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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.
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Dinner offered for free to students at all sites
Free dinner meals are being served either to go or on-site after school beginning today, in a district-led food service effort to reach more students.
Poplar Bluff's food service director, Dixie Harden of Chartwells, has been making arrangements with principals since September in order for her staff to accommodate the specific needs of each building.
Early Childhood, Eugene Field, Lake Road, Oak Grove and Junior High students will receive bagged meals to go, while students participating in after-school activities such as clubs, sports or latch-key at Kindergarten, O'Neal, Middle School and High School will have an option to eat their meals on-site.
"Meal participation rates have been down tremendously, and this is a way to meet a need for both our students and the community," stated Dr. Amy Jackson, R-I assistant superintendent of business.
The district's participation rate has been impacted by students quarantined due to contact tracing. In addition, about 15 percent of the population had enrolled in the Poplar Bluff Virtual Academy for the first quarter. The virtual learners have also been given the option to pick up meals at one of the district's three curbside sites: O'Neal, Middle School or the High School.
Earlier this month, the United States Department of Agriculture issued a series of waivers under the federal nutrition assistance program, announcing that free meals for students, grades preK-12, will be extended through the end of the school year to help combat hunger during the public health emergency.
"There are a lot of people still struggling, I mean really struggling, and I don't want our kids to go hungry, basically," Harden explained. "Amy's helped and Dr. [Scott] Dill," superintendent, "is on board, when it comes to feeding kids; it's just imperative that we do."
For more information about dinner services, contact the individual school building, or call Chartwells at 573-785-0486.
Above: O'Neal Elementary students participating in Boys and Girls Club or latch-key line up for dinner when the after-school meal service was first introduced at select sites one year ago.
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Students connect virtually w/ airman, scientist
Students across campus had individual experiences this month learning firsthand about different career fields, with the use of virtual technology.
Kindergartners were fortunate enough to link up with a former Kinder Mule now serving the U.S. Air Force, while Middle School SINGS students were able to connect with a scientist studying fish in Canada.
During Career Day on Friday, Oct. 9, at the Kindergarten Center, students Matthew Feltz and Preston Johnson came to school dressed as soldiers, which prompted paraprofessional Pilar Hopper to make arrangements to FaceTime her daughter Amiah Berry of the PBHS Class of 2019, who completed her Basic Military Training over the summer.
"...I told the boys they had a surprise phone call from my daughter, a real soldier, and they smiled really big and I took them out in the hall so they could talk," Hopper recalled. "She asked them if they wanted to be soldiers when they grow up and they both said, 'Yes.'"
Berry proceeded to teach the kindergartners how to properly salute, as well as make a war face. The Poplar Bluff alumna is currently attending technical school at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi, and will be stationed at Fort Sam Houston in Texas at the end of the year.
Earlier in the week, a group of Middle School students participated in a video chat with Hannah Harrison, a scientist who is working toward her doctoral degree in Guelph, Canada upon serving in the Peace Corps for three years. Harrison grew up in Alaska.
"She mainly studies salmon and she spoke to the students about how she studies the salmon, working in fisheries and on fishing boats, as well as her work experience in the Peace Corps," explained Krista Yarbro, teacher over the gifted program.
Yarbro linked up with the scientist via Skype a Scientist, an online database. Rather than selecting a specific field of study, she said she chose "any scientist" in order to expedite the pairing process. She plans to connect her class with another scientist through the program in the near future.
Above: Amiah Berry of the U.S. Air Force teaches kindergartens how to salute on Career Day. (Note: She is strictly wearing her hat indoors to display her uniform for the students).
Below: Homer, Alaska-native Hannah Harrison displays a salmon to students of the gifted program while working at a Canadian fishery.
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September Athletes of the Month named
The Mules Booster Club has named Salah McCormack and Gavyn Hays of Poplar Bluff High School the September Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Gavyn, a senior football player, had 18 carries, 152 yards, 3 touchdowns, 8.4 yards per carry and 1 pass reception for 9 yards during this season's game against Sikeston.
Gavyn is a "great team leader" and "extremely hard-working," said his coach, David Sievers, noting that the student-athlete also was a state qualifier for Mules Wrestling last year.
Salah, a cross country runner, finished as Poplar Bluff's top female runner for most of the 2020 season, and was a medalist at the Jackson Invitational.
"We can always count on her to run to her ability at any given course," said her coach, Elizabeth Lewis, adding that Salah has run for the school system since seventh grade. "As Salah has grown older, she is developing more confidence as a runner."
Above: Booster Club vice president Brian Taylor presents the AOM awards to Gavyn Hays and Salah McCormack on Tuesday, Oct. 13, at Mules Stadium.
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KFVS12
Tune in to Channel 12 at 6 p.m. Monday, Oct. 19, to learn more about our new contact tracing positions approved by the Board of Education last week.
TOY Luncheon
Our rescheduled 2020 Teacher of the Year Luncheon will take place at noon, Wednesday. Oct. 21, at the Westwood Center.
Retirement Reception
Our postponed 2020 Retirement Reception is scheduled for 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at the Westwood Center.
Movie Night
O'Neal Elementary's annual Movie Night is slated for 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, featuring a showing of "Trolls," food and a costume parade, sponsored by Mossy Oak Properties/Mozark Realty.
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On Tuesday, Oct. 13, KFVS12 reported about our 10th anniversary of Pink-Out Day.
The DAR reported about our first All-American trap shooter of PBHS, Austin Stoner.
On Wednesday, Oct. 14, the DAR reported about our rootEd scholarship recipients: alumnae Nayeli Cerda and Khelie Spence.
On Thursday, Oct. 15, the DAR reported about our Middle School Giving Closet.
On Friday, Oct. 16, the DAR reported about R-I instructional coach Keri Jameson receiving a P.E.P scholarship to pursue her doctorate.
On Saturday, Oct. 17, the DAR reported about our partnership with the Parks Department to resurface our Middle School tennis courts.
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