The Poplar Bluff Middle School has plans to permanently display the artwork of a student who has taught himself to create highly detailed 3D paper models from memory in very short order.

Administrators say they will install a shadow box cabinet in the school foyer to showcase the train characters drawn up by sixth grader Terrell Causey, based on the “Thomas & Friends” children’s television series.

“He creates these in record time without instructions using paper, colored pencils, scissors and glue,” said his teacher Jessica Schindler, further describing: “complete with spinning wheels, stairs, a functioning gate, and couplers on the front and back.”

Schindler explained how Terrell practices his craft "during any free time he can manage," and she “can hardly get onto him” because “his artistic talent leaves me in awe every time.” The student also has made paper cutouts of characters from the “Cars” film series and the “Dusty Crophopper” animation in the past, and recently taught his classmates how to make 3D pumpkins in celebration of Halloween.

“His brain could see it in ways mine can’t,” Schindler continued. “By high school, he could be working at Disney!”

Observing Terrell create a train that stands up from just a piece of paper in a matter of moments, he utilizes a well-worn art kit supplied by his teachers, and can explain each of the various components that he picked up on from the cartoon: a funnel, steam dome, boiler, coupling hooks, side rods, engine frame, etc.

Terrell says he “learned by myself,” he has been practicing “since I was little,” and creating the art pieces simply makes him “happy.” Paraprofessional Jennifer Seabaugh purchased the student a Thomas the Tank Engine toy for his birthday in November, and he made a modification in order to connect the wheels so that it is more structurally sound.

“In education, we’re always looking for students with background knowledge – in this case, science and engineering he has gained through observation. It’s creative and it covers both the art and the mechanical world,” said Dr. Josh Teeter, Middle School principal. “The attention to detail is fascinating; it goes to show a child understands more about this type of thing than we realize.”

Above: Middle School student Terrell Causey exercises his fine motor skills creating character ‘James the Red Engine’ No. 5 from “Thomas & Friends” on the spot, without using a visual aid.

Below: Alongside his education team Jessica Schindler (left) and Jennifer Seabaugh, sixth grader Terrell Causey stands beneath his train-themed nametag with a homemade student ID hanging around his neck, holding the latest creation that he whipped together.

Four Poplar Bluff High School choral students have been selected for the All-State Choir, one of whom has further qualified to compete statewide in the Sight-Singing Bee.

Bralin Duckett, a tenor, and soprano Emma Harris will perform with the choir in January during the Missouri Music Educators Association conference at Osage Beach, while Christian Redding, a tenor, and alto Emma Tinsley will serve as alternates.

In addition, Emma Harris achieved one of the highest sight-singing scores in the state, allowing her to vie in the Missouri Choral Directors Association-sponsored Sight-Singing Bee at the same event.

Out of nine PBHS juniors and seniors who tried out for All-State, nearly half advanced during the All-District Choir rehearsal in November in Cape Girardeau. Emma Harris went on to display her “high level of musicianship” and “well-developed ear” in a subsequent sight-singing audition, according to Joshua Allen, director of vocal music.

"Sight-singing is reading and singing a musical passage at first sight," Allen explained. "Students have 20 seconds to prepare from the time they first see the piece."

Above: PBHS Choir students (left to right) Bralin Duckett, Emma Harris, Emma Tinsley and Christian Redding were selected for the All-State Choir during a recent audition at Cape Central High School.

Eugene Field & Lake Road were publicly recognized for earning the 2020 National ESEA Distinguished Schools awards during the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Federal Programs Conference held last month at Osage Beach.

The occasion marked the first time in the 25-year history of the program that each of Missouri’s designees were a part of the same school system, and the fourth consecutive year a Poplar Bluff R-I school has received the national recognition under Title I.

Click here to learn more about the honor!

Above: Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Taylor and Lake Road Principal Rondi Vaughn are presented plaques on Tuesday, Nov. 16, from DESE supervisor of federal programs, Julia Cowell, for being named National ESEA Distinguished Schools.

On Wednesday, Nov. 17, KWOC reported about sophomore Jude Stewart of Mark Twain School winning in the fourth annual First Lady’s Essay contest.

On Thursday, Nov. 18, the DAR reported about Morgan Courtney of PBHS signing a National Letter of Intent to play softball for the Three Rivers Raiders.

On Friday, Nov. 19, KWOC reported about our Beta Club collecting Dr. Pepper product bottle caps for the Pigskin Points contest.

The DAR reported about Gatlin Taylor of PBHS signing a National Letter of Intent to wrestle for Williams Baptist University in Arkansas.

On Saturday, Nov. 20, the DAR also reported about Mark Twain’s Jude Stewart earning a visit to the Governor’s Mansion in Jefferson City via the JAG program.

On Wednesday, Nov. 24, the DAR reported about Lake Road being selected to participate in the United States of Readers program.

On Friday, Nov. 26, the DAR reported about school partner, AmeriCorps’ Project Christmas Promise; and published a photo display from Madison Kacynski’s Thanksgiving/classroom celebration at Eugene Field.

On Saturday, Nov. 27, the DAR recognized our Junior High Students of the Month.

On Wednesday, Dec. 1, the DAR reported about our Mark Twain partnership in mentoring at the Early Childhood Center. 

On Thursday, Dec. 2, KWOC advanced the regional robotics meet hosted by PBHS.

The DAR honored our Athletes of the Month for October.