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You've got eMule!
Vol. 11 No. 9
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
| Technical Career Center adds solar power to HVAC/R program |  | |
The HVAC/R program at the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center has incorporated solar energy into its hands-on curriculum, ensuring students remain at the forefront of industry advancements.
Toward the end of last school year, instructor Dan Parker showed his students how to install several solar panels on the side of a campus storage building and run wiring to an all-in-one charge inverter connected to batteries that electrify up to 40 AMPS.
The kit was purchased prior with federal Perkins funds, plus a ductless mini-split with a Vocational Enhancement Grant, according to TCC Director Charles Kinsey. “Going off the grid is very popular,” explained Kinsey, “and sustainable heating and air can be possible to obtain with this setup.”
The system has been attracting interest from entrepreneurial-minded members of the advisory board representing the local heating and air business community, as well as students, Parker noted. He started teaching heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration during the 2020/21 school year, and the program has been at capacity for the past couple of years.
“Mr. Kinsey has given me the leeway to make changes for not just our area but the national heating and cooling industry with the extensive traveling I’ve done [for work],” stated Parker, who operates his own business after school called: Need Air? “I try to teach everybody that change is good.”
While the kit requires an upfront investment, Parker says it should pay for itself within four years – and the batteries are designed to last a decade, which equals six years of low cost, according to his research. As an aside, the solar inverter—manufactured overseas by Seasun Solar—has been charging the internal heater of the diesel bus utilized by the Building Trades program.
The mini-split component of the lesson plan, or air-source heat pump, has “improved in quality tremendously” since the late 1990s, according to Parker, who said the outside system is one-third more efficient even at temperatures as low as 14 degrees. The instructor pointed out how he has personally cut his electric bill by $100 a month to $160, and anticipates it will be reduced to $60/month, once he installs a solar kit after he purchases the unit on Black Friday.
“There’s opinion and there’s fact. Opinion is this is a great idea; fact is it saves the environment by using less fossil fuels, and lowers electric bills,” said junior Alex Vass, who started the two-year program this year. “I view it as an investment, rather than a payment – or maybe one expensive payment, as opposed to monthly.”
Students who complete the program earn EPA 608 and OSHA 10 certifications through nationally standardized testing. Parker said his job placement rate for students who become certified technicians has been 100 percent. So far he has had past students land HVAC jobs in Kansas City, St. Louis and other states including Arkansas and Florida.
Above: With oversight from instructor Dan Parker, Jonathan Grimaldo, a senior, runs wire to a solar inverter while junior Isaac Siebert looks on last week.
Below: HVAC/R students, under the instruction of Dan Parker, complete a two-week lesson plan learning how to install a solar energy system on the TCC campus.
|  | Mark Twain students gain work experience at Nutrition Center |  | |
Mark Twain has partnered with the Northside Nutrition Center to serve senior citizens lunch and, in addition to an elective credit, gain life experience.
Several students have been working for free at the Poplar Bluff Housing Authority’s Twin Towers from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m. four days a week since September, reported instructor Darla Nunn, who presides over the Jobs for America’s Graduates program. The students are not only learning "hands-on life skills" but "people skills" in a "huge, positive atmosphere," Nunn explained.
The relationship was established when Emily LeMaster, Nutrition Center administrator, observed Nunn’s JAG students volunteering at the Bread Shed, where LeMaster also helps out. A schedule was arranged so students could clock in with timesheets and receive evaluations for a grade.
“It helps with their credits and helps them learn work value too,” LeMaster commented. The Nutrition Center has three full-time kitchen staff members, she noted, but also is reliant on volunteers, since the operation serves 500 people who are homebound.
The head cook, Andre Brown, said he enjoys working with the teenagers and discussing how to achieve their dreams. “It’s a time where they need to pick their goals, or life picks them for you,” said Brown, adding that the working environment provides the students a “positive structure.”
The PBHA is an independent municipal agency that provides income-based quality, safe, affordable housing. Also new this year, Mark Twain students have been volunteering at the Animal Welfare Alliance, along with mentoring at the Kindergarten Center, according to Nunn.
Above: Sophomore Noah McCrary helps head cook Andre Brown prepare fried fish, as Nutrition Center Director Emily LeMaster looks on.
Below: Mark Twain students (from left) Ashley Hillis, Zack Kingery and Ryan Nelson serve people at the Nutrition Center, located in the Twin Towers.
|  | Shepherds Fold accepts donation from students, pastor |  | |
Eugene Field donated its proceeds from Red Ribbon Week to a residential treatment center, and a faith partner of the school pledged to match the contribution.
The elementary students made a $211 donation to Shepherds Fold Ministry to help area men overcome addiction on Tuesday, Nov. 1, with help from Northpoint Nazarene Church pastor Greg Gilberto, who generated profits from his Anointed Brew Coffee.
“We raised $105 in four days one quarter at a time, which I thought was impressive,” Eugene Field counselor Esther Luna recapped. “We sell little red ribbons to raise awareness for being drug-free but instead of receiving prizes, we tell them: ‘We don’t need any prizes anymore.’ We like to give the money away instead.”
Red Ribbon Week is an alcohol, tobacco and drug prevention awareness campaign observed annually in October in the United States. The proceeds from ribbon sales typically go toward prizes acquired by R-I Health Director Bailey Hester, drug-free coordinator. However, Eugene Field elects to donate its annual winnings to an area recovery center in need.
Luna learned that Shepherds Fold was in the process of establishing a residential treatment facility in Wappapello at the former Cotrell Funeral Home on Highway T from past colleague Jackie Gilberto, retired educator, who is married to Greg.
Beginning in 2020 during the pandemic, Greg started livestreaming a weekly ‘Coffee with the Pastor’ installment via Facebook to stay connected with his congregation. Over the summer, he linked up with a Doniphan gentleman who has a commercial roaster, and began bagging his own coffee product that Greg labeled Anointed Brew.
All proceeds from the coffee, $20 per bag, go toward nonprofits. So far Greg has given away over $1,000, he reported.
Above: Students Luna Matthews-Fratesi (left) and Bay Paukner (right) present a donation to Shepherds Fold Ministry, represented by Director Paul Boyer (gray button-up) and residents.
| Junior, Senior High band members named All-District |  | |
A total of 16 band students from Poplar Bluff Junior and Senior High combined qualified for the Southeast Missouri All-District band during an audition held Tuesday, Nov. 1, in Jackson.
All-District Junior High students include Deanna Gholson, clarinet; Preston Ethridge (who also made first chair), Jackson Kennedy and Brayden Keeling on the trumpet; Andrew Mahurin and Logan Suprise in the trombone section; and RJ Hester, baritone.
High School concert band qualifiers are Braeden Johnson, clarinet; Caleb Shepard, trumpet (first chair); Kristyn Millner, French horn (first chair); Ian Gholson, trombone; and William Montgomery, tuba. High School jazz band qualifiers are Connar Jones, alto sax (first chair); Dylan Bledsoe, trombone; Damaireus Winters, bass trombone; and Dawson Parker, drumset.
The All-District concert will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19, at Cape Central High School. The jazz band will perform during the Three Rivers College Jazz Festival in February at the Tinnin Fine Arts Center.
Top: (Left to right) Deanna Gholson, Brayden Keeling, Jackson Kennedy, Preston Ethridge, Andrew Mahurin, Logan Suprise, and RJ Hester.
Middle: (Left to right) Caleb Shepard, Kirstyn Millner, Braeden Johnson, Ian Gholson and William Montgomery.
Bottom: (From left) Damaireus Winters, Dawson Parker, Connar Jones and Dylan Bledsoe.
|  |  | Bonus: Music appreciation students hear pipe organ | |
Poplar Bluff High School students in music teacher Joshua Allen’s music appreciation class were provided the experience of learning how a pipe organ is played on Thursday, Nov. 3, at First United Methodist Church.
Last week, the music appreciation students were studying Johann Sebastian Bach, a German composer and classical musician of the 18th Century. “Bach is known for his organ music, so I decided to give students this opportunity to see an organ and how it works,” Allen explained.
The organ was built by the Quimby company of Warrensburg in 1988, and features three manuals and 24 ranks, according to Allen.
Above: Joshua Allen, PBHS director of vocal music, shows students how a pipe organ works.
Below: PBHS music appreciation students view the ranks of the pipe organ located at First United Methodist Church on North Main Street.
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Thanksgiving Dinner
Chartwells, in collaboration with the school district, will host its annual Community Thanksgiving from 5-7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 11, at PBHS. Please enjoy a full-course meal and entertainment, free of charge!
Teacher Recruitment
The Missouri State Board of Education and its Blue Ribbon Commission are hosting a public engagement meeting from 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17, at the Kay Porter Theater to address teacher recruitment and retention challenges across the state. Click here to learn more.
Collect the Caps
The PBHS Beta Club is collecting teal bottle caps on Dr. Pepper products through Jan. 31, 2023, for a chance to win up to $10K through the annual Collect the Caps contest, co-sponsored by Pepsi MidAmerica. The special caps are being accepted in 50-gallon barrels at the 3209 Oak Grove Road campus from the following 16&20-ounce, and 1&2-liter bottles: Diet/Cherry/Dr. Pepper, Diet/7Up, Squirt, Crisp & Clear water, and Orange/Grape/Strawberry Crush. Last year, the student organization won $6,000 through the contest, and $2,500 in 2019.
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On Monday, Oct. 31, KWOC reported about Mules Football advancing to the district semifinals.
On Tuesday, Nov. 1, Fox23 reported about our MSTA classroom project grant recipients.
The DAR published a photo display of Halloween activities taking place across campus.
On Wednesday, Nov. 2, the DAR also reported that the MSTA awarded Poplar Bluff teachers $500 in grants.
On Saturday, Nov. 5, the DAR reported about the Poplar Bluff Mules defeating Jackson in the MSHSAA Class 5 District 1 semifinal. Go Mules!
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