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You've got eMule!
Vol. 12 No. 10
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
| Lake Road student wins district-wide math competition |  | |
A Lake Road Elementary student won the Math Counts competition last week, advancing to the championship among hundreds of fourth graders across the district.
Chance Goins scored 59 of 60 multiplication problems correctly in two minutes, vying against finalists Harper Olivas-Zuniga, Bowen Crook and Landri Slayton of the Middle School on Wednesday, Nov. 29, at the Ridgel Branch of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library.
“You all are already winners, being one of four – out of nearly 400 students, representing your school district, classroom and families,” said organizer Kathern Harris prior to the contest. The fact that a Lake Road student beat the odds is a sign of “consistency” in curriculum across the district, Harris noted.
Three weeks of preliminary rounds were held at the respective school sites in November, according to district instructional coaches, Michele Carmode and Kyler Sowell, who together helped facilitate the quizzes. Chance shared how he studied online daily over November break, with the exception of the Thanksgiving holiday.
“He worked so hard and spent a lot of time prepping,” reflected Chance's father, Alex Goins, noting that his son has always been a natural at math. “He wanted it bad. This is a big deal.”
Math Counts was established during the 2011/12 school year by the Children and Youth Succeeding in School Committee under which Harris serves as chairperson through the Butler County Community Resource Council. “This is a tremendous achievement, and we are immensely proud of their hard work and dedication,” CRC Executive Director Rebeca Pacheco wrote to parents of the finalists in a letter.
The concept for the contest came from a brainstorming session when committee members were trying to determine how to motivate students to memorize their multiplication tables, Harris recalled. The championship originally featured the top math students from each of Poplar Bluff’s lower elementary schools until the Middle School shifted to incorporate grade four, and Lake Road later expanded its grade configuration.
Above: Organizer Kathern Harris of the CRC presents the Math Counts trophy to (right to left) Chance Goins while congratulating finalists Harper Olivas-Zuniga, Landri Slayton and Bowen Crook.
Below: Math Counts champion Chance Goins embraces his grandmother Terri Jennings, Lake Road administrative assistant.
|  | PBHS Drama Club helps breathe life into cemetery tour |  | |
Several Poplar Bluff High School students portrayed local historical figures during a cemetery tour that was designed as part of the community’s Walk-Tober events concluding last month.
Claire and Jack Funke, Drew Noble, Harley Stillwell and Virginiagrace Vandewarker depicted soldiers of WWI and WWII, a tornado victim, 19-century socialite and a hippie on Sunday, Nov. 5, at Poplar Bluff City and Woodlawn cemeteries.
Over 150 people participated in the walking tours, a grant-funded movement established by the Butler County Wellness Council under the Preventative Research Center to promote physical activity while celebrating Poplar Bluff’s rich history.
“This number exceeded all of our expectations, and I know this was largely in part [due] to our partnership with the Poplar Bluff Museum, Kati Ray, and the PBHS Drama Club students,” said Abby Hanner of the Butler County Community Resource Council, noting that extra timeslots needed to be added each weekend.
The history lessons, which also illuminated downtown’s roots as well as the devastating tornado of 1927, were led by Ray of the Poplar Bluff Museum board, who was credited for writing the scripts as well as leading the groups. Hanner reported that along with advertising and providing incentives for the fitness activities, the Heartland Moves grant funding was used to pave the remainder of the trail at Bacon Park.
Ray, who authored the book “Poplar Bluff Tornado: May 9, 1927,” explained how she reached out to Drama Club instructor Nick McDaniel in order to involve students in the reenactment portion of the events. Ray reflected: “They really brought history to life! They shared stories about the lives of historic Poplar Bluff citizens while dressed in period costumes.”
Virginagrace portrayed Annette Bulow Frere Seipel; Harley depicted a 1960s woman discussing “Silent” George Couch; Drew represented Sgt. Ruie Treece; Jack played 1st Lt. Thomas Don Ferguson; and Claire – Mary Malissa Brown Christian. Additionally, Clinton Salyer of the museum board joined in, dressed as the late Jess Reynolds.
The individuals remembered—whom Ray referred to as characters, pioneers, leaders and heroes—in some instances have artifacts on display in the North Main Street museum, open to the public on Sundays. “Every building and cemetery monument has a story,” Ray stated.
Above: PBHS sophomore Claire Funke portrays Mary Malissa Brown Christian, a mother who lost two of her children as a result of exposure and injuries sustained in the tornado of 1927.
Below: Drew Noble, PBHS junior, depicts Sgt. Ruie Treece of the Missouri National Guard, who was struck by lightning after enlisting with the Missouri National Guard to serve in WWI.
|  | Middle School fundraiser generates another $2K+ for AWA |  | |
The Poplar Bluff Middle School has donated approximately $2,200 to the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri, further solidifying its partnership with the regional nonprofit animal shelter.
During its inaugural fundraiser last school year, the Middle School raised around the same amount for the AWA in a collaboration with the High School Student Council. This year, the younger students generated the entire donation independently, with the Middle School Student Council spearheading the effort.
“StuCo was very happy to raise the money for AWA when it was presented,” stated math teacher Dr. Brandi Compass, sponsor of the Middle School student organization. “…I heard of AWA for the first time last year from a student who was volunteering there. So I was very happy to hear this was the organization they chose.”
The school's Art Department originally sponsored the fundraiser after a school connection was established with the AWA board. The art class raised over $700 of the total this year through stuffed animal “adoptions” and other such activities.
“They do it because they care. Most have pets or are [otherwise] sympathetic,” art instructor Kelly Lawson explained of the student's continued interest in supporting the organization. Colleague Veronica Brassfield added: “The kids love contributing there.”
The duo decided to hand over the reins of the service project to StuCo this year. The majority of the proceeds were generated as the result of a pumpkin decorating contest over which students held a penny war. Wayne County Produce donated a total of 80 pumpkins for the cause, Compass noted.
Having opened in 2022 at the former Hillcrest Animal Hospital building on South Westwood Boulevard, the AWA is approaching placement of 500 cats and dogs in forever homes, reported volunteer director Corretta Bishop. The no-kill shelter offers fixed pets with up-to-date shots for an adoption fee. The 501c3 also supplies vouchers for spaying and neutering to families in need in Butler, Carter, Ripley and Wayne counties. For additional information, visit www.awasemo.org.
Above: (Front row, from left) Sixth graders Delaney Steffan and Madi Mae Maddox; and (back, left to right) teachers Veronica Brassfield and Dr. Brandi Compass, Corretta Bishop of the AWA, and instructor Kelly Lawson.
| PBHS Choir students to perform at national, statewide conferences |  | |
Members of the Poplar Bluff High School Choir received special recognition for their recent statewide and regional accomplishments during the November Board of Education meeting.
Selected as members of the Missouri All-State Choir, Ray Bourd and Gabriel Burke will perform in the alto section during the Missouri Music Educators Association conference in January at the Lake of the Ozarks. Additionally, Elijah Bosch - bass, and Andrew Noble - tenor, were named alternates, while Virginiagrace Vandewarker, an alto, received honorable mention.
Although freshmen and sophomores were ineligible to audition, the following students were chosen to receive solos by clinician Dr. Jordan Cox of Missouri Baptist University during the rehearsal held last month in Cape Girardeau: Cayden Innes (bass), Frances Nelson (alto) and Kaitlyn Penrod (soprano).
On top of All-State, five of nine choral students were selected last month to perform for the grade-level honor choirs during the regional Southwestern American Choral Directors Association conference to be held in March in Denver. Kaitlyn was chosen for the soprano section of the treble choir; and Elijah Bosch, Ray and Gabriel will perform in the mixed choir.
The qualifying students recorded an art song on a specified pitch, “My Country ‘Tis of Thee,” and sang a set of scales to demonstrate their range and tone, choir director Joshua Allen explained. A first on the vocal music teacher’s watch, PBHS competed against students from Missouri, Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
Above: (Left to right) Gabriel Burke, Elijah Bosch, Andrew Noble and Ray Bourd were selected as members of the Missouri All-State Choir upon auditioning on Saturday, Nov. 11, at Cape Central High School.
Below: The 2023/24 Missouri All-State Choir features four members from Poplar Bluff High School (red robes).
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Imagination Library
Parents of eligible children, birth to age 5, may enroll here to receive a FREE high-quality, age-appropriate book monthly in the mail via Dolly Parton's Imagination Library for all children in Missouri.
School Board Filing
Election filing to fill two open seats on the Board of Education will run from 8 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. Dec. 5-20, plus 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 26 in the Administration Building at 1110 N. Westwood Boulevard. Candidate names will be placed on the ballot in order of filing.
Christmas Break
School will be dismissed for students from Thursday, Dec. 21-Tuesday, Jan. 2. School will resume on Wednesday, Jan. 3.
ECH Screening
A screening for 2024/25 enrollment at the Poplar Bluff Early Childhood Center will take place on Tuesday, Jan. 9. To schedule an appointment, call 573-785-6803. Please have child’s social security number handy. To attend, child(ren) must be between 3-5 years old on July 31.
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On Monday, Nov. 13, the DAR published a photo gallery from our annual Community Thanksgiving.
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, KBSI Fox23 reported about the sculpture donation to our American sign language class; Sleep in Heavenly Peace representatives visiting our community service class at PBJHS; and the successful festival season of the PBHS Sho-Me Marching Band.
KWOC reported about our All-State Choir students.
On Thursday, Nov. 16, the DAR honored our October Athletes of the Month.
On Friday, Nov. 17, KWOC reported about our Junior High students learning to build a bed with a local charity.
On Sunday, Nov. 19, the DAR additionally reported about our SHP collaboration.
On Wednesday, Nov. 22, the DAR published Thanksgiving celebration photos from the Kindergarten Center.
On Saturday, Nov. 25, the DAR reported about the successful festival season of our Sho-Me Marching Band; and the walking tours.
On Sunday, Nov. 26, the DAR reported about our ASL ceramic alphabet donation from a generous St. Louis artist.
On Wednesday, Nov. 29, the DAR reported about our annual Math Counts competition.
KFVS12 reported about PBHS Mules Football linebacker Logan Hite receiving the Derland Moore award during the 78th annual Grid Iron Banquet.
On Thursday, Nov. 30, the DAR also reported about the SEMO Football Conference awards.
KWOC helped promote our Drama Club’s “Goosebumps” play.
On Saturday, Dec. 2, the DAR reported about our Middle School’s donation to the Animal Welfare Alliance.
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