Written by

Beth Farrah, SMT Writer

Essex, Missouri – Amber Duley has been very busy with Richland’s music department throughout this holiday season. After putting on both a junior high band and a high school band concert, a short kindergarten Christmas program, an elementary student Christmas program, and a high school Christmas program, the students are officially retiring their elf costumes, animal masks, and instruments for the 2013 holiday season.

The high school students successfully put on a Christmas program called “Computerized Christmas”. Duley did not fully write the script by herself, but she used a script and edited to fit the students and Richland in a better way, making her own sarcastic jokes that fit the characters and actors perfectly. The lead role of father time was casted to senior Kannon Qualls, who has also starred in multiple other plays at Richland as well as other places. The play centers on Father Time and the stress of keeping the holidays in order. He is eventually pushed into buying a smart, talking computer by a computer salesman named Buzz (played by junior Joe Foster) to help keep him on schedule. The humor begins when the recently purchased talking computer, Jerry (voiced by senior Adam Lane), misinterprets everything Father Time says. Father Time is set on calling Santa Claus to let him know that Christmas is just around the corner, but Jerry has a different idea. Instead of just calling Santa Claus, the lazy computer calls all sorts of characters such as the Tooth Fairy (played by senior Kaitlyn Jones), Wanda the Witch (played by sophomore Jamie Smith), the Easter Bunny (played by eighth grader Joshua Shidler), Lucky the Leprechaun (played by freshman Garet Phillips), and even had a visit from George Washington (played by sophomore Travis Grubbs).

Throughout all of the visits to Father Times’ office, there are multiple songs sung by the cast that Duley remixed herself. The Tooth Fairy mashed “All I Want for Christmas is Your Two Front Teeth” with Lady Gaga while Wanda the Witch sang her own tune called “Don’t Mess with a Witch”. Lucky the Leprechaun even got his chance to shine and sang a rap written by Duley.

The play’s main issue is finally solved by Richland’s Tech Guy Adam Touchette (played by senior Gatlin Hux) when he is called by Father Time to fix the computer. He decides to update Jerry to Siri—while jamming on the guitar while he waited, of course. When the lazy computer’s update is complete, Father Time is finally able to call Santa Claus and warn him about his upcoming holiday.

The junior high students volunteered to be stagehands and helped Duley with props and whatever else she needed. In the play, Father Time had three different assistants that played a large part in the comedy. Charlie the Assistant (played by sophomore Parker Miller) was on stage almost the entire time trying to help Father Time deal with whatever characters that were called by Jerry. George the Assistant (played by eighth grader Luke Rhodes) helped try to fix Jerry along with the help of Jen the Assistant (played by sophomore Skie Pinkley).

The play was an overall crowd pleaser. Students of all ages and their families came to see the play and were treated to cookies and milk afterwards. Now that Christmas is over, the students are now looking forward to Duley’s annual Talent Show held in the spring. While they wait for the Talent Show, Jamie Smith will be preparing to perform at Branson for Beta Club’s State Convention in March where she will represent Richland High School.

Dexter, Missouri - The Dexter Senior High School had their first ever ACT Prep Class IN-HOUSE during the school day.  They had a great turn-out with 45 students participating. 

The students were preparing for their December ACT test.  They took a pre-test on Thursday and then reviewed strategies and techniques to improve their scores for the "real" ACT test.  Alana Dowdy is the Curriculum Director and oversaw the instructions by teachers.

"I am super excited we were able to get this accomplished.  In the past we had done this on Saturdays and we were having very low turn out," stated Alana Dowdy.

Jessica Christian taught the English and reading, Kurt Lovelady taught math and Eric Boles taught the science portion. 

Students who are interested in attending a college or university must take either the ACT or SAT tests for entrance.  Also a great score on the ACT will help the student obtain those much needed scholarships! 

Photos provided by Laura Stone, English Teacher DHS.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri - The T.S. Hill Middle School 8th grade choir traveled to Cape Girardeau and entertained shoppers at the West Park Mall last week.

Christmas music could be heard throughout the mall. The choir sang for about 1/2 hour.  Many shoppers would stop and listen, tap their toes and dance a little.  You could tell the Christmas spirit was alive in the air as smiles could be seen on all the shoppers!  They had such a great time and enjoyed singing for the crowds.

"They students sang wonderfully and we really enjoyed participating this year," stated Jamie Sepulvado, Dexter Schools Choral Director.

Written by

Erin Lauters, SMT Writer

Dexter, Missouri - Dexter Senior High School has been getting in to the Christmas spirit this past week and half, performing an annual tradition-selling candygrams.

These fun holiday papers were sold by the Dexter Senior High School’s Student Council for a week. They were sold for $0.25 a piece. The students could write anything school appropriate they wanted, to anyone they wanted in Dexter High School.

Once the Student Council got all of these candygrams on Monday, December 16, at noon, the counselors and students made sure the students put the seventh hour class of the recipient. After that, they attached a candy cane, which were donated by Dexter High School Student Council members, and sent them to all seventh hour teachers.

Once seventh hour rolled around, everyone was buzzing with excitement to see who sent them a candygram. While these candygrams could be from anyone in school, their messages could contain just about anything.

These messages are a great way to tell someone you appreciate them, enjoyed meeting them in school, or enjoyed being in a club or sport with them. Every student enrolled in Dexter High School received a candygram from Student Council.

Shown in this picture is Dexter High School Junior Brooks Propst.

 

Dexter, Missouri - The Stoddard County Gospel Mission received the largest donation ever from the Dexter School District making this year's Stuff a Bus fundraiser a HUGE success!

Students, faculty and staff joined forces with Santa Clause to donate 14,626 cans to the Mission.  "It is so great to see these students participate the way they do.  They will make families who are struggling a little happier this year."  stated Kim Slavings, Director of the Stoddard County Gospel Mission.  "Each year I am amazed by the participation and generosity of the Dexter schools.  Thank you!"

"These are the moments that make this school district special," stated High School Principal Dan Pollock.  This is Mr. Pollock's first year at the helm as principal and has truly been an inspiration to many.

If you know a student or employee of the Dexter School District, please take the time to stop and say "Thank You".  It was a team effort and despite the snow and loss of a few school days, the students really shined in their efforts to make this a worthwhile cause and a special Christmas for many families in need.

"Everyone was a winner today!"  exclaimed Pollock.  "I am extremely proud of the students."

Middle School had the largest collection and will receive an ice cream party courtesy of OPAA

Merry Christmas to all!  Thank you Williams Moving Company for allowing them to stuff that truck full of cans!