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Vol. 9 No. 24
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
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Municipal Library earns Friend of School Libraries award |
Poplar Bluff Municipal Library Director Sue Crites Szostak received the 2021 Friend of School Libraries award from the Missouri Association of School Libraries during a virtual conference that began Monday, April 19.
The director was nominated for the statewide award by O’Neal Elementary Librarian Ashley Robertson, who previously worked with Crites Szostak at the public library.
“We are so fortunate to have the PBML in our community,” stated Robertson, noting that the materials made available benefit the entire district. “From animated books for younger students to electronic resources for older students. They are helping our students inside the library and outside their walls.”
The library maintains a website featuring children and teen sections with databases such as Hoopla, OverDrive and Tumblebooks. To access the resources for research or homework, the library has issued eCards, and continues to provide Wi-Fi hots spots and free photocopies for students.
From the district’s 1:1 laptop initiative in 2013/14 up until a virtual learning option was offered this school year in response to the public health emergency, library staff has reached out to identify ways to help. “It’s just what we do,” said Crites Szostak, who credits her team for the award.
“I think we did things any community can copy and emulate, within our budget, using resources we had on hand,” she continued. “eCards don’t cost anything. We already pay for databases; why not make them available to a broader audience? The website we already had; might as well make it school and parent-friendly. [Our staff] is already here.”
The library recently opened up a secondary branch in addition to its historic downtown location, on Kanell Boulevard. According to Crites Szostak, the expansion was designed to create a study space and provide services closer to where the district has shifted along with the population over the decades.
Above: Sue Crites Szostak, director of the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library, received the Friend of School Libraries award for her working relationship with the R-I school system.
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Special Olympics Missouri returns to action |
The Special Olympics Missouri hosted its Southeast Area spring games on Friday, April 16, at Fred M. Morrow Stadium as part of a longstanding partnership with R-I.
“This is our first event since Covid-19,” Development Director Penny Williams announced. A total of 15 schools and agencies participated in the track and field contests, including about 80 student-athletes from the Poplar Bluff school system.
The event served as one of three qualifiers – followed by Cape Girardeau and Farmington – for the state competition to be held Saturday, June 5, at the University of Missouri in Columbia.
Above: Sgt Clark Parrott of the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Jason Bell of PBHS carry the torch and ceremonial flag to open the games.
Below: Doves are released instead of balloons for the first time in Special Olympics Missouri history, courtesy of handler Rubin Jones.
Click here to view all of the photos in our running album, and be sure to hit Share to express your support!
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Poplar Bluff FFA to host spring plant sale next week |
The Poplar Bluff High School FFA will host its spring greenhouse sale next week with over 1,000 plants cultivated for the fundraiser.
Plants available for purchase include geraniums, Moses grass, coleus, lantanas, salvias, celosias, verbenas, night sky petunias, Truffulas, Suncredibles, dragon wing and tuberous begonias, New Guinea impatiens, tomatoes, green peppers, purple hearts, spider plants and ferns.
“It’s been a lot of work every day, and the students have been taking extra pride in what they do, sometimes even coming in during advisory [class],” agriculture teacher Kathryn Clark said. “Learning by doing is the basis of our greenhouse [operation] – from watering, to the soil composition and fertilizer.”
Clark, who has been teaching agriculture at PBHS for eight years, referred to gardening as a "great escape," but also noted that the skillset could open up a career path. Just this month, she had a former student of her floriculture elective report back how she is now managing the Garden Center at Lowe’s in Sikeston, Clark said.
Customers may stop by the greenhouse behind the High School from 8 a.m.-2:15 p.m. Monday through Friday, April 26-30. Proceeds from the annual plant sale go toward travel expenses for Poplar Bluff FFA field trips and competitions. For more information, visit the Poplar Bluff FFA Facebook page.
Above: Greenhouse students water their plants as final preparations are made for the annual plant fundraiser.
Below: Agriculture teacher Kathryn Clark (Mules jacket) says Poplar Bluff has one of the finest greenhouses in the region.
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Foundation Golf
The Poplar Bluff School Foundation’s 21st annual Golf Tournament will be held on Friday, April 30, at Ozark Ridge Golf Course, with tee time beginning at noon following lunch.
Organizers are seeking teams for the four-person scramble, hole sponsorships and raffle prizes. Click here to submit an entry form by Tuesday, April 27.
All proceeds from the golf classic go toward innovative teacher grants outside of the classroom budget, and a student scholarship for a PBHS graduate entering the field of education. Several past recipients have returned to teach for the R-I school system.
For more information about the tournament, contact Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill’s office at 573-785-7751, ext. 9, or call past Superintendent Chris Hon—who remains involved with the foundation—at 573-718-0149. All donations to the 501c3 not-for-profit organization are tax deductible.
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On Tuesday, April 13, KFVS12 reported about the Class of 1992 memorial donation to our library; and our Math-A-Thon success.
The DAR reported about an anti-bullying march our PBHS students participated in; and recognized our PBHS students accepted into the Missouri Scholars Academy.
KWOC also reported about the 2021 Missouri Scholars Academy.
On Wednesday, April 14, KWOC reported about our St. Jude fundraising efforts.
On Thursday, April 15, KWOC reported about our 21st annual Foundation Golf Tournament.
On Friday, April 16, the DAR provided multi-media coverage of the Special Olympics.
KFVS12 also reported about the Southeast Area event.
On Saturday, April 17, the DAR reported about a PBHS student being accepted into the Missouri Agribusiness Academy.
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