vet visits American history class
World War II veteran Cloyd Cook, a recipient of four Bronze Star Medals, spoke to advanced American history students about some of his early involvement in helping to stop Nazi Germany and Japan over 70 years ago.
Among less than a million remaining who served the greatest generation, Cook was featured last month in the
Daily American Republic in advance of his 95th birthday celebration. Poplar Bluff High School students read the article and inquired whether he can be a guest lecturer, since they were studying the Allies and the Axis powers. Social studies instructor Paul Conover was able to make the arrangements since he happens to attend Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church with Cook.
Cook was greeted on Thursday, March 9, by JROTC students, who stood at attention lining the hallway at Poplar Bluff High School. "I wish I had a chance to go through school because what you miss, you miss all your life," said Cook, who did not enroll in high school because of the Great Depression.
Born in Stoddard County, Cook moved to Butler County when he was 9 years old. As a young man, he spent a couple years in Caledonia, Miss., serving the Civilian Conservation Corps as part of Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal. When work dried up, Cook decided he would join the U.S. Army, but failed to pass a physical in St. Louis, so he returned home.
Shortly thereafter, Cook said he heard about Japan bombing Pearl Harbor. The following day he went to a neighbor's house to listen to Roosevelt declare war over a dry cell radio, he said.
"It wasn't very long before I got a letter saying, 'We want you,'" Cook stated. "They drafted me, and put me in charge of 17 other men! I made some friends on that trip, but they didn't all come home."
Upon completing training-basic and advanced-Cook was assigned to the 94th Infantry Division. In 1944, he headed to the British Isles by way of New York aboard the Queen Elizabeth, along with 15,000 passengers and an 825-person crew to run the troopship, he said. He noted that it was an armored outfit with yet an additional 2,500 troops to protect from enemy attacks in the English Channel.
After zigzagging across the North Atlantic for several days, soldiers landed near Glasgow and headed to Southern England, some on a duty train while others walked, he recalled. Cook's first assignment was to guard 60,000 German prisoners of war. Later the 94th joined Gen. George Patton's Third Army when Cook first stepped foot on German soil.
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Cook served a total of 209 days on the front lines before the war ended on Sept. 2, 1945, according to a letter signed by Pres. Harry S. Truman that he read to students. He said he passed on many of his military artifacts to his grandchildren, and sold other items when he later fell upon hard times in Rombauer. He showed students a scrapbook, which included a remaining set of dog tags, a letter of recommendation after being honorably discharged, along with various black and white photos. He generously gave a shoulder patch from the 94th Division to one of the students in attendance, freshman Gaelan White.
As a very small token of appreciation, students presented Cook a signed painting of an American flag, which he said he will display in his living room. "I'm no hero," said Cook, as the class gave him an ovation. "I just done what they asked me to do to the best of my knowledge."
Above: PBHS history students, along with some JROTC cadets, have the honor of hearing from WWII veteran Cloyd Cook.
Below: Social studies instructor Paul Conover holds a scrapbook, while Cloyd Cook explains some of the items from his time serving the country.
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Meet Kenny Carpenter, Middle School SRO
R-I's newest school resource officer, Kenny Carpenter, completed his introductory presentations with the sixth grade last week at the Middle School.
Carpenter, who celebrated his 22nd anniversary with the Poplar Bluff Police Department on Monday, March 6, further opened the lines of communication with students.
"I depend on information from you," Carpenter said to instructor Kelly Moore's homeroom, his 16th class. "Anything you know that protects safety-as far as faculty, staff and students are concerned-I expect you to come to me."
He cited two incidents that he has been able to prevent this school year upon receiving information. Two weeks ago Carpenter, along with other emergency responders - both current and former, were able to help save a life as they resuscitated a victim who suffered a heart attack in her vehicle after dropping off a student at school.
Last week the woman, now with a pacemaker, exited her vehicle and hugged Carpenter while he was on morning traffic duty. "It was a touching moment yesterday," Carpenter said to the students.
Carpenter, the father of two PBHS alumni and one current student, worked in the patrol division his entire tenure until he transferred to the SRO post in November, when the school board approved his position. He graduated in 1994 from the Law Enforcement Academy at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
He received 40 hours of training for his school certification, which included topics such as youth mental health first aid. Missouri is one of 13 states to require additional training for SROs, according to Carpenter's presentation.
The district has two other SROs: Officer Jason Courtney at Junior High and Cpl. Richard Knapp at the High School. In addition to law enforcement duties, their job is to serve as informal counselors/mentors for the student body. The first such school post in the United States was created in 1958 in Flint, Mich. According to a report from the National Center for Education Statistics, there were 28,550 SROs in 2015.
Carpenter can be contacted by emailing
kennethcarpenter@pb.k12.mo.us.
Above: Middle School SRO Kenny Carpenter finishes his month-long tour to formally introduce himself to sixth grade classes.
Below: Officer Kenny Carpenter is pictured in his centrally located office, which was furnished in large part by Southern Bank.
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Southern Bank donates executive table
Southern Bank has donated a large boardroom table to Poplar Bluff High School, which is being used to furnish the conference room of the Oak Grove Road facility.
"The bank chose to donate to the school to help furnish the new facilities to benefit the district and enhance the learning environment for the students," said Mel Jackson, community bank president.
Above: High School students pictured are the children of Southern Bank personnel. (Clockwise, beginning in forefront) Audrey Cisne, Cassidy Steffens, Jason Brittingham, Lexi Hafford, Madison Decker, Dylan Cisne, Mel Jackson, Superintendent Scott Dill, Colton Jackson, Colton Shepard, Luke Johnson and Megan Adams.
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February Athletes of the Month named
The Mules Booster Club has named wrestler Josh Lewis and swimmer Taylor Norwood the Poplar Bluff High School Athletes of the Month for February.
Taylor, a junior, was the first in Southeast Missouri to hit a state cut in every swimming event last school year, according to her coach Beth Lewis. A three-time conference MVP, she has gone undefeated in all her individual swims. She is the 2016 Semoball award winner for female swimming. She holds eight school records and numerous meet records. She has been named All State in the 200 individual medley and the 100 fly all three seasons of her high school career. She was part of the 2015 Medley Relay All State Team. In addition, Taylor maintains an 11.057 GPA and is ranked 17 out of 364, her coach continued.
Josh, a senior, has a season record of 40-4 and a career record of 116 wins and 47 losses. This year he was the SEMO Conference champion; Class 4, District 1 champ; Tiger Classic champ for the past two years; and a three-time state qualifier, according to his coach, David Sievers. He is a four-year varsity letterman, and a two-sport standout, also playing football at defensive line.
Above: Pictured presenting the awards on Tuesday, March 7, to Josh Lewis and Taylor Norwood is Booster Club member Brian Taylor.
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Bonus: TCC students bake unique desserts
Carissa Patridge
(above), a chef representative for Sullivan University in Kentucky, talked to Technical Career Center students Wednesday, March 8, about higher education opportunities at the National Center for Hospitality Studies. TCC culinary instructor Brandon Moon happened to receive his associate degree from Sullivan University, majoring in baking and pastry arts.
Patridge, who visited the district last year as well, additionally guest taught for the day, showing culinary students how to make bacon brittle, French macarons
(below) and divinity Southern candy.
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School Board
The Board of Education will hold its regularly scheduled monthly meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, March 16, in the Administrative Building.
Kindergarten Enrollment
Kindergarten enrollment will continue from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Thursday, March 16, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Friday, March 17. No appointment is necessary. Please bring birth certificate, shot record, proof of residency and social security card, if possible. For more information, call the Kindergarten Center at 573-785-4905.
Basketball Fundraiser
The Interact Club, PBHS' student Rotary Club, is hosting a three-on-three basketball tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday, April 1, in the gymnasium. Cost is $75 per team, with all proceeds going toward a summer field trip for the club to tour Civil Rights landmarks. Teams can consist of up to four members. Participants must be 14 years of age or older. First place players will receive Beats headphones. To sign-up in advance, email club sponsor Stephen Patty at stephen
patty
@pb.k12.mo.us
.
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On Tuesday, Feb. 28, KFVS12
reported about how Eugene Field students were invited to visit with legislators at the Capitol.
On Wednesday, March 1, KLID
reported about Eugene Field's visit to Jefferson City.
On Thursday, March 2,
the DAR reported about Junior High students Alexis Richardson and Zoe Savat being invited to present short videos during the recent METC conference in St. Louis.
On Friday, March 3, the DAR reported that Mike Owen has been hired to succeed Mike Kiehne as High School principal; plus reported about the Middle School Safety Patrol.
On Sunday, March 5, the DAR reported about the Patrons of the Arts professional play series that they put on for Poplar Bluff Schools, among other districts within the Three Rivers service area.
On Monday, March 6, the ShowMe Times reported about the PBHS Spanish class getting to sample tropical fruit with
grant funding; and the Imaginary Theatre Company's performance of "
A Thousand Cranes" for Middle School students.
On Tuesday, March 7, the DAR reported about the CRC Spelling Bee at Fox Radio; and recognized our seventh grade physical education Students of the Month.
On Thursday, March 9, the DAR wrote a tribute to long-time custodian Ray Sowell of PBHS; plus honored our eighth grade physical education Students of the Month.
On Sunday, March 12, the DAR recognized the O'Neal Students of the Month.
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