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eMule
The official email newsletter of Poplar Bluff Schools
www.poplarbluffschools.net
October 10, 2016
You've got eMule!
Vol. 5 No. 6
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.
Middle School & High School ribbon cuttings
 


A pair of ribbon cutting ceremonies celebrating the new Middle School followed by the High School will be held for the public at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 1300 Victory Lane and 4 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 13, at 3209 Oak Grove Rd.
 
A total of 200,000 square feet has been added across campus including 132,400 square feet at the High School and 40,000 at the Middle School as a result of the historic levy that voters approved two and a half years ago in order to combat overcrowding and enhance student safety.
 
The former High School swapped locations with the 5th & 6th Grade Center this school year. Grade four was added to the upper elementary configuration to free up space at the four lower elementary schools, each of which received enclosed corridors to connect buildings. A FEMA safe room and classroom structure totaling over 20,000 square feet was also added to the Junior High facility.
 
The new High School (pictured above), which shares space with the Technical Career Center on 80 acres, features science labs, a media center, band wing, JROTC practice facilities, centrally-located commons area and athletic fields. The new Middle School (pictured below) features a media center, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) classrooms and an enclosed playground.
 
Click here to view the High School construction album, and click here to look back at the transformation that has taken place at the Middle School!
  

  
13th Annual Career Fair held
 
Sophomores from Poplar Bluff and Twin Rivers High School participated in a Career Fair on Thursday, Oct. 6, at Three Rivers College to learn about career technical and higher education opportunities available locally.
 
Students were surveyed prior to determine their top career choices and then participated in brief sessions from industry professionals, including our own R-I Chief Technology Officer Aaron Badgley, Lake Road Principal Erica Weadon, Technical Career Center building trades instructor Jody Cochran and Eugene Field counselor Esther Luna, who also moonlights as a photographer. R-I Vocational Resource Educator Barbie Hon spoke to the group about the A+ program and CTE options available to them.
 
Coordinated by the AmeriCorps program of Poplar Bluff Schools, the annual Career Fair has been hosted by TRC since 2004.
 
Above: AmeriCorps Director Becky Winters informs students they will each get to participate in three presentations specifically designed to represent their career interests.
 
Below: CTO Aaron Badgley advises students to focus on choosing a career path since median employee tenure today is only 4.4 years, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
  

  
Gambill submits award-winning proposal
 
Junior High communication arts teacher Julie Gambill was one of 30 educators in the Southeast Region awarded a mini-grant from the Missouri State Teachers Association to be used for student-centered materials.
 
Gambill purchased a tablet with the funding so students can use the camera to shoot stills and video that are transferable into various digital applications including Bloxels, a hands-on platform designed for building, collaborating and telling stories through video game creation.
 
"Students can adapt literature and informational text into a video game," Gambill explained. "Many aspects of reading can be converted into a video game: cause/effect, elements of plot, theme and character analysis. It is a fun, innovative way to apply (critical) reading skills."
 
Above: PBJHS Principal Bob Case recently presented teacher Julie Gambill with a $100 check from MSTA.
  
Bonus: Mules meet their No. 1 fans
 
The PBHS Mules Football team made a special guest appearance on Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Early Childhood Center to read and participate in classroom activities with preschool students.
 
The event was the brainchild of ECH teacher Lyndy Foust, who originally was simply going to bring in her brother Zane, the Mules quarterback, since her students expressed an interest in the sport during classroom discussion. In running it by ECH Director JoAnne Westbrook, the appearance evolved to become a school-wide event. PBHS Principal Mike Kiehne and football coach Mark Barousse agreed to release the student athletes for the occasion.
 
Above: After participating in football-themed classroom activities throughout the week, afternoon ECH students enthusiastically greet Mules Football players as the athletes enter the building.
 
Below: Senior Devonta Griffin joins ECH students to listen to first-year teacher Lyndy Foust read the Sports Illustrated picture book, "Goodnight Football."
  

  
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 Wednesday, Oct. 5, KFVS12 recognized PBHS students for being selected for the All-District Choir.
 
The ShowMe Times also reported about our choir students, as well as the Technical Career Center's reaccreditation.
 
On Thursday, Oct. 6, KWOC reported about Oak Grove Elementary's participation in PBIS.
 
The DAR published a photo spread from the Kindergarten Center's annual Muffins for Moms event, plus recognized Fellowship General Baptist Church for its generous donation to Junior High.
 
On Friday, Oct. 7, the DAR reported about the work-experience program through the VA that PBHS is participating in.
 
On Sunday, Oct. 9, the DAR promoted the forthcoming ribbon cutting ceremonies.
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Achieving excellence through learning: Every child, every hour, every day.
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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