A total of 299 students graduated from the PBHS Class of 2021 on Thursday, May 20, at the Black River Coliseum, earning a total of $2.6 million and counting in individual scholarships, A+ funding and other grants.

At the opening of the commencement, R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill reflected on the uncertainty of keeping the school open during the 2020/21 academic year, as quarantine numbers went from 600+ district-wide at the peak in October, to only three, last recorded.

While upward of 300 high schoolers were enrolled in the Virtual Academy during the first semester, making for the most challenging year of Principal Mike Owen’s career, he noted, the students remained focused on the future in their speeches.

Valedictorian Lauren Robertson made an analogy between a camera and a paintbrush. “A camera merely captures a moment, while a paintbrush lets you control it,” she explained, suggesting to her classmates that it is up to them to make the world a better place.

Salutatorian Clarissa Varner expressed a similar theme, quoting a range of statesmen across the political spectrum, stating that change does not happen by waiting for someone else to take action at another time, and it is better to fail at an attempt to improve one's environment than to remain complacent.

Class president Jordyn Shearrer explained how discovering who she is in High School was more valuable to her than any class rank. “As I walked out of the doors of PBHS on my last day, I looked back at the school, content with the person that I have become,” she said. She added that she looks forward to following where the journey of life takes each of her classmates. “Once a mule, always a mule,” she concluded.

Above: Labryan McDonald proudly looks to his supporters in the audience after receiving his diploma.

Click here to view all of our graduation photos, and be sure to help us tag our new alumni!

Below: Michael Shouse visits with Lake Road students during the Senior Walk at his former elementary school, following commencement rehearsal the previous day.

Click here to view our running album, and be sure to 'Like' your favorite shots!

Prolific children’s book author and illustrator, Jan Brett, visited Oak Grove last week and read one of her favorite titles, sharing some insights with the elementary students, as part of her 10th annual contest.

Avid reader, Oak Grove assistant librarian Christi Todd entered the contest in 2020 and the campus community rallied behind the elementary school, beating out a total of 4,631 schools and libraries across the country, with 1,069 votes. The self-funded visit was postponed a year due to the pandemic.

“This is my job,” said Brett of her life’s work, which includes 40 published books, some original and others retold classics. “I feed my chickens… I have breakfast, and I get to color all day.”

Having practiced drawing for about 65 years, said the professional artist, it takes her about an hour to complete one inch of an illustration. She releases a book per year on average.

A shy girl growing up, Brett said she “needed a little more time to think of what to say,” but when she got to express herself through the art medium, it “made me happy about the ideas in my head.”

Explaining how creativity often happens for her in the middle of the night when “time stands still,” she said: “Something about just before sleep, your mind goes places. The hardest part is remembering.” A trick she shared was looking at a reflection of her artwork in the mirror so she can feel as though she is “seeing it for the first time.”

“I’m almost as surprised as anyone that this world can appear,” Brett said, earlier stating: “It’s almost like little elves were there drawing.” She said to the students: “I hope that will happen to you.”

Brett read her 2012 work, “Mossy,” inspired by a snapping turtle that she observed in a lake trailing aquatic plants on its shell at her summer cottage in the western mountains of Massachusetts. This scene became the manifestation of her vision about an eastern box turtle growing a garden on his back.

“It was one of my favorite books to write, mostly because I love to draw turtles,” Brett said of their unique shell designs. She drew a quick tortoise for the students from her research, and explained how she had utilized other animals in the past like hedgehogs and horses, and she is considering a beluga whale next. Often her books contain so much art that she designs the borders of the pages as well, foreshadowing events to come, she revealed.

The first book she had published, when she was 27, was “Fritz and the Beautiful Horses,” she said during a Q&A. The book she is most proud of is always her most recent title: “The Nutcracker,” set to be released this fall. She also enjoyed writing “Berlioz the Bear” in her earlier career because she turned her husband Joseph into a bear, utilizing his expressions for the main character.

Brett and Joseph, a double-bassist of almost 59 years with the Boston Symphony Orchestra, started the contest a decade ago to connect with her audience, she commented. She often travels with him overseas, and he accompanies her in the states. “Maybe there’ll be a book somewhere here,” she said of her travels to Poplar Bluff.

Above: First grade students assemble for the first time all school year as famous author Jan Brett visits Oak Grove on Tuesday, May 18.

Below: Accompanied by book character Hedgie, Jan Brett greets second and third graders prior to a reading.

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Zoe Savat of the PBHS Class of 2021 was awarded the $2,500 STAR Scholarship through the Philanthropic Educational Organization Sisterhood.

Zoe, who was recommended by the local PEO chapter, plans to pursue her pre-med degree at the University of Missouri at Columbia with a goal of one day becoming a doctor who specializes in mental health. At PBHS, she participated in volleyball, soccer, Student Council, the Mule Bran, Future Business Leaders of America and the prom committee, lettering all four years both academically and in athletics.

Established in 2009, the STAR Scholarship is designated for women who exhibit excellence in leadership, academics, extracurricular activities, community service and have potential for future success, according to a press release. The PEO is one of the oldest women’s organization’s in North America.

Above: Presenting Zoe Savat her scholarship is chapter representatives Kim Duncan (left) and Kati Ray (right).

A male and female multi-sport athlete from both Junior and Senior High were chosen by the Poplar Bluff coaching staff to be named the 2021 Missouri Good Sports through the Missouri State High School Activities Association.

Winning the awards of excellence on Tuesday, May 18, for an outstanding display of sportsmanship, positive role modeling and good behavior were: Audrey Rahlmann and Gavyn Hays of the High School, and Ireland Gowen and Brendan Durden of Junior High.

“Since few things bring schools and communities together like high school activities, the actions you display in competitions go a long way to influence others’ perceptions,” states MSHSAA Communications Director Jason West in the award letter. “By taking the responsible steps in displaying positive sportsmanship, you are helping to rekindle the spirit of citizenship and are serving as a positive representative of your school and community.”

Above: (From left) Ireland Gowen, Brendan Durden, Athletic Director Kent Keith, Audrey Rahlmann and Gavyn Hays.

Summer School will run from Wednesday, June 2-Tuesday, June 29, for incoming students, grades K-8. An additional session will be offered for students, grades 1-6, from Monday, July 12-Friday, July 30. Click here for more information.

The 25^th reunion for the PBHS Class of 1996 will take place at 6 p.m. Saturday, June 19, at Haffy’s, announced alumna Grace Brooks.

On Wednesday, May 19, KWOC reported about incoming senior Alexander Wiseman finishing in the top 10 at the MSHSAA Class 5 State Golf Championship.

On Thursday, May 20, the DAR reported about our commencement ceremony; our valedictorian/salutatorian; published a photo gallery and video; and ran a photo display from our Kindergarten graduation.