| 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. |
Mother Nature has a sense of humor
By Chris Hon
You know, us educators enjoy our jobs a whole lot more after the students return from summer break. So needless to say, we have been back in our element since school began on Thursday, Aug. 13.
But as you may have observed, starting school on time wasn't exactly an easy feat this year. As with everything we accomplish, it was a major collaborative effort, and we have many individuals to thank for pulling off nothing short of a miracle.
While our Junior High building project had a couple months head start due to the accelerated deadline on the federal grant, site work didn't begin at the future high school and middle school until school ended Friday, May 15. We should have taken it as a sign that it happened to rain that day... along with the subsequent Monday... and four more days over the next week and a half. Seven days total throughout the month.
Nevertheless, our contractors hit the ground running the very moment the 2014/15 school year ended. As a matter of fact, construction crews began bringing in equipment and trailers the week prior. They couldn't have started any sooner. The company over the future high school project stated at the time that they had never seen a project start so quickly.
And let's rewind it back one step further. We had some back and forth with our architects trying to make sure the buildings plan included all the features our community had asked for, and the professional planners had to work on overdrive during the Christmas holiday season in order for us to get the bids out in spring.
Our summer kicked off with bimonthly meetings between school administrators and contractors making sure we stayed on task. As the rain continued to fall, those meetings turned into weekly updates, and in the end, daily powwows. As of Monday, Aug. 10, the contractors reported 17 days of work lost to weather.
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Ozark FCU supports Sho-Me Band
Earlier this month, the Ozark Federal Credit Union purchased 150 Neverland-themed T-shirts for the Poplar Bluff High School Sho-Me Band to be worn this season.
Sho-Me Band Booster Club President Shelly Batton initially reached out to credit union officials, who said they were happy to oblige.
Above: Wearing their new gray shirts, for the most part, the Sho-Me Band takes a moment during practice Friday, Aug. 21, to formally thank Ozark FCU staff members (standing, front left): Chad Wolfram, vice president of lending; Davine Conover, business development specialist; Kirk Mondy, president; and Katrina Hopson, operations manager.
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Chopped: Mules Café edition
Five seniors in the Technical Career Center culinary arts program competed in a cook-off that involved mystery ingredients and an hour-and-a-half time limit on Thursday and Friday, Aug. 20-21, in the Mules Cafe.
Modeled after Food Network's long-standing series, "Chopped," the students received critiques from instructors Stephanie Letassy and Monica Lewis upon presenting their finished meals.
According to Chef Letassy, each mystery bag contained a theme, but there were also some challenging items forcing students to think outside of the box in order to make it work.
Above: Kemon McCain (left) and Micah Davis examine their ingredients to try to come up with a meal that involves each item.
Below: (From left) Terri-Faye Kennedy presents lemon fish risotto and spinach salad with mushrooms, Teresa Ruddicks turns in a burrito with guacamole, and Caleb Morrison submits to the judges pork tenderloin with mashed potatoes and apple green beans.
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Teacher, students awarded for generosity
A trio of Poplar Bluff High School students won $50 apiece on Wednesday, Aug. 19, through the Get Schooled "spread cheer" campaign under the national Graduate for Mas program, sponsored by the Taco Bell Foundation for Teens.
(From right) Sophomore Katie Sliger said she would donate her winnings to the Mules Booster Club, junior Gene Greer III stated he would buy his schoolmates donuts, and sophomore Garret Hudson vowed to purchase books for the library.
In addition, math teacher Hope Conover (far left) won a $50 gift card in the "Tip Your Teacher" contest through the same program. Conover was nominated by a student who, according to the award letter, wrote: "Mrs. Conover is the best teacher you will ever meet. If you have a problem, she will always take the time out of her day to help you with whatever."
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 The Greater Poplar Bluff Area Chamber of Commerce has recently added a new member to its staff: Maximus Jr., named after the R-I school district's larger-than-life mule mascot. Maximus Jr., or MJ for short, has been spotted making photo appearances throughout the business community, attending ribbon cuttings and other chamber member promotions. If that doesn't say #MulePride, we don't know what does! Thanks to the chamber for their unwavering support of our school system. Above: Poplar Bluff Chamber President Steve Halter and MJ read a copy of Mule Prints magazine together at the West Pine Street office.
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Bright Futures Symposium
From 7:30-9 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, in the Gamma HealthCare Conference Center, Bright Futures Poplar Bluff will celebrate its one-year anniversary and gather ideas going forward by hearing success stories from a panel of leaders from other communities that have implemented the program model. Breakfast will be served at 7.
Special Meeting
The Board of Education will hold a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 25, in the Administrative Building to discuss bids submitted for the athletic package for the future high school campus.
Pink-Out Day
Orders for Pink-Out Day T-shirts are due Wednesday, Sept. 16. Shirts are $15 for short sleeve and $20 for long sleeve, with all proceeds supporting the United Cancer Assistance Network. T-shirts can be purchased by going to the UCAN office located in the former Poplar Bluff Regional Medical Center north campus, or by emailing StuCo advisers Hope Conover at hconover@pb.k12.mo.us or Mitch Davis at joshuadavis@pb.k12.mo.us.
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On Tuesday, Aug. 18, the DAR reported about how construction will impact our student athletes this year, followed by running a series of sports preview stories throughout the week.
On Wednesday, Aug. 19, the ShowMe Times recognized the Academic Team for their success at Quizbowl camp.
The DAR reported about a PBHS alumnus turned professional body builder.
SEMO.net reported about our new employees this school year.
On Thursday, Aug. 20, KWOC reported about Super Kids camp and Custodian Appreciation Day.
On Sunday, Aug. 23, the DAR featured the PBHS FFA in an article about the Missouri Rice Council's annual field day.
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