Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education approved $183,000 in funding for Poplar Bluff R-I to expand its Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to all elementary schools.
The program has allowed for fruits and vegetables to be made available to Eugene Field and Lake Road Elementary students over the past few years. This year fresh produce will also be served a couple times per week during class breaks at the Kindergarten Center, Oak Grove, O’Neal and the Middle School.
“We love it,” Lake Road Principal Erica Weadon exclaimed. “It makes for a healthier place.”
The FFVP was established to help students develop lifelong healthful eating habits, according to the award letter from DESE. Poplar Bluff’s dining service, Chartwells, administers the program at no cost to the district.
Dixie Harden, food services director, said her team plans to introduce produce that many students may not have had the opportunity to taste such as star fruit, jicama and sugar snap peas. The funding will also equip a salad bar at each of the school facilities.
Shown in the photo are Landen Deaton and Evan Knight of the third grade grab some fruit in the lobby at Lake Road.
Photos and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Modern Woodmen Chapter 1472 recently donated $400 to Poplar Bluff Junior High School for a campus beautification project.
With the funds, a string of crepe myrtles were planted along the median in the new parking lot by the 20,000-square foot addition of the facility. Lukescaping provided the landscaping services.
Modern Woodmen has supported the R-I school district through service projects in the past, including purchasing playground equipment for Eugene Field Elementary, according to district manager Brandon Woolard.
(Adults, left to right) Modern Woodmen Activity Coordinator Tammy Parker, PBJHS science teacher Ashley Woolard, PBJHS Principal Bob Case, Andy Luke of Lukescaping and Modern Woodmen District Manager Brandon Woolard; (children, left to right) Charlotte, Jacquelyn and Maddison Woolard.
Article and Photos submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Director, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - Poplar Bluff High School senior Grace Hudson has been awarded the $1,300 Mary Lynn Wolpers Scholarship to pursue a global business degree with a concentration in social entrepreneurship. She has applied to the Stern School of Business at New York University.
Hudson has taken advanced courses throughout her entire high school career and has participated in the dual credit program through Three Rivers College.
A total of $12,000 has been awarded through the Wolpers Scholarship since its inception in 2007.
Shown in the photo: Poplar Bluff Public School Foundation vice president Emily Hogg presents Grace Hudson with the Wolpers Scholarship last week at Senior High.
Article and photo submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-I School District
Poplar Bluff, Missouri - The commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 12, at the Black River Coliseum marked endings and new beginnings on multiple fronts.
First and foremost, 298 students graduated from the Poplar Bluff High School Class of 2016, joining more than 22,000 alumni before them.
Class president Elizabeth Bottorff said the milestone was akin to the conclusion of a book, but challenged her classmates to author an even better sequel. “Go write your own book and make it a best-seller,” she said, earlier advising: “Take everything one page at a time and cherish every word.”
Christian Cmehil-Warn, who will attend the University of Missouri in Columbia, was named this year’s salutatorian. He talked about his struggle to choose a career path, but said with a little hard work and a clearly defined goal, anything is possible. “You’ve got a whole life ahead of you,” he said. “Make what you want of it.”
The valedictorian honor went to Jackson Rideout, who has been accepted at Washington University in St. Louis. He discussed how graduating from high school means more than just a slip of paper, the experience has shaped their lives up until this point. The past four years has also taught him that everything is not black and white. “See the gray, the unknown, the other side, and appreciate it,” he said.
A special tribute was made to the surviving family of the late Kaitlyn Pullam, who has been memorialized with a new scholarship, which went to Mikayla Ursery for exemplifying Kaitlyn’s ideals and attitude. Nearly $2.5 million in college scholarships was awarded to the graduating seniors altogether, according to Principal Mike Kiehne.
Another close to a chapter, it was pointed out by outgoing Superintendent Chris Hon in his welcoming speech, was that this class would be the last to graduate from 1300 Victory Lane. The city manager Mark Massingham, who was in attendance to watch his son walk, observed the momentous occasion in a Facebook post.
“Having a conversation today with David Johnson, Gary Melton and Ralph Stucker and realized the Class of 1966—which included my brother Terry Massingham and David and Gary—was the first class to graduate from the new high school. My son Landon and Ralph’s son Aaron will graduate this year—50 years later—and they will be the last class to graduate from this high school.”
Senior High and the Middle School are in the process of swapping locations under the historic buildings plan approved by voters, which will add more than 200,000 square feet of classroom space across campus while utilizing existing property. The new state-of-the-art facilities will be open for the 2016/17 school year.
Shown in the photo are school officials seated in the background, top student Jackson Rideout delivers a graduation speech to his classmates.
Photo and article submitted by Tim Krakowiak, Communications/Marketing Coordinator, Poplar Bluff R-I School District.
Kindergartners demonstrated to their families what they have learned including the alphabet, numbers to 100 and colors in a musical performance led by teacher Fawn Luecke. This year’s theme was: “Through the looking glass into… first grade.”
Shown in the photo are students in the classes of Rebecca Burgin, Tonya Hill and Jannette Walk sing the “Goodbye Song” by The Learning Station.
