Don't miss out on news and information from Joplin Schools!

Students throughout the district honor area veterans with events and activities
Students throughout the district took time to honor area veterans this week with a variety of events and activities. Several schools held assemblies for veterans and their families. Cecil Floyd Elementary third graders performed patriotic songs during an assembly and held a reception where students and veterans worked together to write letters to current servicemen and women who are hospitalized or deployed. East Middle School student council members planned and organized a school assembly and reception. During the assembly, guests and Joplin Schools' staff members who were veterans were recognized, and students heard from veterans about their time in the service and why Veterans Day is meaningful. Students at Joplin High School spent time during their Thursday Transitions class watching a video about veterans. Junior students signed Veterans Day cards that were sent to the Veterans Hospital in Kansas City, and sophomore students wrote letters to veterans to accompany the cards.

Thank you to all veterans for your service and sacrifice! 

Watch Cecil Floyd students perform for area veterans:

New Joplin Schools Early Childhood Center update
 
A new facility for Joplin Schools Early Childhood program took a major step forward this month. At the Joplin City Council meeting held Monday, Nov. 2, representatives from Joplin Schools shared updated information with City Council members regarding plans for the Early Childhood Center. A portion of the funding for the project comes from Community Development Block Grant funds administered by the city. After the presentation, the Council unanimously approved moving forward with $5 million in CDBG funding for the project. The $10 million EC Center project also includes $5 million in state CDBG funding. The new center will be located north of Irving Elementary on land donated by Mercy and will have the capacity to serve approximately 260 students in the morning and 260 students in the afternoon. The center will offer half-day preschool for students ages three to five and the option of paid half-day child care for students enrolled in the preschool. The current Early Childhood Center, located in modular units at McKinley Elementary, serves approximately 200 students and has a waiting list of more than 130.

As part of the grant process, there are a few more details that must be finalized. Watch the Eagle Minute for more information and a timeline for bids and construction.

Joplin Schools' communication department earns state awards 

Kelli Price, director of communications; Lana Snodgrass, MOSPRA president; Christina Williams, visual communications specialist; Whitney Warren, communication specialist; and Danny Craven, JETHD station manager
On Friday, Nov. 6, during the annual Missouri School Public Relations fall conference in St. Charles, Joplin Schools' communication team received two first-place awards in the Golden Achievement and Marketing/Special Purpose Publications categories. The department also earned two Awards of Excellence for earning 97% or higher from the judges and one Award of Merit for scoring 85%-96%. Only seven Awards of Excellence were awarded state-wide. The winning entries included the 2014 grand-opening campaign for Joplin High School/Franklin Technology Center and the Bright Futures Joplin 5-Year annual report. The "We are all Learners" video was also recognized. 

The MOSPRA Communications Contest is designed to provide recognition for creative and effective work in school public relations, as well as valuable feedback from public relations professionals. There were 77 entries in this year's contest. 

JHS Show Choirs to host "sweet" fundraiser 

If you love dessert and musical entertainment, you're in luck! Joplin High School's show choirs are holding their annual Just Desserts event to showcase their talent and benefit their program. This year, the event will take place on two nights: Friday, Nov. 20, and Saturday, Nov. 21. Each evening will feature different student performances and a wide variety of tasty treats and show tunes. The event will be held in the Black Box Theater in the JHS Performing Arts Center, 2104 Indiana Ave. Tickets are $10 each.
 
(The student performers for each night are also noted in this link.)

Email your questions to [email protected].
Bright Futures Joplin holds "Stock the Closet" clothing drive through Nov. 20

At Joplin Schools, colder weather often means an increase in clothing needs for some of our students. Bright Futures Joplin is holding a "Stock the Closet" clothing drive at schools throughout the district now through Nov. 20. As you are cleaning out your closets this fall or out shopping for the holidays, please consider donating any of the following items to help stock the closets at our schools. Your generosity will help students stay warm and dry and help them to stay focused on learning.
 
Male/female, all sizes from 5T and up 
New or gently used:
  • Athletic pants, sweat pants
  • Short and long-sleeve t-shirts
  • Hoodies and sweatshirts
  • Coats, winter hats, and gloves
  • Tennis shoes 
New items:
  • Packages of socks
  • Packages of underwear
Drop off all donations at your school lobby in the blue Bright Futures barrel.
There's still time! Enjoy a night out at the JHS Theatre's  fall play "Leading Ladies"
 
Joplin High School's Theatre Department will present its fall play at 7 p.m. Nov. 12-14, in the Coulter Auditorium at the JHS Performing Arts Center, 2104 Indiana Ave. Tickets are $5 for students and senior citizens and $7 for adults at the door.

Set in the 1950s, "Leading Ladies" by Ken Ludwig focuses on two English Shakespearean actors, Jack and Leo, who find their careers in a rut. They are currently performing "Scenes from Shakespeare" on the Moose Lodge circuit in the Amish country of Pennsylvania. When they hear that an old lady in York, Pa. is about to die and leave her fortune to her two long lost English nephews, the actors resolve to pass themselves off as her beloved relatives and get the cash. Hilarity ensues when it turns out the relatives are actually nieces and not nephews. Things get even more complicated when Leo falls madly in love with the old lady's vivacious niece, Meg, who's engaged to the local minister.

Elementary students throughout district receive Eagle Pride sweatshirts and winter hats from local business
 
Elementary students throughout the district can show their Eagle Pride with new sweatshirts and winter hats thanks to a generous donation from area law firm Johnson, Vorhees & Martucci. Students began receiving the gifts last week. Thank you JVM for helping to keep our students warm this winter!

Meet Joplin Schools' Eagle of the Week

This weekly honor recognizes Joplin Schools' employees who demonstrate the qualities and behaviors that benefit the day-to-day operations of the district and promote student success. Joplin Schools' employees, parents, and community members can nominate a Joplin Schools' staff member for this recognition.  
 
Joplin Schools Eagle Minute brought to you by:
UPCOMING EVENTS
Nov. 12-14
JHS Fall Play "Leading Ladies"
7 p.m.
JHS Performing Art Center

Nov. 24
Board of Education Regular Meeting
7 p.m.
Memorial Education Center

Nov. 25-27
No classes - Thanksgiving Break

We hope you enjoyed this issue of the Eagle Minute. If there are specific topics you would like to see covered, please email your suggestions to [email protected].