|
You've got eMule!
Vol. 13 No. 4
Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff School District.
| Eugene Field kicks off Leader in Me program with red-carpet event |  | |
Being proactive has become a superpower at Eugene Field.
The enthusiasm stems from guidance counselor Esther Luna's creation of the characters Reactive Man and Proactive Woman to help illustrate the first habit of the elementary school’s Leader in Me program.
Starring third graders Olivia Pritchett and Carter Battles, the ensuing skit premiered during a makeshift red-carpet event hosted for the student body on Friday, Sept. 20, in the gymnasium.
“I always do the right thing even when no one is looking,” says Olivia in the YouTube video. She later advises Carter, the antagonist: “You need to concentrate on the things you can control like your words, actions, ideas and behavior.”
During the climax of the script, Carter gets tired of suffering the consequences of his actions like missing recess all the time, so he decides to heed Olivia’s advice, and becomes **spoiler alert** Proactive Man.
“He changes his ways,” explained Luna, interviewing the actors afterward as each class took turns posing for photos with the superheroes. Eugene Field Principal Kristen Spain added: “It’s hard to be great at any of the other habits if you’re not in charge of you.”
The special viewing over popcorn served as a precursor to Luna’s weekly lesson on “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” by Stephen Covey, the foundation of the LIM program under which Eugene Field has maintained Lighthouse status. Proactive Woman and Reactive Man made their stage debut in 2015 during Eugene Field’s second annual Leadership Day.
The skit evolved into a short film during the 2020/21 school year, however many staff members have changed along with the addition of a refocus room, so Luna decided it was time to reshoot the movie with a new set of characters. “You guys know, every so often you have to remake a classic,” she explained to the students.
The parents of the leading actors were invited to attend the premiere as well. "She was over the top," shared Olivia's mother, Ashley Pritchett, about her daughter being cast. Olivia reportedly informed her mother: “I’m in a movie, and I’m the star!”
Meanwhile Carter “practiced forever,” his mother Brittany Landers revealed. He participated in a theater program in recent months and went on to successfully audition to play the roles of a Munchkin and flying monkey in the PBHS Drama Club’s “The Wizard of Oz” next month at Kay Porter Theater. “I realized, if I did Drama Camp, I should be in a play,” Carter said.
Below: Third grade actors Carter Battles and Olivia Pritchett pose next to the stage door of the gymnasium prior to the premiere of their short film.
Click here to view the entire album, and be sure to Like/Comment/Share!
|  | Mules Football program preemptively adopts Guardian Cap protocol |  | |
The Mules Football program was recently able to put a precautionary safety measure in place for student-athletes with the aid of an anonymous donation.
Several local medical practitioners, lawyers and realtors teamed up over the summer to supply 150 Guardian Caps, a value of more than $8,000, to be dispersed between Poplar Bluff High School and Junior High.
Guardian Caps add a padded, soft-shell layer to the exterior of football helmets with energy-absorbing properties designed to reduce the initial severity of impact to the head in contact sports, the company boasts.
“We appreciate all the support of the community – the kids and the coaches [alike],” said Jeffery Mannon, PBHS physical education instructor. After accepting the head football coaching position at the conclusion of the 2023/24 school year, Mannon was approached by the group of donors looking to identify ways to improve player safety, he recalled.
Mannon, who previously served as assistant football coach since 2008, said the soft-shell barriers have become more commonplace of late among larger schools throughout the region. The Guardian Caps Velcro onto the hard-shell helmet and only adds several ounces of weight.
Zero concussions have been reported during practice thus far this season, according to Mannon. “It lets you go at full-speed with reassurance that you won’t get a concussion on Tuesday at practice, and not be able to play during the game on Friday,” he explained.
The material science was developed in 2010, and its usage is optional during NFL games as of this year, and mandated by the league for certain positions during contact practices. While the Missouri State High School Activities Association does not yet endorse the add-on, Mannon hopes the standard helmet design will eventually advance to incorporate the safeguard.
In the 1960s and ‘70s, professional football players such as Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Willie Lanier were experimenting with customized padding on the outer shell of the helmet, according to R-I Athletic Director Kent Keith, “then I think they kind of got away from it,” he said. The research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), however, has become more prevalent in medical journals in recent years.
Above: A Guardian Cap is displayed on the helmet of sophomore Dayton Weaver as he takes a break during football practice in August. (Photo credit: Lybby Mannon of PBJHS).
Below: The Mules Football team holds its first scrimmage while using Guardian Caps over the summer. (Photo credit: Lybby Mannon of PBJHS).
|  | TCC students earn Head of the Class awards from Malco Tools |  | |
A pair of top Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center students were selected as 2024 Malco Head of the Class recipients last month.
Samuel Johnson and Parker Kneir, seniors in the HVAC-R program, were awarded tool kits valued at approximately $150 that included a turbo shear, magnetic measuring tape, ratcheting handle, set of dual-sided magnetic hex drivers and extension bits.
“We congratulate each and every Head of the Class honoree who is going above and beyond as they learn the skills they need to pursue a successful career in the trades,” said Malco Chief Executive Officer Rich Benninghoff in a press release. “These up-and-coming professionals are the future of the trades, and Malco is proud to recognize these well-deserving graduates.”
The students were entered into the national recognition program by instructor Dan Parker for their academic performance. Kneir previously took the introductory and second-year HVAC-R classes and was the top student in the afternoon session last school year, according to Parker. Johnson, a member of the morning class, placed fourth in the heating and cooling competition during the National SkillsUSA Championship in June in Atlanta, where the chaperoning instructor learned about the Head of the Class program.
Malco additionally extended the TCC a 15 percent discount on purchases made this summer, Parker noted. A total of $25,000 was invested into tools for the HVAC-R program during the 2023/24 school year through ‘Explore the Trades Skills Lab, Built By Ferguson’ and the SkillsUSA Classroom Enhancement/Community Service Grant sponsored by Lowe’s Home Improvement, along with a $35,000 equipment donation from Nortek.
“Between the two grants and the donation of the units, my class has totally changed in the last year,” Parker said. “We now are on par with any class in the state and very close to the same capabilities of the national competition.”
Since 2015, Head of the Class has recognized several thousand honorees from over 1,000 institutions in North America including many high school Career and Technical Education programs. Malco, a leading manufacturer of American-made tools for professional use, donates over $150,000 of in-kind products and apparel annually to a variety of skills trade education programs, competitions and events across the country, according to its website.
Photos: Samuel Johnson (above) and Parker Kneir (below) display their awards with heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration instructor Dan Parker on Tuesday, Sept. 3, at the TCC.
|  | Ribbon cutting to be held tomorrow for Culinary Arts Center |  | |
Patrons are invited to attend a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Culinary Arts Center at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, on the Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center campus, located at 3203 Oak Grove Road.
A tour of the 4,640-square-foot state-of-the-art facility will follow brief remarks made by officials. Refreshments prepared by culinary arts students in the new home of the Mules Café will be served.
The student-run restaurant first opened during the 1978/79 school year in the Administrative Building on North Westwood Boulevard. The previous 2,880-square-foot space now serves the public as the district registrar's office.
Designed by Dille and Pollard Architecture, Zoellner Construction broke ground on the Culinary Arts Center in June of 2023. The $2 million project was made possible by over $1.3 million in grants secured over the past couple of years, or approximately two-thirds externally funded, with the district match including ancillary expenses.
Below: The site of the future Culinary Arts Center is pictured to the west of the TCC campus prior to the groundbreaking on Friday, June 9, 2023.
|  | |  |
 | |
Ribbon Cutting
A ribbon cutting ceremony for the state-of-the-art Culinary Arts Center will take place at 12:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, at the Technical Career Center, located at 3203 Oak Grove Road. Light refreshments will be served.
Guidon Ceremony
The JROTC will host its annual Guidon Ceremony designed to formally organize the Billie Gene Kanell Battalion for the duration of the school year at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 3, in the Poplar Bluff High School auxiliary gym.
Collaboration Day
School will be dismissed on Friday, Oct. 4, for teacher collaboration day. School will resume for students on Monday, Oct. 7.
Sports Hall of Fame
Tickets are on sale for the 36th Poplar Bluff Sports Hall of Fame induction banquet to be held Thursday, Oct. 10, at E.T. Peters Gym in the Middle School during which Tyler and Ben Hansbrough, as well as the 2003/04 and 2004/05 PBHS Mules Basketball teams will be honored. Tickets include dinner and may be purchased for $25 at the Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce. Email pbsportshof@gmail.com for more information.
Pink Out Day
Mules Football will host West Plains during Pink Out Day at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, in Mules Stadium. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. Tickets cost $5. Non-school-aged children are welcome to attend free of charge.
|  | |
In the September edition of Poplar Bluff Living, the Mannon family was featured as the cover story; and Parker Hicks of the PBHS Class of 2024 was spotlighted for earning the Award for Outstanding Achievement in Citizenship.
On Thursday, Sept. 19, KBSI Fox23 reported about our newly forged partnership with Missouri Highlands.
The ShowMe Times reported about Preston Ethridge of PBHS being chosen as a member of the National FFA Band.
KWOC also reported about our National FFA Band selection, a first for PBHS.
On Friday, Sept. 20, KFVS featured a news segment about our school-based health clinics.
KAIT8 also carried the segment.
KWOC additionally reported about our SBHC.
The DAR reported about our SBHC; and recognized Savannah Hanner of the PBHS Class of 2024 for earning the Laseter Memorial Scholarship.
On Saturday, Sept. 21, the DAR reported about Preston Ethridge being named to the National FFA Band.
On Monday, Sept. 23, Microsoft Network aggregated the report about our SBHC.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, the DAR highlighted Southern Bank’s continued support of O’Neal Elementary’s Student of the Month program.
On Friday, Sept. 27, KWOC announced our Mules Basketball Showdown lineup.
On Tuesday, Oct. 1, The 74 referenced Poplar Bluff’s reading proficiency strides as part of an in-depth analysis.
| |
