Welcome to the eMule! Every Monday, we will send you the latest news from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District to help start your week on the right hoof. |
What's different about today?
When students come to class Monday, they will be greeted at the door of their  school building by administrators, simply because we are happy to see you. Flags will be lowered at half-staff until sunset Tuesday, per order of Pres. Barack Obama, to honor the victims of the unfathomable tragedy that occurred just days ago in Newtown, Conn.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to the families who were affected by this senseless act of violence. Our hearts will be heavier as we enter this holiday season and hold our loved ones just a little bit closer, having been reminded once again that this life is not to be taken for granted, because we're not promised tomorrow.
While this unfortunately is not the first mass school shooting that has taken place in America over the past 13 years, it involved a younger demographic this time around, causing us all to feel more vulnerable than before. We realize that no one expected the unthinkable to happen in a quaint town in the Northeast, just like we wouldn't expect it to happen in the great state of Missouri. But we plan to continue to be proactive when it comes to the well-being of our greatest resource, and the very reason we as educators get out of bed every morning-the students.
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Sixth Annual Jingle Jog at Oak Grove Elementary
An annual tradition designed to promote physical fitness and charity, founded by Principal Jenifer Richardson, elementary students estimate how many laps they can jog in seven minutes and agree to bring in a canned good to be donated to The Bread Shed for every lap completed during the Jingle Jog Friday, Dec. 14, at Oak Grove.
[Above] Nikki Buffington's second grade class is ready for action. [Below] Jingle Jog staffers from left: second grader Karson Busse, Richardson, companion aide Erica Johnson, Mules mascot, special education teacher Courtney Rutledge, Santa Claus, guidance counselor Diane Jones, AmeriCorps volunteer Tyler Hensley, speech teacher Shellie Yarbro, Rachel Sherrill and physical education teacher Amanda Lance.
Click here to view the entire album, and be sure to 'like' your favorite photo.
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State legislators visit with local education leaders
Poplar Bluff R-I Superintendent Chris Hon [white shirt] participated in a roundtable discussion hosted by Three Rivers College Tuesday, Dec. 11, featuring visiting Missouri senators who were learning about funding challenges the education sector faces prior to entering the upcoming legislative session. Also pictured [from left] are: Three Rivers Trustee Wilbur Thornton, Sen. Ron Richard of Joplin, Sen.-elect Doug Libla of Poplar Bluff, Sen. Jay Wasson of Nixa, Three Rivers Chairman Randy Winston and Three Rivers President Dr. Devin Stephenson. |
JROTC places in regional competition
Poplar Bluff High School's Pvt. Billie Gene Kanell JROTC Battalion vied against 11 other Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps units Saturday, Dec. 1, in Brookland, Ark., winning second place in the Platoon with Arms competition. Participating were cadets Jessie Aston, Dominick Wheeler, Chasity Doggett, Daota Wilson, Matt Crafford, Caitlynn Lawrence, Angie Durbin, Mikayla Ford and Brandon Krueger. |
Superintendent continues informational tour about digital conversion
Poplar Bluff R-I Superintendent Chris Hon passes to Melody Melloy a special backpack designed to protect the MacBook Airs the school district is considering supplying to older students as part of its digital conversion. Hon, a Rotarian, along with special guest Junior High Principal Bob Case [right], spoke about the one-to-one laptop initiative Wednesday, Dec. 12, during the Rotary Club's weekly meeting at Colton's Steak House Annex.
To learn more about the digital conversion, click here. |
Two-day countdown to vote for Grad Center grant 
As of this morning, the Poplar Bluff Graduation Center was ranked No. 25 out of 1,595 projects submitted nationwide in the Clorox 'Power a Bright Future' grant initiative, just three placements behind St. Louis and over 20 spots ahead of the Nixa School District. The contest concludes Wednesday, Dec. 19. There have been days in this competition where we have advanced dozens of placements overnight, so please do not give up, and give it your best 11th-hour effort to help spread the word.
To vote for the school district to win up to $50K to renovate the Maud Street facility, simply text 2422pbf to 95248. There are no additional charges to do so, on top of your normal texting plan. Voting can also be conducted online by visiting http://pbschools.us/X05P1M. Registration only has to be completed once, and the process can be expedited by signing in through Facebook. If you are redirected, click the 'Vote for Nominees' tab at www.powerabrightfuture.com, and do a search for 'Poplar Bluff.' If you're feeling extra ambitous, a single person can register multiple email addresses to vote. Remember that voting can be done daily both via text and online.
To learn more about the grant proposal, click here. |
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Oak Grove Winter Musical
The annual Oak Grove third grade winter musical, "How the Penguins Saves Christmas," will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 20, at the 5th & 6th Grade Center. For more information, click here.
Pet Supply Collection
Teacher Amy McNab of the Poplar Bluff 5th & 6th Grade Center is collecting pet supplies until Dec. 21 for the Poplar Bluff Animal Shelter and the Animal Welfare Alliance of Southeast Missouri. For a complete list of items that are being accepted, email amcnab@pb.k12.mo.us.
Northern Concert
Up and coming singer/songwriter from Bloomfield, Rebekah Northern, is slated to perform at 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 21, in Lake Road Elementary School.
Winter Break
School will be closed from Dec. 24-Jan. 4. Happy holidays!
Record Release Party
Eighth grader Tori Travers of Poplar Bluff Junior High, an emerging country/pop artist, will be hosting a CD release party from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 29, at Las Margaritas to celebrate her debut album, which is self-titled. Tori will be performing and signing autographs.
New Year's Day 5K
The Poplar Bluff Vipers 11 and under AAA Travel Baseball Team is having its third annual New Year's Day 5K/one-mile race beginning at 10 a.m. Jan. 1, 2013, at Three Rivers College. Proceeds benefit Lou Gehrig's disease research plus help the baseball team with travel expenses during its season. To register, email Early Childhood Center Speech Pathologist Sharon Burkey at sburkey@pb.k12.mo.us or call 573-718-0462.
Wrestling Tourney
Poplar Bluff will host the 2013 SEMO Conference Wrestling Tournament Jan.18-19, 2013. Schools participating include Poplar Bluff, Cape Central, Dexter, Farmington, Jackson, New Madrid, North County, Notre Dame, Sikeston, St. Genevieve and Windsor.
Cadet Teaching
A new class is being offered next semester at PBHS called 'Cadet Teaching.'
Students looking to take the class need to have completed one semester of A+ tutoring. The student must also have met all the
eligibility requirements of the A+ scholarship. Lastly, the student must be an active member of the FTA Club and, of course, have an interest in the career of teaching, as the assignments are rigorously related to the field. For those interested, contact A+ Coordinator Barbie Hon at 573-785-2248.
Mule Prints
Poplar Bluff Schools is excited to announce our first magazine - Mule Prints - will be released this spring. The district-wide publication written by our communications department will focus on student achievement. The magazine would absolutely not be possible without our new partnership with the Daily American Republic, whose staff will be helping every step of the way. The DAR has also most generously agreed to pay for the cost of printing. The magazine will be available for free at businesses throughout Poplar Bluff, including real estate agencies and the chamber of commerce. |
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On Tuesday, Dec. 11, KFVS12 ran a press release on its website about state senators visiting with local education leaders to brush up on funding challenges prior to legislative session.
The DAR ran a press release about PBHS senior Lauren White being named to the All-State Band for the third year in a row.
On Wednesday, Dec. 12, the DAR ran a press release about Poplar Bluff's success at the recent Missouri Junior Beta Club Convention.
The SEMO Times ran a press release about the eMINTS program.
On Friday, Dec. 14, KFVS12 ran a photo release on its website about JROTC winning second place in the Platoon with Arms portion of a regional competition.
The DAR ran an article about the Christmas Tree Forest competition our elementary and middle school students participated in at the Poplar Bluff History Museum. The decorated trees will be on display through Dec. 25.
On Sunday, Dec. 16, the DAR featured Poplar Bluff R-I administrators in its weekly 'Let's Talk' segment. |
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