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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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Grad Center students earn G2J certificates
A total of 13 students from the Graduation Center earned certificates to include on their resumes through the Gateway 2 Jobs program on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce.
The annual Chamber-endorsed program brings in education officials, business owners and human resource managers to the school to provide students tips on securing jobs.
"I'm proud of you," said Chamber President Steve Halter at the graduation luncheon. "No one's forcing you to finish high school, so for you to wake up every day and go to school to get a degree means a lot."
Asked what they took away from the program, students variously replied: how to present oneself, making eye contact, exchanging a firm handshake and sending a thank you letter to employers, as well as obtaining basic budgeting skills.
"In order to have success, you may have to do some things that are going to make you a little uncomfortable, but this is how you grow," said AT&T Regional Director Jomo Castro. AT&T-along with Briggs & Stratton, Health Partners Management Group, Kissinger & Kirkman Investment Centre, Productive Staffing and Walmart-sponsored the month-long program.
Lifelong educator Gaelle Freer, at-risk teacher at the Graduation Center, was credited for her persistence in keeping G2J going over nine years and helping to add key elements over that time including scholarships. She hopes an internship component may be incorporated in the future.
"A lot of these kids, the first thing they're going to do when they leave here, is look for jobs," explained Freer, who plans to retire this school year after devoting 39 and a half years to alternative education. "Sometimes students don't always have the support system you'd like them to have, and they need that one little step up to be able to make it."
Above: Pictured with Gateway 2 Jobs program representatives, 2019 graduates included (in alphabetical order) Jasmyn Allen, Dylan Bradford-Greenlee, Ste'Shawn Carter, Brice Doles, Paige Glass, Hunter Grace, Cordell Harris, Ezequiel Hutton, Zechariah McDonald, Zackary Schwartz, Destiny Thompson, Caleb Weaver and She'Sa Dream Williams.
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College Fair presents array of opportunities
The annual College Fair was held at Poplar Bluff High School on Tuesday, Oct. 22, featuring representatives from about 45 different technical career centers, military branches and higher education institutions from Missouri as well as nearby states including Iowa and Mississippi.
High school participants included seniors, juniors and advanced placement sophomores from PBHS, along with Westwood Baptist, East Carter and Campbell.
"There are possible post-secondary options for everyone-from the medical field, to community college, to technical education like welding, to branches of the military, to the Missouri Department of Higher Ed-we even invite Harvard and Yale if they want to come," explained Sara Woodard, PBHS counselor. Woodard noted that colleges also visit classrooms during advisory on a regular basis, and students are welcomed to request information through the counseling center at any time.
One college representative, Ariel Dumars of Southeast Missouri State University, explained that the goal of the event is to provide a general overview of what undergraduate education entails. Common questions revolve around scholarship opportunities, tuition costs, student life and dormitories, according to the admission counselor.
Above: Students examine a simulated set of "breathing" pig lungs from the Cape Girardeau Career & Technology Center booth highlighting its respiratory therapy program.
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here to view all of our photos, and help us tag our students!
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Movie on the Playground at O'Neal
Students dressed up in Halloween costumes and enjoyed an outdoor movie on the playground with their families on Thursday, Oct. 4, during the fourth annual Movie Night at O'Neal Elementary.
"Southern Bank provides the movie and screen, Chartwells provides the food, and O'Neal provides the fun," said O'Neal Principal Dr. Amy Dill who, along with her colleagues, dressed up as "Toy Story" characters to match the theme of the movie this year.
Southern Bank, which set up its traveling inflatable outdoor movie screen for the special occasion, maintains a seat on the Bright Futures Site Council at O'Neal. One of the goals the organization identified at the elementary school is to host more events that involve parents and guardians. The popular Movie Night satisfies that need and also incorporates a Halloween parade, another long-standing tradition of the elementary school.
Above: O'Neal staff and friends dress up in a coordinated theme to help build excitement for a movie.
Below: O'Neal Counselor Gabe Thompson sets the stage for the movie, after families settle in with their snacks.
Click
here to view photos of some of the awesome costumes in our running album, and be sure to hit 'like' on your favorites!
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Mules Café
The Mules Café will serve shrimp or chicken skewers, a house salad, homemade roll, choice of two sides, dessert and a beverage for only $7 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, in the Administrative Building: 1110 N. Westwood Blvd.
Fall Festival
The annual Fall Festival of the Kindergarten Center will run from 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 29, featuring food, games, a bounce house and a silent auction.
Halloween Break
Teachers will be hard at work participating in professional development trainings on Thursday, Oct. 31, while students enjoy the day off. There will also be no school on Friday, Nov. 1. School will resume for students on Monday, Nov. 4. Have a happy and safe Halloween!
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On Tuesday, Oct. 22, KWOC
reported a news obituary about lifelong R-I employee Wesley Lewis.
The Dexter Statesman
reported about Dexter's new partnership with the Technical Career Center. The article was later published in the DAR via the SEMO News Service.
The DAR
reported an advanced story about Pink-Out Day.
On Thursday, Oct. 24, the DAR
also wrote a tribute to Officer Lewis, the 'True Mule;' reported about the PBHS Beta Club's Wizarding School/Harry Potter fundraising event organized for young students; and highlighted Kindergarten teacher Sarah Hodges' creative classroom activities.
On Friday, Oct. 25, the DAR
featured a Q&A with Klarissa Morse of Oak Grove on its weekly education page.
On Saturday, Oct. 26, the DAR
reported about the classroom project awards granted to Poplar Bluff teachers through the Southeast Region Teachers Association; and published a photo spread of businesses and organization 'pinking out' Poplar Bluff in advance of the Mules Football game.
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