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eMule
The official email newsletter of Poplar Bluff Schools
www.poplarbluffschools.net
October 3, 2016
You've got eMule!
Vol. 5 No. 5
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.
TCC granted reaccreditation for six years
 


The Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center will continue its long-standing tradition of upholding full accreditation, ensuring that adult students can receive federal Title IV loans, grants and financial aid.
 
The TCC had to restart a rigorous compliance process after its previous regional accrediting agency-utilized by post-secondary education institutions in 19 states-dissolved in 2014.
 
The reaccreditation granted Thursday, Sept. 22, through the national Council on Occupational Education will remain effective for six years if annual benchmarks are met.
 
"I believe as an institution we have improved a lot of our processes that were previously known, but not necessarily followed in a structured manner or written in a course manual," reflected Charles Kinsey, TCC director. "This high standard of documentation is designed to improve student success, and their ability to find gainful employment."
 
Under the U.S. Department of Education, the COE requires institutions to maintain a program completion rate of at least 60 percent, a student placement rate in related industry or continued education of 70 percent, and a licensure pass rate of 70 percent if a license is required following graduation.
 
After more than two years of reviewing policies and practices, the COE issued provisional accreditation to the TCC over the summer. Officials cited only a handful of findings which have since been addressed, including making the restroom facilities of the near 50-year old building ADA-compliant.
 
"The review team was very complimentary, telling us it was outstanding for a school going through an entirely new accreditation process to only have five minor issues identified-mostly paperwork related-and corrected within two months," Kinsey said.
 
The director thanked his faculty for performing intensive self-studies over each of their programs, and his office staff namely retired administrative assistant Sherry Tinsley for sacrificing many lunch hours and evenings.
 
Above: (From left) HVAC instructor Ron Hedrick Jr., and adult students James Hayes, Eric Garris, Erika Lamb, Dale Denson, Jeffery Higgs, Dustin Urich and Charles Nunnery are a small representation of the beneficiaries of a fully accredited institution.
  
El Acapulco sponsors SINGS student
 
El Acapulco is sponsoring an eighth grader's visit to Dauphin Island next week to study salt marsh ecology, beach zonation and taxonomy of marine animals with the SINGS class as well as AP biology students.
 
El Acapulco owner Juan Reyes decided to pay for Nicholas Edwards' fieldtrip after the two began discussing education at soccer practice.
 
"Nicholas is an athlete and at the same time does well in school," explained Nicholas' father Steve Edwards, Mules Soccer coach. "Mr. Reyes was more than generous and gave some amazing educational advice to my son.
 
"There is no price you can put on education, in Mr. Reyes' words," Coach Edwards continued. "He is a true example of a person that cares and has love for Poplar Bluff."
 
The Junior High group will be the 23rd that SINGS instructor Tom Allen has taken to Sea Lab over the years to conclude his unit on oceanography. The students will take a research vessel out to trawl for what lives in Mobile Bay, according to Allen. The sixth grade gifted class will also join and be dropped off in Mobile, Ala., to study maritime history.
 
SINGS stands for serving the individual needs of gifted students.
 
Above: El Acapulco owner Juan Reyes opted to sponsor PBJHS student Nicholas Edwards on an upcoming fieldtrip to Dauphin Island.
  

  
All-District Choir
 
Several Poplar Bluff High School students were selected for the 2016 Southeast Missouri All-District Choir during an audition on Saturday, Sept. 24, in Cape Girardeau.
 
Ross Dare, Alivia and Bethany Jenson, and Allison Knowlton and Aaron Taylor will perform with the ninth and 10th grade choir, while Hunter Ellis, Ariel Judd and Shelby Ross will join the 11th and 12th grade choir Saturday, Nov. 12, at Cape Central High School. The juniors and seniors will have the opportunity to try out for the All-State Choir.
 
Above: (Back row from left) Choir teacher Joshua Allen, tenors Ross Dare and Hunter Ellis, alto Ariel Judd and bass Aaron Taylor; (front row) soprano Alivia Jenson, altos Shelby Ross and Allison Knowlton, and soprano Bethany Jenson.
  
Muffins for Moms
 
Mothers were invited to the Kindergarten Center on Friday, Sept. 30, and treated to a special snack with their students.
 
Muffins for Moms is an annual tradition in celebration of the letters M and A, marking the first Fun Friday activity of the school year for kindergartners.
 
Special thanks to the volunteers from Recycling Grace Womens Center as well as those coordinated through Bright Futures who filled in for moms unable to participate in the event.
 
Above: Mother Ashley Zahner snaps a photo of daughter Chloe Joiner in Amanda Summers' kindergarten class.
 
Click here to view our running album, and be sure to 'like' your favorite shot!
  
Bonus: Cake Bake-Off
 
Poplar Bluff High School senior LaDaijha Thomas won the first place blue ribbon in the youth division and grand prize overall during a cake baking contest last week at the Butler County Fair. According to Assistant Principal Mike Owen, who had the pleasure of sampling the winning caramel heath French vanilla cake, it was de-lish!
  
PB
 Calendar
Ribbon Cuttings
The ribbon cutting ceremony for the Middle School is slated for 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at the Victory Lane facility and 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, for Senior High at the Oak Grove Road facility. The public is invited to attend! Building tours will follow.
 
Pink-Out Day
The sixth annual Pink-Out Day, a citywide fundraiser organized by StuCo in support of the United Cancer Assistance Network, is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Mules Stadium. Don't forget to wear your official pink T-shirt purchased from UCAN!
 
School Board Meeting
The regularly scheduled monthly meeting of the Board of Education will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 20, in the Administrative Building.
Extra, Extra!
Media logos for 2014-2014 - KWOC, DAR, KFVS 
On Monday, Sept. 26, the ShowMe Times reported about the school supplies donation from the Elks Lodge.
 
On Tuesday, Sept. 27, KAIT8 reported about the Boys and Girls Club headquarters relocating to the Middle School campus.
 
The ShowMe Times reported about Middle School's new STEM classes.
 
On Wednesday Sept. 28, the DAR reported about PBJHS social studies teacher Melinda Moncier recently attending the Colonial Williamsburg Teacher Institute.
 
The ShowMe Times reported about the BGC's relocation as well as Fellowship General Baptist Church's washer/dryer donation.
 
On Thursday, Sept. 30, the DAR recognized Poplar Bluff Realty for donating to the Pom Squad and the Elks Lodge for making a donation to the Middle School. The DAR also reported about PBHS senior Jared Moses participating in Boys State.
 
On Sunday, Oct. 2, the DAR reported about the TCC going from candidate for accreditation to fully accredited due to a change in regional accrediting agencies.
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Poplar Bluff R-I School District | pbr1news@pb.k12.mo.us | www.poplarbluffschools.net
1110 N. Westwood Blvd. | Poplar Bluff, MO 63901

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