Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Bernie, Missouri - Gavin Miller has been named the new Bernie High School Principal beginning in the fall of 2013. Gavin is a native of Southeast Missouri with ties to the Dexter School District. He served on the Dexter School staff for eight years and then moved to the Sedalia, Missouri area where he served in administration at Smith-Cotton High School. He has taught Personal Finance, Marketing, and Computer Applications and has most recently been the assistant principal there for the past two years.
With the recent announcement that Bernie High School’s current principal, Bryce Matthews was retiring the Bernie Board of Education began their extensive search. With Mr. Miller’s ties to Southeast Missouri it seemed like a good fit for Bernie and with his 16 years of experience in education he will be a great asset.
While he was teaching at Dexter he was also the Girls Basketball Coach, and served as a defensive coordinator under our current coach, Aaron Pixley. He also served as athletic director.
Gavin and his wife, Kristin, who is a sixth grade teacher at the Sedalia Middle School, have two boys, Jaxon and Maddox and one daughter, Madelyn. She will graduate from Sedalia in May and return with her family to Southeast Missouri to attend college.
Miller holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and obtained his teacher’s certificate from Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri. He also holds a master’s degree in secondary administration from William Woods University which he obtained in 2011.
We welcome Mr. Gavin Miller to the Bernie School System and hope he has a long lasting career as the new High School Principal.
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Three Rivers College has been named as one of the top ten safest college campuses in the state of Missouri for the second year in a row. The website, StateUniversity.com ranks the safety of colleges and universities in the U.S., based on incidents of campus crime as reported by campus safety officials.
“Protecting the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors is of utmost importance, especially in light of the tragic shooting at Sandy Hook,” said Dr. Devin Stephenson, President of Three Rivers College. “We must be effective in planning and prevention and, should there be an incident on campus, we must have effective protocol in place for response and recovery. The Campus Safety and Security Department is doing an excellent job in leading our college safety and security initiatives.”
Chuck Stratton, Acting Chief of Campus Safety and Security, credits the entire Three Rivers community with the continued success of the college’s public safety initiatives.
“Even though this award highlights our department, helping keep our campus safe is everyone’s job,” said Stratton. “This recognizes not only our officers, but the efforts of staff and students as well. We’re only the facilitators.”
In addition to Campus Safety’s initiatives, Student Services at Three Rivers uses an emergency alert system through which warning voice mails, emails and text messages can automatically be sent to students and employees.
“The support we get from the entire campus and the administration plays a big role in our success,” said Stratton. “Whenever we've proposed additional training or more officers to be added to our staff, we've always been met with a positive response. I’m also extremely proud of my entire staff, both the full-time and reserve officers.”
“Campus safety and security has always been a priority for me,” Stephenson said. “That's the very reason I created a department of public safety at Three Rivers College. On any given day, our campus population is larger than many Missouri towns, and it is our duty to do everything possible to ensure the safety of our people.”
The latest campus security report is available for review online at trcc.edu/publicsafety. Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Written by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Oak Grove Elementary students wanted to help the students of Sandy Hook Elementary in any way they could.
They decided to bring a little cheer to a community devastated by the recent tragedy of losing 20 children and 6 adults.
They chose to make paper snowflakes in Mrs. Shelly Tune’s fourth grade class last week and then mailed them to the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut.
The Parent-Teacher Association in Newtown were requesting students across the nation to help support each other during this time and as the educators prepare to continue the school year they will have to teach in an older facility.
These beautifully, hand-made snowflakes made from the hearts of so many children will help deck the halls of their temporary relocation. This is truly the season to give!
Submitted by
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Prospective students still have time to register for Spring semester classes at Three Rivers College in Poplar Bluff, Missouri.
On-site registration will continue January 8, 2013 through January 11, 2013 at the Poplar Bluff campus and full-service centers in Sikeston, Dexter, Kennett, Malden, and Cape Girardeau. The semester starts on January 14th.
New students must register in person; however current students can register online through the “myTRCC system.” Those interested in enrolling can browse available courses by clicking "Search for Classes" at trcc.edu.
For registration assistance or to schedule an advising appointment, contact the Welcome Center at 573-840-9605; or Centers in Sikeston, 573-472-5223; Dexter, 573-614-1081; Malden, 573-276-3529; or Kennett, 573-888-6381.
"We try to schedule courses and classes so that it's just as easy for students to start in the spring semester as it is in the fall," said Dr. Angela Totty, Vice President for Student Success. "Some students wait until the fall to start because they have a misconception that the classes they need aren't available in the spring, and that simply isn't the case."
Totty advises new students needing financial aid to begin the application process as soon as possible, as the priority deadline for processing spring financial aid has already passed.
For more information on how to apply for financial assistance at Three Rivers, visittrcc.edu/financialaid.
Three Rivers College is committed to contributing to the quality of life in Southeast Missouri with quality, affordable higher education opportunities and community services that support and encourage the economic, civic, and cultural vitality of the region. For more information about college and workforce programs and upcoming events, visit trcc.edu.
Dee Loflin, SMT Writer
Under the direction of Mr. Jim Wade, Middle School Band Director, the 6th grade students were excited to perform their first Christmas concert. They began with an old time favorite, "Jolly Old St. Nick" written by Bruce Pearson. The band played a total of five tunes, "We Three Kings" written by John Hopkins, "Up on the Housetop" by Chuck Elledge and ended the concert with two songs written by Bruce Pearson, "Angels We Have Heard on High" and "We Wish You a Merry Christmas". They did an awesome job and the crowd cheered and sang with the band during their performance.
The 7th and 8th grade students were dressed in their band uniforms as this is a tradition at TS Middle School. They don't get to show off their uniforms as often as the high school; however they will get their chance to march very soon. Dressing in their band uniform always makes them look sharp.
They too performed 5 songs beginning with "A Holly Jolly Christmas" written by Johnny Marks and favorite of many, "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" arranged by Mike Story. Mr. Wade chose two songs arranged by Jerry Nowak, "Merry Christmas Darling" and "Home for the Holidays." The 7th and 8th grade band ended with "Deck the Halls with Old Composers", a cute little tune by Jerry Williams.
This was the last Christmas concert for the 8th graders at TS Middle School, for next year they will be at the high school. There are several students who have already been playing music with the high school during this past football season and they look forward to marching next year.
"There is a lot of musical talent at Dexter Schools. Both Mr. Wade and Mr. Rybolt do a fine job teaching our youngsters. I enjoy their performances and I attend all of my girl's concerts," stated one very proud mother in the audience.
We look forward to their next performance in the new year!
