Don't miss out on news and information from Joplin Schools!
Friday, Feb. 19, 2016
Gov. Nixon announces $5 million in funding for new Early Childhood Center
 
The construction of a new Joplin Schools Early Childhood Center took a huge step forward with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon's recent announcement of $5 million in Community Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding for the new school. The announcement took place during a press conference held Friday, Feb. 12 at Joplin Schools Early Childhood Center, currently located in temporary modular units at McKinley Elementary School. During the press conference, Joplin's Mayor Mike Seibert reaffirmed the City of Joplin's commitment of an additional $5 million in local CDBG-DR funding toward the $10 million facility. 

The new school will be located just north of Irving Elementary School on land donated by Mercy Joplin. Once constructed, the approximately 40,000-square-foot facility will enable Joplin Schools to expand its early childhood program to serve more than 320 students ages three to five with half-day preschool and half-day daycare. On average, the current facility, which serves 230 students, has more than 100 students on its waiting list. 

A special thank you to Joplin Schools Early Childhood Director Amanda Boyer, Chief Financial Officer Paul Barr, Executive Director of Student Services Mark Barlass, Director of Facilities Mike Johnson, and Grant Coordinator Bailey Stehm for their dedicated work over the last several years to bring this project to fruition.

Next steps:
  • Requests for qualifications and proposals for professional services including architect, grant administrator, and mechanical/plumbing/electrical engineering services have been posted. A recommendation regarding these professional services is planned for the March 29, 2016, Board of Education meeting.
  • Once professional services have been secured, the design phase begins.
  • The new facility is tentatively set for completion in 2019.
Watch the press conference:


(Video produced by JETHD)
East Middle School seeks alumni for school history project

Did you attend East Junior High School or East Middle School? Do you have a connection to those who may have attended in the 40s, 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond? Do you have any memorabilia from East? EMS staff and students, with help from alumni volunteers, are working on an exciting history project and would love to hear from you!

If you have information to share, please email [email protected].

Get to know Joplin Schools

Jefferson Elementary counselor Lori Wilson, this week's Eagle of the Week, is one of Joplin Schools many counselors supporting and guiding students and staff. 
The heart of any school district is its students and the teachers and professionals who support them. In this monthly feature, we'll introduce you to some of these special people.

School Counselors

Every school in the district is served by our school counselors. These education professionals work with students, teachers, administrators, and community agencies to help support and guide our students. School counselors have specialized training in academic, career, and personal/social development. A typical counselor's time is divided into four areas: curriculum and instruction in classrooms or structured groups; individual planning including schedules, advisement, and course selections; responsive services including crisis counseling, consultation, and referrals to outside agencies; and program management and review.

School counselors must have a master's degree or higher in school counseling from a state-approved school counselor preparation program, and they must be certified as a professional school counselor by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. They use their expertise to help remove barriers for students, improve academic performance, and provide much-needed resources to help guide studentsand support our schools.  

Every school counselor in the district can agree on this: no day is ever the same! Thank you for all that you do to serve our kids.

Joplin FFA seeks vendors for booths at annual Ag Expo

The Joplin FFA organization will host its second annual Ag Expo at Franklin Technology Center, 2220 Indiana Ave., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 7, 2016. Area agricultural businesses that are interested in a free booth at the event should contact Laura Hensley at 417-625-5260 ext. 3226 or [email protected] to reserve a space. The deadline to reserve a space is April 1. Space is limited.

The Ag Expo is open to the community and features businesses and organizations representing seven agricultural pathways including agribusiness; animal systems; environmental services; food products and processing; plant systems; natural resources; and power, structures, and technical systems. More than 600 students attended last year's event for an opportunity to interact with businesses or producers who work in the agricultural field. Attendees to this year's event will have the opportunity to meet experts from the agriculture field, learn more about the agricultural pathways, and interact with live animals.

The FFA organization provides students with a path to achievement in premier leadership, personal growth, and career success through agricultural education. 
Missouri state immunization law adds new vaccine requirement for 2016-2017 school year

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Attention parents of Joplin High School juniors: The JHS nursing department wants to inform you that the Missouri state immunization law has added a new meningococcal vaccine (MCV) requirement for all students who will be seniors for the 2016-2017 school year.
 
Two doses of MCV are required unless the first dose was administered to a student who was 16 years of age or older, in which case only one dose is required. All seniors are required to have one MCV, after the age of 16, to attend school in August 2016.
 
Your child may receive this vaccine from your doctor or your local health department by appointment. (Remember to take your immunization record with you to your appointment).  A record of this must be turned in to the school nurse before the first day of school.
 
Missouri school immunization law prohibits children who are not in compliance from attending school. Absences due to non-compliance of immunizations are unexcused.

Cecil Floyd Elementary students present "living museum"

Second grade students at Cecil Floyd Elementary recently held a "living museum" fashion show to showcase their research of famous people. Students dressed up as their famous person and walked the runway reciting important facts about him or her.

Watch this fun video about the project!

 (Video produced by JETHD)
Local businesses make big impact on JHS Constitution Team's quest for national competition 

Joplin High School's Constitution Team got a big boost to their fundraising efforts with a $12,000 donation from TAMKO and Candy House. The funds will be used to help send the team to Washington D.C. for the We the People national competition in April. The 15-member team must raise approximately $1,600 per student. 

If you would like to help support the team, donations can be sent to the JHS Constitution Team D.C. Trip Fund, c/o Cheryl Warstler, Joplin High School, 2104 Indiana Ave., Joplin, MO 64804.

A huge thank you to TAMKO and Candy House for the generous and sweet donation!
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
Feb 20
Dodgeball Extravaganza (to benefit JHS Baseball)
Joplin High School
Registration opens at 9 a.m.

Feb. 20
JHS Speech & Debate Tournament
Joplin High School
8:30 a.m.

Feb. 23
Joplin Schools Board of Education Meeting
7 p.m.
Memorial Education Center

March 16 & 17
Parent/Teacher Conferences

March 18
No Classes

March 21-25
Spring 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].