Sparklight recently donated 50 Google Chromebooks to Lake Road Elementary to be used to teach coding during latchkey as the school works toward its goal of incorporating STEM into its curriculum.

“Now more than ever, student access to computers is a necessity,” Sparklight Senior Vice President of Technology Services Ken Johnson stated in a press release. “By donating Chromebooks, we’re giving students in need the opportunity to use technology that will ultimately prepare them for a progressively digital workforce.”

A company representative reached out to Lake Road at the end of last school year, as part of its Chromebooks for Kids initiative. Sparklight has given away over 2,000 devices to Title I elementary schools in the markets where it offers broadband services.

The devices have allowed third grade teacher Michelle McDaniel to start the ‘Kids Who Code’ club during which she uses resources from Code.org and the Girls Who Code nonprofit to teach students how to code. Upward of 40 participants, grades 1-6, gather for about an hour and a half in the gymnasium each morning.

“My hope is that it will foster an interest in computer sciences,” McDaniel explained. “In this way, hopefully, the kids can also become interested in robotics and engineering.”

While the elementary schools are 1:1, the additional laptop cart brings Lake Road closer to realizing its vision of having a space dedicated to science, technology, engineering and math, according to Principal Rondi Vaughn.

“Having these computers in a cart for this purpose will allow us to give students the accessibility to technology while participating in these [activities] and not having to take any technology outside their classrooms,” Vaughn said. “Computers are an integral component of our students’ learning.”

Above: Computer technicians Kyle Pearson (forefront) and Joe Salamone inventory Chromebooks on Tuesday, Aug. 24, in the conference room at Lake Road so teacher Michelle McDaniel (standing) can incorporate technology during latchkey.

A Junior High faculty member has been awarded a $500 grant from the Missouri Retired Teachers Foundation to create a puppet theater and purchase a digital camera for her drama elective.

Hilary Taylor was selected among nine grant recipients in Region 12 of the Missouri Retired Teachers Association out of 112 successful proposals throughout the state, plus 10 awarded to school support staff.

 “This project will allow students to interpret literature through various dramatic representations,” Taylor wrote in her grant proposal entitled ‘Literature Through Drama.’ “Through these experiences students will increase their editing, peer review and comprehension skills.”

This is the fifth consecutive year that an R-I educator was among those regionally who wrote successful grants, bringing the running total for Poplar Bluff Schools to $4,500 from the nonprofit. Since 2017, Taylor has been selected as a winner on two previous occasions – to enhance her robotics and honors English classes, respectively.

The MRTF is the fundraising arm of the association, made up of retired educators whose purpose is to promote the professional, social and economic welfare of all retired school employees, according to its website.

Above: (Left to right) Dr. Scott Dill, R-I superintendent; Mark Cook, MRTA Region 12 vice president; Hilary Taylor, Junior High teacher; Candace Warren, Junior High principal; Linda Surber, Butler County unit president; and Arleta Godwin, MRTA president.

The Designing Women Foundation honored its scholarship recipients and Charlie Classics Reading Contest winners during a reception held last month at the Bloodworth House, awarding $11,500 to students of Poplar Bluff Schools over the course of two years.

Class of 2021 $1,000 scholarship recipients included Veilka Griffith, who is majoring in business administration; Morghyn McCain, nursing; Madison Moore, business; Lauren Robertson, medicine; Maria Polasek, nursing; and Austynn Dover, who received a technical scholarship to study aesthetics at the Technical Career Center.

The Foundation also honored Class of 2020 recipients, not recognized in person last year due to the public health crisis, including: Rhianna Johnston, undeclared major; Madison Smith, engineering; Elizabeth Gill, nursing; and Savannah Hudson, elementary education.

Charlie Classics winners included freshman Mackinley Cox, who won $600 for reading 58 books over the past two years; junior Emmalein Pendley, who won $600 for reading 35 during the same time period; and Hannah Tuttle of the Class of 2020, who was awarded $300 for reading 14 books during her senior year.

The Designing Women Foundation is dedicated to the cultural and educational enrichment of deserving young people, and aims to promote literacy through its annual reading program open to Junior and Senior High students. The nonprofit organization also provides competitive scholarships to women, regardless of age, race or religion.

Above: (Left to right) Madison Moore, Savannah Hudson, non-traditional scholarship recipient Kama Djambo, DWF board member Kathern Harris, Maria Polasek, Lauren Robertson, non-traditional student Amber Gargas, and DWF board member Dr. Kylie Divine.

Below: (From left) R-I Superintendent Dr. Scott Dill, Mackinley Cox, DWF board member Linda Surber, Hannah Tuttle, Junior High librarian Nikki Davis and Ammalein Pendley.

Tune in to Today’s Talk KWOC 93.3 FM/930 AM at 7:06 a.m. Monday through Friday to hear students of the Poplar Bluff Middle School recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Visit the KWOC Facebook page to watch both home and away Mules Football games streamed live, with Program Director Frankie Casteel providing commentary. 

On Wednesday, Sept. 1, the DAR published a photo display from our Mules Football home opener; and honored our Designing Women Foundation scholarship recipients and top readers.

On Wednesday, Sept. 8, KWOC promoted our substitute teacher training, and Early Childhood screening.

On Thursday, Sept. 9, KWOC promoted our upcoming Poplar Bluff Cheerleading Kiddie Camp.