|
Welcome to The eMule! Here is the latest news of the Poplar Bluff School District. Have a Happy Thanksgiving!
|
Superintendent spends day as PBHS student
Poplar Bluff Superintendent Scott Dill could be spotted in plain clothes with a school-issued backpack off Barron Road at a quarter to 7 a.m. on a brisk autumn Thursday, waiting for the bus to pick him up... to go to Senior High.
He contemplated what may pose the biggest challenge for him at this stage in life, such as skipping that second cup of coffee in order to limit his fluid intake.
Despite the careful consideration, he failed to bring something to write in and had to visit the
Giving Closet for a notebook first thing, according to assistant librarian Cindy Webb.
Dill was provided a full class schedule because he committed to spending an entire day as a PBHS student.
"As a superintendent, I'm afforded the opportunity to make decisions every day that impact the lives of kids, and my focus-in concert with the administration and board-is, and has to be, what's best for students," said Dill in an interview the day before his experiment. "My goal is to become better attuned to the needs of our kids and have a deeper appreciation for what their lives within our school system entail."
What he learned quickly was students were rather interested in what he was up to and why. Zac Batton, who was alerted in advance by Dill's teenage daughter, said he thought the bus ride in particular was "pretty cool." Zac, a senior, was humored that Dill had Spanish II with him, considering he heard the superintendent took German in high school.
Attending concert choir class together, sophomore Caitlin Dollins was curious to see if Dill really could sight read the music. And while the superintendent was fully prepared to eat alone, Caitlin ended up welcoming him to her table.
"A couple friends of mine had the idea to invite him to sit with us at lunch if he had D lunch, so I made sure to ask him before anyone else could get the chance to ask," Caitlin explained. "I really wanted to get his opinion of what was going on in the school system, but I didn't want to make him feel uncomfortable or different, as that wouldn't really be in the spirit of the project. So we just talked about classes and which teachers he liked."
Above: Superintendent Scott Dill (maroon hoodie) practices songs for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner with concert choir students in music teacher Joshua Allen's class.
Below: Superintendent Scott Dill participates in a group activity in Debbie McFadden's Spanish class.
|
|
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, faculty and staff members at Poplar Bluff High School selected students that inspire them to work in the public education sector.
The concept was the brainchild of agriculture education instructor Kathryn Clark, who saw a similar video and shared it. With the administration's approval, Help Desk teacher Julie Carda and her students volunteered to take on the project to practice video recording and editing techniques. Communication arts teacher Beth Fox-Godwin also assisted with the project.
"We have amazing kids but sometimes we just get too busy to take the time to tell them that," Clark explained. "They need to know how much we do appreciate and love them. They are the reason why we do what we do!"
Click
here to comment on the video and help challenge other schools to do the same by hitting SHARE!
|
About 900 Thanksgiving meals served
Roughly 900 meals were served during the eighth annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thursday, Nov. 16, at Poplar Bluff High School.
The free event for the public is sponsored by Chartwells School Dining Services in partnership with Student Council and the JROTC. Entertainment was provided by the Jazz Band and Choir. Place mats were designed by elementary art students.
"Poplar is an awesome, giving community that cares about the people living here, and I am just glad to be a part of it. So is Chartwells," stated Dixie Harden, food services director. Over 250 pounds of turkey was purchased for the occasion, she noted, and some of her employees volunteered to cook.
Above: Senior Walter Jackson of the JROTC serves desserts.
Below: Patrons enjoy entertainment provided by the Jazz Band, under the direction of music teacher Stephen Winters
|
ECH students meet the Mules
Members of the Mules Football team visited the Early Childhood Center on Thursday, Nov. 16, to read to and play games with students.
An annual tradition, the event was organized by physical education teacher Todd Cabral. "It's the holiday season so the timing is good to get the students out of the classroom," said Cabral, who also serves as the defensive line coach for the team. "The kids love experiencing this, especially when it's our own Mules."
The Mules ended their regular season this year with an undefeated record, the third in history, according to the
Daily American Republic.
Above: PBHS senior Brett Barousse helps Kyrie Johnson write his name in Traci Allen's class.
Below: Myanza McCain, a senior, helps make turkey hats with preschoolers (clockwise) Jaleayah Smith, Jerrell Brown and Kenzi Robinson in Lori Tibbs' classroom.
Click
here to see scenes from the ECH Thanksgiving feast the following day!
|
Kindergarten exceeds goal of raising $25K
Kindergarten Center Principal Carol Brotman lived up to her word and kissed a pig on Tuesday, Nov. 14, when it was revealed that students raised more than $25,000 in their annual Stonie's Sausage fundraiser.
The top student seller, Raylin Fritts, won an iPad sponsored by People's Community Bank, and the second place winner, Kami Spradling, took home a Kindle Fire sponsored by Century 21 American Realty. Teacher Susie Rahlmann received a whipped cream pie in her face for having the top selling class. The top 20 selling children earned an ice cream/karaoke party.
All proceeds go toward the school's activity fund, benefitting the students.
Above: Principal Carol Brotman kisses Moses Vladamir Winchester Jones, the pig of Jamie and Missy Jones, friends of the school.
Below: Top selling students were Raylin Fritts, Kami Spradling, Hunter Ragle, Madi Mae Maddox, Olivia Tinker, Rilynn Burgess, Roman Edington, Blake Diresto, Keygan Long, Dallas Cluck, Dakota Peppers, Brylee Koonkongzurp, Gabriel Cooper, Jude Funke, Bentley Dawson, Natalea Rommel, Adalyn Richardson, Alyson Murphy, Maddox Campbell and Aniya Cravens.
Click
here to watch the video!
|
|
No pigs were harmed during the Stonie's Sausage fundraising activity. In fact, it appeared Moses left with a fond memory.
|
|
|
|
|
Happy Thanksgiving
Classes have been dismissed through Monday, Nov. 27, for the Thanksgiving holiday as well as a teacher collaboration day. School will resume for students on Tuesday, Nov. 28. Have a rejuvenating break!
ECH Screening
The Early Childhood Center will hold a screening by appointment on Friday, Dec. 1, for new students enrolling in the second semester of the school year. Students must have been 3 years old and not older than 5 as of July 31, 2017. Call Sandy Case at 573-785-6803 to book an appointment, and please have the child's social security number available.
Listening Tour
R-I Superintendent Scott Dill will host a public forum for district patrons at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 12, in the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library theater, located at 318 N. Main Street. Following an update about the school system from Mr. Dill, a Q&A will be held. Refreshments will be served!
|
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, KFVS12
reported about our Unsung Heroes of MSTA award recipient.
On Wednesday, Nov. 15,
the DAR reported about our APR score of 86.4, which increased by 7 percent from last year and 15 percent since 2015.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, River Radio featured Superintendent Scott Dill along with guests Donna Moore and Carrie Booker of Bright Futures on KWOC, Clear 94 and The Bone.
The ShowMe Times reported about our All-District Band
members; Family Dentistry's
donation to the Giving Closet; and Karmen Carson's
award.
On Sunday, Nov. 19, the DAR recognized our Middle School and Junior High Students of the Month.
|
Help us grow our list.
Forward this to a friend.
|
|
|
|
|
