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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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Kindergarten nearly doubles fundraising goal
The campus community rallied around Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center to make its annual Stonie's Sausage fundraiser by far the most successful in its several-year history.
A total of $44,255 in gross sales was generated over a two-week period, exceeding the school's goal of $25,000, school leaders announced on Thursday, Oct. 29, during a virtual celebration aired live throughout classrooms.
"Poplar Bluff seems to always come through when you truly need them, and we are blessed to have such an outpouring of support," commented Jessica Thurston, Kindergarten principal. "Even in the midst of a pandemic, our community has once again shown its true colors."
The proceeds from the fundraiser will go toward providing yearbooks for students, T-shirts and fun Friday celebrations. Typically the funding also supports field trips, but since gatherings are limited this year, the Kindergarten Center has a special project planned for its playground involving the purchase of some benches.
The 2020 top-selling classrooms, earning pizza parties, were: Aimie Simmers and Olivia Love. The grand prize winner, receiving a Nintendo Switch, was Aubreigh Vermillion; second place, winning an iPad Mini, was Kenzley Hicks; third place, winning an iPad mini, was Paul Savat; fourth place, winning a Fire 7 Kids Edition tablet, was Rhett Williams; and fifth place, winning a bicycle, was Grayce Keeney.
Sponsors of the giveaways included a group from the Missouri Army National Guard; Mr. Appliance of Poplar Bluff; Nick's Corner Store; People's Community Bank; and Sullivan Clark III.
Above: Fundraising coordinator Shelia Skorcz presents the prizes to winning students (left to right) Aubreigh Vermillion, Paul Savat, Rhett Williams, Grayce Keeney and Kenzley Hicks.
Below: Kindergarten teacher Shelia Skorcz reveals the grand total raised during a virtual celebration hosted in (left) Principal Jessica Thurston's office.
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Students encouraged to vote at mock election
Mock elections were held across campus in the lead up to last week's Election Day in an effort to familiarize students with voting and encourage young people to participate in the democratic process once they turn 18 years old.
"We don't care how you vote, just vote," PBHS social studies teacher Gail Rosmarin stated, reflecting on the department's main message to students. "Otherwise you're allowing a smaller number of people to decide in our form of government, I tell them."
The auxiliary gym was divided into precincts for grade levels with one table designated for staff on Tuesday, Oct. 27. Government students served as poll workers, verifying voters and handing out 'I Voted' stickers, and then counted the ballots, which for the most part mirrored Butler County's choices.
In preparation for the schoolwide event, students determined where they stood on issues utilizing quiz websites such as ISideWith or Ballotpedia. Exit polling was analyzed in class afterward to identify potential trends and contemplate influences such as social media. The mock election has been a tradition of the High School since 1996, thanks in part to county officials for lending equipment to the district.
At Junior High, students voted on the presidential candidates only. The mock election was organized on Thursday, Oct. 29, by American history teacher Kathy Pattillo. She noted that she delves deeper into current events with students in "We the People," an elective based on the popular "I'm a Citizen, Too" summer enrichment.
"Our big emphasis is that, 'We're American, and we can have a difference in opinion,'" Pattillo explained. "There's a good possibility our eighth graders will be voting for an actual president in the next election, so it's important to be informed."
The elementary schools across campus also led smaller-scale classroom activities, highlighting the purpose of holding a general presidential election every four years.
Above: High school students conduct exit polling, focusing on demographics, key issues and favorite musical genres for fun.
Below: A Junior High student casts his ballot in a voting tripod lent to the school by the Butler County Courthouse.
Click here to view all of the photos in our running album, and be sure to 'like' your favorite shot!
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Congratulations to our 2020 retirees!
The contribution to the public education system made by 17 esteemed Poplar Bluff school employees was celebrated on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Westwood Center during the annual retirement reception, postponed from April due to the stay-at-home order.
"You dedicated your lives to something bigger than yourselves - to the benefit of generations of learners," said R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill, welcoming the special guests and their families.
Principals reflected on the careers of those present, which included both an employee who devoted herself to alternative education and another whose tenure was spent in early childhood education. Each educator served the district in three separate buildings, before the programs found their permanent home this school year during the completion of the district's long-range plan.
Other legacies left behind included a lifelong school nurse, a coordinator of the A+ Scholarship program, a counselor who helped organize a longstanding community-wide Veterans Day program, and a teacher who assembled a makeshift hoverboard for summer school students to enjoy. A custodian, not in attendance, once spent an afternoon digging through bags of lunchroom trash in order to retrieve a student's lost retainer, coworkers recalled during the event.
In all, retiring at the conclusion of the 2019/20 school year were: certified personnel Lori Bell, Lisa Boyer, Shelia Coleman, Gaelle Freer, Barbie Hon, Janet Payne, Christie Risinger, Pam Stucker, Tana Tannehill, Cynthia K. Tanner and Julie Withrow; and classified staff members Karen Emmons, Emily Ethridge, John Ethridge, Marcella Reddick and Lori R. West.
Click here to leave the group a farewell comment!
Above: (Left to right) Gaelle Freer, Karen Emmons, Sheila Melton, Julie Withrow, Janet Payne, Cindy Tanner, Tana Tannehill, Pam Stucker and Lori Bell. Not present were Lisa Boyer, Shelia Coleman, Barbie Hon, Christie Risinger, Emily Ethridge, John Ethridge, Marcella Reddick and Lori West.
Below: Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill welcomes the special guests and families during our annual retirement reception.
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Veterans Day Parade
The Poplar Bluff Middle School will host a Veterans Day parade at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, in the parent pick-up line at the Victory Lane location. Veterans wishing to participate in the drive-through are asked to fill out the form available at the link.
Dinner Pick-Up
Due to a low participation rate: Wednesday, Nov. 11, will mark the final day of the curbside dinner service available to students in the evenings at the Middle School. However, Food Service Director Dixie Harden said if anyone wishes for meals to be sent home with their student(s), grades 4-12, may make arrangements directly through the Chartwells office at 573-785-0486. Lower elementary students and younger as well as those participating in extra-curricular activities may still receive meals on-site after school.
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On Wednesday, Oct. 21, the DAR reported about our mock elections.
On Friday, Oct. 30, the DAR reported about virtual opportunities students have had to learn first-hand about different career fields; and recognized our Athletes of the Month.
On Saturday, Oct. 31, the DAR published a photo display of Halloween classroom celebrations at O'Neal Elementary.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, the DAR produced a video at O'Neal Elementary entitled "If I were president;" and recognized our Middle School Students of the Month.
On Thursday, Nov. 5, the DAR reported about our free dinner service update.
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