Welcome to our final eMule of the school year!
Special thanks to Lucas Edington and Mossy Oak Properties Mozark Realty for sponsoring our district newsletter for multiple years, allowing us to bring you the latest news from the Poplar Bluff School District!
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Congratulations to the Class of 2019!
A total of 321 students graduated with the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2019 on Thursday, May 23, at the Black River Coliseum, earning nearly $2.1 million in scholarships and grants, staff reported.
"As you walk across this stage and receive your diploma, the journey that you started back at Early Childhood or Kindergarten comes to an end," said Dr. Scott Dill, superintendent. "...No matter where you go in this world, you will always be a member of our school family."
The R-I district has graduated nearly 23,500 students total, according to historical records. Dill asked the hundreds of alumni in the audience to stand for recognition. Before the superintendent began his speech, he took a
selfie on stage with the new group of graduates, receiving an ovation from the crowd.
This year's valedictorian was Sophie Rowland, who also served as class president. She took the opportunity to thank her teachers, friends and family for all the support over the years.
"Today is a day to celebrate all of the accomplishments of the Class of 2019 and the people who helped us get here," stated Rowland, later challenging her classmates with a piece of advice from her grandmother. "...If there is something you don't like or you're unhappy with, then fix it. Go acquire a skill and use that knowledge to make the situation better."
Carlton McDonald-Jordan was named the salutatorian. He also expressed gratitude to key individuals including the matriarchs of his family and social studies teacher Mitch Davis before offering some words of inspiration.
"No matter the color of your skin, your background, the way you wear your hair, the number of bedrooms in your house or cars in your garage... we all have what it takes to be successful in this world," McDonald-Jordan said. "To my peers, I challenge you to be exactly who you want to be, to do exactly what you want to do, and to not let others be the author of your story."
In addition to their high school diplomas, students Cara Bubanovich, Libby Burdin and Katelynn Hall were issued associate degrees from Dr. Justin Hoggard of Three Rivers College through the College Now dual credit program available at the secondary level.
By special request, the names of the students who participated in the commencement ceremony were read by Assistant Principal Sheldon Tyler, who is retiring after serving 21 years in public school administration. He will be succeeded next school year by long-time science instructor Stephanie Hillis.
Above: Valedictorian Sophie Rowland and salutatorian Carlton McDonald-Jordan share a congratulatory hug in between speeches.
Below: Graduate Drew Metz is called to the stage to be greeted by his sister Alyson of the U.S. Navy, who returned from being stationed in Gulf Port, Miss., to surprise her brother before deployment to Spain this summer.
Click
here to view our entire photo album, and please help us 'tag' our alumni!
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Candy Land-themed Kindergarten Celebration
The End-of-the-Year Celebration for the Kindergarten Center was held from Monday through Wednesday, May 20-22, to mark the completion of the school year and display to family members what students have learned in a musical performance.
This year's theme was "Candy Land," directed by music teacher Fawn Luecke and librarian Chris Christian. Kindergartners were issued certificates of completion by their teachers as well as special awards for top attendance.
Above: Principal Jessica Thurston congratulates her first group of graduates under her leadership.
Below: Teacher Sarah Hodges receives a painting of cactuses as well as a llama statue, two of her favorite things, from student Myah Bailey.
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here to view our entire album, and be sure to 'like' your favorite pics!
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Outgoing sophomore to participate in MSA
Poplar Bluff High School is sending a student to the exclusive Missouri Scholars Academy for the second year in a row.
Incoming junior Lauren Robertson is one of 330 gifted students statewide to be accepted into the academic residential program beginning on Saturday, June 9, at the University of Missouri campus in Columbia.
"Lauren is an outstanding student whose skills and potential are unlike anything I've seen," stated Stephen Patty, Lauren's advanced language arts teacher during her freshman year. Patty later added: "During class discussion, Lauren was almost always the first one to give input, which included ideas presented at the highest depth of knowledge."
Both Patty and Gail Karlish, PBHS Science Department chairwoman, noted in their nomination letters that learning comes naturally for Lauren, yet she is always willing to help her peers grasp concepts.
"Lauren's prodigious academic capabilities are such that it was a struggle to bring something, anything, to the table... that was both doable for the other students and would actually require any mental exertion on her part," Karlish explained. "...She is one of those involved-in-everything students, yet she somehow fully embraces and skillfully handles everything on her plate."
Extra-curricular activities cited in the letters included the Academic Team, Math Club, Beta Club, Drama Club and Choir. MSA offers a three-week curriculum designed to help advanced students realize their full potential through learning and personal development administered by Mizzou's Honors College.
Consideration is based on cumulative grade point average, aptitude test results, IQ scores and student essays. Counselor Sara Holloway, who initially recommended Lauren for the academy, said the nomination process begins in the fall, and only one PBHS student is submitted for approval each year.
Ross Dare, an incoming senior, had the opportunity to participate in the 2018 academy. He remains in contact to this day with some of the members of the learning community, he reported.
Above: Lauren Robertson (right), pictured with her nominating counselor Sara Holloway, will attend the 2019 Missouri Scholars Academy in June.
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A female and male student-athlete from both Junior and Senior High has been nominated by the Poplar Bluff coaching staff to receive the annual Missouri Good Sports honor through MSHSAA.
This year's multi-sport athletes included Wyatt Lazalier of the Class of 2019, who played football and wrestled; incoming junior Sierra Sievers, who plays basketball, soccer and volleyball; incoming freshman River Rowland, who has competed in track and volleyball; and Jeridon Young, who was selected for being a basketball and football standout.
The Award of Excellence is issued to students through the Missouri State High School Activities Association for an exemplary display of sportsmanship, behavior and positive role modeling through participation in interscholastic activities.
Above: Athletic Director Kent Keith (center) awards Missouri Good Sports (left to right) Wyatt Lazalier, Sierra Sievers, River Rowland and Jeridon Young on Wednesday, May 22, at Junior High.
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O'Neal hosts epic Play Day
O'Neal Elementary held its annual Play Day on Tuesday, May 22, to celebrate the end of the school year with help from dozens of volunteers.
Known for "going big" on play days, according to Principal Dr. Amy Dill, several bounce houses were set up along with various other activities on the school playground. Snacks were made available to students, and commemorative T-shirts were provided by the Parent Teacher Organization.
Volunteers included the Poplar Bluff Fire Department, AmeriCorps, the PBHS Beta Club, student-athletes and 50 parents who signed up to ensure that the day was an all-around success.
Above: Capt. Kevin Edgar of the Poplar Bluff Fire Department shows first graders a thermal imaging camera.
Below: The playground at O'Neal is converted into an amusement park for students to enjoy.
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here to view all of our photos from the event, and be sure to hit 'share!'
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The PBHS Class of 2019 visited their respective elementary schools sporting their caps and gowns on Wednesday, May 22, following graduation rehearsal.
At Eugene Field, 35 graduates took turns during a school-wide assembly held in the gymnasium introducing themselves and sharing what their future plans may be. Plans ranged from playing football in college, to enlisting in the military, to owning a bakery, to working on a shrimp boat in Florida.
"This can and should be you one day," stated Principal Jennifer Taylor, who remembered many of the outgoing students when they were in third or fourth grade.
A tradition of Poplar Bluff Schools since 2013, the Senior Walk is designed for graduates to take a trip down memory lane and perhaps inspire the younger students.
Above: By special request, graduates take a selfie with Eugene Field Principal Jennifer Taylor.
Below: Longtime teacher Jackie Gilberto reminisces with members of the Class of 2019 in the library.
Click
here to view our running album, and be sure to leave us a comment! While the district page rotates locations each year, photos from the rest of our buildings are available by visiting our individual school Facebook pages.
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Summer School
Summer School will run from Monday, June 3, to Friday, June 28. Click
here for location information.
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On Tuesday, May 22, the DAR reported about PBHS StuCo receiving national recognition; and created a photo gallery from our Kindergarten
Celebration.
On Wednesday, May 22, the DAR reported about our Designing Women Scholarship
recipients and Charlie Classic Reading Contest winners.
The ShowMe Times also reported about the Designing Women
Foundation.
On Thursday, May 23, the DAR reported about the Class of
2019; and posted a photo gallery from the
commencement ceremony, plus project
graduation.
KWOC announced our
dismissal times for the school year.
On Friday, May 24, the DAR reported about O'Neal Play Day; our Kindergarten playground expansion; and our cadet teaching program.
On Saturday, May 25, the DAR reported about our 8th Congressional District Art Competition finalists.
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