By Annabeth Miiler,
ShowMe Times Editor

For the first time in 30 years, a new director will stand at the podium in the choir room at Dexter High School this fall.

Jamie Sepulvado has been hired to assume the director’s role following the retirement of long-time choral director MaryRuth Boone this spring.

Sepulvado is a Jackson native and has taught music for five years in the Advance schools and five in Perryville.

A 1994 graduate of Jackson High School, Sepulvado attended Southeast Missouri State University where she said she majored in percussion and vocal performance and earned a bachelor’s in music education.

Sepulvado is married to Chip Sepulvado and has three children, Grace, age 6; John, 3; and Selah, age 8 months. Chip Sepulvado has worked at Nestle Purina in Bloomfield for six years. The family attends Zion United Methodist Church in Gordonville, where she is the choir director.

“This is my dream job,” she said. “I’ve been keeping an eye of Mrs. Boone’s retirement. The school’s wonderful, the program’s wonderful. I’ve been looking forward to taking over something like this.”

She said she enjoys teaching, but is going “to miss her little ones.” At Advance Sepulvado taught music in grades K-12.

“My goal is to not only let them (the students) have a little bit of fun in high school, but to teach them how to get into college, how to succeed past high school. My focus is to get them some kind of money for college,” she said.

Sepulvado said she is committed to carrying on the many programs the DHS Choirs participated in annually under Boone’s leadership – include the holiday madrigal, concerts, and pop concert.

“Everything is going to be continued,” she said. “Mrs. Boone is going to continue to work with Show Choir, and I am going to help with that.”

Sepulvado says she will also continue the emphasis on achievement through the All-District and All-State choir honors programs, as well as the contests in the spring.

“My goals include to continue the success it already has and I want them to be successful in life not only as singers but as people,” she said. She says she is looking forward to the school year. “I am excited about it.”

Photo Above: Jamie Sepulvado in the choir room at Dexter High School.

The students at Southwest Elementary School learned about "Cool Careers" last week, and capped off the week by a visit from a "cool" professional, Todd Odell of the Dexter Fire Department. He showed the youngsters all his gear for fighting fires, answered all their questions, and even demonstrated some of the features of his fire truck -- including the aerial spray. It was a hot day in the summer so kids did what just comes naturally, and ran through the fine mist from the spray and had a good time. At the end Fire Department employee Garrett Wray passed out junior fireman stick-on badges - just the added treat for the afternoon! (SMT photos by Annabeth Miller)

ShowMe Times Photo Gallery

This week the students in first grade in summer school in Dexter celebrated the American Flag as the nation observed Flag Day on Tuesday. The youngsters in Shannon Putnam's class celebrated with an All-American Flag Day Treat - special "sparklers" - pretzels dipped in white chocolate and then covered in red and blue sparklers. It was an All-American day! Throughout the week the students have also learned some of the finer points of flag etiquette - including when to salute the flag and how to care for the American flag. (SMT Photo by Annabeth Miller)

Each semester, students at Missouri State University who attain academic excellence are named to the dean’s list. For undergraduate students, criteria include enrollment in at least 12 credit hours during the spring semester and at least a 3.50 grade point average (on a 4.00 scale).

Stoddard County students earning Dean's List honors for the Spring 2011 semester include:

Rachel D. Spears, Bell City

Ethan D. Jackson, Dexter

Hannah E. Keathley, Dexter

Courtney H. Birdwell, Dudley

Missouri State University in Springfield is a public, comprehensive university system with a mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons.

COLUMBIA – The University of Missouri – Columbia has released the names of students who achieved Dean’s List honors for the Spring 2011 semester. Stoddard County students included on the lists include:

Advance
· Rebecca Suzanne Cox, Junior, Health Professions

Bloomfield
· Megan B Bischof, Senior, Arts & Science

Dexter
· Sarah Elizabeth Jackson, Sophomore, Arts & Science
· Garrett Colin McKuin, Junior, Arts & Science
· Leigh Alexandra Yorke, Junior, Arts & Science

Essex
· Leah Diane Wheeler, Senior, Health Professions