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The official email newsletter of Poplar Bluff Public Schools	www.poplarbluffschools.net

September 15, 2014

You've got eMule!

Vol. 3 No. 4

Welcome back to The eMule! Here is the latest news from the Poplar Bluff R-I School District to help start your week on the right hoof.

Leaders discuss access, safety at 4-6 center

Officials from the Missouri Department of Transportation, the city of Poplar Bluff and the Poplar Bluff Police Department met with R-I administrators and professional planners on Tuesday, Sept. 9, in the Administrative Building to discuss traffic flow and highway access to the future intermediate school for grades 4-6.

The consensus was that designing an entrance off of PP Highway that is also pedestrian friendly would be the ideal option for addressing challenges concerning parking, parent pickup, bussing, walkers and site circulation for emergency personnel. Based on community input from leaders, Ittner Architects is going to devise an impact study for the entry road, which is one of the projects designated under the Poplar Bluff Regional Transportation Development District.

Afterward, law enforcement officials met separately with R-I administrators and planners to provide input on security measures designed to eliminate potential vulnerabilities on the planned school site.

Above: [From left] R-I Superintendent Chris Hon, Deputy Chief of Police Jeff Rolland, MoDOT Engineer Dave Wyman, City Manager Heath Kaplan, MoDOT Sr. Traffic Studies Specialist Jeff Downing, Capt. Donnie Trout, Street Department Superintendent Jeremy Grable and R-I Assistant Superintendent of Business Rod Priest. Also present were Dennis Young and Todd Powers of Ittner Architects, 5th & 6th Grade Center Assistant Principal Angie Jackson, Horner & Shifrin Associate Vice President Bob Summers and Mark Richardson of Edmundson, Richardson, Innes & Warren.

Below: [Clockwise beginning at left] Rod Priest, Dennis Young, Todd Powers, Angie Jackson, Deputy Chief Rolland and Capt. Trout.

Rotary Club funds voting software for PBHS

Last week the Rotary Club of Poplar Bluff funded Voting 4 Schools software for Senior High Student Council to use for elections including the Mock Election, student body and the homecoming court as well as the senior personality awards.

The web-based application will save teachers time and make voting more efficient for students allowing for additional data analysis, according to R-I educators. In years past, paper ballots were used which high school staff had to hand count.

Leaders from the Rotary Club said underwriting the online software subscription was a "no-brainer," considering all the help StuCo has provided the civic organization helping to operate the Good Habits Store at Lake Road Elementary.

Above: [From left] Rotarian Sheldon Tyler, PBHS assistant principal; StuCo president Lydia Keller and vice president Trevor Asher; and Rotary Club president elect Matt Winters.

FBLA students show their professional side

The Poplar Bluff High School Future Business Leaders of America celebrated the statewide association last week with a different theme every day, including displaying their chapter and country pride, expressing their appreciation for their advisers and participating in community service.

Above: [From left] Co-sponsor Crystal Huddleston, business education teacher; FLBA members Kaitlyn Pullam, Christopher Stocks, president Ridge Hester and Andrew Persons; and co-adviser Tracey Hall, also of the PBHS business department, participate in professional dress day, wearing business attire to school on Thursday, Sept. 11.

Forensic Science students get fingerprinted

Det. Bryce Colvin of the Poplar Bluff Police Department served as a guest speaker for the new popular Forensic Science elective at Senior High on Friday, Sept. 12, demonstrating fingerprint analysis.

"I used to have a poster that said, 'Science is a verb,' and I want students to see that it holds true," said instructor Kathy Miller, explaining why she had a desire to co-teach Forensic Science with Gretchen Pendley.

Earlier this month Colvin became a certified crime scene investigator from the International Association for Identification. Colvin has served as a criminal investigator in Afghanistan for the United States Army Reserve. He has been a detective for four years in his tenure with the police department and a cop for 10 years prior.

Above: [From left] Lara Hafford, Kori Tapp, Det. Colvin, Cinnamon Langley, Olivia Hurst and Mrs. Miller practice with the PBPD's mobile fingerprinting station.

Mule Tracks

OG Open House

Open House for Oak Grove Elementary School will be held from 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16. Session I will run from 6-6:25 and Session II will go from 6:30-6:55.

School Board

The regularly scheduled school board meeting will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, in the Administrative Building. The monthly meeting is open to the public.

Spirit Week

This year's Football Homecoming theme from Monday to Friday, Sept. 29-Oct. 3 is "Beat the Devil Out of 'Em!" Monday is pajama day, Tuesday is farmer day, Wednesday is twin day, Thursday is Halloween costume day and Friday is maroon and white day. For more information, contact PBHS math teacher Hope Conover by emailing hconover@pb.k12.mo.us.

Veteran's Wall Fundraiser

R-I employees are selling raffle tickets for a 2003 Mercedes Benz Kompressor Convertible to raise money to help pay off the Butler County Veteran's Memorial Wall at the Black River Coliseum. Tickets cost $5 apiece, or five for $20. The car will be given away Saturday, Oct. 4, during the Iron Horse Festival in downtown Poplar Bluff. To purchase a ticket, email Chris Innes of Oak Grove Elementary at cinnes@pb.k12.mo.us, or Carla Thompson of Central Office at cthompso@pb.k12.mo.us.

Pink Out Day

T-Shirts are available for Pink-Out Day, which will be held Friday, Oct. 17, during the Mules Football game versus Normandy. In addition to serving as a fundraiser for the United Cancer Assistance Network, this year's proceeds will also go to Dig for Life, a program through which free mammograms are provided to patients at Black River Medical Center. T-shirts for UCAN can be purchased from the PBHS and PBJHS Student Councils, and T-shirts for Dig for Life can be purchased from the PBJHS Cheerleaders. The deadline to place orders is Friday, Oct. 3.

Extra, Extra!

Media logos for 2014-2014 - KWOC, DAR, KFVS

On Monday, Sept. 8, KFVS12 reported the amazing story of PBHS senior Dustin Cook and his efforts to raise awareness for childhood cancer research.

Multichannel News reported about Poplar Bluff Schools' partnership with Discovery Education.

The SEMO Times also reported about the aforementioned partnership.

On Wednesday, Sept. 10, KWOC featured PBJHS Principal Bob Case and Teen Leadership teacher Anita Frey speaking about Capturing Kids' Hearts on Brittney on the Bluff. An absolute must-listen!

On Thursday, Sept. 11, the Daily American Republic reported about techbooks being used at Junior and Senior High.

On Friday, Sept. 12, SSM Cardinal Glennon Children's Medical Center told Caleb Morrow's story on the hospital's Facebook page, sharing how the St. Louis Rams heard about the young man and delivered him an autographed football!

On Saturday, Sept. 13, the SEMO Times ran a photo release about the Fallen Soldier Memorial JROTC participated in.