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You've got eMule!
Vol. 10 No. 25
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from Poplar Bluff Schools to help start your week on the right hoof.
| Multiple students land jobs during Hiring Event |  | |
Dexter Bar-B-Que settled in at the second ‘hiring event’ at Poplar Bluff High School with plans of spending the morning recruiting. The restaurant wound up filling its opening within the first 10 minutes, then was able to pack up and call it a day.
The future employee, Caitlin Cash, a senior in the Technical Career Center culinary arts program, was only one of several success stories earlier this month. Other students reportedly landed jobs at Briggs & Stratton, Gates Corporation and Lemonade House Grills, according to TCC Director Charles Kinsey, who noted that additional employers left with promising leads.
“There is a major labor shortage,” Kinsey commented. "It is our staff's opinion that if we're not actively looking for these opportunities to get our students in front of employers, we're not doing our job."
With that in mind, Kinsey helped found the TCC hiring event in 2019: a collaboration with PBHS to offer outgoing students heading straight to the job market an opportunity to submit their resumes to employers, plus a chance for the business community to fill entry-level positions.
"It's our twist on a career fair, the difference being that prospective employees can hire right on the spot," Kinsey continued. “We’re trying to create opportunities for connections to be made in career paths that are short-term, long-term or even lifelong.”
During the inaugural event three years ago, a participating student received a job offer for $21/hour at Nestle Purina in Bloomfield, recalled PBHS counselor Sara Woodard. The annual event returned on Wednesday, May 4, after being temporarily placed on hold in response to the pandemic.
“It’s a good way for kids with no work experience to try different career fields, as long as they show up and are dependable,” said Tracy Tarpley, district manager of Productive Staffing, a temporary staffing agency in Poplar Bluff.
In addition to the aforementioned employers, other companies represented included: Baker Implement Company, Cedargate, HealthPartners Management Group, The Manor, Mid-Continent Nail, Missouri Army National Guard, Revere Plastics Systems, and Southern Care and Comfort.
Above: Senior Desmond Howell goes over his resume with an official of Gates Corporation, a manufacturer in industrial park.
Below: Austin Stoner, a PBHS senior, interviews with a representative from Baker Implement Company, a farm equipment business.
|  | Students place during Math Field Day return |  | |
A total of eight Poplar Bluff High School Math Club students competed with half of the members earning top placement during the 43rd annual Math Field Day held last month at Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau.
Macey Odom, a sophomore, placed second in probability; junior Emmalein Pendley placed second in exponential & log functions; junior Charlee Deaton placed third in algebra II; and senior Christian Redding landed in third place in the computational math category.
“We were so excited that they had this again,” said Melissa Taylor, Math Club adviser with assistance from Chris Wheat. “We haven’t had this since 2019 because of Covid.”
The event, sponsored by the SEMO Department of Mathematics, was open to schools from Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Students selected which categories to compete in, either individually or as a team. Some competitions were restricted to certain grade levels, while others were only open to students taking particular math courses.
The PBHS Math Club practiced monthly during the school year by taking tests through the Math League and competing with other students across the state, according to Taylor.
Above: Math Club students who placed at Math Field Day were (left to right) Charlee Deaton, Macey Odom, vice president Christian Redding and president Emmelien Pendley.
Below: PBHS students who competed at Math Field Day included (standing, from left) Emmalein Pendley, Brileigh Cates, Christian Redding, Kennedy Zgaynor, Ashtyn Reese and Katy Cram; and (kneeling, from left) Macey Odom and Charlee Deaton.
|  | PBHS choir members earn gold ratings at state |  | |
A total of 10 Poplar Bluff High School choir students performed in the State Music Festival last month at the University of Missouri in Columbia, with several members earning the highest level of achievement.
Brent Hanley, Emma Harris, Christian Redding, Isaac Reid, Lexy Rowland, Ella Skillman, Emma Tinsley and Dawson Vaughan received a gold rating in double quartet; Brent Hanley, Isaac Reid and Dawson Vaughan received gold in trio; and both Emma Harris and Christian Redding received gold in solo performance. Earning silver in the solo category were: Kerrigan Conley-Halliburton, Bralin Duckett and Isaac Reid.
The Missouri State High School Activities Association defines a silver rating as artistic and outstanding in many aspects with the performer(s) demonstrating a high level of preparation, poise and confidence; whereas a gold rating performance is considered musically artistic and exemplary in all aspects, and worthy of the distinction of being recognized among the very best.
Above: (From left) Emma Harris, Bralin Duckett, Ella Skillman, Isaac Reid, Christian Redding, Brent Hanley, Dawson Vaughan, Lexy Rowland, Emma Tinsley and Kerrigan Conley-Halliburton.
Below: PBHS choir members rub the nose of the David R. Francis statue at Mizzou in preparation for their EOCs, AP exams and finals. (According to legend, they will now receive A’s).
|  | Southern Bank donates tents to Sho-Me Band | |
Southern Bank has donated two customized canopy tents to the Poplar Bluff Sho-Me Marching Band.
The pop-up tents will be set up between buses and used to provide shade for students getting refreshments during marching season so they do not overheat, according to band director Stephen Winters.
Billy Hirtz, market retail manager, noted that Southern Bank has provided banking services for Poplar Bluff Schools for the past eight years, and as a partner is “always willing” to help out the district where there is a need.
Above: Pictured exchanging the tents on Wednesday, May 11, at PBHS are (from left) Billy Hirtz, Southern Bank market retail manager; Stephen Winters, Sho-Me Band director; and Megan Leist, Southern Bank branch retail manager.
| April Athletes of the Month named |  | |
The Mules Booster Club has named Haile Hall and Jacob Baller of Poplar Bluff High School the April Athletes of the Month, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors.
Jacob, a senior baseball player, had a batting average of .345, on-base percentage of .474, on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.110, 23 RBIs, 12 runs, 3 stolen bases, 3 home runs, 3 triples and 2 doubles. As a catcher, he maintained a fielding percentage of .983, with only three errors all season; completed 3 back picks; and 9 out of 13 throw down pick offs.
“Jacob has been a great senior leader on and off the field of play, dealing with everything we had go on with the baseball program,” said Steven Edwards, his coach. “Jacob stands out among his peers.”
Haile, a senior track and field athlete, was a state qualifier in javelin in 2021, and made All-Conference in javelin in 2021 and 2022, respectively. In addition, she set the school javelin record with a 30.24 during the De Soto Invite this year.
“Haile has an amazing personality,” said Elizabeth Lewis, her coach. “She’s always willing to help out and [is] a great team player.”
Above: Jacob Baller and Haile Hall are presented AOM awards on Friday, May 13, by Booster Club vice president Brian Taylor.
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Kinder Celebrations
End-of-the-year celebrations for the Kindergarten Center will take place from Monday through Wednesday, May 23-25, on the Camp Road campus.
Graduation
Commencement for the PBHS Class of 2022 is slated to take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, May 26, in the Black River Coliseum. The ceremony will also be streamed by the PBHS multimedia class via its Mules Media YouTube channel.
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On Monday, May 9, KFVS12 posted the viral video recognizing our PBHS senior class prom king and queen, Trevor Collins and Nicole Weatherford.
On Tuesday, May 10, the DAR reported about signing day at our TCC; and published a photo display from our prom.
On Wednesday, May 11, the DAR reported about Valerie Ivy being named PBHS principal; and recognized our Middle School Honor Roll.
On Thursday, May 12, KWOC also reported about Mrs. Ivy’s major promotion at PBHS.
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